The Demonic Realm of Another Land / Shadow Land

Masked Anne let out two dry laughs. Even as a Campione, she inexplicably felt afraid.

When facing a Disobedient God, no matter how powerful the opponent was, a Campione would never feel fear. Instead, they would fight the god with the determination to die together. But when facing a cruel and violent fellow human, a Campione, being a "human," would naturally feel fear.

"Mr. Roy, why did you ask me to keep Anshiela here?"

Anne Charlton hurriedly changed the subject.

Roy did not answer Anne directly. Instead, he looked at Anshiela. By then, Anshiela had completely changed back from a white snake into human form. This Earth Mother Goddess who had fallen into a Divine Ancestor was now truly unclothed. Even the few bandages wrapped around her body had vanished, exposing the girl's pale garden and flat abdomen.

Anshiela looked no older than twelve or thirteen. Her skin was like jade, and her body was petite. Yet beneath that appearance, like an unripe fruit, lay a mature, ripened allure that made people want to pluck her.

"Anne, do you know which Disobedient God Sect Master Luo Hao has been searching for?"

Roy withdrew his gaze from Anshiela and looked at Anne again.

Since everyone nearby was in the know, Roy did not use her alias.

Anne frowned beneath her mask. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "...I don't know."

"The Disobedient God the sect master has been searching for is the Monkey God Lord. Of course, He has another, more famous name—the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. That god was plotted against by the other Disobedient Gods and sealed in Japan. The sect master believes that 'having the god of her own country sealed in a foreign island nation is a humiliation that damages her, Luo Hao's, name.' Therefore, she wants to break the seal and kill the Monkey God Lord herself to wash away that disgrace."

"...However, even the sect master cannot undo this seal. One of the crucial conditions is the manifestation of the Dragon-Serpent. This Anshiela is precisely a Dragon-Serpent manifested in the form of a Divine Ancestor. As long as her blood is used as a sacrifice, the conditions can be completed."

Roy gave a brief explanation.

Anne Charlton suddenly understood. "...So, Mr. Roy, you want to give Anshiela to the sect master?"

"That's right. The sect master possesses a way to break the seal, and now that we have Anshiela, all the conditions are complete. Like the sect master, I'm interested in that Monkey God Lord. Or rather, I'm interested in His steel-like bones and invulnerable body. I'll provide the Dragon-Serpent, while the sect master provides the other methods of undoing the curse. Then we'll compete fairly to see who can kill the Monkey God Lord. I imagine that sect master will gladly accept my proposal."

A sharp light flashed in Roy's eyes. His body was far too fragile now, and fatal danger could easily arise. In this Campione World, the fastest way to grow stronger was to slay a god. Thus, Roy had set his sights on the Great Sage Equal to Heaven's "steel-like bones."

"Campione! Even if I kill myself, I won't let you have your way!"

Having heard everything Roy said, Anshiela screamed mournfully and was about to draw on the little divine power she had left to kill herself. Even in death, she would not become a Campione's tool.

"Stop, Anshiela!"

Athena suddenly shouted in a low voice. Her cold tone made Anshiela tremble. She stared blankly at Athena. "...L-Lady Athena?"

"Even if you want to die, wait until after you've helped Roy finish what he needs to do."

Athena's voice was almost cruel and emotionless.

"Yes... I... I understand."

Faced with Athena, who still possessed the Earth Mother Goddess's divinity, Anshiela instinctively obeyed her orders. Although she did not know why Lady Athena was helping a Campione, she did not dare ask.

The incident also drew Roy and Anne's attention. After seeing Athena resolve the matter, Roy gave her a grateful smile. The goddess, whose appearance was that of a little girl, merely snorted and looked away, ignoring him. Yet the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

"Once we're done using this Dragon-Serpent, she'll lose most of her power. Conveniently, my mansion has just had a large aquarium installed. I'll keep Anshiela in it then, and she won't cause you any trouble. What do you think, Anne?"

Anshiela's true form was a white snake as beautiful as a goddess. Roy planned to keep her in the aquarium as an ornamental animal. During the day, she could soothe the mind, and at night, he could take her out and turn her into this somewhat flat yet alluring goddess's body, continuing to soothe the mind. Roy felt that days spent teasing snakes and birds would be very comfortable.

