Last Ruler Of The Empty Throne-Chapter 158: Heavenly Sky Palace

Amelia tore through the delicate folds of space, her form materializing in a shimmering ripple above the breathtaking expanse of the Sky World. The air thrummed with an oppressive gravity, a force so potent it tugged at her very essence, urging her to remain suspended in the sky rather than set foot on the jagged peaks below.

This was no ordinary world, it was a cosmic marvel, a cluster of ten interconnected realms sculpted into towering mountains and plunging valleys, shrouded in a dense, silvery fog that pulsed with latent energy. The fog was no mere weather phenomenon; it was a barrier, a living entity that even a being of Amelia’s caliber dared not approach lightly.

The Sky World, as it was known, hung in the void like a constellation of celestial islands, each peak and valley a realm unto itself, bound by invisible threads of power. At the heart of this cluster, atop the tallest mountain that pierced the fog’s edge, stood the Heavenly Sky Palace, a monolithic structure of gleaming white stone and crystalline spires that seemed to hum with ancient magic.

Its towers reached upward as if yearning to touch the stars, their surfaces etched with runes that glowed faintly in the twilight. The palace was both a fortress and a beacon, a seat of power that commanded reverence across the cosmos.

Amelia’s lips curved into a faint smile as she tapped her foot lightly against the air, the gesture rippling the fabric of reality. In an instant, she warped across a vast distance, her form reappearing on a smaller mountain at a safe remove from the palace’s overwhelming aura.

Below, nestled at the mountain’s base, stood a familiar structure, a modest, dome-shaped dwelling carved from pale stone, its surface worn smooth by centuries of wind and time. This was her sanctuary, the place she returned to after her wanderings, the one place in the infinite expanse of the universe she could call home.

Her heart quickened as she descended, her boots touching the ground with a soft thud. Without hesitation, she pushed open the heavy wooden door, its surface engraved with intricate patterns of vines and stars. Inside, the air was warm, scented with the faint aroma of herbs and old parchment.

Her eyes found him immediately. Dame, seated at a sturdy oak table, his head bent over a sprawl of scrolls and glowing data crystals. His dark hair fell in loose waves over his brow, and his fingers, stained with ink, moved with precision as he scribbled notes.

"Ammy?" Dame’s voice carried a mix of surprise and warmth as he looked up, his amber eyes catching the light. The quill in his hand stilled, and a grin spread across his face.

"You miss me?" Amelia teased, closing the distance between them in a few swift steps. She didn’t wait for an answer, her arms wrapping around him as she pressed her lips to his in a deep, lingering kiss.

Dame responded without hesitation, his hands finding her waist, pulling her closer as the world outside faded away.

"Mmm..." Amelia’s soft moan was one of pure contentment. This moment, this reunion, was why she had arrived a day early for the meeting at the Heavenly Sky Palace.

The council could wait; this was her priority, her chosen, her man, her anchor in a universe of chaos.

Dame, never one to be outdone, rose from his chair, lifting her effortlessly in his arms. Their laughter mingled as he carried her to the grand bed in the corner of the room, its frame carved with celestial motifs and draped in silken sheets that shimmered like starlight. Hours passed in a blur of passion, their bodies entwined, each touch a reaffirmation of their bond.

When they finally lay still, breathless and sated, Dame propped himself up on one elbow, his hand resting on Amelia’s waist.

"So," he said, his voice low and warm, "what did you see this time?"

He knew her wanderlust well. Amelia was a seeker, a wanderer who roamed the cosmos, returning with tales of wonders and oddities that fueled his research. As a scholar and experimenter, Dame thrived on the artifacts and stories she brought back, each one a puzzle to unravel.

Amelia’s brow furrowed as she nestled closer, her head resting against his chest. "You wouldn’t believe it even if I told you," she said, her voice tinged with frustration as she sifted through her memories.

"Try me," Dame urged, his curiosity piqued, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her skin. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Have you ever seen a first-realm warrior kill a third-realm being with a single strike?" Her tone was serious, her green eyes locking onto his.

Dame burst into laughter, the sound rich and unguarded. "Nice one, Ammy. Sounds like you didn’t find much worth sharing this time." He rubbed her back, still chuckling, clearly thinking she was pulling his leg.

Amelia’s lips pressed into a thin line. She wanted to protest, to insist that she had witnessed the impossible, a first-realm warrior, barely trained, felling a third-realm master with a single, devastating blow.

But without proof, her words felt hollow. She sighed, letting the matter drop. "Anyway, how’s your work going?"

Dame’s expression shifted, a spark of excitement lighting his eyes. "It’s... complicated. I’ve hit a wall. Unless we can get someone from the Moon Branch of the Whyte Clan, I’m afraid I can’t progress further."

