In the beautiful garden filled with countless flowers, the three Primogenitors gathered once again in the Whispering Garden, not even a day after their last meeting.
This time, however, it wasn't the First Primogenitor, Juranbarada, who called the meeting of the Primogenitors. Instead, it was Giada, the one who despised drawn-out affairs like this, who summoned them.
Though nominally called a Bride, over time, Giada had forgotten all the etiquette she learned among the Devas. Now, she was merely a huntress who loved chasing interesting things. She loathed boring meetings like this.
Even last time, if Juranbarada hadn't gathered the three Primogenitors, she wouldn't have participated in the Whispering Garden. Even during the signing of the Sanctuary Treaty, she didn't bother sending a representative.
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Finally, Juranbarada couldn't hold back. He broke the silence first, looking at Giada with slight confusion. "Giada, didn't you go to monitor the Fourth Primogenitor? How did it go? Did you find anything?"
"Yeah…"
Giada shrugged, about to share her findings, but noticed Aswad seemed eager to say something. She gave Aswad the floor and held back.
"What? Don't tell me you haven't gone to monitor the Fourth Primogenitor yet? If not, why not give me the chance instead?" Aswad glanced at Giada, speaking with a calm smile.
He was genuinely considering this possibility. Such an interesting task had been snatched by Giada. If he could, he'd even want to bear a child for the Fourth Primogenitor.
"No, I was actually kicked out." Giada spoke with a cheerful smile about something rather embarrassing for her. "The boss's cold attitude even made me doubt my own charm."
Giada propped her hands under her chin, staring at the empty Whispering Garden ahead.
"Alright, Giada, tell us your findings."
Juranbarada waved his hand. If it was just a trivial matter, Giada wouldn't have contacted them and specifically called a Whispering Garden meeting. She must have found something substantial and came to share the information.
"Fine, I'll be honest. I think you'll be shocked." Giada waved her hand lazily.
Her petite body leaned back in the chair, her small, delicate feet resting on the table in front of her. Playing with her long, slender fingers, she spoke casually.
"I almost wet myself because of Aurora."
"And Aurora just roared."
Giada spoke nonchalantly about something deeply embarrassing for her.
"Aurora? Matrix No. 12?" Aswad couldn't help but ask back.
"Yes." Giada nodded slightly.
"The sun in the sky falls and crashes onto the earth. Do you think I'd believe something like that?" Aswad sighed, speaking with a hint of exasperation.
"Yet, the sun in the sky really did fall."
"If we actually fought, Matrix No. 12 might kill me with one blow." Giada muttered unconsciously. Though her voice was soft, it couldn't be hidden from the other two Primogenitors.
The other two Primogenitors suddenly fell silent. The Fourth Primogenitor was originally created by the three of them in collaboration with the Devas. No one knew the Fourth Primogenitor's power and the strength of his Beast Vassals better than they did.
Even so, they never imagined the twelfth Beast Vassal could be this powerful. What was even harder to fathom was that it didn't even require the Beast Vassal to act. Just a Matrix using a fraction of the Beast Vassal's power had reached this level. It truly surpassed their comprehension.
"Today isn't April Fool's Day, Giada." Aswad sneered and laughed.
If the Fourth Primogenitor could reach this level, then what was the point of the Devas and other living beings in this world?
Giada shrugged, completely unbothered by Aswad's words, and continued speaking.
"By the way, that guy said if you don't have the power to destroy a star, you can't even hurt him."
"Yeah, let's treat it as a real myth for now." Juranbarada said with an intrigued expression. "Are you sure he's telling the truth?"
At this moment, Giada crossed her arms behind her head, cradling it, and said, "Not sure. But the fact that Matrix No. 12 has the power to easily freeze this planet doesn't seem like a lie."
"And Matrix No. 12 only absorbed a tiny fraction of that guy's power to reach this level." Giada looked up, staring at the sky beyond the Whispering Garden's railing, and said in a flat tone, "So, that guy really has the power to destroy this planet."
Juranbarada tapped the table and said in a low voice, "Then, what's his origin, and what's his goal in replacing the Fourth Primogenitor?"
"Origin and goal?" Giada sat up straight, stretched her body, and said, "He's from a God-made Universe called Little Garden, a stage for gods."
