Akram hummed at Their avatar's report, scratching their long, thick, bearded-chin. The information the fake policewoman had gotten was interesting.

  "So you were someone heavily invested in my realm's history, uh. Is that why you had such an attachment to Marka, little Raya ? Is that why your soul could wiggle its way in ?"

  From what They could understand from the report, Raya's past life was obsessed with Marka. She had apparently spent thousand of hours trying to understand its game-universe, its nations, the motives and goals of the notable characters of Sins of Marka. The former Jean Fernan had amassed scarily vast amounts of knowledge, made conjectures about fallen figures and countries, theorized about many sublte meaning hidden in random dialogues or item descriptions.

  And all that, he exposed to an audience, under the name of StraaL in today's internet. A faithful audience that numbered in the thousand of viewers, and watched his livestreams, to discuss various points of the game's strange lore.

  The livestreams, Akram's avatar had watched them all. Hundreds of hours of VODs, thousands of unedited clips and recordings, millions of comments too.

  "So much information that Raya doesn't have access to anymore. So many variables and happenings Raya cannot see anymore. And... that's why I'm beginning to think that asking her to burn all of her memories away... was a bad idea. Do you understand Hercules ? Raya, as I left her in Marka, is effectively a newborn with no intellectual baggage. And I fear that instinct will take over while I'm away."

  The Greek and Romam demi-god walked around in the office of the developers' building, pensive.

  "There's a lot of things that I am thinking about. First is the thing I just told you about. Second is that not many deities have visited me since I took temporary control of this game and realm. Third is that I overestimated the time that it would take for me to thread the brides of my divine energy between our two worlds."

  "How much ? That's a very good news." the outdoor vlogger god excimed in a surprised, but joyous tone.

  "About two months. Maybe three if I take my time. But I want this as fast as possible."

  "I see. But speaking about the other thing you've mentioned. About... you starting to regret asking your child to burn her memories... I believe that this was still the right choice. Because... what if this Raya of yours ended up treating Marka as a game with her knowledge ? What if she based everything she experienced on her hours of pying ? What if she justified her every action because of the plot ? What if she behaved just like other otherworlders ? And with that power of hers, you'd be in big trouble."

  "I know..." the god of Marka replied, still coding in Their virtual pod. Their tone was one of concern and doubt, and Hercules didn't miss that. "But I'm also worried about how Raya perceives things... Her kin has been decimated, her father is dead. Fureur is in my Heavens. Her past life life, gone. She only has the companions she has made now. She has no long-sting anchors in this world, she has very little attachment to Marka..."

  "Then why didn't you intervene when everything went to shit ? Why did you allow her kin to be killed ? You could have prevented a lot of this disaster from taking pce."

  "Sigh... Developers, as always. They already had their hands on my world. I've expined this several times already... They used their authority to put their desires into motion and to force these events to happen. I wasn't able to stop this because... I was trying to locate your pnet to trace back the source of my problems at the same time. Moreover, when I noticed the problem, I still didn't understand how this wordl's coding worked."

  "Couldn't you just... reset Marka's state to a few years prior ? Like we used to do ages ago."

  The divine entity in the form of an old man shook Their head, looking at Their interlocutor with sad eyes.

  "I would have to rewind Marka too far in time. Remember, Hercules. Marka is only ten thousand years old. The earliest of my living creations, my Children, are five thousand years old... and the appearance of the first otherworlders date back to three-thousand years ago... A third of my realm's lifespan... This would have taken too much energy. And for nothing now that Earth has made a bridge. My intervention would not have rewound your own world and the link your mortals created would still be here."

  "I see. You would have wasted your divine energy to end up with basically the same situation as before."

  "Precisely. My decision was not the best, but it was far from the worse option that I had."

  "You mean... destroying your realm ? That's a taboo. With no realm to rule over, you would have died too..."

  The two gods fell silent at these words. The destruction of a world was a st-resort measure that a god could use. That meant that both world and deity would be erased from existence.

