The Lich's soul fire no longer flickered. It had gone still as death.
His will probed the tangled law nodes like a cold needle, tracing them again and again.
Every loss of control was as precise as a carefully staged performance.
Every clash deftly tore at the Seven Gods Alliance's already fragile trust.
This was no accident.
It was a trap laid in plain sight.
His opponent had not even bothered to hide what he was doing. He had counted on these proud High Gods being too consumed by fury and suspicion to think clearly.
"Lava Tyrant! Pull back those damned flames!" The Forest Goddess's will carried undisguised disgust. Scorching power had warped her domain of life.
The Lava Tyrant roared even louder. "Your vines wrapped around my chains of law first!"
They were like two beasts locked in the same cage, tearing at each other, oblivious to the hunter who had started the fight and was now enjoying the show.
The Lich withdrew his will entirely and took no further part in the argument.
Amid the noisy exchange of wills, his silence was conspicuous.
Another being noticed.
It was the God of Light, who had hovered high above them all along, like a star.
For an instant, his vast, pure Light Law rippled ever so slightly, as though something had touched it.
The ripple vanished at once, but the Lich caught it.
His soul fire contracted sharply.
The one lurking in the shadows even dared to provoke the God of Light.
What was he trying to do?
His aim was certainly not to break open the cage.
With methods this subtle, he could easily have made a temporary opening if he wanted to escape.
But he had not.
He was merely toying with them, sowing discord, savoring the pleasure