"And of course, those in red and gold are the imperial historians from Rising Sun City. They wouldn't miss such an important event. Look at the leader, Kimio, one of the Empire's Four Knights; the hammer on his back is the Xyrin Great Maul; I'm sure you've heard of it."
Having introduced the foreign forces, Nino pointed towards their own representatives.
Following Nino's gesture, Mithra saw Kimio, a man as tall as Nino, but with a youthful face, lacking Nino's aura.
His slightly furrowed brow conveyed seriousness and tension; his face looked like a student contemplating a math problem.
Of course, the most important was the Xyrin Great Maul.
[Xyrin Great Maul: Combining the power of a Light Wandering God and advanced technology, it's forged from top-tier materials, balancing power and stability. Unlike the first Xyrin, created through pure miraculous technology, the second Xyrin's core is a "Heart of Light" Wandering God. A seed is taken from the "Heart of Light," transforming the protective heart into destructive power—a God-killing weapon.]
[——Listen carefully; the heartbeat is the light's "voice."]
Diehl, the blacksmith from the Sanctuary, had participated in the creation of three God-killing weapons. He'd assisted in creating two; one for the Sella Kingdom and one for the Xyrin Empire.
The Xyrin Great Maul was one of them.
The weapon's creation had strengthened the relationship between the Xyrin Empire and the Sanctuary.
Honestly, even though it was their national God-killing weapon, Mithra coveted it.
Even if obtaining it was improbable, she could still dream, couldn't she?
The Xyrin Great Maul was massive, unlike Mithra's fragmented hammer; its thick, long handle was intimidating.
The head was somewhat oddly shaped, a black polyhedron. Mithra suspected its true power was yet to be revealed.
However, despite her initial covetousness, the Night's Eye information shifted her focus to something more mysterious.
The second Xyrin contained a Light Wandering God?
Even the Xyrin Great Maul's Wandering God power originated from this "Heart of Light."
The sheer expenditure of resources was astonishing.
"Can a national treasure be casually displayed?" Mithra asked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"It's still within the country; Sun City isn't some poor village; and keeping such a weapon unused as a mere relic would be wasteful," Nino replied honestly.
He continued, "The Four Knights of Xyrin share the Xyrin Great Maul, distributing it according to need; they often carry it throughout the country; it's not always used, but its existence is a great source of encouragement and reassurance."
The weapon wasn't exclusively owned? Shared by four people?
No, the Four Knights were titles; many more might have used it?
This was unlike Mithra's cunning and versatile God-killing weapons.
If the wielder changed mid-way, a temperamental Wandering God might cause trouble.
While Mithra wielded the Night Hunter Greatsword and Abhorrence Staff with ease, the "dog" side effect was constantly present. The Abhorrence Staff had two sides: Sheng and the Chrysalis.
Sheng's side was largely pacified; she mostly interacted with Mithra; the Chrysalis had become withdrawn.
But even in its withdrawn state, the Chrysalis was cunning; as its name suggested, a dark serpent seeking any opportunity. It was temporarily submissive under Mithra but would likely cause chaos under a different wielder.
Compared to Mithra's experience, the Xyrin Great Maul was a simple, hardworking employee willing to accept any assignment.
Mithra actually wanted more.
She could use more reliable staff in her newly established company!
Kimio awaited the conference. As the most prominent representative from the capital, deep in thought, he felt an intense gaze upon him… from behind.
The intense desire startled him; he turned, but the gaze was gone.
An illusion?
No, a believer of his caliber wouldn't make such a mistake.
Someone was watching him from the shadows!
Oh… as one of the Four Knights, he must have many admirers; he needs to be careful!
Kimio shifted slightly, positioning his attendant to obscure his back. The tall figure blocked his attendant's view.
Attendant:?
Why is the master acting so strangely today?
Mithra withdrew her gaze, no longer fixated on the Xyrin Great Maul; she was unaware that her casual glance had startled Kimio, who assumed she was a lurker.
However, it wasn't Kimio's reaction that made her look away.
She could look as long as she wished; she had no reason to hide her interest.
She shifted her gaze because she, too, was being intensely observed.
The observer showed no attempt at concealment, seemingly noticing Mithra and then directly gazing at her; Mithra met her gaze.
