Severin shook his head solemnly. "I will not grant unto you that luxury."
No sooner had he uttered those words than the horror-stricken Oliver felt the thread of his destiny severed abruptly. Though enlightenment had eluded him since time immemorial, death had found him swiftly. An almighty force that spanned across the realm and poured light over time and space obliterated him in an instant.
Helpless against such overwhelming power, Oliver knew his demise was imminent. Yet, the primal instinct to survive drove him to one final, manic, desperate act—self-destruction.
The power from a royal celestial's self-destruction was formidable enough to threaten the very fabric of the Nine Heavens. Fractures appeared across Oliver's body, and destructive light burst from the cracks. However, all form of resistance proved futile against a quasi-celestial regent like Severin.
Severin then remarked expressionless, "I had intended to spare a fragment of your soul, as your plans in the devil realm had been of some benefit to me. It's a shame that you had to defy me. You will now face complete destruction."
A mere thought from Severin was enough to nullify Oliver's existence across all timelines and dimensions. Whether in the past, present, or future, every vestige of Oliver's being was erased. Oliver's attempt to self-destruct proved futile, as Severin had reduced him to dust. Before Oliver was erased from existence, a deranged smile appeared across his face as he stared intently at Severin, "I'll be waiting for you in hell! My ancestors will avenge me!"
Disinterested in exchanging banter with a vanquished foe, Severin waved his hand and produced a gentle breeze that scattered Oliver's remains into the surrounding. Then, Severin ascended the steps of Pure Heart Hall. As he seated himself upon the chair, lightning crackled, and a canopy of purple energy enveloped him. Three thousand paths materialized right that instant, forming a divine bridge that crossed the heavens.
The other royal celestials Balke and Libra—the latter having fallen into the chaotic void during the earlier battel—were also drawn by some unseen force as they hastened to the Nine Heavens.
Meanwhile, members of the Longevity Alliance were also spurred by Severin's message. Those whose attainment was at least true immortal or above immediately turned into streaks of light that traversed through the Nine Heavens Gale and spatial turbulence. Finally, they reached the Heaven Palace.
As they gathered, they saw the destinies of all races floating before Severin and knew what that entailed. The dawn of a new era was upon them, and Severin was prepared to establish the new Imperial Court.
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