The meeting between the Biological Entity and Nastion took place secretly, yet swiftly. This was because they could read each other’s identities with a single glance.
Their discussions and negotiations were not conducted through physical language. Instead, they opened their minds to each other and communicated through mental images.
They exchanged necessary Information and repeated assessments of each other’s capabilities while calculating what each wanted. Even as this reconnaissance unfolded, the passage of time in the material world was less than an instant, making the time sense of those created to handle the mind incredibly efficient.
The first question posed by the Biological Entity was about the detailed composition of Argyrion. For Nastion, who had to summon the Divine to assist Argyrion, it was a sensitive matter.
The Biological Entity revealed its intention: “I just want to verify the truth of that rumor about the Divine Cult and Argyrion joining forces.”
Nastion could not fathom why the Divine Cult had suddenly become the subject of discussion.
However, he was aware that the kin of the Biological Entity had been at odds with the Divine Cult since ancient times. If Argyrion were allied with the Divine Cult, it would be reasonable for the Biological Entity to hesitate to join forces.
“No. That is merely an excuse that the Ten Towers fabricated to cover their failures.”
“I see. What is the actual relationship with the Divine Cult?”
“Mages are afraid of what they cannot understand, even as they abide by their decrees. The followers of superstition exist beyond the comprehension of mages; they merely use their names to intimidate the magical society, as they are nothing but tools.”
The Biological Entity felt satisfied hearing this answer. What Nastion stated mirrored how its kin had historically treated the cult. Whether as tools for fables or tools for propaganda, there was no difference.
“You must be wondering why I brought this up. The so-called enemy you Argyrion speak of, one I have faced…”
“Does it have to do with the Divine Cult? That can’t be.”
For Nastion, it was an impossible story to accept. He was aware that due to the continuous oppression from the Ten Towers over the past century, the Divine Cult had fallen into despair.
He had heard from the higher-ups of Argyrion, including Halto, that one of the two enemies was a monster created by White Light. Though treated as an illegitimate child by the Ten Towers, it was fundamentally a creation of them.
It was unacceptable for those belonging to the Divine Cult; their very existence would be blasphemy. Would a priest of the cult take such a being as a comrade?
“…Because it is a demigod.”
Nastion was taken aback. Had it gone mad after being sealed for so long?
No. The Biological Entity inherently possessed a mind unaffected by the flow of time. They existed rooted in a profound spirit of sacrifice, meant to serve as a foundation for the future, so it was unlikely they would easily fall into madness.
“I felt an incomprehensible power from them. A strength that cannot be explained by fighting spirit, Magic Power, or even the power of the Spirit. An unreasonable ability that bears fruit without a seed. I’ve only seen such power in the Divine of the Twelve Gods.”
‘Could it truly be mad?’
If a demigod existed within the Divine Cult, this pathetic struggle would not be ongoing. They would unleash the power of the deity, the source of their own bloodline, against the Ten Towers.
However, the Biological Entity was the only surviving witness, having faced what was assumed to be the “enemy,” and maintained a complete memory of it. Therefore, Nastion had no choice but to take their testimony seriously.
“…Alright, let’s say that person you mentioned, Orthes, is a demigod. How do you intend to face them?”
“Even if they’re not a true demigod, they are undoubtedly a significant threat. Your Argyrion is said to be preparing a rebellion and has gotten its hands on the Ten Towers‘ arsenal. Therefore, you should be able to obtain a Mage Tower Core to serve as my physical body, correct?”
Even if it wasn’t a Mage Tower Core, plenty of means could house the Biological Entity. Utilizing the techniques that created the Silver Thread Worm or Drakma would not be too hard to create a template for the entity to attempt a fable.
‘Complete the fable and strike with a strength they did not expect…’
This thought aligned perfectly with the strategy Halto had devised to face the enemy, Orthes. Even if they faced defeats in multiple stages, they needed to achieve a decisive victory that would end his life through a lethal blow that Orthes could not anticipate.
