Silence reigned within the core chamber of the Giant Dark Tree. The Scarlet King was right there—just beyond reach. The Imperium of Time could march out and unleash their combined might, their powers amplified by the essence of the continent itself. By all calculations, it would be a battle they could not possibly lose. Yet not a single Archdeity dared to move. Their gazes, sharp and wary, turned toward Azazel.
The True Depravita of Sloth inhaled deeply, his eyes narrowing as he expanded his consciousness. Psychic power flooded outward, merging with the roots, veins, and essence of the Giant Dark Tree. With its help, his perception sharpened to terrifying clarity. No matter how he searched, no matter how he probed, he found the same truth: the Scarlet King was alone.
