Chapter 16: Twilight in Shadow

In the deep, mysterious hall, a ball of crimson fire, radiating an overwhelming violent aura, floated in the air, moving slowly forward.

This was a blaze that defied reason and understanding; although no larger than a basketball, where it passed, even the air and the elements themselves seemed poised to burn wildly.

However, in this hall filled with an indescribable atmosphere, the presence of the fiery flame did not cause the surrounding temperatures to surge; it seemed as if an invisible force was suppressing everything within the hall, maintaining it in a kind of preordained eternal state.

As it brushed past countless figures draped in gray cloaks, constructively sculpted from gray mist, the flame eventually reached the innermost part of the hall—the council chamber equipped with a round table and surrounding chairs.

On the ten or so imposing stone seats with armrests, several figures were already waiting.

As soon as the crimson flame appeared, the chamber erupted with sharp, piercing sounds of mocking laughter, like a mad clown on stage deliberately raising the pitch of their voice, sending shivers down one’s spine and creating a sense of irritation.

“Oh ho ho ho, look who’s here! Our fiery God of Blazing Flame seems to be in such a miserable state, reduced to a pitiful little spark, hahaha!”

The merciless ridicule came from a little dwarf, wearing an extremely pointy triangle hat, precariously hanging upside down from the council chamber’s beam.

Standing just over a meter tall, it sported a furry brown tail, three or four times longer than its body, sharp at the end like a spear, moving in a serpent-like manner, currently coiling around its body.

Other than the gravity-defying hat stuck on its head, the dwarf was completely wrapped in an ancient and oversized black cloak, making its figure indistinguishable; even its face was obscured by a black and white mask.

The pattern on the mask displayed a large, grinning face that seemed almost to split open its mouth, comedic, eerie, and carrying a hint of absurd terror.

The flame ignored it, moving directly before the stone seat, carved with patterns resembling blazing flames, floating upward before uttering in a deep voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, in ancient runes.

【Where are the others? What world are they too busy ruining?】

For a long time, the peculiar figures sitting around the round table remained silent. Finally, one black-robed figure, relatively resembling a normal person and sitting directly opposite the flame, responded in the same language.

【You make it sound like we ever gather everyone together for a meeting, Frim. Don’t tell me you’ve become more foolish than you were thousands of years ago because you’ve been cooped up by Olivya for too long?】

【Tsk…】

Surprisingly, the deity renowned for its furious temperament, the God of Blazing Flame, did not fly into a rage at the black-robed figure’s bland taunts. A mere cold snort escaped its lips, and it fell silent.

Soon after, an elderly voice slowly resonated from every corner of the chamber.

【Alright, all the councilors who could make it are here, so let’s get started with today’s meeting. Calling you across worlds has mainly three topics.】

“Oh ho ho ~ three topics, wow! Hahaha, I can’t believe there are three! The last time we discussed this many matters must have been over a thousand years ago! Alright, alright! How entertaining! Hehehe!!!”

The clownish, shrill noise erupted again in the council chamber, interrupting the elderly voice. The dwarf, completely wrapped in its cloak and wearing a black-and-white mask, excitedly swung its tail like a swing, spinning rapidly around the beam, its mask’s expression transforming into a laugh of madness.

“Ka ka ka ka ka…!”

Suddenly frozen in time, the dwarf’s sharp cackling and actions were abruptly halted. Its entire body was captured in some bizarre pose mid-spin, before it burst apart like a torn puppet, disintegrating into countless shattered fragments that plummeted down.

The only figure present bearing a completely human-like form, and especially beautiful—a silver-haired woman—adjusted her slightly wrinkled translucent white silk gloves, leaning against the stone seat with a cold expression.

【So noisy. Can’t you be quiet in public? Idiots…】

In the face of this sudden, terrifying scene where someone was instantaneously dismembered and shattered into pieces, the other figures remained silent as if oblivious, not even emitting a single question.

The dismembered remains of the dwarf gradually blended into the ground like melting droplets, leaving only the untouched black-and-white mask, emanating ancient divine language that seemed to contain rules and intention yet remained frivolous.

【Oh dear, our Lady Hen still has such a fiery temperament. In my opinion, you’d even be more suited for the position of God of Blazing Flame. We worked hard to shape this body, and now it’s all gone, boo hoo…】

Pretending to sob, the expression on the black-and-white mask shifted to a dejected one, autonomously floating up to rest on a nearby stone seat adorned with numerous masks.

【…】

The silver-haired woman, known as Hen, seemed entirely disinterested in the black-and-white mask, quickly tilting her eyes closed as if falling into a light slumber.

Once this brief and explosive dispute was over, the elderly voice that lingered in the hall continued, as if entirely oblivious to the prior events.

【Now, for the first topic: the return of the Ninth Flame to the council after escaping captivity. Blazing Flame, first of all, congratulations on finally breaking free. Although due to some unforeseen circumstances, you missed that revolution a thousand years ago, the council is still tirelessly striving for that ultimate goal. Your return is timely; let us all express our congratulations.】

“Clap clap clap…!”

An obviously insincere round of applause echoed throughout the council chamber, with a few figures pretending to put forth some sound, while others, such as the silver-haired woman—Hen, remained unmoving, like she was still asleep.

The eccentric black-and-white mask, however, was the most enthusiastic, still bearing a crazed smile despite being shattered, frantically clapping its hands on the stone chair beneath it, creating an eerie sound, leaving one to question its sincerity.

It seemed there was no intention to delve deeper into the matter, as the elderly voice, presiding over the meeting but oblivious to its own whereabouts, continued.

【Alright, the next topic is the original plan to destroy one of the dimensional gaps—the Illusory Realm, to advance the ultimate goal. However, it has encountered setbacks. What do you all think?】

Finally, one figure seated at one side of the round table, exceptionally large and heavily furred, spoke up in a deep voice.

【What else is there to say? That waste, Frim, can’t even defeat a dragon in the mortal realm; the councilors chosen by Exmont are nothing but backstabbers, and they actually turned against us at a critical moment. I say they all bear half the responsibility.】

【I second that.】

【I agree as well.】

Two other bizarre figures chimed in, all three of them, just like Hen, having failed to applaud in welcome of Frim’s return.

   

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