Creating a false god or obtaining a Mage Tower Core would be a significant loss for Argyrion.
However, if Halto considered Orthes as at least half a threat, it was indeed best to deal with him here and now. Wasn’t the somewhat deranged Biological Entity also not regarding Orthes as a danger on par with a demigod?
Nastion soon promised to fetch an object that could contain the Biological Entity’s power.
*
One hour later.
Led by the priests of the hunting goddess Agrotera, the priests of the Divine Cult began to seek out and kill the Biological Entity.
*
‘What in the world…?’
As the ambush began, Nastion concealed himself within the shadow of one of the priests.
The Biological Entity acted swiftly as well. After all, being present here was just one among many bodies. It exploded the stored Magic Power within its body, creating a whirlwind around it. Thus, the Divine Cult‘s first hunt ended.
Nastion did not leave the shadows immediately, making sure to stay close to the group of enemies to discover why the cult was tracking them.
Listening closely to the priests’ mutterings, it was clear that the hunting was not solely an initiative from the Agrotera Cult. At the very least, more than six cults were cooperating to hunt the Biological Entity.
‘How could this be happening!’
Nastion was understandably shocked. As is often the case with people, when faced with a crisis, one instinctively prioritizes their own survival.
The same went for the twelve cults that made up the Divine Cult. In this urgent survival situation, it was impossible for a single cult’s crisis to prompt such a hasty coalition.
The authority capable of orchestrating this alliance was limited.
‘Could it be?’
Could it truly be a demigod?
In an era where the mythological age had ended and two millennia had passed?
Nastion watched in silence from the shadows as the hunters moved about. Since the hunters assumed their prey was just one Biological Entity, he felt assured he wouldn’t be marked as a pursuit target.
Above all, considering the reality of the Divine Cult that Nastion knew, it would be impossible for them to use the Holy Power continuously. It was evident that as their decline intensified, the divine power received from the gods had dwindled.
But that was not the case.
The queen of the gods, the household guardian deity, priests of Teleia stepped in, casting a Barrier to protect the priests. Ensuring the flow of divine power could not be detected by mages. Inside the Barrier, the hunting god’s priests began using the Holy Power of tracking their prey.
Even though the Biological Entity interfered with tracking through its own magic, it could not immediately succeed. However, the priests continued to use the Holy Power, unfazed by the depletion of divine power.
This was a sight impossible to witness during times of dwindling divine power. An ominous intuition struck Nastion as he witnessed this rampant consumption.
Such abuse of divine power was impossible for the priests if a new source of divine power had not reached them.
Moreover, since ancient times, demigods have served as powerful intermediaries, bridging the divine and mortals.
‘Could it be true?’
Could it truly be a demigod?
Despite Nastion‘s fear, the hunters of the cult commenced their pursuit. If things continued like this, the Biological Entity might run out of bodies to occupy and perish.
He needed to hide the Biological Entity by any means necessary. To oppose Orthes, a fabled false god was essential.
‘If there’s any comfort…’
It was perhaps the fact that he had planted a Silver Thread within the priest of the Bacchus Cult. Since he provoked the beast’s rampage, the Bacchus Cult would likely be annihilated. By uprooting a sect that could fundamentally counter the Biological Entity, he felt he had some breathing room.
As long as the demigod did not personally come to confront the entity, time was on his side.
*
“Wow. This is convenient.”
He observed the busy movements of the Divine Cult priests. So this is why people engage in automatic hunting.
Sure. If the Mage King conducted automatic hunting for thousands of years, he shouldn’t be criticized for doing it here too.
Knemon had been consulted, and Demus was assigned as a bodyguard. They would be facing the Ten Towers often in the future, so it would be good for the two to get acquainted.
In turn, Kine, who temporarily took off the title of bodyguard, was treated as a newbie among the veteran priests of the cult and was undergoing training in the attributes of the Holy Power.
Even if Carisia was accustomed to wielding powers, her specialty lay in magic.
Having undergone baptism from the veterans, Kine would become the trump card against the Biological Entity.
