CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 654: Greatest Failure

The Imperial Palace stood fully restored now, as if no catastrophe had ever struck it, but the tension hanging inside was utterly stifling; indeed, at that instant, merely two figures were present, right there in the Throne Room.

The former Emperor, Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor, occupied the throne like he still ruled the Zarethorn Empire, whereas his son, the reigning Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor, remained standing silently a short distance away.

Even though his clash with Azaron had wrapped up just over an hour earlier, complete recovery had already occurred, bringing him back to pristine condition; spotless anew, with hair perfectly combed while clad in his standard imperial robes, his exterior showed no hint of the inner chaos raging.

Silence stretched between father and son as Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor gazed down from the throne; moments later, it broke when he declared, "You know, for the first time in seven centuries, I am actually considering having another child," his voice even and composed, yet dripping with sharp scorn, "because you simply cannot be a child of mine; no child of mine can be this stupid, right?" he posed rhetorically, eyes locked firmly.

Any Imperial family members there would have been completely dumbfounded, since no one could fathom anyone addressing the Emperor that way, especially with such open contempt.

"Do you realize what you have done?" Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor pressed on, his voice unwavering as he stayed planted on the throne, his commanding presence weighing down the chamber.

"I’m sorry, Father," Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor responded softly, stripped of his typical poise and regal command, reduced at that point to merely a youngster facing parental scolding.

"Sigh... where could I have gone wrong?" Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor muttered to himself while eyeing his son, face inscrutable; after a short lull, he resumed, "I have told you to keep your Mind Manipulation ability in check and to use it only when you are one hundred percent certain it would work. Unlike me, who can openly display my Time manipulation, you cannot reveal your Mind Manipulation so carelessly, and what did you do? You attempted to manipulate a Wargrave, really?" his remarks piercing and relentless.

"But—" Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor started to protest, only for his father to silence him instantly.

"No fucking buts," Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor snapped right away, tone resolute and biting, "I had to use a favor, a favor not from any ordinary Wargrave, but from a Primarch, just to save you, and what do I receive in return? Nothing," he tacked on, irritation clear; he personally shrugged off the larger mess, no longer holding the Emperor's seat as a retired sovereign—what truly irked him was squandering that precious favor.

"From your youth, I have always told you to build relationships with the Wargraves of your generation, to foster alliances and mutual respect, and instead, you chose to make enemies of them, all because you feared their bloodline and the power they possessed," Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor went on, disappointment thick in the air, like he confronted his life's biggest letdown.

Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor couldn't stay quiet upon hearing that, "Father, they needed to be kept in check; allowing them to act as they please could lead to the downfall of our family as we know it," he countered, blending excuse with urgency in his tone.

Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor regarded his son like an utter idiot, "Truly, I should have another child; it is not too late," he asserted flatly, his statement slicing sharper than steel.

"You are the one who will bring about our ruin with your own foolish hands, Zolthemir. From a young age, I told you stories about the Wargraves, about their Primarch, and yet you chose to confront one, only to be beaten without landing a single strike, not even a scratch," Cyrvexis declared, voice harsh and unyielding.

"Yes, the Wargraves are a family of monsters; they possess overwhelming power and force, but I have always told you, ever since you were a child, that they do not care for rulership or authority. As long as they remain a Ducal family and are not provoked, you would not even know they existed," Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor added following a quick pause, his words blending exasperation with irrefutable fact.

"Moreover, your deeds today might have triggered far graver repercussions than merely alienating the Wargraves. Rival Empires lurk poised to pounce at any instant, and the Sinvairas stand ready to launch their assault. Your recklessness nearly wiped this Empire off the map entirely, a catastrophe that would have unfolded if Azaron had opted to sever your head," declared Emperor Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor, as an intense pressure surged through the chamber.

While his chief regret centered on the squandered favor, that didn't imply he desired the Empire he'd commanded for centuries to crumble into oblivion.

Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor's face contorted under the crushing aura; despite being a Crownstar Life Ranker, he couldn't match his father's prowess. Indeed, talented and mighty as he was, his sire, Emperor Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor, represented a whole other caliber of terror, a ruler who had endured and reigned for more than five hundred years.

"How do you plan to make amends to me, Zolthemir? For the favor I expended on you, for preserving your life—what recompense will you provide?" inquired Emperor Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor, the suffocating force vanishing in the instant that followed.

A heavy hush gripped the room, as Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor found himself speechless; what tribute could he give that his father lacked?

Noting his son's muteness, Cyrvexis Lux Vanthelmor shook his head while standing, "Your power's revelation has cost us numerous allies, from Dukes to Imperial factions loyal to us, and now even the Wargraves—who once offered slight backing—have turned away. You've inflicted tremendous losses upon us," he proclaimed, gliding down the stairs ahead with the poised elegance of a centuries-long sovereign.

"I governed this Empire without blemish, Zolthemir. Prior Emperors and Empresses upheld that legacy, but you... your presence mars my reputation," Cyrvexis intoned coldly while passing Zolthemir, his verdict unyielding, "you stand as my profoundest letdown and blunder, Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor."

Having delivered that parting verdict, he departed the Throne Room, abandoning Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor in utter solitude, oppressed by the heavy burden of his reflections.

____