  "At least, you still have ways out of this situation. You still have overwhelming divine power compared to us."

  "Hm. But I'm still wondering why your comrades are silent..."

  "That's the thing. They're scared about the possibility that you'd try to take over Earth. But they still want to help you out. So they're torn between this and that..."

  "I understand, it's not easy to experience that." Marka's Divine nodded. "But I've said it already, there's no need to worry. One realm is already enough for me to manage. And besides, Earth is not to my tastes !" They joked.

  "You love your magic, right..."

  "Absolutely ! I have no interest in a world without my magic ! And to preserve it in Marka, I need to code a few helpers ! Fast !"

  "Hm~ Hm~ Hm~" was the soft sound that echoed in BncheVille's Cathedral. Most of the worshipers of The Divine who entered the building were surprised by the sight of the Sin of Wrath going around, lighting up candles and the altars with her own crimson red fires.

  She was holding fmes in her arm-wings and took them with the tip of her tail as soon as she stepped in front of a receptacle that could hold embers or fmes. As soon as the fires were put in pce, they fred majestically, warm and bright. The ones who tried to get closer were gently stopped by the Wyvern, who expined that these fires should not be disturbed, and that doing so would bring consequences. Since then, the bishop and priests inside had set up a warning sign to alert the people without having to repeat Raya's words.

  She had started this peculiar behavior since she came back from lunchtime and had stopped just a few moments ago.

  "All of them are properly lit up now. Have a good day everyone." she waved at the clergymen, who were still looking in amazement at the candles which didn't melt at all despite the heat emanating from the Sin's fmes.

  "Raya. You're...You were visiting the House of The Divine ?"

  "Sun Mane. Uncle. it's good to see you. We haven't had the time to really talk to each other these st few days. But yes, I was setting up something in the Cathedral. Something akin to the protections I've set up near DragonGorge's entrance."

  The headmaster of Stallion nodded along, remembering their first encounter. Then, he noticed Raya's rather agitated tail and tried avoiding it a few times. What was up today ? Raya could normally control her tail...

  "Ahem, Raya. It's dangerous for you to move you tail around like that. You should calm down. Please ?"

  "Oh...I'm sorry. I'm just nervous I guess. I don't know whether the protections I set up will work or not. Manticore helped me with the basics for a more effective filtering of of sinful and less-sinful people... but we won't know until someone with bad intentions tries to go into the city."

  "I-I see... That's rather dangerous. What if it accidentally stop people who didn't sin very much ?"

  "No, actually I'm more worried about the opposite. But we'll have to see."

  Raya turned around to face the lionman and scratched her left horn."Are you free right now ? I supposed you don't have much to oversee now that half of your students fled." she asked.

  "I am. For once. What do you need me for ?"

  "Well... I was thinking about something. I know you didn't start off in the best terms but I'd be happy if you and your party could help the Hero and his friends during dungeon explorations. To descend in the lower levels. They've been stagnating with rather weak monsters."

  Sun Mane shook his head vigorously."I can't. We still haven't figured out what caused the minotaur to appear in the new section of a week ago. It's not safe. I'm sorry."

  "A shame. But I see your point. You can't risk your students' lives. I'll go alone then."

  "I can still go with them to subjugate monsters that roam near our borders with what's left of Astria. There shouldn't be any Demons here and we could loot some parts to create armor with. I guess that could act as a pn B, right ?"

  "Yeah. That's fine too. And- Wait, that's right. Ramiel and his friends wanted to start getting information about how adventurer activities work. I said that I would speak about this to you or padins, but I'm not sure that it's the best thing to do now that everyone has settled."

  "I've heard about that. And I can get them a recommendation letter to ease some procedures. By the way, I've heard that you had some pns you would share during tomorrow's negotiations with Liz'a de Wandermer. Good luck with that."

  Raya rose an eyebrow and her tail curled around itself."You're not coming ? What about Ragnar ? or Millia ? And Skal ?"

