Declaration Of War!

''A space anchor is, essentially, a port for leaping through long distances.''

The lizard man didn't hold onto his animosity for long. Hissing and waving his hands, he kept explaining.

''We are all separated by many solar systems, some hundreds of light-years away. It is hard to contact other life without interstellar technology.''

''How long is a light-year?''

''A few trillion kilometers.''

''...trillion?''

Universe was too big, yet too small.

Li Ao seemed to realize why it was said as such.

''Senior agents can get help from Divinity experts to lock a certain coordinate to gather us all. Then, the senior agent, who has enough comprehension of the spatial laws and strength to lead, can use the established pathway to bring others into the mission site.''

''I guess you couldn't build here because of something?''

''The time and space here is broken.'' Kertl nodded. ''Though the dilution of time is precise, our experienced time is different. To others outside the castle, we might be figures from the past, or only exist in the future. Their observation of our experienced time will be skewed in similar places.''

''Essentially, this makes it impossible to build an anchor. There is no way to find that which isn't within boundaries of time.''

It was 87:1.

Looking at the time dilution, then repeating Kertl's explanation, Li Ao realized he wasn't really close to understanding the system's means.

Experienced time, diluted time, observed time.

Then again, to teleport him trillions of kilometers away wasn't something he understood either.

''Okay, thank you.''

''No worries, no worries!''

While talking about some trivial stuff, a few minutes passed by. Karim Shah clapped where he sat and pointed to his right.

''Jady, could you begin first?''

''Yes, captain~''

Giggling, she threw back her wet hair. Above her cherry lips was nothing. It was a blank sheet of gray skin.

She floated forth and procured five notes and three books. One of them seemed hand-made quite recently. She picked it up and read from there.

''There are three notes from diaries, around six to eleven pages, from the Astrologer Hall's apprentice. There are detailed accounts of blinking constellations.''

She glanced at Silvy.

''They are in line with Silverflood's findings. Starborns were sending signals to alert them of something, if not fighting that something.''

Though he refrained from asking, Polly and Kertl sent transmissions at the same time.

'Starborns are children of dying stars.'

'Starborns are born to prevent the destructive collapse of old stars.'

Nodding at the two of them, Li Ao continued listening.

''...and there are mentions of a prophetic dark being committing suicide within the castle's dungeons. I encountered the dungeons, but the entire place was destroyed. No rubble, no mark. The bottom of the castle is dug out by someone.''

''They took the sealed demons and outer gods.'' Oo-whatnot said.

''The dark being must have seen the fates of the captured.''

''Alright.'' Karim Shah nodded. Jady took back her notes and books, then floated back to her stool.

''Bluestorm?''

The giant ogre nodded, took out a gigantic monocle to put on his eye, then began to shuffle through each book. He spoke in a frenzy, each word a flood, but somehow Li Ao found himself understanding all of it.

''...I see.''

Unfortunately, none of them were anything too shocking.

It was all receipts...

Karim Shah nodded at the ogre, then turned to the half-dragon.

''Apeponia.''

''Ai, captain!''

Shouting, though not bothering to stand up, she read whatever she accumulated, then passed the baton to Silvy across her.

''...It must be viewed in doubt that the idea of Six Immortals being not entirely involved is untrue, and perhaps central to the conflict that brought about the destruction...''

After that came Polly.

''...the demonic cells are not entirely different from the Golden Milk Snakes. There was not just an invasion outside, but an infighting caused by corruption and...''

When it came to Li Ao, he took on a serious expression and introduced what he found one by one.

''...weather readings were entirely normal. There was no clue...''

''...the supplementary knowledge is listed on Universal store: Advanced Metallurgy...''

''...reports on Heavenly Son's health showed...''

''...mysterious deaths of the lower-level spirits...''

''...mention of 'something' observing the Kalen Divine Castle...''

''...Six Fold Immortal World's unknown guest helped...''

When it came to Hymn For Our Father, Li Ao also took out the formation ball and showed them images of the songstress and the band of ghosts.

''...myth of creation.''

Silvy showed a peculiar glint in his orange eyes.

''That is very good.'' he nodded. Then, swiping at the air, a copy of the Hymn appeared on his lap.

Li Ao cupped his hands and sat down.

Kertl also made a few points at the end.

