Once they decided to retreat, the two Saints did not hesitate in the slightest. In the blink of an eye, they had withdrawn from the general's residence and vanished.
Of course, that was also because Abner had not chosen to stop them. Otherwise, they could not have left so calmly.
After Abner withdrew his "Mythical Creature Form" and turned back into a mechanical "humanoid," Luca Brewster stepped forward and said with a smile:
"Although I also have a way to temporarily display my 'Mythical Creature Form' while remaining conscious, I can't return to normal on my own. I need someone else's help...
"Was that line you recited—'the cry from the starry sky...'—the incantation for activating your 'Mythical Creature Form'?"
He probably didn't know I was Abner. This old man was rather familiar... Abner muttered inwardly before giving a simple reply. "Yes... That incantation has the effect of self-'Suggestion.'"
The main reason was that the Mechanical Emperor had been making a joke back then... After all, he had named himself Lucien Evans...
Furthermore, although the Mechanical Emperor had been unable to observe the starry sky or study astronomy in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, preventing him from fully digesting his Astronomer Potion, he had read Lord of Mysteries and knew the truth about the "starry sky"...
In the Mechanical Emperor's eyes, studying Outer Deities was what the greatest Astronomer ought to do. That was why his Mythical Creature Form had taken on such a "starry sky" appearance.
Of course, in Abner's view, it was merely his former self courting death by relying on a cheat.
"'Suggestion'... Hmm, Demigods of the Spectator Pathway can transform into Dragons, so they probably rely on that kind of ability as well." Luca nodded thoughtfully before formally bowing to Abner and saying solemnly, "Thank you