For the representatives of the Kingdoms to leave the Stage with their lives was a mercy. Save for the Stormweaver Continuity, of course.

But not everyone saw it that way. They had caught a glimpse of a being that surpassed all reason. The weakest members of the Nexus were monsters that could send a well-defended city into a state of emergency.

One Puff Puff had the strength of an already rare Diamond-Ranked Adventurer. Platinum-Ranked Adventurers were quite uncommon too. The average Rank of a Blessed was quite high, so many cities relied on their ability to call Blessed through the Guilds and Hyperlink Sites.

However, with the mass exodus and persecution of the Blessed, only a handful of people had the capacity to defend a city in need against a Puff Puff (Snowball), let alone the Puffier Puffs (Snow Devourer) or the Puffiest Puff (Winter Nightmare).

Of course, there were plenty of powerful people out there. But their services were not free.

“Grandis lost everything because of that Dozen Winged Bird. A being that defies logic defeated a bird that destroyed the megacity of Paradise.” One of Mary’s Dukes swallowed, unable to believe that they were allowed to leave Atlas with their lives.

But he and hundreds more that were transported via the Cruiser Trains felt like a piece of them remained at the Stage. They were hollow, parched and hungry. But they could not scrounge the willpower to sate their appetites from the complementary buffet.

“These are dire times.” Another Duke spoke. “The Nexus is at war. I cannot begin to imagine what could have sparked the Nexus to act.”

The encounter with the Amalgam revealed just how insignificant their empires were. Miracle-granting Gifts possessed by the Kingdoms paled in comparison to what the Ateliers wielded.

“Scarlet Logic used to act on the behalf of the Nexus as a paramilitary force. That was until their betrayal, as we’ve heard.” A Dutchess muttered, wincing as Yanarin growled with unease. “Tch. Scarlet Logic’s betrayal makes about as much sense as this clock!”

The Advisor was panicking in the background. She violently shook a wooden grandfather clock with a grunt of disbelief. No one spared her a glance aside from Mary. It was not because this was a common sight.

Far from it in fact. Yanarin was known to an unshakable ice queen. They merely pretended not to notice her.

“How has only 12 minutes elapsed!? The sun’s position hasn’t changed at all! My cursed time piece is showing the correct time! We spent two hours in her audience!”

Her attention rapidly swapped from ruby timepiece she kept in her breast pocket to the clock. It was as she said. Time had seemingly stood still while they were in the presence of the Amalgam. The sun hadn’t even moved from behind the Nexus, nor has the shadow of the Nexus changed from where they remembered it hours ago.

“Are you supposed to tell me that the Amalgam can influence time itself!?” She crushed her time piece and slumped over the grandfather clock, her eyes trembling in horror.

“It’s too late to act surprised.” Mary hummed with a dreamy tone. “Ahhh. The Amalgam can Corrupt and become a Corrupted herself. Temporal manipulation should be an afterthought.”

“Does it not imply that the Amalgam may be related to the Maw of the World!?” Yanarin growled but quickly managed to recompose herself. “… I’m sorry, my Lady. I should not have raised my voice.”

“I’m in a forgiving mood, my precious Yanarin. After all, I have the mark of the Amalgam on me.” Mary didn’t appear to understand the implications of Yanarin’s claim.

To be constantly infatuated with beauty and things you can never have for yourself…

Yanarin silently cursed at her before speaking.

“My concerns are warranted. The Maw of the World is the only place that exhibits temporal phenomena.”

“Are you forgetting the Corrupted Zones?” A Duke spoke.

“Or the Timeless Ruins?” Another said.

“Isn’t this more concerning!? The Amalgam is a walking nightmare. We spent two hours in there… and only two minutes passed in the real world… Isn’t that just like the tales of the places closest to Deep Time?”

The tales of temporal distortion varied greatly. All accounts were also from word of mouth. Verifying it was impossible unless one dove into the depths of the Timeless Ruins or the Maw of the World to experience it themselves.

