Burning Island, beneath the enormous Black Tree.
"Lord Heitanba, an unidentified sphere is rapidly approaching!" a Fire Worship Cult believer reported.
Atop the platform, a charred-black human torso reacted. Its eyes opened, revealing fiercely burning flames, and limbs made of blazing fire replaced its missing flesh.
He slowly rose, his back bristling with Black Branches. Their tips burst into flame all at once, making him look as though he carried a flourishing tree of fire on his back.
"This sphere appeared over the sea not long ago, then flew this way. It doesn't look much like believers coming on a pilgrimage. We can't determine its purpose..."
Before the believer could finish.
He and a large swath of believers around him, including Heitanba, were all struck by a brilliant blue ray, each hit landing squarely on the head.
Except for Heitanba, all these believers became headless corpses. Yet they did not fall. They slowly turned, grew new heads made of flame, and looked toward the attack.
As for Heitanba, just before the ray struck, a black branch drooped down from the enormous Black Tree and blocked the shot.
That shot managed only to chip a few black fragments off the branch. Some landed on nearby believers, instantly vaporizing them, while the rest ignited fierce flames on the Charred Black Land.
Heitanba narrowed his eyes and looked over, as though he could see Moon Island far in the distance. Then he looked at the great tree behind him, as though able to communicate with it.
"Is that so..."
He murmured to himself, looking toward Moon Island again.
"They're invaders. Their purpose is to stop this world from ascending!
"What a pathetic bunch of lost souls. They understand nothing. Let them feel our lord's fervor, and set the whole world pulsing!
"All things