By then, Li Ao realized none of them found something entirely different.

Silvy, it seemed, had found too many clues but no concrete evidence to anything. However, others' findings always pointed to his assumptions being true.

''Thank you, everyone.'' Karim Shah nodded. ''Now, in light of what we found, let us re-construct the story.''

He cast a glance ot Oozenbarihou, who walked towards the center of the group. His body lit up with white soul fire.

The transparent flames slithered towards the air and hugged each other into a circle of light. Within, images of the outer space came to be.

''First—the beginning of the downfall.''

His voice cold, Karim Shah began to explain what Oozengharibu showed.

''There is a time-span of three hundred years before Heavenly God's death and his power weakening. We have no knowledge of the leading causes, and nor did those we learned from. Several disasters struck the mortal world: the empty planets you have seen on the way.''

''Droughts, first. Rain disappeared. Water concentration of the worlds began to fall. Aquatic lifeforms flooded the lands in search of lakes and rivers. Those, too, dried up soon after. They turned to drinking other beings' blood for sustenance.''

One of the shattered planets appeared within the images, blue and green and yellow, with bloody clouds swirling on its exterior.

''For humanoid and herbivore races, the lack of rain and nourishment caused land to wilt. It took only fifteen years for three quarters of them to starve to death. Ascendant and Divinity cultivators summoned nature's powers, but none of their strength took hold.''

''In that time, a disease began to spread within the Divine Castle. Every four hours, a spirit died from heart or brain failure. Palace halls were filled again and again, but after the third batch Heavenly God forbid new attendees.''

''Then Heavenly Son got ill.''

Here, Oozenhbarbigou showed a bloodied stone altar. There were tools and racks of liquids around it, supported by long diamond poles. When he comprehended the size difference, Li Ao realized the altar was twenty-meters long.

''Surgery table of Heavenly God's Aide, the head of Wise Grand Spirits, Adelen. When Heavenly Son's condition suddenly worsened, his arms became paralyzed, his legs crippled, and his thoughts became muddled. A born Divinity-realm special being was bed-ridden in a manner of two weeks.''

''He was set to have surgery here—to have his entire body dissected, inspected, purified, then put back together. From tooth to tongue.''

''There was no precedent for such a treatment. Adelen's treatment could kill Heavenly Son.''

''However, before they went along with it, someone appeared.''

The circle of light turned pitch-black. It seemed to reflect Oozengbahrbio's mental state.

He felt deep hatred for the blurry human figure in the image.

''We do not know her name. We do not know her identity, or her relationship to anybody. What we know is this—

''She is weaker than Spirit Generals. She has a cultivation realm of Ascendant, that she is a female human roughly two hundred years old at that time, that she brought the 'cure' for Heavenly Son from the Six-Fold Immortal World, which killed him, and that she is, most likely, an agent.''

Here, Li Ao cast a deep look at the hidden silhouette.

It was nothing familiar.

''The immortal medicine she brought revealed a Soul Parasyte deeply etched into Heavenly Son's consciousness. It drew power from his observation. Anything he comprehended, the parasite would absorb. Sights, sounds, sensations, thoughts...''

''...most likely, it was born to kill life. When the medicine revealed its existence, the parasite shattered Heavenly Son's soul to pieces.''

''After Heavenly Son's death, Heavenly God was lost in grief. He gave away his responsibilities to Adelen and secluded himself in his great hall. His power waned even further. After another amount of unknown time, Adelen, with twelve other Grand Spirits, committed suicide for an unknown reason, and the catastrophe struck.''

The circle of light dimmed, then disappeared. Oozenhgaribou walked back to his seat.

''There are traces of both Demons and Outer Gods, but it isn't clear which one is the precursor to it. We are only certain some of the residents got corrupted and fought against each other.''

''We have no knowledge of whether that agent lived or died. Only, the castle was destroyed, and those with remaining obsessions persisted as ghosts.''

''...As his last move, Heavenly God sealed away the gate and turned into a ghost. And now he dwells there, within his great hall for eternity.''

Everyone let out a sigh.

''...even the mightiest fail.'' Bluestorm mumbled. ''Even gods fall to despair.''

''Not us.''

Karim Shah did seem confident of his answer.

''We are here to bring justice for their sake, to cast light onto why they failed, so that others can flourish and not suffer.''

