The gigantic lance exuded a pressure that Dia had only felt keenly once and once before, back when the Third Bearer of Destiny had fallen. Of course, no one knew who the culprit was, but according to some theorists who had cross-referenced with the guards at the Istrel treasury that Tot had robbed, it was the same feeling.

It was a simple match-up; Tot, who had broken into Istrel’s treasury, had appeared when the Third Bearer of Destiny died. In turn, Dia, who had been sensed that event keenly, now felt a lot of similarity between the sensation of Tot’s true power back then and what was going on now. Therefore, according to logic…

“Tot’s behind this,” Dia observed, her fists clenched to prevent her arms from shaking too much.

As she took in the heart-stopping sight, the spear began to move. Its speed didn’t seem that fast, but Dia had studied enough to know that the fact that something this high up was visibly moving had to be moving at extreme speeds to begin with. In fact, whatever it struck would probably be annihilated, so it was a huge shame that it wasn’t targeting the Red God, who was hanging around at a similar height as an egg.

“Seems like it. And by the looks of that supremely huge lance, he’s definitely on the moon,” Schwarz added.

“The Trial of Aeons…” Nero shivered. “I don’t know if it’s truly Tot, but the presence this thing exudes resembles the attack that had wiped out a Moon Emissary and one of the Bearers of Destiny back then…the Fourteenth, I believe. However, the moon is far further than the Emissary’s death back then. Yet, we can sense this thing so keenly.”

“He must have grown stronger, that Tot,” Schwarz muttered. “What level of power is this supposed to be? It rivals that of the Red God’s stuck egg.”

“Stuck egg?” Sara asked. “Anyway, before that. Who’s this Tot guy you’re talking about? The name sounds very adorable.”

“Yeah, but it’s just an acronym,” Schwarz replied. “That’s a title. The Thief of Time.”

“What did he do?” Sara pressed on.

“Lots of stuff,” Nero replied. “If you buy me some wine, I’ll tell you about it. I prefer the most expensive stuff on the menu, so make sure to get me that.”

“Huh?” Sara looked at him. “That’s it? Okay!”

Dia didn’t know what was going through the Blessed of the Blue God’s mind, but if Sara was really willing to buy expensive wine to hear about folk stories, Dia sure as heck wasn’t going to stop her. After all, it wasn’t her money…but what exactly went through the minds of people this unworldly?

Clicking her teeth, Dia fought down the odd sensation of hypocrisy that had reared its head for some reason, and then shivered. This was probably confirmation that Tot was a Bearer of Destiny, but Dia didn’t want to sound too confident. Phase 2 of the Trial of Aeons had started, according to Nero, which meant that the strongest folders in the world had been summoned.

“Random thought,” Dia muttered, “but if the strongest folders in the world were summoned without regard for things like loyalties and beliefs…it doesn’t seem like an inter-faction competition now, does it? Or is this the five grand skies’ method of making the strongest choose a faction?”

“I doubt it,” Nero replied. “I mean, Emperor Grandis, First Lady Cecily and Supreme Saran were summoned too. There’s no way they’ll want to hook up with any faction when they’re effectively factions of their own.”

“Really?” Farah asked. “I mean, rulers or not, they’re dealing with legendary beings. Such insouciance doesn’t sound very rational.”

“From your point of view, maybe. But the three dominators of their respective continents are perhaps not that different from the gods,” Nero replied. “They can give the Chromatic Lords a run for their money, and then some. And the divinities aren’t exactly free to light am empire’s capital on fire either. They don’t have that kind of pow—”

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He paused. “Best not to continue that.”

Nero’s gaze returned to the spear of light, which was tearing its way through the night sky high above. If it continued to fly onwards without any deviation, it would eventually run smack dab into the five grand skies…probably. Dia wasn’t too sure about legends and myths, after all.

“So, what’s going to happen to that spear? In the first place, why did Tot even pull that spear out?” Dia asked, her mind racing. This huge spear clearly wasn’t directed at an enemy…unless Tot wanted to stab the five grand skies or something.

