The problem with the constant artillery bombardment wasn't that it shook the outer shell of the Four Realms, or that it was a constant annoyance, in Elvira's opinion. It was that it obscured the movements of the armies outside. They were up to something, setting up some sort of massive spell formation according to Astraea, though she didn’t know what. The shells hitting the Star Guard, as she had come to call Xing Wu and the others' protective formation, constantly created a rippling, mist-like effect that obscured and twisted even the most powerful of their divination or sight techniques.

  Not even Alexander could see through it completely, though what he did see was enough to alarm him. And was thereby enough for her to be able to wrangle the rest of her siblings into a proper war council, pulling them away from whatever other tasks they had been attending to for a brief time. The Pillars would be brought into this discussion soon, but they needed to make plans first. They were the Big Four, and they couldn't sit here waiting for the fight to come to them.

  "We need to be prepared to launch a counter-offensive," Elvira declared, sitting in a chair just beside Father's prone form. The curse still crackled along his body, the Rival sitting opposite her quietly reading a smut book to Him. The immortal man giggled obscenely at something in the story, while her own siblings stood arrayed about the room.

  The little one, Amari Ren, had been taken away for the time being, to be cared for and raised while Father was…indisposed.

  "There's no way they'll be able to breach our barriers," Keilan argued, shaking his head. "Let them break their backs against the Mountain, as the mortals say."

  "We cannot take that risk," Elvira argued back, shaking her head, wings fluttering behind her. "And once Father completes the assimilation of Authority, the board will completely change."

  "How so?" Reika asked. "It will loosen the restrictions upon us, and lessen the weight of the One World's Will, true, but that doesn't change the situation. We are defensible here, and there’s no reason to risk it."

  "Elvira may be correct," Alexander rumbled, the great dragon lowering his head to be eye level with Elvira. "Because that may forge a two-way street. From what I have seen, they have largely given up trying to crack the barrier for now, instead preparing for something else. Whether that is a new way to split our defenses, or a specific happening, I am unsure."

  "You're saying the denizens of the One World may stop being held back by the Four Realms Will." Reika realized, understanding dawning. "Father would never allow it. They breached our trust first."

  "All are equal under the Heavens," Elvira threaded her fingers together, staring down at her hands. "Father loves us more than anything, that is true, but the Heaven’s isn't just a word He uses. It's what He is, at His very core. Just as you, Reika, are terrifying at your core."

  That got a round of little chuckles from her siblings, and she smiled. Even the Rival was listening now, though he continued to provide background noise in the form of a smut book.

  "So you believe, even in unconsciousness, even unintentionally, that Mother's connection to the One World will loosen their restrictions as well." Keilan said. "That may unfortunately be correct."

  "If he was conscious, it is likely He would mitigate the effect. You know how He is. But His entire attention is focused on the curse and the Will right now; who knows what will happen when the assimilation ends. We have to prepare for the worst." Alexander agreed.

  "I fully expect the Will of the Four Realms to continue to fight back against the One World and its natives; Father separating Himself from the Four Realms as much as He did is proving to be a boon in many unexpected ways. I can feel the Will now; it recognizes the One World as a threat to its existence and is and will continue to fight back. I merely expect the One World denizens to be not quite as suppressed as we might like if they were to ever set foot upon Four Realms ground." Elvira sat back in her chair.

  "Hence the counter offensive," Rieka said.

  "Hence the counter offensive. I believe they are aiming for the moment Father finishes assimilating Curie's Authority as well; a full out offensive while we’re adjusting to the change, since they haven’t been able to breach our defenses thus far. We weren’t as damaged as they expected. However, their ‘lose condition’ in this war isn't Father waking up, contrary to our belief. His awakening will make their victory harder, but not impossible." Elvira explained.

  "Their win condition is infecting the Four Realms with the rot, not that they realize it. Kei has already proven to be immune to it, according to her and Astraea's own words, which gives us an edge on fighting the shadow. What is their lose condition, then?" Keilan asked.

  Elvira let out a long, slow breath, leaning forward. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but the weight of what she was about to say lay upon her shoulders like a boulder - no, like the weight of the skies themselves.

  "Annihilation," the Rival said for her. The single word sent chills down their collective spines, and not just for what it represented. It was the way he said it, cold and firm, without any emotion whatsoever.

