"That's enough! We have injured to take care of and you aren't cleared to leave until I check you for injuries." Cutting through the tension in the air as she pushed the man from the Travelers Society out of the way. Who went to respond but shut his mouth with one look from the woman.
"Follow me." Replacing the man as she stared me down. Refusing to back down dispite her weak strength.
"No. I have things to do and people to search for." Breaking the stare as I turn and take a step as I use more force this time to fold space as I take a step forward. Appearing on a skyscraper in the distance as I watch a crowd of cars flooding into the area.
"If you don't get a handle on that aggressive behavior of yours. I'll be recommending you to be apart of the hunter squad instead of travelers relationships." Turning my head as my smile fell from face as I looked at James who had his head down.
"It's already bad enough that we don't know what happened for a breach to occur. Everyone here is to be throughly vetted before they're allowed to leave. I want a full report before noon." Rubbing my temples as Simon Green a teacher at the city's Royal Academy for travelers. Walking up with an apologetic smile on his face.
"Hello sister, I wished we were meeting under better circumstances but thank you none the less for defusing the situation. The kids don't need to see how badly the current administration is running." Offering his hand for a handshake. Grabbing his outstretched hand as I look him over for any injuries.
"With the government extending their reach into the Society. It was bound to create a couple idiots who can't see their own doom. If possible I would've sent him to the Astral Sea to learn a lesson." Greeting an old comrade as I think about how that kid would be stuck running around for his own survival.
"Well you won't need to investigate. It seems like this was a breach created by the Gods of the Astral Sea. Besides the higher tier ones I met. The rest were just regular dungeon monsters. So it wasn't a full invasion but it they were fighting the masked one trying to drag him back to the Astral Sea." Pulling out a cigarette in front of me as I flick my finger producing a small flame. As he nods in thanks before lighting his cigarette.
"We'll need to call for a meeting. If those idiots catch wind of astral residents coming out again. They'll push for more control over travelers and gates so for now don't question the three I point out ." Rubbing his face in exhaustion as he blew out a cloud of smoke.
"I'll speak to them personally. I still need to investigate who's behind that mask. Maybe he holds the answers to why we were sent here instead of returning to-"
his three students who are in their own world as they joked and laughed with each other.
"Those idiots look like they weren't about to be overrun by psuedo S tiers. I'll bring them by tomorrow morning." Watching his students with a slight interest as one of them had my attention more then the last two.
"To think your guild master managed to get you to do something instead of napping all day. What did he offer you?" Looking at him with a grin as he looked away trying to ignore me.
[Titled Earned: He who destroyed the world]
[Title Earned: The God who sacrificed for lesser beings]
[Title Earned: Fate's Enemy]
Staring at the red screen that's been missing since my days as a normal traveler. As a grin grew at the success of my plan while ideas ran rampant on how to proceed next.
After making the necessary sacrifices to reset the world and build the dungeon system to protect the Earth until I could arrive. I'm now weak enough to struggle against a group of low level residents of the Astral Sea.
With my reserves of divine energy noknhdt capable of refilling itself off of the pure astral energy. So I'll need to rebuild my strength to handle anything within Earth Domain. Until I have a chance to head to the astral sea to recover which won't be anytime soon unless I old allies manage to locate this place before the barrier drops.
"You have five years before the barrier begins to falter. Then it'll br up to you and how well you've prepared humanity to face. Don't for-" Waving my hand behind me as a gust of wind is generated to send my unwelcome guest away. Only for her to appear in front of me in her earth green robe that's pairs well with her beautiful brown hair. A heavenly beauty if she appeared among humans.
"Gaia if you want to remind of those pesky things then don't. My dungeons will serve their function and our deal when end on the day the barrier breaks. Don't forget that your also on the short list of people who knew the location of the Sun Palace.
As a higher being your view of time is different. So you understand what future I'm fighting against and I won't tolerate opposition. Am I clear?" Letting my divinity materialize in its full nature as the world naturally forms a barrier around the two of us.
"Put your divinity away. You're causing it to lose its former glory faster. If you still held your second divine core them you could negotiate but until then." Trailing off as she returns my glare while an overbearing pressure begins to exert itself on me.
Feeling my bones cracking under the pressure as I use the lifeforce from my divinity to heal rapidly as force myself to remaining standing.
