Inside the Elven palace, an emergency meeting was taking place. The Elven king sat on a wooden throne on an elevated platform while below ministers, nobles, and other Elves of high standing were arguing.
-"Your Majesty, we have to defend our homeland! We need to call all those capable of fighting to take up the weapons!"-One of the Elven generals addressed the king.
-"We can't be hasty. We have to look at the bigger picture to secure our holy places. We can't just throw soldiers at the enemy."-Some Noble spoke out loud.
-"The holy places? Bah! You mean your mansions and interests?"-One of the priestesses commented sarcastically.
"Stop it, Azalea."-Riveria, who belonged to the same camp as the speaking priestess, calmed her down.-"Father, we have to evacuate civilians from the front. They will die if we don't move."
-"Riveria, this is not your place to speak."-Larfal, Riveria's father, spoke without even looking at his daughter.-"General, do you know how great forces are coming our way?"
-"Your Majesty, the Rakia's army is at least two hundred thousand strong, with at least a thousand members above level three and some above five."
-"Can we win?"
-"This..."-General looked troubled.
-"Speak."
-"If we were to order all Evles to fight, we might be able to defend."
-"I see. Order people to take arms."-Larfal turned to the man heading all the nobles present.-"Take your personal guards and move what can be moved."
-"We will ensure that our enemies have nothing to loot."
-"Father! How can you make most elite soldiers act as porters while the people are dying?!"
-"Silence! Know your place."
-"But if we were to deploy a solid defense and ask Orario for assistance, we should be able to avoid major losses."
-"No. I won't lower myself to the point of begging those unpure gods in the mortal realm. Secure way to evacuate High Elves while mobilizing those of low birth. That's all."
Larfal waved his hand, dismissing everyone from the throne room. Seeing that her father ignored her, Riveria left with the priestesses. They headed to the foot of the divine tree, where others of their faction gathered.
-"Princess."-An older Elven woman greeted Rivera at the entrance to the sacred grove where divine trees grew.-"Did your father..."
-"He decided to take nobles and run away while sacrificing people."-Riveria shook her head, disappointed.
-"Sigh."
-"Grand Priestess, what will we do now?"-Azalea asked the older woman.
-"Riveria, are you sure that the people you mentioned will help us?"
-"Yes, but they won't tolerate the current state of being. Inviting them would mean a rebellion."
-"Sigh, I'm old. This is something that the younger generation should decide. Azalea, you are the next Grand Priestess. The decision is in your hands."
-"Teacher..."
The old woman walked away deeper into the grove.
-"Azalea?"
-"Riveria, tell me honestly, why do you have such strong faith in those people? I understand that many gods stand by them. I also heard the popularity of Hold in Orario, but I'm afraid they can't stand Rakia, who is backed by many gods under Ares."
Rivera looked at her friend with whom she grew up together. Despite the rivalry they shared in their earlier years, the two of them were close enough to exchange letters regularly during Riveria's travels outside.
Azalea had beauty similar to Riveria, but her hair was blond-pink, giving her a more youthful look, like a blooming flower. This, in addition to her more cheerful demeanor and slight clumsiness, results in her being called the opposite of Riveria on many occasions.
But this was only on the surface, as in ideas and thinking, she and Riveria were like sisters, and that's why they often competed with each other. This was also why they joined hands when it came to this crisis.
Riveria is considered neutral when it comes to Elven matters. That's why her father outright ignores her words. She lacks backing in court, while priestesses are mostly talented Elves of low birth, thus lacking credibility in the eyes of the elitist court.
-"Azalea, while at first I indeed intended to ask Hold for assistance, now there is a better party that extended a hand to us."
-"Who?"
~"Us."~I stopped hiding and revealed my Fox form that sat on the table next to the two of them.
-"Who are you?"-My sudden interruption alarmed the priestess present.
~"I'm Yue. You should know me as Emperor of Hold."
-"I heard of you, but how do you helping us differ from asking Hold for assistance?"
~"Simple, I'm not just Emperor of Hold. While not known in this world, I possess the personal force that I intend to use here."
-"Personal force? Can they defeat Rakia?"
~"Maiev."
The moment I called for my Shadow Guard, she appeared next to me, in full Warden armor, not hiding her aura.
-"Your majesty."
~"Anser Lady Azalea's question."
-"Rakia is nothing."
Seeing the Warden that appeared here, all Elves present were shocked, as they felt a kinship with Maiev while also being suppressed by the power she emanated.
Azalea also looked at Maiev, but she didn't fully believe my words.
