Fernandez tidied up his luggage with familiar movements. It had been a while since he traveled alone, but he was someone who naturally felt more comfortable working by himself.
In fact, the journey of the past year had been a more unfamiliar experience for him. Gaining someone’s trust, becoming someone’s comrade, fighting and protecting for others.
His nature leaned more towards schemes, plots, destruction, and traps. Surprisingly, acting in such a manner no longer felt as enjoyable as it once did.
-Thud.
One of the cords tying his luggage snapped. Fernandez paused for a moment and grabbed the broken cord. Just like the gaps in his mind, his preparations had been insufficient. He needed to reflect.
Our opponents are not mere humans or insignificant demons. Fernandez closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They are gods. Or rather, the great sovereigns who even defeated those gods and ultimately brought down the Material World.
The great demons of Hell. Beings so powerful that they even attained divinity.
What must one do to obtain what mortals and spiritual beings call ‘divinity’? There are many theories, but Fernandez supported the ‘gravity of power’ hypothesis.
According to his theory, when the density of power concentrated in a being reaches its limit, the swirling force within collapses the structure, and divinity takes root in that crucible.
Thus, contrary to many people’s imaginations, divinity is not the antithesis of hellish magic. It is simply a very pure form of ‘power.’
-Click.
Fernandez deftly tied the knot and slung his luggage over his shoulder. The bulging luggage weighed heavily on his shoulders.
‘To defeat a being powerful enough to attain divinity, one must not become complacent.’
Comfort, ease, compassion, altruism, empathy, and pride—all such weak factors will be of no help in the final battle.
Fernandez exhaled briefly and steeled himself. It was a strange feeling. He lifted the tent flap and stepped out into the night sky, where stars seemed to pour down like a cascade.
It was a strange feeling.
In his entire life, he had never acted without resolve.
In front of the tent, Partak was waiting, holding a purple cloak. He glanced at Fernandez and let out a small sigh of admiration.
“To anyone who sees you, you look like a wanderer of the Great Wilderness, my lord.”
“What brings you here?”
“My lord is setting off on a long journey alone. As your servant, how could I not see you off?”
Partak chuckled and handed him the cloak. It was a rough cloak woven from thick wool. As Fernandez took it, Partak whispered.
“It’s a rare item that can evade the eyes of gods and demons. I think you need it more than I do now.”
“Thank you. I’ll return it.”
“Use it well, and when you no longer need it, discard it anywhere.”
Partak chuckled. Fernandez nodded briefly.
“Do you remember your role?”
“Division and counsel. I know.”
“I have high expectations of you. Do not betray me.”
“Haha, my lord. You speak of betrayal while holding the chains to my heart.”
Partak could still feel the binding spell on his heart. A single gesture from Fernandez could end his long life in an instant.
Yet, he found it enjoyable. It meant that Fernandez still needed him, and at the same time, it meant that Fernandez was not a divine apostle or hero, but rather, someone like him.
A powerful, charismatic being with limitless potential.
Partak privately judged that Fernandez might be a great demon or a demon lord of similar stature. If so, what Fernandez aimed to achieve would ultimately align with his own goals.
“Take care of Kirhas.”
“That foolish girl will just keep smiling, oblivious to everything.”
What Fernandez had instructed Partak to do was to sow division, conflict, and provide counsel. Kirhas still lacked capable advisors or a political foundation to support her.
But Partak could handle all of that. He was a grand shaman who had manipulated the hawkish elders with drugs and magical bindings, operating from the shadows, and had been one of the longest-active politicians in the Federation of Beastmen Nobles.
However, his weakness was that he had the worst support among the warriors. Fernandez had instructed him to use that to help Kirhas.
-Play the villain.
-Gladly.
The more Partak opposed Kirhas publicly, the more forces opposing him would rally to her side. And likewise, Kirhas’ opposing faction would also fall under Partak’s control.
If the Federation of Beastmen Nobles stabilized in this way, both Kirhas’ faction and the opposing faction would fall into Fernandez’s hands.
“Where do you plan to strike first?”
“We will subjugate the eastern dove tribes. Rumors say a rival chieftain has appeared. Haha, foolish creatures.”
“What about the Empire?”
“That young spear-wielder has left. The Empire will not oppose our tribal federation for the time being, my lord.”
“That’s excellent. If you’re targeting the east first, place the Apogatep Dynasty next in line.”
“It will be done as you wish.”
Partak bowed deeply and retreated. Fernandez wrapped himself in the cloak Partak had given him, hid in the shadows, and walked out into the wasteland beyond.
Slipping out of the camp unnoticed was a trivial matter for him. Fernandez had memorized every alley and corner of the camp over the past few days and could even organize every person’s movements and schedules.
However, he stopped when he saw a silhouette leaning against the side gate of the camp.
“Kirhas.”
“Your Excellency.”
In the darkness, turquoise eyes glimmered. Since obtaining Kadán’s golden mask, it was hard to describe exactly what had changed in her, but her inner self was becoming more beast-like.
With eyes as sharp and menacing as a predator before the hunt, Kirhas silently gazed at Fernandez.
“The night is deep. It’s late for a stroll.”
“You belong here, Kirhas. They need you. And…”
