My Goddess is Good at Pretending

In the vast expanse of the nameless desert, where shifting sands stretched endlessly beneath an unforgiving sun, an eerie phenomenon unfolded.

An ancient mausoleum emerged from the depths of the dunes, enveloped by a thin layer of crystal clear barrier.

As the mausoleum materialized amidst the swirling sands, its imposing silhouette cast a foreboding shadow across the desolate landscape. The air grew thick with otherworldly dark energy, blocking the sunlight from the mausoleum.

When the unexpected sight came to light, whispers of the mausoleum’s origin spread like wildfire. Some spoke of ancient legends foretelling the emergence of a long-forgotten tomb, while others guessed the darker, more sinister forces at play.

Speculation went rampant and many believed that it was a gateway to another dimension

An automatic quest was announced in the Guardian Alliance, and various powerhouses from all over the world sent their experts to uncover the mystery behind the mausoleum’s sudden emergence.

The sudden event also intrigued Elysia’s family members. Thus, they also visited that nameless desert.

"It should come from the Underworld’s fragment, but why isn’t there any realm fragment? The Underworld’s aura is so thick there." A black-haired girl flapped her dark wings and landed, reporting the situation after flying around the mausoleum.

"The realm fragment which only contains one place..." Fortuna tapped her chin while glancing at the docile-looking birdy girl.

Darkness managed to transform into a human form without any repercussions, thanks to Elysia’s help. Although the appearance was somewhat different from the devilish lady she remembered, she could tell it was still Darkness with many similar features, but with a more docile-looking appearance.

"What’s wrong with your gaze?" Darkness felt uncomfortable over Fortuna’s stare, feeling this Fate Goddess plotting something against her.

"Do you know whose ancient tomb it is?" Elysia crossed her arms, deep in thought.

Even though it was called a mausoleum, that mysterious yet eerie building also resembled a colosseum on the outermost walls but possessed a massive pyramid that covered the entire top. Not to mention, there were also many Ancient Greek pillars and columns.

"Who knows? Maybe the ancient demon lord or something? I don’t recognize that flag either. Should we pay a visit and confirm it?" Darkness shrugged her shoulders.

Elysia didn’t immediately answer, but she checked everyone’s expressions. Most of her family members were ready to explore the unknown.

"Let’s wait a moment. The local experts have arrived to inspect that mausoleum. Let’s see what will happen." Elena extended her hand aside and pointed to the approaching entourage.

Dozens of desert jeeps approached the mausoleum. More than a hundred people immediately spread out with their advanced equipment.

"They are the vanguard squad sent by Egypt. Nee, if it’s a demon lord’s tomb, then wouldn’t it be a maou-loseum?" Erina put down her binoculars and shared her thoughts with her sisters.

"O-oh~! How to spell it correctly again? Maousoleum? Mausoleum? Maosoloseum?" Sylvia had difficulty pronouncing the correct name.

Elysia went silent and cast a shady cloud to cover everyone from the scorching heat of the sunlight.

The vanguard squad approached the eerie mausoleum with caution, wary of the unknown dangers that awaited them.

Despite the air of trepidation that surrounded it, the mausoleum drew adventurers and scholars alike. Their curiosity was piqued by the promise of untold secrets hidden within its ancient walls. Yet, beneath their bravado lay an undercurrent of fear. Their primal instinct warned them of the lurking perils.

The gates were wide open. There were no guard statues or any kind of mechanism that would prevent anyone from entering.

"No Underworld’s portal can be detected. It has completely merged with our world." The nearby soldiers reported the scan results.

"Let’s gauge its secret and origin before reinforcements arrive. The lurking threat it brings in this chaotic era is too tremendous." The squad leader wore his desert robe and hopped down from his car, holding an anti-demon blaster.

He led his squad to venture into the mysterious ancient mausoleum. The mausoleum’s interior revealed a breathtaking display of majesty and grandeur. Halls adorned with intricate mosaics lead to chambers filled with priceless artifacts and relics of a bygone era, each shrouded in the dust of centuries.

As explorers delved deeper into the heart of the mausoleum, they uncovered echoes of the past. Whispers of long-dead souls trapped in an eternal cycle of torment and redemption.

They sought freedom and release, screaming with malevolent agony.

Yet, the mausoleum was not without its protectors. Guardians of stone and shadow, bound to their eternal duty by ancient oaths and unbreakable bonds, arose from their deep slumber in response to the arrival of the unwanted visitors.

Several ancient cores rose from the ground, binding several ancient ruins and forming a huge golem squad.

The ancient golems put their hands rooted into the ground as if ready to withstand the recoil.

"Retreat!" The squad leader cried out loud as he knew what would happen next was nothing but disaster.

*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*

Dozens of explosives were launched, exploding and destroying the formation of unwanted visitors. The ancient golems then began to move, using their long arms to throw unwanted visitors out.

A few minutes later, Elysia was taken aback because all those experts were thrown out of the mausoleum. They were more or less alive, but suffering from several bruises and broken bones, groaning in pain.

"The ancient ruin guards?" Gaia blinked her eyes in wonder.

As the thin barrier disappeared and sunlight shone on the pyramid’s surface, the entire mausoleum began to fade, returning to the sands from whence it came.

"Disappear?" Elena asked in bewilderment.

"It drives away the intruders and goes to a separate dimension underground, similar to those contested cultivation grounds." Ai came up with her speculation.

"I will check that ancient tomb." Darkness volunteered to check the situation.

