The Chase and the Sanctuary

Amy grabbed Tess, and Shirone held onto Rian. Kanis and Arin also seized Kanya and Rena's hands, respectively.

Meanwhile, the pursuit team was closing in, almost within reach.

The lead Kergo warrior raised his sword from atop his horse. The silver longsword came down like a thunderbolt, aiming for Shirone's head.

At that moment, Shirone's group transformed into a flash of light and surged upward.

Guardrak and Clove almost lost their grip on the magic.

Creating light was one thing, but transforming into light? And transporting the Mecha tribe simultaneously? Such a feat was unimaginable even in Heaven.

At least by human standards.

"How… how are you using light magic without borrowing power from nature?"

Ancient magic always required borrowing the power of an element. Among them, light was the most challenging.

Light was a weak and widely dispersed force. Even with ancient magic, focusing light was difficult.

The only time Nors could use light magic was when they were in a Shining Spot, where light naturally concentrated.

Clove's mind was in turmoil.

The group, who had caught up in an instant using teleportation, was nothing like the weak and incompetent replicants he had imagined.

When he saw Shirone's Shining Magic, he thought they had simply transferred light from a Shining Spot. But they were generating light from their bodies.

And as far as he knew, the only beings in Heaven who could manipulate light were Ra and one other entity.

Arin, sensing the Nor's emotions, communicated through the mental channel.

The Nors don't seem to know about teleportation magic.

Amy snorted.

Hmph! Of course not. Photonization theory is one of the greatest discoveries in magical history, even in our world. Don't underestimate the geniuses of the Land of Earth.

Amy felt pride in being born in the Land of Earth.

But the Kergo from Heaven were no pushovers either. They were using anti-gravity to sprint vertically up the cliff.

Amy, lying horizontally, unleashed a Fire Strike.

The pursuing team split left and right to avoid the descending flames. They circled the cliff and accelerated, closing the distance to Shirone's group.

Tch! They're persistent!

Let me try.

Arin extended her tentacles, attempting Mind Control.

Most of the pursuers resisted, but one fell under her spell. The controlled warrior swung his sword at his comrades, disrupting their formation.

"You idiots!"

The leader, watching from below, wrinkled his nose in frustration. He took a deep breath and roared toward the cliff.

It was a schema technique called Howling.

"Awooooooo!"

The echoing howl struck the mages' minds, causing the Nors' Aeos magic to dissipate.

Shirone focused and endured. It was a technique that shook the mind itself, similar to Etela's Roar of Binding.

Shirone cast teleportation to catch the falling Guardrak. As he grabbed him, Amy flew over and seized Clove's ankle.

They used Photonization magic to reset their momentum. Shirone landed with Rian and Guardrak, followed by the others.

"Damn it! Howling is always the problem. Nors and Kergo just don't mix."

Guardrak made an excuse, trying to save face. It seemed master and disciple weren't so different after all.

Then he suddenly grew curious. Why were Shirone's group unaffected by the Howling?

"Hey, how are you guys okay?"

Sometimes, innocent questions can be the most annoying. Kanis answered irritably.

"Okay? My head is ringing like crazy."

"Then how did you cast magic?"

"We just endure it. If you're shaken by something like this, don't call yourself a mage."

Unlike the Nors, who borrowed power from nature, the magic of the Land of Earth combined omniscience and omnipotence. It was undeniably more demanding than ancient magic.

But the inefficiently honed concentration actually strengthened their mental resilience.

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Additionally, Shirone's group had many special abilities.

Arin, specialized in mental power, excelled in mental defense. Amy was immune due to her Crimson Eye ability. And Shirone's mental resilience was said to rival the unbreakable spirit of the Crimson Eye.

Clove landed face-first in the stream. He stood up, glaring at Amy.

"You! How dare you drop me like that?"

He could no longer tolerate Amy's arrogant attitude. Though his temper was foul, it had its own charm, but he couldn't stand a replicant getting on his nerves.

"I won't let this slide…!"

Clove stopped mid-sentence, feeling a chill.

Amy's eyes glowed red. Her gaze, fixed on the pursuers, felt ghostly and cold.

Without even turning her head, Amy spoke.

"Don't interfere during battle. I'll deal with your tantrums later."