"That insufferable pride of yours will be your downfall again. Here, if you can't fend off the invasions then everything up to this point would've been pointless." Choosing to defuse the situation as I saw look pity in her eyes that only stirred my rage further. Yet left with no opponent to go against.
Looking down at her hand that's holding a crown of stone with an emerald embedded in the center and a seed that was glowing with a familiar divinity of death. As the race inside me is extinguished as if it was a candle flames met by gale of wind.
"You three have a bright future ahead of you. If ever there is a time you don't want to take part in the mess dramas of Guilds. Just know you'll always have secure place to call home at the Society." Speaking to the three of us who fought the death knight. The Director of the Society Nicole Helstrong was the representative to speak to all of us students. Closing the door as she gave us an offer from her personally.
From what I know it's a good tactic to minimize the contact between compromised officials. Who are usually bought off by Guilds. This time I can only guess that she's more concern with the leakage of information about the Astral Sea.
"Alexis can you believe it! The Nicole Helstrong, the strongest out of all the SSS tier in the country! Is offering us a spot! I need to tell my mom!" Looking towards the one idiot who clearly didn't understand the gravity of the situation the three of us are in.
"Crow, what do you think?" Alexis who is choosing to ignore our mutual idiot. Decided to speak up instead of maintaining her usual silence.
"Technically we performed so well it couldn't compare to some of the veteran A ranks. Holding back a pseudo S rank death knight is something to laugh at. Although they can't broadcast this information to the world about what just happen.
This is still a world breaking news worthy. 4 pseudo king ranked monsters in dungeon. Is a very big deal for anyone. Add onto it the fact that they were Astral residents. Now we were talking about direct connections to the Gods." Frowning as u thought about it more deeply.
"Astral residents?" Rubbing my temples as I looked to Thomas who was clueless.
"Instead of fighting video game monsters. We were fighting real monsters with real personalities.
If they had made it to the portal of drag that masked man back. We might be holding a different conversation." Swiping my hand across my neck as he understood that way.
"We only fought so well is because Thomas is too dumb to understand the word 'fear' and I was far enough back to barely be affected by the Death Knight's mana. Without Crow maintaining control of the fight. If his senses weren't so heightened. Even he would've died to the death knight in a few strikes." Holding her chin as she thought about it.
"No I could've killed it eventually. You're forgetting who trained me. It's still a A rank regardless of possessing elemental mana. At worse I wouldve sealed in a block of ice long enough to escape after you guys left.
The real trouble started once the Harpy arrived. It was the strongest out of all them with half a foot into the door. It would've been hard for you to notice but was using wind laws to launch attacks. Thankfully my mana shell is ridiculously durable to barely notice it." Holding my tongue as held back the fact that if it had enough time. It could've killed us if it wasn't for the masked man holding it back.
"What happened to the berserker?" Thomas just can't help but to keep asking dumb questions.
"Probably dead. Something had to happened for the Harpy to leave that battle. It was probably trying to bring the death knight back. But it was too atuoud to understand who it needed to focus on. If it was a Death Baron then he might have a chance."
"No even if it evolved. It just wasn't capable of doing anything. Even the Lich only used ice spells. So bone spears and ice spells were their only weapons if they refused to summon undead. Death knights are better commanders just like a lich is a strategist.
So they were dead weight compared to the other three. The real question should be why we weren't asked anything about the masked man." Seeing Alive nod her head as she thought about it.
"You could see it was a man?" Thomas voicing his question as he rubbed his head.
"Yes and I would even guess he's one of the few who took part in the expedition fifteen years ago. Only half the group made it back and the rest are only spoken of in rumors. What ever happened the Astral Sea was grave enough for Lords to get involved." Thinking over the face that I only caught a glance of. Besides the light beard growing. The only other feature I could see was his crimson eye turning gold as he smirked at us.
"Well we need to lay low after this. The guilds will eventually find out and come chasing us down." Knowing Alexis is hinting at me. Since no one would be crazy enough to try and recruit Alexis with her mom being one of the few to successful make it out of the Astral Sea. While Thomas is a wildcard due to his patron God.
So I'll be the prime target once the story finally gets out. Rubbing my face as I thought about the headaches I'll have to deal with.