Clad in greyish-white robes, she was from the "Gulan Sacrifice Tower," the group Nino had mentioned.
The woman's pale hair and beautiful face were striking, though her chapped lips suggested dehydration. These details weren't important to Mithra.
Night Eye.
This woman had a Night Eye.
Only one, her right eye, scarred around the socket; her dark, empty eye trembled as it met Mithra's.
Mithra remained calm, but the intense, underlying emotion emanating from the woman made the encounter feel protracted.
A moment felt like an eternity; she felt a sense of disorientation.
Only a Night Eye? What was going on?
And she was from the Gulan Sacrifice Tower, the self-proclaimed guardians of the beast people.
Her target was clear: Mithra.
Then, the woman smiled wildly, said something to her companion, and left.
Mithra said, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
"Huh?" Nie Hong was confused.
On stage, the speaker was ready to begin.
Nino was surprised but said nothing.
Mithra quickly left.
She headed out of the heavily guarded central inner city.
The area outside was less crowded; most were inside watching; Mithra turned down a side street.
The woman appeared before her, having caught up unnoticed; Mithra hadn't sensed her presence.
"Found you…" The woman removed her hood; her pale hair cascaded down; her eyes were wide, her pupil fixed on Mithra.
"Hunter!"
Mithra:?
Looking for a "dog"?
"You've mistaken me," Mithra said.
"No mistake. Even in a different body, you can't hide that unique feral scent. You wouldn't be the type to hide like a rat; seeing this eye, don't you feel the urge to hunt? Draw your weapon,"
The woman, her hair slightly disheveled, brushed it back, revealing her eyes.
Her left eye was blue; her right, a Night's Eye, identical to Mithra's.
Mithra sniffed herself.
Feral scent? That was an exaggeration. While Mithra didn't usually worry about getting dirty, she always cleaned herself thoroughly afterward.
Suddenly, a strong wind hit her face. The woman, impatient, attacked.
At close range, her right hand formed a fist; power gathered.
[Rend: A beast miracle. Fangs and claws rend; the beast's desire is channeled into a powerful rending force; at a certain intensity, claw marks can be inflicted from a distance.]
A beast pattern appeared on her hand.
Faith Totems manifested in two ways.
Most commonly, they appeared on the area used to cast the miracle; these patterns were spontaneous, unrelated to the wielder.
The second manifested directly on the skin.
While the difference may seem insignificant, the first type is merely a general outline, while the second is a depiction of the opponent having already imprinted a pattern, leading to a certain miraculous portrayal on their body.
That is, the believer's path after Unified Sense: Clarity.
Crimson flashed across the girl's hand, then a grayish-white light rapidly bloomed. With a sweep of her arm, three claw marks instantly formed and shot towards Mithra.
At the moment they left her hand, these claw marks were only palm-sized, but by the time they reached Mithra, they had expanded to two or three meters high!
Their speed was also incredibly fast. Mithra quickly swung her Abhorrence staff to block in front of her.
Bang! Tsss—
The slender staff was simply like a grasshopper against a cart compared to the three massive, ferocious claw marks. Mithra's body was propelled backward, finally choosing to absorb the claw marks into the darkness within her palm, dissipating them.
But the instant she dealt with this Rend, the woman had already closed the distance.
[Feral Steps: Beast Miracle. Gathers the desires of a feral beast, utilizing hidden predatory footwork during execution to avoid external detection of oneself, while simultaneously granting a degree of physical burst.]
[—The wisdom within savage instinct, ready to unleash at any moment.]
No wonder the previous Ki sensing was ineffective.
Just as Mithra thought this, the opponent lunged forward, hands already formed into claws, each hand imbued with a Rend miracle, and with further miracles already active on her body.
[Feral Body: Beast Miracle. Gathers the desires of a feral beast throughout the entire body, greatly enhancing physical strength. Different people have different bestial natures; after this bestial nature is drawn out, the enhancement conferred by the Feral Body will vary. However, be warned: the drawn-out bestial nature may not be easily retracted.]
[—Immense but dangerous bestial power. Please maintain your humanity, or you will transform into a beast.]
Witnessing two Beast Miracles in succession, the woman's movements under this enhancement were savage and fierce.
