In a moderately-sized Subspace, the slumbering Giant Dragon finally opened its eyes.

At the same time, the Giant Dragon finally moved for the first time in over fifty years.

Its form moved like a fish in the sea, effortlessly passing through the Subspace’s barrier.

And once again, its complete form appeared on the surface of the Sun.

[Administrative Authority Confirmed. Opening Star Gate.]

[Star Gate Anchor: Karte Star Realm ←→ Intelligent Mechanism Star Realm]

[Estimated Time: Twelve minutes. Establishing Star Road. Please wait...]

Meanwhile, within the Star Realms of both the Oakland World and the Karte World.

Twenty-eight Deities, who had been waiting together, suddenly flickered and vanished in an instant.

「The next moment.」

Just outside the Karte World’s Star Realm, these Deities appeared one after another.

"Well, well. All you old-timers actually decided to show up this time, huh?"

"Weren’t you all researching the Black Flame? Decided to stretch your legs for once?"

The first to speak was none other than Brother Cheng Takes Off.

His divine title from his Ascension to Divinity on the Oakland Continent was Yas Shefield, the God of the Dead.

The Deities of the Oakland Continent were clearly unfazed by the existence of Players who had achieved Ascension to Divinity, or even by Brother Cheng Takes Off’s bizarre way of speaking.

"His Majesty Nidhogg has summoned us. As guardians of the Master of Truth, we are naturally obligated to cooperate."

"As for you, Lord Yas... it has been over twenty years since your Ascension to Divinity, yet your ’mudblood’ demeanor, utterly lacking in divine dignity, has certainly been an eye-opener for us."

The one who spoke with such sarcasm was none other than the Deer-headed Deity.

He was the Forest and Plant God, and one of the Deities worshipped by the Elves.

"You’re the mudblood! Your whole family is a bunch of mudbloods!"

"You may have your divine dignity, you stupid ass, but you’ve been a god for who knows how long. How are you still just at the level of Weak Divine Power?"

"Is it because you don’t want to advance, or because you can’t? If you want to talk about mudbloods, you’re the real one here, aren’t you?"

"Besides, I was just fucking joking, can’t you tell? Nobody else said a word, so why are you the one making a big deal out of it?"

"You looking for a fight? Is that it? I’ve been dying to smack you around for a while now, just waiting for an excuse. You got the guts? Come on, let’s go one-on-one!"

As for the grudge between Brother Cheng Takes Off and the Deer-headed Deity, the other Deities were at a loss for words.

Logically, the two of them had no real conflict between them, nor should there have been such great animosity.

But as luck would have it, this Elf Deer, the Forest God, despised the Undead above all else. He also had a very blunt personality. So, when Brother Cheng Takes Off first achieved his Ascension to Divinity, the Deer-headed Deity had taken an immediate and thorough dislike to him.

And that was how the conflict between them began.

As a result, whenever these two met, things never stayed quiet for a moment.

"You? I have no objection, but this god can’t bring himself to punch down."

"..."

Brother Cheng Takes Off and the Forest God continued their squabble, but the other Deities simply chuckled and paid them no mind, having no intention of getting involved.

While the Deities were exchanging pleasantries with the other four Player-Deities and discussing the situation on the Intelligent Mechanism Star...

Finally, directly in front of the assembled Deities, a pitch-black Star Gate took shape.

"It’s formed!"

"Let’s go, everyone. We should go over and assess the situation."

"According to His Majesty Nidhogg’s instructions, there’s no need to prepare our mortal forces for war just yet. We’re to first meet with this ’Intelligent Mechanism’ and go from there."

"That would be for the best. A bloodless resolution saves time. It’s just a mere Magicless World, after all. Without the suppression of the Mana Will, why would we need to waste so much Power dealing with ’mortals’..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Let’s go. Let’s see what kind of world this so-called Intelligent Machinery Civilization really is. I, for one, am quite curious."

"..."