Chereads / Multiversal Mania / Chapter 3 - Strange Worlds

Chapter 3 - Strange Worlds

Soaring into the sky, a small angel wearing a golden laurel crown streaked through the clouds. Under the protection of his goddess, he had fought valiantly to protect a certain creature that was attacked by a man.

Although…

"AAAAAH!!!!" Pit screamed as hard as he could while flying away from the monster. "I swear I'm not tasty! I don't taste like chicken!"

His heart pounded in his chest, the wind whipping against his face as he glanced behind him, catching sight of the beast on his tail. He had barely escaped the lamia with dangerous eyes and now he was chased by a wyvern with blonde hair.

"Watch out Pit! I won't be able to maintain your flight any longer," Palutena's voice chimed in, reminding him of his inability to fly without her.

"Please! Just a while longer!" Pit begged, weaving through the sky as the wyvern licked her lips, sending a shiver down his spine. 

"I don't think she thinks of chicken, Pit," Palutena remarked, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice that didn't comfort him one bit. "Perhaps it's time for you to grow up?"

"I AM NOT READY FOR THIS KIND OF COMMITMENT!" Pit yelled, narrowly dodging the wyvern's claws as they swiped past him. His wings ached from the strain, and he was running out of time—and options.

 "Do you even think how our children would look like?" he whimpered with hopelessness.

Palutena chuckled softly in his head. "I can only imagine… A wyvern with angel feathers. Wouldn't that be adorable?"

Pit groaned, swerving sharply to avoid another attack. "NOT HELPING!"

"You're right," Palutena said, her tone shifting to one of seriousness. "I can't let my best soldier retire just yet. Hold on—I'll drop you near the city. Get ready!"

Pit's eyes widened as the familiar warmth of Palutena's power suddenly vanished from his wings. Panic surged through him as he began plummeting through the sky like a rock, spiraling toward the earth at breakneck speed. "I might retire sooner than you think!" he screamed, flailing wildly.

"You'll be fine. Just keep your eyes on the target."

"The target?!" he shrieked as he saw the rooftops of the city rapidly approaching. He squeezed his eyes shut bracing for impact. 

At the last second, the power in his wings returned, slowing his descent just enough to avoid a catastrophic landing. He crashed into the paved road, rolling multiple times before stopping right in front of a grand, imposing cathedral. 

Sprawled out in a mess, he groaned in pain. His whole body was now bruised from gliding on the not-so-welcoming ground.

From above, the wyvern clicked her tongue in frustration, circling once before retreating into the clouds. 

"Victory for Pit!" Palutena smiled, cheering him on. "You saved your innocence, good job!"

"If only it was this simple…" Pit grumbled as he finally took a moment to look around. The place was radiating with holy symbols and statues of angels were carved in the walls of the building in front of him. 

He had barely recovered when the heavy sound of armored boots echoed from behind him. Startled by the crash, several guards and priests rushed out of the cathedral to investigate. They stopped in their tracks, staring at the disheveled angel sprawled on the ground.

The priests, wearing blue robes exchanged confused glances. The guards, hands resting on the hilts of their swords, looked equally bewildered.

"An angel…" one of them whispered. 

Pit tried to push himself up, wincing as he did so. "Uh, yeah! That's me! Angel, at your service!" He attempted a salute but ended up wincing again, clutching his side instead. "I, um, just had a little turbulence."

One of the priests suddenly kneeled down, joining his hands in prayer. "Ilias has finally reached us!"

The other next to him raised an eyebrow. "Isn't he a bit… different than the ones depicted?"

"Who cares? Bring him the best hospitality!" the first priest insisted, looking up at Pit with wide eyes filled with wonder. "An angel in our midst! We must treat him with honor!"

"Looks like they've taken a liking to you, Pit." 

Pit grinned sheepishly. "I won't say no to a hot bath!"

The priests exchanged excited whispers before one of them stepped forward, gesturing for Pit to follow. "This way, angel! We have everything you need!"

Humming to himself, Pit trailed behind them into the cathedral, his eyes widening as he took in his surroundings. Even though he was used to the splendor of the Sky Palace, the sheer magnificence of this place left him in awe. The stained glass windows shimmered with vibrant colors, depicting scenes of angelic beings and divine battles. Each step he took echoed softly in the vast hall, amplifying the stillness that seemed to radiate from every corner.

