(The Next Day, Planet Granada, Mauriss’ POV)

*KABOOOOOM* 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Thunder rolled violently across the storm-covered skies of Planet Granada while endless rain poured over the single rock beneath, as Mauriss sat lazily upon his stone throne while quietly staring toward the white lightning flashing across the heavens.

The violent weather surrounding him reflected his mood strangely well today, because despite maintaining his usual confident appearance, deep within himself, Mauriss felt unusually restless and dissatisfied regarding the current state of the universe.

Initially, his plan had been relatively straightforward—

Ally with the Cult.

Ally with the Dragons.

Use both rising powers to dismantle Kaelith and the Righteous Alliance gradually until the old balance ruling the universe finally collapsed beneath its own weight.

And for a very long time, Mauriss genuinely believed that such a strategy would eventually place him in the perfect position to seize control of the universe once all the other major powers exhausted themselves fighting one another.

However now, the situation had evolved far faster than even he could ever have predicted.

"It no longer makes sense for the Cult to ally with me anymore..."

Mauriss muttered quietly while rainwater dripped endlessly from the edges of his throne onto the cracked rock below.

"I never anticipated Leo Skyshard obtaining Origin Metal this early into the game, nor did I expect him to begin killing Gods at such an absurd pace."

His fingers tapped slowly against the armrest while distant lightning illuminated his pale face briefly beneath the dark skies hanging above Granada.

"I thought Skyshard would take at least a century to go from Demi God to God, and during this time he would be persecuted by Kaelith and his goons.

At which point I could offer him an alliance and scoop a talent like him early.

However, he turned out to be a God Killing monster at just the Demi God stage.

Which makes it unlikely that he needs me for anything anymore...."

Mauriss muttered while looking concerned, because despite his reputation for madness, manipulation, and deception, Mauriss understood strategy and politics better than almost anyone else currently alive within the Rainbow Stream.

And the current political situation genuinely concerned him.

"Kaelith, Ru Vassa and Yu Kiro are dead."

He muttered while leaning slightly forward upon his throne.

"The Cult doesn’t need my support, and neither do the Dragons."

That realization alone changed everything.

Because originally, Mauriss planned on positioning himself as a necessary ally.

A balancing force.

A wildcard capable of tipping the scales between competing superpowers whenever necessary.

However now, if both forces continued growing uninterrupted over the next several decades...

Then eventually, only two true powers would remain standing at the peak of the universe.

The Cult.

And the Dragons.

Which naturally meant that Mauriss himself would slowly become irrelevant within the new world order being born.

"And that..."

He muttered softly while rain continued pouring endlessly across his shoulders.

"...is completely unacceptable."

A dangerous smile slowly spread across his face while violent lightning flashed repeatedly across the skies above Granada once more.

Because Mauriss had absolutely no intention whatsoever of becoming a secondary figure within someone else’s story.

"I either need to eventually pit the Cult against the Dragons..."

"...or rally the surviving Gods beneath my banner and find a way to eliminate one of the two rising monsters first."

He murmured quietly while smiling evilly, however, although he fantasized about stabbing Moltherak a thousand times in those ugly dragon eyes of his, the problem with this plan was the timing.

Because currently, neither the Cult nor the Dragons possessed any genuine reason to clash directly against one another yet.

Leo respected Moltherak.

Moltherak respected Leo.

And both sides currently benefited greatly from allowing the other to weaken the remaining Great Clans independently.

Which meant that if Mauriss truly wanted conflict between them eventually, then he would need to create that conflict personally through careful manipulation of several key figures.

*KZZZZT*

At that exact moment, the crystal communicator resting beside Mauriss suddenly buzzed lightly, signalling the arrival of an important message.

"Ah... Clarence."

He muttered calmly while activating the communication crystal.

"What news do you bring me today?

Did the Skyshard child accept my proposal?"

Mauriss questioned while Clarence’s projection materialized before him through the communication crystal immediately.

"Yes, Lord Mauriss. Mairon Skyshard accepted the meeting proposal."

Clarence reported respectfully.

"However, the location he selected for this meeting is the Eternal Garden.

Which makes me believe that Leo Skyshard will be present for this meeting."

He reported, as for several long moments, Mauriss remained completely silent.

Then suddenly—

"Hahahahaha!"

He burst into loud laughter while the surrounding storms intensified violently.

"So the rumors suggesting that the second child became some uncontrollable outlaw were completely false after all."

Mauriss muttered while amusement flickered visibly within his eyes.

"In the end, it seems he truly is his father’s son."

He said while slowly leaning back against his throne once more before disconnecting the communication crystal casually.

*Sigh*

Sighing deeply, Mauriss shook his head in disappointment, because by now, Mauriss already possessed a fairly good idea regarding which side he wanted to support moving forward.

Given the current balance of power within the universe, the only alliance that still offered him genuine long term benefit now was an alliance with the surviving Great Clans.

Because from his perspective, the only acceptable future remaining was one where both the Cult and the Dragons destroyed each other completely while he emerged afterward as the final ruler standing above the ashes.

However, for such a future to become reality, Mauriss understood that he would first need to manipulate countless moving pieces carefully over the coming decades.

He needed the surviving Gods to accept him as their overlord.

He needed the Cult and Dragons to grow weary of one another.

And most importantly, he needed to eventually pit Leo Skyshard and Moltherak directly against one another.

"I need to orchestrate the next Great Betrayal..."

Mauriss muttered quietly as the madness in his eyes deepened.

"An event where both Leo Skyshard and Moltherak fall together, alongside their strongest supporters and a massive army."

A dangerous smile slowly formed across his face while endless rain continued pouring across the lonely throne.

"Because only then..."

He whispered softly.

"..... shall I have the entertainment that will keep me satisfied for a millenia."