Beyond the canyon, atop a gigantic circular mirror.
In an ornate chair, Tessarosa, who had been dozing, slowly opened her eyes. Her thick white eyelashes trembled slightly.
Claude, who had been standing guard nearby, stirred inwardly. It seemed that Her Highness had expended more mental energy just now... He simply had no idea what she had deduced in her "dream."
"Claude, what time is it?" Tessarosa asked softly.
"Your Highness, you didn't sleep for long this time," Claude replied cautiously. "According to the time here, there should still be two hours before dawn."
"Did you send Gejiefu and Eva out?" Tessarosa suddenly asked.
"Yes." Claude nodded. "But they've been gone rather a long time this time. It seems that spying rat is quite capable."
Tessarosa frowned slightly. Her pupils suddenly grew deep as she gazed toward the entrance to the [Laurel] Tribe. "I think I smell an unpleasant aura... A fishy, oceanic stench."
"The ocean?" Claude was stunned. After a moment's thought, he said, "You mean... the [Sea God]?"
Unexpectedly, Tessarosa shook her head. After a long silence, she slowly said, "It's the aura of those chaotic fellows from the [Fantasy Side]."
Claude's expression tightened at once. After hesitating briefly, he asked, "Do you mean... the [Old Ones]? Aren't they unable to leave the [Fantasy Side] easily? How could they be here?"
There was a rumor in the Void Jianghu—though no one knew how it had come about, when it had begun, or who had spread it. Yet throughout the endless years, the [Old Ones] and [Outer Gods] at the center of the rumor had never clarified anything.
—According to the rumor, the two groups had offended an unfathomable, indescribable entity. As a result, they had been driven from the [Mythological Side] and thrown into the [Fantasy Side] like prisoners.