The display cases in the front hall showcased various precious artifacts. "Bad timing. I was just about to receive a guest, so the shop is c
The display cases in the front hall showcased various precious artifacts.
"Bad timing. I was just about to receive a guest, so the shop is closed. Let's make do with my private room."
They walked through the Japanese-style courtyard and stopped.
The curtain ahead parted, and the scent of incense drifted out, filling their noses.
Shiroyasha led them into a relatively spacious Japanese-style room, her private quarters. She sat in the honored seat, stretching languidly before looking at Arthas and the others. If one looked closely, they'd notice her kimono was dry.
"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Shiroyasha, an manager of the 'Thousand Eyes' commonality, headquartered in the Fourth Gate, 3345 Outer Gate. I have some history with Kuro Usagi. Consider me a generous, beautiful girl who occasionally lends a hand after their commonality's destruction."
"Yes, yes, we appreciate your help."
Kuro Usagi smoothly deflected the barbed comment. Yō, beside her, gasped slightly.
"The 3345 Outer Gate… such a huge difference from No Name."
"Naturally. In this Little Garden, filled with gods and demons, 'Thousand Eyes' holds significant influence and power."
This Little Garden city is divided into seven ruling layers, with the gate numbers changing accordingly. The four Outer Gates and inward are domains occupied by renowned Asura gods and demons—completely otherworldly realms.
"Your current location, the seventh Outer Gate, is essentially the outermost layer of Little Garden. To be more precise, this is the East side of the four regions (East, West, South, North), and the Outer Gate faces the 'edge of the world.' That area doesn't belong to any commonality; it's where powerful Gift-wielders reside—like the master of the water tree over there."
Shiroyasha smiled lightly, looking at the water tree sapling Kuro Usagi held, referring to the Serpent God dwelling near the Tritonis Great Falls.
"But, who won this in what kind of competition? Was it a test of wisdom? Or courage?"
"No, no. Arthas-sama won this water tree by defeating the Serpent God before coming here."
Kuro Usagi said proudly, but Shiroyasha didn't seem particularly excited. Instead, she thoughtfully looked at Arthas.
"Oh… defeated by him? That's not surprising, because…"
Shiroyasha paused, then smiled faintly.
"You're quite lucky, Kuro Usagi. It seems you've summoned someone extraordinary, in every sense of the word."
"With all due respect, that so-called Serpent God… didn't seem to have the qualifications to be called a god. Are gods… that weak?"
"Haha, the title of 'god' is just a title. Calling it the Serpent God doesn't mean it truly rules all snakes. It seems you haven't quite grasped the racial dynamics of this world."
Shiroyasha's expression turned serious.
"So-called divinity isn't inherent; it's the highest-level Gift allowing a race to change its form. The snake's divinity granted the Serpent God its massive size. Human divinity creates earthly gods and prodigies. Demon divinity allows transformation into earth-shattering Oni.
And possessing divinity enhances other Gifts. Most commonalities in Little Garden aim to obtain divinity to achieve their goals and gain power to ascend to higher layers."
"Even stronger beings, like myself and many Demon Lords, can directly grant divinity to others. Of course, there are different levels of divinity."
"Shiroyasha-sama, did you know the Serpent God-sama?" Kuro Usagi curiously asked.
"Know? I granted it divinity. But that was centuries ago."
Shiroyasha puffed out her flat chest, laughing heartily.
"You mean… you created that Serpent God?!"
Arthas's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Humph, needless to say. I am the 'Layer Ruler' of the East. I'm the strongest organizer in the East, unmatched by any commonality below the Fourth Gate."
Standing in the doorway, Shiroyasha spoke with authority.
Not just Arthas, but Sakamaki Izayoi, Kudou Asuka, and Kusakabe Yō's eyes also lit up at the title "Strongest Organizer."
"Is that so… hoho. So, if we defeat you in the competition, our commonality will be the strongest in the East?"
"Indeed."
"That's excellent. Saves us the trouble of searching."
Arthas and the others looked at Shiroyasha with clear fighting intent. Noticing this, Shiroyasha laughed.
"What an interesting group. You're not here for a request, but to challenge me to a Gift Game?"
"Eh? W-wait a minute, you guys?!"
Shiroyasha stopped the flustered Kuro Usagi.
"It's fine, Kuro Usagi. I've been craving a worthy opponent."
"I like this."
"Hoho, is that so? However, there's something I need to confirm before the game."
Shiroyasha pulled out a card with the 'Summoning Eye' banner—the twin goddesses emblem—from her kimono's hem, and laughed.
"Do you desire a 'challenge,' or a 'duel'?"
Instantly, the four's eyes changed dramatically.
Vision became meaningless; various scenes swirled in their minds.
Fields of golden wheat, hills overlooking a white horizon, a forest lake…
Unseen landscapes rotated, engulfing them.
They were transported to a white snowfield and a frozen lake—a world where the sun moved horizontally.
This astonishing anomaly made everyone except Arthas gasp.
This was completely different from being summoned to Little Garden; it was a level of technology beyond words.
In the faintly bright sky, only one star shone. A white sun slowly drifted across the horizon.
It was a miracle, like creating a planet, a world.
Only Arthas wasn't fazed by the change in scenery, having witnessed and created similar scenes before.
A Bounded Field, a forbidden technique that uses one's power to erode the world. While Shiroyasha's world seemed more real, it was still within Arthas's comprehension.
If he could comprehend it… then there was a chance of victory!
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