Erasa crossed the portal she had just created and traversed countless space-times-something that had been impossible for her before. Now, she could travel just as she had seen Velda, Lilith, or even GAaron do, confirming that they were able to move from one world to another through higher existential planes. She rose above the dimensions separating the world of existence from that of myths… What could once have erased her from reality no longer had any hold on her. Thus, Erasa arrived in the World of Existence.
Lost in an unfamiliar universe, she first tried to locate the one where her human subjects lived. She closed her eyes and swept her spiritual senses across all the nearby universes.
Erasa: "No results… Boaz couldn't have destroyed that universe… Hmm…"
Suddenly, she remembered her new ability, [Author of Being], which could help her reunite with her subjects' universe. Entering a trance, she manifested a spiritual quill and a sheet representing reality in her mind. She wrote the name of her subjects' universe, reopened her eyes… and found herself in the correct universe. She then scanned the planets and spotted her subjects' Earth. As soon as she identified it, she went there instantly.
Floating in the sky, she watched her subjects go about their daily lives. Their lives seemed to have resumed despite Erasa's mysterious disappearance. Yet, in place of the castle, a statue in her likeness had been erected. People came to leave offerings, praying for her return or seeking advice and wishes.
A smile appeared on Erasa's face. She materialized in front of her former castle, where a man was cleaning the ground. He stopped abruptly, stunned, dropping his broom.
"Eh… but… it's the goddess Erasa… is… is it really you?"
Erasa nodded slowly.
Erasa: "Yes, it's me… but from now on, call me God Erasa."
The man, trembling, struggled to believe what he saw. After such a sudden disappearance, seeing her again was nothing short of a miracle.
"I can't believe it, you vanished without a trace…"
Erasa sighed, her gaze tired.
Erasa: "It's really me, and I assure you I'll never disappear again. Why would I lie?"
Other men, alerted, rushed over. The murmurs multiplied, mixing disbelief and joy.
"Goddess Erasa, is it really you… Why did you abandon us?"
The crowd, puzzled but happy, surrounded Erasa.
Erasa: "The story is long, but I've returned to protect you from all harm… including Boaz."
She raised her hands to the sky and instantly absorbed the layer of negative energy Boaz had placed to destroy the crops and harm the land.
Erasa: "Where is Jérôme?"
"I'll fetch him, madam," answered a man, bowing.
Erasa: "No need."
On her spiritual sheet, she wrote again, and Jérôme appeared instantly at her side, disoriented.
Jérôme: "But… what's happening…?"
Erasa hugged him, beaming.
Erasa: "Jéééééérome!!!"
Jérôme, surprised, eventually recognized her and hugged her back.
Jérôme: "Erasa?? Is it really you? I missed you so much… You disappeared for two months and now you're back just like that? You don't do that to your friends… sniff… sniff…" he said, tears in his eyes.
Erasa let go of Jérôme and addressed the crowd.
Erasa: "I promise you that once this battle is over, I'll free you from all misery. I'll even create a world just for your peace, and we'll have a great celebration to mark the change that will transform our lives!"
The crowd erupted with joy, shouts of happiness and songs echoing throughout the village. People danced, jumped, overflowing with confidence and hope.
Erasa turned to Jérôme.
Erasa: "I also need your father and mother for a meeting… You are now my right hand, Jérôme!"
Jérôme smiled.
Jérôme: "No problem, I'll fight Boaz no matter what if I have to!"
Erasa looked at him disapprovingly.
Erasa: "You? Face Boaz? With your current strength, you'd be torn to shreds."
Blushing, Jérôme replied sheepishly.
Jérôme: "Well… how dare you talk to me like that, Erasaaaaa…!"
Erasa's body suddenly glowed, surprising Jérôme.
Erasa: "I said 'with your current strength…'"
She reached out her hand to him.
Jérôme: "Huh?"
A light shot from her palm and entered Jérôme's body. He felt a surge of power, a strength he had never known.
Jérôme: "Erasa, what did you do?"
Erasa: "I gave you powers, my right hand."
Jérôme, still stunned, asked.
Jérôme: "How is that possible?"
Erasa: "We demons can alter the power of anyone we choose."
Indeed, demons are beings capable of defying the gods and imposing their own logic. They often have divine attributes, such as increasing or decreasing someone's power, stabilizing it, or even erasing it completely.
Thus, Erasa had amplified Jérôme's strength, adding specific blessings so he could hope to stand up to Boaz.
She then summoned Mr. Ben and Mrs. Élodie to join them.
"How?!" they exclaimed, surprised.
Erasa: "I'm going to ask my subjects to leave. We need to prepare for the battle in my castle, and we need peace and quiet."
"Understood, Lord Erasa," the villagers replied before leaving.
Erasa looked at Jérôme and his parents.
Erasa: "Follow me, all three of you!"
She opened the castle doors and sat on a seat, inviting them to do the same.
Erasa: "I'll explain what happened to me and why I disappeared…"
After about forty minutes of storytelling, she finished. Then the questions began.
