[: 3rd POV :]
As Daniel returned back to his routine, the beings scattered throughout the Universe could no longer remain silent.
Not after what had just happened.
Not after the entire Universe itself had trembled.
Because unlike ordinary disturbances, this was something every high existence had felt directly within their soul, origin, and authority.
It was not merely a vibration.
It was the shifting of fate itself.
The ancient flow of destiny that had remained stagnant for countless eras had suddenly changed direction.
And that alone was enough to alarm countless terrifying existences.
Across endless dimensions, hidden realms, forbidden territories, divine kingdoms, and isolated voids, ancient beings slowly opened their eyes.
Some had slept for millions of years.
Some had long abandoned worldly matters.
Some no longer even interacted with lower civilizations.
Yet now, all of them were paying attention.
Because the Universe itself had moved.
Within this vast Universe existed countless organizations and civilizations beyond mortal imagination.
Some were classified as Factions.
Some as Constellations.
Some as Sovereigns, Clans, Pantheons, Sects, or Alliances.
And each category possessed numbers so vast they could not even be counted properly.
Entire dimensions were ruled by them.
Entire cosmic regions existed under their influence.
However, to truly become a well known force whose name echoed throughout existence was something entirely different.
Power alone was not enough.
Because throughout history, countless powerful groups had risen and disappeared.
Only those possessing both overwhelming strength and ancient foundations survived long enough to leave their names engraved into the history of the Universe itself.
Some of these organizations could trace their existence back to the earliest eras of creation.
Back to the very moment the Universe was born.
Ancient monsters who had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations beyond comprehension.
Existences who treated galaxies as territories and dimensions as mere resources.
And now, nany of those ancient beings had sensed it.
Something had appeared.
A variable.
A disruption.
A turning point capable of affecting the future of the entire Universe.
Meanwhile, within an unknown dimension hidden far beyond ordinary space and time.
There stood an enormous tree.
Its size was immeasurable.
Its roots stretched endlessly through dimensions themselves.
Its branches carried entire stars upon them like decorations.
Ancient runes glowed faintly across its bark, while countless streams of mana flowed around it like rivers surrounding a sacred existence.
This was not a World Tree.
No.
It was something far older.
Far greater.
Yggdrasil.
The legendary tree connecting countless realms together.
A structure spoken of only within ancient myths and forbidden records.
And atop one of its massive branches—
Two figures sat silently.
The surrounding atmosphere was calm, yet every movement around them seemed distorted by their mere existence.
One was a man with long black hair flowing down his shoulders, his red eyes calmly observing the endless cosmic sea before him.
The other figure appeared younger, wearing dark robes covered in ancient inscriptions that shifted constantly like living laws.
"So… if there are that many powerhouse groups, then isn't there any way for us to know which ones are the most important to take note of?"
The one who spoke was a small girl with long pink hair tied loosely behind her back.
She sat casually atop one of Yggdrasil's massive branches while swinging her legs lightly in the air.
In her hands was a candy formed entirely from the highest grade mana sugar.
Each bite she took released small sparkles of mana into the surroundings.
Despite her harmless appearance, the surrounding space naturally bent around her existence as though reality itself treated her carefully.
Meanwhile, beside her sat the silver haired man.
His aura felt calm.
Orderly.
Like a silent keeper of countless records and histories.
Ancient books floated quietly around him while countless glowing pages turned on their own.
At first glance, he resembled nothing more than a peaceful scholar.
Yet the pressure hidden beneath that calmness was enough to distort dimensions subconsciously.
"There is."
The man answered calmly.
"And surprisingly, the answer is quite simple."
The pink haired girl tilted her head curiously.
"Really?"
The man nodded once.
"The easiest major force to understand would be the Pantheons."
The girl blinked.
"Pantheons?"
"Why them?"
The man calmly rested one hand atop an ancient book before explaining further.
"Because unlike ordinary factions, clans, sovereigns, sects, or alliances…"
"There are only ten Pantheons in existence."
