World Keeper

Chapter 1207: Stranger Danger

Once I heard Udona’s report on the attacks, I lowered my head in thought. If what she said was true about the target of the enemy’s superweapon and how they were chosen, I couldn’t simply imagine it going off a day later without a hitch. Instead, the enemy would confirm their targets with another probing strike, just as they had done before. For now, the High Mother and Udona had managed to survive the attack thanks to their individual abilities and their supporters.

However, none of that would matter if the superweapon annihilated their entire universe. I couldn’t even suggest that we all come together to consolidate power, because that would just give the enemy a single target to attack. Unless we had some way to defend against their superweapon, grouping together was a foolish tactic.

“Dana, how are you feeling?” I asked, looking over at the black-haired girl. She had taken an obvious backlash when she lost her avatar to that attack, and I wanted to make sure that she was okay.

“I’ll be good in a bit.” Dana said, shaking her head. “There wasn’t any serious damage to my core, thankfully. But, I don’t think I’ll be able to help block the second attack. Especially not if I also have to be on the lookout for the enemy’s Origin of Darkness.”

I couldn’t help but nod at that. In the worst case scenario, I could ask Dana to run an educational stream, that way she would be outside of the enemy’s reach for the time being until she could recover. However, doing that would mean losing a vital source of information.

“Lifre, I don’t suppose any of your streams have given you a persona that you could use in a situation like this?” I asked hopefully, looking towards Lifre. However, Lifre seemed lost in thought, crossing her arms.

“Hmm… The Wordsmith wouldn’t be much good here. She’s really strong, sure, but not on a reality shattering level. The Holy Maiden and Divine Archer are in a similar position. If I load up the Mechanic, I might be able to hack into their systems. However, you’d need to get me close enough to do so. The Wanderer might be able to do something, but I’d need to do some experiments to confirm it! Can I boot up an educational stream? If I use the actual void, they’ll see what I’m trying to do.”

I nodded my head slightly, and Lifre ran off. I couldn’t help but turn to look at Lena. “Can you tell me a bit about this ‘Wanderer’ persona of hers? That way I know what to prepare for.”

Lena hesitated briefly, but still gave her answer. “The Wanderer isn’t really a combat oriented character of hers. After she finished her Wordsmith character, her next run was more of a bard, someone that traveled from territory to territory, world to world. Rather than fighting directly, she recorded the fights of local heroes, and wrote songs about them to share with her audience.”

My eye twitched as I heard that. “How… is that going to stop the power of a universe-destroying superweapon?”

“If I had to guess…” Lena paused, before letting out a sigh. ‘It’s because of a donation train that she built up about halfway through that run. The combo lasted for three days, with people pouring the money into a single class, Wanderer. If I recall, the class reached Black Gold level by the end of it. However, because the class doesn’t have any combat skill, all of that power was focused on stealth, speed, and the ability to create portals.”

“Given the situation, I’m assuming that she wants to try to use a portal to redirect the attack elsewhere. However, to do so, she needs to confirm that her portal can handle the transfer of that much energy, and that she can make one of that size within the void.”

My eyes widened when I heard Lena’s explanation. If this was correct, and proved to be possible, not only would Lena be able to prevent the destruction of another universe tomorrow, but she would even be able to redirect the enemy’s attack back at them. Another limiting factor would be speed, right? I thought to myself. If the enemy sees her creating a portal, they could easily switch to a different target before it is finished, unless the portal can be completed in the time it takes for the weapon to fire. 

I shook my head, realizing that it was unlikely that she would be able to create a portal of that size and stability in the necessary window. Having too many gazes on her would no doubt prevent her from utilizing the subjective nature of the void to grant herself additional time.

Putting that possibility aside, I turned back to Dana. “Is there any sign of activity from the void golems? They’re the ones in most immediate danger right now.”

Dana shook her head. “No, they’ve retreated far away from the battlefield. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to rely on them much, not until we get rid of the enemy’s defenses.”

I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes and trying to think of something that we could do to get an advantage over the enemy. We needed to get information on the two hidden Origins, but that was easier said then done. If I sent Dana after the Origin of Darkness, that would be a suicide mission. As I thought about that, my eyes snapped open. There was someone else who could potentially approach the Origin of Darkness, though it was still dangerous.

That’s our situation so far. Do you think you can do something about him? The Keeper’s voice rang in the mind of Thelsa Whitefallow, who lowered her head in thought.

There is an enemy Origin of Darkness hiding somewhere within Spica, and you would like me to send troops to scout their location? She confirmed. Aren’t you asking me to send them to their deaths?

The odds are low, but there is a distinct chance of survival if they are careful. We know from Dana that, while an Origin’s vision is all-encompassing with regards to their domain, they can’t easily focus on every detail at once. Dana would be immediately noticed, because she resonates with the enemy, but your shadow soldiers might be able to find him. 

Most importantly, I suspect that the enemy should have a shadow world similar to your own. You might be able to sneak in without ever drawing attention to yourselves. The Keeper said, though Thelsa could tell that he was grasping at straws.

Still, for the Keeper of all people to be so desperate, Thelsa could understand just how dire the situation was. How long do I have to prepare?

You need to go as soon as you can. The news shouldn’t have reached you yet, but we’ve already lost Kione. The longer we leave these enemies alone, the less we’ll have left when it’s over. Thelsa’s eyes went wide when she heard that an entire universe had been destroyed. She gently bit her bottom lip, thinking about this mission.