More often than not, time moved faster within the Maw of the World as though to prolong an Adventurer’s suffering.

It was another cruel law of the Maw of the World that paired sinisterly with the Curse of the Descent and Ascent. Tales of groups being trapped for hundreds of years were not uncommon. But those tales were often dismissed by the fact that these same people would arrive just weeks later.

Yanarin was modified by this. The Amalgam had the capacity to create a living hell. The fact that Mary left with only a scar was a miracle.

“Aren’t they just tales?” Mary hummed, giggling at Yanarin for believing in such childish legends. “Our Amalgam is the sole Progenitor. If temporal magic is hers, then there is no other equal to her. To say that Deep Time has a similar effect would mean that the Amalgam is in two places at once.”

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Her giggles rolled into a distorted laugh. Mary’s mind had been utterly broken by the Amalgam. The once dignified Third Generation Vampire became animated. She failed her arms around, and threw her body over her knees, laughing with content.

“Aaaaahhh. How hilarious. I didn’t take you to be a jester, my dear Yanarin. Aaaahhh.”

“M-My Lady…?” A Duke spoke with concern.

“It’s just so funny.” Mary heaved, rolling her head back over her chair. “The Amalgam, their war – and you mentioned how the Dozen Winged Bird was the reason why Grandis fell. It wasn’t quite like that. Paradise fell because of the bird, not Grandis.”

She then added:

“The lack of Blessed was what destabilized Grandis. Adventurers were also barred from entry. They abandoned Grandis because it was too dangerous. Think of the climate there before the advent of the Dozen Winged Bird. Demi-Humans were being persecuted, as were the Healers.”

Mary hadn’t finished, but her point was already made clear to her group.

Grandis didn’t fail because of the Dozen Winged Bird. The conduct of the Kingdoms played a pivotal role. While the Nexus barred the Blessed from entering Grandis, Adventurers were not. However, the way Adventurers were treated had caused so many to flee.

“Guilds were torn down and replaced. We made the same mistake. So many more Guilds Receptionists have been replaced in Emvita during the chaos. Once the Hyperlink Crystals were gone, there was no one to maintain their security. We are following in the footsteps of Grandis. Ahahahaha~!”

“… This was a warning then… by the Amalgam?” The Bleeding Petal realized. “The Blessed have been wronged. She will not send Blessed to Kingdoms that are not allied. Then what will happen to the rest of Emvita?”

“Is the Amalgam out of her mind!?” A Dutchess roared. “Do they want a second Grandis!?”

Mary giggled.

“Aaaaahhh~ No. I don’t believe it’s what the Amalgam is looking for. Their sole concern in Emvita is the people they deem as allies. Everyone else is going to have to look after themselves. Blessed have no incentive to help us. We will no doubt see a sharp decline of seasoned Adventurers from the Nex Megalopolis. If anything, they will migrate to established Guilds. Yanarin. Where do you see Emvita in fifteen years.”

“No different from Eleph. We’ll have our own eternal wars.”

Mary grinned.

“Exactly. Read between the lines of the Amalgam words. It’s a test. We’ve brought it upon ourselves. No doubt people will blame the Amalgam for their shortcomings than to come to terms with their evil.”

The fact that Mary was saying this disgusted Yanarin, but she did not allow herself to showcase her emotions.

Mary then tapped on her ring finger. She held it up to the air and suddenly, the air turned foul.

“Did you notice it? The Amalgam was wearing a ring.” She murmured with disdain. “I didn’t sense magical power from it. It looked like a keepsake. A lover’s ring. Tch. Which one of those on the stage has tainted her? Was it the Beholder? The Three Heads of Security? Could it be that ugly grey-eyed scribe?”

She folded her legs and beaconed someone to fetch her refreshments. Once she was served a glass of raspberry juice, she threw the empty cup aside and growled.