Amelia’s brows shot up. "The Moon Branch? You can’t mean them." Her voice carried a note of disbelief, tinged with unease.

"Yes, them," Dame confirmed, launching into an animated explanation of his latest project. He spoke of rare materials, ancient techniques, and the unique properties of the Moon Branch’s abilities, his words tumbling over each other in his enthusiasm. Amelia listened, but a cold knot of unease tightened in her chest.

Something about his words, or perhaps the mention of the Moon Branch, stirred a premonition she couldn’t shake. Shoving the feeling aside, she let herself drift into sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of his voice.

The next morning, a thunderous sound shattered the quiet.

DUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMM...

The resonant boom echoed across the Sky World, a clarion call signaling the start of the council meeting at the Heavenly Sky Palace.

Amelia and Dame rose swiftly, dressing in their formal attire, flowing robes of deep indigo for her, adorned with silver embroidery, and a tailored tunic for him, its fabric shimmering with subtle runes. After passing through the palace’s stringent verifications, arcane scans and psychic probes they were granted entry.

The sky conference chamber was a marvel of architecture, its domed ceiling painted with constellations that seemed to shift and shimmer.

At its center stood a massive obsidian table, surrounded by chairs for the seventh-realm commanders. Spiraling outward were rows of seats for the sixth-realm attendees, where Amelia and Dame took their places. The air buzzed with anticipation, the gathered beings a mix of towering warriors, robed mystics, and enigmatic figures from across the realms.

A boisterous laugh cut through the murmur. "Hahaha, we finally gather after years!" A massive man strode in, his bare torso rippling with muscle, his lower half clad only in a kilt of dark leather. Brawns, as he was known, exuded raw power, his presence filling the room.

"Keep it down, Brawns," said a calm voice. A robed man entered, his movements fluid, his aura serene yet commanding. First Sword, as he was called, carried himself with the grace of a master duelist.

’First sword and brawns.’ Amelia calmly observed these commanding figures of the palace.

Then, a new figure appeared, a girl of no more than ten, clad in a frilly pink gown, skipping into the room. "Hello, children!" she chirped, her voice deceptively sweet. One would ask how a child was let inside such an important gathering. Well, it wouldn’t be allowed except she was a seventh realm being and the pink witch.

"Be quiet," snapped a man in gleaming armor as he entered, his voice stern. "The lord is about to arrive."

"Last knight, don’t always be the kill joy." Pink witch was suddenly sitting over his large shoulders tapping his head.

Zzzp...

A crackle of lightning heralded the arrival of an archangel, his three pairs of divine wings glowing with an ethereal light. His blue eyes scanned the room with detached arrogance, and he took his seat without a word. It would make one ask, what would make a being as prideful as an archangel be here, well it was a story for another time.

Beside him sat a woman cloaked in crimson, her face obscured, her presence heavy with unspoken power.

The room settled as the attendees took their places.

Thirty minutes later, a door materialized before the central seat, its surface shimmering with runes. It swung open with a resonant bang, and a wave of cloud-like fog poured forth.

His blue hair flowed like liquid sapphire, his piercing eyes scanning the room with an intensity that made even the seventh-realm commanders seem insignificant.

His robes, woven from starlight and shadow, clung to his form, and his fair skin seemed to glow with an inner light. He was beauty incarnate, a being whose presence dwarfed all others.

Nerom, the leader and emperor of heavenly sky palace.

Nerom nodded to the assembly and took his seat, gesturing to the woman in crimson.

She rose, extending a hand, and the air shimmered as holographic images materialized. They depicted a blue world, its surface scarred, buildings reduced to rubble, the ground torn asunder, and a living treasure, a towering structure, struggling to repair itself.

The woman’s voice was steady, cutting through the stunned silence.

"As you can see, the Moon Branch of the Whyte Clan was destroyed."

Gasps rippled through the room.

The Whyte Clan, one of the universe’s most formidable powers, had been attacked without anyone noticing? It was unthinkable.

The holograms shifted, focusing on two figures standing in the sky above the ruined world. "Watch this," Nerom commanded, his voice low but unyielding.

A video played.

A man, cloaked in blinding light characteristic of the Sun Branch, stood tall. Then, impossibly, a massive moon formed behind him, its silvery glow unmistakable. The room erupted in murmurs.

A Whyte Clan member wielding the skills of another branch was a taboo, a catastrophe the factions and clans had fought to prevent for millennia.

Amelia’s heart raced. She had seen another warrior capable of such a feat.

He had missed his chance, but there was still one slot left... wasn’t there?