Somewhere above a lake.
A spiral that was about to close was forced open, and a few figures jumped out of it.
The twelve unassuming Peak Sovereign Gnomes, who had escaped just as the fight was about to start again, appeared and exchanged glances.
"This region is done. Our work here is done anyway," one of the Gnomes said.
"It still doesn't change the fact that our losses here are astronomical. The Emperor will want answers," a Gnome in a gold robe spoke up.
"Everyone has suffered heavily because of that boy's intervention. There's barely anything we can do with him present," a white-haired Gnome added.
"We should return first. Staying here isn't safe."
"You're right."
The Gnomes immediately took flight and disappeared into the clouds.
A few hours later, they stealthily arrived at the edge of a small town. A man in long black robes was waiting to welcome them, and he led the group into one of the buildings, then down into an underground room where a portal spun in the air.