“I can’t think of another reason why the Amalgam would keep a disgusting woman by her side. Grey eyes that lack color. A frail, unattractive body and a hideous white dress. Who does she think she is? Tch. The Amalgam must be bewitched by the scribe. There is no other explanation.”

Mary believed in two types of love. Beauty, and blood-ties. Nothing else mattered. The Amalgam excelled in both categories, which was why her heart fluttered whenever she felt the throbbing ache of her scar.

“The Amalgam enjoys the company of women too. She wouldn’t be popular in certain parts of Emvita. But I at least can agree with her tastes~”

“She may not be the Amalgam’s lover. We have no confirmation.” Yanarin reeled Mary’s mind back to reality.

“Ah. Of course. There is no way anyone could love such a hideous thing. I’d be surprised if there was a person who’d come to fight for her honor.” Mary sneered. “Keep a record of that scribe.”

“Anything for my Lady.” Yanarin firmly bowed.

“It does bring an interesting point, however.” The Bleeding Petal said. “The ring implies that the Amalgam does have a significant other. A loved one. We are not the only ones who have noticed.”

Kings, Queens, Emperors, Empresses – rulers as a whole generally wore multiple rings or none at all to showcase the sheer number of wives or husbands they had. They rarely allowed themselves to become attached to one person, and if they did, then it was a secret to take to the grave.

A lover was a weakness.

For a goddess like the Amalgam, it was a sign that she could bleed.

“The ring has significance. A deity of her kind knows of the rituals and symbolism of our world. A ring on the ‘ring’ finger represents marriage.” Yanarin added.

“That will have nothing to do with us.” Mary assured. “But, there will be people eager to know it. When they do, and as Emvita continues to break down, someone will want to drive a stake into her heart.”

“Should we be the first to sell this information to Scarlet Logic?” The Bleeding Petal suggested.

“No.” Mary firmly said. “I’d rather not have my name be on the Amalgam’s list of enemies anymore. My Dukes. My Dutchesses. My Yanarin. My Warrior. We will showcase our allegiance to the Nexus moving forward~”

“… Even though we’re not allies?” Yanarin cautiously asked.

“We will be. The Amalgam will see our efforts. And we will be recognized for it.”

Mary was certain of this. So long as she appeased to the Amalgam, then she was already an ally of the Nexus. In fact, she had already considered herself as one. Her proof?

The mark that ran from her cheek down to her belly.

It was everything to her. The Amalgam had imprinted herself onto her. Not only that but she had impregnated her with her blood.

At least this was how Mary interpreted it.

“Perhaps that ring is for a future lover.” Mary heaved, groping her chest as she ran a finger along the length of her scar. “Ahhh. Aaahhhhh~! Excuse me as I borrow a room… Yanarin. Do you think I am bride-worthy?”

“There is no soul more beautiful than you.”

“Oh?”

“… barring the Amalgam.”

“My dear Yanarin. You have such perfect eyes~ I shall relieve myself now. Come. My Dutchesses. Join me.”

The Dutchesses purred with delight as they followed their Lady.

Yanarin however, wore a face of disgust. There was not a single woman who directly served the Larin Empire who hasn’t slept with Mary D’ Grace. Whilst other nations hosted parties, the women of Larin Nobility hosted orgies starring Mary herself. Or she would host them at her palace.

It was a disease that Yanarin had been trying to uproot from the D’ Grace family for generations now. Their lust for beauty and domination was what she considered to be a curse of their bloodline.

And she would know, as she had partaken in the orgies and activities of a plethora of previous Princesses and Empresses. None came close to the perversion of Mary, who would bathe in the blood of human woman.

On these days I wonder what it would be like if I had been bought by another family instead. It’s too late to think back on it now. I have been allowed to live a long life because of D’ Grace’s blood.

She often believed that her intellect could serve better in a different Kingdom, rather than to be wasted on an Empire that cared little outside of conquest and insatiable greed.

Yanarin undid her tie and grimaced.

“As you wish.”