"My Investigations will go smoothly."
The words flowed out of his mouth submerging in the chaotic currents of fate and reshaping the course of destiny. While true, this fixed point appeared rather faint against the churning tides, carrying all manners of possibilities. The outcome was certain, but the manner in which this would be attainted remained indistinct. Such was the Fate authority he had gained upon accommodating the Fool Uniqueness—Anchor of Destiny.
Unlike his other authorities, this one required a special kind of finesse and restraint, leading Klein to many tests. For example, causing a certain Knight of Misfortune who held a tray full of random trinkets to trip and fall. However, the tray spilling its contents unto his relaxing form, while the Knight comfortably rolled on the ground to admire the outcome was not a part of this experiment. Though it did make him examine this fascinating authority in more details.
Divination isn't all-mighty. While it isn't the same, some comparisons can be drawn. He blinked as the wind hit his face, flurrying his hair. He peered down at the magnificent scenery below; a concentric metropolis stratified in an orderly fashion, the well-spaced roads stretched alongside high-rise stone buildings. The entire thing felt more like a grand fortress which expanded into a thriving city; all encapsulated by the primeval forest intertwining the entire place, as well as the frozen dusk bathing the gigantic temple at the city's centre.
The wind threatened to blow his hat away, but he held it in place, taking in the city or better yet, The Capital of Humanity. Strat, the heart of the Kingdom of Silver and of humanity—at least until recently.
While his gaze remained at the city, his entire focus was also placed elsewhere. His many avatars gazed at Strat together with his primary and visible avatar, while another set surrounding Gerhman Sparrow proceeded in their task of facing the Giant King.
The Giants truly are different. He let out a sigh, letting his hand fall. However, the strong wind didn't blow his hat away nor did it, or could it affect his entire body. Like it existed outside of its effects. Like a bug casually existing, but laying outside of reality's boundaries.
He looked up at the 'sun' breathing down on the city. In his many eyes, it appeared illusory, indistinct, and flawed. An imitation of the Sun that now shined over the world. A Naturewalker can create their own world? This was the conclusion he had reached based on the clues he had of the pathway.
Some of his 'eyes' were drawn to the city's gates from which countless pass-by, giants, and humans alike, going about their days. All concealed spaces required a door, and the city's four primary gates fulfilled that condition. It was through these very openings that he had swaggered in. Though this appeared careless, there was a caveat.
This world is rule-based, much like my Realm of Mysteries, Klein mused and through his casual observation, he could deduce that using any of these gates would make one fully exposed to 'Prying Eyes', not even a loophole or a Knight of Misfortune's concealment could escape this effect.
And trying to brute force your way through this realm reinforced by the Giant King would be a Fool's errand. He smirked at this. Indeed, not even the Phoenix's Doors could easily open into this space, the speed of that mere action would be slowed to a crawl leading to timely intervention.
Of course, all this had nothing to do with Klein. In fact, he directly exploited this air-tight security system established by one well-versed in the makings of Loopholes, seamlessly making this system believe he was its creator. As the loophole in rules themselves, how could he not make use of this blatant Error?
His focus shifted to Gerhman Sparrow. It was strange, the Silver Knights standing by the illusory gate didn't bother stopping him, the gate laid wide opened inviting his presence. However, even for this key avatar existing outside of all rules, this inescapable sense of Twilight hit him, slowing the passage of time to a crawl. No, it was frozen, but his own authority over time allowed him to move regardless, just at a slow pace. The march into this Divine Kingdom almost seemed eternal.
Klein retracted his gaze, summoning Sefirah Castle's Grey fog to prevent the sense of decay and Twilight from affecting him through the connection with Gerhman Sparrow. A seemingly good relationship with humans by today's standard, Klein took-in the city once more. A defined hierarchy; a well-thought of and rounded systems all over their domain… not to mention their calm and calculating actions during the previous Divine War.
Yep, the Giants are remarkably stable. He couldn't help but lampoon. While the Second Epoch wasn't so cut-and-dry when it came to madness, there were still an overwhelming rampant of chaos. This was especially so in this stretch of this Epoch—still hundreds of years from the more calm and stable times the Elf, Siatas, and the giant, Groselle he was familiar with.
Well, the elves aren't so bad all things considered. That is, of course, if we ignore their extreme irascible self. Klein still recalled how restrained the elves had been on their attack on the then defenceless humans.
This pulled him back to his current predicament. He looked down at his stretched hand. On it, an illusory ball of light floated, streams of information gathering to increase its size. This was a Sage's ability at the level of a Knowledge Emperor, an ability he had replicated from experience. He had already confirmed that Hermit, Error, Mother, and Twilight based abilities didn't trigger any alarms all over the city given it was performed or allowed by the recognised Monarchs ruling.
While the data collection wasn't complete, he still studied it, taking in some info to form the full picture. The prosperous Kingdom, seemingly humanity's paradise in this era of suffering held a very dark secret.
