The auction hall fell into absolute silence. The sound of the gavel still seemed to hang in the air when the auctioneer, still stunned, declared:
"Sold! The Capsule of Destiny now belongs to the Lord of the SSSVIP Box!"
The crowd froze for a moment, unable to process the impact of that final bid. Billions of gold coins. A number that echoed like silent thunder in the hearts of everyone present.
Orion rose with the serenity of a celestial emperor. His gaze, calm and distant, was not one of arrogance, but of authority. He hadn't simply acquired a legendary artifact—he'd made it clear that here, he stood above the squabbles of mortals.
Beside him, Lyra could barely contain her proud smile.
"You really did it..." she murmured, eyes gleaming. "I knew you were powerful, but this... this is something else."
Orion simply nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Sometimes, you need to let the world catch a glimpse of who you truly are."
When the Capsule was handed to him, the sphere floated into his hands with a soft mystical vibration. Its touch sent a wave of energy through his body, as if the entire universe acknowledged him as its rightful bearer.
"Let's see what we can do with this."
---
Later, in the private room...
Orion turned the Capsule gently between his fingers, the relic's light reflecting across his face in ethereal gleams. Lyra watched him, mesmerized.
"So, what do you think it does?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips. He knew exactly what it was—but he wanted to see the dance of curiosity in Lyra's eyes.
She stepped closer, almost reverently. "It must be something extraordinary. Something that changes destinies, like its name suggests."
"Maybe..." Orion mused, teasing. "Or maybe it turns someone into a magnificent dragon. Just imagine: me, winged, breathing fire over mountaintops."
Lyra burst into laughter. "With me riding on your back, of course! Though now that I think about it... you'd make a much cuter unicorn."
"Unicorn?" Orion made a face, raising a hand to his head like a horn. "By all heavens... how humiliating for an eternal being!"
"Humiliating, but adorable!" she shot back with a grin.
"You're the adorable one," he replied, gaze softening. "But enough jokes. What do you say we create a little adventure? Just the two of us."
Lyra smiled. "What do you mean?"
"The capsule can shape realities," he said, gently activating its power. "Let's imagine together. A feast, an epic journey, a parallel world... whatever you want."
"A world full of magical desserts!" Lyra laughed. "And you summoning giant cakes with a fairy army!"
"Perfect," Orion said. "Then let's go."
Together, with their hands resting on the Capsule of Destiny, they focused on a pure wish—a reality where joy, magic, and imagination were woven together.
The sphere glowed, and in an instant, they were enveloped by a multicolored wave of energy that carried them away.
---
Year 15, Day 3 of the Third Month – Imperial Calendar of Eryndor
While Orion and Lyra explored worlds born of their will, the Empire of Eryndor continued its rapid expansion.
Thanks to the Dao of Time, only a few months had passed in the outside world—but within the empire, over five years had flown by.
The lands were more fertile than ever, and society flourished under Orion's legacy. Children studied in sacred temples, sages gathered to debate new cultivation doctrines, and the councilors—rejuvenated—led with newfound wisdom.
At the Cultivation Academy within the Temple of the Dao of Death, Instructor Jhon—a being summoned directly by Orion—guided his students with quiet, formidable authority.
Tall, slender, pale as marble, Jhon radiated power. The very room seemed to bow before his presence.
"Death," he began, his deep voice echoing through the stone, "is not the end. It is merely a doorway."
The children listened in silence, eyes wide, absorbing every word.
"To cultivate the Dao of Death is to understand the cycle. Every life ends so that another may begin. Those who master this Dao transcend the boundaries of birth and death."
Orbs of black and silver energy floated around him as he walked between the students.
"You must learn three things," he continued. "First: accept that death is not an enemy. Second: feel the cycle of samsara—birth, death, rebirth. And third..." He stopped, locking eyes with a young girl. "Understand that to walk this path... you will have to sacrifice."
A chill swept through the room. Some students swallowed hard. Others simply nodded, expressions resolute.
"The Dao of Death is dangerous. Seductive. Many have been consumed by it. If you wish to follow this path, do so with reverence and resolve."
He raised his hand, and an ethereal skull appeared in his palm—not as a threat, but as a symbol of wisdom.
"Death teaches. Death purifies. And if you are worthy... it will make you eternal."
---
And so, as Orion shaped realities and nurtured love, his empire learned to walk the path of immortality—not just with power, but with purpose.
The future of Eryndor was only beginning to unfold. And the seeds Orion had planted would blossom for centuries to come—some in light, others in shadow.
But all of them, inevitably, shaped by Destiny.