"No, wait. Ai and Fortuna are the best candidates to confirm the truth in that kind of place. Find the tomb master and inquire their intentions." Gaia grabbed Darkness’ arm.

"Hm?" Ai emerged from Elysia’s shadow because her name was mentioned.

"Mm, please confirm the truth. If they are too dangerous, we will do something. If they only mind their own business, then we will leave them alone." Elysia nodded in reply, giving Ai her blessing.

"Leave it to me. We’ll be back in five minutes." Ai raised five fingers before vanishing into the void, taking Darkness and Fortuna with her.

"If it really is an ancient demon lord, Ai’s void proficiency can open the path to escape. Fortuna’s foresight will be very helpful in discovering the truth." Gaia muttered softly.

"What about Darkness? Her status is still gray in our group." Lifa rested her cheek on her palm.

"She is Fortuna’s former subordinate. Let Fortuna do something about it. If Darkness refuses, then we’ll leave her on Earth." Elena looked up and tapped her chin.

Elysia nodded in agreement. She summoned a camp and her family group waited in peace on a sand dune in the distance.

Several planes soon arrived with heavy equipment. The reinforcements came with a task to uncover the mystery, but Ai’s group was already a mile ahead in the separate underground dimension.

"Huh?" Ai found her void path twisted and somehow collapsed, sending her group being thrown into the middle of a colossium arena.

"Where are we?" Fortuna observed her surroundings.

Under the brilliance of the dark starry sky, several demonic creatures emerged from the spectator seats, landing in the arena with an intimidating entrance aura.

"That’s the end of your infiltration, intruders." A dark armored skeleton emerged from the void, speaking in his deep voice.

"You are... You are Rellmol, right?" Darkness widened her eyes in surprise.

"My name has been lost for a long time, but how did you know it, little girl?" The red light in the armored skeleton’s eye sockets sparkled brightly, feeling shocked.

"Hahaha! I knew it was you. You are a little boy, and your family are little girls! Can’t you recognize your old acquaintance? I am the ruler of Darkness Realm. Anyway, what are you doing here?" Darkness warped behind the armored skeleton and hit her old acquaintance’s back several times.

"..." Ai, Fortuna, and nearby demons were speechless.

They originally thought they would engage in a battle, but the situation suddenly became a bit strange and awkward.

"This... you are Darkness? Why have you become a bird-like girl? I am the Prime General who protected Marrokith. The Demon Lord Allmon’s tomb is not to be disturbed. Stop hitting my back. What are you doing here to begin with?" Rellmol took a safe distance, still feeling shocked.

"Well, we don’t mean to infiltrate or disturb your lord’s ancient tomb. But, my employer wants to know your intentions towards the world." Darkness shrugged her shoulders.

"Hum... Are you going to leave after that?" Rellmol considered something, feeling it would be wiser not to make strong enemies if he could send them off.

"Yes, we will go right away. Anyway, since when are you affiliated with this mausoleum?" Darkness nodded.

"Hum, it’s about two hundred years since I was here. We were going to resurrect our lord, but the Underworld suddenly collapsed and jeopardized our plans. We have no interest in the outside world, but we’ll look for those who caused the Underworld’s collapse and crush them!" Rellmol clenched his fist in fury.

"Hum-mm." The other Demon Generals nodded in agreement. They spared no effort to resurrect their lord, but everything was gone for naught because some stupid overlords caused the Underworld to collapse.

"Then, what about you? I remember you were a devilish succubus-like bat lady, but what’s wrong with your current form?" Rellmol recalled the past and felt it was very strange.

"Nah, I wasn’t as lucky as this mausoleum. My Darkness Realm also collapsed, and I died. Even after my reincarnation, I still couldn’t find my realm fragment. My palace is probably lost forever." Darkness sighed.

"My condolences..." Rellmol also felt it was such a huge loss.

Rellmol and Darkness exchanged some information. After that, Ai took Fortuna and Darkness away.

"I’m curious about who can make that unruly demoness become like a handmaiden. Also, do you know about the other two ladies?" Rellmol stroked his chin bone.

"No idea, but that blonde bimbo girl has a heavenly aura. She probably comes from Heaven."

"They are so arrogant. If our stance and response do not satisfy them, they will destroy us. That is simply ridiculous."

"Hum, but I don’t dwell on the unnecessary. She is Prime General Rellmol’s old acquaintance, the ruler of Darkness Realm. More or less, her status is at the same level as our lord."

"What about their master? That’s an even higher entity for sure."

"They only come to inquire about us. But, those otherworldly monsters, huh... Should we hunt and wipe them out? There are still some leftovers out there. I need to vent this irritation somewhere."

"No, the humans will infiltrate our sacred ground sooner or later. We need to be prepared to handle those intruders."

The Demon Generals discussed with each other, and it soon became a bit heated because some wanted to hunt down the otherworldly creatures, and the others insisted on making further preparations against the intruders. The only similar goal was to restart their lord’s resurrection ritual.

Meanwhile, Ai’s group soon returned and reported everything to everyone.

"They may not have any evil intentions towards the outside world now, but that might be different later. Our system will be watching their every move." Elysia averted her gaze to a particular direction, staring deep into the hidden mausoleum.

The current Earth wasn’t peaceful and was filled with many powerhouses, including reincarnated and transmigrated Gods. If those demons would wreak havoc, then nobody could save them from destruction. With the existence of the Guardian Alliance, such a dangerous threat would spell the entire world an enemy.