“Great gods of Orb, thank you for your input,” said Kolya, who only started talking after Gemini teleported back to his seat. “Your unique viewpoints have opened up multiple avenues, illuminating blind spots in our calculations. The great gods operate on a different level than us.”

“I’m glad you understand that,” said Thasvia. “Your Peacebringers are impressive, but your target back then was already insane. I hope you are not assuming that it would work on the Abyss Sovereign, who, if nothing else, is probably going to dodge a volley of your Peacebringers instead of blocking them.”

A small titter ran around the makeshift conference venue.

“Of course,” said Kolya. “But that’s our first-generation Peacebringers at work. The newer fleets of Locomotives and their godkiller weapons are very much targeted at the characteristics of the great gods themselves.”

Thasiva shook slightly. “I see. Does that mean that it would have an effect on the Abyss Sovereign?”

“No one knows until we use it,” Kolya replied. “But they’re weapons on the conceptual and information level. I suppose we can find out earlier if you volunteer…but we are having great success against the spectres, who are effectively will and information lifeforms.”

“That bears worthy consideration,” said Thasvia. “Although I’m now worried that I’ll be injured by those weapons…”

Kolya laughed, but Gemini couldn’t quite sense any levity from him. “Unfortunate. But we will get a test run soon.”

“Perhaps,” Thasvia replied.

Gemini watched the great god of wind in silence. He could sense that the divinity busy working to conceal her form had wavered at that last exchange, and his thought strands whirled into action for three or so seconds.

“Was he threatening you?” Gemini sent a telepathic query to Thasvia, who nodded in return.

“Yes,” she replied, her voice echoing in his head. “A nice, veiled threat. Don’t worry about it. I’ve been exposed to them for quite a long time. They did manage to uh, convince me to not do anything to their territory long ago, after all. With the threat of force, that is.”

“When you guys first descended?” Gemini transmitted back.

“Yes. Well, enough about that, though. Considering our enemy, I don’t really think I need to worry about a post-Abyss Sovereign future. If we cannot weaken his will, we’re not going to walk out of this,” Thasvia replied. “Our inability to resist primordial energy hasn’t been solved, and we’re down to less than half our original number. Our biggest advantage — battles of Divine Will — have been stripped away by the Abyss Sovereign. All in all, this isn’t a battle for us anymore.”

Gemini didn’t know how to answer that, so the only thing he could do was to nod in silence. Fortunately, Kolya had just got up to occupy the spotlight — he was already putting forth a policy of interaction, to promote and encourage healthy mingling between the Five Lands. As for how he managed to come up with a solution this quickly, Gemini himself didn’t know, but the speed in which the Pinnacle had come up with a fairly comprehensive solution was enough to garner his respect.

For a mortal, coming up with things like this on the fly was no mean feat. It was something that Gemini could probably do if he put his mind to it, but it wasn’t in his place to—

A chilling wave of madness swept through the Central Continent, and innumerable presences, each of them radiating malice, made their existence known to everyone present.

“An attack, at this time?” Pinnacle Kolya glared upwards, and the room made of energy fell apart. A moment later, qi erupted out of everyone present, and without a second thought, everyone shot skywards, Gemini and Thasvia at the very lead. There, blotting out the horizon, was a sea of spectres, and—

“They’re different.” Thasvia’s words were quiet, and yet, despite the deafening alarms and the shouts below the semi-divinities, everyone seemed to hear her.

“Different?” Kolya narrowed his eyes. “How? What makes you say that?”

“Can’t you see it?” Thasvia pointed at the writhing tide, which was already engaging the Locomotives at a ruinous exchange rate. “They’re more…lifelike.”

“Lifelike or not, they’re in our way,” Minister Pauline of the Republic replied. The self-proclaimed first amongst equals in the Republic of Francois had been silent the whole time, but when it came to fighting, this new nation was a very enthusiastic one. The Republic had spent its entire time embroiled in conflict, one way or another, and it showed.

Their Minister of State was evidently the belligerent sort.

“Seconded. Let’s adjourn this meeting and scatter the enemies first,” said another voice.

“Be careful.” A red-haired woman appeared beside Pinnacle Kolya. “This attack isn’t as simple as it looks. The…Abyss Sovereign has taken the field.”

The assembled crowd flinched collectively, but before anyone could regain their posture, an immense presence, one that burned calmly with resolve and resilience, rippled through Orb. Something so huge, so tremendous, was making itself known to the world, to the point that a falling mountain was definitely more subtle than it.

“He’s coming.”

Gemini didn’t know who said that, nor did he care about such minor details right now, but the Demon Sovereign had to admit that the speaker had a great sense of timing.

Night seemed to fall, as the red sky darkened into shadow. Bright silver lines, a silver so bright that it seemed like a radiant white, crisscrossed the dark red sky, illuminating the world in a hue that Gemini had never seen before. At the same time, an incredible pressure radiated outwards from the continent centre, a pressure so tangible that the weaker Lords were forced back. Fortunately, Lila wasn’t included amongst their number; she had returned to Thasvia’s Divine Kingdom to look after Aria after the little ‘un started crying.

The gunfire of the Locomotives ended a moment later, and as the destructive symphony died away, a single silhouette began to take form.

As Gemini gazed on the manifesting Abyss Sovereign, only one thought remained in his mind.

The Abyss Sovereign, as he was now, was probably unmatched through and through.

Clearly, the decisive battle had been brought forward.