Ten Lucky Draws: I Became OP

Chapter 617: Threshold Seven - Ceasefire?

With that Celeste, Seraphiel, Aeloris, and Tiamat descended from the fractured skies into the Seventh Threshold of the Prime Expanse.

The moment they crossed into the Threshold, the scale of the place became apparent.

It wasn’t the size of typical continents, realms, or anything else—it was a massive, layered structure that spanned the scale of multiple planes of existence.

There were vast floating fortresses, connected by bridges of condensed light and reinforced conceptual matter, that extended endlessly in every direction.

As mentioned before, Thresholds served both as a military stronghold and a place of respite.

While most of its residents were frequently summoned to fight along the Wall of Death, there were still areas where they could rest, train, or simply live without the constant weight of battle looming over them.

Each individual possessed a private realm — a personal domain shaped by their own vision — that drifted like an island among the many layers.

Some of these realms were modest, while others were magnificent, showing that even within a strict system, everyone found a way to create a space uniquely their own.

The women landed on the lowest visible layer, which was clearly designated for Wardens.

The streets here were wide and functional, lined with reinforced structures made of dark stone and glowing runes.

Groups of Wardens moved about — some in small squads returning from the frontlines, others resting in open courtyards or gathered around floating platforms that served as makeshift taverns and training grounds.

The atmosphere wasn’t tense, but it wasn’t relaxed either. It carried the quiet fatigue of soldiers who knew peace was temporary.

Seraphiel glanced around, her red and black hair swaying as her phoenix-like eyes took in the surroundings.

"This place is about what I expected," she said. "It feels much like the other few thresholds..."

Aeloris nodded, her green hair shifting as she looked up at the multiple floating layers above them.

"Indeed, however... it may be interesting to see how these beings operate differently from others."

Tiamat crossed her arms, her scaled tail swaying as she watched a group of Wardens quietly drinking and chatting in the nearby courtyard.

"Yeah, right... that doesn’t sound fun at all," she remarked, glancing at Celeste.

"So, what now? Do we just wander around aimlessly?"

Celeste remained silent for a moment, her golden blindfolds facing forward as she sensed the flow of the Threshold.

"Why are dragons so impatient?" she finally said with a teasing smile.

"You should learn to live a little."

Her words were playful, but there was truth in them.

As before, they had been given free rein to do whatever they wished within the Prime Expanse until further notice.

With the others having been here for quite some time, there was no telling what they might be up to.

What caught Celeste’s interest, however, was the ruler of this Domain.

This Threshold was essentially a higher form of Destiny—something well within her expertise.

By dimensional standards, the ruler here should have even greater mastery over it.

So why not check it out for herself?

She spoke as they continued walking.

"We’ll move upward layer by layer until we reach the one who rules this place. I want to see how far these beings are able to push concepts."

Seraphiel arched an eyebrow.

"Well, shouldn’t we just head over there right now?"

Celeste gave a small shake of her head.

"Not right away. Let’s take our time... there’s no point in rushing." She gave a casual shrug.

"Who knows? We might not have much time to enjoy this place once he shows up."

Tiamat huffed, "Well, at least promise me you’ll have a good battle with the ruler."

Truth be told, she didn’t mind venturing into unfamiliar lands—after all, she had spent so much of her life confined and yearned for the freedom to roam.

What she couldn’t tolerate, however, was dullness.

Boredom was the true enemy.

And as for most dragons, well, they had a thing for battle or pure, unfiltered chaos.

"Hmm, I promise~" Celeste said with a chuckle as they moved deeper into the threshold.

-----

With the Prime Expanse being on a countdown to doom, one that was slow but now inevitable.

There existed two beings so far beyond those of the Prime Expanse, the two beings that were behind the entire war in the first place.

Above the Prime Expanse, true enough there was nothing at all... well, nothing none of the beings inhabiting the place would ever be able to get to.

This was the Primordial Expanse.

It was not a place that could be traveled or ascended to through conventional means.

It existed at the absolute collection of everything and nothing....

The place where Existence and Nonexistence converged.

On one side stretched an endless expanse of pure white — radiant, creative, and infinite in its potential to birth.

On the other stretched an endless expanse of absolute black — devouring, silent, and infinite in its capacity to erase.

Between these two opposing forces lay a thin, perfectly neutral bubble.

This was, of course, the First Absence — the original state that existed before either Existence or Nonexistence had taken shape.

It was also the home of Minx, where the Treasury once stood.

Neither light nor dark, neither creation nor destruction, it simply was — a silent, empty balance that predated all things.

For countless cycles, this boundary remained undisturbed, stretching back to near the dawn of time itself.

Well, that was until now.

In this moment, two figures materialized at the edge of the First Absence.

On the white side stood the Mother, her long white hair flowing like rivers of newborn stars.

Her presence radiated boundless creation, and her eyes contained the birth and death of countless realities all at once.

She gazed across the neutral bubble with a calm, unreadable expression.

On the black side stood the Father, a silhouette of pure absence.

Where he existed, light bent and died, and the very concept of "being" felt fragile. His form was elegant yet terrifying, as if he was the final silence that waited at the end of all things.

They had not appeared here together since the very beginning — since the moment they had first agreed to play their eternal game.

At first, neither of them said a word.

They just stood at the boundary, gazing across the First Absence at each other. After a long pause, the Mother finally spoke, her voice gentle but carrying easily across the divide.

"...It seems something has decided to ruin our little game."