Clove slowly turned his head. The Kergo pursuit team was approaching like wild beasts, their eyes gleaming.

Clove's face fell.

"It's over. We're going to be caught. And tortured to death…"

"If you're not going to fight, get in and stop distracting us."

Even if they won the momentum, the situation was unfavorable. Why show weakness now?

Amy grabbed Clove's collar and pulled him in. His legs gave way, and he fell on his backside.

This time, even Guardrak didn't bother to scold his disciple and asked Amy instead.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I'm not sure, but I think we've timed it right. Shirone, are you done?"

"Yeah. It was close."

Guardrak tilted his head, confused.

"What are you talking about? What's done?"

Shirone looked up at the sky. His Spirit Zone had transformed from a square target shape to a curved form reaching into the sky. It had taken considerable time to alter its unique structure.

Shirone cast Photonization magic on everyone without touching them. It was Mass Teleportation, a magic he had learned at the cost of risking his life on an impassable cliff.

"Grab them! They're trying to escape again!"

The pursuit leader charged his subordinates. He took a deep breath and unleashed another Howling.

The loud noise swept over Shirone's group. Guardrak and Clove grimaced, but the unbreakable spirits remained steady. Compared to Marsha's sonic cannon, this was nothing.

Shirone calmly watched the leader, as if crushing the enemy's will, and cast Mass Teleportation.

A bright flash swept the group up, carrying them to the top of the cliff where the Spirit Zone reached.

"Damn it! Howling didn't work!"

The pursuit leader gnashed his teeth in frustration.

The Reversal of the Law (5)

But upon reflection, Howling wasn't the issue. He had never seen a magic that transformed into a massive flash and flew into the sky.

"How did they do that? Who are they?"

Two tracking experts began tracing Shirone's group. One sniffed like a dog, while the other stuck out his tongue and looked up at the sky.

The man using his sense of smell surrendered.

"Leader, the wind is blocked. We can't track them."

The man using his sense of taste held out a bit longer. With his tongue stretched to his chin, he rolled his eyes back to normal.

"I can catch them with taste. They went that way."

As the reinforcements arrived, the leader mounted his horse. He turned in the direction the scent expert pointed.

"They've only crossed one wall! They can't have gone far! Pursue them!"

"Kyaaaah!"

The pursuit team let out eerie cries as they turned back.

One minute later.

Shirone's group descended in a flash of light, returning to their original location.

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It was Shirone's idea to exploit the Kergo's tracking abilities.

The area was already saturated with their scent, making tracking impossible. Therefore, the pursuers would only return after checking every point.

Guardrak leaned on Clove again. He pointed to a deep crevice in the valley.

"We owe you our lives. We won't run into them for a while. Let's go this way. There should be a path."

Amy asked skeptically.

"Where exactly is the Nor's sanctuary? How much further do we have to go?"

"That's what I want to ask. How do you manipulate light magic so freely? Do you extract it from the air?"

"We don't use that method. Why do you ask?"

"To reach the Nor's sanctuary, we need a place where light gathers. It's similar to your magic but can travel much farther. Just trust me and follow. There's a Shining Spot not far ahead."

Guardrak was likely referring to spatial teleportation. Using the power of photons from a light-gathering spot to fly directly to the Nor's sanctuary.

A good choice. This way, even if the pursuers killed the guide, the sanctuary's location would remain hidden.

The Nor's way of thinking was undoubtedly mage-like. A place where such individuals gathered—what kind of place was the Nor's sanctuary?

With a small thrill, Shirone followed the valley's crevice to the other side.

@

"Where are they hiding?"

The pursuit leader was serious. After 20 minutes of searching, he still couldn't find their scent.

A scouting team rode up. Their expressions clearly showed failure.

"Nothing. We found no traces of entry at Maru Valley or Fan Stream."

"Damn it! To lose them after having them cornered!"

"But Leader, isn't it strange? How did they escape during our fight? That area wasn't a light-gathering zone the Nors use."

The leader had been thinking the same thing.

As far as he knew, no mage in Nor used such magic. They could be Outsiders, but they resembled humans too much.

Having hunted heretics for 400 years, he recalled a hint from ancient history.

"Could they be… humans from the Land of Earth?"

