The next day.
In the largest open plaza within the tribe's stone cave, the place was teeming with people.
Over two thousand members of the tribe, including the elderly, women, and children, had all dropped what they were doing and gathered here upon receiving the notice.
Everyone was quietly conversing with those they were familiar with, speculating about the reason for this full assembly.
The last time every member of the tribe had been gathered like this was decades ago, when discussions about relocating the tribe took place.
Only when the tribe faced matters of life and death would the chief summon every single member.
At other times, even if there was something important to discuss, it would at most involve meetings with the mid- and high-ranking members of the tribe—it would never cause such a commotion.
Because of this, most people present wore worried expressions, with deep unease hidden in their eyes.
Once again, what disaster was humanity going to face?
The aftershocks of the Great War? The dwindling prey in the Beast Grounds? Or had their base been exposed to the eyes of other races?
Regardless of which possibility it was, all of them instilled deep fear.
"Sister Couronnee, do you know what's going on?"
Beside Couronnee, a frail little girl tugged at her clothing and timidly asked, "Has our tribe run into trouble again? Can't Chief Riku fix it?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know either."
Couronnee frowned slightly and gently patted the girl's head, trying to offer a little comfort. "But I don't believe Riku summoned everyone to announce bad news. There's no point in baseless speculation—let's wait for him to explain himself."
Just a few hours earlier, while she had still been asleep in her room, Riku had suddenly knocked on her door and woken her up.
Before she could react to what was happening, Riku didn't offer any explanation. He simply left behind an order for her to summon all the tribe members and hurried off.
Couronnee and Riku had known each other since childhood. Among everyone in the tribe, they were the most familiar with each other.
That's why Couronnee could keenly sense from Riku behavior and demeanor that this gathering wasn't to deliver bad news.
But as for what exactly the news was, she had no way of knowing.
Amid the buzz of chatter, Riku figure finally emerged from one of the passages.
What surprised the tribe members was that following closely behind him were two unfamiliar outsiders.
One was a girl wrapped completely in a coat, named Schwi, and the other was a cold and distant-looking girl, Origami Tobiichi.
These two had only joined the tribe two weeks ago, so most of the tribe members didn't know much about them.
All they knew was that these two girls seemed to be survivors from a destroyed human tribe, and that the chief valued them highly.
Though the crowd had no idea what was going on, trust in Riku had long become a consensus within the tribe. So when they saw him appear, the noise gradually quieted.
Over two thousand humans stood scattered across the plaza, all eyes turning toward Riku, who was ascending a makeshift platform, with Schwi and Origami Tobiichi following him.
"The reason I've gathered all of you," Riku began solemnly from the platform, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of faces below, "is, as many of you may have guessed, to announce something that will determine the fate of our tribe."
Taking a deep breath, he bowed deeply to the people below.
"First, I must apologize to all of you," Riku said. "As your chief, as the person you've entrusted your trust in, I made a decision on behalf of everyone without consulting you. I sincerely apologize."
With those words, silence fell over the crowd.
No one had expected Riku to open with such a statement.
People glanced at one another, their expressions becoming somewhat complicated.
"Hey, what's the point in saying that now?"
A burly man chuckled twice and shouted with a booming voice, "Wasn't the whole reason we made you chief so you could make decisions for us short-sighted idiots?"
"Exactly! If it weren't for the decisions you made, our tribe wouldn't have gotten this far!"
"Chief, save the formalities—just tell us what's going on."
"We all believe that your decision is the right one, Riku!"
Voices rang out one after another, and Riku, who had been feeling anxious, suddenly felt as if he had taken a calming pill.
Standing upright once more, he looked at his people, feeling his nose tingle with emotion.
Not one person here questioned his decision.
Even without knowing the situation, they still gave him their full trust.
Seeing that his people trusted and supported him so deeply, Riku decided to forgo the long speech he had prepared in his mind and spoke plainly:
"Everyone, we humans will intervene in the Great War."
In an instant, the entire crowd fell silent again.
From their expressions, one could see shock, confusion, and doubt.
But still, no one chose to question it. They waited patiently for the young chief's next words.
"Show them who you are."
Riku stepped aside, allowing Schwi and Origami Tobiichi to stand at the center of the platform.
The next moment, Schwi removed her coat, and Origami inconspicuous scavenger disguise transformed.
Under the people's puzzled and uncertain gazes, they no longer concealed their identities and revealed their true selves to the humans.
The Metatron : Kadour and the Metatron : Mal'akh appeared before their eyes.
"Ex-Machina, Analysis Model, Serial No. üc207Pr4f57t9, currently referred to as Schwi."
"Spirit, the collective will of all Spirit, Origami Tobiichi."
A wave of panic and murmuring rippled through the crowd.
If it had been under normal circumstances, they would have fled as far as possible by now.
Especially that one who claimed to be an Spirit but looked like a Flugel (winged race)—that alone sparked a deep fear in them.
If not for the fact that their chief clearly trusted these two non-humans, they would never have remained standing still.
"I made a separate agreement with each of them. The matter I said would affect the tribe's fate is the one made with Origami Tobiichi."
Once the crowd had calmed down a bit, Riku continued: "From this moment on, our tribe will become followers and vassals of the Spirit Main God—Mio Takamiya. In return, the Elves will form an alliance with us, offering their protection and power."
With that, his voice paused briefly.
Raising his hand, threads of black power converged in his palm, forming a black arrow.
In the next moment, the black arrow shot forward, piercing through the stone wall of the plaza.
"Everyone, the time to rise has come."
At that moment, Riku pale purple eyes were completely engulfed in darkness, yet they still sparkled with light.
"Let us join this endless war—and challenge the arrogant gods and races!"