Contacting an Ancient God

A sharp flash of blade light swept past, and a Fear Demon—a lump of flesh that seemed to endlessly swell and contract, constantly whispering and muttering eerie sounds—was cut in half at the waist, swiftly turning into rising smoke and slowly writhing scraps.

Yet more ominous auras were still gathering in the cave. Whispers capable of corrupting an ordinary person's mind and overlapping howls continued to spill from the depths of that pitch-black Gate—

More and more Abyssal Demons had noticed this rift leading to the Real World and were continuously invading through the Gate—their incursion was triggering a chain reaction across Holy Land Island and beginning to alter the island's "environment."

Lucretia casually shook the black residue from her scythe, then raised her head and stared gravely at the undulating, writhing "black Gate." "...I can feel the island's 'atmosphere' changing."

"Vana just sent word that Abyssal Demons are appearing in the valley," Morris said rapidly, holding a complex brass mechanical device covered in intricate Sacred Runes while warily watching the black Gate. "They're emerging from the fog. Some have already begun to take physical form."

Lucretia frowned. "We clearly dealt with every demon that emerged from the black Gate... Could there be another 'entrance' on the island?"

"It's the Abyssal 'aura,'" Morris shook his head. "This island lies at the border. From the very beginning, it has never existed stably within the dimension of reality. Now, this black Gate is gradually 'pulling' all of Holy Land Island to the other side. The aura leaking from the Gate is changing the 'depth' of this entire area... The deeper a place becomes, the more Abyssal Demons will grow out of thin air."

Lucretia's face darkened. She glanced at the pile of Eerie Green Flame still quietly burning before the black Gate,