A rainstorm of light arced outwards from the main body of the Five Lands’ infantry, falling upon the approaching second wave of spectres. A grey shimmer appeared in front of those spectres a moment later, blocking the incoming attacks.

Immediately afterwards, the second wave of spectres returned fire, making use of their superior mobility to dodge the attacks from the Five Lands’ infantry. The latter, which had the East’s fliers — some Air Army or whatnot — guarding over it, hunkered down in defence, and the exchange of gunfire began in earnest.

This was yet another new development from the weaker spectres. Like the combatants of the Five Lands, the enemy’s capabilities varied from group to group, but the weakest types of spectres had evolved to include a bunch of ranged attacks.

Both sides had peashooters, in other words.

“Still, these peashooters can hurt,” Gemini muttered, before renewing his blessing on Lila’s sword. It was a lot more subtle than the overt attacks Thasvia had, and it was meaningful to him that he could protect Lila even from afar.

“They’ll bounce right off your wife’s defences, so I seriously don’t know what you’re worried about,” Thasvia replied, before snapping her fingers once. Far below them, at the lower airzone, the massed spectres that were exchanging fire stumbled. A bunch of soldiers far below immediately focused on the gaps that had appeared in the spectres’ defence, nailing hundreds of them on the spot.

“No reaction,” said Gemini. “That level of support should be fine. Or is it the targeted group that’s the issue?”

“Is the Abyss Sovereign reacting automatically? Like a clone or a relegated function?” Thasvia crossed her arms. “As expected of the enemy. How unpredictable.”

“Don’t forget that there’s apparently an encirclement of invisible spectres all around the continent. To control this many spectres at once…I don’t think he has much to spare on his side either.” Gemini glanced up at the crimson firmament, an odd yet nostalgic feeling in his heart. It was the feeling he got from another world and in another time, back when things like examinations were his main concerns.

Predicting the questions and topics of examination papers. It was this very sensation, albeit modified.

A weird expression crawled up his face as an errant thoughtstrand spun to life, filling up the rest of the analogy.

Millions of students, who represented their respective nations, trying to prove that they didn’t need a blank slate to live in peace. Gemini, and the other great gods would be acting as teachers in a really bad school, with Hereward one of the teachers that had taken leave due to being traumatised from teaching.

“And Liamar would be the teacher that collapsed from overwork,” Gemini muttered out loud.

Thasvia turned her emerald eyes onto him. “What’s that about teachers and overwork?”

“I was thinking about examinations,” Gemini replied. “And teachers. Did you know that Gaius was actually a lecturer back at Heritage Basestation? That was years ago, shortly after the Second Extermination concluded. After that, Heritage Basestation came under attack by Nox, and we were forced to flee.”

“A lecturer?” Interest emanated out of the great god. “Go on. What did he teach?”

“I don’t know that much. I think it was combat, though.” Gemini yawned. “The little guy — a kid at thirteen — beat up one of the Beastfolk Congress’ senators in a fair duel, and then nabbed the job.”

“Maybe he has some subconscious identity as a teacher, then,” Thasvia noted. “Good to know, but I don’t think it’s really useful.”

“Really?” Gemini folded his arms. “I don’t think so, though. It might be an avenue of victory, or at least weakening his will. If the Five Lands can show that they can go on perfectly without his teachings, that his care as a teacher is too stifling and overbearing, his will might just weaken.”

“We’re speaking in theoretics here,” Thasvia replied. “But let’s entertain your suggestion for a moment. What should we do, if we follow your advice?”

“First, the allied expedition must engage in cross-cultural exchanges. Everyone must sincerely learn from their fellows in another state, putting down any past vengeances in favour of a true reconciliation,” said Gemini.

“In the middle of an advance.”

“Yes. In the middle of this advance. I hate to say it, but the enemy isn’t…well, a bad guy. He’s just an extremist.” Gemini glanced at the soldiers far below them, who were struggling together.

“An arguably justified extremist,” Thasvia replied. “And his world, if not for the potential dangers we great gods fear, is not…that bad. It’s a world where everyone doesn’t want for anything. It’s a utopia. How do we argue against that? Right now, the people who matter are lying to the people who move things. If the truth comes out…”

“Yes.” Gemini looked up, conflicted. There was something inherently wrong about the Abyss Sovereign’s approach to solving the problems of Orb today, but he didn’t quite know what it was. On the other hand, it was a very sound solution, to the point that Gemini would have supported it, if not for the possibility of Orb being destroyed by Celestia’s creation.

“What’s wrong?”

“As someone who has been on both sides of a war, I should find his solution acceptable. But I don’t. Just what is it that makes me hesitant about supporting the Abyss Sovereign?” Gemini asked out loud. “Why do I not like his solution? Everything tells me that I should, but there’s this little bit in my mind that hates it. With a passion.”

“That little bit?”

“Yeah,” Gemini nodded. “I’m sure everyone else here, who’s resisting the promise of utopia, also has some variant of this little bit.”

“I don’t really see that little bit, though. And the others too.”

“Maybe it’s something exclusive to mortals?” Gemini frowned.

“Perhaps.” Thasvia watched as the Five Lands’ Knights and Lords crushed the last of their opponents, before taking less than fifteen minutes to wipe out the low-level infantry. “Do you want to bring this up to the War Council?”

“We’re great gods of Orb,” Gemini replied. “They’ll have to show up, whether they like it or not.”

“How domineering…”