Within the Towers, inside his office, sat the Headmaster, twirling his beard as he read a simple-looking grimoire.
Suddenly, a mana screen emerged before him without warning or permission.
He frowned and laid down his book. “Who dares break into my mind?!” he spoke coldly.
“Headmaster, it’s me.” Liliya appeared on the screen as calm as ever, though something about her was noticeably different. Her eyes now seemed deeper than the universe itself.
“Liliya! Where are you?!” The Headmaster stood up.
“I am in the Central Continent. Please listen. Luminarius is preparing for another Divine War, and we cannot allow this with everything else that is going on.” She spoke calmly.
“What?! Damn that Luminarius! What do you mean, with everything that is going on?”
“I have discovered that the Enemy has breached the Realm of Remains, and it would also seem that the universal barrier will not hold for much longer. We cannot afford another internal war.” She explained. The Eldari seemed to know far more than anyone else on Sacra, and they had chosen to hide it all.
Merrylius frowned. “So, this is why the fates have been in disarray lately. Child, I understand what you are saying, but we cannot do anything here. We are all too weak.” He spoke solemnly.
“No, that is not correct. We need to cut off Luminarius’s power by taking control of the Central Continent. With the power of faith removed from the equation, we will be able to prevent the war or at least weaken him.” She spoke calmly.
“Invade the Central Continent? Child, Eastsun is more broken than ever. Zenith and Paleria are at war. Ilun has been erupting with immense ripples of time mana, while Solkara and Westland are completely closed off to any cooperation.” Merrylius said.
“I will leave Eastsun to you then. I can take over the Central Continent alone. Do not disappoint me, Headmaster.” Liliya spoke coldly, and the mana screen faded.
“Her alone? Is she crazy? Damn, damn. I am nowhere near Ascension, and now another war is brewing on the horizon. Aaaah, where are you, Kai? Where is my Flame?!” He suddenly screamed and teleported away.
***
Seraine entered Theodor’s office and carefully closed the doors behind her.
“Hello, Lady Archon. How can I help you?” Theo asked politely.
“I bring a message from the Headmaster. Liliya has contacted him. She claims that another Divine War will soon begin and that we need to unite and prepare for the worst.” Seraine spoke calmly.
Theo frowned. “What can we do?”
“It would be helpful to stop the northern war between Zenith and Paleria, though that is up to the Towers. You do not need to concern yourself with that. For now, please increase artifact production and prepare for the return of our expedition crew from the Realms. They should be back within a month.” She spoke and left.
Theo remained seated, lost in thought.
***
Back in the First Hell, where time flowed more slowly than on Sacra, Mortia had just assembled all her children and awaited Eiron and Dion, the God of Reincarnation. The three of them had held off Luminarius during the last war, but this time they had gathered to celebrate. Mortia had invited them all to honor her gifted student, her brother, and the birth of a new Dragon God, Arthraxius.
In a large circular chamber, a massive round table sat at the center, all sorts of food and refreshments neatly arranged upon it. Gods of Death, alongside Kai’s spirits, Umbra, Seleneth, and the two recently arrived gods, filled the seats around it.
Viridya sat beside Seleneth and Eiron, talking about her life and everything that had transpired, while Umbra was the center of attention for the Gods of Death as they welcomed her as one of their own, making Mortia especially proud.
Kai, though, sat with Scry, Solivus, and Gaeruda, all four eating like starving beasts.
“Getting your body remade sure makes you hungry,” Kai muttered between bites, while Scry moaned happily, his white and crimson fur stained with gravy.
Solivus managed to steal a large piece of meat from under Scry’s nose. “Stealing my meat? That’s why you are fat, you pigeon!” Scry cursed.
“I am not fat, and I am not a pigeon any longer!” Solivus barked back, while Gaeruda chuckled and continued chewing.
“You are right, young Kai. Growing stronger sure does open up an appetite.” He chuckled again.
