Inside his chamber in Morsalem, Cygnus was surrounded by spiritual sorcerers voicing their unease.

  "Master Spellbane, what is the meaning of all this?" Geb asked.

  "The moment Starmist signed the program, the count became four. Whether I sign in favor or against it serves no purpose," Cygnus said, his hand continuing to write.

  "So it must proceed fully, even if our faction believes it will disturb the balance?" Grite asked.

  "Of course," Cygnus replied.

  The spiritual sorcerers exchanged confused glances. Grodum stepped forward, pulled a chair before Cygnus, and sat across from him.

  "Master Spellbane, we do not wish to doubt you, but will you truly allow this to happen?"

  "Do you not understand what I said?" Cygnus asked.

  Grodum glanced back at the others, who appeared equally restless.

  "I said there is no point in my signing. Does that means to absolute approval in your mind?" Cygnus asked.

  The spiritual sorcerers nodded slowly.

  "We proceed with what the council has agreed upon and report to me," Cygnus ordered, turning the page of his already crowded book.

  "And what of the Celestial boy, Master Spellbane? Is his vote considered equal as well?" Grote asked.

  "Regardless of his age, he holds the same right as the other six members," Cygnus replied.

  "In that case, Master Spellbane, what role will the Celestials play in this program?" Geb asked.

  "If all must participate, the sky knights should descend without exception," Grodum added.

  "I doubt Elysius can persuade them. He is the only Celestial seen since the Sky King ascended," Gomer said.

  "The council will handle that," Cygnus answered flatly.

  Gruk the Abominable Snowman and Thaddeus Clyde the Noble Wizard entered, opening the door and dispersing the spiritual sorcerers without a word. The arrival of two elite members of the faction left only the three of them inside. Thaddeus took the chair Grodum had occupied, while Gruk remained standing near the window, gripping his icy spear.

  Before either member of the Table of Oculus could speak, Cygnus set a boundary.

  "I will not repeat my reasons for allowing this program to proceed. If that is your question, speak with the spiritual sorcerers," he said, closing his spellbook.

  Thaddeus chuckled softly. "Of course not, Master Spellbane. We understand your reasoning well enough."

  Cygnus nodded and sipped his hot bitter tea. Thaddeus poured another cup for him and one for Gruk.

  "I am curious, Master Spellbane. Have you truly entrusted execution of this program to the Cogworks faction?" Thaddeus asked.

  "You believe that decision was fully mine?" Cygnus replied, blowing across the steam of his tea.

  Thaddeus straightened. "Forgive me, I meant the council. Yet we all know the internal imbalance of that faction and now they are tasked with creating life."

  "And, Masters, should we remain vigilant regarding the trade restrictions previously enforced so strictly?" he added.

  "Master Thaddeus, you mean that with machines from beyond the stars entering for this program, there may be smuggling of other items as well?" Gruk asked.

  "Highly likely, Master Gruk. Once a gate is opened for what should not pass, closing it again never seals it entirely," Thaddeus said.

  "That is a lesson I learned through potion trade."

  "I see you have grown into your role, Thaddeus," Cygnus remarked.

  "Do not misunderstand, Master Spellbane. My loyalty remains with the balance of our faction," Thaddeus replied awkwardly.

  "I concern Master Sicilia and Master Nymeria are the ones fully immersed in their duties," Gruk said, biting his large finger in thought.

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  "They reported months ago. There is nothing to worry about," Cygnus answered.

  Thaddeus then produced a scroll, its words etched not upon parchment but upon thin silver metal inscribed with golden ink through magic.

  "I have spoken with the other Masters. This contains the aspects we may test upon the subjects."

  Cygnus took it, unrolled the sheet, and read in silence, unhurried yet intense enough to keep the others watchful.

  "Can we raise the standards?"

  "What standards do you mean, Master Spellbane?" Gruk asked.

  Cygnus explained briefly that in the superhuman era, with cloning intended to replace the Vanguard in time, their standards must be exceptionally high in both physical endurance and adaptability, given the seven factions’ differing methods and the unpredictable nature of future threats.

  "Gruk, I will assign you and Amigdala to oversee this directly," Cygnus said. "Thaddeus, continue your duty for trade affairs."

  Both nodded promptly.

  "But with Master Sicilia present within the House Star, is she also monitoring their activities there?" Thaddeus asked.

  "Of course. Ever since the House Star incident months ago, I instructed her to keep eyes and ears within that faction," Cygnus replied.

  Thaddeus sipped his tea. "Master Spellbane, if I were Lord Star, I would question such a decision repeatedly before allowing Sicilia to work there."

  "Does he truly trust her or is it simply because you placed her there as a goodwill between two factions?"

  "And it has long been rumored among the Vanguard that Sicilia put jealousy to Starmist, though the reason remains unclear," Gruk added.