Mithra's Abhorrence staff only withstood two blows before her arms trembled, the heightened sensitivity causing a numbing sensation that made her hands feel useless.
Her own body was already quite strong; with Reinforce Body active, it had been a long time since she had experienced such a situation where she was so completely outmatched.
However, Mithra didn't rely solely on her physical strength. As long as she had a weapon in hand, she had countless ways to deal with the situation.
Praising Phaselos.
The Abhorrence staff continuously blocked and redirected attacks, dodging the opponent's strikes. In a series of deft movements, the opponent's Rend claws left marks on the surrounding walls.
Mithra spun, leaping out of the gap created by one of the opponent's Rends. After a roll on the ground, she smoothly stood up, fluidly turning and transforming her staff into a bladed whip, lashing out.
The effect of the darkness in her palm hadn't yet fully dissipated, yet the woman suddenly kicked her leg, the immense force directly knocking the whip aside.
But Mithra twisted her wrist, the bladed whip, like a nimble snake, rapidly coiled around the woman's azure leg in a twisting arc, pulling hard.
The woman tumbled to the ground.
Despite the difference in strength, it wasn't so vast that she couldn't be pulled even when only one azure leg was caught.
Mithra immediately followed up, drawing a mace from her waist, flames flickering around her body.
Against feral beasts, flames are best.
When the woman crawled back up, seeing the flames on Mithra, the madness in her eyes faltered, replaced by surprise and confusion.
This hesitation was reflected in her movements. Facing Mithra's thrusting staff, she only slightly leaned to make the most minimal evasion; the staff's sharp point still pierced her shoulder.
The staff merely fixed her position; the flame-imbued mace didn't hesitate, swinging high towards her head.
Bang!
The woman was slammed against the nearby building's wall by Mithra's mace, her head embedded in the brickwork.
Hmm?
Mithra simultaneously extinguished the embers. Though fuel was currently abundant, she could conserve it for now.
She assessed the mace's impact. The feel had been undeniably powerful, but somehow she hadn't smashed the opponent's head. Furthermore, oddly, the opponent had seemed dazed; otherwise, Mithra had expected that blow to remove at least one arm.
Of course, smashing the head would be ideal if the opportunity presented itself, but the opponent's skull was tougher than anticipated.
With a "crack," the opponent struggled free from the wall, falling to the ground and sitting there.
Then, she lifted her head in a daze, meeting Mithra's gaze.
"You… who are you?" Her voice was noticeably softer. Though her face hadn't changed, for some reason, Mithra felt her features had become much gentler.
Her hair, previously disheveled, was now smooth.
Most importantly, her right Night eye was gone, replaced by a blue iris identical to her left eye. The scar beneath her right eye socket had also vanished.
What was happening?
"You just attacked me," Mithra stated.
"Ah!" She quickly stood up, utterly flustered, looking around before her gaze returned to Mithra: "Did Nina leave?"
"Who?"
"I'm so sorry! Truly, I'm so sorry!" She kept apologizing.
She was completely unlike the frenzied woman she had been moments before.
Mithra lowered her mace and looked around.
Their brief fight had ended quickly and quietly, but the surroundings were still in disarray.
"Let's talk somewhere else." With that, she turned and left, the woman quickly following.
After moving some distance and confirming no guards were pursuing, Mithra began to inquire about the woman's situation.
The woman's name was Daphne, a Priestess from the Gulan Sacrifice Tower.
Her right eye had once been implanted with a Night eye, a relic passed down within the tower, but this had resulted in an ancient consciousness residing within her eye, an entity called Nina.
"Miss Tinina is usually very kind to me. The achievements I've made, learning so many powerful yet subtly dangerous Miracles, and being able to maintain myself—all of this is thanks to her help," Daphne said carefully.
"But she wasn't very kind to me," Mithra interjected.
Daphne nodded cautiously: "Miss Tinina keeps telling me she's searching for a Wandering God called the 'Hunter.' The full name, recorded in the Sanctuary, is apparently 'Night Hunter.' She wants to take revenge on that Wandering God, so she likely mistook you for him."
"I don't want to be threatened with death because of such a simple case of mistaken identity," Mithra said plainly.
"I will find a way to compensate you!"
