Leonis explained the events that took place in the Void World to the other three shocked Dark Lords.
“Do you remember when Azra-Ael used the Azure Fort’s to move to the other world and dragged us along with it?”
“When we fought the Swordmaster who’d become a monster,” Veira supplemented.
“Yes. Back then, I began to speculate that the Void World and this one, where humanity survived, are one and the same…”
The basis for that hypothesis was the existence of the Eisen Fort, an old Dark Lords’ Armies stronghold, in the Void World. And true to his theory, Leonis later found the Rognas Kingdom’s Capital, Ur-Shukar, in that world as well.
“There was another Undead King who shares my soul sealed in the ruins in Ur-Shukar’s underground. After being released from his seal, the other me stole the Goddess’s Demon Sword from me and disappeared into a Void tear.”
Leonis excluded the part about the Deus Machina Schwertleite having protected the Undead King, since explaining that would complicate things. Instead, he went into more detail into his battle with the other Undead King.
“…I find that story hard to believe,” Gazoth said in a growl.
“I don’t blame you. When I faced the other me, I had a hard time taking it in myself.”
“…No, I ain’t saying I don’t believe yer story. It’s just…” Gazoth spread out his arms. “Is that Undead King the real deal? Or is it someone else imitating the way you used to look? Just like you assumed Zol Vadis’s name.”
He punctuated that last remark with a touch of sarcasm.
“No.” Leonis shook his head. “He’s the Undead King. There’s no mistaking that. When I fought him, he used twelfth-order sorcery. In terms of his mana reserves, he has more than I do in my current body. And besides…”
Leonis cracked a self-deprecating smile.
“Like I said earlier, no one but the Undead King could turn the Divine Dragon of the Six Heroes into an Undead and control him.”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
“Singing your own praises, in a sense.” Veira shrugged.
“But if that’s true, why did the Undead King’s soul split in two after he used the spell of Reincarnation?” Rivaiz asked.
“—I don’t know, either.” Leonis shook his head. “If I had to say, when this world was split in two for some reason, my soul was likewise divided and reincarnated into two.”
But this, too, was only speculation. He had no idea why or how the world ended up splitting in two.
“Well, that conveniently leads us to our next topic.” Veira smiled indomitably. “I actually came here to discuss just that.”
“…Right. Did you learn something in your pursuit of Azra-Ael?”
“Well, yes…,” Veira said and held up her hand.
A glowing sphere appeared above the table. It was covered in ancient text that revolved rapidly around it. It was about as big as a basketball, and its shape was reminiscent of the Deus Machina’s standard form prior to awakening, or Elfiné’s Eye of the Witch.
“What’s this?” Leonis asked.
“It’s the core of the Almagest I took from the Azure Fort.”