"Since you've put it that way, Mr. Roy, what else can I say?"

Anne Charlton gave a bitter laugh. Roy had already explained everything to her so politely. If she still failed to understand the situation, she would not only offend Roy but likely also offend that bad-tempered sect master.

"Thank you for your generosity, Anne."

Roy held a certain amount of respect for Anne Charlton, a Campione who adhered to her duties, protected the people, and possessed a strong sense of responsibility.

"Master, this is bad!!!"

Lady Aisha's voice suddenly came from behind Roy.

"What happened, Lady Aisha?"

Roy turned around and asked in confusion.

"My Authority is about to run wild!!"

Lady Aisha looked panicked.

"Run wild? It's nothing serious. I'll help you deal with it."

Hearing that it was such a minor matter, Roy waved his hand dismissively.

"But... but this time, it isn't Queen's Curse—it's the Passage of the Fairy Realm!"

Lady Aisha cried out miserably, almost in tears.

This time, not only Roy but also Anne Charlton and Princess Alice changed expressions dramatically.

Chapter 109: The Demonic Realm of Another Land

The Passage of the Fairy Realm was the reason Lady Aisha was known as the most troublesome Campione. She could not control it, and whenever this Authority ran wild, it produced a door leading to the past.

If an ordinary person were sucked through that door and returned to the past, they would either die in the past or live out an aimless life and never return. For a Campione, however, returning to the past was not necessarily a problem. They could use their own power to find the door back to reality, though no one could say how long it would take. The most troublesome issue was the difference in the flow of time.

For example, Lady Aisha was believed by the outside world to be a Campione over one hundred and fifty years old. Yet from Roy's conversations with Aisha, he knew that she had actually lived for only a little over fifty years.

Since Lady Aisha spent most of her time traveling through antiquity, she might spend one year in ancient times, only to find that three years had passed in the modern era when she returned. That was how people miscalculated her age.

Roy did not mind going on an adventure in the past. On the contrary, he was eager to experience something so novel. However, the difference in the flow of time made him wary. If he returned from antiquity and discovered that several years had passed in the modern era, and the Last King had awakened, all his efforts would have come to nothing—and his life would be in danger.

With that thought, Roy quickly looked at Anne Charlton. "...Anne, if I remember correctly, you have a good relationship with the fairies of Yomi, right? Is there any way to stop Lady Aisha's Authority?"

Roy did not ask Athena. Although Athena was the Goddess of Wisdom, her abilities had nothing to do with "travel" or "time."

The Passage of the Fairy Realm had been usurped by Lady Aisha from Niamh, the Queen of the Everlasting Land in Celtic Mythology. In truth, this Authority seemed powerful—even capable of returning to antiquity—but at its core, it was merely a "fairy prank."

Neither Disobedient Gods nor Campiones could change the past through their individual divine power or Magic Power. Nor could they resist the Historical Correction Force. The enormous amount of magic needed to truly alter the past was beyond the capabilities of ordinary Disobedient Gods and Campiones. Even the Last King could not do it.

The uniqueness of the past was difficult to break.

In other words, whether a Disobedient God or a Campione was dragged into this cave, they could accomplish nothing. They could only treat it as a novel journey—and one that endangered their lives. For ordinary people, it was an utterly hopeless, nine-in-ten-dead situation. Since nothing could be done, returning to antiquity was no different from a prank.

"I do have a good relationship with the fairies of Yomi, but fairies are a bunch of children who never grow up. They all love playing pranks. Do you think pranksters are likely to have a change of heart? Unless it's an extremely dangerous matter involving the safety of the world, don't count on the fairies. Once they realize you might be fooled, they'll probably just clap their hands and sing and dance!"

Anne Charlton spread her hands and gave an exasperated smile.

By then, an almost irresistible force of attraction had begun emanating from Lady Aisha. The Passage of the Fairy Realm was running wild and using all of Lady Aisha's Magic Power to activate itself. Since it was not an offensive Authority and could not inflict tangible harm, it was all the more impossible to refuse or resist.