"Then I'm rather curious about your Miracles, and some things related to feral beasts," Mithra said.
Though Daphne herself was a Clarity path master, making her Miracle strength a poor standard for comparison, their brief encounter allowed Mithra to discern some of the Beast Miracles' advantages.
Moreover, learning about feral beasts—whether on Planet Blue or in Dreamland—was extremely difficult. Mithra's future cohabitation with "dog" required much greater understanding, making this a good opportunity.
"Beast Miracles… that's not something we can easily share…"
"Misunderstanding."
"…I'll ask for permission," Daphne said, bowing her head.
Mithra shifted her gaze: "If the result isn't satisfactory, I'll kill you."
For Mithra, this was simple logic, her tone utterly calm, devoid of any threat; it was merely an objective assessment of the situation.
However, for the one involved, it was terrifying. Daphne's body stiffened; she said nothing more.
Suddenly, a hazy figure coalesced behind Daphne. Taller and broader than Daphne, it was difficult to discern any details except for its right Night eye; the rest of its body seemed covered in a thin layer of mosaic.
"Hmph, you're really not the Hunter?" A low voice spoke.
"Miss Tinina!" Daphne exclaimed.
Mithra also looked towards the voice: "If the ringleader is willing to take responsibility, that's fine."
"…" Tinina fell silent for a moment, seemingly struggling to comprehend. She continued to mutter, "It's impossible. You are completely saturated with the Hunter's aura, yet you just used Flame Father's power… Fire and feral beasts—a forbidden combination. If it were him, he absolutely wouldn't touch flames."
It seemed the Night eye was quite perceptive. Even a single one, while not dramatically different in function, had instantly identified the power Mithra had used.
True, fire and feral beasts clashed, but Mithra could clearly separate the two states.
Although she could try activating the Ashes Flame Father state while in her beast form—she was very curious about "dog"'s reaction then—but even the thought of that caused "dog" to bark several times louder, truly not something to joke about.
Of course, if it could be done, it wouldn't be a joke at all.
"So I'm telling you, you're mistaken. The resurrected Hunter wasn't completely killed by me. Afterward, I inherited some of its power; it's that simple," Mithra explained thoroughly once more.
"Your clumsy movements… even if the resurrected Hunter was only half-formed, with less than half its strength, it could have beaten you hundreds of times over!" Tinina scoffed.
"It was so clumsy, even more so than I am now, that I completely destroyed it," Mithra simply recounted.
The Stranger:?
"dog":?
It was clearly the truth, but why did it feel so unsettling?
"…I still can't accept it. We've been at this for years… hundreds, or perhaps thousands of years? I don't remember. I chased it, and ended up like this, surviving only to take revenge and kill it. And you tell me you killed it and even inherited its power?" Tinina struggled to say.
"Your problems aren't my concern. Though my memories of it are also unpleasant, that's the result of what happened. Whether you can accept it or not is your own problem," Mithra said.
"Where's its sword? You must have its sword!" Tinina remembered.
"I do. So what?"
Under Mithra's cold gaze, Tinina wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent, her frustration dissipating.
Daphne didn't interrupt, only watching anxiously from the side.
Mithra's gaze returned to her: "The perpetrator escaped; you'll have to handle it yourself then."
"I will do my utmost to satisfy you," Daphne hurriedly replied.
To be honest, she felt Mithra was a very just person; after all, Daphne was entirely at fault, but Mithra's personality could be rather intimidating.
Temporarily putting the unpleasant incident aside, Mithra and Daphne chatted casually on their way back to the inner city, the atmosphere light as if the previous death threat had never happened.
Daphne briefly explained the Gulan Sacrifice Tower's observations and understanding of the situation.
A third Xyrin, if it could truly be born in this era, would undoubtedly be greatly beneficial to the southern part of Dreamland. The south hadn't seen large-scale conflict for a long time; the relationships between the major forces were quite good. Facing the threat of a Wandering God, more trump cards were always better.
However, to be frank, even the Gulan Sacrifice Tower didn't hold high hopes for a third Xyrin.
Whether it was the world's state after the first Xyrin's birth, or the mysterious intricacies and chaos surrounding the second Xyrin's creation, a third Xyrin wasn't something that could be simply manufactured with current technological advancements.
