Appearance

"By Heaven's command, descending upon mortal affairs, protecting all things in peace... The Mang evil uses chaotic arts to disrupt the natural order. We, the Chao, hereby offer sacrifices, praying that the beings of Heaven will eradicate these chaotic arts..."

At the altar erected by the Chao army, the Chao army's strategist stood at its center, reciting their sacrificial prayer to the heavenly beasts.

The Chao army's strategist had written this prayer himself, because no one in the Chao army understood how to conduct sacrifices. In truth, neither did he, but he needed to fool people. Even if he did not understand, he had to pretend that he did. His life depended on it.

As he recited, the Chao army's strategist felt increasingly desolate inside.

It was easy to see why. His supposed ability to communicate with Heaven was an act. He had written the sacrificial prayer himself. Even the altar and the ritual procedures had been arranged by him, a complete amateur pretending to know what he was doing. The ritual steps were no exception.

Could this possibly work? Would the heavenly beasts accept it? Would Heaven acknowledge such a sacrifice?

The Chao army's strategist felt the odds were slim. Not merely slim, but minuscule. It might succeed, but the chances were like being killed by a flying beast suddenly convulsing in midair and falling from the sky onto someone. Possible, but exceedingly unlikely.

"...May all manner of chaotic arts and evil influences be driven away... May the principles of normal affairs be restored, and mortal affairs return to their proper order..."

Though he felt utterly bleak inside, the Chao army's strategist continued reciting the sacrificial prayer with calm composure on the surface.

The Collectors hidden away to monitor the natives received the prayers and instantly transmitted the information