420

The last battle had taught them much. The assault on Jaws' counterpart had been an invaluable lesson—one that revealed how the demigods had learned to usher the Origin Gods into the mortal realm, allowing them to manifest briefly. If left unchecked, the demigods would ascend, and those damned rune pillars—bindings of order and balance—would be laid out once more, fortifying the world against their intrusion. That could not be allowed.

So, they waited. They gathered. Their zealots had grown in number, their power needed not to be tempered but amassed. If the Origin Gods wanted to play by the rules, then so be it. The dark counterparts would do the same. Let mortals fight mortals, let devotion clash against devotion—there would be no loopholes, no technicalities to exploit. Just war.

Across the void, the five dark counterparts exchanged silent glances. No words were needed. They all came to the same conclusion.