"Null Abysmal," Sora said evenly, her voice carrying across the chamber. "It is now your turn."
Null simply nodded. His movements, deliberate and restrained, carried him toward the pedestal. The atmosphere shifted, expectation sharpened by Kouki's earlier display. Priests leaned forward, guards tightened their grips on their spears. Even Kouki's attention sharpened, curiosity burning behind his confident facade.
Null raised his hand. For a fleeting instant, his fingers hesitated—a subtle tremor of nervousness—before settling against the crystal's surface.
The World Connection Crystal flared. Light surged—brief, sharp, promising—then dimmed instantly. The glow imploded like a candle snuffed by the unseen. The crystal returned to its dormant state, silent and inert, its inner light fading to a faint, lightless sheen.
"…Huh?" A priest blinked, staring at the crystal in disbelief. Another frowned, tapping a rune array that stubbornly refused to respond. "That's impossible," A third whispered. "There should at least be a resonance…"
Sora's brow furrowed, her blue eyes fixed on the crystal, willing it to respond. But the crystal remained dark.
Null slowly withdrew his hand, looking from the crystal to his own palm.
"…Did something go wrong?" he asked quietly.
Sora inhaled.
"Null-san. Please excuse us. This… is unexpected." She inclined her head toward him—an awkward, apologetic gesture, unbefitting a Saintess. "There may be an irregularity with the World Connection Crystal," she continued. "Elder Ozag, verify its condition at once."
At her command, a senior priest in silver-threaded robes pressed his staff against the pedestal. Runes ignited along its length as he began a thorough inspection, fingers moving with practiced precision.
"Leyline alignment… stable."
"Divine channel… open."
"Resonance capacity… intact."
The elder frowned, then straightened. "…Saintess," he said slowly, confusion evident, "the World Connection Crystal functions perfectly. No faults, no disruptions. Its capacity remains unchanged."
Sora's fingers clenched within her sleeves. "No abnormalities whatsoever?" she asked.
"None," Elder Ozag replied firmly. "By all measures, the crystal responded as it always does. The connection initiated… and then ceased."
Unease rippled through the chamber.
Sora fell silent, her gaze drifting back to Null—standing quietly before the pedestal, expression subdued, unreadable.
Her thoughts raced. 'Impossible'
In all recorded history, every summoned hero received a gift, minor or great. To receive nothing… Her blue eyes narrowed, perplexity deepening. 'Unprecedented in scripture. Unheard of in the annals of summoning rites'.
"…Pfft—ahahaha!"
Several heads snapped toward the sound.
Kouki clutched his stomach, his laughter echoing, golden eyes gleaming with unrestrained amusement. "Did you see that?" he crowed. "The crystal didn't even respond."
He straightened, wiping a feigned tear from his eye, his laughter edged with ridicule.
"Seriously?" he scoffed, glancing at Null. "You were summoned as a 'hero' and the World just… ignored you?"
A few priests shifted uncomfortably. One guard frowned, but none spoke.
Kouki tapped his chest lightly. "I guess that settles it. I'm the one the World chose." His grin widened, sharp with pride.
"Sovereign Ascension. The rarest of the rare." He mocked. "And you?" He gestured vaguely toward the dormant crystal. "Nothing."
Kouki shook his head, disbelief mixed with condescension. 'How dare this bastard have a more handsome face than me'. Kouki thought bitterly. 'Serves him right'.
"That's enough, Mr. Kouki."
Sora's voice cut through the chamber. Still soft, still composed, but the warmth that had colored it vanished completely.
The air seemed to tighten as she turned toward him, blue eyes no longer gentle, but clear and unyielding. Kouki's laughter faltered.
"Your reaction," she said evenly, "is unbecoming of one who has received the World's favor." Her gaze sharpened, carrying the quiet authority of both Saintess and representative of the Divine Sanctum.
"To mock another summoned individual—especially under circumstances we do not yet understand—is neither heroic nor acceptable."
Kouki opened his mouth. "But—"
She raised a hand. Silence fell instantly. "Do not mistake power for entitlement," Sora continued, her tone now unmistakably cold. "The World grants blessings to aid this realm, not to inflate one's ego."
Several priests lowered their heads. Even the guards straightened, sensing the shift. Her gaze flicked briefly toward Null, who showed no reaction to the scorn, staring absently into space.
"This summoning was conducted at great cost and grave risk," Sora said. "Every individual brought here is under the protection of the Divine Church until their role is properly determined—"
She stepped closer, voice lowering just enough to sting. "Your blessing does not grant you the right to demean others."
Kouki's grin stiffened. His confidence wavered, just slightly, under the weight of her stare.
"…Understood?" Sora asked. A tense pause followed.
"Yeah," Kouki muttered at last, looking away. "I get it."
Sora held his gaze a moment longer, ensuring the message settled, then turned back toward Null. Her expression softened again—but something cautious lingered beneath it now.
"Null-san," she said softly, "I apologize for what you have witnessed."
"This anomaly will be investigated thoroughly," Sora continued. "Until then, you will be treated with the same respect and protection as any other summoned individual."
The chamber remained hushed. And in that silence, the unanswered question lingered heavier than any verdict: Why had the World remained silent?