Just as the upper leadership fantasized about what kind of gift from the Amber King they might receive, they suddenly realized there was still one more message they hadn't checked.
"Strange, it's not from Topaz—it's from... an empty number? And there are two segments?"
Before they could finish speaking, the screen automatically began playing a video from an unknown sender.
Eternal Fire Residence, the Grand Duke of Netherfire Afrit had gathered his children here, proclaiming something:
"[Penacony], the Star of the Grand Feast. The cradle of dream-sunk reverie, the slumbering haven of the timid."
"The Family sets the banquet, guests heed the invitation, and the golden blood of [Destruction] shall flow together, offering a grand sacrifice unto THEM."
"Offspring of the flames... this is your rite of passage."
Afrit flicked a spark from his fingertip, then said:
"Akash, my most sentimental child. I ignite your eyes, teach you to pluck the strings in melody—you shall play the banquet's tune on a four-stringed instrument, silencing the choristers of [Harmony]."
"Just as I intended, old man." Akash closed his eyes and strummed the strings;幽蓝 flames flowed into his fingers along with the notes, as if rehearsing a dirge.
"Dubra, my most clever child. I ignite your body, grant you blade, saw, axe, and cleaver—you shall quench the iron sickle in sulfur, bestowing pain upon [Elation], letting the fool's blood and tears drain into the Styx."
"Katrina, my bravest child. I ignite your heart, bestow upon you a chest of boiling blood—you shall carve open the vaults of [Preservation] with wrathful fire, smelt their gold, and forge idols for our gracious lord."
"No need for more words, old timer." Katrina wiped the head of her warhammer with her thumb, her lips curling into a silent, savage grin.
Afrit descended from his throne, gazing at the elegantly attired Constance.
"Constance, my most ambitious child—my finest child."
"I have nothing left to teach you. Simply remember... let Penacony's midnight wither and decay, take away all that you cherish, leaving only a tomb of [Remembrance]."
"Enjoy Penacony. Enjoy her invitation. Let this dreamscape prepare itself to welcome its new master from Tayzzyronth."
Afrit raised his arms high, his voice echoing through the residence's dome.
"And finally, I gather you here... not merely to attend the [Star of the Grand Feast], but to strip the authority of [Eternity] from the stiff fingers of Ite! Drag THEIR corpse into the abyss..."
"Akash, your strings shall be the overture to the funeral march of [Eternity]! Dubra, your scythe shall be the chasm's end for the Path of [Eternity]! Katrina, your forge shall be the sarcophagus for the divine remains of [Eternity]!"
"And Constance—you, who withers the midnight by your own hand, shall in the end become the shroud draping the throne of [Eternity]!"
"When the stars tremble at the flame-scars of Tayzzyronth, only [Destruction] shall sit upon the divine seat forged from entropic ashes!"
"As for a path of retreat? As always, it does not exist! Remember our purpose: All things in the world shall ultimately perish in [Destruction]..."
Beep beep!
The first video segment ended there. The company's upper leadership exchanged glances, then fell into silence once more.
"The Annihilation Gang..."
This group of executives had naturally heard of that faction. Not all zealots who venerated the Path of [Destruction] could be incorporated into the Antimatter Legion.
The cosmos wandered with countless bloodthirsty species, reveling in arson and plunder, yet lacking the unique ability to systematically enact the will of [Destruction].
As for the dregs of the Annihilation Gang, they fantasized about one day serving as the vanguard of [Destruction], unaware that... their own wretchedness could only draw the contempt of Nanook.
The root cause? Their devotion to destruction was impure, tainted by chaotic desires.
Some took joy in slaughter, drawing pleasure from flesh and blood; some used plunder as an excuse to mask vengeful origins; others sought endless devastation merely to soothe their inner madness.
Self-proclaimed faithful servants of [Destruction], yet forever slaves to their own selfish urges. They were quite fond of a certain line from Genius Society #64, the Primitive Doctor:
The value Nanook sees in the so-called [Annihilation Gang] might be less than that of an infant deliberately smashing a vase—perhaps even less than in the [Eternity Church], which THEY despise the most.
It felt like their focus was misplaced... The company had just been stepped on by the Church, slapped in the face with mockery, and right when tempers were flaring, some clueless Annihilation Gang jumped out.
Mm... seemed like they'd found a punching bag...
"Ahem ahem... To uphold the dignity of the Amber King, our company absolutely cannot stand idly by. Send someone to handle it."
"Judge after watching."
The executives still held differing views on this. A mere Annihilation Gang wasn't worth a second thought—hadn't they seen that Afrit's main target was [Eternity]?
Specialization matters; this sort of thing was best left to the Church. Did they not understand the gap between a small enterprise and a cosmic behemoth?
If they overreacted to a mere provocation, wouldn't it just make the company seem petty? They followed the Path of [Preservation], after all—proactively holding umbrellas for others, extending salvation to planets persecuted by [Destruction].
"Let's watch the second video segment..."
...
Still in the Eternal Fire Residence, the familiar location, seemingly picking up right where the previous video left off.
The ghostly fire in Afrit's skull flickered dimly and brightly, as if chewing on some hidden jest. Suddenly, he raised his hand and gathered a handful of ashes, letting them trickle through the gaps in his bones—
"Before we set off for the [Star of the Grand Feast]..."
The ashes in Afrit's palm coalesced into a grotesque mask grinning ear to ear, tears of flame dripping from its eye sockets.
"The emissary of [Elation] has brought us... a sweet piece of ill tidings."
"My children, have you ever heard... that the indomitable director of the [Company]... has been attacked?"
Afrit chuckled lightly, spreading his arms wide. The entire residence trembled with his piercing laughter.
"How ironic—the so-called impregnable [Preservation] falls to assault. The cosmic scales tip in our favor! And all because the true culprit—"
"Is [Eternity]'s own loyal hound!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a blaze shot straight to the residence's dome, projecting the silhouette of Adrian!
[Pause]
With two bombshell messages in a row, the company's executives' brains short-circuited in an instant, all eyes locked on the black-clad figure of Adrian.
Who the hell was this guy?! A hidden third Emanator of [Eternity]?
But credit where it's due—Afrit was a real one. You Tayzzyronth fire demons were surprisingly honest, straight-up outing the Mask of Fools.
The emissary of [Elation]... Mourning Actors and the Church had no grudge, so rule them out first—that left only the Mask of Fools.
Events were piling up too quickly. They hadn't even recovered from the Jarilo-VI debt project rejection, and now here came the [Annihilation Gang] and an Emanator of [Eternity].
Ah... and there was the [Penacony] matter too.
After internal consensus, the company's upper leadership opted for strategic amnesia, all collectively embracing the bosom of [Incineration Works].
...
Jarilo-VI, Mechanical Settlement
Topaz's fingertip hovered over the projection button, the screen still frozen on the Grand Duke of Netherfire's face during his proclamation.
"T-Two of you...?" She turned her head shakily, looking at Freesna and Blake, whose faces had darkened to the point of pitch black.
Hiss... If she remembered right, hadn't the eternal winter been eliminated? So why did it suddenly feel so much colder...