Surviving The Fourth Calamity

'Rain Falling on Mortal Dust' chuckled and said, "But these animals don't seem dead!"

Different creatures have different names in their eyes, and undead creatures are always specially marked.

'Snow Cloud Peak' nonchalantly said, "We are elves! Doesn't the aura of necromancy creatures stand out at a glance? Since they want to hide and monitor us, they surely wouldn't be that dumb."

'Rain Falling on Mortal Dust' laughed, "Seeing these little birds that fly no better than fat ducks, one wouldn't think they're particularly smart either."

"Old Dog was right. You're just dumb!" The 'Old Age Striking King', sitting on his animal companion, slapped the back of 'Rain Falling on Mortal Dust''s head, "You go take a look at those Yinbutu People, who would think those birds have a problem?

In Toril, probably only a Druid would notice those little birds have issues.

They live so roughly that they wouldn't bother with the traces of flying birds."

'Snow Cloud Peak' added with a laugh, "And Toril people's usual way of doing things is very straightforward. Such indirect methods of surveillance aren't commonly used.

The Eye of the Dead blatantly hiding in the air is typically how these Necromancers operate.

How many people can spot that thing at first glance?

Their plots might be vicious, but their methods are simple and crude."

'Old Age Striking King' said a bit impatiently, "According to William's demands, we can't easily act against sovereign nations unless we find evidence.

So what are we supposed to do? Just watch?"

"What's the rush?" 'Snow Cloud Peak' said calmly, "William clearly has no follow-up large missions.

This round of regional war missions should end here.

It makes sense, just look at those Scattered Ones starting to slack off.

Scattered Ones' enthusiasm for large missions has its limits.

Even if we wanted to continue, it would be hard to maintain.

Moreover, unless we can cause a huge uproar in Giant Valley, we can only wait for an opportunity."

"What opportunity? How long will it take?" 'Old Age Striking King' impatiently asked.

"Isn't there a Goblin Chief God under Bane's control emerging?" 'Snow Cloud Peak' said with a smile, "When Giant Valley faces a goblin disaster or when neighboring Sel invades, that's when our next regional task begins."

"Even if goblins reproduce quickly, it'll take a year or two before they become a disaster, right?" 'Rain Falling on Mortal Dust' asked in surprise.

"Otherwise, why would William want us to set up a camp here?

Once the teleportation array is ready, people who want to leave can go, and we can leave a family willing to stay here.

Others can go wherever daily tasks suit them, I reckon William will disband the Command Group in a few days."

'Old Age Striking King' put his hands on his hips and patted his Wolverine, "After the disbandment, I'll return to Hidden Town, I miss Edna.

Wonder how her learning is going? Has she grown taller?"

The Little Loli suddenly said wistfully, "Maybe when I return, Edna will be much taller than me! Regret choosing the loli form a bit."

Sanda King was rare to feel melancholy, but it ended with Snow Old Dog's words with no ivory in his mouth, "If you want to raise a daughter, just have your own! Even Baldy's going to have kids, and Little Cunlü can already call her Mama, what are you waiting for?

No matter how gentle and agreeable your man is, he can't do that for you!"

A vicious grin appeared on 'Old Age Striking King's face, just as 'Rain Falling on Mortal Dust' cried out...'Wait! Give innocent people a chance to run!'... and asked his Wolverine friend to let out a foul enough fart at Old Dog's mouth.

With nothing much to do, a reporter following the Command Group inadvertently dropped their tools amid it... the scenery on the giant screen suddenly dazzled.

Hill smiled helplessly, muttering to himself, "It seems Eckart and Magnubiyeh are bound to play a role in this grand play, and I wonder how many deities have mingled into Toril."

"Hmm... probably not few, right?" Celene couldn't help but chime in, "With all her enemies, plus her predecessor's enemies, it's enough to gather an orchestra."

Hill couldn't help but laugh... it seemed Celene quite enjoyed 'Young Master' and their symphony orchestra.

Many at the Conservatory had given up on the Yinbutu battle, staying in Kalinsan to play with the little fairies... having lived in music for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years, even if learning a new instrument, artists' capabilities wouldn't diminish.

Those who studied music could sense that artistic vibe... though their senses might be dulled, the unique charm of the little fairies still persisted.

In the current Karin Forest, after completing their greening tasks, the little fairies re-arranged and played various symphonies with these music-loving elf kids.

Even operas from the Undead World were brought to this world to perform... though perhaps William stifled it, as they were all Western classics like Shakespeare.