"Extreme harvest is inevitably accompanied by extreme desolation; only life can quell the land's wrath; death, like new life, is a common and beautiful thing, not to be feared; we have accepted the land's gifts, so we must pay the corresponding price."
The Queen of the Giants is far more complex than I imagined, huh? He stopped gathering information and summoned a chair and table from the historical void, taking a seat while grasping the porcelain tea cup on the table. He took a sip before delving deeper into his deductions.
It was undeniable, among all ancient gods and angels, the one who drew his curiosity the most was undoubtedly the Goddess of Harvest, Omebella. His interest, or rather his weariness started right upon discovering the secret identity of Earth Mother, and how it had emerged. But this was further amplified once he took the City of Silver away from the Eastern Continent.
One look at the Gift of the Land was enough to tell him it was no good.
Such a powerful artifact made without any characteristics. Its abilities and negative effects also reflect Omebella's dual nature when descending upon "Her" people. Then there's how the City of Silver could identify "Her" as their Queen and Goddess, even though "She" should've had "Her" Fate stolen long by then.
Being the current highest authority in the Error pathway, Klein was well aware of how thorough Fate Theft could be. Especially in Omebella's case where both "Her" body and Beyonder characteristic were stolen.
He didn't continue his pondering as he looked up at the darkening 'sky.' A deep sense of desolation and death descended upon the conceived world.
…
A sense of Twilight, Decay, and Holiness layered with prying eyes peered into the world's loopholes waiting to be exploited. This was the feeling Gerhman Sparrow had faced upon descending into the outskirts of the Giant King's Court. Unlike his personal experience of this Divine Kingdom, he could pick out certain key details. Obviously, it was populated by giants all walking along the fringes of the illusory door leading into the Frozen Dusk Hall.
Twilight overshadows, but the loophole in the River of Time and the Eyes chasing information forming all also coexist. He marched unbated towards the frozen Dusk Hall, the weakening effect weighing all those not acknowledged didn't affect him. Though, none of the Giants had stood in his way. However, even his casual stagger came to a halt as his crossed into the actual Divine Kingdom.
The infinite void standing between him and reality trembled before it also decayed and threatened to collapse.
Gerhman Sparrow slowly fixed his hat, his own thoughts, movements, and even intelligence stripped, replaced by instincts. Yet, even though only acting on mere instincts, his casual demeanour did not waver. Yes, he had deceived his own instincts into acting like his usual self, thus, negating Combat authority affecting him.
As he fixed his hat, a grand clock made up of worms formed and reversed the collapse of the void around him. The reforming void then decayed, but was reformed by the reversal of the River of Time.
With the stalemate established, Gerhman's cold gaze swept over the Frozen Hall. A sense of holiness permeated the space. Everything felt grand, immeasurably tall. But his eyes pierced through that and settled on a dark-green, giant whose only eye could be seen through a thin visor of "His" helmet. The fear behind those eyes couldn't escape him, but Gerhman knew it was solely directed at him.
He moved his attention at the impossibly gigantic throne, occupied by an equally puzzling figure. Light simultaneously emanated from "Him", but also decayed when touching "Him". The figure's existence seemed blurry, as if trying to distance itself from its current position.
Gerhman's focus wasn't drawn to the colossal Twilight Sword laid on the being's armoured lap, nor the crow shining in the Twilight on its head. Not even the attraction caused by the distorted and segmented eye on its forehead existing in a digitized form could draw him. No, Gerhman's attention fell in the Giant's Central eye within "His" own visor. Madness threatened to gnaw through it.
He let out a chuckle, steadied himself, and in an excruciating pace, he walked 'ahead' amidst the decaying and reforming void.
…
The Giant Monarchs are quite the interesting couple.
From his seat of honour in Sefirah Castle, Klein watched both development with intrigue.
Author Note:
"Hey, you. You're finally awake!"
A somewhat belated happy New Year, I hope this one fares best for both of us. And welcome back. Its been approximately half an year since the last update. Within that period of time, I have had many ups and downs and I am currently down because my fucking headphones broke yesterday which caused me to have a emotional melt down but I suppose I am good.
Now I must make somethings clear: Including this chapter, the next 10 are not written by me but by my former editor Chaotic. Though I have edited them myself and possibly will have to change some chapters but the major work is still solely credited to him. Why? I have been frankly very busy Irl with exams and also I am fully putting my efforts into my original webnovel called Blight. It has not been released yet so don't bother looking. I can confirm you though, it will be something you have not ever read before, even close.
I will prob pick SoT fully on my own by March, I'll be done with exams by then. Till such, enjoy whatever Chaotic (and me but mostly him) cooks for you. Also await Blight, idk please read it I need money and I am broke as fuck.
Oh btw, normal schedule. One chapter every thur and Sun. WIth that, tatatatata.