World Keeper

Chapter 1184: Progression

After a resounding explosion echoed in their ears, three figures appeared within Chelsea’s office, where Aurivy had been watching their live stream. Turning her head, the halfling goddess looked at the trio. “Another failure?” She asked in concern, and Chelsea nodded her head.

“I thought we had it, that time.” She muttered, stroking her chin. “We’ve compensated for any difference in physiology and energy requirements. Is it because she’s your subordinate goddess?” Chelsea mused aloud, and Dana pursed her lips.

“It’s possible. But, if that’s the case, we’ll need a spell that can cleanse Julia of any influence from Aurivy’s divinity temporarily. Otherwise, we won’t be able to begin the ascension process.”

Hearing the two talk to each other, Julia simply gave a soft smile. “It’s fine. It might just not be possible for a subordinate like myself to become an Origin. If that’s the case, I’m alright with that.”

However, when Dana heard that, her lips curled into a bitter smirk. “You might be. But, what do you think Tsuba would say if she heard that her being the Keeper’s subordinate deity meant that she was unable to obtain greater power to protect him?”

That earned a small chuckle from Aurivy. “She might be fine with it, I don’t know. Either way, it is better to test things out first. This is still a new field for everyone involved, right? No point in giving up after the first hurdle!”

Chelsea nodded her head in agreement at that. “She’s right. If anything, this is important data for us. We’ll either learn definitively that it is impossible for a subordinate to become an Origin, or we will learn the method to overcome that obstacle. For now, Dana, can you try to make a spell to temporarily remove the connection between a subordinate deity and their master?”

Dana gave a quick nod, closing her eyes and focusing. With her blessing, it didn’t take long at all for her to create the spell, and they were ready to enter the stream and run the test again.

When Irena heard the proposal from Dale to remove the karma system, she was somewhat surprised. After all, that system had been around for so long at that point that it was simply a fact of life, serving to reinforce the moral compass of the general public.

However, when she heard the reason that he wanted to remove it, being the return of Sanction, her eyes narrowed. She still remembered watching that final battle against Sanction in the last invasion against him. Realizing that he would likely be sending entire universes at them this time, she immediately understood the need to remove the outdated system of karma.

At first, she thought about whether or not there was anything suitable to replace the system. For instance, if she could think up the details for a proper alignment or morality system to be introduced. However, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it would just lead to a repeat of the same problems that they were facing now. Any system that they implemented would need to have substantial effects, but those effects would be imposed on whoever took part in the coming battle.

Thus, she ultimately agreed that it would be better to just remove the system entirely, and trust that the people would be able to adapt in time for the problems that they would face in the future. Thankfully, the Underworld’s management system that she had helped to set up had long moved past simply judging people based on their karma.

After coming to this conclusion, Irena closed her eyes, and sent a message to her incarnation.

Alena had a small smile on her face, walking through the streets of Ashtanu. Despite being Irena’s incarnation, she was a rather inconspicuous figure. Unlike the others that guided their incarnations to represent them in the mortal world, Alena was given the freedom to be who she wanted to be, with very little interference from the goddess behind her.

That was why the felyn girl was surprised when she heard Irena’s voice speaking into her mind. Alena. I apologize, but I need you to do something for me, and it is rather urgent.

Alena paused, stepping out of the flow of foot traffic and moving off to the side to lean against the wall of a nearby building. After doing so, she closed her eyes and responded. This is rare, Lady Irena. What can I do to help you?

An ancient enemy is on the move again, a wicked Keeper from before your birth. It is the same one who led to the demise of Leowynn, when she was the Keeper’s spirit. Irena reported in a somber tone. To combat this enemy, I must ask that you take a more active role than you usually do in these battles. It is for this reason that I would have you gather materials for me to create a new artifact for you.

Alena’s brow twitched at that. She had been Irena’s incarnation for a very long time. She had seen generations come and go, watched as human nations rose and collapsed. Even the secret society that she had once inherited the legacy of had become a completely forgotten subject. What materials do you require, Lady Irena? They can’t be anything normal, if you need me to gather them for you.

They are not. I will handle the easier to acquire materials on my own. I will need you to acquire the soul gem of the Spectral King, found on the fifty-fourth floor of Fyor. Additionally, the ancient blood of the undead kraken that lurks in the depths of Lorek’s ocean, and the hide of an Adamantoise that has lived for at least three thousand years. Currently, only three exist in all of Lorek that match that age requirement.

Listening to this request, Alena nodded her head slowly, thinking that it wouldn’t be too difficult. At least, until Irena added further conditions. When these creatures are slain, it can’t be through the use of divine power. I need the materials to be in pristine condition, untainted by any divinity.

