Farpoint City, Sam.

He replied to texts from Lucian and Torwin, telling them what had happened in a short while, asking for initial preparations. They had live footage from the empire, Eldoris, and Faerunia. Their armies were showing unusual movements, but they weren't marching yet.

Immediately, Sam ordered to put a pause on waygates to all of the mainland with an excuse of under-maintenance.

"You have more people like that anomaly! I knew it!" Sun Gods spoke through a second-ranker man he was in control of. "Astraea, there are no excuses left now!"

"This goes against everything we agreed with the boy. Not he himself has broken through, but his buddies are like that as well. It means they have a method to reverse our blessing. This can not be ignored!" Sea God's voice weighed heavily on the whole room.

"They don't have a method, or they would have done that with everyone in the sanctuary. The boy, Damian, has worked his ass off trying to ascend so he could leave my control; if they had a method to do that, this decade-long obedience wouldn't be happening. The boy will explain now, explain!" Astraea spoke through Tristan.

The look on the recently ascended mage looked horrified at the realization of what was happening, but wise as he was, Tristan remained silent and just let things happen. His confusion was the smallest issue at present.

"Where is he? Why can't I find him anywhere?" The Sun God asked.

"Where is he hiding? That Highsword fourth ranker is absent as well." The Sea God added.

Damian looked at the three people; the gods were controlling. His mind worked hard to find words that would somehow de-escalate the situation, but he knew no explanation he could give would be enough for them. Still, he had to try.

"The only thing Damian told me after he returned from killing the fifth ranker pigmen Sun God is that the god had helped these people in trying to evolve or ascend. These people had worked for a century trying to ascend because we knew we would have to fight the demon lord someday, if we wished to return. And that monstrosity was too powerful; he was controlling Sir Landbreaker at that."

"It didn't take long for us to realize our ascension path was blocked. Even after reaching the level cap for transcendent, we worked relentlessly to ascend and failed." Worldscribe took over from him.

"So we chose the help of the god that will help us ascend and not block our path." The angry eyes of Sesha, reflecting the avatar's faces looked intense.

The metal golem added, "It's not the boy's fault or Sanctuary's, not even Damian's, actually. We were the ones who chose to break free. The Pigmen Sun God helped us. It won't repeat if that's what you are wondering."

"The boy did hide it from us. He knew what it meant, and he purposefully hid it, knowing full well that his actions were against his goddess's wish. Astraea, if you still believe the boy is in your control, you are delusional." The Sea God declared.

"I don't think she is. She would have punished even her own daughters for going against her wishes. I think she has her own plans involving the boy, his prime spells, and even that god-wannabe old relic of Highswords." Sun God desdained.

"That's it. Punishment. Rules were broken, punishment must be carried out." Sea God agreed. "As a punishment for hiding these people, Sanctuary will share everything they have gained in these past ten years into three equal parts, and they are banned from growing their borders anymore. Each part will belong to one of us. Astraea can plan all. She wants to be together with the boy afterwards."

Sam gritted his teeth. That was beyond unfair. Damian had worked his ass off in clearing all the regions they had taken control of. The many children of Sea God had interfered hundreds of times, and Damian had fought off all. He did not kill them unless the legendary and unfathomable beasts had taken too many lives of his people.

It was clear that the Sea God and the Sun God were both envious of what Damian had become and just how far his reach extended.

The change in Astraea's attitude was not odd either. As long as Eldoris was allied with Sanctuary, nothing could touch them, and the benefits of all the new runic inventions the country enjoyed were something people could not live without.

Not to mention a lot of people from the other two countries had migrated to Sanctuary and Eldoris because of these advantages and had actively chosen Astraea as their goddess. Those people had fixed blessings, but the new generation children could take an ascension stone from the Eldoris temples if their parents were a believer of the Goddess Astraea.

Everything was his by right, even if on paper it was called Sanctuary land. But Sam knew the man better than anyone. Land against people? There was nothing to think about here.

If it avoids the conflict, fuck it.

"That is beyond unfair, but I will personally put this forward before all sanctum heads and speak in favor of the three-way share once we have all the heads gathered together. Time is essential if we are to take such a decision. We need to make some believable excuse for the civilians as well." Sam said, being careful with his words.

"That should be enough. Let the boy come back from wherever he is, and we can share the things. Knowing him, he will accept the deal. I will make him accept it." Astraea added.

Sam had noticed it before, but it was clear now that Astraea, unlike the Sun God, was never in favor of conflict. She was a goddess of light and healing was one of her specialities, but that can't be it. It was like she avoided fighting with other gods no matter what. Damian had warned him many times not to trust her too much.

"That takes care of the sanctuary, but what of this rebellious cult? They had denounced our blessings; there is no reason for us to keep them alive." The Sun God suddenly added.

"If they wish to live on our land, they have to accept us. If they can't even their pigman god won't be able to save them." Sea God added.