He marveled at the statues, towering figures of what he assumed were angels and their goddess Ilias. Each carving was immaculate, with the serene gaze of the goddess watching over the entire cathedral. Everything was spotless, the floors reflecting the light streaming in through the windows. It felt like he was walking through a sacred painting.

"This place is awesome! We could take a few tips from them, Lady Palutena!" Pit whispered in amazement, his eyes tracing the intricate designs of the statues and murals.

"I agree," Palutena's voice echoed in his head, her tone just as impressed. "They sure know how to honor their goddess. It makes me curious to meet her in person. Perhaps I should take some notes on how she manages to inspire such devotion."

Pit chuckled softly, "I don't think you need any lessons in that department. The goddess of light is loved and praised, all around the world!"

"True, but I never shy away from learning. A goddess has to stay ahead, after all."

"There we are. Suit yourself, oh divine angel," one of the priests said, bowing slightly as he opened a heavy wooden door. It creaked open to reveal a grand bathroom that seemed as luxurious as the rest of the cathedral. Steam gently rose from a large stone bath filled with crystal-clear water, illuminated by the soft glow of candles scattered around the room. The scent of fresh herbs and flowers filled the air, making it feel more like a royal spa than a simple washroom.

Pit's eyes widened in delight. "Wow! Now this is what I'm talking about!"

He stepped inside eagerly, the warm air already soothing his sore muscles. "Thanks, guys! This is perfect!"

The priests bowed again, retreating from the room to give him privacy. As the door shut behind them, Pit stretched out with a sigh of relief. He glanced around, grinning. "Lady Palutena, I think I could get used to this."

Palutena's voice was amused. "Don't get too comfortable, Pit. You're still on a mission."

"Right! But for now, hot bath time!"

Without even taking his clothes off, he jumped right into the bath for a nice and long relaxing session…

Relaxing was far away for the trio currently facing off against the berserker. In another world, oblivious to the events happening in Sentora, the district that was once Luka's turf as a detective had become nothing but ruins.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" A roar echoed in the streets as the monk, the delinquent and the detective ran as fast as they could.

Jumping over the rubble, Hakunen, the monk, decided to start a conversation between labored breaths. "So… you ever… fought something like this before?" he asked, glancing at his companions as they dodged falling debris and the chaotic landscape around them.

"Never!" Jotaro grunted, using a fallen wall as leverage for a powerful jump.

Luka, panting heavily as he dodged a crumbling pillar, added, "I've fought… huff… a demon king once… but… huff… this one's a lot stronger!"

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" Another roar erupted, right behind them as the berserker's sword-axe landed right behind Jotaro. 

"ORA!" In retaliation, something invisible punched the beast in the face, making it barely flinch. "Tch! This thing is tough!"

Without warning, Luka lunged forward, grabbing Jotaro by the neck and pulling him away from the berserker's next attack. That thing was too fast, they had to come up with a strategy soon or they would get wiped out easily.

Jotaro gritted his teeth as he regained his footing, glaring at the towering berserker. "We need a plan. Fast."

Hakunen, dodging another piece of debris, quickly glanced at their surroundings. The entire district was in shambles, providing little in the way of strategic advantage. "We can't fight it head-on, we'll have to outrun it. Maybe we can use the terrain?"

"That thing doesn't care about terrain at all," Luka muttered, eyeing the monster's sheer size and muscle mass. It moved with an unnatural speed and power, and their attacks were not even scratching it. 

Without a word, the trio instinctively split up, each darting into a different alleyway. The creature hesitated for only a second before locking onto Jotaro, who had taken the widest path.

The stand user sprinted down the alleyway, the berserker's heavy footfalls shaking the ground as it charged after him. "Of course it's me…" he grumbled under his breath, glancing back at the massive creature closing in fast.

Suddenly, at the next intersection, Hakunen's voice echoed through the ruined streets. "Stiff-leg Charm!" The small piece of paper in his hand started to glow, and suddenly the berserker's foot stopped, making it stumble on its own weight. 

Jotaro grinned, his eyes narrowing as he saw the berserker stumble from Hakunen's charm. "Star Platinum!" he called out, and in an instant, his invisible stand appeared before him. With blinding speed, Star Platinum unleashed a barrage of powerful punches at the berserker's exposed side.

