Chapter 411: What is at stake

Much like the deities who governed the lands of the living, the Primogenitors were the supreme beings of the inhuman races. They were the ones who had blessed the people gathered here, and their counterparts on the other side were worshipped by creatures who regarded them as their Gods.

They were the ones who had started it all, the ancient race that had waged war against divinity time and time again in pursuit of something they desperately desired.

"Recognition." Kyle stared at the three figures in the projection as he spoke.

"From whom?" Yumiko asked curiously. "I always thought they simply wanted to conquer our world."

Kyle shook his head.

"Conquering our world is merely a stepping stone. It’s their declaration that they’re ready to take the final leap and overthrow the very deities you all devote yourselves to."

His words sent a wave of tension through the gathering. Some frowned, struggling to comprehend what he was suggesting, while others simply stared at him in disbelief.

"Could they really do that?" Maya asked, raising her voice slightly to ensure everyone could hear her. "Do they actually possess the power to challenge... them?"

There was a trace of reverence in her voice. Like many others present, she regarded her patron and the other Gods as supreme beings beyond the reach of any rival. The very notion that someone might challenge their authority was difficult to accept.

And yet, that was precisely the question before them.

Did the beings of the Other Side truly possess what it took to conquer the heavens?

Kyle chose his words carefully. He could tell that some of those gathered were deeply devoted to their respective patrons, and he had no intention of needlessly provoking them.

"The Primogenitors of the demons possess the same pure bloodline as the deities themselves. That’s because they, too, are part of the same existence whose recognition they seek."

"And who would that be?" Dominic asked, his frown deepening with curiosity.

"The Three Fundamentals," Diana answered calmly. "The three beings who make no distinction between the living and the dead. They watch over the realms, safeguard the Gods, and maintain the balance of the world."

For many of those present, the revelation was nothing short of shocking. Until now, they had believed their respective patrons to be the highest authorities in existence. The idea that even the Gods had a greater purpose to fulfill was something they had never seriously considered.

One person, in particular, seemed deeply disturbed by the revelation.

"Someone stands above Lady Freya?"

Kyle turned toward Araya, who had remained relatively composed throughout the discussion. Now, however, her expression betrayed her unease.

He exhaled softly before addressing her.

"There is no above or below in this matter, Araya. Everyone has a role to play, and every role is necessary to maintain the balance. Besides, the subject we should be focusing on right now is the three beings before us."

Hearing those words directly from Kyle seemed to soothe her troubled heart. The tension in her expression eased almost immediately, and she lowered her head.

"I apologize for lashing out, my lord."

Amanda rolled her eyes.

Stop that, woman. He isn’t your Lord.

Nevertheless, the meeting continued, and Kyle soon brought the discussion back to the matter at hand.

"Very soon, a massive force of powerful Kijins will descend upon our lands. Unlike the usual incursions, however, they won’t be operating alone. They’ll be commanding armies of Ghouls and Majins, and those forces will be attempting to accomplish two objectives."

The projection changed, displaying two separate images above the table.

One depicted two enormous armies clashing against each other. The other showed a seemingly endless golden waves stretching across the horizon.

"Let me guess! This one represents us?" Alya chimed in excitedly, pointing toward the image of the opposing armies.

She seemed to be enjoying the guessing game far more than the gravity of the discussion warranted.

"Correct," Kyle replied. "But that’s not what concerns me most."

His attention shifted toward the second projection.

"This... is something we cannot afford to let them destroy."

"The Veil," Elena muttered in surprise.

Kyle raised his eyebrows at her.

The redhead immediately blushed, realizing that she had spoken aloud.

"I... caught a glimpse of your memories, so..."

Kyle nodded, accepting her explanation.

"Indeed. This is the Veil, the barrier that separates our two dimensions. Every time the beings of the Other Side cross through a Rift, they place additional strain on this barrier."

His expression grew increasingly grim.

"And the worst part is... they know it, too."

Veronica leaned back in her seat and released a long breath. She had already guessed what Kyle was about to say, but hearing it explained so plainly was another matter entirely.

If even the man who remained composed in the face of almost every crisis looked this serious, then the danger must have been far greater than she had initially imagined.

For a while, nobody spoke.

Then, rather unexpectedly, Gallard raised a question.

"I know everyone here is capable enough to prevent the disaster you’re worried about. But just in case... what would happen if the Veil were torn apart?"

The question hung over the table.

It was something no one had thought to ask Kyle before. Judging by the reactions around him, even Diana seemed unfamiliar with the answer.

Kyle had hoped to avoid frightening them unnecessarily, but there was no point concealing the truth when their very survival might depend on understanding it.

"Genesis is the protection granted to us, allowing us to resist Absence. Those capable of manipulating Genesis might be able to protect themselves when exposed to the world of Absence."

He paused, allowing them to absorb his words.

"But those who cannot..."

Kyle didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t need to.

The silence that followed was enough to tell him that everyone understood the implications.

If the Veil were destroyed, the world of Absence would spill into their own, exposing humanity to something most people had no means of resisting.

And when that happened, humanity as they knew it would perish.

Only the handful of Nightwalkers capable of wielding Genesis would have any chance of surviving.

It would be total annihilation.