Whoosh—
A howling sound came from the sky. It was the sound of the towering Skeleton Giant's body leaning forward.
For the first time, this terrifying, powerful monarch leaned forward and gazed at He Ao. "Were you the one behind what happened in Dawn City?"
"I don't think that wording is quite appropriate," He Ao said, holding the Illusory Badge in his hand as he smiled up at the Skeleton Giant. "At the very least, you should say that I 'saved' Dawn City."
Boom—
Thunder rumbled within the dense fog. A violent gale suddenly swept through it, tearing violently at the twisted shadows inside the mist.
One beam of radiance after another lit up beneath the massive throne of white bone, outlining complex symbols that were both mysterious and eerie, flashing with brilliant purple light.
In an instant, these symbols spread across the area where the dense fog had parted, reaching deep into the very depths of the mist and illuminating the entire fog until it was clear and bright.
Twisted shadows moved quickly through the fog like countless sea snakes swimming through water, and their movements made the brilliant light of the magic array shine even brighter.
He Ao quietly watched Aines, watching the densely packed, glowing magic array.
A "guess" that had been forming just now was being confirmed in his mind.
The Church of Death God's arrangement near Aines was not the Gate of the Underworld, but something more deeply tied to the underworld.
It was more stable than the Gate of the Underworld, and more powerful as well.
"Even if you control the Heart of Illusion, you cannot use its true power. Return the Heart of Illusion to me," the Skeleton Giant seated upon the throne said hoarsely. "I can allow you to continue retaining wisdom