For a moment, Khanel struggled to comprehend the situation, looking around in confusion. But upon seeing the Absolute Being before him, he forced himself to regain his senses and knelt in reverence.
"My Lord," he said.
"I trust you don't mind this sudden summons," Incarus remarked.
"Not at all, my Lord. It is the greatest pleasure of my life to serve you in any way I can," Khanel replied, his thoughts briefly straying to Wendor's predicament.
Khanel's unwavering devotion amazed all seven of them, and a faint smile graced their faces.
"Good, we are glad to have an attendant like you," Incarus said, representing their collective sentiment.
"I do not deserve such praise, my Lord," Khanel humbly replied, lowering himself even further.
"The reason we've summoned you is because we've reached a decision," Incarus said, returning to the purpose of their meeting.
Khanel waited attentively for the continuation.
"We have decided to relocate to the original sanctuary's location," Incarus announced
.
"As you wish, my Lord. I will make preparations for our departure as soon as possible," Khanel responded promptly to their decision.
"There's no need for such preparations. Just follow my instructions," Incarus said, floating his crown towards Khanel.
"Here, hold this," he instructed.
Khanel accepted the crown, momentarily mesmerized by its beauty before coming back to his senses.
He looked at the Almighty Being, uncertain about the crown's purpose.
"Think about the original location of the main sanctuary while holding it," Incarus commanded.
Without hesitation, Khanel began to envision the main sanctuary's original location.
As he did, a halo of rainbow-colored light formed around him, gradually enveloping Incarus and the others.
Curious, Leviathan reached out to touch it, but his hand passed through as if it were nonexistent .
[Like a Dust] he thought.
In an instant, they all vanished from their location.
When Leviathan opened his eyes once more, the scenery had transformed dramatically.
Before him lay a vast and opulent hall, with towering pillars gracing every corner of the room. The entrance to this grand hall was a massive archway, and the entire floor exuded an aura of exquisite marble, unlike anything Leviathan had ever encountered.
The ceiling soared to heights far beyond their own stature.
Leviathan couldn't deny the overwhelming feeling that this place was of paramount significance, a location shrouded in mystery and prestige, the likes of which he had never encountered before even in his previous life.
After appearing, the others also inspected the surroundings, though their reactions were not as filled with amazement as Leviathan's.
"Is this, the main sanctuary?" Incarus inquired of Khanel.
"Yes, my Lord,thise is the main hall of the sanctuary " after inspacting the surrounding Khanel replied.
"It is indeed magnificent," Incarus praised.
"We are honored, my Lord. We built this place in your names, patiently awaiting the day of your awakening," Khanel humbly expressed their dedication and devotion.
"Go and prepare residences for us, and ensure they are spacious," Incarus commanded Khanel, and simultaneously, the crown in Khanel's hand floated back toward Incarus.
"As you wish, my Lord," Khanel responded promptly and departed with haste to fulfill the task.
"Even though I can use it twice a day, it's still worth it," Incarus said, readjusting the crown on his head.
Leviathan glanced at Incarus, his thoughts racing. [Lies, in the valor, he uses it more than once, as I remember.] His suspicious look towards Incarus intensified.
[And it's not the only lie he's told today,] he mused, taking a sidelong glance at Tiamat, who remained on her throne, one leg crossed over the other, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to the world outside.
[Why is he lying?] Leviathan began to ponder.
[The only reason would be to hide or mislead information about them, but everyone else has been with him for so long; they probably know everything about him and one another,] he thought.
[Except for one,] he mused, turning his thoughts inward.
[The one who didn't join them from the beginning, and that's me,] he concluded.
[But that's pointless. Except for themselves, the only person who knows about them more than anyone is me, the one who battled with them. I know about their skills, powers, and items, and everything about them. Incarus's attempt is futile,] Leviathan thought with a smirk on his face.
"You seem to be in a cheerful mood," Incaurus remarked, noticing Leviathan's laughter.
"Yes, a sudden thought crossed my mind, and it brought a little satisfaction," Leviathan replied casually.