  "...indeed. Annihilation. This is a war for survival for them. Without what the Four Realms can offer in terms of stability, the One World will collapse under its own weight. Unfortunately, the Rot's madness prevents them from taking the peaceful route; which leaves only war." Elvira explained softly. It was going to be brutal…and she could only hope they figured out a way to keep their own people uninfected.

  "Are you suggesting we have to destroy the One World?" Reika bristled, and Elvira quickly shook her head.

  "No. But that is what they believe their lose condition is. For us, victory means we have to eliminate the influence of the Rot somehow; this is not a Shadow like Morgan, who could be reasoned with and at least trusted to act in Father's best interests."

  "Even if no one else agreed on what was Mother's best interest," Reika grumbled, which Elvira couldn't refute.

  "Be that as it may, she's right. Elimination of the Rot...how does one even eliminate the Shadow?" Alexander, for the first time in recent memory, genuinely sounded at a loss for what the next path was. Father Himself had said completely eliminating a Shadow was impossible, yet that is what they were going to attempt.

  "We can deal with that later. First, we have to survive their next move. Then, our priority should be to separate the rot from the Will of the One World. It has two-thirds of the power of the Origin Deity in its hands; that connection cannot be allowed to continue to strengthen." Keilan said. "I will research that. But it may take a few clashes to figure out how to go about it."

  "Make no mistake, brothers and sister. This is to be a true war. People are going to die, and souls may be lost, especially if the rot proves too infectious. But it is a war for our survival as much as it is theirs." Elvira said. "Gilles is researching the Rot right now, thanks to Xing Wu's foolish, but necessary, risk. I am already mustering the Heavenly Host, but our armies are woefully inadequate compared to the One World's; if not in quality, than in number."

  "We are all ready for this," Reika told her. Elvira shook her head sadly.

  "The mortals aren't. If the inner reaches are breached, they will come under attack as well, and we will very well need the power of the Immortals and cultivators in the coming fight. Everyone will be called to arms, I fear. We cannot rely solely upon the strength of the gods, the angels, and Dao Progenitors when they will be throwing everything, from god to mortal to sacrificial souls, upon us." Elvira firmed her heart at these words. Nothing about this situation was ideal, but she would secure the future of their people.

  That was non-negotiable. Like their Father, she would give as much as she had to, to make sure their future remained safe.

  "We will have to inform them." Alexander rumbled. Elvira stood, dusting off her robes. "I will let them know you're coming, Elvira." She bowed her head to her brother as he dove ack into the Spirit Realm, not to visit the mortals directly, but to resume his work and send word through spirit and angel.

  "I will join you," Keilan said, dusting off his robes. "This is a matter for me, as well."

  "I will..." Reika trailed off, then bit her lip and clearly changed her mind. "I will go construct battlements upon the walls, so some of the more powerful cultivators can see the situation. But I will mostly continue my reconstruction work; the Four Realms cannot be too weakened when the attack comes." She vanished in a swirl of leaves, her hair changing from the dull colors of winter, to the budding green of spring. Elvira turned to Keilan, tails thrashing once.

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  "We should -"

  "A moment, if you will," the Rival spoke up, licking a finger and turning the page in his book. Elvira shared a look with her brother, Keilan curling his wings tightly about his body as he turned his full attention to the man. He was subdued, even as he sat beside Father.

  "Yes?" Elvira asked, a touch impatient, but trusting what he had to say was likely important.

  "I am being allowed to speak here, which tells me quite a bit, actually. When I came to the Four Realms, I made a deal with the Overgod. I would not interfere with the Four Realms growth in any overt or intentional way, acting merely as an observer. My very existence inspires change, but my actions would do much, much more. Do you understand what it means that I can now discuss certain topics with you?" The Rival asked. Elvira narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

  "The rules no longer apply?" Keilan guessed.

  "No. They do still apply. Until something happens - be it the First breaking the rules like he has before, or the situation turns truly dire, I will remain a passive observer. However, that I am able to discuss things with you means the rot you mentioned is truly something to fear." The Rival said. "There are certain...diseases may not be the right word, but diseases, ailments, malformed universes, cancers, if you will, that occasionally pop up in the multiverse at large."

  "And the rot is one of them," Elvira said.

  "Potentially. From what little I know and heard about it, it has the potential to become so. It’s not there yet, but..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "If I am forced to move, I will go scorched earth. Beings like me? We're protectors. If the rot is a disease or a virus, I'm like a white blood cell. Sent in to clean things up when the alarm bells start ringing."