''Cut the sentimental talk.'' Silvy growled. ''We just have a job to do. That is all there is to it.''

Apeponia nodded. ''What now? There are still a lot of questions unanswered. How do we proceed from here?''

His face unperturbed, Karim Shah gazed over everyone in the room.

''The raid is 49% complete, as a head start.''

Standing up, his bright eyes glaring at the gate with sixteen armed giants, Karim Shah shouted.

''We will gather our forces, invite the true head of operation, Immortal Of Purple Clouds to the cause, and prepare for a total sweep!''

''We will form three raid groups to cut down all remaining spirits—the first group will be helmed by Immortal of Purple Clouds! He will lead a third of the agents to fight against the ghost of Adelen, the Great Wise Spirit!''

''Second group will be led by Oozenhgaribou! He will lead the other third to destroy the shadow that devours the ghosts, the Embodiment Of Fear's Avatar!''

''Third group will be under my command, which includes all of you, and lay down the Divine General of Kalen Divine Castle, Heavenly God's first commander!''

''Then we shall all gather here, break down those miserable gates of yours, and cut you down!''

''Do you hear me, Heavenly God, you despairing wretch!?''

Stomach wrung, heart squeezed, Li Ao turned his terrified eyes to the quivering gates.

The entire castle shook. Most of the agents alarmed, trembled, but Oozenhgaribou and Karim Shah stood resolute against the expanding consciousness that enveloped everyone in a warm light. It felt like a father's embrace.

''Come then...children...''

The soft voice whispered in their minds, then retreated to the gate with the sixteen-armed giant. The golden glow over their bodies waned, the warm light disappeared, and Li Ao found himself sweating alongside everyone else. Strength sapped from each limb, he realized a most crucial fact.

Their declaration of war was answered.

No, not that!

''What the fuck!?''

'Who insults a god in their face!?'

'I knew this fellow was too normal for an agent!'

'He is fucking suicidal!'

Heaving, Li Ao half-glared at the sighing 3rd-rank agents.

''He isn't provoked.''

''He is a god, no matter what.'' Oozenhgaribou shook his head. At some point, perhaps from Heavenly God's pressure, his head had turned back into that fleshly maw. ''He doesn't consider us anything but children.''

Watching the man retract the flesh petals, the group found no heart to speak further.

After a while, another voice echoed.

''...he sees you weak?''

Li Ao's question prompted the duo to look at him.

''No. He has no power of faith, and turning into a ghost always results in loss of strength. At best, he is as strong as two of us.''

''We are, however, like children to him.''

Young men could triumph their elders in strength, indeed.

However, they were still children.

To Heavenly God, who witnessed birth and death of countless lives, the simple antics of Karim Shah and Oozenhgaribou could only be seen as childish acts.

Perhaps, even cute.

After all, he knew they tried to provoke him, and they knew he wouldn't be provoked. The main intent was not to provoke, however, and both sides knew it very well.

It was a show of their determination.

Agents were not all of the same mind. Not everyone considered their missions as quests that had to be completed, nor their targets sacred aims to be accomplished. Most of them did it because they were required, force-picked, and because it promised great strength.

However, every once in a while, someone popped up like Li Ao and Karim Shah and Oozenhgaribou, who found more meaning in the present action than the rewards promised.

Karim Shah, Oozenhgaribou, and the Immortal Of Purple Clouds—as well as their late friend. These four were the first to step into the ruined castle, and ever since then dreamed of healing it of its ill past.

They had convinced many to pass away on their own, all except Heavenly God and his aides. They fought many other spirits, demons, and even an Outer God, all for the sake of liberating this realm from its past.

Though one was now gone, their spirit still reached the secluded Heavenly God.

But to one who saw Life and Death, did that bit of spirit matter?

Did he think of it? Did he dwell on it?

Did he wonder why they were so determined to cut him down, a ghost of the past? To kill the remnant mark of a wonderful, yet long lost dream.

Karim Shah, eyes clouded, smiled back at the group that listened to their stories about the palace.

''We will find every answer, one by one, even if takes force to do it. For now, take out the food and drinks. Let's get to know each other.''

Within the absolute darkness of his own hall, listening to the talking and eating group of bright lives, Heavenly God closed his eyes.

''...the last dream...''