I can’t send Petra and of our gods. They will be too easily detected. I’ll send some scouts to Spica, and let you know if they can find anything. She promised, closing the connection as she hastily ordered a unit of fifty of her fastest scouts to head for Spica.

The Hermit sat cross-legged upon a giant mountain, appearing to be in a meditative pose. Mana, natural energy, and ki swirled around his body, pouring into him at an accelerated rate. In his mind, he was living out thousands of years of training, superimposing that onto his current body. Notifications of increased levels constantly rang out in his mind, causing him to smile.

However, after he reached the Shaman class, his smile faltered. “Sneaky little pixie.” He muttered, sensing a fluctuation in the natural energy around himself. One hand shot out, his eyes still closed, and clasped at something invisible next to him. Within his grasp, the slender neck of a young girl formed. She looked to be a child, with short, pointed ears and wearing the garb of a traveler.

“H-How?” She asked, her voice surprised. She hadn’t chosen to manifest, but had been forcibly manifested as soon as her perception swept over this area. She had sensed a new authority of natural energy within Fyor, and thought to investigate this rising star. Instead, she was being strangled as if she were a common mortal.

“Sadly, I have no time for answers. You’ll have already reported my presence to your kin, so I must be quick about this.” He said, clenching his fist and shattering her essence. However, he knew that she wasn’t dead. He had dealt with world spirits before. Unless the universe that they governed was completely destroyed, there was no way to eradicate them.

However, it would take a brief period for them to reform after their essence had been destroyed. Should I find a new training ground? The Hermit pondered. He didn’t strictly feel the need to run away. This world seemed too fresh for him to fear its inhabitants. Most importantly, he did not feel death’s hand looming over him.

Not long after I sent the request for Thelsa to investigate, a storm of natural energy erupted within the throne room. Tsubaki withdrew a pair of pistols, aiming it at the elven figure that presented herself, before slowly lowering them. “My apologies for disrupting your work, my lord.” The World Spirit of Earth spoke in a somber tone.

“This is a rare visit…” I looked at the spirit, who had a serious expression on her face. “I’m assuming that this isn’t about the loss of your sister.”

The spirit briefly flinched, but shook her head. “No. While it pains me greatly that Kione’s voice has been forever lost to us, that is not the reason for my visit. Fyor has located a hidden threat, one who was training in isolation. This threat shattered her essence as soon as she was discovered, but she managed to transmit the enemy’s location before she fell silent.”

My eyes widened, and I leaned forward. “That should be the Hermit. Where is he hiding?”

“The hidden dungeon numbered X-9283. Fyor found it strange for a powerful caller of nature to be in such a remote place, and that was why she had investigated. He appears to be on the uppermost floor within the dungeon, on a high mountain peak. However, that is all that she was able to transmit.”

I nodded my head, thinking. The dungeons of Fyor were utterly massive. The uppermost floor could be compared to an entire galaxy in scale. Knowing that he was there didn’t actually tell me that much, though it did narrow it down to a slightly smaller area to search. As long as he didn’t move, that was. “We need something that can attack from afar…”

As I said that, one of the incarnations that had been sitting at the side of the room spoke up. I had them present, just in case there was anything that they could help with. Only Udona was absent, as she was needed to govern Deckan. “Sir, I might have something.” Alena said, rising to her feet and walking over with hurried steps.

“You do?” I asked, looking curiously at her. Alena wasn’t a particularly powerful combatant, despite being the Goddess of Death’s incarnation. She was honestly more of a pacifist than anything else.

“Yes.” She nodded her head, pulling a golden pen from her inventory. “Irena entrusted me with this before the invasion began. She had its power enhanced considerably, so… perhaps this could work?”

A smile grew on my face as I saw the pen. I knew how this item worked, having borrowed it myself in the past. “If we’re lucky, it just might.” I said, taking the pen from her and focusing the domains of Souls and Chaos into it. “I just hope that he hasn’t left that dungeon.” As I said that, I began to write in the air, pouring my divinity into every word.

Having decided that there was no harm in continuing his training, the Hermit relaxed his body, entering his meditative state once again. As he did so, he felt the smallest tingle of a threat, and furrowed his brow. Such signs often meant that a danger could arrive in the near future with a low probability, but it wasn’t something to immediately worry about.

However, as he tried to focus on his training, this sense grew more and more intense, until his eyes shot wide open. He needed to discern the nature of this danger, so that he could properly avoid it. Thus, he peered into his own future, and his face grew serious. He tried to force open a gate to the void, but the portal shuddered, unable to properly form.

The Hermit had seen someone sitting on a black throne, writing the words ‘X-9283 of the Fyor universe will be severed from the void. Afterwards, this planet shall be erased in its entirety, returning to the void.’ The first line of the writing had already come to pass.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the Hermit’s figure flickered, appearing next to the crystal spire. He had long since understood that it was impossible to leave this world without the use of this spire, which was one of the reasons that he had settled there to train, as it would be hard to find him, but easy to see others coming.

However, this was now working against himself, as the elevator took time to activate. With every passing moment, the threat of death loomed ever-greater. Once the elevator door opened, he hurried inside, typing in the address for one of the primary worlds.

Blue light flashed around him, and he could feel the teleportation taking effect. However, he could still feel his death looming. Exerting the power of Fate, he altered his own fortune, attempting to eliminate this bad omen. In the end, the teleportation was cut off halfway, and the Hermit was ejected from the mana pillar near the star it was wrapped around. He turned his head, seeing the planet that he had previously trained on dissolving into nothing.

It looks like this world may have some methods, after all…