When such ‘aliens’ ended up on Earth, they were called Wanderers.
To explain how strong a Wanderer was, a single Wanderer of a Dragon-ranked Window was as strong as the entire combined armies that would come out of a Dragon-ranked Portal.
Needless to say, Wanderers were, more often than not, Gods of other worlds.
“Sorry, from here on it’s confidential information. You can’t record it,” Signora told the reporter.
The reporter hesitated.
Mars, Felix, and Arthur frowned as they saw on the news how worried Signora’s team member looked.
“If it’s a Dragon-ranked Window, I guess it’s not Neo,” Mars muttered.
“But the timing….”
Felix’s words trailed off.
Arthur was worried too.
His attention was shifted to the reaction of Signora’s team member in the news.
“It’s the worst-case scenario. A Wanderer, probably someone who has reached 1-Stage God, is coming through the Crack.”
“Huh?” Felix turned to him. “So it can’t be Neo?”
“I think so, yes.”
Felix deflated like a balloon.
She was relieved it wasn’t Neo.
After all, something must’ve gone wrong if Neo, who was Mythic rank, was coming from a Dragon-ranked Crack.
“I guess we can relax,” Felix said.
“….?”
Arthur tilted his head.
“I just said a 1-Stage God is coming. Why are you so relaxed? Shouldn’t we worry?”
“Oh, I guess there is something that even Sir Arthur doesn’t know.”
Felix grinned when she noticed Arthur’s confusion.
She took out a pair of glasses from her pocket – Arthur had no idea why she had glasses with her – and wore them.
She let out a fake ‘wise’ cough before she explained.
“What I’m about to tell you is an open secret among God Clans.
“This isn’t the first time a God or an Angel has come to our world.
“We can take care of them just fine, albeit some damage is inevitable.”
Felix continued while mimicking Professor Angela’s lecturing voice.
“A single Paragon Demigod is as strong as a Stage-1 God.
“Temple of Space and Temple of Wind have gone to Aubern to handle the Crack.
“They must have at least five Paragons.
“A God or two can be handled easily.”
Mars nodded behind her.
Their world would have fallen long ago if they could not handle a God by themselves.
It wasn’t just once or twice that a Wandering God ended up on Earth and tried to take over Earth and make it their own.
Arthur frowned.
The wooden desk creaked as he leaned on it.
“I know a Paragon is as strong as a 1-Stage God, but….”
“But?”
“You can’t kill a God unless you are a God or an Angel yourself. The Paragons are neither. How will they win?”
“…?”
Felix blinked, confused.
“What are you talking about? Who told you that? It isn’t true.”
Arthur’s frown became worse.
The God Clans seemed to have told their descendents a Paragon was as strong as a 1-st Stage God.
But not that a Paragon could never kill an Angel or a God.
‘Huh, wait a second.’
Arthur’s face stiffened.
“Felix, what happens to the Wandering Gods who are killed?” he asked cautiously.
“I don’t know. Why would I care about those who are killed?”
Arthur understood one thing after hearing her.
‘They are keeping the Wandering Gods trapped somewhere.’
‘Grandpa told me our Gods would never interfere with our world. That means we have no way to kill a God.’ Experience more tales on empire
‘But we can still defeat Gods and capture them, just not kill them.’
‘If we had imprisoned the Wandering Gods, everyone would’ve known about it since it’s big news.’
‘But the public doesn’t seem to know.’
‘What are these guys doing with the captured Wandering Gods?’
Arthur’s thoughts were cut short when Morrigan spoke up suddenly.
“It might be Neo.”
“Huh?” Arthur said. “Why do you think so?”
“Look at the news.”
Everyone turned to the floating hologram screen.
The Crack had grown gigantic, pulsating ominously.
It was about to complete its transformation.
Shadows twisted along the edges of the breach as an unnatural wind seemed to blow from within.
“It’s a Shadow Window and judging by how the Templars on scene are nervous, it seems a Wanderer is coming.
“A Wanderer from the World of Treacherous Shadows. Isn’t that Neo and Jack?” Morrigan said.
“But the ranks are too far apart,” Mars countered.
“Maybe Neo and Jack asked to receive strength as their reward of Shadow Trail or maybe something else happened.”
Morrigan continued.
“It’s too much of a coincidence that the Wanderer is coming from a Shadow World and it’s in the same country where Neo and Jack entered the Shadow Window.
“It has to be them.”
Felix’s relaxed expression disappeared, replaced by newfound worry.
She looked at the Templars ready to attack whoever came out of the Crack.
Some of them were Paragons.
A Paragon was as strong as 1-Stage God.
They could snap a non-ascended World with a flick of their finger.
“We need to help Neo,” Mars said without hesitation. “I’ll call my family and try—”
“It’s okay. I called Henry already,” Morrigan interrupted.
She lowered her gaze and stared at her device.
The call with Henry had been ongoing for five minutes.
“I suppose you heard everything,” Morrigan said.
“I did,” Henry’s voice came back. “You kids don’t need to worry. Someone has gone to Aubern already.”
“Who is it? Sir Sebastian?” Felix blurted out without realizing she had spoken aloud.
They heard Henry’s chuckle.
“I would’ve liked to send Sir Sebastian, but he is away for another mission.”
“Then who?” Felix pressed, her brows furrowed with worry.
“Neo’s vassal,” Henry replied, then explained, “Neo is the Clan Leader of the Great God Clan of Hades.
“He might not realize it, but he has more than a few powerhouses waiting at his beck and call.”
…
Solivara City, Aubern Country
The air crackled with tension as the massive Crack loomed in the sky.
Panic buzzed through the city below, with crowds of people being guided to safety by squads of armored Templars.
Signora stood on the rooftop of the evacuation headquarters.
Her eyes were fixed on the festering Crack above.
She tapped her foot on the concrete impatiently.
“Dammit.”
The cold wind tugged at her cloak as she clenched her fists.
She had come here believing the Crack might be caused by Neo’s return from the Shadow World.
The news of his entrance into that realm had spread despite Hargraves Corporation’s attempts to suppress it.
The Senate used this chance to issue a warrant against Neo.
Signora had been hoping for this moment—to use the Crack as a justification to teach Neo a lesson.
She hadn’t forgotten how he had insulted her when she and Elijah were sent to ensure he accepted at least ten fiancées under the Senate’s order.
She had been humiliated then.
Now, she wanted to return the favor, using the full force of the law and her authority.
It was only after reaching Aubern that she found out the Crack was Dragon-ranked.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” she said with a frustrated tone.
Cracks, Windows, and Portals had the same five ranks:
Human.
Tiger.
Demon.
Dragon.
Calamity.
A Dragon ranked Crack could destroy a country if it wasn’t handled correctly.