The answer from the Dragon Clan Leader left Modir frozen on the spot. This old mage had always considered himself strong-willed and unflappable; no matter what he encountered, he rarely fell into a state of bewilderment. Yet only now did he realize that composure merely meant he had never encountered a situation truly absurd—an ancient god who had been missing for over 1.8 million years had just come crashing down in front of him with a bang. Even the calmest state of mind would be stirred into enormous waves at a time like this.
"You... tell me the details," Modir said, unable to stop himself from leaning forward, his face full of shocked curiosity. "An ancient god that went missing? Gods can be 'missing'?"
"Of course. Gods can even be killed, exiled, flee, hide, and under certain circumstances, commit suicide—divinity and humanity are two sides of the same coin," Heragol said gravely. But before continuing to answer Modir's questions, he first confirmed the old mage's condition. "Discussing gods is dangerous. I must first make sure of your situation, Master Modir. Are you certain that you faced that... god directly? And heard Its voice?"
"I'm sure, absolutely sure—why else would I joke about something like that?"
"My apologies. This matter is simply too bizarre, so I cannot help confirming it several times," Heragol said with a nod. "When you heard Its voice and saw Its form, did you feel any Mental Corruption? After awakening, did you hear any persistent murmuring or other strange sounds in your mind?"
"No. That's what I find strange too—I know what Mental Corruption is. In certain ancient ruins and relic sites, I've encountered artifacts tainted with Mental Corruption. The corruption produced by evil spirits and resentful souls can linger for quite a long time, yet after