"ORA! ORA! ORA!" Each punch landed with thunderous force, shaking the air around them, but the berserker barely flinched, as if unbothered by the stand's blow.

Hakunen darted to his side, using one more of his charms to bind the berserker's arm. "Stop it, Mister! It's way too—"

"Step aside!" Luka shouted from behind, warning the both of them as he sprinted toward the berserker, his eyes shining with determination. 

During the chase, he had taken advantage of not being pursued to prepare a plan of attack. Even though he did not know much about his new friends's abilities, he had hoped for a distraction. 

Jotaro and Hakunen both instinctively dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the berserker's wild swings as Luka charged in. 

Gripping multiple talismans in his hands, he muttered under his breath some soundless incantations. Though he was weak by himself, his master taught him the art of talisman creation and mana manipulation. It was nothing to gloat about, but he still had more than one trick under his jacket. 

He threw the pack of talismans to Jotaro, which he caught with a confused look on his face.

"Stick them on him once I've finished the preparations!" he shouted. 

Jotaro glanced at the strange pieces of paper in his hand but didn't question it. Instead, he simply nodded and jumped backward.

"Okay you big brute, it's time for you to go on a journey!"

Grand magic, activate.

The mana around Luka flowed inwardly towards him, accumulating inside him. Crouching low to the ground, Luka carefully placed a talisman in front of him, pressing it firmly onto the rubble-strewn floor. The talisman began to glow faintly, resonating with the mana that now coursed through his body.

Taking his time, Luka extended his hand, aiming directly at the berserker. He was a detective, yes. 

But also judge and executor in his spare time.

"NOW!" He shouted to Jotaro, who replied with a simple nod. But as soon as he stepped forward, Hakunen's charm wore off, freeing the monster from its invisible chains.

The berserker roared, its massive form suddenly free, its muscles bulging as it shook off the remaining energy of the charm. It swung its sword-axe in a wide arc, narrowly missing Jotaro, who jumped back just in time.

But Luka remained calm, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. The skin beneath his jacket started to glow red, and a trickle of blood ran down his left nostril, but even under such a strain on his body, he still trusted the man who saved them earlier.

Jotaro gritted his teeth, feeling the wind from the swing blowing in his face. With a grunt, he shouted again. 

"Star Platinum!" 

With pure rage and desperation, his stand moved at lightspeed, placing down the talismans one by one on the red-glowing body of the beast. The berserker roared in frustration, swinging wildly in an attempt to swat the invisible ghost away, but Star Platinum was too fast, dancing around the attacks as it worked to wrap the creature in paper.

"It's done!" Jotaro shouted, his heart racing as he watched the last talisman adhere to the berserker's arm.

Luka grinned, feeling a surge of energy pulse through him. It was time. "Now, get lost!" he yelled, channeling his mana into the talismans.

The papers on Berserker ignited, glowing brightly in a chain of light that wrapped itself around him. Even though the magic was cast by him, the spells from the talismans were crafted by a divine entity, a being out of this realm.

And while Luka was unaware of the servant's power to nullify all attacks ranked B or lower—though these ranks didn't matter in this context—the spell was more than enough to push him back.

With a blast akin to an explosion, the creature was propelled backward, crashing through debris and sending shards flying in all directions. The force of the magic sent it skidding across the rubble-strewn street, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The berserker struggled to regain its footing as it floated in the air, crashing through building after building, each collision sending clouds of dust and debris billowing into the atmosphere. The sheer size of the creature made its descent all the more catastrophic, the ground trembling beneath it as it finally landed with a thunderous impact.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!" After shaking off the disorientation, the berserker let out a furious roar in the distance, far enough for the trio to be safe again.

"Let's not waste time and run!" Luka shouted, feeling the strain of the spell he just used. His legs felt like lead and his head light as the pressure in his body slowly returned to normal.

"You sure are surprising mister!" Hakunen smiled, helping him stand. "I didn't think you were capable of that!"

Luka grinned, wiping the trickle of blood from his nose. "Thank you, but we can celebrate later." He winced, feeling the toll the spell had taken on his body. "That thing's not down for long."

Jotaro, his jaw clenched with determination, nodded as he kept his eyes on the horizon where the berserker had landed. "He's right. We need to move before that monster gets back up."

