As soon as Lind finished speaking, the gentle yet grand will of the Mother of a Thousand Roots, Elessia, rippled slightly, like a pebble being thrown into a calm lake.
"Please wait a moment, rule makers."
Alessia (Crystal Skeleton) turned her face, composed of roots and branches, toward Lind with a hint of apology and solemnity.
“There are still a few beings who, due to being in extreme circumstances or maintaining a vital balance, are unable to descend here in person or even in an incarnation. However, the new order concerns all living beings in this world, and they do not wish to be absent. Therefore, they have entrusted me with bringing their ‘eyes’ and ‘mouthpiece’.”
After speaking, without any visible movement from Alessia, the ground beneath her—the solid floor originally paved with an unknown metal—silently softened and bulged, and several thick yet supple ancient roots, shimmering with an emerald luster, broke through the soil, slowly unfurling like living serpents.
The ends of the roots were not in an attacking form, but rather gently supporting several figures as if nurturing seedlings.
The state of these individuals contrasted sharply with that of the three gods who had descended to earth in crystalline form. They exuded the aura of powerful mortals, but in this arena where the wills of the gods intertwined, they appeared like small boats in a storm, trembling involuntarily. Their faces were filled with awe, shock, and a hint of disorientation, as if they had not yet recovered from the experience of being carried by roots and traversing boundless space.
Linde's cold gaze swept over the trembling "participants" entangled in roots. His purple eyes remained unmoved, but the [Deconstruction Aura] had already silently covered them, instantly completing the scan and information comparison.
He naturally recognized Muradin Bronzebeard, the Dwarf King. Although this old friend (or rather, his old trading partner) had been forcibly "invited" here and seemed somewhat shaken, his deep-set eyes, besides the initial panic, revealed more of a shock at the current scene and astonishment at Lind's presence.
His thick beard trembled slightly with tension, and he carried the scent of furnaces and ore.
Lind vaguely remembered that Naga elder; the siren Naga had worked with him before. Her aged serpentine face was covered with fine scales, now filled with fear and unease. Her long fishtail was curled up anxiously, and she clutched a magic pearl that exuded dampness in her hand, as if it were her solace.
Finally, there was that "round stone".
It is a dark, earthy yellow color, with a smooth surface and no carvings. You can't even feel any energy fluctuations, just like a pebble picked up randomly on the riverbank.
But the information from the [Deconstructing the Halo] made Linde's heart skip a beat—it was not an inanimate object; its internal structure resonated with the earth beneath his feet and even the deeper ley lines at an extremely slow, almost stagnant frequency.
Its "existence" itself is like an insignificant yet indispensable part of the entire planet Tyr, a speck of dust unintentionally exhaled by a dormant will.
"Your Excellency, Mother of a Thousand Roots, what is the meaning of this?"
Linde's voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, as he turned his gaze to Alessia's crystalline avatar.
Alessia's gentle will flowed forth, like a clear spring in the forest:
"Lord Lind, Lord Uranus, His Majesty Amar'therak. Not all beings are as easily able to project their will upon this place as we are, or possess convenient means to traverse vast distances. The heart of the Dwarven Mountains lies buried deep underground, isolated from the world; the Naga's abyssal song echoes in the endless trenches, difficult to convey; and the will of this land beneath our feet... is slumbering since time immemorial, impossible to awaken."
She paused, then gently guided the three "temporary attendees" to the reserved seats near the round table, but did not force them to sit down.
"However, the rules of the new era should not be made solely by the sky, the forests, the dragons, and... the changemakers. The children of the earth, the inhabitants of the sea, and even the world itself that sustains us all should have its representatives, even if those representatives are... weak and indirect."
She looked at Muradin:
"His Majesty Muradin represents the dwarves, the mountains, and the will of forging."
Looking at Elder Naga:
"Elder Serasan represents the Naga, the voice of the ocean and the abyss."
Finally, her gaze fell on the stone, with a rare hint of reverence:
"This 'Egg of the Earth's Veins,' though devoid of sentience, is the sole manifestation of the flow of the earth's veins and the dormant will of the planet at this moment and in this place. Its existence is to be an eavesdropper on the world."
Urano's crystalline remains let out a low groan, its lava-like eyes sweeping over the three newcomers, especially the stone, with a hint of impatience:
"Hmph, a bunch of weaklings who can't even muster a complete will, and a stone? Are you saying they're qualified to sit alongside us and decide the fate of the continent?"
His divine power unconsciously intensified, and Muradin groaned, sweat beading on his forehead. Elder Serasan turned pale and almost collapsed.
Even the stone seemed to have lost some of its luster.
“Qualification is not determined solely by strength, Urano.”
