Unable to approach the Silver Moon, Jano turned his flight toward the area outside its luminous reach.
As soon as he left the Silver Moon's domain, he realized the conditions beyond were far more hostile.
Surviving here required immense authority over fundamental laws.
No wonder, he thought, in the future, even demigods had to ignite divine fire, establish a terrestrial divine kingdom, and ascend to their thrones with the divine kingdom before they could survive in this place.
This was the edge of the world, where the concentrated forces of myriad laws clashed, their intensity varying.
Even the power of the laws of space-time hovered here erratically, its presence profoundly palpable.
Countless laws intersected, making it feel as though legendary beings or demigods battled constantly.
The perpetual conflict and collision of these laws made Jano's eyelids twitch involuntarily.
"Damn, this place is worse than under the Silver Moon's domain!" he muttered.
"If I'd tried flying here from anywhere else, I might never have made it!"
Before, he had flown straight toward the Silver Moon. Once above the firmament, he had remained under its influence, shielded from the harsh environment outside.
With a sigh, Jano quickly returned to the domain of the Silver Moon.
Though he constantly felt the immense pressure akin to an ocean's depths, his cultivation was centered on willpower.
His will was strong enough to suppress a law, enabling him to endure the Silver Moon's oppressive aura.
For others—especially demigods—the overwhelming majesty here was unbearable.
For now, this area was the optimal choice for him.
"My current strength isn't enough," Jano mused. "I'll establish my Sky Throne near the Silver Moon for now."
With this plan in mind, another sigh escaped his lips.
"Raising the throne will cause such a commotion. Who knows when the right opportunity will arise?"
Without the throne, it would be difficult to contend with demigods.
Demigods' strength didn't stem from their mastery of laws alone but from the dominion they gained over the world's authority once they ascended.
The law of thunder and the authority of thunder might seem alike but were fundamentally distinct.
Many legends controlled the law of thunder, but the demigod who wielded the authority of thunder was often singular.
The same held true for gods.
Even when multiple beings initially held the same authority, the intrinsic unifying nature of authority drove them to conflict until only one remained.
Jano feared no master of laws, but he wasn't foolish enough to challenge a demigod empowered by the world's authority.
Moreover, under the hostility of the world itself, those demigods would undoubtedly come after him.
"I just need the right opportunity!" he declared to himself.
"But as I recall," he murmured, "the elves' records mention an incident during the thousandth year of the Goblin Empire. The imperial capital was attacked by a stranger—a demigod leading a host of followers.
After days of conflict, the capital was destroyed. The empire was severely weakened and never fully recovered. Even the great demigod sage Azeba, who could have lived much longer, didn't survive beyond three millennia."
"Perhaps this could be my opportunity. I'll wait."
With this thought, Jano spread his wings and descended, heading back to the Mount Celestia on the eastern coast.
Long after his departure, within the Silver Moon...
Deep within the shadowy heart of the celestial body, a pair of stunningly beautiful eyes opened slightly for a fleeting moment before closing again.
But in that instant, countless silver lights surged through the once-dark space, illuminating it completely.
In a glimpse as fleeting as a shooting star, the form of an incomparably beautiful silver-haired goddess could be seen, lying silently in the darkness.
Countless Silver Moon laws bowed beneath her, like stars revering the moon.