[news]Is the sky falling?! An update?! Sorry guys, I am still struggling with getting any motivation to write. But I managed a bit today! It's not a long chapter, a bit of a nothing burger maybe? But, hope you enjoy anyway~. I'll keep trying to write, but please do not expect much...[/news]
Looking around at what could only be generously called the remains of a planet, I frowned a little. I was so far away from Earth that I had no idea where I was in the cosmos.
With a displeased grunt and a mumbled "Shit." I dismissed my sword and armour, donning my dress once again.
Just as I was pondering what to do about this sad state of affairs, I found myself in, I suddenly felt an astronomical amount of power flood into my being. The feeling of four seals shattering at once was almost too much for me, and I fell to my knees.
To say I was in a state of euphoric bliss would not be a stretch. The feeling was almost as great as being in Tearwyn's tails! Almost.
I was left flabbergasted by this massive surge in power, as it felt like my strength was increasing much higher than it should be.
I suddenly heard Mother's voice as I was looking at my hands like some kind of anime hero after a power up, "Of course, your power is increasing non-linearly. The seals are not just your original power, but all the power you've been building up as you've been having fun. You've not been stagnant, my lovely daughter~. Your growth has been explosive, and I've been having great fun watching you grow into your own."
Then she let out a giggle that sounded like gentle solar winds brushing past a planet as she added, "Now, go and get your Wife. I am very much excited to meet my new daughter-in-law~!"
I couldn't even try to hide the happy, rosy blush on my cheeks at her tease, "Yes, Mother. You'll love her!"
Her pleased hum faded quickly as she left, while I closed my eyes and focused on trying to search for Barghest. With an annoyed grunt, and acknowledging that I can't sense shit in another space detached from reality yet, I instead focused on Rin.
I smiled as I soon found her through the link we surprisingly still had with the command seals. However, before I teleported to her, I quickly glanced around my location while sending out my senses at their maximum to check if anyone was around.
With a level of softness that even a god would struggle to sense, I mumbled, "Just this once."
After one final check around myself, I placed a few fingers against my forehead like a certain alien warrior with a tail and softly said with a smirk, "Instant Transmission."
As I vanished, I would eventually learn of the huge consequences of my action as two soft giggles erupted from nowhere.
When I arrived, however, my hands were already at my sides like normal. Looking around myself, I was a little surprised at what I was looking at. Rubble. Everywhere. A lone room was all that was standing with a barrier, which I noted was pink, keeping it safe. Stretching my senses, I couldn't find anything else for thousands of kilometres. No city. Nothing.
With a mental shrug, I stepped through the shield and went to open the door. Yet, a very... sensual... moan caused my hand to still. With a smirk, I instead knocked on the door.
Two surprised squeaks rang out before Rin's voice called, "One moment, please!"
Softly chuckling to myself, I stepped back and waited for the two women to get themselves presentable. Seems they were indulging in each other quite often now? That thought caused me to wonder if Sister Raven had stopped by at some point in time while I was fighting.
Didn't take long before Rin, and just Rin, creaked open the door to peek outside. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and said, "Artoria! You're back! Well, not that I didn't think you'd lose or anything."
Completely ignoring the shifting eyes she was sporting, I gently shook my head and said, "Yeah, yeah. Are you and your Wife good to leave? Or did you-"
While she started to smile like a loon, a soft yell from behind her said, "We're ready to leave! The Goddess Tearwyn has already connected us to that wonderful system you all have! We're eager to start travelling and earning some points!"
With a soft chuckle, I said, "I bet you are. Alright, off you go."
With a wave of my hand, I created a portal back to my home dimension near Sakura and did a shooing gesture towards Rin. She smiled widely at me, blew me a kiss, and quickly disappeared back inside the room.
With an amused huff, I turned around and walked a few feet and used a small mental flick to close the door Rin had left open.
Then, I said to the open air, "Alright. Deal complete. Either open the path to my Barghest, or fully release her to me."
I didn't get a response before a door just suddenly appeared before me. Without wasting any more time, I casually opened it and stepped through.
What greeted me was a massive, mostly devoid of people, room. There was an equally massive table that could fit over a hundred people resting on a royal red carpet. And at the tip of the table was an elevation that led to a resplendent throne of gold and gems.
My eyes hardened into a glare at the man who sat on the throne. With more annoyance than anger in my voice, I growled, "Gilgamesh."
My voice attracted the attention of the two other people in the room. One was naturally a copy of me, Artoria. Stuffing her face with a feast fit for... well, a king. Gilgamesh, however, looked at me with a mix of disdain and interest.
While resting his chin on his right fist, he said, "Well, well, if it isn't the Lesser Artoria. What brings you here? You normally never leave your abode."
Killing intent leaked out as I answered, "Watch your tone, mutt. I am not the "Artoria" you are familiar with. Call me lesser again, and I will break you."
He simply smirked at me and said, "I'd like to see you try, Lesser Mongral."
I will forever relish the look of pure shock on his face as my fist crushed his chest in and sent him flying through the back of his throne and several walls.
With a satisfied smile, my attention was drawn to the coughing and sputtering Artoria. After collecting herself, she quickly asked, "How did you do that, Alter?! No one, you included, has EVER been able to damage so much as a chair of this place before!"
With a cocky smirk, I replied, "As my Sister, Neo, would say: I am just built different."
I almost barked a laugh at the pure confusion on her face as she mumbled, "Sister...? We don't have a sister named Neo..."
Soon, I heard the sounds of several footfalls rushing towards us. Seconds later, the large dining room was filled with several people. However, my eyes only had room for one.
With bright eyes and an equally dazzling smile, I called out to her, "My Barghest!"
She had instantly locked eyes with me the second she entered the room. With a gasp, she said, "You... you truly came for me?"
With a soft smile, I answered, "Of course, my Barghest."
Then, with a look that carried a hint of worry, I asked, "Do you still... want to leave with me?"
She looked to her King, Morgan, as if asking for permission. With a cool demeanour, Morgan said, "We discussed this. If you truly love her, Barghest, I will not stand in your way." She glanced my way for a second before continuing, "But she is horrifically powerful. While I will bless this union, I must also forever ban you from my court while you have that curse from the treacherous Oberon. If you shall ever purge the curse, you will be welcome to visit. But never again will you reside in my circle of Knights."
She covered her chest with her hand in a knight's salute and then knelt. While keeping her eyes locked to Morgan's, she said, "My King. Your knight truly feels that the one before you is her soul mate."
An infinitesimally small smile seemed to appear on Morgan's face as she said, "Then let it be so. I bless your union. I also herby cast you out of my Knights Circle with honours. From this moment onward, you are banned from all realms under my domain. Until the time you are freed of that hateful curse, at which point you will be welcomed with open arms."
She placed her small hand on Barghest's head and added, "Go, my former knight. Find the happiness that has been denied you by the cruel."
Barghest slammed her hand against her chest hard and leaned down lower as she said, "Thank you, My King."
She held the bow for a few more moments before she stood up and turned to me with a smile so bright she nearly blinded me. With a smile just as bright as hers, I appeared in front of her with my hand held out.
As she grabbed my hand, I formed a portal to my private area, which I only share with Tearwyn and my sisters. Turning to her, I said, "I can't wait to introduce you to everyone. You're going to LOVE Tearwyn. Oh, and my Mother wants to meet you."
She stumbled a little as she squeaked out a surprised, "Your Mother?!"