Amarselak's ancient and deep voice rang out, carrying a calming power that slightly countered Urano's oppressive aura.
"Mountains shape the earth, oceans cover the world; they are both essential components of this world. Listening to their voices, understanding their boundaries and needs, helps to formulate more stable and less troublesome rules. Besides..."
His dragon-shaped crystal skeleton turned its gaze to Lind, with a hint of meaning in it:
"This meeting was initiated by Lord Linde and is being held in his territory. Perhaps it should be up to him to decide how the seating arrangements are made and whose voices are heard."
The pressure instantly fell on Lind.
The gazes (thoughts) of the three supreme beings were all focused on him.
Muradin and Serasan watched him nervously, their fate, and even the future of the power they represented, largely depended on Lind's next words.
Linde remained expressionless, but his mind was racing.
While Alessia's actions may seem like a voice for the weak, they are actually expanding the influence of nature-based systems (forests, land) in this rule-making process, drawing dwarves (who are to some extent close to nature and the land) and Naga (part of the marine ecosystem) into a potential alliance.
At the same time, the introduction of the symbol of planetary will gives the rules a natural legitimacy of "world recognition".
Uranus's opposition was expected; the orc pantheon reveres strength and lacks patience for the "weak."
Amarselak, however, maintained the dragons' characteristic detachment and long-term vision, returning the decision-making power to himself, which was both a test and a sign of respect.
Lind's gaze swept over Muradin and Serasan again, finally settling on the seemingly ordinary stone.
What he needs is a stable and controllable new order, not a fragile balance controlled by a few top figures, with discontent among the lower classes that will eventually lead to another collapse.
The dwarven craftsmanship, the Naga ocean resources, and even the planet's inherent tendencies are all forces that can be leveraged, or at least need to be understood and appeased, in order to build this order.
Moreover… this “egg of the ley lines,” though merely symbolic, represents a planetary will that he has yet to fully comprehend and control. Incorporating it into his observation is more beneficial than harmful.
In a flash, Lind made his decision.
He spoke slowly, his voice echoing clearly throughout the hall: "The Mother of a Thousand Roots is right. The establishment of a new order should be more inclusive."
He looked at Muradin and Serasan:
"Your Majesty Muradin, Elder Serasan, since you are here, please take a seat. The skills of the dwarves and the wisdom of the Naga are indispensable for building a complete world order."
He looked at the stone again, his tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable certainty:
“This ‘Egg of the Earth’ is a manifestation of the world’s will, and therefore has the right to be present. It needs no words; its very existence is a ‘voice’ that we need to hear.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, and the three empty chairs reserved next to the round table glowed slightly, extending a silent invitation.
Muradin visibly relaxed, straightened his back, and with the stubbornness and dignity unique to dwarves, strode to a chair, sat down heavily, and couldn't help but secretly glare at Urano's crystal skeleton.
Elder Serasan, feeling as if granted a pardon, carefully slid to another chair, her posture respectful and humble.
The round stone was gently lifted by Alessia's roots and placed on the last chair. It sat there quietly, unchanged, yet it seemed to add a slight "weight" to the entire round table.
Urano's crystalline remains snorted coldly, which could be considered an acceptance of the result, but the scorching aura emanating from his body indicated that he was not entirely satisfied.
Alessia's crystalline remains nodded slightly, casting an approving glance at Lind.
Amaserak's dragon-shaped crystal remains remained silent, but within that stagnant majesty, there seemed to be a hint of approval for Lind's handling of the situation.
The attendees finally arrived at the round table.
The seven seats represent:
The Godslayer and the Source of Change – Lind Truck.
Urano the Goldenmane Watcher, Lord of Beasts and Wilderness.
A thousand roots and Mother Nature – Elessia.
Dragons and the Rock of Eternity - Amarshrak.
Muradin Bronzebeard, the Mountain King and King of Forging (representing the dwarves and the Soulsmith demigods behind them).
Song of the Abyss and the Ocean – Elder Serasan (representing the Naga and the Lord of the Tides).
The Earth and the Sleeping Voice – The Egg of the Earth's Veins (symbolizing the will of the planet).
A meeting that brought together representatives of almost all the top powers on the continent of Tiel officially began at the core of the secluded Starfire Base.
Linde surveyed the entire area, his gaze finally settling on the unremarkable stone, and he thought to himself:
"The pieces are all ready. Now... it's time to discuss the board and the rules."
He cleared his throat, preparing to unveil his long-conceived framework for a "new order".
Beneath the conference table, undercurrents still surged. Each participant, carrying their own demands and calculations, was about to engage in a game of strategy at this round table that would determine their future.
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