The ground trembled again as the distant roar of the beast echoed through the streets. "I've got a plan, but we need to hide for now," Luka said, pointing towards the still undestroyed buildings. 

The two other heroes nodded, before following him. As they moved, Hakunen asked shyly. "By the way, we still haven't given our names yet…"

"Oh, right," the detective smiled. "I'm Luka, glad to meet you…?"

"Hakunen. That's funny, your name is the same as one of my friends," the monk then turned his head towards the tall delinquent-looking man. "And you mister?"

The man tipped the cap on his head slightly, his expression serious but calm. "Kujo Jotaro. Not gonna lie, I'm glad to finally find some normal people in this mess."

Hakunen chuckled lightly. "This place is far from normal to me, but I know what you mean."

Jotaro raised an eyebrow, scanning them briefly. "You two aren't stand users, I suppose."

Luka shook his head. "I have no idea what a stand is, but I'm guessing it's that thing you keep using to punch the giant monster."

Hakunen gulped nervously. "Is this some kind of ghost? I have a chill running through my spine each time you summon it."

Jotaro glanced at Hakunen. "Perhaps you are attuned to spirits since you are a monk…"

"Anyway!" Luka clapped his hands, bringing the both of them back to the urgent situation. He checked if Nina had restored the communication, but only a buzzing sound came out of his earpiece. "Do you guys have any clue in what is going on?"

"No idea," the both of them said in unison.

"Though… it reminds me of when I arrived in this other world," Hakunen pointed out.

Luka raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You were transported to another world too?" and then glanced at Jotaro. "Well, I guess you are now as well…"

The situation was bizarre, to say the least. The detective sighed. His headache from the whole madness with the strange rabbit was gone but he was still struggling to find some answers to this whole ordeal.

Speaking of rabbit, the thought came to his mind. "By the way…" The tone of his voice shifted into a dangerous one, making Hakunen's hair stand on end. "Do any of you know of a White Rabbit? She's the one who started all of this," he said, his voice dripping with murderous intent.

Jotaro simply answered. "I don't know, this isn't Alice in Wonderland…"

Luka turned his head towards the little monk, who suddenly started shaking nervously. "And you, Hakunen?"

Hakunen's face paled as Luka's gaze fell on him. The monk shifted nervously. "M-Me? A White Rabbit?" he stammered. "I know one but…"

"Don't tell me…"

"She might be the one I know…" Hakunen whispered. "I-I don't think she could cause this willingly though…"

Jotaro sighed, lowering his head. "Good grief."

'Oh, that's right," Luka remembered. "You mentioned that you knew a Luka, right? She mentioned it too now that I remember correctly. That rabbit is dead now though."

"Dead?" Hakunen frowned, clearly looking unconvinced. "How did she die?"

"Beheaded," the detective sighed, remembering his trashed office. "There was blood everywhere. Also, there was a dinosaur, had to kill it though…"

"A what?" Jotaro raised an eyebrow

Hakunen shook his head. "Then she isn't dead. She always comes back even after being beheaded.

Luka's eyes narrowed as the monk spoke, deadpan. "So it's something like that, huh…"

"Something like that, yes. I didn't really understand when they explained it to me but that's what I remembered."

Jotaro tilted his head, crossing his arms. "So, this damn rabbit can't be killed, even if you behead her? She just regenerates?"

"THEN WHY HASN'T SHE SOLVED THE PROBLEM ALREADY!" Luka screamed at the top of his lungs, feeling his patience run thin. The man was usually calm and collected, but knowing that this was all because of her he almost got squashed like a bug by this giant brute caused him to explode. "I swear, when I see her again I'll make her suffer in ways unimaginable…"

Hakunen, still shaking a little, cautiously approached Luka. "I-I don't think she meant for all of this to happen. She's… difficult, but she's not evil. There's probably more to this."

Jotaro sighed, his arms crossed. "Losing your cool won't help. We need to find a place to hide for now."

Luka's blood pressure came back to normal as he took some deep breaths. "You're right, Mister Kujo."

"Jotaro is fine."

He gave a quick nod in acknowledgment. "Right, Jotaro," he then looked around and came up with an idea. "Come, I know a place that can hide us for a while."

The trio moved quickly and quietly, slipping through the debris and the damaged streets. As they made their way toward the hideout, the distant roars of the berserker still echoed through the city, but for the moment, the danger seemed to have lessened. 

