AN: I just wanted to announce that from now on chapters will be published once a week instead of once every four days. For the past two months, I have been steadily falling behind my self-set schedule and slowly running out of stockpiled chapters. Although I could probably pick up the pace and keep up the current schedule I likely would burn out sooner or later due to many factors. I want to take things easy and if I return to my previous chapter per day average I can not only stockpile all three running stories again but work on other projects that had sat in my mind for a long time. Rest assured I still have a clear vision of how HoC, Advent, and Azeroth fics will continue until their conclusions. From now on Advent comes out on Mondays, HoC on Wednesdays, and Azeroth on Fridays.
The first thing Momonga realized was that he didn't have a clear path back to ordered existence, a critical flaw to his plans of returning to the Cardinal World. In fact, he didn't even have a concrete body at the moment to move around. Only what could be described as a cloud of sentience overlaid with the presence he cast upon the depths of the void he was.
The void, especially so deep, wasn't conducive to concrete forms, particularly material forms. In a sense, it even helped at the moment. A body was just another restriction that would distract him from the task at hand. What's more, with Omnipresence, part of him could always remain in the depths since he'd have some history here, while most of his presence would stay back in the ordered universe and keep a permanent link between the two, letting him return whenever he wanted. With Rubedo guarding him from all predatory creatures nearby here, he could set his mind on creating a path back home, and the first thing he needed to do was to reconnect with Nazarick.
Another realization entered his mind. As one representing death, he wouldn't be shielded from the grips of oblivion but the opposite. In this place, he was always just a step away from it. This realization filled him with satisfaction and acceptance. Everything that started would end, even he and the concept of death itself. As the author who had dreamt of the other Gods like Yog-Sothoth and then incorporated them in his stories had written 'in strange eons, even death may die'.
If he was to become a proper God of Death one day, rivaling the likes of Ker, Ra, and others of the Gods, he needed to embrace this truth wholeheartedly, with part of him always sitting on the edge of oblivion, seeing the current of death disappear into ultimate destruction that was ever-near. He knew he wasn't ready to see it yet, but that day would come and perhaps sooner than he expected if all things went well.
With this revelation, he knew how to find the way back. The ordered universe was but an illusion, a fading dream, and all he needed to do was wish himself back there. Momonga concentrated and remembered his office, sending the majority of his awareness there with all his might.
The moment his presence was back in the physical realm, Nazarick connected back to him and assigned him the role of the absolute leader with the possibility of taking his personality backup stored there.
'Master I- everyone was so worried! I must warn you, Buku might get violent,' Nazarick shouted in his mind, radiating excitement and fear.
'I am immortal, you and she know that. I'll be fully back in a moment. Let me rebuild my body first,' Momonga replied.
She had been the leader of Nazarick for almost four whole days and things weren't getting any smoother. The inquiries from various regional leaders about how to proceed with projects constantly flooded her desk. On the plus side, Albedo was a great help, but the succubus was constantly on the edge and ready to explode into a destructive rage at any moment, much like the other concubines who were on a hair's trigger as well.
The other guild members were faring no better. According to Veldora, Momonga's death was different and there was no trace of him left in the world that would spark the rebirth, which the dragon found unsettling, besides the fact that they still had the Nazarick skill connected to them. Under her orders, only she, Ramiris, and Pero knew about this fact. The last thing she needed was Milim spiraling into a stampede as she would not take this news very well, given that Momonga was her most solid foundation to stand on besides her boyfriend.
As she worked through the endless list of requests, a strong presence suddenly contacted her, asking, { What happened? }
'Velzard!? Shit, how does she know?' Buku gulped. The implication of the dragoness knowing could be disastrous and she could potentially see an immediate invasion of Tempest from both the frozen continent and the Eastern Empire as both would want to use this weakness to their advantage, and even with Milim's growth she doubted her and Veldora would be able to hold off Velzard and Velgrynd working together.
{ Momonga is experimenting with something, and somehow removed all his presence from the world. He should be back soon. Was it that noticeable? } Buku lied through her teeth.
{ Hmm… interesting. Of course, it was. He, like his siblings, is a fundamental force of the world. We know if one of ours disappears. Oh, don't worry I didn't tell Guy yet. Let's just say Momonga and I have an understanding and I would not make things difficult for him. } Velzard replied, her tone casual.
