In the Imperial City, within the area where Shane of the Bigusler Family resided, in a room.
Just when the "Death Sun" fell from the sky above the Imperial City, the master and servant within this room—one's complexion changed drastically, the other's eyes narrowed—and they left the room together.
And as a figure, carrying brilliant light and dazzling gold, collided with the "Death Sun" in the sky, producing the most terrifying shockwaves that swept across the entire Imperial City, a ripple-like shimmer appeared outside the Bigusler Family's residence, enveloping the entire estate.
The shock was blocked by this layer of ripples.
Clearly, the master and servant who left the room had done all this.
Or rather, Laischa noticed the shockwaves and thus erected a magical barrier, protecting the estate.
This allowed the Bigusler Family to endure those terrible shockwaves and also kept the little girl, who lay in bed with her dark healthy complexion, safe and sound.
However, just when the culprit behind the "Death Sun" was slain by the Hero, this little girl, who had lain there for days without waking, opened her eyes.
Her eyes were calm as still water.
The girl murmured softly.
Immediately, laughter entered the girl's ears.
"Yes, it's over. I wonder if you are satisfied?"
Accompanying that statement, several figures appeared in unison.
Most of the figures were cloaked in black, their true faces unseen, their auras obscure, yet one could vaguely feel a terrifying pressure emanating from them.
But these people all respectfully protected a Demon Clan man who stood among them, appearing gentle and refined, without a hint of imposing aura, almost like an ordinary person, smiling at the girl.
The girl sat up, her gaze likewise resting on the Demon Clan man.
Seeing this, the Demon Clan man bowed politely.
"This must be our first meeting," the Demon Clan man said courteously, "I am pleased to meet you, I am Danass, Ambassador of the [Star] from the Primordial Demon of the Old Demon Clan Faction."
The girl remained impassive.
"I know you," she said indifferently. "I share a mind connection with Moro, and she has already told me that she cooperated with the Primordial Demon of the Old Demon Clan Faction, and with the support of the [Star] Ambassador, among the three Ambassadors of [Sun], [Moon], and [Star], planned great endeavors together. That's you, isn't it?"
"Yes," Danass laughed and nodded, saying, "A Necromancer, once suppressed by the Life Goddess Anima thousands of years ago, cultivated an entity known as the Death Spirit thousands of years ago. The uniqueness and potential of that existence were of considerable attraction to us, the Old Demon Clan Faction, which was established in the same period. We sought that existence for nearly a thousand years until recently, when we discovered Miss Moro's existence and thereby established a cooperative relationship with her."
Saying so, Danass couldn't help but laugh.
"At that time, I thought Miss Moro was the existence we had been seeking for a thousand years."
"Until recently, I discovered that Miss Moro was merely your representative."
"The true owner of the Great Spirit Body, the Princess of Ereiy."
At Danass's words, Lani raised her eyebrows.
It was only then that Lani seemed to look at Danass somewhat seriously.
"How did you know that child was my representative?" Lani seemed a bit interested.
Danass laughed unconcernedly.
"It's quite simple, Princess Lani," Danass spoke as if giving a lecture. "Because the existence known as the Death Spirit only has a high probability of manifesting when one has ultimate love, and, from this ultimate love, develops ultimate hate."
"Miss Moro indeed has ultimate hate, her antipathy and hatred toward the Hero are sometimes surprising to me."
"However, she possesses only hate. I have never seen the emotion of love in her."
From that point, Danass began to doubt whether Moro was truly the owner of the Death Spirit.
Consequently, Danass initiated an investigation.
As a result, Danass, just like Harvis, discovered the existence of Lani.
From that time, Danass knew Lani was the true bearer of the "Death Spirit."
"How strange," Lani said, tilting her head slightly, "My Unique Skill 'Colorless and Tasteless' can shield me from all prying eyes. Even the Nature Goddess Nudura couldn't detect my presence, nor could the discerning gaze of the Moon Demon Sela see through my reality. Even that hero couldn't discover my true power, yet you were able to find out, and even realized my former identity. It is truly inconceivable."