"Are you sure?!" Bursting out of the office. A large man was sprinting for the doorway to the hall. Not stopping for a second as he yelled into his phone.
"Guildmaster please calm down. Teresa and Johnathon are already heading to the location. We need you to stay at the base so no one else decides to make a move." Yelling over the phone cause the man to stop. As he looked at phone in his hand.
"You understand how important this person is right?" Lacking any of his usual joyfulness as he spoke. Not giving any extra information in front of us.
"Yes, Johnathon has told me. That's why I sent him instead of having him go with his team. Just in case it's the government sniffing around. I told him to only give them good beating then kick them out our territory." Speaking back with a cold tone. I can only assume it's his wife.
"If anything happens-"
"I know. That's why I'm heading there now. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong. You need to focus on figuring out why our Patron God is going crazy right now." Hanging up the line before the guild master to clench his jaw.
"Remember Teresa. The main goal is to get this person away from the area first. The Guild master will turn this into a bigger issue if things go wrong." Nodding my head as my mind stayed focused on overwhelming amount of mana being poured out from inside that home.
"We're in position." Receiving a single sentence across the radio that brought me out of my daze. As Johnathon opened the door.m and stepping out. Revealing his large body that would be easier to call a bears body.
His greying beard being highlighted by the bald head. As scats could be seen on his torso that poked out of his casual t shirt. Wearing a comfortable outfit since he's not on training duty like usual.
"So whose home is this? Mrs. Jessica was the one to order me to stop what I was doing and grab you. She sounded like she was running herself so this isn't a minor figure hiding in the middle of our territory."looking to him for answers. As he rarely hid anything from me.
"She's a minor figure. She isn't important enough for the world to fall but she is important to two people no one wants to see. She's very nice lady and it'll be a shame if she was used in the political games. The Guildmaster isn't the only one who's willing to offer her a safe haven." Speaking with a gentle tone as he spoke of the house owner.
"Two people? If it's the Guildmaster then it's something from the Astral Sea. Is she connected to one of the travelers who closed the rift?" Almost blurting out but managing to contain myself as I questioned him.
"The rift is the youn-"
Hearing the door open as her absentmindedly walked up to it as we talked. As a young man wearing a t shirt and jogging pants. Yawned as he shelled out.
"If you want to hold a conversation then do it on someone else's doorstep. And take those idiots with you little Johnny." Locking eyes with Johnathon as he stared in disbelief at the young man.
"Who are you? Where's the home own-" Feeling a large hand clamp down over my mouth as Johnathon nodded to man in a daze before dragging me away.
"Everyone return to the base."grabbing his radios from his waist as he gave orders to take command from me. Ignoring my glare as he practically dragged me with him.
"Don't say anything to him. If it was Anyone else. I wouldn't be retreating too. Leave it to-" hearing a voice cut across the radio as we both focused on it.
"Everyone maintain your distance. I'm taking command and no one is allowed to approached this street." Speaking over the radio as a blacked out SUV drove up to the house. Where the young man could been seen smirking at our retreating bodies.
Ripping his hand away during his lapse of focus as I center my eyes on the porch. Where the door was opening as an elderly woman stepped out.
"My God has given me a vision of the future. A future where humanity is capable of standing on the same level as the Astral Gods.
When humanity shall shed its mortal forms for divinity. The key to the Astral Sea is born anew!" Casting my eyes down at the stage where this "prophet" is giving us the message he was given. With everyone in attendance being powerhouses in charge of the world.
It was easy to see the greed and desperation to grasp such an opportunity. With Kings and Presidents all in attendance in the seats below. While the stronger nations who've managed to secure travelers as government assets sat among the the Guildmasters.
Each of them having personal experience in dealing with dungeons or worst the occasional portal to the world of monsters. A place untouched by the hands of technology. As the monsters there evolved into stronger species or mutations. In the scenario that the monsters begins a portal were to strong.
We risked losing more land to tho these monsters who keep growing in numbers and strength the longer they exist. So to receive a divine message from the Gods is something everyone is willing to seek out.
Although some of us are less excited to hear this message. With interactions between humanity and the Gods being ultimately limited to Patron Gods from the Astral Sea. All deals based on a five and take relationship.