  Thaddeus turned his chair and looked up toward Gruk. "Is that so? Might this become personal in the future?"

  "I do not know. What concerns me more is whether her reports will remain truthful," Gruk replied.

  Thaddeus then turned his gaze back to Cygnus. "Are House Star that na?ve, Master or do they choose not to see?"

  "Sicilia has show exceptional performance. She remains professional in handling matters for House Star," the Sorcerer Supreme answered calmly and without hesitation.

  After their brief yet intellectually dense exchange, Cygnus opened a portal leading to a southern temple. Beside it stood a newly constructed facility where sorcerers and commonfolk worked together to build a testing ground for subjects. Located only several dozen meters from the main temple, it allowed easy movement even without portals.

  Dark clouds loomed in the southern distance. Abyss territory lay nearby, and the blackened sky required no magnification to be seen.

  "So I will remain here for several months, Master?" Gruk asked hesitantly.

  Cygnus nodded, and the three entered the half-finished structure. Prison cells lined the interior, far less bleak than those in the north. Twenty cells stood prepared for twenty subjects. Curiously, they were provided with lavish meals: large cuts of beef, potions distilled from phoenix tears to elevate morale, fruits, cheese, milk, and even rare black wine from the abyss.

  They passed cell after cell, observing prisoners of abyssal and commonfolk origin devouring the food eagerly.

  "They are fed only to be tested mercilessly afterward?" Thaddeus asked.

  "They were like dead man when delivered by Dryskull. Without health, they would die quickly under testing," Gruk replied.

  "Do they know why they are here?" Thaddeus asked, slowly twirling his staff.

  "Astraroth told them they were being relocated for good behavior and would leave the frozen wasteland," Gruk answered.

  "Such cruel false hope," Thaddeus murmured.

  Cygnus halted before one of the cells. Inside sat a commonfolk prisoner whose description, inscribed beside the door, identified him as a former elderly king. He had not touched his food and remained seated with an empty gaze. The Sorcerer Supreme said nothing, and the king could neither see nor hear those outside the cell, its door sealed with enchantments.

  Before Cygnus moved on, Thaddeus stared in surprise.

  "Wait… I recognize this king. He was a member of the Silver Chair. If I recall correctly, his name was…" He paused, unable to remember.

  Gruk approached from behind. "King Janos. He was believed dead not long ago."

  Thaddeus snapped his fingers. The memory returned.

  "If you remember, Master Spellbane, after his daughter’s death he insisted on prosecuting Druganda. Cryptic decided to make him disappear," Gruk said.

  Cygnus nodded slowly. "I thought he seemed familiar. It appears I was correct."

  "So the son of King Juris who recently appeared at the Silver Chair… unfortunate. He became a sacrifice to the old kings," Thaddeus said, wandering to observe the other prisoners.

  "Druganda appointment was controversial. The situation could not worsen. Cryptic did what was necessary," Cygnus stated.

  "And if you wish to know, all twenty prisoners here are individuals whose existence Cryptic erased from the All Realm and has now returned to us," Gruk added.

  Thaddeus stared in shock. "What do you mean?"

  Cygnus remained expressionless.

  "Blasphemy! Warden Astraroth has gone too far this time. He has insulted our faction," Thaddeus said angrily. "Should you speak with King Darkon, Master Spellbane?"

  Cygnus continued walking. "There is no need. They are already considered nonexistent by the All Realm."

  Gruk and Thaddeus exchanged glances as they followed. At the far end of the chamber, Cygnus unrolled a parchment and read aloud.

  The Sorcerer faction’s procedure would assess individual endurance. Gruk, drawing on his Vanguard experience in northern Abyss, would create sudden trials and psychological pressures, testing whether subjects could withstand unpredictable moments as part of their survival instinct.

  "Gruk, talk with Raidbones, Rufus, or any Vanguard you deem suitable regarding your methods," Cygnus instructed, rolling the parchment once more.

  "Understood, Master Spellbane," the yeti replied.

  Thaddeus pointed to the scroll. "Master Spellbane, I believe we outlined additional procedures. Will you reserve the others for later?"

  "For now, this is sufficient. The burden is already heavy," Cygnus answered.

  "I wonder whether any faction truly understands how to execute this program, this program walking in gray line" Thaddeus said uneasily, scratching his head.

  Cygnus shook his head. "That may prove either its strength or its weakness."

  "I leave matters here in your, Gruk. Elysius will send Extraterrestrial reports and the spiritual sorcerers must provide theirs as well," he added.

  Cygnus walked out of the facility. Gruk hurried after him while Thaddeus followed more slowly.

  "Master Spellbane, two questions," Gruk said.

  Cygnus, already opening a portal back to Morsalem, paused.

  "What if the Extraterrestrial faction fails? What if their subjects deviate and refuse obedience?"

  "Then I will show what obedience truly means," Cygnus replied before stepping through the portal.