I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

The complex vines and twisted tree trunks seemed to congeal like melted wax, forming a bizarre face full of wrinkles, with two enormous eyes embedded on either side.

These were the eyes of the God of War.

The Forest Elder stood respectfully before the tree-face he had crafted, but his reverence was not for those two massive eyeballs. The deity truly worthy of his respect was the suited man stepping into the swamp.

This slender humanoid figure was holding a heavy, giant metal coffin. Although the coffin was in the standard Ancient Titan style, its proportions were several times larger than a normal coffin. However, it did not contain the body of a deceased Ancient Titan hero, but rather the "heart" of the God of War.

During the Titan Era, the God of War sided with the weaker human faction to perpetuate conflict, but he did not immediately join the human ranks. Instead, he made several demands, including that the Titan Empire use its unique technology to materialize his "heart," preserve it with the most advanced techniques, and process it specially so that it could be revived at the peak of war.

This item was not originally in Seraphin's possession, so he expended considerable resources to obtain it in a short period. The heart was initially beyond his reach, located in the Northern Federation.

Therefore, he sought out the Sverdkiir people—who secretly controlled the North while hidden among modern humans. He used past favors to gain their assistance, having them unearth the heart that the Ancient Titan Empire had buried deep underground and deliver it to him.

These ancient humans had a completely different mindset from modern humans, as they held promises in extremely high regard and would not break oaths as casually as humans. Seraphin had originally planned to have them provide assistance when he truly went to war with humanity, a request more significant than the favors he had granted.

But Seraphin was confident that the Sverdkiir would agree, because the terrifying race now ruling the world, "humans," had once been on their menu, even their most important source of nutrition. Consuming human brains allowed them to maintain their intelligence, which was slightly lower than humans, at a relatively high level, and human flesh and blood strengthened their bodies. Therefore, as long as Seraphin promised them enough Southern Federation people, they would bare their fangs at humanity.

Besides this, Seraphin also commissioned the God of the Second Freedom, the "Wind God," to help him obtain the God of War's "voice" in exchange for a promise not to actively threaten his life and activities for a thousand years.

The God of War had hidden his voice in the wind.

And he buried these, along with the body parts he had collected, throughout this forest—an area recently modified by the Forest Elder. If anyone were to look down from above, they would be surprised to find that the forest resembled the body of some humanoid creature.

However, Seraphin's purpose in doing this was not to revive the God of War. These parts alone were not enough to truly call back this powerful ancient deity to the world. In fact, without enough "war" in the world, he couldn't even open the Titan-made coffin, let alone retrieve the War God's heart.

Seraphin gently lowered the coffin into the swamp before him.

His primary goal was to prepare for the upcoming war.

To obtain these items, he had expended three extremely precious resources: granting freedom to the Wind God, fulfilling his promise to the Sverdkiir, and making a pledge to the Holy Church.

Three of his ten fingers were broken.

He naturally had his reasons for doing so. Although the Federation had a tendency to collect various items, acquiring the Eye of War was not particularly special or indicative of any danger.

He understood the current world situation very well. The Federation, the Holy Church, the Company, the Titans, and various other forces posed no threat to him. After years of careful, covert planning, none of these organizations had any reason or power to oppose the gods.

The only problematic individual had been suppressed by several powerful figures, including himself.

But perhaps because of various seemingly minor events over the past few hundred years—the emergence of the Mithras Order, the existence of the Divine Firmament, the rise of the Federation, the dissolution of the Company, the prosperity of the Holy Church—their simultaneous occurrence in this era made Seraphin sense something unusual, making him aware of the scent of war.

Although he did not know who his true opponent was—the Divine Firmament, the Federation, the Holy Church, the Titans, the recently emerged Mithras Order, or even Hell and the Company were all possibilities—the identity of the opponent was not important.

Knowing that an opponent existed was enough.

Seraphin walked to the twisted face made of trees.

"My most prized child, brother of blood and death, messenger of all wars, if I am now in a true war, then open your eyes."

The two eyeballs, which already seemed alive, suddenly blinked. Then, a breeze carrying the scent of decay gently brushed Seraphin's face, and a weak voice followed:

"Seraphin, what do you want?"

The God of War's tone was full of vigilance. Upon sensing that it was this cunning god who had awakened him, the worst possible idea arose in his mind, and he began to worry about what Seraphin might do.

But Seraphin simply asked sincerely:

"So, you see it? Has war found me?"

The God of War stared at Seraphin for a moment, then continued:

"Yes, you are being targeted, but I will not say who is after you."

Seraphin revealed a confident expression:

"So, the opponent is generally weaker than me, so it's not the Divine Firmament."

The God of War did not deny it:

"This is not the war I am waiting for. It is not yet time for me to awaken."

"I have my own plans." But Seraphin did not intend to let him leave, and instead turned to the Forest Elder and nodded. "It is done."

With his order, the God of War closed his eyes again.

The Forest Elder said respectfully:

"What preparations should I make? Perhaps I can find a way to fuse its divine power and join the battle..."

Seraphin raised his hand to interrupt him:

"No, I do not need your strength. If anyone can defeat me, then you will almost certainly be unable to influence the fate of this battle. I will not lose. I am the Undying God..."

"I need you to take this body to the Underworld and not return until you receive my orders."

The Forest God revealed a surprised expression:

"Master, what can I do by taking it to the Underworld?"

Seraphin replied:

"I will not lose, but if I truly fall into slumber, then I must leave a spark for the gods."

Preparing for failure—that is the reason for his invincibility.

I'm convinced. The God of War's eyes are complete, and something is about to go wrong with me.