Mr. Ben: "You really fought Boaz?"
Mrs. Élodie: "Wait… your mother is a demon?"
Erasa sighed.
Erasa: "Shh! Yes, and yes. My mother isn't just a demon, she's one of the two infernal goddesses, the wife of Satan, known to humans."
The three were in shock.
Mr. Ben: "So you're the daughter of Satan? Of Lucifer? Of the Beast?"
Erasa nodded.
Erasa: "Yes… but rest assured, I won't harm you. I love you so much that I want to give you a better life, and that's why I have to win this battle."
They smiled at her, proud and confident.
Jérôme: "So, if I understand correctly, I have the same powers you had when we first met?"
Erasa: "Yes, without exception. The only difference is that you can't transform, but you can do everything I could do back then."
Jérôme became excited.
Jérôme: "Even rival Boaz?"
Erasa pulled out a strand of hair and wrapped it several times around her finger.
Erasa: "Yes, but you can't kill him, because he has the immortality of the gods."
Jérôme, intrigued, asked.
Jérôme: "The immortality of the gods?"
Erasa nodded.
Erasa: "Exactly."
The family was amazed that Erasa had survived a fight against Boaz.
She stood and made small gestures with her hand, smiling.
Erasa: "Don't look so shocked…!"
Yet Jérôme knew that, like spirits, angels, demons, gods, and great mythical beings, Boaz did not obey divine laws such as logic, reason, or causality. He could even break some rules set by the gods themselves, making him particularly dangerous.
Mr. Ben spoke up.
Mr. Ben: "Madam Erasa…"
Erasa interrupted him.
Erasa: "It's Mister Erasa, Prince Erasa, or Lord Erasa… I am both man and woman thanks to Arlongue, and it's Arlongue's masculine side that dominates my femininity. Anyway, call me whatever you want, I'll always answer!"
She blushed slightly.
Mr. Ben: "Interesting… But Lord Erasa, how do you plan to fight this battle?"
Erasa sat down, thinking.
Erasa: "Wait a second…"
A space-time portal suddenly opened, revealing Lilith, Zémira, and GAaron.
Zémira ran into Erasa's arms.
Zémira: "Arlongue… I'm finally with you again."
Erasa smiled and hugged her.
Erasa: "I missed you so much, Zémira!"
Jérôme, curious, asked.
Jérôme: "Who's that?"
Erasa stopped hugging and replied.
Erasa: "Zémira… my absolute companion, even when Boaz reduced me to a servant."
Jérôme, even more puzzled, murmured.
Jérôme: "What?"
Lilith interrupted, laughing.
Lilith: "Hehehe… Young man, Arlongue's and Erasa's memories are still mixed. They'll sort themselves out later, since Erasa now has two forms, corresponding to her two personalities."
GAaron and Lilith took their seats.
Lilith materialized a sword.
Lilith: "Erasa, I forged this sword especially for you. It's called Kami. It destroys everything, on every level, and never misses its target. It always strikes at the root, no matter the enemy's form or manifestation. Take it as a gift!"
Erasa was amazed.
Erasa: "Mother… this is… it's too much… Why such a powerful weapon for me? Will I know how to use it properly?"
Lilith smiled.
Lilith: "Of course. I made it so it adapts to its owner. You have nothing to worry about."
GAaron and Lilith stood and opened another portal.
Erasa stood up.
Erasa: "Where are you going?"
Lilith: "We're returning to Hell. What we wanted to do is done, goodbye, Erasa."
Erasa, moved, almost cried.
GAaron: "With what mother gave you and Zémira's four-leaf clover, you'll never lose a fight, that's for sure."
They disappeared through the portal.
Erasa sat down, and a silence settled.
Mr. Ben: "Uh… Lord Erasa? Are you alright?"
Erasa remained silent.
Zémira took Erasa's right hand and placed it on her chest, over her heart. Erasa looked at her.
Zémira smiled tenderly.
Erasa returned her smile, though faintly.
Zémira: "Don't be sad, I won't allow it, Erasa… Arlongue!"
Then Zémira lay down on Erasa's knees, who finally smiled and gently stroked her head.
Erasa: "I adore you… so much…!!"
Mr. Ben: "Lord Erasa? Are you alright?"
Erasa looked at Mr. Ben and replied.
Erasa: "Yes, yes, sorry for the silence, it's my fault. If we can continue…"
Mr. Ben nodded.
Mr. Ben: "Very well… For the battle, what's your strategy?"
Erasa: "Mr. Ben, don't worry, everything is under control. For the battle, we need more details, and Boaz can provide them."
The family was stunned.
Mrs. Élodie: "Boaz?!"
Jérôme frowned.
Jérôme: "Are you serious?"
Erasa nodded.
Erasa: "Yes."
She extended her right hand, which became covered in claws over fifteen centimeters long. With a gesture, she split the space around her, creating a black hole. Plunging her hand into the void, she pulled out… Boaz, whom she threw to the ground.
The family was stunned.
Mr. Ben: "No way… how is that possible?"