The laughter in the grand ballroom was still echoing when the air suddenly thickened.

It wasn't the heavy, suffocating pressure of Noah's Law of Command, but something ancient and steady.

In the center of the hall, the space rippled like a disturbed pond.

An old man appeared out of thin air.

He had a long white beard that reached his waist.

He wore simple grey robes, looking more like a humble librarian.

However, the moment he appeared, the Emperor of Aetherion gasped.

"Ancestor!" the Emperor cried out, his voice trembling with shock.

The guests stood frozen.

This was Albert, the founder of the Aetherion Empire.

Most of the people of the empire never even seen him.

They believed he was in deep meditation or perhaps even dead.

To everyone's absolute horror, the legendary Ancestor didn't look at the Emperor.

He didn't look at the shocked nobles.

Instead, he walked straight toward Noah and bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the floor.

"Ancestor, what are you doing?" the Emperor asked, his voice cracking.

"This... this is Noah. He is our supreme protector, yes, but you are the supreme pillar of our empire! You do not need to bow to anyone!"

Albert didn't pay any attention to the Emperor's confusion.

He kept his head down, his voice shaky but respectful.

"Sir... if I may ask... you are from Earth, am I correct?"

Noah tilted his head, with an amusing smile.

The black cat, Beelzebub, stopped hissing and watched the old man with narrowed eyes.

"Oh? How did you figure that out?" Noah asked.

Albert finally looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and wonder.

"The supreme Law of Command. You used the law just now to make those fools dance. In this entire universe, I am the only one who has comprehended a fragment of that law, and even then, it was only through the help of an ancient artifact. I have only reached about 50% mastery."

The old man swallowed hard.

"But you... you have comprehended it at a level I cannot even fathom. I felt it when you first used on us in the Earth, and I felt it again today. I do not believe this universe is capable of producing someone who can master such a law so perfectly. "

Noah let out a soft laugh.

"You're quite sharp for an old man. You are right. I am from Earth."

As he spoke, Noah decided there was no longer any need for the hide and seek game.

If he was going to change this world, he needed to show them the weight of his existence.

"Come forth," Noah whispered.

From his forehead, a spark of pure darkness emerged.

It was his sea of consciousness opening up.

Slowly, a crown made of obsidian and starlight materialized.

This was the Crown of Destruction.

It didn't sit on his head like a piece of jewelry.

It hovered slightly above his hair, pulsing with a rhythm that matched the heartbeat of the universe.

Boom!

The moment the crown touched his brow, a shockwave of pure power erupted.

It wasn't a destructive wave, but an announcement of presence.

Noah's aura, which had been tucked away, suddenly soared.

It broke past the level of Immortal King, bypassed the limits of this realm, and reached a height that had no name in their records.

The ballroom floor cracked.

The heavy stone pillars groaned.

Every single person in the room, the dukes, the counts, the powerful guards, fell to their knees.

It wasn't because Noah ordered them to.

It was a biological reflex.

Their souls recognized a higher existential being that sat at the very top of the food chain.

Even Noah's twelve generals, including the Rudi, dropped to their knees.

They didn't look afraid.

They looked proud.

They looked at Noah with eyes full of worship, as if they were seeing the sun for the first time.

Albert's entire body was shaking.

Tears began to stream down his wrinkled face, dripping onto the marble floor.

"A god..." the Ancestor whispered.

"The legends were not lies. Gods really do exist outside of this universe..."

Noah stood there, his body glowing with a soft, divine light.

His simple robes began to float as if caught in a wind that only existed for him.

He kept his hands behind his back, his expression calm and majestic.

He let the pressure stay for exactly three minutes, allowing the weight of his divinity to burn into the memories of everyone present.

Then, with a thought, he retracted the crown.

The aura vanished instantly, leaving the room in a heavy, ringing silence.

But no one stood up.

Across the entire Aetherion Empire, through the magic broadcasts, millions of citizens were still on their knees in their living rooms and streets.

They didn't know why, but they felt as though the lord of destruction had just glanced at them.

Noah looked down at the Ancestor.

"I have decided that I want to establish a new empire here. It will be named the 'Earth Empire.' And it wouldn't be only for humans. Any race, be it elf, spirit, or beast, who is willing to be loyal can become our subjects."

Albert didn't hesitate for a single second.

"As you wish, my Lord. To be honest, I am old and injured. I am not strong enough to hold onto this empire much longer against the demons and the Nova Empire anyway. My life and my lands are yours. I will follow your command without question."

"Very well then," Noah said, his eyes gleaming with a new plan.

"I want to start with a grand show. I don't like slow progress. Announce a tournament. Invite all twelve of the other primordial empires to join."

The Emperor, still on his knees, looked up in horror.

Challenging all twelve empires at once was suicide.

These included the Dragon Clans, the Phoenix race, and the Spirit world.

Noah continued, ignoring the Emperor's fear.

"Tell them we are establishing a new empire and we are challenging all of them. If they are brave enough, ask them to come and accept. If they win, I will give them a weapon from the Half-Step Transcended Realm. They can do whatever they want with us."

He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"But if they lose, they must become our subordinates. If they refuse to join or refuse to submit after losing, we will erase them."

Albert swallowed his saliva.

His heart was beating so fast he thought it might burst.

This wasn't just a declaration of war.

It was a declaration of ownership over the entire universe.

He thought of the mighty dragons who looked down on everyone, and the spirits who thought they were holy.

Noah was going to drag them all to the dirt.

But then, Albert remembered the feeling of that crown.

He remembered the feeling of being a speck of dust in front of a mountain.

He felt a surge of excitement he hadn't felt in millions of years.

"Alright, my Lord. I will send the messengers immediately. The universe will tremble by morning."

Albert turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Noah waved his hand.

A bright green light, filled with the scent of fresh rain and growing forests, shot out from Noah's palm.

It was the power of the Law of Life drawn from the Cube.

The light wrapped around Albert, soaking into his skin.

The old man gasped.

Inside his body, the black scars left by the demon began to dissolve.

His withered lungs expanded with clear, cool air.

In seconds, the exhaustion of ten thousand years vanished.

"As my subordinate, your health must always be perfect," Noah said calmly.

Albert, now looking decades younger, his skin glowing with health, clenched his fists.

He had expected to die within the next million years because of his lingering wounds.

Now, he felt stronger than he did in his prime.

He bowed so low his head hit the floor with a thud.

"I will never forget this grace, my Lord. My soul belongs to the Earth Empire."

With a swirl of energy, Albert vanished to carry out his orders.

Noah finally turned his attention to his twelve generals.

They were still kneeling, waiting for his word.

He looked at Rudi, whose eyes were burning with a desire for battle.

"Be ready," Noah told them.

"The fun is finally coming. I want you to show the universe what the twelve generals of the Earth Empire look like. But before the tournament begins, I have one requirement for all of you."

He looked at each of them, his voice echoing with authority.

"Every single one of you... become Half-Step Transcended. Don't disappoint me."

The generals slammed their fists against their chests in a synchronized salute.

The sound was like a thunderclap.

"We will not fail you, Your Majesty!" they shouted in unison.

Noah walked toward the balcony of the ballroom, looking out at the starlit sky of Aetherion.

Soon, those stars would belong to a new name.

He petted the puppy on his shoulder and smiled.

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