  "Sadly no. We will be busy in the continent for the week. We'll be trying to get back some students. I'm not very hopeful... but it doesn't hurt to try." the headmaster replied dejectedly. "Speaking of which... You didn't even get to encounter the Wyvern students. You must be pretty disappointed. What's your pn about that ?"

  "... Nothing. I'll let the rumors spread. Remember what I said during the conflict. I doubt that the people who heard it forgot my words. About these Wyverns being traitors... I most likely instilled doubt in the minds of the survivors of these mercenaries and soldiers. Now, I just need time... and a few helpers to help propagate documents that will make this world doubt my kin's blood traitors."

  Sun Mane ughed softly, rubbing his cwed hands together."Exactly what you said, right ? That you'd spread rumors in response to Astria's lies. The ones used to indoctrinate Marka. To take revenge on the world who wronged the Fire Wyverns."

  The Sin stirred as if she just woke up and nodded, an evil glint in her eyes. She said nothing more regarding this topic for the rest of the conversation and instead started asking questions about how the Papal States would handle the upcoming war against the demons. One concern that came up a few times was the eventual presence of other outworlders, who could throw wenches in everyone's pns.

  The two parted ways when someone called for Raya in a hurry. Someone had apparently located Lamia merchants she wanted to meet. Sun Mane didn't understand everything but seeing the Wyvern sprinting away was a sign that the matter was important in her eyes.

  Liz'a de Wandermer skimmed through reports that came from every corner of the Empire. Financial results, crop harvests, overall feelings of trust, security, crime and happiness in the territories. And more importantly, reports of the war. Causalities, the number of siege machines that were lost, expectations of how much her Holiness and her country would ask as compensation. Rumors too. The ones soldiers had started spreading after seeing the Sin of Wrath.

  The ice maiden pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily looking at her bed. Things would have been so much easier, information would have been so much faster to collect with the Shadows of the Empire. But they were dead. All of them. The thirty elite spies and assassins of her father were found with their bodies scorched and looted in a forest near the Thassa Union.

  Tsk...What am I supposed to do... I'm left with a fucking mess now. And father's secret bs need to be scraped. The prison of Pride... All of that must be given to The Sin of Wrath. Obviously. The equipment and materials in there too.

  "... Speaking of which... that bsted otherworlder wanted to visit Astria. For... items. Oh shoot ! I can't let her get there...Sigh... There's going to be so many problems now..." the poor new Empress despaired.

  And truth to her words, many things would shift in the world...

  Even with the presence of a Sin and the liberation of another, the overwhelming defeat that the Akwa Empire suffered was basically an invitation for other nations to start invading once the conflict with the Demon race would come to an end. Father, who wanted to annex the former Astria in hopes to get their magical knowledge, couldn't do so anymore.

  Internal strife would break out. The hegemonic power had been humiliated in a single day. By a Sin no less. And now that Pride was out, the cat or rather chimera, was out of the bag. Elfort, the Saands, the Pteaux and the Union would all learn that the Wandermers had cheated their way as the strongest nation.

  "Fuck !" Liz'a shouted, smming her fists on the imperial desk. "Fuck, fuck fuck... And with how much we'll be asked to compensate... our power will lower significantly... But you don't care. You're not going to be around to see it..." she expined to no-one in particur... except for the otherworlder who took over her maid's body, now encased in ice.

  "H-how... I'm level sixty... I've got better stats in every way..." the woman let out in disbelief.

  The new head of the Empire scoffed and commanded her ice to eat away another limb the pest wouldn't need anymore. This time, it was the right forearm. Tiny icicles started piercing the limb under the horrified screams of the victim.

  "You don't understand... You're just like the one who possessed me. You see numbers and fancy little text in a magical status or something like this... But you've never fought. You don't have any experience. You don't know how to conjure a spell, you don't know how to handle a bde, or how to parry a blow. Nothing of what you get for free can make up for that. Your stats are useless. These numbers are just that. Numbers. A false sense of security to masturbate your ego. They are useless. Because what... Will you admit defeat as soon as someone with higher numbers will show up ? Will you continue to beat up people who have lesser numbers ?"