  "Is there anything you can tell us about the rot? How to combat things like this that doesn't involve burning everything down?" Elvira asked, more than a little hopeful. Unfortunately, the Rival shook his head.

  "I am the scorched earth option. That's my role. But believe me when I tell you that your mother taught you well; I cannot imagine you not having the tools to combat this thing, and it’s not unbeatable, nor is it as contagious to you lot as you may fear. Ironically, a cultivation world is perfect to combat something like the obsessive rot; you already deal with things like heart demons, and are forced to confront your true selves by Statera’s design. Either way, you can rest assured. I will not let the rot reach the point I fear most."

  Elvira narrowed her eyes at the Rival as he resumed reading. That was a bit contradictory. He wouldn’t intervene, but he wouldn’t let it reach the tipping point?

  "The endgame is for it to get Statera." The Rival clarified, pausing his reading, finger on the page. "Why do you think I have not left her side?" Keilan flinched back as if struck, while Elvira sighed, her shoulders sagging.

  "Thank you," she told him, honestly. She shouldn't have felt comforted by the words of a mere immortal, but she was. The way he said it left no doubt in her mind.

  "Don't thank me. Thank Statera for stealing my heart. Now go. Oh, and tell Randus to bring the little one - Amari Ren? - back every once in a while. I know he's in charge of raising the kid, but Statera does better when they're around." And with that, the Rival stuck his nose back in his book, reading softly.

  Elvira and Keilan nodded to each other, agreeing with that. They had put Randus in charge of the child, but it was going to be a collaborative effort. They just had much to do, and not all of them could always be present for them.

  ***

  The Celestial Empress sat in her throne room, resting her chin on the palm of her hand while her advisors chattered away about the earthquakes. They were more like reality quakes, she knew, from the collision between two universes, but the average mortal didn't need to know that.

  All they knew was that qi and the entirety of the city shook, and now everything was slowly getting put back together. Shops and buildings that had fallen over were being rebuilt, supply lines reforged, merchants had their wares ready once again...and the spirits assured her everything was fine.

  She knew better. It wasn't because the gods were quiet, or because angels were largely missing from the Physical Realm at the moment. It wasn't because the Dao Progenitors had informed her the defensive star array had been activated. It wasn't even because the Mad Scientist had been called away by the gods for a time, though she was back now, and working in her lab like a woman possessed. It was simply because of the way the Four Realms felt.

  There was an emotion in the qi itself. One she knew instinctively, personally, deeply. It felt just like that panicked, careful emotion she'd experienced when Dei was injured in the Sun War, and she knew he was going to die. It was the feeling of a child, knowing their parent was hurt, and unable to do anything about it.

  Which was why she was unsurprised when, in a flash of golden light, three angels appeared in the air before her.

  One was an Avian-like being, radiating an aura of purity and divinity despite not being a god. The second she recognized as Manasa, the first Angel of Keilan, the Karmic Judge - though the holy snake was less an angel, and more a Holy Beast. The third was another Holy Beast, a stag-like being who had evolved karmically to join the powerful spirits. This one she didn't know of.

  "Empress," Manasa said, the colorful snake dipping her head, tongue flicking out. Those in the court fell silent, hushed whispers echoing through the long, grand throne room at the sight of three angelic, powerful, borderline divine beings. The only way their surprise could be any greater would have been if the legendary Stilicho or Fu Hao had appeared.

  "Leave us. All of you." she commanded simply, voice calm and quiet, yet no less firm for it. One by one every single person filtered out, leaving only her, her personal guard, and a few of her closest advisors. Only one of whom was a Dao Progenitor, many of the others far away in the new regions, building their own demesne.

  "We bring news from the Heavens," Manasa continued.

  "News that will be delivered by the gods themselves. Brace yourself." The avian angel said. The Celestial Empress straightened in her seat, putting her back against her throne.

  Seconds later, in a flash of light and swirl of shadow, they appeared, bringing with them the spiritual weight of two of the most powerful beings in existence – shards of their true selves though they were.

  Lady Elvira was everything she had ever expected from a goddess of Heaven and Divinity, and more. Her hair was radiant, shining a golden color more brilliant than any sun. Her wings were resplendent, white-feathered and wide, so much more beautiful than her own wings. Her eyes were kind and proud, white light pouring from the irises, the same color as the white and gold robes that fell from her beautiful form.