Then the little fairies transformed their long-held fairy epics into operas... It is said that because she brought new and exciting music to the fairies, Vila's position as queen has become very secure.

Some little fairies who originally didn't intend to follow Vila were drawn to the great forest of Kalinsan.

Celene probably often goes to listen.

"But is it worth it?" Hill asked a bit perplexed, "Entering Toril at this time would come with significant sacrifices, right?"

"All wise deities understand AO's idea," Shaer uttered softly, "Even my Shadow Weave has been stripped away, how long can their Divine Power network last?

However, deities who don't hold any grudge against Midnight can leave this network until the end, maybe even exchange something from AO.

As for those with grudges, who knows what they'll do... Perhaps some deities will choose benefits, but some may rather vent.

Come to think of it, Midnight should thank you! If not for you keeping Valkin locked up for at least a few hundred years, her biggest trouble after getting out would have been the Goddess of Wealth."

Hill said confusedly, "But isn't the reason Goddess Valkin ended up like this because she blew up Hell Gate Fortress? I think she offended even more deities because of that!"

"You're overthinking it," Shaer said coldly, "The lives of followers can be bought with money... Even devout followers, after death, will be received into a Divine Kingdom, and those who aren't devout enough could at least be sold for some money, isn't that better?

No matter how incompetent, as long as the commercial divinities remain, Valkin will always be a symbol of wealth.

The only one who will persistently go against her is Coron, but the Father of Elves' character... in Undead Tribe terms, might be described as tender-hearted.

Valkin could cry a few times and after a self-imposed imprisonment for a few hundred years, it might pass."

"But that's Coron!" Hill said, somewhat discontentedly, "How could it be his fault? He's always been a proponent of defensive retaliation!"

"Valkin chose Hell Gate Fortress, partly because of you, right?" Celene interjected, "Being beaten so badly by a Half-Elf Mage, isn't that the reason she went mad and directly confronted Coron?"

Hill pursed his lips, "That was all her own decision, too."

"Maybe her trade is filled with blood and tears?" Celene said lightly, "Every choice Valkin makes seems to be wrong."

Hill glanced blankly at the moonlight in the pool... This saying seemed familiar, like something often used in Teraxil, but who was it referring to?

Shaer coldly interrupted Hill's thoughts: "Valkin and Heim, either they'll become evil, or they'll fall sooner or later. Slave trade... hmph!

Hell has long prepared a place for them."

Though engaging in burning, killing, and looting for many years, Shaer's bottom line seems to be higher than some neutral deities.

Celene, rarely agreeing with her sister, said, "In the past world, it was all about inter-racial struggles… racial wars were quite normal. Though the fate of the defeated was pitiable, the deities couldn't interfere.

But enslaving your own race, that only happened in this era… perhaps it's because humans' lives are so short, making them much more ruthless.

The personalities of human deities are also very complex."

Hill couldn't help but sigh... Can you not discuss such troublesome issues with me?

What exactly happened in Toril to cause a restart? Were some deities born before the restart, do they still have any memories from before?

Full of questions, he quietly drank a sip of wine, deciding to bury it deep within and, once he leaves, to not think about it again.

Although his curiosity was strong, Hill understood that knowing too much might keep him trapped in this world…he indeed had a strong backing allowing him to ignore some minor troubles.

But if he seeks trouble himself, his backing might not be able to fully protect him… after all, the Toril World hasn't intended to harm him, just not let him leave.

Celene and Shaer wouldn't actively do anything against him, but they, especially Celene who acts based on intuition, might not refrain from tricking him.

Hill smiled, diverting the dangerous topic: "Less than three years, and Edna will come of age."

"Shaer, will you take action?" Celene indeed took up the topic.

"As promised, I won't personally take action," Shaer sneered, "But my subordinates won't let a messenger of Mystra pass through their domain without interference."

Hill couldn't help glancing at the shadow under the big tree… Those three Chosen of hers must have a powerful Divine Artifact now?

"Your Chosen?" Celene recalled, "What difference does that make from you acting yourself?"

"Of course there's a difference," Shaer retorted, "If it's not me taking action, she just has to rely on her luck!"

That's quite accurate.

Hill pondered privately, it's possible that even if Shaer took action personally, things might go wrong due to a sudden change in luck.

The Goddess of the Night always incites others to act in the shadows, not just out of a habit of secretive actions, but likely also due to too many lessons learned.