Chapter 10 Commissioned Before Noon
In the majestic floating citadel known as the Pantheon Seat, high above the center of the continent, the emergency assembly had turned into barely controlled panic.
A silver-robed divine slammed his fist hard against the polished marble table. "They survived the entire night together. Not only survived…he actively used her power. Controlled it with precision. Reports from three independent sources confirm every detail. Darius Valeborn is no longer some minor embarrassment or political joke. He has become a full crisis."
Murmurs and angry whispers spread through the gathered members. Another high-ranking divine leaned forward, his eyes burning with cold fury. "One marriage is complete and the delicate balance we maintained for centuries is already fracturing. The empires are sending frantic messages. If he manages to bind even one more Calamity, the entire order we built will collapse."
Far below on the ground, similar urgent meetings were happening in every major empire. In the grand war room of Eldrath’s imperial palace, the Emperor stared at a massive strategic map now marked with fresh red indicators showing the spread of alarming news.
"He walked away from Mara alive and unharmed," the Emperor said, voice tight with disbelief. "Now he carries her power with him. This situation cannot be allowed to continue under any circumstances."
A veteran general standing at his side spoke in a grim tone. "The other six empires are mobilizing their own forces as well. They all recognize the threat. A single man gaining control of even one Calamity completely disrupts the balance of power we have maintained through fear for generations."
Back inside the Pantheon Seat, a hooded figure rose slowly from his seat. "Then we stop pretending this is a minor inconvenience. The Seven Calamities were created as our weapons of control. We will not permit them to fall into the hands of some cursed, exiled minor prince from a failing bloodline."
The entire assembly voiced their agreement. Before noon had even passed, a new coalition was formally created and commissioned.
They named it the Husband Hunters.
The group united the most skilled assassins from the shadowed guilds across the continent, divine agents granted limited fragments of godly power, and highly trained political operatives from every empire. All of them were bound under one single, uncompromising directive: prevent Darius Valeborn from completing any of the remaining six marriages by whatever means necessary.
In a heavily guarded underground chamber beneath the imperial palace, the newly appointed coordinator addressed the first assembled team of this coalition.
"Your only purpose from this moment forward is to stop him," the coordinator declared, his voice echoing off the cold stone walls. "Darius Valeborn must not reach the second Marriage Ground. He must not be allowed to bind Veth or any of the others. You are authorized to use every method available… assassination, sabotage, blackmail, spreading rumors, or turning entire regions against him if necessary."
One hardened assassin leaned forward with a sharp grin. "And the Plague Goddess who now travels with him?"
"Neutralize her influence wherever possible," the coordinator answered coldly. "But the primary and absolute priority remains the man himself. Kill Darius Valeborn before he grows any stronger."
The agents and operatives nodded with focused determination, already breaking off into smaller groups to plan their individual approaches.
Meanwhile, far to the north in the remote Ashen Threshold borderlands, Darius and Mara made final preparations to leave the area for good.
Darius carefully checked and rechecked their travel packs near the edge of the old trading post. He tested the weight and balance of each bag with methodical care. "We travel as light as possible. We avoid the main roads whenever we can. The Marriage Ground for Veth lies deep within heavily contested territory. Reaching it safely will not be easy."
Mara stood nearby, observing him organize their limited supplies with calm, precise movements. "You expected this strong reaction from the empires and the Pantheon."
"I counted on it," Darius replied evenly. "The louder and more desperate their panic becomes, the more mistakes they will inevitably make. Our best advantage is to stay quiet, stay focused, and always remain one step ahead."
Mara’s golden eyes studied his face closely. "They are already calling the new coalition the Husband Hunters. I can feel the shift happening in the air across the continent. Divine agents and imperial operatives working together for the first time in centuries."
Darius nodded as he secured the final strap on the larger pack. "Good. Giving them a name makes them easier to predict and counter. We focus only on the next step. Reach Veth’s Marriage Ground. Secure the second bond. Then we adjust the plan for whatever comes after."
He straightened up and looked directly at her. "Are you ready?"
Mara stepped smoothly to his side without hesitation. "I am with you."
The two of them began walking away from the borderlands together, two solitary figures moving steadily into the vast and increasingly hostile continent that now lay ahead of them.
Back in the secure underground chamber beneath the palace, the coordinator gave the final order as the Husband Hunters prepared to disperse across the empires and begin their deadly hunt in earnest.
"Kill him before the second marriage."
There was a brief, heavy pause in the room. One of the senior divine agents, his voice colder and sharper than all the others, corrected the command with quiet finality.
"No."
"Kill him before he becomes something we can’t."