A gate shimmered into existence, stretching millions of kilometers ahead.
It was known as Fortres de Velomera, a realm where time bent strangely and where the gods themselves gathered in council. The surface of the gate rippled like liquid glass, glowing softly with power older than any universe.
Min Ling stared at it, speechless.
"So… this is it."
The Watcher stood beside him, calm as ever.
"Yes."
Min Ling scratched his head nervously.
"I imagined something big… but this is ridiculous."
The Watcher allowed himself a faint smile.
"The scale of divine realms tends to surprise newcomers."
He stepped forward.
"Come. The council will not wait forever."
Together, they passed through the gate.
The moment they crossed the threshold, a vast hallway unfolded before them.
It stretched endlessly, a corridor of glowing light that seemed to extend beyond sight itself. The floor shimmered like polished crystal, reflecting distant galaxies across its surface.
Min Ling slowed his steps.
"Is this hallway… actually endless?"
"In a sense," the Watcher replied.
"This corridor exists between layers of reality. Distance here has little meaning."
Min Ling glanced around, noticing faint images shifting along the walls.
Galaxies. Stars. Entire universes flickering like reflections.
"Are those… real?"
"Yes," the Watcher said quietly.
"They are worlds under observation."
Min Ling stared in awe.
"So many…"
Soft light suddenly gathered nearby.
Several angels appeared beside them, their wings shimmering like silver fire.
Min Ling nearly jumped.
"Whoa—!"
One of the angels smiled gently.
"You must be Min Ling."
He blinked.
"You know my name?"
"We know the students of the Watchers."
Another angel, taller and more radiant than the others, stepped forward.
"You are about to witness the council of the gods. It is natural to feel overwhelmed."
Min Ling laughed nervously.
"Overwhelmed is an understatement."
He glanced at the Watcher.
"Master, are they… the angels of the God of Reincarnation?"
The Watcher nodded.
"Yes."
The taller angel inclined their head respectfully.
"The God of Reincarnation governs the flow of all souls across existence."
Min Ling tilted his head.
"You mean every life… in every universe?"
"Every single one."
Min Ling slowly processed that.
"…That sounds like the most stressful job in the cosmos."
A small laugh rippled among the angels.
They continued walking.
After a moment, Min Ling leaned closer to the Watcher.
"Master… how many universes actually exist?"
The Watcher glanced at the shimmering walls.
"More than most minds can comprehend."
He gestured toward the reflections of stars.
"Each Nano Juman governs five hundred universes."
Min Ling nearly tripped.
"Five hundred?!"
"Yes."
They continued walking.
"There are thirty Nano Juman in this realm."
Min Ling quickly did the math.
"Wait… that means—"
"One thousand universes for each god."
Min Ling stared ahead in stunned silence.
"And the council has fifteen gods…"
"Correct."
Min Ling rubbed his temples.
"My brain hurts."
After a moment, he asked another question.
"So where do the Watchers fit into all this?"
The Watcher slowed his steps slightly.
"Each Watcher is assigned around fifty universes to observe."
Min Ling blinked.
"Only observe?"
"Yes."
"No interference?"
"Rarely."
Min Ling frowned.
"That sounds frustrating."
The Watcher gave a quiet chuckle.
"It can be."
Min Ling crossed his arms.
"And you said you miss missions?"
The Watcher looked forward, his eyes distant.
"Observation alone can become… lonely."
Min Ling studied his teacher's expression.
"You've been doing this for a long time, haven't you?"
The Watcher didn't answer immediately.
"…Longer than most stars have existed."
Min Ling went silent.
For the first time, he realized the weight behind those words.
The angels continued gliding beside them.
One of them turned toward Min Ling.
"You should know something about your master."
Min Ling looked curious.
"Oh?"
The angel's eyes shone with quiet respect.
"He is the one who trained many of us."
Min Ling blinked.
"Wait… really?"
"Yes."
The angel smiled faintly.
"He has served beside the God of Reincarnation since the beginning of this system."
Min Ling stared at the Watcher.
"You never mentioned that."
The Watcher shrugged lightly.
"It never seemed important."
The angels exchanged amused looks.
"To us," one of them said softly, "it is very important."
Eventually, the hallway began to widen.
A massive chamber appeared ahead, glowing with cosmic light.
Stars floated through the air like drifting embers.
Min Ling slowed again.
"Please tell me that's the council chamber."
"It is," the Watcher replied.
In the center of the chamber stood fifteen enormous thrones, each radiating divine power.
The gods of the council were already present.
Their attention shifted toward the newcomers.
Min Ling immediately felt the pressure of their presence.
"…I suddenly feel very small."
"That feeling is normal," the Watcher said calmly.
They stepped forward.
One of the gods spoke, their voice echoing through the chamber like distant thunder.
"The meeting may begin."
Their gaze settled on the Watcher.
"The Gion Watcher has arrived."
Min Ling glanced at his master.
"Gion Watcher?"
Another god spoke.
"Take your seat… Old One."
Min Ling froze.
He slowly turned toward the Watcher.
"…Old One?"
The Watcher sighed softly.
"Well," he murmured.
"I suppose it was only a matter of time before you heard that."
Min Ling's mind raced.
"You mean… that title—"
The Watcher looked back at him with a faint smile.
"Yes."
His voice was calm, but ancient weight filled the words.
"I am the Old One."
The chamber fell silent.
"I have walked these halls since the beginning of the council… trained the angels of reincarnation… and observed the rise and fall of countless universes."
Min Ling stared in disbelief.
"You've been here… the entire time?"
The Watcher gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Then he turned toward the council.
"Now then."
His voice carried easily across the chamber.
"Shall we discuss why the God of Reincarnation has disappeared?"
The fifteen gods watched him carefully.
And the true purpose of the meeting… was about to begin.