Chapter 2222: Declaration of War. "The Universe cries because it cannot fight what it does not understand. And so— Its children must stand and protect it." The Entity of Balance declared, his voice echoing throughout the Universe, and every being present felt a strong urge to fight for what was right. To fight for their... Universe and protect it with everything they had. Even if it... cost them their lives. For a moment, there was silence. No being spoke, everyone was considering the weight of Balance’s words, but then— Orravyn Eternity, the Infinity of Eternity, stepped forward. The book by his side turned a page on its own, its symbols flaring in gold for a heartbeat before fading into nothingness. "The Anomaly is not a god." He began. His voice was neither loud nor soft; it was calm, patient and... scholarly—like a being who had endless knowledge to offer. "He is a mistake that learned how to survive. A being from another realm, cast out or escaped—it no longer matters which. What matters is that he has found a way to devour what does not belong to him." He lifted his gaze, his amethyst eyes shimmering with slow-turning golden rings. "He has consumed worlds, bent laws, and taken souls to fuel himself. He does not kill out of hatred. He consumes out of hunger." Eternity raised his hand, and the Veil shifted again—showing the Anomaly’s Immortal Army, the worlds he had devoured, and the absurd number of lives he had taken. "This... is his pattern. He grows stronger as our Universe weakens. Every world he takes loosens the barrier that protects us from him. If he devours enough... he will not just enter our Universe. He will... replace it." A hush swept through the cosmos. No one breathed. No one... dared to. Eternity’s voice then softened. "But he has made a mistake." He spoke calmly. "His movements... have awakened us." He turned toward the others, smiling faintly. "For the first time in... eons, The Infinities stand together." The four voices overlapped, merging into one sound that shook galaxies. "We, the Infinities of this Universe—Light, Darkness, Balance, and Eternity—declare this to all life: The age of division ends today." The screen blazed brighter than the sun, making even the night sky as bright as day. "Our quarrels will be set aside. Our wars will be forgotten. For now, there stands an enemy beyond all laws, beyond all life, beyond... creation itself." Their combined presence poured through every star, strengthening... the very fabric of existence. "This enemy is not one of us. He is a foreign will—a parasite feeding on the life of the Universe. He seeks to devour the Worlds, to turn the living into shadows of himself." Seraphielle’s wings opened wide again, scattering divine light across creation. "But we will not allow it." Ul’Thakar raised his hand, his shadow stretching across the Veil like a colossal storm. "He will learn what it means to trespass upon another god’s domain." Equarios lowered his gaze, hands clasped. "From this moment forth, the Four Infinities act as one." Orravyn’s book glowed. "And the Universe itself shall be our witness." The Veil pulsed, splitting into four shimmering colors—gold, black, blue, and silver-white—each carrying the words of one Infinity. Seraphielle stepped forward, "To every being who carries even a spark of light within— Rise. Do not let your heart falter, for this battle is not between gods alone. It is the battle of creation against the void." Her voice warmed the air of a million worlds. "The Light will protect as it used to. It will guide, it will heal, it will stand as the first wall between you and the threat that seeks to consume you. And when the threat approaches, remember— Light does not retreat." Ul’Thakar’s crimson gaze gleamed from behind the veil of smoke. "To those who live in shadow, who bear and reflect pain, who walk unseen— You are not forgotten. You are my children too." The skies of countless worlds dimmed—not from fear, but from reverence. "Let the Universe know not to mistake stillness for weakness. Let the Universe know that the Darkness shields just as the Light burns. And when the invader comes, we shall show him what true fear feels like." His smirk flashed across a thousand horizons. "Let the foreign god taste the despair of the night that even stars bow before." Equarios extended his hands. Rings of blue and silver light expanded outward like ripples in water. "And to those who seek peace, to those who uphold reason, to those who heal instead of harm— Stand firm. Do not give in to panic, nor to the whispers that promise power for chaos." He turned his gaze upon the countless worlds watching him. "The Anomaly feeds on imbalance. It thrives on destruction, confusion, and despair. Deny it that nourishment. Stay united. Live. And in living, you wound him