A sharp glint appeared in the leader's eyes. If they were humans from the Land of Earth, pursuit was no longer the issue.

Mecha digs into what they know, and Nor digs into what they don't. But Kergo digs into God, making them the only divine people who know the whole truth.

Humans from the Land of Earth weren't mere replicants. To the Kergo, they were a serious variable that could influence the Law.

"Cease the pursuit. Return to Shama'in. Reporting comes first."

The pursuit team turned their horses around at the leader's command.

At that moment, a vibration came from the ground.

Initially dismissing it, everyone's eyes widened as the tremors grew stronger.

"Could it be…?"

The Nors used the valley as a midway point because it was a clean zone, safe from harm as long as they avoided one Law.

Thus, this tremor should never have happened. The emergence of the Whirlpool Serpent during daylight was an event not even recorded in history.

"The Law… is breaking."

A strong wind blew, casting a black curtain over the vision of the 20 men.

In the pitch darkness, screams and cries followed.

As time passed, their shouts faded.

The darkness lifted, and sunlight bathed the cold valley. Thousands of flesh fragments floated on the red stream.

@

"Shama'in?"

Seeing Shirone's confused expression, Kanya realized her explanation was too brief and added more. Being new to outsiders from Heaven, she sometimes forgot they came from the Land of Earth.

"It's the area in Heaven where divine people live. Also called the First Heaven."

"First Heaven? As in the first layer?"

Guardrak answered that question. As a heretic, he felt less burdened explaining Heaven than Kanya.

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"Heaven is divided into seven regions, from the First to the Seventh Heaven. The area where divine people live is called Shama'in."

Shirone recalled the scenery he had seen from the sky.

A massive circular wall divided into six pie-like sections, with another region at the center.

The seven heavens Guardrak mentioned referred to that.

"Do all races live together in Shama'in?"

"Yes. Their living areas differ, but they all reside in the First Heaven. Even the Kergo behave there. Divine people are protected by the Law. But Purgatory is extraterritorial. The Laws of Heaven don't apply here. Surviving here isn't easy."

"How many races live here?"

"Including Purgatory, countless. There are many Outsiders whose origins are unknown. The Horned Demons you faced are also Outsiders. But so far, only three races uphold the Law of God. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so they work together to form Heaven's foundation. Nors love exploration, and Mecha loves research."

"What about the Kergo?"

Guardrak's lips curled.

"They love God."

"Guardrak! Such blasphemy!"

Kanya snapped, but Guardrak ignored her.

From the moment he decided to become a heretic, no Law bound him. He had abandoned God, gaining a painful life, but it was his choice.

"The Kergo love conflict. Their role is hunting. That's why they're the only race allowed to enter Purgatory. Though they seem to interpret it strangely."

This time, even Kanya had to agree.

"They're a truly unpleasant race. Just because they use giant techniques doesn't make them giants. Seeing them mimic Law-abiders is irritating."

"But what exactly is the Law?"

At first, they interpreted "Law" as they understood it, but over time, it seemed to have a different meaning here.

Kanya looked at him incredulously.

"You don't know what the Law is? Doesn't the Land of Earth have Laws?"

"Well, we do, but do you have to follow them so strictly?"

"Of course. The Law is the will of the great Ra. Those who defy it cannot exist. That's why it's called the Law."

Shirone spread his hands in frustration.

"But we're breaking the Law right now, aren't we?"

Kanya grew even more exasperated.

"That's why we're in this mess in Purgatory! Why can't you understand? Would you want to live in a place like this forever?"

Clove retorted at the disparagement of Purgatory.

"Hmph, what's so bad about it? It's much better than living in a cramped place forever."

"Oh, really? Then go live well. Spend your life being hunted by the Kergo as heretics."

As Clove was about to snap back, Guardrak spoke.

"That's possible. We've defied the Law, so we were exiled to Purgatory. But so what? At least we've gained freedom."

"How is that freedom? It's just fear. The fear of not knowing when you'll die."

"We don't know when we'll die. But the right to die is mine. Isn't that enough?"

Kanya's expression hardened.

Though divine people were said to have eternal life, death was still a sensitive topic. Especially coming from a heretic, the idea of the "right to die" was a mockery of Heaven.

Unable to contain her anger, Kanya snapped.