World Keeper

Chapter 1208: The March of Twilight

I could feel my energy being drawn into the pen, the golden words resonating with the void, thanks to the Chaos domain I used. Irena’s pen was an extremely powerful tool even in its original state, as it allowed one to command spiritual energy and their own divinity with written text. As soon as I saw the upgrade that had been applied to it through my Keeper abilities, I knew that it had grown strong enough to even connect with the void under the right circumstances.

Normally, a planet in the Fyor world was entirely indestructible, immune to any form of energy or physical attack due to the black stone walls. However, if the entire space that the planet occupied was returned to the void, even that level of protection would prove futile. Otherwise, the planets of Fyor would be perfectly fine, even if the entire universe collapsed around them.

Unfortunately, I had no way of knowing whether or not the enemy truly remained behind long enough for me to write the commands with the pen. It would be nice if they did, but we couldn’t risk scrying for them, given that they could attack us through such methods if they were still alive.

“Can’t you just write the enemy’s Origin of Fate out of existence if you use the pen?” Keliope’s incarnation asked with a tilt of her head.

However, I shook my head to deny those words. “There are too many flaws with that plan. I don’t know the name of the ‘Hermit’, so if I simply wrote that the ‘Origin of Fate’ disappeared, the pen would most likely target Terra, who is the Origin of Fate connected to this world’s void. Similarly, if I don’t have at least a rough estimation of where the target is, I can’t direct the energy. Otherwise, I would immediately target the Origin of War…”

As I said that, Lifre returned, her head hanging low. “The Wanderer won’t be able to stop the next blast.” She said with a shake of her head. “I ran a test, and my portals can’t withstand the energy of two universes erupting at once, so they won’t be able to handle the power of that gun.”

I gave a small nod. “It’s fine. I wasn’t expecting that to work, once Lena explained the situation to me. However, I might have another use for your Wanderer persona.” When I said that, Lifre lifted her head up, looking hopeful.

“If I can help, let me at it!” She said in an enthusiastic tone.

I couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at her renewed vigor. “Right now, according to the information that Tsubaki obtained from the World Tree Guild, the Five Nations Guild is in their most vulnerable state. This is the best chance that we’ll have to eliminate them, but there are two conditions for this. First, we need to be able to enter their stronghold undetected. Secondly, we need a combat power capable of destroying the Origin of War, or at the very least disabling their superweapon.”

“For the first condition, I want you, Tsubaki, and Aurivy to work together. You should be able to get inside and create a pathway without being detected. As for dealing with the Origin of War…”

Before I could continue, Bihena spoke up. “Allow me to handle that, Dale.” She said, her eyes firm. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that I was looking at the true Bihena, and not simply her incarnation. “My main body has been working on a weapon that should be effective against an Origin, and I wish to test myself in battle against the enemy general.”

I hesitated slightly, before nodding my head. Although War was not Bihena’s exact domain, it was close enough that she would be a close match for the enemy. As long as the scale of the fight was narrowed, she should have a decent chance. “Got it. I’ll leave this mission to the four of you. Tsubaki, you’ll support Bihena once you enter the enemy stronghold. Keep her hidden until the fight starts, and use your own judgment to support her from there on.”

Tsubaki gave a firm nod, before splitting off an avatar. “In that case, I will leave this one here, that way I can keep in touch with you, my Keeper.” She said, before moving over to stand with Aurivy and Lifre.

Terra clicked her tongue, crossing her arms as she looked at the group. “I would offer assistance if I could, but my power to interfere with fate won’t extend to an area I can’t perceive. The best that I can do is to wish you luck.”

“That’s all we’ll need.” Lifre grinned, Aurivy giving a thumbs up.

As they were preparing to depart, a thought occurred to me. “Aurivy, there is something that I want to confirm before you all depart.”

Aurivy paused, looking at me curiously. “Yeah, boss?”

Instead of answering, I turned to the avatar of Tsubaki that had been relegated to communication purposes. “All of the universes owned by the guilds are classified inherently as dungeons, correct?” I asked, and Aurivy’s eyes went wide.

Tsubaki’s avatar hesitated, likely relaying the question, before nodding her head. “That’s correct, my Keeper. Within Sanction’s domain, no guild is allowed to own a ‘public universe’. Every universe owned by a guild is one acquired as a dungeon.”

Aurivy’s grin grew wider, nearly splitting her face. “Oh, that’s perfect! This should be fun.”

“Good luck, all of you.” I said, watching as they hurried out of the room. Almost immediately afterwards, I received another message, this one from Thelsa.

You found their stronghold? The Keeper asked in excitement, clearly happy to receive any good news. Thelsa nodded her head, recalling the images relayed by her shadow scouts.

That’s right, sir. The enemy isn’t simply using an energy similar to World’s Shadow. As far as I can tell, the energy that they are using is itself the World’s Shadow. Thanks to this, my troops were able to enter the shadow world as soon as they set foot on Spica.