{ I see. Then I assume I don't need to warn you when he is back? } Buku asked.
{ No. I will know, but tell him not to be so reckless next time. I have little knowledge of his aspect and removing himself from the world sounds a tad reproachful if you ask me. } Velzard's presence faded from her mind, and Buku breathed a large sigh of relief.
"Lady Buku, is everything alright?" Albedo picked up on her unease, peering up from her papers.
"Yes. I think. Velzard suspects something but she backed off for now." She explained a half-truth.
"Not surprising. But… Lady Buku, I feel something is off. I can't explain what exactly but I fear my beloved is in danger." Albedo shared her feelings on the matter.
"I hope every-" Buku froze. The ownership of Nazarick was taken away and she once again had her vice-overlord title; everyone felt it, judging by the flurry of messages.
Momonga's presence could be felt through the skill and she could pinpoint where and when he was about to appear. Immense relief and immeasurable anger filled her. "Momonga is back!" Buku shot up from her seat and teleported to her friend's office.
As Momonga materialized in the middle of his office and Rubedo's statue started to move, all guild members and high executors appeared in the office as well through Nazarick's spatial manipulation. The overlord stood among them in his full glory, but Buku felt a subtle change in him. In the heart of her friend was the swirling dread of the void, something she had only ever felt from Rubedo when she unleashed part of herself upon Hinata.
"Momonga, please make a copy of yourself!" Buku demanded, her face twisting into a smile that betrayed her inner rage.
"Why?" The overlord tilted his head in confusion.
"Because I am about to strangle you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Do you have any fucking idea what you caused!?"
Momonga instantly made five copies of himself as his consorts tackled three of them in an instant, Milim rushed into the embrace of the fourth, and one walked up closer to Buku, ready to face the consequences of his actions. With all his senses and Omniscience present, he knew four days had passed, although it felt like a mere moment in the void.
There was no doubt in his mind that Buku had faced the brunt of the confusion, and worst of all needed to do so without any warning. Momonga decided to go for praise in hopes of soothing Buku's anger even a little bit. "I see you have done a wonderful job and that my trust in you has not been misplaced."
"Don't think flattery will help! Velzard knew! Veldora said you were fully gone and no-one had any idea if you would be reborn!" Buku screamed in his face as she stretched on her toes to reach that high.
Momonga leaned back saying, "I am fine. I just had a very unexpected discovery about timelines I needed to deal with. All experimentation needs to stop until further notice. And I am better than ever."
"What happened?" Buku visibly calmed, her tone laced with suspicion as she continued glaring into his eye sockets.
"The timelines are protected and the one in charge showed me things I needed to see."
{ I am not sure if I should tell the whole truth.} He sent a private message to Buku in hopes she wouldn't continue interrogation, as revealing that Yog-Sothoth existed and could remove him from reality instantly might cause existential dread in both his peers and servants, given that he portrayed himself as nigh-omnipotent and this kind of thing would smash that into smithereens.
{ Really - right, Selene warned me not to ask for details for my own sake. Just how deep in shit were you? } Buku was past her rage and now was unsettled, doing her best to hide the fact. Her patron Goddess was adamant she didn't know what exactly Momonga faced and this fact was frightening in its own right. If even the Gods up there didn't want for her to know, what the hell had he gone through? It was clear that there were things he was solely unprepared to know about, much less deal with them.
{ I wasn't… I wasn't attacked, just received a friendly warning and got to see something regarding my path as a God of Death. There is no need to worry. } Momonga danced around the details of his adventure.
{ I see. You do know I can sense the void within you, right? } Buku raised a brow as more and more eyes settled on them, being aware that a private conversation took place between the two highest authorities of the Great Tomb.
{ Not surprising. }
{ So you went in there and came back in one piece? }
{ I came back better. The void is part of my path in some sense. I just … saw part of my end goal. } Momonga revealed.
"Just warn me and others next time, ok? I don't need to deal with another shitshow because you took a spontaneous learning trip to who knows where." Buku warned him as she finally took a step back and theatrically crossed her arms.
"Noted. But there was no need to worry. Rubedo was with me as my protector," Momonga stated.
"Sister, mind explaining?" Albedo was next to go for answers, glaring at the statue.
