It had been just a few minutes when the space at the base of the Crystal Mountain was torn open, revealing the dark void inside, and a mere moment later, a figure stepped out of it.
A man adorned in silver and gray robes stood nearly two meters tall, his face chiseled to an example of beauty, and his star-silver hair followed down his shoulder.
He was not alone, as a feline was walking by his side, standing close to four feet tall. Her fur was as white as snow, and her twin tails moved side by side in what seemed to be enjoyment as her light emerald eyes scanned her new surroundings.
The man looked around, a small frown gracing his face, before he looked to his left and took a few steps, then dropped to one knee, reaching down to pick up a handful of the white dust scattered across the ground.
He stood up and walked to the closest dead spider before raising his hand and gathering some of the floating white mist atop his hand.
The frown on his face only depended as he looked back, and in the next moment, he appeared nearly a kilometer away, with his hand raised and the space molding around his fingers as if they were running through smoke.
"Eira, you are not killing those two weaklings," The man said, his voice as calm and gentle as his expression. "Let's get going. The others need to know about Kythera's death, " he added as he stepped forward. The space ripped open in an instant, giving him passage into the void.
He appeared inside a vast chamber, its walls and floor crafted from rich wood. To his left stood an immense rack filled with bottles of wine, while the opposite wall was lined with shelves overflowing with books.
The dark ash wood floor contrasted with the ceiling, obscured by a magnificent painting depicting countless animals.
A grand window graced the front wall, providing the room's only source of light. A crystal table facing the door was placed before it, with a neatly stacked pile of books on top.
Behind the table, a luxurious white velvet chair awaited, while a breathtaking view of the landscape could be seen from the glass window, a peaceful expanse of mountains and valleys blanketed in pristine white ice.
The man walked calmly behind the table and settled into his seat while the cat curled up in the corner, comfortably stretching out on the large couch.
He drew a complicated rune in the air with his index and middle figures held together that disappeared in an instant. Then, he took out a crystal, firmly gripping it in his hand before he closed his eyes.
In a vast chamber that looked and gave a feel that was the complete opposite of the first one, where the white chamber looked noble and peaceful, this chamber was drowned in darkness, with only the giant table and its seven surrounding chairs being visible.
The long table was pitch black, yet it emitted a soft glow that illuminated the seven surrounding chairs. Though similar in design with high backs and cushioned seats, each chair boasted a distinct color and size and also featured a unique mark etched into its back.
The head seat had the etched image of a female face, a breathtaking beauty, who, instead of normal hair, her head was crowned with wild, coiling snakes, their bodies appearing to writhe and twist even though frozen in motion.
The first seat on the right side had a life-like image of a horned serpent that one could recognize as a Basilisk, and the first seat on the left side had the etching of a Skull with protruding fangs and crimson eyes.
The second seat on the right had the etching of the silver serpent, and similarly, the other three seats also bore similar unique markings.
A moment had passed when the figure of the man in silver appeared atop the chair with the serpent's mark.
A few moments had passed when the third chair on the left, with the etching of a giant shield, illuminated with light that coalesced to create a figure, a giant of a man standing at least four meters tall.
It was a bald man, a hulking giant adorned in yellow cloaths, loose shirts, and trousers, a crimson sash draped over one shoulder and crossing the body diagonally, with its two ends tied to a metal ring. He had a wide belt around his waist and a necklace of giant beads worn around his neck.
"Amitabha, Serpent, May the Great One's light be your guide," The monk said, raising his right hand straight upward. His face gave away little to no emotion.
"Master Aegis, It is a pleasure to meet you," Serpent replied, slightly bowing to show respect to the monk.
The following few minutes were spent in silence as no new individuals made their appearance, but three minutes in, the first chair on the right side got illuminated, its mark of the horned serpent shining brightly as the light gathered to create the figure of a man.
The man had pitch-dark hair following down to his back, inky black eyes that gave nothing away, ghastly pale skin, his body only adorned in black pants, and a pitch-dark fur coat that hung atop his shoulder, leaving his torso completely bare.
He had an inhumanly chiseled physique, his chest marred by three long, jagged scars that stretched from right to left. His face bore a similar mark, a single deep scar running from his right cheek up through his eye, reaching all the way to his temple.
Unlike the monk, the man did not even glance at the two before he lay back, placing his legs on the table, his hands on his chest, and his fingers closed.
The due looked at the man who occupied the Basilisk's chair before shifting their eyes to the gathering light on the opposite side of the table, which turned colorful as it took its form.
It was a man, a figure who was human yet inhuman. His crimson eyes glowed like two distant stars, his blood-red hair flowing wildly behind him, and two fangs protruding from his lips, barely hidden by his mustache and goatee.
He wore loose leather pants covered in designs, held by a wide belt. His torse was left bare, and both his arms were covered in gold and gray markings few could hope to understand.
"Basilisk, Take your feet off the table," The Vampire said, his voice a dry, deep rasp. His bony fingers twitched as if he were ready to make the man comply, even though both were mere holograms.
"Make me, Fang," Basilisk replied in an equally cold, detached voice, pushing his crossed feet apart just enough to glare at the figure seated before him through the gap, dead in the eyes.
The vampire growled and was ready to retort when the head chair illuminated with light. All eyes instantly switched to it, and everyone stood up without an exception, even Basilisk lowering his feet and standing straight.
As the light solidified, it revealed a towering female figure standing over two meters tall. Her skin was a deep, ashy brown, her face both hardened and beautiful, and her muscular build perfectly suited her imposing stature. Thick, braided locks crowned her head, adorned with golden clips woven throughout.
She was draped in a loose pale blue robe that covered her armor beneath, cinched at the waist with a cloth belt.
She had pale yellow bracers covering both her forearms and a chest piece covering her shoulders, neck, and upper torso. The armor was decorated with etchings of fear-filled faces, petrified in time, giving it a deeply unsettling appearance.
All four figures bowed slightly before they settled back into their seats, and the first to speak was the Female, the Gorgon, addressing the two members' absence.
"Eye and Poison are occupied with critical tasks, so we will proceed without them," Gorgon said, her voice calm yet powerful. Her cold gaze stopped on Serpent, the one responsible for calling this urgent meeting.
"Kythera is dead, her body gone, and I was unable to find any real leads on the one responsible," Serpent said, taking a slight pause to let everyone get comfortable with the news.
"The detection array did not pick any strong presence, not even the presence of a Mortal Ascendant entering or exiting the area," Serpent said, and everyone present looked surprised, frowned, confused, and flashed anger.
"I did not receive any distress signal from Kythera, and I only felt her presence gone when the life crystal linked to her shattered,"
"I discovered mana crystal dust scattered in a circle around the crystal mountain, clearly the remnants of a magical array, specifically, a single circle array,"
"All the spiders were frozen to death," He continued, his expression puzzled. "Their very cells were frozen, yet the ice was fading by the moment, leaving no damage to their bodies."
"The very mana present inside the array was frozen, as even the air was covered in a white haze, so it seemed to be the work of a Master or Grand Array Master," Serpent said, listing everything he found, and after a hesitant moment, he followed.