The Ecliptic Citadel shimmered quietly in the void, the hum of creation and destruction blending in infinite resonance. Lucien reclined on his fractal throne, pale eyes scanning the threads of the multiverse. Malthior and Seraphyx lingered nearby, waiting for further orders, while Thariel and Veyrath trained silently under chains of obedience.
And then—something.
A ripple. Subtle at first, barely detectable, a distortion in the very void itself. Not a tremor of power, not an energy signature—but a force that should not exist. Lucien's eyes narrowed, the faintest smirk curving his lips.
"Hm… interesting," he murmured. "Something large, and not very subtle. I wonder…"
Before anyone could respond, the Citadel itself shuddered. Space around it twisted unnaturally. Stars bent, suns dimmed, and an emptiness that should not exist began to swallow light itself.
"Lord…?" Malthior's voice was calm, but a flicker of concern passed his crystalline form.
Seraphyx's shadow form shivered slightly. "I've never felt energy like this. Not from any Outer God… something else."
Lucien stood, pale cloak flowing, eyes glowing with faint violet light. "Then it's time to see exactly what it is."
With a single step, he vanished, leaving his generals and servants behind. In the void beyond, the distortion grew into something monstrous.
It emerged slowly at first—a dark, impossibly large shape, coalescing from nothingness. Then it revealed itself fully: a Planet Eater, a being so vast it made stars look like dust motes. Its body was a swirling mass of void and twisted planetary fragments, each orbiting it like satellites of despair. Its maw yawned impossibly wide, blacker than nothing, devouring light, energy, and even fragments of void casually as if snacking.
Lucien's smirk widened. "Ah… so this is what the Outer Gods fear."
Malthior's voice echoed faintly through the void connection. "Lord… it's enormous. It—"
"Enormous?" Lucien interrupted, tone casual. "Yes, it's large. But I've dealt with bigger problems. Watch and learn."
The Planet Eater turned, sensing Lucien's presence. Its voice—or something like a voice, a rumbling void that vibrated through dimensions—shattered silence. "Intruder… why are you here? I do not feast on servants of gods. Leave… or be consumed."
Lucien tilted his head, pale eyes glinting with amusement. "I don't run from dinner plates. Besides…" He let the words linger. "…I am not mortal. And you, apparently, have very bad manners."
The creature opened its maw wider, void energy tearing at the edges of the Citadel's reality. With a casual motion, it inhaled a nearby fragment of a star system. Malthior's transmission crackled faintly: "Lord… it's… consuming planets… effortlessly…"
Lucien's smile curved. "Indeed. That is why it's interesting. The Outer Gods call it the Planet Eater for a reason… and now I get to see if it's as interesting as they say."
The void shimmered around him, and with a single step, he closed the distance. Even at this cosmic scale, his presence dwarfed the threat. The Planet Eater paused, sensing the inevitability, the absolute authority of the Sole Exception.
And in that instant, Lucien felt it—the thrill of a challenge, faint, distant, but palpable. "Very well," he murmured. "Let's see how you handle someone who doesn't fear the void… or devourers of worlds."
Malthior and Seraphyx, observing remotely through Lucien's link, exchanged grim looks. Even for them, this was something beyond comprehension. Thariel and Veyrath would need all their restraint and obedience if they were to witness this encounter alive.
Lucien's pale cloak flared, aura stretching like ripples across the void. He stepped forward, smiling faintly at the cosmic predator that had devoured countless worlds… completely unaware it was about to meet inevitability incarnate.