My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill-Chapter 288

"He was furious," Satou continued. "Angry that Chronus had betrayed him, lied to him, hired him and then tried to have him killed when he became a liability. With his dying breath, he cursed Chronus. Said he wanted to see the Time Lord join him in hell."

"And?" Seraphina prompted, her crimson eyes intense.

"He told me Chronus’s greatest vulnerability," Satou said. "The secret he’d been keeping for over three hundred years." He paused for effect. "Richard Clay isn’t just Chronus’s champion or servant. Richard Clay is literally half of Chronus himself. A temporal duplicate created through chronal magic that split Chronus’s power and soul into two separate beings."

Complete silence.

Loki stared at him like he’d just claimed the sky was green. Seraphina’s grip on his hand had gone almost painfully tight.

Then Loki whispered: "That’s impossible."

"Is it?" Satou challenged. "Chronus is the Time Lord. He’s mastered temporal magic beyond anyone else. If anyone could perform a ritual like that, it would be him."

"The magical theory..." Seraphina started, her mind clearly racing. "Splitting your existence across time, creating a duplicate... it’s theoretically possible, but the requirements would be insane. The ritual conditions alone..."

"A once-in-a-millennium astronomical alignment," Satou provided. "Chronus performed it three hundred years ago when everything aligned perfectly."

Loki had gone very still, his brilliant mind working through implications. "If Richard Clay is half of Chronus... if they’re connected through temporal threads and soul-links..."

"Then killing Richard permanently cripples Chronus," Satou finished. "The fifty percent of power invested in Richard would be lost forever. The soul-link rupturing would cause catastrophic feedback. Merc Assault estimated it would drop Chronus from tenth-seat power down to twentieth-seat equivalent. Maybe lower."

"No," Seraphina said, shaking her head. "That can’t be true. If Chronus had such an obvious vulnerability, someone would have discovered it by now. Someone would have killed Richard decades ago."

"Would they?" Satou asked. "Richard is always with Chronus. Always protected. And anyone who did discover the truth—like Merc Assault—would keep it secret. That kind of information is leverage. Insurance."

Seraphina’s wings were fully spread now, trembling with agitation. She turned to fully face Satou, both hands cupping his face. "Are you absolutely certain about this? Because if we act on false information, if we attack Richard and he’s not connected to Chronus..."

"We lose the element of surprise and gain nothing," Satou acknowledged. "Which is why I’m telling you. So you can verify it before acting."

Loki was quiet for a long moment. Then: "That’s why Chronus went insane when you beat Richard in the arena. I remember that day—the Time Lord lost all composure. Violated sacred council law. Risked execution." His golden eyes gleamed with dark understanding. "He wasn’t protecting his champion. He was protecting himself."

"Exactly," Satou confirmed.

"If this is true," Seraphina said slowly, her crimson eyes searching Satou’s face, "if Richard really is half of Chronus... we finally have a way to eliminate the Time Lord. After centuries of his schemes and manipulations..."

"We could end him," Loki finished, satisfaction clear in his voice.

But then his expression shifted to skepticism. "How do we know Merc Assault wasn’t lying? Or that this isn’t a trap Chronus set up himself?"

"We don’t," Satou admitted. "Not until we act on it. But Merc Assault was dying. He had nothing to gain from lying. What he did have was centuries of bitter resentment toward Chronus for betraying their alliance."

He leaned forward. "Merc Assault spent years collecting secrets. That was his trade, his weapon. He gathered information on everyone powerful. It’s how he protected himself—mutual assured destruction through blackmail. And he had centuries to study Chronus."

"The dying curse of a legendary assassin," Loki mused. "Revenge from beyond the grave by revealing his client’s greatest vulnerability."

"Even if there’s only a fifty percent chance the information is true," Satou pressed, "can we afford not to investigate? This is potentially our best shot at eliminating Chronus permanently."

The room fell silent as both demon lords considered.

Then Loki resumed his pacing, mind clearly working through scenarios. "The problem is verification. How do we prove Richard is connected to Chronus without tipping our hand? If we investigate too obviously, Chronus will know we’ve discovered his secret."

"We need Richard isolated from Chronus," Seraphina said, her tactical mind engaging. "Away from temporal protections. Then we could test the connection—see if damaging Richard causes feedback that Chronus experiences."

"But Richard never leaves Chronus’s side," Loki pointed out, frustration clear. "They’re always together. Always protected."

Satou felt anticipation building. This was it—the moment when everything would come together.

"Actually," Loki said slowly, his pacing stopping as he turned to face them, "that’s not entirely true anymore."

Everyone’s attention focused on him completely.

"What do you mean?" Satou asked, leaning forward.

"One of my deep-cover agents in Chronus’s territory sent a report three days ago," Loki explained, golden eyes gleaming with realization. "Something that seemed insignificant at the time, but now..."

"What?" Seraphina demanded. "What did your spy report?"

"Richard Clay left Chronus’s castle," Loki said, his voice carrying a mixture of excitement and caution. "For the first time anyone can remember, Richard departed the Time Lord’s protection and left alone."

The room erupted.

Seraphina’s wings spread fully, her entire posture shifting to predatory readiness. Jessica’s eyes widened. Lyra’s hand moved unconsciously toward where she’d normally keep weapons. Satou felt his smile widen genuinely for the first time that evening.

"When?" Satou demanded. "When did he leave? Where did he go?"

"The report said it was the day after news of Merc Assault’s death reached Chronus’s territory," Loki explained, falling into the cadence of an intelligence briefing. "My spy observed Chronus and Richard having an intense private conversation. Too many temporal wards to eavesdrop safely, but whatever they discussed was clearly serious."’

"And after?" Seraphina prompted.

"Richard left immediately," Loki confirmed. "No guards. No escort. Just Richard Clay departing alone through a portal. My spy tried to track where it led, but Chronus’s magic obscured the destination."

Satou felt triumph surge through him. "This is perfect. This is exactly the opportunity we need."