That requirement threw a wrench in Alena’s thoughts, and nearly made her collapse against the wall behind her, her eyes opening wide. W-What!? Lady Irena, you know that I’m not a skilled fighter. Without the domain of Death, there is no way that I would be able to kill any of those three targets. Are you asking me to train myself to that level in such a short period of time?

There was a small chuckle, but thankfully Irena soon denied that suggestion. Of course not. You are going to serve as a guide to retrieve the objects, and then you will offer them to me when you have them. As for the one doing the fighting… I will ask Udona if we can borrow her husband. Aznod is a skilled fighter, even if he prefers to put his talents to use in the kitchen. Additionally, he can cleanly harvest the materials we need without the use of divinity.

Alena was skeptical when she heard that, as she did not know Aznod for his combat prowess. Still, she ultimately accepted the words of the goddess. I understand. I’ll make my way towards Lorek, since two of the materials required are there. If I may ask, what artifact are you wanting to make? Even if I am better equipped, I’m still not a skilled enough fighter to take on hordes of enemies like Tsubaki or Lifre.

I am aware. Irena responded in a gentle tone. I’m planning three artifacts with the materials I listed. Two of them are what I call Death Substitution Armor, and I will give one each to you and Dale. I’ve been planning this for some time, so this is a good excuse. It will bind to the wearer’s soul, and take on one death for them, shattering in the process.

The last artifact is an upgraded version of my old pen. Using the materials I asked for, I should be able to give it new functions. I would not ask you to take to the front lines in this conflict. However, with these artifacts, I believe you will be able to play a far more substantial role than you have in the past.

Alena nodded her head in acceptance, pushing away from the wall to begin walking down the street. I understand. If the threat is as extreme as you say, it is my duty to step forward.

For his part, Aznod was quite intrigued by the request that come in from the Greater Pantheon. It had been some time since he had needed to properly fight, especially without using his divinity. However, he also understood that the integrity of the materials needed to be maintained. Personally, I think Tsubaki would be better for fighting, but she might destroy the materials in the process. He thought to himself, smiling as he appeared in Lorek.

Aside from Fyor, this was the single-largest world within the Keeper’s domain. Additionally, he felt many of his skills being sealed after entering this world, as it functioned under a different set of laws. Thankfully, his statistics remained unchanged, and he could still use his various energies. It was only the special bonuses granted by his various job classes that had become locked.

“Alena, it’s good to see you again.” He said with a warm smile at the sight of the felyn waiting for him. “I’ve already heard about the goal of this endeavor. I assume that she has instructed you on where to go?”

Alena nodded her head, returning the smile. “She has. The closest target is the kraken, since we’ll need to reach another continent to find the Adamantoise. Are you sure that you will be able to harvest its blood, though?”

Aznod calmly chuckled at that. “Of course.” As he said that, he pulled out his weapon of choice, a butcher’s knife. “Since this is a rare request from Irena, I’ll make sure to satisfy her demands.”

Thelsa let out a long sigh, falling back into the chair once she returned home. “Finally…” She muttered, shaking her head. It had taken a great deal of focus to establish ten thousand diplomatic envoys, each with their own security escort. She had the population for it, it was just a matter of setting up the training to get them all taken care of.

Despite having finished in barely two weeks, she felt as if years had passed, due to the strain it had put on her consciousness. But, now the teams were all assembled, and they had been sent out to each of the foreign worlds of Fyor.

While all of this was happening, another team of shadows had been sent to start claiming the unexplored floors in each of these foreign worlds with the device that they had received. Over the course of two weeks, this team had managed to capture all of the unexplored floors of thirty-eight planets. Which, of course, meant that they were not even half of one percent of the way to their goal.

Thankfully, we can speed up the capture rate once we finish negotiations. Thelsa thought to herself. She had already made the preparations with the diplomatic envoys, and had spent a great deal of wealth in order to copy the divine artifact she had been given almost ten thousand times. Once the negotiations were over, each team would begin visiting all ninety floors of their respective planets.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Of course, there were bound to be a few cases where the natives did not agree to this, or even attempted to incite conflict with the envoys. Even if this happened, the second stage of the plan would commence. Only, this time it would be as a show of force, demonstrating to the natives that there was nothing that they could do to stop them, even if they disagreed.

Thelsa wasn’t particularly thrilled about having to take such measures, but she understood why they were needed. Her envoys weren’t going to be the only ones that would visit those places in the future. It was better to give them a proper understanding of their strength now, that way they might be less inclined to do something ridiculously foolish later down the road.