"As for his goal, he seems to be recruiting subordinates because his faction is rebuilding from scratch." Giada explained casually, then turned to her two old friends and said, "I've decided to follow him to Little Garden."
Both Primogenitors were stunned at the same time, then frowned.
"The truth of the information he revealed hasn't been verified. Are you sure about your decision?" Juranbarada said in a gentle tone, trying to persuade Giada to stay calm.
"The truth? I'm worried if I'm too late, I won't even get a ticket." Giada lazily propped her cheek with her left hand, looking at Juranbarada and Aswad.
"After all, I've lived for thousands of years. I'm bored enough. Though I chose to become a vessel to seal a Beast Vassal and become immortal, I regret it now. Deeply regret it."
"If I go to Little Garden and die there, these dangerous Beast Vassals might die with me. My goal would be achieved."
"If I don't die, I'll live an interesting life there. Isn't that great?"
Kaine remained silent, saying nothing. Meanwhile, Aswad showed an intrigued expression.
"Honestly, you two should start preparing soon. Send the relevant data about the Matrices, the Fourth Primogenitor, and the Cleansing to that guy."
"Maybe Aslan will take you along when he goes to Little Garden. At the very least, he might spare you when he does something." Giada shrugged casually.
This was also why she gathered and contacted the other two Primogenitors again.
After all, they'd been friends for thousands of years. At the very least, Giada didn't want them standing on opposing sides or dying senselessly amidst the waves of history.
Aslan's goal was clear: to trigger a Historical Transition Period to gain achievements.
In the turning wheel of history, even Primogenitors might not benefit. Aslan wasn't aiming for something small but a wave of the era comparable to the Cleansing.
After a brief silence, Juranbarada sighed. "How much time is left? Will it affect this world's order?"
"Old man, you really have a strong sense of responsibility." Giada understood that Juranbarada was planning to prepare in advance for the massive wave Aslan would stir.
This man was like that in the past as a Deva, bearing a strong sense of responsibility for no reason. Even now, he created the Sanctuary Treaty, ending the long war in this world and restoring peace. He likely didn't want to see the tragedy of the Cleansing war repeat on the continent.
"I don't know. I can confirm that guy isn't someone afraid of the world not being chaotic enough."
"I understand your meaning." Juranbarada sighed, as if trying to let go of his complex emotions. "We'll cooperate with the newly born Fourth Primogenitor and provide him with conveniences."
"As for the data and Matrices he needs, we'll have someone deliver them to him."
Giada's words now had a clear purpose: to invite them and advise them not to cause trouble and to facilitate Aslan.
If possible, Giada even hoped they could gain a share of the Historical Transition Period Aslan would trigger. But that might just be wishful thinking.
"Thank you, old man." Giada waved her hand, a very casual gesture of thanks. But as comrades who'd fought together for thousands of years, this thank you carried deep weight.
"If there's a chance, let's meet again in Little Garden."
"Yes, if there's a chance."
In the Whispering Garden, the three figures vanished from the central seats. The garden fell completely silent.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the Campus Area, at Natsuki's villa.
Aslan held a glass of black tea, sitting on a white cloth sofa, crossing his legs, and gazing at the ocean view outside the window.
Taking a sip, he swirled the teacup and said with slight disgust, "Adding brandy to black tea—what kind of magic is this, Natsuki-chan?"
"We're adults, so don't complain about alcohol." Natsuki, sitting across from him, snorted, then closed one eye and lightly sipped her black tea.
"Looks like your Matrix package will arrive soon. When will you pick it up?"
Hearing this, Aslan smiled, set the teacup on the table, and said, "Natsuki-chan, peeking at others' privacy isn't a good habit."
"Then get a SIM card with your own identity, Mr. Aslan." Natsuki rolled her eyes speechlessly. She didn't even want to say more.
Did he really think she didn't notice he used her phone to play games with Asagi? And even made in-app purchases! A good student, suddenly turned into an internet-addicted gaming girl.
Did Aslan really treat her phone as his own?
"Give me back my phone. Don't I need to use it too?" Natsuki quickly snatched the phone from Aslan's hand, then forcibly shoved a new phone with a SIM card into his hand.
Living in modern society was inconvenient without a phone, especially since she had many responsibilities. She was a teacher, a national Attack Mage, the head instructor of Attack Mages on Itogami Island, and Aslan's secretary. She couldn't do without a convenient communication tool.