“Who knows what that madman is thinking?” Schwarz replied. “But I do know that I’m really scared now. Let’s hurry and find an inn to bunk in for now. We can return after Phase 3 of the Trial is over. After all, you two need to prepare too, right? Buy provisions, stock up on equipment…things like that.”

Dia thought for a moment. “Right. I keep thinking that it’s none of my business, but I also need to do stupid stuff like this.”

“You’re also involved in the Trial?” Sara asked, looking at Dia. “How lucky…it’s said that the Trial allows one to become a deca-folder and have lots and lots of lifespan!”

“It’s definitely dangerous, though,” Dia replied.

“…Maybe not.” Nero made a noise in his throat. “It might be different from the previous Godsfalls, where it was a winner take all thing. After all, the five grand skies are administering the Trial of Aeons directly, and even the White God and my Lord are not allowed to take part in this. There is definitely something different.”

“Just checking,” Dia began, “but did you not take a look at the mission issued to you? The one that tells you about your job when you begin the Trial?”

“The mission?” Question marks seemed to bubble up all around Nero, and he tilted his head. “What mission are you talking about?”

“Uh…” Dia glanced at her mission once more. “You know? Okay, I received a mission that I definitely cannot narrate to you guys at all, but it’s telling me what the Trial is supposed to do. It’s to create a new…something. Rather than, you know, senseless violence, it’s more of a competition between the three sides to see who can contribute more…probably.”

“Wow. That qualifier at the end is really reassuring,” Nero replied. “Well, we should really prepare for this, as what Schwarz said. It’ll be nice if we could find the lovebirds, though. They were here for some time. They definitely know their way around this place.”

“Hah. Good luck finding that guy,” Schwarz replied. “With this show of force, those two are going to hole up for a month or something. I haven’t forgotten what happened when Tot slapped Zulan Patra into the ground a few years ago. The dude was positively terrified. Whenever huge things like that happen, he just vanishes. There’s no digging him out.”

Dia frowned. “How are the two of them going to practice their swordplay, then? Or even maintain their combat ability?”

“Claud focuses more on his escape abilities, so I don’t think he’s going to care,” Schwarz replied.

“He’s corrupting Lily,” Dia replied, fuming. She had spent so many mornings trying to make more people interested in the sword, but that idiot just had to teach one of her would-be pupils the wrong thing.

“Well, I also don’t want to work out every day…I’m a bartender, for crying out loud. If something happens in a bar, I’ll throw drinks and stools, not swing a s—”

His voice faltered as Dia turned a dull gaze onto him, and Schwarz chuckled awkwardly, before clearing her throat. “Anyway, we should do some shopping for you two. Buy lots of dried meat and provisions, a bunch of artefacts...”

Dia allowed Schwarz to change the topic with a huff, and as Nero started wondering out loud about the kind of equipment he should bring, Dia looked up at the skies once more. The giant spear, which she could behold fully earlier, was now turning smaller and smaller. It had crossed half the sky — from her point of view, anyway — and was hurtling away from everyone even now.

Would the five grand skies be affected by this divine manifestation of supreme might? After all, if the legends weren’t pulling her leg, this giant spear would soon smack into the five grand skies.

What would happen then?

It was an interesting question, so Dia kept her eyes on the spear as they continued looking for a place to stay.

The Lacuna dukedom capital had lots of inns, but all of them were occupied. Apparently, the dukedom had accepted an unprecedented number of refugees arising from the Dark-Moons war, and while most of them were now building new areas around the dukedom, a good number were rich enough to just live in an inn.

“Ugh. Is there some place that isn’t full yet?” Schwarz complained. “I really want to just lie on a bed now!”

“Patience,” Nero replied. “It’s a virtue, after all.”

“If we don’t get a place soon, you won’t be able to get your wine and alcohol,” Schwarz replied.

“…I think we need to hurry our search.” Nero rubbed his nose. “Let’s pick up the pace, shall we?”

Dia didn’t know what to say to all that.