"It's right around the corner," Luka announced. This part of the city was still undamaged and it was easier for them to move now. "Riiight ther—"

As he turned around the corner to check if his shelter was still there, he stopped in his tracks. 

"What, a bar?" Jotaro asked, confused.

Luka's jaw dropped. The shelter that was built by Nina for him in case of emergencies was now replaced by a bar called the "Ahnenerbe", to his utmost despair.

The door of the establishment opened, revealing a small cat-looking creature standing up on its two… paws? Okay what the hell is this, even I am confused.

"Nya~ Welcome dear customers," the creature? talked. Why is it so cute and annoying at the same time?

"Stop talking narrator! This is my time to shine! I, Neco-arc shall become the protagonist and narrator of this stor—"

"YOU LITTLE SHIT GET ME BACK MY SHELTER!" Luka's furious outburst echoed through the street as he grabbed the bizarre creature standing smugly in the doorway and started shaking it. "Nya~" the creature—Neco Arc—giggled, completely unfazed.

Jotaro stood still, his eyebrow twitching as he watched the absurd scene unfold. "I want to go back to Egypt…" he muttered under his breath.

Hakunen let out a small laugh. "They remind me of the foxes on the mountain…"

"Foxes Nya~? We have a lot of customers like that. They're hard to deal with." Neco-Arc answered in between two shakes from Luka.

The detective sighed, understanding rapidly that shaking the creature would solve nothing. "You've taken over my emergency shelter and turned it into a bar!"

"Exactly! This place is where all the heroes from the multiverse gather… The Ahnenerbe! And I'm the greatest of them all obviously."

"I bet this thing doesn't die even if you kill it," Luka said, a vein popping on his forehead as he pulled out a gun from his jacket and aimed it at the creature. "Wanna test it out, everyone?""

"Nya?" Neco-Arc jumped, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down its face. "You fool! Don't you know that people die when they are killed?"

Jotaro raised an eyebrow, arms still crossed. "Sounds like a bad pun. But if it's true, we'd just be wasting bullets."

Hakunen took a step back, nervous. "Maybe we should just talk this out? We don't want to make things worse."

Luka glared at Neco-Arc, gun still aimed. "You better have a good explanation for why you took over my place."

The creature pouted, crossing its arms. "It's not my fault! I just found this empty space and decided to make it a bar! Heroes need a place to relax after saving the multiverse, nya~!"

Abruptly, a window from the bar was smashed, and a yellow-looking creature was sent flying into the street while holding a bottle in its hand. "Wewewe~" it laughed, completely wasted.

"Oh! You guys?" Hakunen smiled, waving enthusiastically.

"What the hell it looks like—"

"Don't tell its name! Kazuya told me it would summon a demon worse than the succubi stalking me!" Hakunen shouted urgently.

"Whoa, your life must be weird, man…" Luka replied, incredulity flooding his tone as he eyed the yellow creature now sprawled on the pavement, still chuckling like nothing had happened.

"That's right~" A beautiful and seductive voice chimed in, stepping outside of the door. "You wouldn't want to get into trouble for copyright infringement, trust me."

"Though we're already playing with fire here!" Neco-Arc shrugged.

Luka blinked, turning to see a striking woman with long pink flowing hair and an enigmatic smile. Wearing a shiny, leather-like bodysuit with vertical pink lines running along the front, black boots that arrived to her knees, and a characteristic pink fluffy tail and ears.

"Who's this?" Luka asked, raising an eyebrow at the newcomer.

"President of NFF Services, Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya, at your service~!" The woman said in a playful tone, her voice dripping with charm. "Weapons, assassinations, political involvement—we do it all!"

Hakunen felt uneasy. "You're bad people!"

"Oh no, I assure you…" she said with her voice dropping to a whisper. "We also provide bodyguards and security plans for all your needs."

"Wait, security plans?" Luka interjected.

"That's right! For a mediocre sum of…" she then whispered very low her next words. "One billion dollars," before turning the volume back up. "NFF services shall give all sorts of assistance!"

Luka's eyes locked in. "Alright, let's talk about the terms."

"Wait, are you seriously going to recruit her?" Hakunen exclaimed, visibly shaking in his sandals as he was pushed by Koyan to enter the bar.

