The entire skyship shuddered violently. The lanterns overhead swayed, chains clattering. A ripple like shattered glass spread across the air outside the viewing windows.
The space around the ship seemed to have frozen, and a figure slowly walked out from the spear tear right in front of the skyship.
Gasps broke out among the elders. A few instinctively reached for their treasures, while others paled, recognising the depth of the powerful figure that suddenly appeared.
Arthur, who was a proud genius, was also shocked, as the aura had really become terrifying, as he had never been in a situation like this where his space law couldn't help him.
Slowly, his gaze lifted to the figure stepping calmly from the rift. And in that instant, recognition struck.
As it was none other than Apollo who just sealed the space around the skyship using his space rule, even Arthur with his spatial physique cannot leave.
Arthur might not know his name, but he had seen him with the prince, so for a moment he thought. 'Could it be… the Crown Prince sent him? Was this all a ploy, a show of force meant to corner him into submission?'
His fists clenched at his sides. For a man like Arthur, nothing was more insulting than being forced to kneel.
Apollo looked at Arthur and felt his thoughts, but for proud Arthur to agree, to make Arthur follow, he had to shatter that pride—not with humiliation, but with revelation. That even his space law, which he is proud of, is nothing to him and, in fact, is way weaker; only then will he be eager to learn more and join him.
Apollo let his aura change, the sealed space tightening until every ripple, every layer of space bowed under his will. Arthur tried instinctively to control the layers of space, but it seems they were beyond his grasp, dissolving like mist before the sun.
His heart pounded. "Impossible…" he thought, eyes widening. 'My physique, my understanding—they mean nothing before him?'
Apollo finally spoke, his voice low, each word carrying weight.
"Hello Arthur, we finally meet."
Hearing this, Arthur couldn't help but curse internally. 'Fuck you, who would want to meet like this?'
But from outside he quickly controlled his emotion, as it seems the situation isn't bad and he didn't at least come here to kill him.
Taking a steadying breath, he raised his gaze, his tone level though edged with caution. "You could have come directly; why did you need to go through such means?"
"Who are you exactly, and why did you come to me?" Arthur, after taking a deep breath, asked.
Apollo's gaze didn't waver. He stood before the sealed void as though he had all the time in the world, unhurried, unshaken.
His presence filled the chamber like an unspoken truth, and when he finally answered, it was in that same calm, resonant voice:
"Because your talent was good enough to draw my interest. I didn't expect I would meet someone with a special physique, not to mention a physique related to space."
"As for who I am… you may call me Apollo. I've come to offer you something the Crown Prince never could."
The elders in the skyship remained silent as they didn't even dare to look ahead. They didn't know what special physique was or its importance; all of them silently waited for their young master's decision, as they cannot be any help in front of the power of Apollo.
Arthur remained silent for a moment, as he didn't expect Apollo wasn't sent by the crown prince but came on his own. Not only that, but he can clearly see through his physique that no one was able to see before.
"Oh, so what can you offer, and what do I have to return for it?" He asked after thinking for a moment. He knew Apollo was beyond his league, especially seeing the control over the space that seemed beyond even his understanding.
Apollo's lips curved faintly, though it wasn't quite a smile.
His voice deepened, steady as stone.
"I offer you a place where your talent is not shackled but sharpened. Where your physique will finally be able to fully bloom and show its true potential. So join the immortal order, and I will teach you how to use your physique and increase your understanding of space."
Arthur leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. His instincts urged caution—yet a small fire flickered in his chest, the same ember that had stirred when his space law failed against Apollo's suppression.
"And in return?" he asked again, his tone surprisingly calm. "What is it you want from me?"
Apollo's gaze didn't waver.
"Your strength," he said simply. "Nothing more, nothing less. I do not need servants. I need pillars."
For the first time, Arthur found himself at a loss for words. He can feel Apollo's offer is kind of right for him. If he wanted to understand space rule, it would take who knows how many years or decades even with his talent, but if he received guidance from Apollo, it might be reduced to a few years.
Apollo at that moment urged him again, "You know that I am your best chance. As rapidly as the situation of Rion is changing, you cannot waste time; otherwise, even if you are a talented genius, you still will be eliminated in the chaos."
Arthur remained silent for a moment, his fingers drumming once against the armrest before stilling.
He hated to admit it—but Apollo's words struck deep.
His gaze flicked to the elders around him. Their silence was suffocating. None of them dared even meet his eyes, let alone intervene. In this sealed space, their authority was nothing but an illusion.
Finally, Arthur exhaled through his nose, his voice steady though laced with caution.
"…If I walk this path with you, Apollo, I'll do so on my terms. I won't bow like a vassal."
Apollo's expression didn't shift—only the faintest glint of approval flashed in his eyes.
"That", he said softly, "is exactly why I chose you."
"Alright, I agree to join the Immortal order."