While they didn't believe a third Xyrin was guaranteed to succeed, they also didn't deny the current skill level of Xyrin Empire's craftsmans.
This time, each participating faction included many of their own craftsmen, coming to observe and learn, perhaps even having the chance to directly participate in the experiment.
The Xyrin recreation wasn't a strategic national event for Dreamland; it was more of a craftsman exchange and learning opportunity. At least, most other factions viewed it that way, with only a few paying closer attention.
After listening to Daphne's explanation, Mithra pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you know the specifics of the second Xyrin's creation?"
Due to her guilt, Daphne answered Mithra's many sensitive questions frankly. She quickly replied, "The second Xyrin was unexpectedly created within the Xyrin Empire, and the details were not publicly shared. According to records, everyone was astounded that the Xyrin Empire could find a breakthrough under such dangerous circumstances."
Pausing, Daphne lowered her voice: "Also, according to calculations from some interested parties, which weren't publicly released, the second Xyrin's power stability wasn't as good as the first. Though both were light miracles, their natures were completely different."
Completely different, indeed.
The first Xyrin was casually created, whereas the second at least had a "Heart of Light" Wandering God as its core.
If Mithra wasn't bound by his stream's rules against directly interacting with his main sponsor, he'd have loved to ask Ringer, the lead designer of the first Xyrin, his opinion on the matter.
When Mithra and Daphne returned to the inner city, they found many people had already left. The presentation shouldn't have ended so quickly.
Most of them were local residents of Sun City.
Most of them were furious, cursing in Sun City's local dialect.
Mithra and Daphne curiously observed them, picking up some of their angry words.
"They're completely full of it! The Rising Sun City people look down on us!"
"Maybe they can create a new Xyrin, but I absolutely disagree with their assessment!"
"Who was that speaker just now? Kim Jeong-gang? Who is that? That name… isn't he from Enchanting Land?"
"Whether they're from Enchanting Land or Rising Sun City, they're all stuck-up snobs who look down on us commoners. It's infuriating! They should just be kicked out!"
"Sun City has been declining for too long! Damn it! Anyone can come and step on us!"
Mithra and Daphne glanced around before heading back to the square.
The crowd was now quite agitated; guards were trying to maintain order amidst a barrage of curses.
"Mithra!" Nie Hong's voice called to Mithra. She guided him away from the agitated crowd and back to Nie Hong and Nino.
"What happened?" Mithra asked.
Nie Hong and Nino first exchanged questioning glances at Daphne before answering Mithra's question.
"The old man on stage just said that Sun City's Xyrin is seriously outdated, and its lifespan is dwindling; at most a hundred years, at least ten. In terms of Xyrin's time frame, it's almost completely depleted," Nie Hong explained.
Nino's expression was grave: "I've known about this for a while. That's why we need a new Xyrin. I went through a period of severe depression, finding it hard to believe, and honestly, it's still hard to accept now. But this is a judgment made by professional craftsmen—we can't ignore it."
"Obviously, the people here still need time to accept… the long years it protected them, something beyond mere faith but surpassing it, is about to be declared obsolete."
Regardless of the public's reaction, the Xyrin's dwindling lifespan was an established fact.
Mithra had previously seen the description "Xyrin is weary" through the Night eye, so he had already anticipated this.
The intensity of the public's reaction, however, was somewhat unexpected. Mithra remained impassive.
Kim Jeong-gang had finished his presentation and was sitting in the audience, impassive, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding curses.
Kim So-yang, however, anxiously watched the crowd, fearing they wouldn't be able to leave the square once the presentation ended.
Some radical citizens threw rotten eggs and spoiled vegetables into the audience, but this was quickly suppressed. Guards apprehended some of the instigators, but this only seemed to further inflame the crowd.
Then, amidst the chaos, a middle-aged man named Wengerson took the stage.
He was the chief representative of Sun City's council; more simply, he was Sun City's current mayor.
Some citizens hoped Wengerson would offer a more acceptable explanation, but he could only reiterate the importance of the new Xyrin, urging people to look to the future, claiming this was the prelude to a new era, and that Sun City needed to seize this opportunity to avoid falling behind.
Few citizens could immediately accept and seriously consider the advantages and disadvantages.