  The other was less expected. Lord Keilan was not the fearsome being she had expected. He struck her more like a merchant, a wealthy businessman. His dark hair was slicked back over his head, bronzed skin perfect and unblemished. His horns were dark and thick, the bat-like wings that stretched from his back less menacing and more...looming. Adding to his firm, uncompromising, knowing look, but just like Elvira, his eyes were no less kind, even if more subtle in their emotion.

  "Lady Elvira, Lord Keilan. Had I known you were coming, I would have tried to prepare a better welcome," she said, voice steady despite the trembling in her limbs. She sat before two founding beings; even if she had never met or seen them before, they were unmistakable. Two of the oldest beings in existence, creators of the realms above and below. And, to top it off, Elvira was the creator, the mother, of the Avian race, her own race. The Empress tried to stand to greet them, but found her legs unwilling to listen.

  "You needn't stand, little one." Elvira said softly, raising one palm as she descended to be eye-level with the Empress, floating midair. She was tall, nearly four feet taller than her. "We come with ill news."

  And they did. The two gods explained all that was necessary. The situation they found themselves in. The imminent invasion. Each word sent her advisors into deeper worried muttering. Each assurance that the gods were doing everything in their power genuinely reassuring but worrying in its own way.

  "You will need to be ready, in case war comes. We will be calling upon you and your forces; immortals, mortals, powerful cultivators all when the conflict begins in earnest." Elvira concluded.

  "And Statera Luotian?" The Celestial Empress, bringing up the topic they had been carefully dancing around. Her heart hammered in her chest in anticipation of the answer, especially as the two siblings looked at each other, gauging their words.

  "They deserve to know," Keilan said softly, his voice a rich timber the spoke of wisdom and care. Elvira nodded her head once. "Our Mother lies injured in a safe location. She protected the Realms from the worst of the collision, but the betrayal...She has been cursed, and injured. Even now, injured, She fights Her own battles - a battle of the spirit - to protect us. She will pull through, but She needs to recover."

  The Celestial Empress soaked it all in. But most importantly, she latched onto one word of Keilan's; 'our' Mother. The way he said it hadn't sounded like he meant 'my and Elvira's Mother.' It truly meant 'our' Mother. All of ours. Everyone’s. The Empress met both gods' eyes, saw the pain there, the humiliation of bowing their heads and asking mortals, those they were sworn to protect - their 'younger, weaker siblings' for aid.

  And her heart filled with steel.

  She rose to her feet despite her trembling limbs, slowly fell to one knee, and bowed her head, wings spreading behind her.

  "As the Heavens called, we shall answer. Let us repay you for all you have done to keep us safe, and let us stand beside you in the field of battle." She raised her head and met their eyes. The two gods smiled and bowed their own heads.

  "We thank you. Our people will be by soon to coordinate." Elvira said, and the two gods vanished. Their presences disappearing was like the Holy Mountain itself being removed from her shoulders, breathing coming far easier.

  "Empress," one of her advisors began, but she had already surged to her feet.

  "If your next words are going to be in any way a complaint about marching to a war we are unsure about, save your breath." She snapped at the man, a weaselly little Fae who was better for economic work than war. His mouth snapped shut, and she nodded approvingly. He would be more useful after the war, but could not be allowed to get in the way now. "We have just been told we stand on the brink of a war for survival, the likes of which have been hitherto unseen. Our Parent like bleeding from taking the dagger meant for us, our brothers and sisters in the gods march to war. I will not sit idly by and allow them to break themselves for our sake! Ready our troops! Prepare our people! We march to war!"

  The Celestial Empress marched out of the throne room, radiating power and determination. She could feel it in her bones, the truth of the words. The parent, the creator of the entire universe, may not be perfect. But stories abounded of how many times they had sacrificed pieces of themself to protect their children.

  She had been called upon, for the first time, to repay that favor. Not by Statera Luotian, but by those who loved Them. Who was she not to answer?

  Despite the situation, she still found herself smiling. Xing Wu, she thought. It seems we will be able to fight side-by-side once again.

  Elvira: Goddess of Heaven and Divinity. Correctly reading the situation. Fearing she'll have to go further. Fearing the spread of plague.

  Alexander: Spirit Dragon. Making his own preparations. He is the tip of the spear.

  Keilan: God of Connections. Won't be a front-line fighter. But he will be instrumental, he has decided.

  Reika: Goddess of Change. Is scary. Has her own role.

  The Rival: Has his line. Don't cross it. (The line is SL.)

  Statera Luotian: Just a bit seepy.

  The Celestial Empress: Alanna. Immortal. All will answer her call.