However, Thelsa’s report didn’t end there. According to the observations of my scouts, the enemy is preparing some sort of superstructure. It looks similar to a giant church, and is surrounded by black pits, which are heavily guarded. My scouts could sense a divine energy radiating from the incomplete church, connecting to the nearby pits. If I were to put it into game terminology, it appears to be a troop spawning structure.

I see… what are the chances that you can dismantle that structure without being captured? The Keeper asked, his voice now filled with trepidation. Thelsa could understand why he was nervous. A building that an Origin was willing to devote weeks to completing in order to summon units… coupled with the sense of divinity, it was likely to spawn either a dark god of unparalleled power or an endless army of lesser gods.

Thelsa took a deep breath, clenching her fists. Sir, am I correct in assuming that an Origin is only slain when their inner world is destroyed, whether by internal or external factors?

That’s right, why are you asking--

And, sir, am I also correct in assuming that this Origin of Darkness must be thwarted at all cost, with trillions of lives at stake? Thelsa continued, interrupting the Keeper’s questions. The odds do not matter. Whether or not this can be safely accomplished, it must be done nonetheless.

Thelsa, what are you doing? The Keeper’s questioning tone rang out, but Thelsa ignored it, turning to face the assembled army behind her.

This was the first time that Thelsa had ordered for a full mobilization. Every shadow, whether they had been working in Fyor or training within the shadow world, gathered together. Their figures stretched out beyond the horizon, clad in black armor. “What are we?” She asked, her voice carrying to reach the furthest corners of the army.

“We are the Saint of Shadows!” The army responded, their voices echoing with one another.

“That’s right.” She nodded her head. “From the beginning, we’ve fought unseen battles for the sake of others. We stand in the darkness, to let them enjoy the light. I have never once promised victory or survival, and I can’t do so this time, either. Even so, will you follow me?”

The ground trembled beneath the feet of billions of shadows as they stomped in unison. Thelsa smiled, turning to face ahead. Her hand stretched forward, creating a black portal that rapidly expanded in all directions. “Show them why even villains fear the dark.”

At her command, the army turned into black smoke, pouring through the gate before them. Thelsa heard footsteps approaching her, and saw Petra, Maria, and Sora standing with her. “Let’s go.” She said, and the four nodded their heads, walking forward with their weapons readied.

On the other side of the portal, chaos was erupting, Thelsa’s shadows already waging battle against the enemy forces. They fought with an unyielding ferocity, willing to exchange blow for blow. Thelsa could feel each shadow as it was vanquished, but did not  allow her steps to falter. Instead, she turned to look at Sora, nodding her head. “It’s your turn.”

Sora Sparks, known by her title as the Witch of Black Lightning, grinned and pulled out a large paintbrush. She drew a line through the air, and it released a storm of black lightning bolts against various groups, seeming unconcerned whether she was striking friend or foe. However, the lightning only seemed to damage the enemy forces, harmlessly passing through the bodies of Thelsa’s shadow soldiers.

“I knew it was the right call to get an additional domain.” She laughed, swinging the brush in the air. Because Sora’s initial domain of lightning was inherently opposed to the darkness attribute, she had to consume a far greater amount of divinity to use her ‘black lightning’. However, she received inspiration from Scarlet, and thus obtained her second domain, ‘Black’.

From the lines drawn in the air, dark tendrils began to emerge, reaching out towards the startled shadow mages. As they were grabbed, their clothes and bodies were dyed black, as if they had been dipped in ink, and they began to dissolve. From the puddles left behind,  new figures arose, looking identical to those slain. However, they turned on their former allies, blasting them with shadow magic and slowly tipping the scales.

Meanwhile, Thelsa, Petra, and Maria waited near Sora, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the enemy’s Origin of Darkness attempted to kill her. Sora was the equivalent of an extraordinary necromancer in battle, a general capable of converting any enemy into her own forces. It would be foolish not to target her first.

Sure enough, Petra’s eyes widened, and she lifted her heavy axe. Without hesitation, she slammed it into the ground, scattering the shadows beneath their feet. Maria and Thelsa took up defensive positions, hearing a dissatisfied click of a tongue as a robed figure rose from one of the scattered shadows.

“The Master of Darkness was scared, so she sent these little pests to annoy me?” The figure asked contemptuously, raising a hand and clenching it into a fist. A black sphere rose up within the battlefield, swallowing millions of troops from both sides.

However, before the enemy could dispel this black sphere, Thelsa pointed her brush at it. “Restore!” She shouted, and the sphere trembled. It burst open, revealing everyone that had been trapped inside. However, even the enemy forces that had been sacrificed in this attack were now painted black.

“Sorry, fella.” Maria grinned, holding a pair of axes as she walked forward. “We’re not just here to annoy you or anything like that. Can’t go having you destroy everything, now can we?”