376: Association
"You said you found a Seraph's Gate, King Evans?"
"A Seraph's… You mean a Portal? I thought those don't exist anymore."
"Where… did you find it, kid?"
Chaos filled the air in the 10th Realm's unfinished castle. Their king, King van, had returned from an almost 1-year absence. Most of the workers panicked, thinking they would be scolded or fired if their king saw that the castle was still not fully dressed-- but he didn't even seem to care and only waved at them, telling them to not mind him and get back to work.
The situation in the throne room, however, was completely different. Their kind and understanding king was currently being bombarded with endless questions, almost buried by the inquisitive stares of all his friends.
"Did it have any Objective? I miss getting those," Gerald then said, quickly getting the attention of the other System Holders in the group, Angela and Sarah.
"No, I didn't really think of entering them without consulting Athena," Van quickly muttered with a shake of his head; and afterward, his shaking head stopped towards his daughter… who was standing awfully close beside Gerald, "...So, the two of you really are together now? I've only been gone for a few months and you've already made your move with my daughter, Gerald."
"Wel--"
"A few months?"
And before Gerald could even say a single word, the air in the throne room suddenly became thicker; heavy enough that it almost made one find it hard to breathe. Most of them turned towards the source of the pressure, only to see Latanya and Athena's hair floating in the air.
"I believe you have been gone for more than a few months, King Evans," the cold and gravelly tone in Athena's voice was enough to make the air crack.
"Your current lover is right, Master Van," Latanya added to the weight of the air, "You left me alone to handle things that you should be doing. I know I probably have the most experience out of all of us in ruling a kingdom, but since I left my position as Queen of the Vanir, I was expecting to serve under your leadership, Master Van…
...But instead, I am doing the same things I have been doing back in Vanaheim."
"As… as Ms. Angela once said; If others can do it, then let them do it."
"I don't remember saying that," Angela quickly shook her head as soon as she heard Van's words, "Wait… maybe I did? But I don't remember, so it might as well be that I didn't say it."
"It doesn't matter what anyone said," Latanya then walked towards the throne, her mountain-sized bosom almost jiggling with excitement as they made their way to Van, "I believe I deserve compensation for standing in for you, Master Van…
...How about I become your lover instead of pony-tails here?"
"..."
"Just for the duration you left, so a year sharing a bed? That doesn't sound too bad, doesn't it?"
"I don't think we--"
"We are getting sidetracked."
"H-- Hey!"
Latanya could only let out a small scream as Athena suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder and dragged her away.
"Let's get back on the more important issues."
As soon as Athena was sure that Latanya wouldn't try to do what she just did anymore, she quickly stood beside the throne; slightly sticking her buttocks on the right armrest.
"It was a wise decision not to enter the Seraph's Gate, King Evans. And to reduce everyone's confusion, it is probably best that we just call it a Portal," Athena then said as she looked at everyone, "I don't think I need to say this, but King Evans's discovery is colossal, probably even cardinal. Angela, out of
"No, not even once."
Athena's eyes traveled to the rest of the group as if asking them the same questions.
"I didn't really have time to explore," Gerald quickly shrugged, "So, nope."
"I… have always been asleep, father."
"I've explored a lot of floating worlds, but not once did I see a Portal," Sarah waved her hand.
"I don't like moving that much," Latanya also shrugged her shoulders, "Ask the winged chick."
With Skylar having been born from a part of Seraph Azrael's wings, Athena's focus on her was higher than most. But alas, she too, only shook her head.
Athena was already expecting that none of the others had seen a Portal, as even she, who had made sure to know every gear of this world, had not heard any news of a Portal emerging anywhere in the 9 Realms and surrounding Fragmented Worlds.
"So… we can all assume that the Portal that King Evans discovered is the first ever Portal in the New World."
"Is… it really that big of a deal?" Van then said as he lazily leaned back, "I've been running almost non-stop for a few months, maybe I'll rest for a bit and we can discuss this another time?"