-"Even if you can defeat them, I don't believe that you are doing it for philanthropy. What is the price of your assistance?"
~"Simple. Become my people."
-"What?"
~"My personal force is called Spirit Empire, and while not purely Elven force, three main races following me are Elves, Fae, and Dragons. I want your people to join this Empire."
To prove my words, Maiev took off her helmet, while two more Wardens also appeared to show that they are of other Elven races. This somewhat convinced some priestesses of me not being another invader, but Azalea still had her doubts.
-"What will we be in your Empire? Slaves? Low born like here?"
~"Spirit Empire does not promote bloodlines. You will be granted rights as a new Elven race, your home forest will be under your care, and you will be able to send promising talents to train in Emerald Dream."
-"What is in it for you?"
~"Not much. Aside from a foothold in this world, you can't give me anything of value."
-"Then why are you here?"
~"For Riveria."
Azalea looked at the Elven princess, who nodded, confirming whatever the message was hidden in that gaze.
-"Sigh. If Riveria believes you so much that she is willing to pay such a price, I won't question you anymore. Please, save our people, Your Majesty."-Azalea knelt before me.
~"Rise us. I'm not someone who likes kneeling. Maiev, give the signal to Lunara to start. Also, pass my order to Valeera and Vereesa, capture and disarm all nobles who tried to flee."
-"Yes."
~"Riveria, I'll leave your people to you. As your connection to those divine trees is strong, your race shall be known as Wood Elves in the future."
-"Wood Elves? It's indeed somewhat fitting. Azalea and I will take care of people here, but can you please ask Malfurion and his druids to assist us?"
~"Sure, I'll leave a temporary gateway to Emerald Dream here. One of my Shadow Guards will inform Malfurion."
-"Thank you."-Riveria smiled and began making arrangements, explaining some things to Azalea in the process.
Seeing that my presence was no longer necessary, I hid myself once again, remaining purely a spectator of everything that would happen from now on.
The three fronts were moving at their own pace, and the first to reach the breaking point was the fight in the Far East. Despite the advantage in numbers, Izanagi was not much stronger than Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi, and he started to overpower them step by step.
-"Surrender. You can't defeat me."-Izanagi looked at Amaterasu, whose aura had noticeably declined.
-"Never."
-"Sigh."-Izanami looked disappointed and no longer paid attention to the gods who he just defeated.-"What about you? Are you going to help them?"
~"I'm doing this already, but if you ask about fighting you, then no. There is someone else who wishes to face you."
-"Hou? And who will that be?"
Not wanting to waste more words, I simply opened a passage to the Yomi. When the portal appeared, a dense dark fog started to flow into the hall, and the temperature plummeted.
Soon, two women exited the portal. Izanami ignored everything else and stared at her counterpart. Izanagi was beyond gobsmacked by her appearing here, his eyes for the first time showing emotions: fear and anger.
-"You?! How can... Mortal! It must have been you! You unleashed this monster?!"
-"How cruel? Do I look like a monster?"-Izanami smiled while she continued to walk forward, soon reaching my side.-"It would seem that everything went according to your predictions, Yue."
~"As Ordination, it would be shameful if my Divinations were not accurate."
-"True."-Izanami leaned her whole body on me, making us look like an intimate pair.-"Thank you."
~"Do you want me to assist?"
-"No, just make sure no one can enter or leave this place."
~"No problem."
-"Then leave rest to me."-She kissed my cheek through my Veil, after which she left my side.-"Be sure to admire how a primordial god falls."
-"Witch, how dare you appear in front of me? And be promiscuous with a mere mortal, no less?"
-"My, are you jealous? Sorry, I might have had some relationship with you once, but now... Well, I hope that Yue can make me his."
-"Bitch."
-"I'll soon be a widow, so there will be no issue in pursuing a new relationship. But when I imagine myself being screwed by Yue in front of you while you are powerless..."
~"Ehem. Can the two of you have some respect? I know that as Fox, many associate me with charming others, but please don't make my image into an adulterous person, Izanami."
-"Sorry, I'll keep those words for when we are alone."
~"..."
-"Izanami!"
-"Sigh, don't ruin the atmosphere. You are a monk now. Show some magnanimity."
-"Stop with your acting, witch. You came here to fight, then fight."
-"Sure. Let's this be our last joint venture."
The giant snake emerged from behind Izanami, and it engaged the Izanagi's Dharma. Meanwhile, two primordial gods started their own combat, clashing their divinities and powers.
-"Yue."-Magatsugami aproched me.
~"Magatsugami."
-"Will Lady Izanami win?"
