While Muriel and Alexander were going around the city, looking for someone to cut the dreamer god's rune, Shu and Mary went to the city lord's castle.
They walked through the streets, looking at the buildings being built and talking.
They reached the castle and looked at the scaffolding. Only four of the twelve towers were discernible at this point in the construction.
They went inside the main hall and waited in line to speak with the city lord.
They could barely see the city lord as he sat in darkness.
After half an hour, the woman in front of them in line finished her business and left.
"Who's next!"
The guard next to the city lord asked for their names.
"This is lord Shual, heir to the Redfox family."
Mary stepped forward as if she was Shu's bodyguard and said.
"Shual, from the Redfox family?"
The city lord was surprised. He stood up and stepped into the light.
His golden snout picked through the darkness, and Shu was already certain who this acting city lord was.
The old, maned beastman stepped closer to where they were, and the moment he saw Shu's face, he kneeled to the ground.
The guard jumped in surprise and pointed his weapon at Mary and Shu.
"What have you done?!"
The guard asked, but before Mary and Shu could answer, the acting city lord glared at him.
"You may be new here, but it's time you knew who the real city lord is."
Still kneeling, the acting city lord scolded him.
"Long time no see, Edward."
Shu said with a smile of familiarity, and Edward was happy to know that his lord hadn't changed and this young guard wasn't in danger.
"How are you, young lord?"
Edward asked. His head was still down as he kept kneeling.
"...You know you can stop kneeling, right?"
Shu was confused. He didn't remember ever forcing Edward to kneel in front of him.
"Thank you."
Edward lifted his head and stopped kneeling.
"What brings you here?"
The lion-like beastman asked.
"I need you to recruit whoever is willing to join me in a war against a god."
Shu answered, and Edward was shocked.
"You mean that god that sent you away the last time we met?"
The old beastman wanted to make sure.
"Yes. If his plans succeed, he will bring the end of the world."
Shu explained.
"The end of the...! Are you sure?!"
Edward was shocked.
Shu nodded his head silently.
"Alright! Then I shall recruit whoever agrees!"
Edward announced.
"Since there is only one inn in town, you can find us there. Also, several armies should show up soon to help us."
Mary said while she and Shu went out.
********
Two weeks after Shu's group reached the city, Dam and Thomas arrived with their small armies.
They met on the way to the new land because Thomas's group needed to go through the harbor at Birnin Mutuwa and stayed together until they reached the city.
Later that same week, two armies came from the land of Long and another from the Nippon mountain.
********
In another place not so far away from the city at the new lands, an army was approaching.
Unlike the other armies that had recently camped outside the city. This army was different. It came there with malicious intent.
An army built of twenty legions. It had six legions strong enough to raise a city.
The head of this army wasn't a general or a king. It was a god.
Antony, the weather god.
Marcuse, brother of the demon god.
The fake god, the bringer of doom.
Whatever one called him didn't matter. What mattered was that no mortal could stand against a god, and everyone knew that.
"Damn it!"
Danniel, the demon god, shouted in frustration.
The short white-haired god looked at all the charts and lists he had. There was no way to get rid of that asshole without doing that.
"What's wrong?"
A motherly angel embraced him from behind and asked with a comforting tone.
"I'm not sure little Shu can win."
He said, his purple, glowing eyes shining brightly.
"Didn't we defeat gods before? Why can't he?"
Danniel's loving wife, Emma, asked.
"Back then, there was no limiter, but now, with only two of the original gods still alive, if I remove the limiter, then...Chaos."
Danniel answered, discontented. The death of the original gods at the latest war was his fault, and he couldn't help but feel this was divine retribution for his sins.
"But didn't you train him so he would surpass the limiter?"
Emma asked.
"But was it really good enough to defeat a god?"
Danniel felt an uncharacteristic lack of confidence. Mostly because the fate of everything he ever worked for was on the line.
"Well, you can go on the sacrificial route."
Emma said and then remembered something.
"But if you do that, I will kill you."
Emma said with a tone that sent chills down Danniel's spine.
"..."
Chaos was planning to speak with his best friend, but when he stepped close to their accommodations, he heard Emma use a tone he didn't hear from her for years, and if he stayed there any longer, he was certain, his pants would be soiled, they would be submerged, he would wet his pants.
"Uh, Chaos? What are you doing?"
Quies, the dreamer god, asked.
Chaos looked at the purple-haired goddess with a look of terror.
"Emma scolded my older broth- That shitty bastard?!"
Quies asked. He has been saying she was like a little sister to him for years, and it seems his words had affected her.
Chaos nodded. The terror in his eyes sent shivers all over Quies's skin.
They both decided to leave as if nothing happened. And to laugh at Danniel later...
********
Marching through the forest, the legions of Antony's army reached an area Antony was satisfied with, and they started setting camp.
"Are you satisfied with this army?"
Antony asked his assistant with a gloomy expression.
"I think that with more time, we could have them train more, but their numbers are great."
Sophia answered her god.
"As I thought."
Antony granted in anger. He wasn't sure if this army was enough. He heard his enemies were recruiting a giant army. And their leader... Well, their leader was said to be the second-strongest mortal, standing right behind George Adom.
But nothing mattered. At this point, there was one thing that mattered, and that was that the war would start tomorrow.