Roy possessed twice the Magic Power of an ordinary Campione, but even so, he found it difficult to withstand the suction. A fairy's prank was the highest secret art of the fairies, almost an existence on the level of a world-concept.

Even the King of the Gods in myth would be pranked by fairies.

"If you knew your Authority was running wild, why did you come to me? Couldn't you simply find an uninhabited place and wait for your next journey?"

While the suction was still weak, the Campiones and Disobedient Gods present could still resist. Princess Alice had already vanished. Only her spirit had appeared here, not her true body, so the Authority could not capture her.

Athena's expression was calm. As the Goddess of Wisdom, she understood fairy pranks well and knew that this Authority was not particularly frightening. With her power, there was no danger. She only needed to wait quietly for an opportunity to return to her own era.

Faced with Roy's question, Lady Aisha froze for a moment before crying out, "...Master, you said you could stop a rampaging Authority, so I came to find you!"

"But I was talking about Queen's Curse, not the Passage of the Fairy Realm... Why did your Authority lose control so quickly?"

Roy was helpless as well. He was not afraid of fairy pranks, but this was definitely troublesome.

No wonder Lady Aisha made so many people avoid her. She was a walking gathering of trouble.

"Ugh... So I misunderstood you... But it is strange. In the past, after this Authority lost control, it wouldn't happen again for a long time. Yet this time, it's already sending me on another journey after only a few days."

"...I wasn't prepared at all this time. I don't even have enough money for the trip!"

Aisha cried out miserably.

Roy ignored Lady Aisha's complaints. By then, he had calmed down and merely asked her about the problem with the flow of time. He did not expect her to have a solution.

Unexpectedly, Lady Aisha really did have one.

·· send flowers············

"In the past, I was troubled by the difference in the flow of time as well, but I could never find a solution. Later, when I was helpless in the Celestial Empire, I usurped Favor of the Lucky Saint from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. After gaining the blessing of luck, I was surprised to discover that the time ratio between antiquity and the modern era in the Passage of the Fairy Realm had reversed. Even if I spent a long time in antiquity, only a few days would pass in the modern era after I returned."

Lady Aisha was still calmly explaining everything to Roy, showing that she had long grown accustomed to sudden accidents.

"Since you know what to do, use that Authority now! I don't want to return from antiquity and discover that several years have passed!"

Roy shouted furiously.

"Mm... Master, you're being a little harsh... Fine, fine, don't glare at me. I know what to do! When good deeds have yet to ripen, even the good may suffer misfortune; when good deeds ripen, good fortune follows. The good shall be rewarded with good, and the wicked with evil. Until this journey ends, please grant me your blessing!"

Lady Aisha loudly recited the famous lucky spell of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, seeking good fortune during her journey.

Seeing Lady Aisha activate her Authority, Roy relaxed. Princess Alice had not been affected by it. With her intelligence, she would surely inform Erica and Liliana so they would not worry. She would also notify the other magicians to beware of the cave created by this Authority.

Roy glanced at Athena, whose expression was extremely composed. He reached out and took the goddess's small, tender hand. "...We mustn't get separated, Athena."

The Goddess of Wisdom merely nodded slightly, signaling that Roy need not be nervous. This was only a fairy prank.

But at that moment, Roy's expression suddenly changed.

He discovered that the mysterious space dwelling in his right hand—the mysterious object Aiwass had named the "ship"—was stirring once again. It had actually taken control of the course, causing Roy and everyone else to deviate from their destination.

After realizing this, Roy quickly transferred the Gorgon Stone from his body to Athena. He feared that under the influence of his right hand, he and Athena might not arrive in the same era or place. In Athena's childlike state, she could easily be in danger alone. But with the Gorgon Stone, she could recover her trinity goddess form and fear nothing.

Under Athena's puzzled gaze, Roy had not yet explained when the force of gravity from the cave that had suddenly appeared behind him sucked his body inside. He plunged into a bizarre, kaleidoscopic scene.

This was a dead world covered in shadows, where sunlight never reached—a demonic realm of another land!