Suddenly, Kai paused mid-bite and raised his head toward the other side of the table, where Dion sat staring him down.
Kai frowned and whispered, “Found something interesting?”
Dion smiled and stood up, making his way toward Kai.
“You are an interesting being. The Strings of Reincarnation are twisted around you as if you were made from them. I have never seen such a sight. Can you tell me about your life?” Dion asked as he dragged a chair beside Kai.
“Look, I was never reincarnated. I do hold a connection to a bunch of gods and spirits, so maybe it’s that?” Kai replied seriously.
“Hmmm, it might be. Though that is quite unlikely. Could I inspect your soul, perchance? It could be helpful to you.” Dion offered.
“Fine.” Kai nodded and lowered his defenses. He had never heard anything bad about the Primordial, and he was Eiron’s and Mortia’s friend, so he chose to trust him.
The god dove into Kai’s inner core space and whispered,
“One soul, life is a road. One soul, life is a twisting journey.”
As he chanted, the draconic serpent opened its eyes, and upon its forehead, a third eye appeared and burst open. With a flash of crimson light, Dion was violently tossed back outside.
Sweat covered his forehead, while his silver hair rose as though sharp winds were blowing around him.
“It would seem that your soul is not willing to be inspected.” He chuckled dryly.
“Let’s leave it at that, then. As I already told you, I am not a reincarnated soul. Others have already made sure to check.” Kai said coldly.
“I see. Well, that does not make you any less interesting. Could I hear your story?” Dion asked politely.
Kai sighed and nodded.
He spoke of his life from the moment he arrived on Sacra until now, making the god smile, frown, laugh, cry, and occasionally look deeply concerned.
“You have been through a lot,” Dion said, lost in thought.
“And it’s not even over yet.” Kai chuckled. “Now, if you could excuse me, I am still quite hungry.”
With that, Kai returned to his meal.
***
The whole feast lasted for two full days, when a massive winged skeletal bird landed in a hurry. Shifting into a black-skinned man with a large staff strapped to his back, he ran into the celebration hall.
“Brothers, I bring grave news!” he roared as he swung the doors wide open and strode inside, his heavy, pale armor clunking against his sturdy frame.
“What is it, Duran?” Eiron asked as he stood and met him face to face.
“Luminarius has summoned the Elemental Gods. They are preparing for another war,” Duran spoke solemnly.
“That damn fool!” Mortia roared, crushing a goblet within her hand.
“Lady Mortia, please calm down. Can we hear more?” Kai cut in, his calmness like a tide washing over the massive hall.
The gods all turned toward him and stared as Eiron smiled and nodded. “Come. Young Kai is correct. Tell us more.”
“Who is he?” Duran asked, confused. He had not yet met anyone capable of commanding attention in a hall occupied by three Primordials and dozens of High Gods.
“That is the new God of Soul, Time, and Space. Though he claims that he is not a god but something else,” Eiron explained, amused.
“Wait, what? A god of all three Primordial Forces?” Duran froze mid-step.
“It’s complicated, but to say that he is less than that would be an understatement,” Eiron added.
God Duran gulped as he approached the round table.
“Lady Mortia, Your Holiness Dion, and my lord Eiron. I greet you all, as well as the High Gods and Lord Kai, the first of his kind.” He bowed deeply, the white marrow wings on his back folding gently behind him.
The gods nodded politely while Kai simply waved, smiling, he and Scry not stopping their meal even for a moment. Umbra and Arthraxius paid little attention as well.
“Luminarius heard that we had gathered here and has used this as a reason to start a new war. He claims that we are all working to remove the Elemental Gods from power and take over the elements ourselves. He claims that we are also working with the Enemy and wish to bring corruption to the realms.” The god finished.
Mortia paused for a moment before a massive beam of death mana erupted from her being, striking the reinforced ceiling. One would think the ceiling had been constructed from enchanted Arg Ore for this very reason.
