“The world is bounded, but ambition is boundless,” Hereward repeated slowly. “Well said. I begin to see why the Abyss Sovereign desires to create such a world. The conflict between groups of people stems from this fact, just in different forms. There is, however, some irony in those words, given that it is a Boundless One who said it.”

Gemini nodded, the various thought strands in his mind racing. “If such a world exists, even with the cap on one’s maximum power, people would flock to it. As expected of an existence on that level…”

“Yes,” said the Sentinel of Space. “But I worry. This is an ambitious undertaking, the first of its kind. As someone who has witnessed such a process before, I cannot help but wonder if problems would crop up in its creation. The Abyss Sovereign is making use of an untested power source — the chaotic Crying Abyss — to power his festival of creation, which is based around the seed of a virtual world.”

“Problems?” Gemini asked.

“Yes. It is possible that instead of creating a new world, the entire process may output a different result.” Hereward tapped his feet. “For instance, the world seed may not blossom, but overlay itself onto Orb, stirring up an unpredictable mess.”

The Demon Sovereign looked at the sleeping Lila. “It’s too dangerous. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Essentially so. In my long life, I have witnessed two festivals of creation. One was that of the true Orb, the other was that of the false Orb. The former was a natural process that only bore life after eons, which created a stable world with an established hierarchy. The latter was a process that arose from reactions and counter-reactions, creating Bounded Presences that guided the various processes of the false Orb. However, a being with no concepts of boundaries is attempting to create what essentially is an inanimate Bounded Presence.”

“I understand,” said Gemini, nodding twice. Fortunately, as someone who had grasped the use of parallel thinking, he was able to analyse and understand what Hereward’s words meant. This third…festival of creation, as Hereward put it, was neither natural nor guided. It was initiated by the Abyss Sovereign, who almost certainly didn’t have a template for creating a world.

“Good. Therefore, there is little recourse but for us all to intervene,” said Hereward. “Even if this is a utopia that was generated with the purest of hearts, we cannot risk irrevocable changes to Orb. I will not be alone in reaching this conclusion either.”

“The other great gods…”

“Despite their severe injuries, they will definitely mobilise.” Gloominess radiated outwards from Hereward. “Unfortunately, if the Abyss Sovereign truly is what I think him or her to be, they will almost certainly die. The ordered processes of Orb will shatter, and the chances of natural disasters occurring would return.”

Gemini frowned. He hadn’t quite noticed the effects of Conrah and Rahwei’s passing, other than erratic rainfall and the random ordering of the four seasons, but these two points were already important enough.

“Mobilise…” The Demon Sovereign frowned. “But the Wildlands and the Five Lands only came to a peace treaty because they didn’t know about my presence. Otherwise, the latter would never have given the demons a chance to catch their breath. If the Wildlands had even rudimentary means of artificing…”

“Yes, but that is not a consideration for the immediate future,” said Hereward. “The Abyss Sovereign’s festival will last for six months. We only have that much time to muster our forces, recover our strength and march on the Central Circle. If we fail, we expose Orb to extreme risks.”

“Six months.” Gemini clicked his teeth. “That is not enough time for the demons to actually do anything beyond a direct charge.”

“That’s not all the bad news,” said Hereward. “Turn your senses into the centre of the Wildlands. The Abyss Sovereign has played an incredible hand, one that surpasses the Demon God’s own gambit.”

“Gambit?” Gemini did as he was told, and then narrowed his eyes. He could see a very thin film spreading outwards from the black tower. It was a very faint grey, something that most people wouldn’t notice. “What’s that? It won’t happen to be a wall of approaching doom, would it?”

“Nothing as crass as that,” Hereward replied. “No, it’s…a means to link souls. Anyone it passes through is temporarily linked towards the world seed the Abyss Sovereign is currently nurturing. Therefore, when people die, instead of returning to Orb’s circle of reincarnation, their souls would be sent into the world seed itself.”

“Like…a forced transmigration,” Gemini uttered. A thought struck him. “Darn it. If that’s the case, demons who die will no longer be reborn in blood pools; they’ll reappear in that world seed of his!”

“Yes,” said Hereward. “It is a masterstroke, is it not? Other than that, this approaching wall is also taking in the topography of Orb. It will sweep through the world, and in six months, arrive at the Central Circle itself. Once that happens, the creation process will be unstoppable. Whatever happens next will be out of our power to influence.”

“We don’t have much time, then,” said Gemini.

“Yes. Exactly.” Hereward paused. “It is a very sensitive period for you, but I ask of you — please, join me and the other great gods in appearing at the peace treaty. This will be the only means in which we can announce the sweeping changes to Orb.”

Gemini turned to look at Lila, who was snoozing on her chair, and then at Aria, who was sitting on her lap quietly. If Hereward’s fears truly came to pass, then his family would be at risk. Ark City could very well be in danger. He could not risk that.

Not for some distant, unknown utopia the Abyss Sovereign had in mind.

“Very well,” said Gemini. “I will go with you. I hate to say it, but this is a danger that is on par or even greater than the Demon God. We will protect Orb. No matter what.”

“Good. Thank you.” Hereward lowered his head. “Really. Thank you so much. The other great gods have been informed of this two. At evening, when the peace treaty is signed, we will convene together, and then reveal the Abyss Sovereign’s dangerous, risk-laden festival of creation to the world.”

He paused. “I suspect the Five Lands will join for different reasons, however.”

“Naturally,” Gemini replied. “After all, the powerful and privileged will not take kindly to this utopia’s creation.”

“A sordid thought, but it can’t be helped.” Hereward leaned back on his chair. “Let us rest for the next few hours. Your debut, in particular, will be very tiring on us all. Prepare yourself.”