Fated Encounter

Over the next few days, players kept discussing what they had seen that day on the Forum.

Yes!

Most players believed it had only been an illusion.

Though the illusion had felt real, it was ultimately just that—an illusion. Still, many players wondered who was powerful enough to draw every player into it. Touch, smell, and everything else had been flawless. It had felt far too real.

Norns knew it had not been an illusion, but she had no intention of revealing that.

Even Hawkins had called that woman a big shot. Norns did not want to provoke her again.

Being near her was like keeping company with a tiger. No one knew whether a moment of displeasure might make that scene real and bring Infinite City a genuine disaster.

For now, though, things were moving in a better direction. Because of that disaster, real or not, many players who had long since lost their fighting spirit had found it again. Quite a few even planned to go to the battlefield and test themselves.

Perhaps I shouldn't stay in the Astrology Tower any longer. I should go see the front lines, Norns thought.

She had been there several times before, but only to glimpse fate and determine its course. Now she wanted to set foot on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, beyond the Sea of Heroes, a tiny crack lay in the void of the Dream Realm.

The crack was so small, and so choked with rock, that no living being had discovered it. Now, however, the rocks blocking it were shattered bit by bit. Strands of gold and black emerged from the crack and finally formed a man wearing a Black Kasaya.

Needless to say, this was the Looting Emperor.

The Looting Emperor had intended to return the way he came,