“He is just looking for excuses. I know that bastard very well. He wants to rule over all the gods. He has wanted nothing more than to take Progenius’ position ever since he was born. It was because of him that the First War started, and it was because of him that we lost so many gods on both sides during the Wars of Sacra. And now, once again, he wishes to do the same. When the Enemy is growing stronger and stronger, when his influence begins to seep into the outer realms. Some time ago, he sent his forces into the Dragon Realm, and just recently, he attacked Kai and Lord Arthraxius in the Realm of Remains, sending his general, Dark Cyclops, after them. This all shows that it will not be long before Fiends and Netherdemons begin invading our realms.” She spoke passionately yet sternly.
“If I didn’t know better, I would say that Luminarius might be working with the Enemy,” Kai cut in.
The gods all gasped and fell silent.
“It would make sense. All of his actions so far have actually helped the Enemy, but he is the very Light of Creation, the first of the elements born alongside Progenius and Nyx Tenebris. To betray us would be to betray himself, his very existence,” Dion said.
“Young Kai, Dion is correct. He is just a greedy fool, but he is no traitor. The Enemy hates Light the most. He blames it for waking him up; he blames it for giving his existence an opposite force, and he hates it more than anything,” Eiron explained.
“Maybe, maybe not. I ask you to think about it.” Kai said calmly.
“Kai, do you know something?” Viridya asked through their connection.
“Not at all, but from everything that I have seen and learned, this makes the most sense. I will act with the idea that it is correct. In the end, he needs to perish. There is too strong a grudge between us now.” Kai said coldly.
“Well said, Master!” Solivus nodded.
“Haha, killing Primordial Gods? I’ll be damned. Sign me up!” Gaeruda chuckled excitedly.
“While I have you all here, what can you tell me about the Order of the Herald? One of them tried to abduct me a while ago. I fear that they won’t like what I did to their Hydragon.” Kai mused.
“The Order worships the Hydragon, but above all else they worship Chaos. And you, my friend, are the very embodiment of Chaos. Within you exists everything that exists in the universe. Your very existence brings Chaos to both Sacra and the Infinite Nest. It is as if you are trying to contain an entire grand universe within another, smaller universe. So even if you are no longer the Hydragon, it matters little to them, since you are still what they worship.” Eiron explained.
“That is a good thing, though,” Mortia added.
“Indeed. If you can bring them under your rule, having those psychos fight on our side will be as valuable as having six more Primordials. They all practice twisted, unnatural arts, much like yourself.” Eiron continued.
“I see. You said that I am a universe within a universe. What do you mean?” Kai questioned.
“You might not be aware of it yet, but you have used the building blocks of creation to create a real, living, infinite universe. It is still only in its infancy, but once it grows enough, it will become a truly functioning universe, with actual beings living within it, creating nations, fighting wars, and ascending to godhood. What do you think that will make of you if you are the sky beneath which those gods live? You will become something never seen before, but even I am not certain what that will mean for you or Sacra. Will you be able to stay and live as part of its rules if you yourself are a living universe? It is difficult to say.” Eiron tried to explain his thoughts.
“That is insane,” Kai muttered, making the gods burst out laughing.
“Indeed, it is.” Eiron nodded, chuckling.
“But I am not worried. I will find a way.” Kai smiled confidently. “You see, you all represent your beliefs, but I represent winning despite everything. How can I even think about losing my place beside my friends and family? That would go against my very existence. So yeah, I am not worried. Now why don’t you show me where to find these freaks from the Order?” Kai smiled.
“This is why he could climb this high,” Scry whispered to Arthraxius.
“Indeed. Not even a dragon could be this headstrong. He truly makes us old fools reconsider our choices. We will have to arrange for him to meet the Primal Dragon. I think he actually stands a chance of making him fight once more.” Arthraxius added.
“The old Primal, huh? I have not seen him in ages. We really do have a lot on our plate. I cannot wait!” Scry grinned excitedly.
***
Posting tomorrow's and Friday's chapters since I have a work-related trip for the next few days.