"I am afraid it is, King Evans," Athena quickly breathed out, "I believe most of you know that this world is actually just the planet you previously lived in, but hundreds of thousands of years in the future. And if I am right, then the same time has also passed in my universe."
"..."
"King Evans… there is a chance that there is another Olympian on the other side of the Portal."
"...Still?"
"Possible. But truthfully, I am more concerned that it would be the gateway for the World Eaters to pinpoint this universe and find their way towards us."
"I… see," although Van was indeed extremely exhausted, he quickly realized what Athena was getting at, "So we need to clear it as soon as possible?"
"Yes," Athena quickly nodded, "But we also need to take extra caution, I have no idea how my universe has evolved throughout the years."
"Hm…"
"How far is this Portal anyway, Van?" Gerald then said as he cracked his knuckles, "Maybe I can stretch my muscles for once."
"The latest one I saw is quite a distance, probably the same distance as the moon?"
"Wait… King Evans, what do you mean by 'latest'?" Athena then blinked a couple of times as he looked Van directly in the eyes.
"...Oh," Van then also blinked a couple of times as he returned Athena's stare, "Didn't I mention it? I saw more than 1 Portal."
"What!?"
"How many did you see!?"
"More or less a hundred," Van said as he stood up, "I would have probably seen more if I didn't get tired and decided to go home."
"That's… impossible," Athena muttered, "If there were that many Portals, then some of us were bound to discover one or two. Could it be possible… that they are actually just emerging again?"
"It might also be possible that Mr. Evans's presence is activating them," Angela added.
"But if that was the case, then statistically and geographically, there should be a Portal somewhere in the 9 Realms where King Evans has been on," Athena said before letting out a small but deep hum, "Something… must be happening in my universe."
"Could it be that these World Eaters have actually discovered us?" Sarah breathed out.
"Hm…"
And while everyone was thinking of their own hypothesis, Van's loud sighs echoed throughout the throne hall.
"Is there a way for our citizens to explore the expanse of space without relying on a Branch?" He said, "Or at least just take them from point to point?"
"Like a spacecraft?" Athena quickly replied, "I am afraid this universe does not have the necessary technological knowledge for something like that, King Van. The materials alone to make a feasible one would have to go through many processes."
"What about something like a controllable floating Branch?" Gerald said as he raised his hand, "While Vanya was growing Yggdrasil, bits and pieces of it were detaching. I saw a part detached with people still on it."
"...What happened to them?"
"They died."
"W… what?" Vanya could not help but take in a sorrowful breath, "Something like that… happened?"
"If you're going to suggest something, then please don't suggest something that already has a tested outcome, brat," Angela said with a shake of her head.
"Well, I mean they died; but not after the detached Branch withered," Gerald clicked his tongue before continuing his explanation, "I don't know how the whole atmosphere and oxygen relationship works in the Branch, but what if--"
"That idea might actually just work, Gerald."
And before Gerald could finish his words, the tone of excitement in Athena's voice interrupted him, "I didn't think of it before since it seemed too race-oriented, but what if it's possible for the other Forest Giants to sustain a small part of the Branch? They all have your blood."
"That's… we never tried it before," Vanya placed her hand on her chin as she looked at Athena, "But isn't that too dangerous? Even if there's the off chance that it works, what if the Forest Giant responsible for the floating branch becomes exhausted?"
"So use the Forest Giants as pilots, I dig it," Gerald said with a chuckle, "Just so we're clear, I am the one who thought of this idea, okay?"
"How long until we can have someone to test this, Athena?" Although Van's eyes were already on the verge of closing due to exhaustion, his words still contained a hint of excitement in them.
"As long as we can get volunteers, then we can even do it now. But… I do not really see the purpose of this, King Evans. If we're just going to clear Portals, then Angela could just teleport one of us there… or you can just run."
"Just us?" Van chuckled weakly, "It is as you said, there are probably thousands of new Portals out there appearing by the second, Athena. So…
....I am declaring the re-opening of the Explorer Association."