The Astral Gods will provide power or knowledge while expecting something in return. I'm even suspecting the prophet who avoids dealing with the rest of the world. To be in cahoots with the Astral Gods.
My patron God warnings in the past echoing through my head. How humanity is trying to pry Pandora's box open once again. Although my God isn't nice by any imagination. His distrust and spite to his fellow Astral Gods isn't hidden from me.
Yet even he's been quiet as he watched the prophet through me. As the prophet stayed silent while the crowd was exchanging words between each other or making calls to search for this Key.
"The Age of Gods is destined to return. With humanity leading the charge-"
"Insufferable fools. Keep banging the doors of death and you'll eventually wake its owner." Pausing as I heard my God comment on something that wasn't me for once.
As I try to grasp his words. Being words from a divine being. A mortal will always struggle to grasp everything they're saying. To him he's saying it as direct as possible but due to the actions of certain God. Humanity has an automatics filter to stop the corruption.
By forcing themselves to hear the unaltered version usually leading to death or madness. Something I've researched throughly by meeting those who adventured into the astral sea.
A taboo subject in the public but one that has had its impact on humanity. Each person who managed to return carrying stories that cause madness or spoke of the horrors they faced. While those who are capable of moving past the horrors. Are all leading figures with the Astral Travelers world. Holding more power than the governments of the world.
Regardless of the mixed opinions about the various groups they lead. None of them would joke around when dealing incursions from the Astral Sea. With none of them in attendance today and only a few out of the hundred bothering to send a representative.
Rumors of a major incident that grabbed the attention of all these veterans as they flew to America to gather for a meeting. A rarity that everyone is trying to keep under wraps. Something grave might to move these figures was worth the world holding their breathe.
"Humanity will continue down this path and he'll have to step in once again. What a cruel fate he has." Thinking more deeply about what he's saying as whispers and murmurs slowly replaced the voices of discontent and scheming of everyone around me.
Thinking about who this "He" is. Understanding that the laws the govern the divine are entirely different. Being personsifaction of "lack of caring" as he would openly curse towards Astral Gods. Openly using their names or titles without a care.
As if egging them on to come and complain about it. Yet this "he" bright out a different tone. One he only reserved for the God who closed Pandora's box. A Gkd he describes as the End who came before the beginning. A title that no one has heard of yet one person made assumptions. Bringing madness to their doorstep.
This "he" had to be above even the Astral Gods. Who has existed before the beginning yet came from the Ending. A paradox in itself that shouldn't exist. Let alone be spoken of in past tense rather then a future he could foresee.
"Quit thinking!" Booming in my head as I take a deep breathe. Not realizing I've been holding my breathe as I grasped the air for even a split second of ease. As the whispers and murmurs grew in volume.
As the sound of music that could only be described as heavenly beginning to softly play as the whispers turn into singing. As the lyrics of the song were inaudible.
While the scenery around me changed as if I was racing through a tunnel through time and space.
Images of wars humanity never seen or could grasp. As planets collapsed and stars used as weapons. Battles between millions of mortals changing the names of Gods who will never be seen again. Yet at the end of the battles a man with a burning arm was struck from behind by angel only to be struck back in the same moment.
Before turning to face a figure cloaked in darkness whose only noticeable feature was the grin from seeing the exchange. Yet before their interactions continued. The man with a flaming arm looked up into the sky as if locking eyes with me.
"I see. Child this isn't a place for you and it'll only draw more conflict to our world. The more you know. The more danger you'll face." Blinking his eyes once as his grey eyes changed into a mix of gold and blood red as I felt myself being rejected from the madness that was taking hold of my mind.
"I saw him!" Standing up in a hurry as I saw that the entire room was silent as they watched me. Causing me to pause as I looked around before focusing on the spot I was sitting. Where a black flame could seen dancing.
Slowly looking down as I saw my arms covered in this black flame that ate at the chair. That slowly died out as any memories of what took place slowly faded as forced myself to hold onto that one critical image of him looking up at me. Where a silent transfer if information took place as I saw a house with a man and elderly woman meeting with a familiar person.
"You're very lucky. If he didn't grace you with a blessing. You'd be a monster right now." Whispering into my mind as I recalled his attempt to stop my racing thoughts.