As soon as Lord Alchemy and Prime Devourer departed, Ancestor Sealing stirred.
He rose leisurely from his seat at the fortress's core, his long brown beard grazing the dark folds of his midnight robes as he made his way toward the largest of the sealed orbs drifting nearby.
From the shadows of the hall, Ash stayed hidden, watching quietly.
Ancestor Sealing paused before the largest of the colossal orbs, its surface swirling with a faint, oppressive darkness that seemed to devour even the glow of the surrounding runes.
He rested a hand against it, his voice low and thoughtful, as if speaking only to himself.
"Male… you were never special," he murmured, thinking of his champion.
Like the others, he was a participant in the game.
The difference was that no one knew he was playing—not even the person serving as his placeholder.
He took part in the Organisms' games with Male as his chosen champion, but his motives had nothing to do with Mana Stones.
