Chapter 2356

2356 -Injustice-1

Sector 250 Central — Council of Thrones

"..."

On a high platform where there were twelve identical seats, with a higher, different throne in their midst, the thirteen seats were rarely all filled... but today they were.

Thirteen shadows, all watching in silence, observing a recording of a bloody battle playing out directly before them.

With bated breath and eyes wide open, they did not move, no one made any comment... they just watched.

Blip

The recording cut off at a certain point, but silence remained the master of the situation—

"..." One of them finally turned to his neighbor, "Was that recording number 50? When will the next one come?"

"The live feed is still running; they'll bring another recording once they gather an additional hour." Another spoke quietly, "They won't be late..."

"Do you want to increase the pace and stop Renara and Hedrick in that state?!"

"......" That person fell silent, then looked toward Qarun, seated in their midst, "If the Lord of Thrones commands it and we all move together, we would undoubtedly stop them."

"....."

"Zargul and Darvion are pushing to confront the Anti-Life Beings anyway; these are their own problems, none of our concern." One of the twelve spoke, then pointed to where the recording had been playing, "We don't have to take these people as enemies for their sake."

Bam One of the twelve struck the table. "You're underestimating us too much," he said, then raised his voice further, "What's the problem if the support of the Heavenly Laws on them is a bit excessive? Didn't Master Qarun do the same for us?"

"Alright, but clearly they have higher support!" another spoke seriously, "Didn't you see that girl freeze a Guardian and then shatter it into dust of cells? She didn't even use a few moves!"

"I still trust that I can fight her to the point of retreat, and if three of us gather, it will be an even fight, and if six assemble, we will kill her!" That disciple furrowed his brows, "I don't know how or why this number of Supporters of the Heavenly Laws has started to appear, first the Children of Helmor and now the Followers of the Cosmic Elder... but our master didn't make breakable pottery either!"

"...." A number of disciples nodded.

Their master initially gave them formidable laws, then designed group and individual combat methods for them, making them stronger than their predecessors who led the academies before them.

Then, after a while, when the Syndicate's bullying of them increased and a number of powers, including the Tyrant, the Dreamer, and others, refused the presence of academies in the surrounding sectors—when the prestige of the academies began to decline… the Master told them he would go on a training journey, during which he was absent for years. When he returned, he brought with him a pleasant surprise.

He gathered them at that time and told them he would carry out a process to increase the support of the Heavenly Laws for them. Indeed, they all felt an excess of freedom and tremendous power.

Displaying that power in specific places and at specific times, as planned by Master Qarun, restored respect for the Star Academies once again. They returned to opening their branches in the sectors of those powers to a certain degree, and resumed dealing with the Syndicate on equal footing, reaching compromise solutions instead of listening and retreating.

Then, after a while, he began to bring them strange weapons of tremendous power—no one among them knew where from. He gave each one of them a piece and trained them on it, and planned a specific opportunity in which he made one of the disciples display that weapon alongside his liberated power against one of the Syndicate's high-ranking members.

That battle did not end with anyone killed or even injured, but the respect of the Council of Thrones had been established that day before the major powers, and the matter was settled ever since. Even after the Stellar Academies began to rebel and 90% of them stopped performing their duties, the major powers did not attempt to test the Council of Thrones.

Even the Syndicate stood politely on the sidelines; they did not try to interfere overtly, nor did they attempt to seize the opportunity.

"Master."

The twelve called out in unison, some angry, some excited, and some showing concern.

But there was one thing in common: their absolute trust in the person who had brought them to this position and established their footing without any major battles—only planning, targeting, and systematic deterrence.

They did not know why or how the other powers of The Universe had those methods for increasing the Support of the Laws. They did not know what had suddenly risen up and why everything was turning upside down so quickly.

But if Qarun pointed at someone, they would destroy them without a doubt, no questions asked.

"..." Qarun, who had been covering his face with both hands all day, fell into a long silence after that call. No one dared to repeat it. Then, finally, he opened his mouth: "Leave me alone for a while."

"Master?" The disciples furrowed their brows. "Is there something—"

"Get out!!" Qarun withdrew his hand, his face flushed with intense rage, and shouted at them in a loud voice, "Do I have to repeat myself? Get out of my sight and vacate the hall immediately!"

Whoosh Whoosh

In an instant, the twelve disciples began to disappear in various ways until no one remained.

Each of them landed, terrified, in the place where they later appeared, frightened by what they had witnessed.

Their master had always been a man of few words and many smiles. No matter what problems arose, he found a solution. No matter what enemies appeared, he silently devised a way to match or surpass them, and he always did so with calm and composure.

None of the twelve had ever seen him like this before!

Silence

"..." Qarun's features twisted for a few minutes, unable to control his expressions or his vital processes. "Why..." His voice seemed to emanate from deep within his belly, heavy and faltering, "Why did you abandon me and support him so blatantly?!"