It was like the eerie shift they'd experienced when encountering Xiang Yu before.
As if yesterday had been the normal pre-Qin era, and today had abruptly leaped into the Industrial Revolution.
And that transformation, she suspected, was due to being pulled into an alternate dimension—one that mirrored reality but was fundamentally different.
In other words, during that momentary fluctuation, the assassins causing the unrest and the spectators who'd traveled from afar had been transported to a parallel world—one where the technological prowess of the Qin Empire far surpassed that of the other side.
At the same location, the First Emperor had already arranged mechanical actors and set up an identical scene, making it impossible for those who were transported to notice any changes immediately.
So how did the First Emperor accurately identify these problematic individuals—those who weren't originally residents of Xianyang?
Perhaps the original inhabitants had already been marked in some way beforehand.
However, Brunhilde had another theory, one she considered more plausible: it was determined through analyzing their participation in the war song.
If someone sincerely celebrated with the emperor, they wouldn't be transported. But those who didn't sing or lacked sincerity would be marked and transferred to the alternate space.
As for the exact method of determination, that remained unknown.
Why would the First Emperor do this?
Did he intend to kill these people here to avoid affecting the other citizens who took pride in the Qin Empire?
Surely it wasn't just that. There was also the need to carefully distinguish certain individuals.
After all, weren't there also people who had come from afar? Would they be killed simply for not yet feeling a sense of belonging to the Qin Empire?
That would be too cruel.
This was likely a further screening to identify hidden assassins among them, waiting for them to act so they could be eliminated in one sweep.
That must be the First Emperor's true objective.
Thus, Brunhilde was also astonished by his unimaginable abilities and methods.
First, how did the First Emperor possess another parallel space? And how did he alter it to nearly match the external terrain?
This way, he could seamlessly transport others to the other side without detection?
This parallel space wasn't equivalent to a parallel world.
In Brunhilde's view, it was merely another parallel dimensional space layered over the real world.
And such dimensional spaces were something various pantheons also possessed for themselves.
However, maintaining such a dimensional space required something extremely special—something beyond the reach or control of ordinary humans.
"Sister!!!"
Randgriz's voice, filled with shock, rang in her ears.
From the corner of her eye, Brunhilde saw that Randgriz wasn't looking at the First Emperor on the reviewing platform but had turned around to gaze behind them—toward the Qin Empire's capital, Xianyang.
From Randgriz's profile, she could see an expression of utter disbelief.
What had she seen?
Brunhilde also turned around, her gaze following the panicked assassins who had snapped back to reality—they were now running toward Xianyang.
With the army blocking the path ahead, their only escape was toward the city.
Her eyes trailed them as they dashed through the city gates.
The moment they stepped inside, they froze as if petrified, standing in place with horrified expressions.
They stared in terror at the interior of Xianyang, as though it were hell itself.
Brunhilde also looked inside to see what had frightened them so.
And what entered her vision was—
"Just as I thought—!"
The scene within the city was distinctly different from the real world of over two centuries BCE, resembling more of an alien metropolis.
No—perhaps describing it as a city from another world would be more accurate.
Although it retained much of its ancient style, the numerous differences startled the group.
Especially when they saw the location of the Xianyang Imperial Palace, right? The buildings there were even more astonishing—unusually massive.
It looked as though they had been constructed along an enormous tree trunk.
In fact, that was indeed a tree trunk—the World Tree, no doubt.
Indeed, it was only because the World Tree existed that this alternate dimension could exist.
Of course, this World Tree was far smaller than the one Brunhilde had seen before.
So, where did the First Emperor obtain this World Tree?
Wait a minute, something still didn't seem right.
It came back to her—why was it able to block the Akashic System?
These spaces attached to the real world—their World Trees were actually "branches" of the main World Tree that existed in reality. They shouldn't be able to reject the connection to the main World Tree.
If they rejected it, it would be equivalent to severing the link, which would also mean suicide.
Then, this World Tree would wither, and this space would collapse and be destroyed.
But from what could be seen now, this World Tree didn't seem to be withering. It appeared to have truly separated from the main World Tree and could sustain itself independently?
Unless this World Tree was of the same level as the external World Tree, meaning this space was actually a complete universe—but that was impossible, right?
No way. Absolutely impossible.
Come to think of it, Solomon had also created an alternate dimension before. Did that mean there was also a World Tree inside that space?
Did King Solomon, like the First Emperor, possess his own world?
Actually, there was a slight difference from the First Emperor's case. That alternate dimension was likely constructed by borrowing the space of the Demon Kings of Hell.
"Sister, that's—the World Tree, right?"
Randgriz finally snapped out of her daze, her voice sounding somewhat distant.
Only the gods could possess spaces supported by the World Tree—the stronghold worlds of each pantheon.
And yet, what she was seeing now was a world that belonged to humans?
Moreover, she had also witnessed technology far surpassing that of the outside world.
Could it be that the First Emperor had obtained the technology of some alien super-civilization from the universe?
That was absolutely impossible. After all, didn't the gods know everything about this universe?
"Hmm."
Brunhilde nodded, but another question troubled her.
Had the Eastern gods truly not noticed the First Emperor's actions at all?
Come to think of it, ever since the Eastern gods massively interfered with the human world over three thousand years ago—triggering the intervention of other pantheons and leading to a great battle—the gods of other pantheons had withdrawn and never set foot in this side of the human realm again.
And in the subsequent once-in-a-thousand-years meetings, they had never participated.
However, in this latest meeting, a few new gods from the Eastern world had appeared as representatives.
And they had unhesitatingly agreed with the proposal to exterminate humanity.
Suddenly, Brunhilde stiffened, cold sweat trickling down her face.
A gaze had locked onto her—a gaze with weight, as if it could crush her.
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