Chapter 110: Shadow Land

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This was not the Campione World. As Roy traveled through the "cave," he sensed the mysterious object in his right hand taking effect and opening a passage to another world for him.

Lady Aisha's Passage of the Fairy Realm could travel to antiquity. After being corrected, it had even gained the ability to cross parallel worlds. But this mere fairy prank of an Authority absolutely could not cross from one world to another.

This was an ability that had amazed Aiwass when she first saw it. It was a true miracle that even Demon Gods could not accomplish, not something a mere Campione's Authority could achieve.

The mysterious space in Roy's right hand—the "ship"—carried him through wind and waves, crossing the Sea of Worlds from the island known as the Campione World to another island.

Roy found this island both familiar and strange. It was Roman's world, and also the Type-Moon World he had once seen and vaguely remembered.

But the Type-Moon World was vast, and Roy could not yet determine where exactly he had arrived.

"This lonely atmosphere and aura of death... Could this be the underworld?"

Roy warily looked around. An endless wasteland stretched before him, scattered with orderly, barren rocks. The sky was forever shrouded in black clouds. From time to time, a little light spilled through the heavy cloud cover, barely bringing a trace of illumination to this world.

It was not sunlight. Roy was certain there was no sun behind the dark clouds. The light held no warmth at all. Rather, those faint rays were also merely part of the profound darkness—a "light of darkness."

Looking into the distance, Roy could see ancient stone structures standing on the edges of cliffs. The scene resembled the demonic realm from a movie or novel, while the deathly stillness filling the air made it clear that this was no land of light and warmth.

In this dim world, the only color was Roy's red Cardinal's robe. The red was like the little girl in the red dress from the black-and-white film Schindler's List, standing out so sharply that it seemed as if he were standing at the center of the world.

Yet that conspicuousness made Roy uncomfortable, because his colors were completely out of place here.

"Death isn't particularly compatible with me, either."

Roy muttered, then began searching for Athena.

He and Athena had a contract. As long as they were in the same era—or even merely in the same world—they could sense each other. But now Roy could not sense Athena's presence at all. This proved that his earlier guess had been correct: he and Athena had been separated.

And this was not separation across different eras and locations. They had been separated across different worlds.

"Fortunately, I had the foresight to return the Gorgon Stone to her. With Athena's complete power, she shouldn't be in much danger wherever she goes... Now, it's just you and me again, Aiwass."

Roy looked behind him. When he saw the Holy Guardian Angel floating in the air with her bare jade feet, dressed in a white linen robe and surrounded by a faint glow, he felt reassured.

Everyone else might be absent from Roy's side, but this angel, who coexisted with him by some unknown method, could accompany him across multiple worlds without being separated from him.

"If I let you leave my sight, finding you again would be nearly impossible. I absolutely won't allow that. Even if it exhausts me, I'll keep following behind you."

The angel representing "physics" smiled brightly. There was no sign at all of the lack of self associated with angels in myth. Instead, her tone was remarkably human. Aiwass no longer possessed that ethereal, unreal quality.

The angel then looked around, as though confirming the nature of the surroundings.

"A new world—the world where King Solomon resides. Even so, the place you're in now is extremely special within this world, Roy."

Aiwass's tone held eagerness and curiosity toward the unknown. For an existence like her, that curiosity alone was enough to make her devote everything to the pursuit of knowledge.

Although every world shared many broad similarities, each one also possessed absolute differences. Those differences created divergences in their power systems. One should not underestimate them. It was precisely the unique aspects of every world that attracted beings like Aiwass, driving them forward, and even captivating Demon Gods to the point of obsession and madness.

"What makes this place special?"

Asking when he did not understand was one of Roy's good habits. Whether the other party answered, or whether Roy could understand the answer, was not something he considered.

"Simply put, this space has no connection whatsoever to the true Material World. There is no cause and effect, no karmic connection... But it cannot be said to be completely unrelated, either. The connection is merely extremely faint. If we explain it through the Fourfold World of Kabbalah, then the place you're in now, Roy, is a plane above the Material World. Its influence on the Material World is very small..."