Chapter 552: The Epic Discussion with the Emperor

"Clang! Clang!" The melodious tolls of the bell echoed across the skies of the Uranos Empire's capital, filling many faces with surprise and confusion. The frequency of the bell tolls was unprecedented; no one could recall hearing the bell ring so many times, leading to a growing sense of unease among the populace.

"The Emperor's coronation only rang the bell nine times, but how many times has the Century Bell tolled now?"

"Ten... twelve times," someone stammered.

"Something monumental is happening."

Though the bell had stopped, the atmosphere in the capital had become intensely solemn. The citizens felt an overwhelming sense of oppression. The Century Bell was not easily tolled; it only rang for significant events such as the emperor's coronation or marriage, the triumphant return of an expeditionary force, or the ennobling of imperial nobles ranked Marquis or higher.

But twelve tolls of the Century Bell was unheard of. Even those holding significant power, grand nobles, legion commanders, or even the reigning emperor, had never heard twelve tolls before.

"What on earth is happening?" In the vast halls and corridors of the imperial palace, the most revered individual in the Uranos Empire, Emperor Sandra Kriss, sat on the throne, his brows furrowed. Despite ruling for several centuries, he had never heard the Century Bell toll twelve times.

"The Century Bell cannot be wrong," Emperor Sandra immediately dismissed any possibility of a malfunction. This bell was a divine artifact crafted by his ancestor, the first emperor of the Uranos Empire, and was infallible. It was intertwined with the laws of causality and fate, indicating that something of immense significance had occurred within the empire.

"Twelve tolls—what could be important enough to warrant that many chimes?" Sandra's thick brows knitted together in deep contemplation. The bell had tolled nine times for his own coronation, seven for his wedding, and merely five when a general had returned victorious from conquering a mid-sized material plane.

"I think I might recall something." The emperor stood, remembering some obscure records he had once read. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing in an ancient, time-worn library, filled with a palpable sense of history. He began poring over the imperial records only accessible to the emperor.

"Found it. The Century Bell tolling twelve times only happened once, at the founding of the empire, when two Epic Titans descended to attend the first emperor's coronation ceremony."

Sandra quickly found the information he sought in the empire's history, documented over 130,000 years ago. It detailed the events surrounding the first and only previous occurrence of twelve tolls.

"Twelve tolls signify the descent of an Epic Titan!"

Even with the emperor's practiced composure, his face showed signs of astonishment. "An Epic Titan has arrived, yet I felt nothing. Could Epics be so powerful that I sensed nothing?"

"This can't be!" Sandra was perplexed, a strange look on his face. "Even if an Epic Titan were visiting our ancestor, I should have sensed it. There's no reason I would feel nothing."

"Titan!" Sandra took a few steps in the library, hesitated for a moment, then made a firm decision. "I am the ruler of this empire. I have the right to know everything."

Having resolved himself, the black-haired, golden-eyed emperor raised his hand, tearing through the space around him and stepping into the dark void. He was determined to verify the records in the imperial history...

"Sandra, are you here because of the Century Bell?"

"Yes, Ancestor." Standing in the dark void, Sandra faced a radiant, shimmering light membrane. This was the nascent form of the World's Veil. Behind this veil was the founder of the Uranos Empire. Sandra could feel the overwhelming, almost suffocating presence emanating from it, akin to standing before a vast ocean or an endless sky.

"Return and calm your subjects. This is merely a minor disturbance. The Century Bell has made an error." The voice was imbued with immense authority and echoed in Sandra's ears.

"Ancestor, the Century Bell has never been wrong. I checked—twelve tolls signify the arrival of an Epic Titan." Sandra replied, convinced that the Epic Titan was just beyond the veil, likely conversing with his ancestor. Yet, because of his limited perspective, he was ignored.

"But this time, the Century Bell did err. Strictly speaking, it wasn't entirely incorrect, for this little one indeed possesses source power." The voice carried a hint of helplessness, deepening Sandra's confusion.

Within the eyes of the Uranos Empire's founding emperor, a black-haired, golden-eyed youth had descended from a colossal, thousand-meter-long airship, curiously surveying his surroundings. Those around him seemed to act as if he were invisible, completely ignoring his presence.

"Isn't possessing source power the hallmark of an Epic?" Sandra asked, puzzled. This was the very essence he had yearned for, something countless emperors had ventured into the void and perished seeking.

"There are always exceptional circumstances. This time is an anomaly. It's not an Epic Titan's descent but rather a young Titan with source power who has slipped into our world."

"The one with the dragon king's bloodline and Titan blood, Muria?" Sandra quickly connected the dots. Only the hybrid Titan, responsible for the deaths of over ten gods, fit his ancestor's description.

"Yes, it's him." The founding emperor of the Uranos Empire, also a hybrid Titan, continued to watch Muria's every move, while Muria remained oblivious.

"What is he doing here?" Sandra's expression was complex, envious of Muria's possession of source power. "It's not yet time for him to traverse the void. He's here too soon. And I received no prior notification."

"The boy must have snuck out, probably without his parents' knowledge."

"So, how should I handle this?" Sandra inquired, fully aware of the immense status this hybrid Titan held, something he had come to deeply understand twenty-five years ago.

"I have retired. You are the emperor now. Handle it as you see fit."

"Then I'll watch and do nothing, acting as if I'm unaware of his presence." Sandra decided, believing this to be the best course of action.

"..." There was no response.

"How should I explain the twelve tolls of the Century Bell to the nobles and generals of the capital?"

"Give no explanation. You are not the only one who knows what these tolls signify. Many nobles have retained this knowledge since the founding of the empire."

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