  "A-u-agh..."

  "This is not a videogame, cursed otherworlder. It's time to log-off. Forever this time."

  The maid squirmed around trying to break free from the frozen mass' hold, but failed. Her eyes were fixated on the crystal blue rapier held near her neck and attempted to speak one st time.

  "Die."

  -

  "I agree, your Highness. The people of the holy nds will most likely not waste time with pleasantries. Diplomatic matters first." an advisor acquiesced at Liz'a's thoughts.

  The matter of the otherworldly intruder had been dealt with, and the Empress had joined the imperial council since then. Along with her advisors, she began discussing one st time what would surely occur during the negotiations.

  "Moreover, we will have to speak about the incident her majesty came across today. The situation is worrying. If so many otherworlders can get here and possess people, we cannot afford to act carelessly. We might need help. Maybe holy artifacts or blessed oils."

  "But asking help from the the territory my father decided to cut off ties with is... Sigh...But we don't get much of a choice, do we ?" Liz'a asked sarcastically."

  "Sadly no. You are right." a sage sighed, and everyone sighed, even the guards and the servants.

  "This is messed up. We're in a bad pce right now. Some many fronts to watch over now. Ironic, isn't it ? The end of the war is the start of our political, financial, and military struggles."

  Everyone chuckled bitterly. The Empire's situation was disgustingly awful and only time would tell if the nation would hold its position, or be crushed after millennia of reign.

  -

  About a hundred people sitting in a ghost city were listening to the powerful elf woman. The masses were sitting around various campfire among the debris, still trying to understand the revetions of today.

  Apparently, that elf woman was someone, a pyer of the first game, who reincarnated in this world before the unch of Sins of Marka II. Before the second game became a trap for the half a million pyers in it.

  This elf, named Ruia, had managed to reincarnate in a strong individual's body. She had seen the dangers of this world, who to avoid, where to go to be safe. She knew many things, hence why she was leading the expedition of about hundred pyers.

  Her words were not only heard by the ones trapped in the game, but by people on Earth too. At least nine of the hundred pyers were still linked to Earth different streaming services. One of them even had a fanbase of a million followers. What he was seeing and dispying could be heard by many. It could go viral very soon.

  What the reincarnated person was expining painted a grim picture about this world. What she heard in return was terrifying. One side was learning of the existence of almost unbeatable foes, the other was discovering that the game was in fact, another real world, controlled by a higher entity who took control of everything.

  The group of pyers had been gathered by complete coincidence. The streamers and their bunch were initially wandering around aimlessly, until the elf encountered them by chance. After meaningful exchanges, the different sides had all agreed to stick together. To increase chances of survival through numbers, to increase the range of operations of the group, to broaden and strengthen the reach of the broadcast.

  Some had dipped out, clearly skeptical about the woman's behavior. One didn't just randomly pop up in time of need without wanting anything in return for the help they were giving. One of the critics the individuals had... were the discrepancies between Ruia's demeanor and what she said. That woman was a lv 100 mage, supposed to be well-versed in this world's ways and yet... She appeared chaotic, clueless about systems, lost when presented with some questions. Completely out of control of both her mind and powers. As if she was a complete stranger. Someone who dipped mid-game rather than a veteran from the first game.

  Most pyers had stayed. The woman was still powerful. She had strong abilities and magic. She was the one who teleported everyone in this territory thanks to magic scrolls. The... Astria Kingdom was the name of the region. Almost completely in ruins.

  The group was currently near the border with a nearby country of beast-people. Today, they would rest and then go to visit towns and cities. Maybe even the capital of the dead nation. From Ruia's words, the ruins of Astria hid powerful relics and skill scrolls. This would be an easy way to level up and increase the gathering's forces. Maybe they could even come across other pyers to get them to rally the group.

  Maybe... Maybe things weren't as bad as they initially appeared.

  Maybe everyone would survive.Maybe a solution would be found, and everyone would be free.