His words immediately caused the girl's expression to shift slightly.
"Only ten?"
The man nodded again.
"And there will never be an eleventh."
"Nor will there ever be less than ten."
The surrounding winds around Yggdrasil became quieter as he continued speaking.
"Because the Pantheons were not created through conquest or growth."
"They were born directly after the appearance of the Beings of the Beginnings."
The moment those words were spoken—
Even the playful girl became slightly more attentive.
Because the phrase "Beings of the Beginnings" carried terrifying significance throughout the Universe.
They were ancient existences who stood closest to the origin of creation itself.
Existences so old that even time felt meaningless before them.
The man's gaze lifted slightly toward the endless cosmic sky.
"The moment the Beings of the Beginnings appeared…"
"The Pantheons were formed soon after."
"They became the pillars stabilizing the structure of the Universe."
"And because of that…"
"They possess a supremacy no other faction can truly surpass."
The girl slowly stared at the candy in her hand thoughtfully.
Then after a moment, she spoke again.
"So if they are the absolute power…"
"Why would they allow other groups to exist at all?"
"Wouldn't it be easier if they ruled everything directly?"
The man gave a faint smile.
"Well…"
"The matters of the Universe are far too complicated to understand completely."
"But to answer your question…"
He slowly closed the floating book beside him.
"It is because the Universe requires balance."
The girl frowned slightly.
"Balance?"
The man nodded calmly.
"If chaos exceeds a certain limit…"
"What awaits the Universe is destruction."
The surrounding branches of Yggdrasil swayed slowly as his voice echoed softly.
"But if creation expands excessively…"
"The Universe itself becomes overwhelmed."
The girl looked genuinely confused now.
"But isn't the Universe infinite?"
"It keeps expanding endlessly, doesn't it?"
"And if it is infinite, how can it become overwhelmed?"
The man became silent briefly.
As though considering how to explain something even ancient beings struggled to comprehend fully.
Then finally—
He exhaled softly.
"And that…"
"Is exactly why I said the matters of the Universe are too complicated to understand."
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly in dissatisfaction.
"That explanation sounds lazy."
The man chuckled faintly.
"It is not laziness."
"It is caution."
His gaze slowly lifted toward the distant stars.
"But enough of that."
The silver haired man lightly waved his hand as several floating books shifted around him automatically.
Ancient pages turned rapidly on their own while countless glowing symbols appeared across the air.
"The Ten Pantheons are known as…"
His calm voice echoed softly beneath the enormous branches of Yggdrasil.
"Pantheon of Chaos."
"Pantheon of True Dragon."
"Pantheon of Heaven's Origin."
"Heavenly Court."
"Netjeru."
"Olympus."
"Asgard."
"Ethos."
"And Deva Mandala."
The moment each name was spoken—
The surrounding dimension subtly reacted.
As though the Universe itself acknowledged the existence of those names.
The pink haired girl blinked several times while listening carefully.
"Just hearing those names feels heavy…"
The man nodded calmly.
"That is normal."
"Each Pantheon carries authority vast enough to influence countless dimensions simultaneously."
"Some govern concepts."
"Some govern races."
"Some govern laws."
"And some…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…govern things even the Universe itself refuses to interfere with directly."
The girl quietly swallowed another piece of mana candy.
This time even she became noticeably more serious.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes brightened again.
"But what about factions?"
"Aren't there supposed to be countless factions throughout the Universe?"
The silver haired man gave a small nod.
"There are."
"Countless."
"Uncountable."
"Entire galaxies produce new factions every day."
"Some rise rapidly."
"Some disappear instantly."
"Some flourish for millions of years before collapsing overnight."
He calmly folded his hands together.
"But among all those countless factions…"
"There are only twenty that absolutely must be remembered."
The girl tilted her head curiously.
"Only twenty?"
The man nodded again.
"And every single one of them is extremely dangerous."
