Silver Mask nodded. The main reason they wanted to cause chaos in the continent was to both drain and redistribute the spiritual ki in the surrounding countries. Silver Mask would draw a seal in the east at Shurein, and Ura in the west. Another at Dadiyan in the north and Biyakis in the south.

These four seals would gather in their midst a fountain of the entire ki in the continent, and in turn, open the portals to Origin.

He would then siphon more than half of the entire spiritual ki in the continent, which would cause quite mayhem. And that was why they would need to distract the curious with a bogus war. The small continent had many yet-to-be-found wells of energy which made it the best place for the ritual.

The means might have changed but the plan didn't.

"And I shall lead a squad to Ura," said Jubu.

"And I to Shurein," said Kininura.

Silver Mask shook his head. "The clones would be enough to do the job. I want the three of you to go with Munniq and give her a hand."

The queen frowned at the mention of her name. She didn't like to be called by her first name like that, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was Barahan. He preceded her in joining the Satedel and so she respected him.

That didn't mean she wouldn't argue.

"What are you implying, Barahan?" She called him by name as well. "Do you think less of my divinity?"

Silver Mask shook his head, not minding that she used his first name. "We are still not sure how eleven thousand men died on our watch. I want you to be on your guard. Do not underestimate your enemy however inconsequential they might seem. When it is time, march out with all your strength and up them in one swipe."

Munniq smiled but didn't reply. She had never underestimated an opponent and she wasn't going to start today.

Thus, the five made their decision. Silver Mask was the first to leave and Munniq followed along with Jubu and Kininura.

Emperor Biyakin was the last to leave. He thoughtfully watched Jubu's retreating figure and took a deep breath. He feared none among men more than he did Munniq. It was almost laughable. Jubu was supposed to be his son in this lifetime, but in all these years, he couldn't tell if this young man was real or a golem.

Having attained deva a century before he relocated to this world, Biyakin could see things the average eye couldn't. More so, he was a direct descendant of the sovereign ruler of Fabae. And, with a slight touch of divinity, he was certain he could face Munniq head-on. His main concern was that he couldn't tell a golem made by her from the real.

He let out a deep sigh.

He was tired - the boredom of staying in this little world was catching up to him. It had been almost a century of living here. Munniq came before him but he felt as if he had been here longer than she had.

Munniq had at least been busy since she arrived, but he was made to rule an empire he had no ties with. Court talks and enduring co-wife rivalry from women he never cared about were all he had been doing since he came. He yearned to round off his assignment and reunite with his family.

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As he made for the door, he noticed a little button where Munniq had sat. He picked it up and examined it.

"I will talk with you." It says in Munniq's voice. "Wait for me at the usual spot."

He turned the button in his hand and studied it to see if there would be more information. But the button disintegrated into a flowing smoke a second later.

The emperor shook his head. Munniq must be plotting something she wouldn't want the others to know about. He thought to himself in silence. Barahan might have a stronger cultivation base, but Munniq had more power and was of a higher status since she came from Origin.

The tribe of Nánata was historically strong. But Munniq infiltrated them and replaced their queen with a human golem, all without their knowledge, before she finally installed herself as the queen. And even before he was assigned to this world, Munniq had already killed the original emperor Biyakin and replaced him with a human golem. That had made his task easier. When he came over, only his facial features and body were altered before he entered the empire and took over from the golem.

What was she up to now? He wondered, not for the first time.

He shook his head. Knowing the things going on in that woman's head was quite a herculean task. He shook his head as he strode toward the rendezvous.

***

Nine years prior...

***

'Munniq of the thirteenth Clan has played a major role in destroying the fifth world' was a popular slogan in the distant world of Origin.

Barahan was a man who preferred to keep his profile on the low, making it quite difficult to estimate his influence over the destruction of the fifth world. Even his minion, emperor Biyakin, had no inkling that Silver Mask was from Origin. The world known as Origin controlled many smaller worlds and so it was easy to mistake people's backgrounds. Emperor Biyakin had never asked about his superior's background and Silver Mask had never answered.

Whatever the case, Munniq's supporters and that of the thirteenth Clan in Origin might have a valid reason for supporting her.

Even as far back as 9 years ago, Munniq was having a meeting with the Shurein and Biyakin's empresses.

Unknown to many, both women were from Nánata. Why would two emperors from the same continent marry from the Nánata tribe? One would wonder. But the answer was simple: Munniq's handiwork.

She had already replaced the original emperor Biyakin and thus she had encountered no resistance in making the current emperor do her bidding. Emperor Shen had been the one that had given her some trouble. It had taken her a long time to convince him to marry Juwaira's mom, Bidal Nánata.

These marriages happened many years back. The women had begun to forget about their purpose. Once in a while, Munniq would send them a reminder. Just like today when she summoned them to remind them of their duty.

Apart from the two emperesses, there were at least nine others in the room. Each of them was married to someone influential. There was no golem among them and they were all beautiful women who Munniq had helped to marry off from the tribe.

"Enter," Munniq commanded, waving a hand towards her back.

A young girl of nineteen walked in. None of the women present had seen her before today.

The girl curtsied before them.

"This is Laluri," explained Munniq. "She is my messenger and will very soon give you a call. I want you all to cooperate with her in anything she asked for."

They all nodded despite not knowing what Queen Munniq would need from them. They believed in obeying any orders from their queen. Such orders would be the only way for their tribe to regain its power and authority over the world. None knew that their true queen had long since died and that this one was an impostor from a whole different world.

Their love and faith were all in vain. But who would dare speak of such a thing?

***

A couple of years after their audience with Munniq, Laluri appeared in Shurein and presented herself to Bidal. She wanted to know the whereabouts of Juwaira - the princess that had fled from home because of a political marriage.

Bidal knew that her daughter hadn't been faring well on the run, and that made her reluctant to give out any information about her. But when she recalled her queen's serene face and their discussion of years back, then studied Laluri and became convinced she was the messenger, Bidal rallied her courage.

She messaged Juwaira via Ayrid. A while later, Juwaira sent a reply about her location and her current situation.