When it reappeared, it was above the silent sea, gazing through the crystal jail at the face of Matthes.
"How should I address you?"
In the projection, the man, also holding a cane, gazed at Matthes's face. "Which master from the Golden Dawn has come here? Edward White? Woodman? Or perhaps... Creator Matthes?"
"Samuel McGregor Matthes." The graceful middle-aged gentleman lifted his hat and introduced himself.
"Yegor," the new arrival reported his name.
"The pillar of the Jurisdiction Bureau, the hand of peace." Matthes nodded in realization. "The preacher's fame reverberates even in the Abyss. As a successor, you have done well."
"Now that swords have been drawn, let's dispense with the pleasantries, Mr. Matthes," Yegor spoke coldly. "It doesn't matter why you fell into the Abyss. When you stand in the way of the Astronomical Society, you become our enemy."
"So how do you plan to defeat me then?" Matthes laughed, relaxedly asking, "Do you intend to beat me with your cane? Although I have always considered myself a scholar, I wouldn't lose to someone suffering from childhood paralysis in a fight.
"Or perhaps, do you intend to use your sermons and sharp teeth to refute my beliefs? To reform me? Ah, Current Circumstances seem to be quite fond of such plots recently. Might I also experience it?"
"You might be disappointed." Yegor shook his head. "As the Secretary General of the Central Decision Room of the Jurisdiction Bureau, I am not adept at fighting. I'm here merely as a mascot. The one who will truly be your enemy has just arrived."
Behind the projection, a rainbow light descended from the sky and flashed by.
A giant engulfed in flames stepped forward, trampling the sea beneath him, shouldering a sword of bright light from the Miracle Imprint. The sword blade shed fiery light as if the sun itself had been endowed with an edge.
Divine tyranny!
Colonel of the European District Jurisdiction Bureau, a Fifth Stage Sublimator from the Nordic Genealogy, The Crowned One—Surtur!
Following him was a grim man wearing a black robe and a Bachelor Crown. His eyes were narrow, his expression harsh and stern, as if he held great discontent for the world.
Yet with his appearance, it was as if time itself had abruptly reversed; even the wind and tide beneath his feet seemed completely changed.
All the crystal pillars above the sea area instantly shrank by a large portion and could not grow back. The defense, previously impervious, now showed slender cracks.
There on his black robe's chest was a white Tower Emblem. His Bachelor Crown, adorned with gold tassels, attested to his exalted status.
The vice-principal of the Ivory Tower, renowned for his erudition among the thirty-two scholars, and also a Sublimator from the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy, a Fifth Stage Sublimator on the Road of God Marrow
—Cronus!
The last who arrived, tardy, had disheveled hair as if he had just awoken. He held a coffee cup in his hand and looked around with an air of nonchalance and composure, as if he were on an outing.
However, his courtesy was impeccable.
He bent slightly in respect towards Matthes, the old predecessor.
"The Existence Institute's junior, Shah."
The overly young Creator nodded to one of the members of the Element of Destructive, the Golden Dawn, standing before him. "Before I was born, you were already a luminary in genetics; I hope you can offer some guidance on my oceanography."
Matthes glanced at him with a hint of a smile. "Whether your studies are truly in oceanography or life science is probably something only you know."
"Aha, that's too exaggerated."
Shah casually tossed the coffee cup aside, preparing to exchange more pleasantries, but was interrupted by the grim vice-principal from the Ivory Tower, Cronus, who scoffed and launched a bold Offensive.
The wheel of time emerged!
BOOM!
A grand power collided in the void. The crystal prison trembled slightly, fracturing, then quickly healing.
"The youth of today are indeed fearsome." Matthes smiled calmly. "This old man needs to preside over the double helix's Secret Ritual and cannot extricate himself; the other two colleagues shall take my place..."
As he spoke, from above, within the endless Abyss, two fearsome stars suddenly emerged, plunging down toward the Endless Sea.
From the midst of the wild rumbling, a shocking blast of air spread in all directions.
From that moment, the war began.
Boss, it's bad news!
The thought had blared in Huai Shi's mind five minutes earlier, just as she had found a quiet corner and attempted to communicate with The Fly King—an alarmingly terrified roar from Beelzebub.
It's all over, it's all over, it's all over! Pack your things, divide up the Border Relic, and run away—
"Calm down, my friend."
Huai Shi sighed with resignation. She'd seen it all. How could a tattered old book be so alarmist? Perhaps it had never seen the world before. "Has some black-hearted woman been kidnapped again?" she muttered.
Beelzebub screamed frantically from between the pages, I smell it, the Golden Dawn! It's undoubtedly them! Those Second fifths are coming to kill us!!!
"What the heck?"
Huai Shi felt a darkness before her eyes. It was like being hammered hard, her brain rocking wildly. Her legs nearly gave way, barely able to stand.
Heavens, real trouble is brewing.
She was barely holding on.