His tone became noticeably more serious now.
"Even the Pantheons themselves hesitate when dealing with those factions."
That statement immediately stunned the pink haired girl.
"Wait…"
"The Pantheons hesitate?"
"I thought you said they were the absolute authority."
"They are," the man answered calmly.
"They would not lose in a direct confrontation."
"But…"
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The consequences of fighting those factions are not worth the trouble."
"Some possess terrifying foundations."
"Some possess ancient histories."
"Some possess absurd numbers."
"And some…"
His gaze darkened faintly.
"…possess monsters even the Pantheons would rather avoid provoking unnecessarily."
The atmosphere around Yggdrasil became quieter.
Even the winds flowing through the branches slowed slightly.
Because the names he was about to mention were not names ordinary existences could casually hear.
Then, the man began listing them one by one.
"The High Humans Faction."
A golden symbol briefly appeared in the air.
"A faction known for producing terrifying geniuses throughout every generation."
"The Demon Faction."
A crimson rune flickered momentarily.
"An existence built entirely upon conquest, evolution, and endless warfare."
"The Celestial Faction."
"Ancient rulers of astral laws and heavenly authority."
"The Faction of Astral Archivists."
The floating books around him glowed faintly.
"A faction obsessed with recording every truth throughout existence."
"They are rumored to possess records dating back before modern eras."
"The Faction of Records."
The pink haired girl blinked.
"Aren't they similar?"
The man shook his head lightly.
"The Archivists seek knowledge."
"The Records govern knowledge."
"There is a difference."
He continued calmly.
"The Faction of High Elves."
"An ancient race whose affinity toward mana borders on absurdity."
"The Faction of Night Creation."
The surrounding shadows beneath Yggdrasil shifted faintly.
"A faction associated with forbidden creations and existence manipulation."
"The Faction of Immortal Seekers."
"A terrifying group obsessed with transcending mortality itself."
"The Faction of Fairies."
The girl blinked again.
"Fairies are dangerous?"
The silver haired man chuckled softly.
"The most harmless appearances are often the most dangerous."
"The Fairy Faction governs natural miracles, illusionary authority, and emotional manipulation."
"Even ancient beings avoid offending them carelessly."
He continued.
"The Faction of Blue Sea."
"Rulers of countless oceanic realms and abyssal dimensions."
"The Faction of Tower."
The atmosphere subtly became heavier.
"A mysterious faction connected to endless dimensional towers scattered throughout existence."
"No one fully understands their origin."
"The Faction of Believers."
"A civilization strengthened entirely through faith itself."
"The Faction of Epoch of Abyss."
The surrounding mana dimmed slightly.
"A faction tied deeply to ancient voids and forgotten darkness."
"The Faction of Executors."
"Beings associated with punishment, judgment, and universal enforcement."
"The Faction of Architects."
The silver haired man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"One of the oldest known factions."
"They are rumored to construct dimensions themselves."
"The Faction of Final Silence."
Even the wind stopped briefly when that name was spoken.
"A terrifying faction connected to endings."
"Some believe they appear only when civilizations are destined to disappear."
The pink haired girl quietly stopped eating entirely now.
Because even hearing these names felt dangerous.
The silver haired man continued calmly.
"The Faction of Magic."
"A faction devoted entirely toward the endless evolution of magic."
"The Faction of Boundless Horizon."
"A civilization obsessed with exploration beyond known reality."
"The Faction of Guides."
"Beings who interfere with fate pathways and dimensional destinies."
"And finally…"
The atmosphere around Yggdrasil darkened faintly.
"The Faction of Infernals."
A deep crimson glow flickered momentarily throughout the surrounding space.
"A faction feared even among ancient existences."
Silence followed afterward.
The pink haired girl stared blankly for several moments before speaking softly.
"…The Universe really is terrifying."
The silver haired man smiled faintly.
"You have only heard the surface."
His eyes slowly gazed toward the endless cosmos once more.