They only knew that the Xyrin that had protected them for generations was about to fail, and after its failure, it might even be replaced by something imposed from elsewhere.
"It's strange. Revealing the truth and then trying to mitigate the fallout seems natural…" Nie Hong didn't quite understand the Sun City citizens' emotions.
The presentation ended quickly amidst the uproar. Inner city guards immediately began clearing the square, but they recognized Nino and thus didn't evict her and Mithra.
The ordinary citizens didn't linger; the scene wasn't pleasant.
Once everyone had left, only the chaos and the guards cleaning up remained, creating an immediate sense of calm.
Nie Hong narrowly avoided being hit by a rotten egg, only reacting quickly enough to grab it with Control Object, muttering curses under her breath.
Representatives from various factions in the square gathered near the platform, engaging in multifaceted discussions with Sun City officials.
Seeing this, Nino didn't shy away, directly bringing Mithra and the others towards the group. Daphne conveniently headed back to rejoin her own team.
Mithra's eyes darted around, wondering if she could spot any interesting items in this gathering of major southern factions.
Unfortunately, while some unique miracle artifacts did exist, including some linked to Wandering Gods, only one faction possessed heavy weapons like the Xyrin Great Maul.
"Shouldn't unauthorized personnel have been cleared out? Why are they still here?" At this point, a Sun City official noticed Nino's group, frowning and speaking directly.
But the surrounding individuals were engrossed in their own discussions and ignored him.
Nino, though originally a border politician, moved in border circles, and aside from a few poor relationships, others didn't harbor ill will towards him, so they didn't bother to act spitefully.
Mithra was about to approach Kimio to try and get acquainted, perhaps even touch the Xyrin Great Maul, when she was recognized.
"You're… the investigator from before!" Kim So-yang, who had been sitting silently since her grandfather's concluding remarks, seemed to have spotted a lifeline, having seen a familiar face.
Mithra acknowledged her: "Hello."
There was little sense of reunion.
"You're here too! You scared me half to death just now," Kim So-yang patted her chest.
"Your grandfather's choice of words was unwise; it shouldn't have been said by him, though that's irrelevant," Mithra observed before continuing.
Kim So-yang looked dejected: "Grandfather was only focused on his work. He took this matter very seriously, hoping to contribute meaningfully. But not everyone seemed grateful."
"Those who receive help aren't obligated to express gratitude; such illogical behavior exists in this world. But your grandfather shouldn't worry about it," Mithra said.
Elder Kim Jeong-gang was currently in frank discussion with craftsmen from other factions; he seemed in relatively good spirits.
Those truly dedicated to their work were seldom affected by external trivialities.
The calm temperament of those devoted to their pursuits was truly enviable.
"Grandfather will definitely succeed!" Kim So-yang, witnessing her grandfather's demeanor, felt encouraged, though her own encouragement meant little.
"So you've confirmed that you intend to create a Xyrin? Theoretically, you already have a plan?" Mithra casually inquired.
The Xyrin recreation was shrouded in a strange mist, given that Rising Sun City's second Xyrin was somehow connected to a Wandering God. Mithra was now genuinely interested in the third Xyrin.
"Grandfather wouldn't have confirmed it so readily without certainty; he's very cautious! I don't know his exact reasoning. A while ago, the team was somewhat apprehensive about Sun City's request. But later, Sun City seemed to add some condition, holding private meetings with Grandfather and several other key craftsmen from the team."
"A few days later, they returned with complete confidence. They must have discovered something significant during their secluded research and discussions!" Kim So-yang's tone and gaze revealed admiration and aspiration.
Could she one day become such a confident and professional craftsman?
Mithra extracted the essence of her words: Sun City's added conditions had convinced Kim Jeong-gang and others of the possibility of creating a third Xyrin.
Otherwise, given their status, knowledge, and technological standards, they should have known that their current conditions were insufficient to create a Xyrin.
During their conversation, Kimio, standing silently in the courtyard, stared deeply into the sky.
The Xyrin Great Maul behind him suddenly trembled slightly. Kimio seemed to sense it and turned to glance at Mithra, who was talking to Kim So-yang.
Mithra returned his gaze.
What was wrong with this person?
Kimio approached Mithra. Due to his status, even if his involvement in the matter was minimal, he was still a focal point, drawing attention with his movements.