~"I'm not sure. While, as Queen of Yomi, she has a home advantage in the land of the Far East, and Izanagi is also tired after overpowering the rest of the gods. Izanagi's Buddahood is strongly restraining her."
-"Huh?"
~"I learned some basic things about Buddhism. The Dharma that Izanagi manifests is Yamantaka, the conqueror of the lord of death. Yomi is the underworld so..."
-"Then we have to help Lady Izanami."
~"Calm down. As I said, the situation is still in a state where it's hard to predict the outcome. For now, we can only hope that Izanami can win."
-"I see."
As the fight continued, I moved to where the gods were suppressed, using Path of Abundance to help them recover. Amaterasu knew that Izanami was unsealed, and I also informed her about the true story of the past, but the rest of the gods were in shock, not knowing what was going on.
-"Thank you."-Amaterasu bowed to me after she recovered her strength, but she looked at me with strange eyes.-"Lady Izanami and you..."
~"There is no deeper relationship between us. Just think of her actions as wanting to annoy Izanagi."
-"I see."
-"Yue."-Tsukuyomi approached me and her sister.
~"What's the matter?"
-"Are you ok? Not allowing Buddhists to enter from outside must be taxing. Do you need help?"
~"It's alright. I'm the Spirit of the World, so controlling a dimension is not hard for me."
-"Right, but if you need any help, please tell me."
~"Sure."
The confrontation between Izanami and Izanagi continued, but they were evenly matched in divinity and power. Sadly, the fight between the snake and Dharma was a different matter.
While the snake could constrain the Dharma, making it unable to fight effectively, it was also evident that it couldn't defeat it, meaning that, ultimately, the Dharma would emerge victorious, even if it would take a long time.
If Izanagi is supported by his Dharma, he would be able to defeat Izanami, so the situation was not looking good. If Izanami can't emerge victorious before that, she won't be able to do much.
The intensity of the fight also prevents others from intervening. The fully unleashed power of two primordial gods is not something one can simply avoid.
While I could get involved, I understood that Izanami wanted this fight to be hers and hers only, so I could only believe that she could turn the situation around.
As time passed, it became more obvious that if Izanami is to win, she would need a chance. The problem was that Izanagi was a battle-hardened veteran, so the possibility of him committing a mistake that could be exploited was almost nonexistent. Luckily, controlling accidents was something I was capable of.
Focusing on the present situation, I used [Wyrd] to predict the outcome of the fight. Now, as the end was near, I was able to make this reading somewhat easily, but the outcome was the victory of Izanagi, as we thought.
Expanding my reading to other possibilities, I found a future in which Izanami was one to win, but this Fate had been cut off, making it improbable. But this future is exactly what I need.
~"Tsukuyomi."
-"Yes?"
~"I will need your help. Can you take over controlling Takamagahara?"
-"Sure."
I gave the three regalia to Tsukuyomi, who passed the sword to Susanoo and magatama to Amaterasu. When I was released from the burden of keeping this real sealed, I fully focused on the fight.
The future I wished for was already found, so now I only needed to make it happen. Using Path of Ordination, I began to force reality to conform to my will, slowly turning the improbable future into the only future that can happen.
One by one, branches of Fate were disappearing, and soon, only two possible outcomes were left. This went so smoothly, as the other outcomes than Izanagi's victory were impossible, so discarding them was easy, but now erasing that outcome will be challenging.
As I continued to mold the reality, my power began to shatter my avatar, slowly making my arm take the form of Aeon. The tails behind me swayed strongly, Al'maiesh became fully visible, and even aurora began to form around me due to how much power I needed to use.
The changes in and around me were quickly noticed by the gods, but as they were continuously shocked for some time, they just became numb and simply looked stupified at everything that was happening.
Finally, when my avatar was fully shattered, I was able to ensure all Fates but one in which Izanami was victorious. As I relaxed, I also checked how much power was needed to do what I just did, and the amount of power I paid for it was astounding.
I used around 90% of my total power to change the reality now. How much is it? To make a comparison, to create a mortal world with generic lifeforms and solid Fate that can exist in Chaos without my interference, I would need only around 20% of my power.
To change something like the outcome of a single fight, that outcome didn't really matter as I would still defeat Izanagi even if he won, I needed to pay a price much higher than destroying the whole mortal realm of this world would need.
Returning my focus to what was going on, I continued to watch the fight while slowly recovering my power, and not even a moment later, one of the clashes between two primordial gods, resulting in the opening being created in Izanagi's defense by 'accident', one that Izanami quickly exploited, finally turning everything around.