Gathering

The light, bright as Daylight, vanished. Deep night fell once more, and Ganzros City returned to the embrace of the Lady of Night.

Tingen's Wizard Tower, the tallest building in Ganzros City, had come crashing down during the battle.

Jiang Hao sat in his egg-shaped chair, turning the "branch" that had flown back from the Golden Heaven of Mochulia over in his hand. He reached out, and an ancient bronze mirror appeared in his grasp. He turned its face toward Ather, who lay on the ground.

The next moment, Mirror Ather stepped out.

Under Jiang Hao's control, he walked over to the corpse, crouched, and searched it. A faint light flickered around his hands.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hao carefully reviewed his performance in the fight.

"I wasn't prepared enough for that first battle. I knew their numbers and ranks, and I'd boosted my strength by obtaining three Divine Artifacts. But I knew nothing about their professions, equipment, favored divine arts and spells, or fighting styles. When the battle began, I was caught somewhat off guard."

"Fighting Demigods and Legendary opponents in this world isn't like brawling with thugs on Blue Star. Professions here are varied, and their abilities differ. Without enough intelligence, it's easy to suffer for it."

"I need to make up for that. Building a large intelligence network is one option, but it would take too long to pay off."

An idea flashed through Jiang Hao's mind. "...Maybe I can get a Divine Artifact with prophetic or perceptive abilities from Blue Star to make up for the lack of intelligence."

Jiang Hao took the spoils Mirror Ather had found and put away the Yata Mirror. "I didn't perform well in that fight, either. That Seraphic Attendant Fulgres used his words to draw me into his rhythm..."

"I need to fix that. I can't keep following someone else's pace. I need a fighting rhythm of my own."

Jiang Hao suddenly recalled something he'd been told and began to think it over.

"Ieta Cavendish said the Church of Dawn sent a godslaying team of five Legendary fighters and one Demigod to kill me, but only four people showed up just now."

"He's unlikely to have been wrong. That means two Legendary fighters still haven't appeared."

"Legendary fighters don't pose much of a threat to me, unless they have a Divine Artifact."

"My divine intuition didn't sense any danger, but after Fulgres turned my perceptions upside down, I can't trust them too much."

"I'll ask Ieta Cavendish about it indirectly at the gathering."

Jiang Hao set those thoughts aside and began exploring the new authority he had gained.

"As expected, I gained another authority."

"The new one is the authority of Devouring."

"That must have come from the great serpent Jormungandr."

"I played the role of the great serpent Jormungandr, so I gained the authority of Devouring. But I played the role of Loki, the fire god, too. Why didn't I gain an authority connected to him...?"

"Was it because I didn't play him long enough? That would be absurd."

"Then again, perhaps this world already has a ruler of flames. If only one god can hold an authority, that god may have suppressed me and prevented me from gaining the authority of fire."

"But I don't think I've heard of any gods associated with deception, mischief, or wisdom. I'll ask Avram Krell about that indirectly at the gathering."

Question after question surfaced. Jiang Hao came up with plenty of possible answers, but none fully resolved his doubts.

He put his questions aside, took out a Wishcraft scroll, and tore it open. A streak of white light flew out.

Only after using it did he remember something. "I'm running low on 'message bottles.'"

Another thought crossed his mind.

"I wonder if Tingen Archmage has any more scrolls hidden away."

In the Gotha Grand Theater in Kishiniur, capital of the Violet Kingdom.

In an artificial darkness created by magic, a man dressed in the form-fitting clothes of a noble from the previous era knelt with a bouquet in his hands. His hair was styled into spikes. He gazed up at the princess on the steps opposite him, her golden-brown curls falling to her shoulders above a white princess dress, and poured out a heartfelt confession.

"Ah, Angina, my princess, my sun, my love, please don't blame me for coming to see you so rashly. I've missed you so much. In this lightless darkness, only you are my light, my salvation, my god. Without seeing you, I feel as though I've fallen into the abyss, battered by the icy waters of the underworld river. I can scarcely breathe. I'm close to death."

"Ah, Angina..."

In the audience, Fiona Russell rubbed her wrist and glanced at the man beside her, who seemed utterly entranced. She stuck out her tongue where he couldn't see, then kept her elegant smile in place. "Mr. Turner, the play you chose is lovely, but my teacher just sent word that she's arrived in Kishiniur. Please forgive me for leaving early."

He hadn't seen any message, but all sorts of strange abilities existed in a world of magic, so Mr. Turner had no reason to doubt her.

He gave her a charming smile. "Miss Fiona, I'll invite you to another play tomorrow."

Another one tomorrow? Fiona Russell kept her faint smile. "Then I'll look forward to your invitation."

Once outside the Gotha Grand Theater, Fiona Russell took a deep breath, and her smile quickly faded.

A Letter Raven fluttered down onto Fiona Russell's shoulder with a white envelope in its beak. It opened its beak, dropping the envelope into her hand.

After opening the magical seal, Fiona Russell pulled out the letter and began to read.

"Dear Fiona Russell, my student, hello. I'm delighted that you've written to me about something other than asking for things. I'm even more delighted that you've written to ask me a question. It shows you're beginning to take an interest in learning..."

She skipped the lecture that followed and read the next paragraph.

"The question you asked is likely connected to the Heart of Nature plane, which recently merged with our world. It is an exceedingly primitive world. Its intelligent beings live in tribes and believe that gods rule over all things. They believe blood sacrifices to the gods will win them protection. As a result, a number of False Gods arose."

"These False Gods came into our world along with the Heart of Nature plane when it merged with ours."

"As for the 'steam' you mentioned, a friend told me that something called a steam engine has recently appeared in the Holy Vixima Kingdom. Keep an eye on the kingdom. You may find your answer there."

"—Your teacher, Albera!"

Fiona Russell put away the letter. White light suddenly flared around her hand.

It's time for the gathering... She blinked, excitement rising in her heart.