However, just when the Shruti believed they had the upper hand, the kitsune decisively struck back. The Shruti could hardly believe that a Clan they couldn't have been more familiar with changed so drastically in just 10 years.

It couldn't be said that they had suddenly become powerful. Rather, they were organized.

They began to use their Void Tunnel creating abilities to their advantage. Suddenly, void tunnels the Shruti had never thought existed began to pop up in droves. The Shruti suffered so many pincer and surprise attacks under such tactics that they were continuously pushed onto their back foots.

Territory the Shruti believed they had had a good enough claim on was ripped from their grasp. Steadily, but surely, they were pushed out of Kitsune Territory, beaten and bloodied.

This loss alone was demoralizing enough The mighty Shruti war machine slapped back by beasts who didn't dare to enter their true forms for fear of being coddled like puppies But, matters were destined to become worse.

It was then that mysterious backers of the Kitsune suddenly appeared. They were warriors of such unbridled, unrestrained power that even the elders of the Shruti Clan could only die under their hands one after another.

The Shruti had no choice but to run, pushing their defensive lines as far back as they dared and using the cultivation cap of the Gates to their advantage. If it wasn't for Saru's key wielding abilities, there was no doubt, the Shruti Clan would have lost several universes in an instant.

This matter would be mostly ignored But it was a precursor to a lurking trouble A hidden warning Or, maybe it wasn't so hidden at all.

...

"What do you think?" Amphorae turned her gaze toward Lyla. The first day of the parliament gathering had come to a close. Oddly enough, despite being aware that cultivators of their level had no need for sleep or rest, King Star called for the end of the meeting, claiming the 'Sun had set'.

Hearing such a ridiculous excuse, it was obvious to anyone with half a brain he wanted to talk about the matter surrounding the Sacharros with his closest confidant.

Currently, the three women were within living quarters arranged by the Star Clan, but Amphorae wasn't even remotely worried about being spied on with Luna here. Considering they were already aware of that Apollos character, this obviously included him as well.

"His cultivation is much higher than mine, so I can only read surface thoughts, but at the very least, he wasn't lying about suffering humiliation at the hands of the Sprite Alliance. What he didn't mention, however, was that this humiliation occurred several generations ago. The current upper echelon of the Star Clan, aside from a small minority, hardly cares about this slight any longer.

"Their only goal is to gather up power so that they can become the sixth pillar of the Sprite Alliance."

"So they didn't recognize Sister Luna?"

"No. They weren't qualified to know Big Sister Luna's face, plus they haven't been back to the Sprite Alliance in several generations. However, they are still doing the bidding of the Sprite Alliance."

Both Luna and Amphorae raised an eyebrow, seemingly very interested in this fact.

"The Heaven's Child, Apollos, was sent by the Sprite Alliance. It was he who reaffirmed their ties with the Star Clan and he even reached out a hand to the Five Blade Clans as well. Also, Apollos was only so brazenly exposed here because the Star Clan is confident in their ability to protect him. Within the Sprite Alliance, he was very carefully hidden, so he also doesn't know Big Sister Luna's face."

"What's their purpose?"

"It's exactly as they've said. They're doing everything out in the open. They want to take as much control over as much territory as they can in as little time as possible. The proposal of this Federation is the easiest means by which they can do this. If the Sprite Alliance takes control of the 100+ quadrants of our tower quadrants, not only with they gain sole ownership of the Epistemic Towers, they'll also gain enough Faith such that they won't have to fear the Sapientia and Nephilim any further.

"The issue is that they're also aware other outer powers are trying to dip their hands into our territory as well. In fact, it seems that all of them have with the exception of the Nephilim, although the actions of the Devil Quadrants have been pretty well hidden.

"Big Brother dealing with the Sapientia so swiftly and harshly actually helped the Sprites in this case."

Amphorae fell into her thoughts for a moment.

"Are you limited in seeing through Apollos' thoughts?"

"Both yes and no Before he disappeared into the void, reading his thoughts was very easy, it was no different than reading the thoughts of a mortal. But, after he shrouded himself in that strange power and disappeared, I could no longer read his thoughts as easy.

"With our appearance, however, he will be more cautious. I don't think he'll appear again without protecting himself"

Amphorae nodded. "Alright. After ensuring that everything is at least alright on the surface here, we'll leave the final decision of Lord Husband. I'm sure he has some idea of what might be going on here."

Hearing Amphorae's words Luna opened her small mouth, but hesitated to speak.

"Is there something else?"

" I'm not sure how to describe it But, when I was reading Apollos' thoughts, before he shrouded himself, his mind was incredibly difficult to interpret. It felt like reading through Old English, except incredibly layered, as though he thinking the same thoughts and different thoughts all at the same time and in several different ways.

"Even his own name Usually, when I read a person's thoughts and they think of themselves, they aren't saying their own name in their heads. Instead, they project an image of themselves and subconsciously understand that this is a reflection of who they are. But Apollos refers to himself by this name, but also simultaneously thinks of himself as a godly archer, a musician, the sun, a poet and even an oracle."