Edward returned to the palace. Although he sent a message saying they should eat without him, everyone waited.
"What's going on?" asked his mother, she had a feeling things were beginning to get out of control.
"Yes, talk to us," added Amelia, who knew something was wrong during the meeting when Edward suddenly closed his eyes. Then, he left Luna's side and rushed to the Time Auror.
Edward paused briefly before sighing and told the truth. He knew it was unwise to bear all these burdens alone. As such, he will accept any help he can receive.
"Didn't you have a contingency plan for your variants?" asked Olivier, thinking they should be the least of their concern. She wanted to prioritize the level of threats before planning how to deal with them.
"I do, but I thought I would have more time. So, the project is not finished," thought Edward. "However, I now have a better way to deal with them."
"Will it take long?"
"Not even a week."
"In that case, we can prioritize the others first," continued Olivier. "The second thing to deal with is Guzznad. However, that will require Luna's cooperation so we can prepare and not have to worry about it."
"That only leaves us finding the Savant Race."
"Just use the Akashic Record, and don't waste time," added Rowena, and Edward nodded. He connected to Akashic Records and searched for the information he wanted.
Then, his eyes squinted. Everyone noticed the change in his expression.
"What is it?" asked Rowena.
"According to them, the Savant Race is a member of the record. Although only this branch of the universe, they are members," explained Edward. "And since they are members, I cannot access their information."
"Should we ask Merlin for help?" suggested Hermione. However, Edward shook his head.
"This is not time to have scruples," uttered Bellatrix. As long as it could help, she wanted him to do whatever was necessary.
"The only reason I knew they were members was due to Merlin's higher authority. Furthermore, I haven't been able to contact the old man for a while."
Edward guessed Merlin was super busy, so he guessed something must have happened in the war.
"We must find another way to find this Savant Race," continued Hermione. "I will use my power in the Abyss to see if we can find any information."
"You could ask the Starskin Queen," added Amelia. "Their race is ancient and from another plane. They might know something."
"That's a good idea," nodded Edward. "Let's eat first."
The family had dinner together, but the somber atmosphere somewhat ruined the experience. Immediately afterward, Edward summoned the Starskin Queen to a meeting.
He did not meet her in the throne room but in the imperial garden with tea and snacks.
"My condolences," said the Queen, as regal and noble as ever.
"Thank you," nodded Edward. Normally, he would comment on her beauty and say a few words of pleasantry, but he was not in the mood.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked Queen Katura directly, sensing the Emperor's mood and state.
"Have you heard of the Savant Race?"
"The Savant Race? I remember hearing it somewhere," she replied, taking a moment to review her memories. "I remember. My grandmother once told me stories of very ancient and powerful races. She mentioned the Savant Race."
"What else do you know?"
"Not much, only they were a race known for their knowledge. However, they seemed to have conflicted with the Magus Race and hid from the world during their reign.
"That's all I know."
"That is more than enough," replied Edward, chatting with her and asking how she was integrating into the Empire. As the only Tier 8 Arcanist in the Empire besides him, he had to pay respect to the queen.
She was already a powerful Tier 8 Caster. Now, she was even more powerful after transitioning into the Arcane Rune System. So, Edward took special care of her race.
The next day, Luna woke up and learned of the recent events. So, she immediately went to work. The day after the 7 Day Morning, she completed her tasks.
Then, the Empire's media began to operate. Throughout the galaxy, 90% of the news that people saw was about the Battle of Revenge against the Death God, Guzznad.
Three days later, after capturing the attention of the entire Empire, Edward controlled Netheril to enter the Outer Realm, also called the Realm of the Gods.
This place was one ultimate darkness, with countless shining spots scattered in different directions. Each of these spots is a Divine Kingdom where a God resides.
According to the rules of the plane, Gods and their Divine Kingdoms cannot live in the mortal plane. As such, these Gods have to use a variety of methods to send clones or Avatars.
Oftentimes, whether a God's Clone or Avatar has the same strength as their main body in the Outer Realm dictates the status and power of a God in the material plane.
Edward took a moment to observe the Outer Realm. This place is one of the many reasons the Gods still rule the world; it is one of the sources of their immortality.
"It has been a while since a God has truly fallen. Today, let's change that."
Gods do fall and die. However, it's mainly when fighting other planes since they often have to send their main bodies. Furthermore, high-level civilizations like the Wizard World have developed the technology to forcefully summon these Divine Kingdoms from the Outer Realm and utterly destroy them.
However, even these methods do not technically kill these Gods, and that's because they can revive themselves as long as their followers remain. So, the [death] of these Gods is to fall into a state of deep sleep until they have enough followers and believers to recondense their self, body, and even soul.
However, it's very hard for a God to revive itself after falling to this point–especially since other Gods will not waste an opportunity to kill another God and plunder their Godhead and acquire a new [Authority].
"Let's go."
Morgana used the coordinate that Luna divined and headed directly toward Guzznad's true Divine Kingdom.
"Prepare to the Tier 10 Void Canon while firing the other ones," ordered Edward as he looked up at the strange square object floating in this darkness, shining with golden lights.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A powerful shield appeared to block the hundreds of Tier 9 Canons. Then, a roar emanated in this darkness.
"Arcane Emperor," roared Guzznad.
"Do you think this is over?" replied Edward, his voice echoed in the emptiness.
"Why do you have to go this far?" said Guzznad. "I've lost countless believers and am almost demoted to Tier. Isn't that enough?"
"Enough?" replied Edward with a sneer. "Let me tell you the fate that's awaiting you. I will seal and force you to kneel before the memorial of the people who died in this war.
"The process will last five years. Then, I will dissect you in a live broadcast for educational purposes, showing my citizens the anatomy of a God. Although you will be the second God to have this honor, the first one was extremely weak and had almost no followers, so he doesn't count.
"Afterward, I will use your Divine Soul, Divine Body, and Divine Energy to make potions. I will use your Godhead to master [Death Authority] and study your Divine Kingdom to find the weakness of the Gods.
"Finally, I will hunt every single one of your believers and eradicate them. I will erase your very existence from this world."
Guzznad sat on his throne with a gloomy look. He had golden long hair and blue eyes. However, his skin color was as pale as a corpse; he even had a similar body temperature.