Several gazes fell upon Mithra, assessing her from head to toe.
Kimio also carefully examined Mithra before speaking: "You are strong. Though I can't gauge your exact strength, the Xyrin Great Maul tells me you're dangerous; I should be wary of you."
Mithra:?
I haven't even made an offer yet; why is the Xyrin Great Maul reacting so quickly?
Or was it because of the two God-killing weapons she possessed?
"Thank you?" Mithra didn't know how to respond.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kimio, a 'Steady Hand' knight. It is your honor to know me," Kimio said solemnly, his expression devoid of arrogance, as if truly believing what he said.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mithra. May I touch the Xyrin Great Maul?" Seeing the other's friendliness, Mithra directly asked.
The moment those words left her mouth, the onlookers were stunned.
Who dares utter such audacious words?
Do you think God-killing weapons are toys to be touched at will?
It wasn't just a question of worthiness; it was a matter of their own lives and the lives of those present.
Some God-killing weapons could, upon losing their restraint, instantly replace insufficiently strong wielders, transforming them into Wandering Gods on the spot; their power was not to be underestimated.
Mithra's actions tested everyone's nerves. Sun City's inner city guards, along with Kimio's entourage, were on high alert.
The Xyrin Great Maul trembled once more.
Kimio looked surprised, but relayed: "It says no. It's adamant."
Mithra's expression remained unchanged; her emotions were stable, but she felt a vague sense of "petrification".
She had been refused.
...
"Mithra, what's wrong? Not enjoying the banquet dinner?"
As everyone headed towards an inn in the inner city, Nie Hong, though unable to read Mithra's expression, sensed a drop in her aura.
"When did you add 'foodie' to my character profile?" Mithra said with a sidelong glance.
"I didn't! If there's nothing better to do, why not eat?" Nie Hong chuckled awkwardly.
"So not being a foodie makes you a rice bucket?"
Nie Hong remained silent; Mithra was unusually aggressive today.
Mithra wasn't particularly comfortable with this kind of banquet; it even included a ball, which she found uninteresting.
However, while Mithra was alone, Daphne arrived with a bearded elder.
"Greetings, Miss Mithra. I am Maikon, the senior Priestess leading this delegation from the Gulan Sacrifice Tower. I've learned from Daphne about the disturbance she caused you."
"Do you have a resolution?" Mithra asked.
"Yes. Considering your situation, I believe your request isn't unreasonable. You possess a distinctly powerful feral aura; only deeply experienced beast miracle believers can sense this profound aura. To us, you're like a towering mountain." Maikon's voice was raspy and somewhat unclear.
However, Mithra understood through the Night eye's translation.
The Priestess's eyes held a distinct reverence.
"So, it's agreed," Mithra stated.
"If possible, we hope you'll visit the Gulan Sacrifice Tower. There, you might better understand certain aspects of yourself." Having said that, Priestess Maek Kong produced a gray book from beneath her robes.
It was quite thick, resembling a brick, and she handed it directly to Mithra.
Mithra examined it.
["Beast Miracle Guidebook" Copy: The origins of Beast Miracles, dating back to the era of the Forty-Four Pillar Gods, have always been a source of curiosity. The original manuscript's origins are unclear; the identity of the first Beast Miracle user is difficult to ascertain. Some even suspect Beast Miracles stemmed from a conspiracy among feral beasts. However, with the Beastkin civilization now extinct, the conspiracy seems to have dissolved. Night's observation revealed a piece of information; the author of the "Beast Miracle Guidebook" is—Phaselos.]
[—Recording savage taboos with wisdom; he initially chose the beasts before turning his attention to humans.]
Seeing the information provided by the Night eye, Mithra was somewhat surprised.
It had been a long time since she'd heard from Phaselos.
However, the revealed content was quite intriguing.
Phaselos and Bicester had once presented Mithra with a stark choice.
Based on her past leanings, Phaselos represented wisdom and technological expertise, while Bicester represented the feral side.
But now, this copy of the "Beast Miracle Guidebook" stated that the original author was Phaselos?
Therefore, the original Beast Miracles originated from Phaselos!
An entity symbolized by wisdom and technological prowess was revealed to have spread the savage power of feral beasts.
