The four Patriarchs stood frozen, their faces drained of color.

Royce’s orange eyes tracked between Azareth and the dimensional tear behind him, his jaw working without sound.

Ashford’s grey hair shifted in wind that didn’t exist, his hands clenched at his sides.

Cross took a half-step backward, his brown eyes wide.

Even Kinsley’s smile had cracked completely, his blue eyes showing something approaching alarm.

Their gazes met across the space between them as understanding rippled through the silence

’The Light Bearers... are kneeling before a human boy...’

’Child of Light... Seat of Humility... Battle of Chosen Ones...’

’If that Oracle chose him... then he is–’

The crowd waited, thousands of eyes locked on where Damian knelt with Brian’s corpse in his arms.

Cameras focused, reporters held their breath, billions watching through screens across every region.

Then cutting through the suffocating silence, a voice resonated across the field.

"It seems my warning wasn’t taken seriously."

WHOOSH

Reality bent beside the dimensional tear as a figure materialized.

Unremarkable features, simple suit, hands in pockets.

The Chairman stood there looking at Azareth with an expression caught between annoyance and genuine frustration.

"Bird."

His voice carried clearly despite not being raised.

"Didn’t I make it clear last time? If you dare open another dimensional tear into our world, I won’t be polite."

Whispers exploded through the assembled crowd like wildfire.

"The Chairman is here too?!"

"Wait, he said last time–"

"This Light Bearer came before?"

"When? Why didn’t we hear about it?"

"What’s going on?!"

The murmurs built, voices overlapping as understanding rippled outward.

Azareth remained kneeling, his expression unchanged, his golden eyes tracking the Chairman’s face without visible fear.

"Ah, if it isn’t the all-powerful Chairman of Earth’s Federation."

His tone stayed respectful despite the words.

"I had almost forgotten this primitive world possessed someone of your... caliber."

His wings spread slightly, feathers catching the light.

"Though I must confess, I find myself confused by something. With a protector as formidable as yourself watching over this world..."

He paused, his gaze shifting to where Damian knelt in the snow.

"How is it that your own chosen one receives such treatment? Shouldn’t you have intervened before it reached this point?"

His voice gained edges despite remaining level.

"One might think you simply don’t care about him at all."

The words landed like hammer blows, echoing across the field.

The Chairman’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered behind his eyes.

Before he could respond, his attention shifted toward Damian.

"Damian."

His voice became gentler, almost paternal.

"Don’t listen to this kidnapper bird and his manipulation tactics. They’re very good at making themselves sound noble while doing questionable things."

He gestured toward Azareth with one hand, the motion casual.

"You might not know this, but this particular bird even tried to forcefully take away Luna before."

Azareth’s wings flared, his voice rising.

"Your Holiness, please allow me to explain!"

His golden eyes found Damian’s bowed form, desperate urgency bleeding through his composure.

"I admit my methods were... unseemly. Overly aggressive and lacking the respect she deserves."

His hands spread, the gesture almost pleading.

"You can punish me however you see fit for that transgression. I accept any consequence you deem appropriate."

His head bowed further, his voice becoming more earnest.

"But my Master’s intentions were never malicious! She saw your sister’s potential, recognized her value and even gave her a protective artifact of immense power to keep her safe!"

The Chairman’s jaw clenched, his hands coming out of his pockets.

"Protect her? You tried to kidnap–"

"Chairman."

Azareth’s interruption came sharp and absolute.

His golden eyes blazed brighter, his eight wings spreading to their full extension.

"You and I are merely observers in this matter. Neither of us holds authority over what happens next."

His gaze shifted back to Damian.

"The choice remains entirely in His Holiness’s hands, as it should be. As it must be."

The Chairman opened his mouth, power beginning to gather around his frame.

But before either could continue–

"My choice, huh..."

The whisper cut through everything, soft but somehow carrying to every corner of the field.

Every head turned simultaneously towards the kneeling figure.

Damian stood up slowly, Brian’s body cradled in his arms like one would carry a sleeping child.

The corpse looked almost peaceful despite everything, head resting against Damian’s chest, limbs hanging loose.

He stood there for a long moment, his face obscured by the curtain of white hair.

Then he spoke, his voice emerging quiet and measured, like someone discussing the weather.

"Brian..."

His head tilted down slightly, looking at the face of his dead friend.

"Did you know, this entire universe is nothing but a board for a game of chess?"

Silence crashed across the field.

"Every world scattered across the cosmos, every race fighting for survival, every living being drawing breath..."

His white hair fell forward further, shadowing his features completely.

"All of them are nothing more than pieces to be moved according to the will of those who play this game."

The black fog continued seeping from his body, spreading across the snow in thin wisps.

"Every player sitting at this cosmic board has their own goals, their own vision of the future they want to create."

His voice never wavered, never cracked, staying perfectly level.

"Some of them hide in the shadows, pulling strings from darkness where nobody can see their faces or guess their intentions."

A pause, weighted with implication.

"While others stay in the open, making their moves visible for all to witness, daring anyone to stop them."

His head lifted fractionally, though his eyes remained hidden.

"And it seems like everything that happened today was also part of this game."

His arms tightened fractionally around Brian’s corpse.

"You were just a small piece someone used to get an outcome they wanted, Brian."

The words hung in the cold air, carrying weight that pressed down on everyone listening.

Then Damian’s head turned, his gaze finding where Azareth knelt.

His voice emerged as barely a whisper, but somehow carrying clearly across the entire field.

"No wonder the Light Bearers have stood against the demons for thousands of years."

A pause, deliberate and weighted.

"Your Oracle..."

His white hair fell away from his face slightly, revealing crimson eyes that blazed without heat.

"She’s a very good player."

Silence fell across the entire world.