"Good grief…" Jotaro followed with a sigh.

 With a shark-like smile, Koyanskaya closed the door, her tail swishing behind her as she prepared to lead the unsuspecting heroes deeper into a world of unpredictable alliances and dubious contracts.

Granberia the monster swordswoman was walking nervously inside the Monster Lord's castle. After facing defeat after defeat against the young hero and his companions, she started questioning herself. Was the current Monster Lord right? Was she on the righteous path herself? She struggled to come to terms with her own morals and loyalty to the throne. 

Granberia had always prided herself on being a steadfast protector, but now, that resolve was crumbling under the weight of her conscience. The lines between right and wrong blurred, making her question whether the cause she fought for was just.

In the echoing halls of the castle, she walked faster. It wasn't the first time she had hesitated to confront her lord about her decision, but now she felt the need for answers. 

Just as her thoughts began to coalesce into a decision, something appeared in front of her. In a flash of light, a hole opened in the middle of the hallway, growing larger until it stopped, forming a pathway to another place entirely.

Multiple men stepped out of it with strange armor covering their bodies, holding makinas that Granberia had heard of but only witnessed against the hero's companions. 

Her instincts kicked in and she drew her sword. Gripping the hilt tightly, she assessed the intruders. Who were they? What were their intentions? 

There were only four of them, each crouching and holding Granberia in the sights of their weapons. With an authoritative voice and low growl, she called out. "Who goes there?"

However the men didn't budge, simply holding their positions. Another man walked out of the portal, this time wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans, his face shadowed by the light of the portal, looking at odds with the heavily armored men. Holding his ear, the man spoke casually.

"Portal creation confirmed. Dimensional travel accomplished."

Granberia narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher the situation. "Explain yourself!" she demanded, her grip tightening on her sword. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the man glanced around, seemingly unfazed by her threat.

"What looks like a dragonkin is menacing us," he said, addressing someone unseen. Though Granebria figured it was some kind of telepathy. "Apprehend and capture it? Alright."

With a sign of his hand, the men pressed a button on their rifles. Granberia lunged forward, not wasting any time to see what they were going to do. 

The first shot rang out, a bright flash illuminating the dim hallway. Granberia managed to dodge to the side, her blade glinting as she struck with precision the nearest soldier. The sound of metal met his flesh, hacking the man's chest to pieces, sending him crumpling to the ground. 

These intruders were underestimating her, and she intended to make them regret it.

The man in the jacket, unfazed by his companion's death, simply pulled a cigarette from his pocket and flicked open a lighter. He took his time lighting it with a calm demeanor that bothered even Granberia.

"Don't you care about what happens to your comrades?" Granberia shouted as she dodged the incoming shots of the other soldiers with impressive speed.

"They're not my comrades," the man noted, taking a puff from his cigarette. 

Without warning, he pulled out a gun with a strange gem lodged inside it and aimed at Granberia. 

"But it would be problematic for me if you killed more of them," he said with casual nonchalance. And, just as Granberia prepared to leap aside to dodge another bullet, he fired.

The timing was impeccable. He had calculated her trajectory flawlessly. The bullet struck her in the chest, and an intense wave of heat coursed through her body, igniting pain and confusion. She staggered back, her vision blurring as shock surged through her system.

Granberia felt her strength waning as the world around her started to fade. The sounds of the skirmish dimmed, and the faces of the soldiers blurred into indistinct shapes. Panic surged within her; she struggled against the approaching darkness, fighting to stay conscious.

But even after fighting hard, her consciousness slipped away, her sword clattering to the ground as she crumpled.

"Put some chains on her and get her back to the lab," the man in the jacket ordered. 

The remaining soldiers approached cautiously, weapons still trained on the fallen monster. With expert hands, they pulled out some handcuffs and secured her wrists and ankles.

"I'll be going back," he said, finishing his cigarette in one single draw. With a casual flick of the wrist, the end of the cigarette landed on the soldier's corpse, and, suddenly, ignited in blue flames consuming even the armor the man was wearing. The flames ate away at the corpse until nothing was left, only a burnt mark on the marble floor.

"Move out," the man in the jacket commanded, his tone devoid of any remorse. He stepped back inside the portal with the soldiers hastily following, dragging Granberia's restrained form behind them.

Just like that, the portal closed.

Leaving no trace of what happened behind.