Mithra's perception of Phaselos took a significant hit.
However, Mithra remained outwardly calm, accepting the book.
"Only those with a strong feral aura can access the knowledge within this copy. Feral beasts are dangerous, but skillfully wielded power can yield good results. I hope this helps you. I must take my leave."
After Maek Kong finished speaking vaguely, she slowly departed.
Daphne cautiously addressed Mithra, "My head… is it safe?"
Mithra put the book into her pouch: "Congratulations."
"Whew." Daphne breathed a sigh of relief.
"You really won't let me see the Hunter's sword?" Tinina's ethereal form suddenly reappeared, asking.
"No." Mithra didn't even look at her, showing no surprise at her appearance.
"I have a discovery. If you let me see the sword, I can tell you." Tinina pondered before giving up.
"I also have a Night eye; more than you, in fact," Mithra stated.
"But you lack knowledge, and the Night eye's descriptions are mostly vague speculation; you might not fully understand the meaning…" Tinina explained, seemingly realizing her argument was weak, adding, "I apologize for my previous rash actions. I'll tell you this first, then you can decide whether to accept it."
Only then did Mithra look directly at her.
Tinina leaned closer, whispering, "The Xyrin is alive."
Having said that, she retreated back into Daphne's body with incredible speed.
Mithra, after a moment of stunned silence, suddenly reacted, tilting her head slightly.
"It's a little tired."
Previously, Mithra had only understood the "this Xyrin's time is running out" aspect from the Night eye's description.
She hadn't paid much attention beyond that. The Night eye's consistent use of riddles and layered metaphors had long been ignored by Mithra; she only focused on extracting useful information.
But she had overlooked a very surface-level piece of information.
Tired.
That was a sensation.
Only living things experience sensations.
That statement wasn't personification; it was actually alive and felt tired due to its current state!
Such a description was hardly conducive to careful understanding.
Mithra suspected this was Anderet playing a prank.
But it was also entirely possible.
As one of the early miracle technology creations, enduring generations of Sun City's reverence, even worship, accumulating such profound longing…
On Planet Blue, faith was just faith, but in Dreamland, fictional faith could become reality.
Humanity's accumulated longing formed a burden, transcending time, awakening now.
With this thought, Mithra turned to the window. The Xyrin simulation of day and night had vanished, yet it still hung in the inky black sky.
Mithra couldn't see it, but now, knowing what she did, she felt it silently observing the people of Sun City from above.
So, it was alive. But how active was it?
Just then, Mithra's thoughts were interrupted.
She smelled something.
She could smell unique auras even outside of hunting. Besides the aura of darkness, what else could it be?
She didn't know if the branch bishop she'd previously forced into the Eternal Night World had returned, but now, their aura was nearby.
Mithra promptly turned and headed to the "restroom," leaving Daphne completely bewildered.
...
"This is truly desperate. At this rate, we'll likely have to retreat to our northern base."
In the dark inner city, it was past curfew; only patrolling inner city guards were visible on the streets.
But in the shadows, beyond the guards' notice, whispers echoed.
"I smell the Eternal Night fragrance. The secrets buried within that lost world are what we crave. Burter must have been waiting for us there for a long time."
"Burter was unexpectedly involved. Egov and Burter—two of our brethren have suffered misfortunes. I don't think this is a good omen."
Two robed priests, each wielding a staff, slipped past the patrolling guards, moving through deserted streets.
"With the Grandmaster's guidance, even Kimio won't be a problem. The strength of each faction this time is far more terrifying than imagined; there aren't many who deserve our attention."
"Yes, then we…"
Just as they were about to speak, they abruptly stopped, gripping their staffs tightly.
At the end of the street, a figure slowly moved through the night mist.
A staff tapped lightly on the ground, emitting a cold, echoing clang.
Dong…
Suddenly, as if an illusion, the figure abruptly closed the distance, yet its movements remained slow and deliberate.
"Who's there?" one priest immediately called out.
Dong!
Another sound resonated; the figure vanished.
The two priests looked around, only to find the figure standing before them.
"Ah, two Eternal Night crystals." Mithra said. Behind her shoulders, the Night Hunter Greatsword's hilt pierced through flesh and appeared.