"This is just a logical deduction, Your Highness," Danass said with a shrug, "I do not possess remarkable strength like you do, nor do I have any Unique Skills. I was born without any talent, not favored by gods or the world, but I'm quite accomplished in the field of Life Creation Magic. The painstaking work I have produced with my own hands -- namely these Demon Warriors who protect me -- actually possesses the Skill 'Symbiosis'. In a state of doubt, it was only natural I would not overlook the fact that Miss Moro has this skill."
Thus, Danass knew behind Moro there must be another existence, not just the real owner of the Great Spirit Body but also, through the Skill 'Symbiosis', sharing the characteristics of the Great Spirit Body and her own power with Moro.
'Symbiosis' is a Skill that can only be learned by those with a particularly deep connection to life, typically found in twins or similar beings. Ordinary people simply cannot learn it, not even the God and Demon Clans.
Furthermore, since Moro was an Ereiyans, all Danass needed to do was to follow this clue in his investigation to discover some truths.
"In the past, there was a very famous princess in Ereiy, not only deeply beloved by the Ereiy King but also deeply rooted in love with the hero Mithra from a thousand years ago."
Danass elaborated slowly.
"It is said that the princess survived the disaster of Ereiy and was later taken away by the guilt-ridden hero."
"It is said that the princess accompanied the hero throughout his life, even serving him in the guise of a maid, and yet she never managed to earn the hero's love."
"The hero's feelings for her were solely guilt. He decided to be with her after being rejected by the Elf Clan's Queen. Disheartened, he resolved to make it up to the princess and spent his life with her."
"However, until the end, the hero never loved her, even when he decided to sacrifice himself to leave his Holy Sword for the Mitra Kingdom, ignoring the princess's attempts to stop him."
"So, the princess gave up and left, disappearing without a trace, never to return to the Mitra Kingdom."
Danass looked at Lani's calm face.
"Some say that she found a place to live in seclusion, spending her life there."
"Some say that she might have chosen to die of a broken heart, quietly ending her life somewhere unknown."
"But, I think the princess who admired the hero for his brave deeds since her childhood, who loved the hero deeply, who revealed the Demon Clan's plot within Ereiy to the hero, indirectly leading to her own kingdom's destruction, and who never received the hero's love despite accompanying him throughout his life, who gave everything and lost everything, including the hero she deeply loved, must ultimately hold unparalleled hatred in her heart."
This was the extreme hate born from extreme love, the emotion that the Great Spirit Body truly needed.
"It is said that there was a maid who stayed by the princess's side," Danass said, staring intently at Lani as if trying to glean something from her eyes and expression, "The Ereiy Royal Family always had such a shadowy attendant."
"They (She/He) are selected after a special Magic Ceremony unique to Ereiy, which is now lost. They become Shadow Warriors for the Royal Family, standing in for them in inconvenient situations or at dangerous events."
"As a result, they (She/He) share many similarities with the attending royalty."
"Some in appearance."
"Some in Magic Power."
"And some even have Life Force fluctuations that are nearly identical."
Considering this, it was understandable how Moro could have learned the Skill 'Symbiosis'.
Furthermore, given that Moro had secretly sent people to protect Lani and had been watching her closely, Danass discovered Lani and came up with this bold hypothesis.
"Miss Moro is your attendant, right?" Danass confidently stated, "After you were transformed into the Great Spirit Body, she has always been by your side, sharing in your Great Spirit Body through the 'Symbiosis' Skill, thereby surviving a thousand years with you."
Moro's hatred for the hero was all because of Lani.
Because of her master's fate, the maid grew to completely hate the hero, and everything related to him.
As for Lani, she had always stayed behind the scenes, never coming forward.
In other words, Lani was the deepest hidden mastermind.
"You want the Branch of Resurgence to compensate for the defects of the Great Spirit Body, don't you?" Danass said with a sigh, "The existence who claims to be the High Priest does have some tricks, creating a life outside the realm of life to cleverly avoid the limits of life, absurdly attempting to make the 'Death Spirit' achieve a Transcendent Body."
"But after all, she is a frog at the bottom of the well, possessing talent without insight, and being cowardly and powerless. How could she possibly realize that such an existence, even if created, would not be allowed by the world to grow?"
The various laws of the world's "Reason" are not mere decorations.
Only life has levels; non-life lacks the concept of levels. This is a rule of "Reason."
Hence, Lani needs the Branch of Resurgence.