Chapter 76

Part Three: The Trial

In the south of Katain, there was a city called Viral, renowned for its culture and considered a resort area by players. The finest restaurants, brothels, casinos, night shows, and concerts—the festive atmosphere never faded here.

Three men sat at a table, sipping their drinks.

"I told you, Tiamat, they have the best wine here. And the appetizers? Divine. They’ll bring out the meat in cream sauce soon, and you’ll see why these little gatherings are worth it."

The two-meter-tall giant, dressed like a barbarian, gave a slight nod and stared at the bottom of his empty glass.

"I know. But creating an avatar and using power like this feels crude and inconvenient. I’m five orders of magnitude weaker now—it makes me feel helpless."

"Yet it’s the only way you can enjoy all this food. If you came here in your true form, the whole city would die, and the food would rot. Set, why so gloomy?"

"They don’t have fried wings. Remember how we used to sit and eat them together?"

"Enough already. Enjoy what we have. Soon, even this will be gone." Izumi downed his glass in one go.

Tiamat and Set exchanged glances, then looked at Izumi.

"They’re fast. Is that why you called us?"

"Yes. Akashi said the humans have completed the first stage of development. War is coming."

"Who’s their enemy?"

"The undead, raised and led by a minor pantheon from the last era." Izumi smiled, his entire demeanor radiating happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Thousands of lights ignited in the night sky, dancing wildly—Izumi’s way of calming himself when overstimulated.

"Finally, these youngsters will face a real opponent." Tiamat, watching the lights, decided to joke and conjured a phoenix in the sky. The fiery bird blotted out the moonlight, plunging the city into deep shadow.

"Our fledglings have been playing in the sandbox too long. Let them test their strength against a real enemy." Set joined the spectacle. A three-headed, flaming dog of titanic proportions appeared on the mountain beside the city, howling menacingly at the phoenix and the moon. The force of its cry shattered glasses.

All three laughed as panic erupted around them. The revelry of the townsfolk had been blissfully unaware of the horror soon to come.