more than any blade could." Finally, Orravyn spoke again, his tone serene but infinite, carrying the weight of a certain... inevitability. "And to those who remember, who record, who wonder— Your duty is knowledge. Watch. Learn. Endure." His book turned again, pages glowing as if every moment in history was being rewritten before their eyes. "Because in the end, even time bows to those who understand it." He smiled faintly. "The Anomaly believes himself to be Infinite. But Infinity is not longevity—it is meaning. And meaning... belongs to us." FWHOOOSH As the Four finished their... vows, a new light filled the skies—not from them, but from... the Universe itself. Every world pulsed with color. Every river glittered. Every sun burned... warmer. Galaxies tilted slightly in their courses, aligning like petals turning toward sunlight. The hearts of the living—mortals, beasts, cultivators alike—trembled as they heard something beneath the Infinities’ voices— A deeper, far more... older sound. The heartbeat of creation. Pulsing with... life again. The Universe. It was relishing in joy, a strong, impossibly recognizable joy. Across all the worlds, people fell to their knees—staring upward in awe. Even the World Leaders, arrogant beings who ruled their people like gods, bowed their heads, for they understood: This was not mere words or speech. It was... A historical moment— A moment that would change the history of their Universe—for the worse or for the better. A moment they were all part of. And as the very Universe celebrated their words with them—the Infinities’ voices rose again. "To the one who devours our worlds— To the thief who calls himself Anomaly— Hear this." The Veil trembled, every color blending into a single blazing brilliance that stretched from end to end of the cosmos. "You have taken what is not yours. You have crossed the boundary of creation. You have sown despair in a home that is not your own." Ul’Thakar’s shadow spread wider, like a storm embracing the stars. "You wished for gods to notice you. Now you have our attention." Seraphielle’s wings flared, her light bursting into the hearts of suns. "You wished for power beyond your Universe. Now you shall learn what power truly is." Equarios’s halo turned like a vast celestial wheel. "You wished for chaos. You will find balance instead." And Eternity’s book closed with a soft snap that echoed across worlds. "You wished to write your story into ours. But this Chapter... belongs to us." Their combined voices thundered across the fabric of space. "Let all beings bear witness— The Four Infinities stand united. And this... is our declaration of War." As those words echoed throughout the Universe, the bright light began to fade. The Veil started dissolving. But before it vanished completely, Eternity’s gaze turned—looking through the stars, beyond what was... comprehensible. And this time—his tone changed to something... softer, more... uncertain. After all, this time, he wasn’t talking to mortals, but to someone... far... different. Someone far more... complex. "To the Seer who watches all paths— We call to you. The threads of fate are knotting again. If you can still hear us, lend us your sight." Then, Light stepped forward, adding her own words as her voice was tinged with both reverence and challenge. "To the Fifth Infinity—the one who turned from us. Your silence has lasted long enough. If your will still lies with this Universe, Prove it now." And finally, the last voice came, the voice that belonged to Darkness—but this time, it wasn’t a call. It was a warning. "And to the one who hides beneath the ashes of Chaos... If you still exist, Zylarith Chaosveil... Then rise." The word ’rise’ rippled through creation like a curse and a prayer combined. Every world shuddered, every star flickered, every being lowered their head as Balance’s calm and steady words closed the moment— "The stage is set. The pieces will move again. May the Universe guide the worthy." And then... silence. Absolute silence fell all over the Universe. The Veil vanished, leaving only the memory of light and shadow in the sky. But the worlds did not return to their old rhythm. They pulsed, alive. Every corner of existence glowed faintly, as though blessed by something divine. In that quiet village under the blue-lit sky, the same boy who had looked up before was still standing there, his knees trembling. The fire before him burned bright again, almost playful. The air shimmered with warmth that shouldn’t exist at night. He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his heart beat faster—and for the first time in his life, he smiled. Somewhere deep in his soul, he knew. The gods had not abandoned them. They had simply been waiting for the right moment to return. And that moment... had finally come.