"Oh, what's that?" Incaurus asked with curiosity, as Fafnir began to rise from his throne, evidently prepared to leave.
"Wait until everything is prepared," Incaurus scolded Fafnir, swiftly sending him back to his throne.
"I was just going to wander around the hall, that's all," Fafnir said, his expression resembling that of a child seeking permission from their mother.
Afterward, he rose from his throne and walked away.
Leviathan turned his gaze toward Incaurus. "I've been thinking about how fortunate I am to be among such powerful individuals as all of you," he expressed.
"Oh, how can you say we're powerful without even seeing what we can do?" Incaurus asked Leviathan, subtly encouraging others to join the conversation.
"Yeah, Leviathan, you haven't even witnessed what I'm capable of," Ishtar chimed in.
"I can sense your power, and don't forget, I'm one of you as well," Leviathan replied, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he realized his slip-up.
"Incarus, I can't wait much longer," Pretra suddenly interjected, rubbing his empty belly, which had been hungry for hours.
"I almost forgot about you, Pretra. Just wait a little longer, and I'll ask Khanel to prepare some food for you," Incaurus said apologetically.
Tiamat also chimed in, her tone serious. "Did you really mean it when you said we could defeat the other theocracy that attacked this sanctuary when it was at its weakest?"
Incaurus replied, "I didn't mean it seriously; I just wanted to make Khanel feel reassured."
"But it seems like these people are completely dependent on us. Their entire culture seems to revolve around us," Incaurus observed.
"It's not us they worship; these statues are the ones they pray to as gods. We just happened to emerge from them," Acedia stated lazily.
"But their devotion is worth praising. I haven't sensed any lust for us from them," Ishtar added.
"It does seem that way. That's why I've decided to stay with them," Incaurus said while glancing at the others.
"Don't you mean 'we'? Wherever you go, I'll follow. I have no hope of leaving, and these people serve as sustenance for our sins as well," Ishtar affirmed, with the others nodding in agreement.
[Of course, they all stay together. If it weren't for Incaurus keeping them united and leading them, the others would be long gone in Avlora. And here, they act as if they're weak, like children, and it's Incaurus who takes care of them,] Leviathan thought to himself.
[Same goes for me,] he thought, nodding in agreement with the others.
A faint smile appeared on Incaurus's lips, but he quickly concealed it.
Fafnir returned from his walk and settled back onto his throne. "All these things are incredibly luxurious and valuable," he remarked, taking in his surroundings.
"I see that too," Incaurus replied, his gaze wandering through the opulent surroundings.
Unbeknownst to them, as their conversation continued, an unexpected guest arrived in the previous sanctuary they had left behind.
A luxurious carriage, drawn by six powerful horses and adorned with opulent decorations, sped along a road.
The thunderous sound of hooves and the coachman's urgent shouts to hasten the carriage could be heard from a considerable distance. The entire carriage exuded an eerie, otherworldly aura.
Through the carriage window, a man with a physique that appeared to be a fusion of three or four men emitted a terrifying presence that sent shivers through anyone in proximity.
Seated in front of him was a frail young maiden whose beauty resembled the full moon on a cloudless night, radiating a completely different aura, captivating all who beheld her.
Even though the outside of the carriage was filled with noise, the interior remained serene.
The two adversaries within the carriage exchanged no words with each other. However, at that moment, the frail-looking girl, who had been gazing out of the window, spoke up, breaking the deathly silence that had enveloped the carriage.
"I'm cold," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
The enormous man in front of her, upon hearing her words, glanced around but couldn't find anything to alleviate the girl's cold.
Then, he decided to remove his own large coat and gently draped it around her. His exposed muscles were robust and perfectly sculpted, a testament to his immense physical strength.
After the event, the interior of the carriage reverted to its customary silence. The girl settled comfortably under the coat, her gaze fixed on the outside world through the carriage window.
After a lengthy journey, the carriage came to a halt. The coachman opened a window and addressed them from the outside.
"We have arrived," he announced.
Following this, the burly man stepped out of the vehicle and cast a discerning look at their destination, which is none other than the place where Leviathan and the others had been previously.