"Don't worry sister, I was his shield, and always will be," Rubedo answered in her usual somewhat flat tone.
"Bro, what the hell? Even my sisters got worried," Veldora grumbled with Ramiris nodding in agreement, acting as a loyal sidekick.
"I am fine. I'm sure there is plenty to do. Now that I am back, I should see to the problems my absence caused." Momonga dismissed his concerns trying to divert everyone's attention back to more mundane matters.
Luckily after a few more grumbles across the room, the commotion died down and he managed to make everyone disperse, with only Rubedo and Albedo as his company.
Albedo momentarily teleported away and then returned with a massive stack of papers, dropping them on his table. "Lady Buku is transferring all your duties back to you and… My beloved, do I deserve to know the truth?"
"What truth?" Momonga asked, noticing that Albedo glared at Rubedo with suspicion.
"As mysterious as my sister is, she has not tried to lie to me before and I can tell that so did you, my love. Do I deserve to know what really happened?"
"I… Albedo, I am not sure if anyone should know…"
"Why? Do you think of me as too weak to handle the truth? If that is the case, I am not worthy of standing by your side and neither are Shalltear and Shion if they, too, are not ready to share your burdens." Albedo hissed, her emotions bubbling onto her beautiful face as her aura flared.
Momonga slowly walked around the table and sat down in his office chair. "I know you three are ready to be by my side no matter what, but the truth is…" he didn't want to hurt the three women that he shared his life with, but if he hid things from them now, then it would slowly drive a wedge in their relationship. The truth was horrible, yes, but at the same time the trio had proven themselves to be headstrong and loyal to the core through thick and thin. "Albedo, I want to warn you that you may not be ready to know, but if you think I should tell you and others, then I will."
Albedo offered him a small smile as the other two of his consorts appeared in the room. "I am ready to stand by you no matter what!" Shaltear was the first to announce.
"Me too. Can't be worse than the dreams I see." Shion nodded along.
"Very well." Momonga slowly recounted his encounter with Yog-Sothoth in full detail, even describing how a part of him was now in the void beyond everything in case all things went wrong to ease his concubines' worries that it hadn't been all consequences and no benefits.
The trio listened carefully, none showing signs of breaking down at the revelations. After he was finished, Albedo was the first to respond. "I will face that thing with you the next time. No matter who this Yog-Sothoth is, he will not yank my beloved like this and not face consequences."
"Perhaps we should plunge into the void as well. So we can be ready," Shalltear suggested.
"Sounds interesting. I'm in." Shion agreed.
'They are insane, but they are mine. If they want to be by my side even in the depths of void then I should respect their wishes.' He couldn't help but feel twisted endearment towards his beloved consorts and their united antics.
"I'm happy you want to risk it all for me, but let's set this aside for now. First, you three should get used to at least some exposure first, it is a dangerous realm that threatens the mind itself. I think Rubedo can provide enough exercise."
"Sister, you heard him. Show us your unrestricted self." Albedo nodded as she put a shield around the room so the rest of Nazarick's royal floor wouldn't be affected.
Rubedo did as told, cleanly breaking her caloric stone shell in half and revealing her unrestricted self to the trio. All three peered into the abyss without any fear on their faces. Albedo smirked and suddenly lunged forward, disappearing into the dark mass as her two peers jumped in right after.
"Don't worry master. I'll protect them." Rubedo assured him.
"Are they alright?" Momonga asked. Even if they were in no danger of being consumed by the mindless void beasts, plunging into the depths was still a soul-shattering experience for most, even those with strong wills and comprehension.
"They are fine. In fact, I have led them into the deeper parts at their behest," Rubedo replied, her dismembered voice echoing through the room.
"Lead them back to the surface. This is enough." He ordered, not sure if the trio was brave, stupid, or plain insane.
Albedo was first to return, followed by Shalltear, and finally Shion, all three carrying traces of void in their hearts and souls. If there ever was a sign that they were meant for him, then this was the one. All three were ready to plunge into the depths of the void just to be at his side and such loving dedication only could be replied in kind. Never again would he lie to or mistrust them, never again.
Editing by aidan_lo.
Proofreading by aidan_lo, Stac, KieraKieraARTS, IAMTHEPLOKOKIOPO, Sluethen, fvvck, Alassandro, clagan, Working_Stiff and CakeEight.
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