The extraordinary beings ultimately accepted Ansel's proposal.
Those gathered here were all formidable individuals who had overco myriad hardships. Their resistance to the Abyss was imasurable, yet the Abyssal matter refined by Hydral proved too perilous, inadvertently highlighting Faust's harmlessness.
Moreover, they had no alternatives. They couldn't possibly wait for alchemists like Pablo to spend two days developing more stable protective asures.
Basking in the glory of the new order...
The extraordinary beings had been under the Empress's tyrannical rule for far too long. Even the most benevolent among them were unwilling to miss this opportunity.
Beneath the blood-red sky, these extraordinary beings capable of turning the current empire upside down gathered before the rift still gushing with blood flas.
Standing at the forefront, Ansel gazed at this wound-like fissure in the world. The ever-burning, violent aura was all too familiar to him.
Even if he could simultaneously eliminate Evora and the other extraordinary beings, Ansel still faced a significant dilemma.
— Why had Evora suddenly appeared without reason? Why, despite clearly possessing the ability to tear open rifts in this plane, had she not returned? Could it be, as he had surmised, that so unknown cause had plunged Evora into complete chaos and madness?
What role did the forces that killed his mother and bestowed imperial qualifications upon Suellen play in all this?
"..."
Hydral exhaled slowly. Confronting fate required foresight into more distant circumstances, but now was not the ti to ponder such matters.
Once the dust settled, he would focus entirely on the hidden enemy lurking in the darkness.
"Everyone," he turned to address the extraordinary beings behind him, displaying a composed smile, "I'll say no more, except to remind you all that the empire's new order... lies in your hands."
As soon as he finished speaking, his tall, elegant form was enveloped by a suddenly manifesting black substance, dissolving his human shape.
Under the astonished gazes of the extraordinary beings, the terminal beast, still attached to human form and unwilling to relinquish human intelligence, twisted and expanded with the black substance... revealing its true form. The catastrophic body, transcending infinite extraordinary beings, descended as the gates of the Abyss opened wide!
Its colossal form cast the extraordinary beings in shadow. Atop the mountain-like trunk, four of the nine heads swayed as if possessing individual consciousness, while the other five seed to slumber, slightly bowed and motionless.
Since attaining the treasure known as wisdom, successive Hydrals had rarely revealed their true forms. No beings in this world yearned more to enjoy the pleasures of being "human". Only in extrely rare circumstances would they abandon their human bodies.
Ansel had once promised Seraphina to show her higher and more distant sights in his true form. Before that, he had only transford into a mad beast in an attempt to save his mother. Now marked his third revelation of the nine-headed serpent's true form.
Even without explanation, he had demonstrated his resolve through action.
"Let's go," the deep voice, no longer as gentle and smooth as before, resonated and overlapped as if echoing: "I shall lead the way for you all."
The enormous serpent's body slowly squeezed into the world's rift. The dark currents floating on its scales effortlessly blocked the blood flas gushing from the entire fissure. As its tail disappeared into the rift, Faust glanced back at the stunned extraordinary beings and followed silently.
After a brief hesitation, these powerful figures at the world's pinnacle also entered the mirage realm one after another. Whether they were stirred by the "new order" Ansel spoke of, or simply wanted to eliminate the threat to their freedom as soon as possible... no one could say for certain.
As they successively entered the mirage realm, two individuals remained outside the rift:
Clent Wyvern and Namo Azuregold.
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"Namo," Duke of Wyvern gazed at Duke of Azuregold, "Have you made your decision?"
Azuregold, however, didn't look at him. Instead, he stared at the blood flas covering the ground, murmuring, "All these precious gold coins... How capricious of you, Your Highness the Elder Princess."
"Namo!"
"Yes, yes, Clent, I'm listening." The man turned back to face Duke of Wyvern, his smile cultured but unable to conceal the greed in his eyes:
"While I'd like to help you, your offer isn't high enough."
Wyvern frowned, "Isn't the Western Land enough?"
Namo pointed at the blood flas below: "You an the Western Land like this?"
"...Fine, then the Southern Territories, I can give you those too."
"No," Namo shook his head, "What I want is... everything."
He casually gripped his jeweled cane, slightly raising his chin: "The economy of the new order must be controlled by my consortium. That's all I want. As for the extent of the fiefdom, I couldn't care less."
"..."
Clent's gaze gradually turned icy. After the first eting today, he had contacted nurous grand dukes. Only the Duke of Azuregold remained ambiguous after their eting. This businessman had delayed until now... apparently to raise his price.
"Now is not the ti for bargaining," Clent said coldly. "After dealing with those two naces, I can negotiate with you on this basis. Don't push your luck. Do you think siding with Hydral will get you better terms than mine?"
Grand Duke Azuregold held his gaze for two seconds, then tugged at the corner of his mouth, spreading his hands: "Very well, we'll negotiate on this basis after everything is settled."
Saying this, he flew towards the rift. However, before stepping in, he looked back at Clent once more.
"But, Clent... where does your confidence co from?"
"From that Hydral who thinks no one has discovered his true face."
Clent let out a sarcastic cold laugh: "Does he think that after dealing with Evora, he can rest easy and continue to grow in secret? He never imagined that I wouldn't give him that chance."
"— We, won't give him that chance."
"You speak as if you've convinced everyone... but half should be enough."
Grand Duke Azuregold shrugged: "After all, the others have no reason to help Hydral either."
As Clent approached the rift, his eyes, now transford into vertical pupils, burned with fierce ambition.
"Because no matter how hypocritical he tries to be, he's still Hydral at his core."
Hmm...
At the mont of stepping into the rift, Namo Azuregold stroked his chin.
Is there really no reason to help him?
This Grand Duke, who had no interest in status or authority, still rembered the ssage Ansel had first given him. That's why he was equally shocked by Faust's sudden appearance at the eting.
"He will return like the blazing sun, far stronger than you've ever seen."
In Azuregold's mind, Ansel's words rang clear.
*
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