130 A pitiful helper

Everywhere she could put her eyes on, all she could see was snow and ice. The previously well-maintained encampment with sturdy barricades created to resist monster was now in ruin. Funnily enough, a horde of wolves had decided to make this place their new home, following the massive mayhem that followed after the arrival of Ymir. Not that she cared about them, as not even their corpses could be seen. Gazing at the massive ice wall that was in front of her, she began to slowly melt it.

(Are you sure you want to do this now, Outlander? Even with the high probability that you are right, they had failed already and are all dead. If their bodies had anything useful, the races of this planet would have taken them immediately, like with that black gauntlet.)

As hard as the Viscount tried to convince her that it was a mistake, he was not in charge of her body. At least, when she was here and awake. But the more she learned about this world, the more she felt that something was not right. Especially concerning those Dark Gods. And because that was the only place she could search for the moment, she wanted to be sure before facing any Hero. So, in the mist that was created, she entered the cave full of mana crystals.

It was just what she saw when she sent those skeletons in the dark tunnel. The entire place was filled to the brink with mana, so much that it could have probably blinded Davion. Not literally, after all, what was the point of being that sensitive, the Ancient wouldn't have created that race to be weak like that. But the orodil would have still felt disturbed. Contrarily to her.

Taking her time, she made sure to not miss a single crystal. The dark tentacles that were leaking from her skin began to grow longer and thicker, with more and more appearing outside of her body. With that sudden influx, she finally managed to stabilize once and for all the Vault of Souls inside her own spirit. Taking a moment to see if any threat was incoming, she let the Viscount took control of her body for a few minutes.

"Empress, you saved us all! Not that I didn't believe in you, but now, I feel the same way as before." The armored dwarf was smiling like he had won the lottery. The numerous holes in the shelter that he could call home were finally fixed, and his soul was no longer deteriorating as the days passed. With him to accompany her in her journey, she checked one more time the condition of all the other residents.

If before, they were sleeping because they were badly injured, now it was slightly different. After all, the more they moved, talked and acted, the more Leilade would have to use mana to provide the energy they spent. And because none could truly bring a significant advantage in the incoming battle, she forced them to stay in the artificial coma they were in. As much as she looked at the massive werewolf in front of her, and wanted to have a delicious and efficient meal, she could only do that later.

Finally reaching the last place she wanted to see, Agnil suddenly stopped in his track. Looking at him, she could see he was suddenly shivering, visibly scared of something. "I-I-Is he awake? I-I don't feel so good, Empress." Because she was the owner of this place, since it was in her own soul, she did not feel anything. But judging from the reaction of the ghostly dwarf, she will have to deal with that troublesome fellow.

"You can go back now." "Thank you, Empress." The short dwarf used his strong legs to bugger off as soon as he finished his sentence. Even if his race was not known to be fast, the speed he reached was truly impressive. Opening a door so big that even Ymir would appear small if he was close to it, the tiny girl entered the place.

Rumble rumble

In the obscurity, she could only notice movement, of something massive hiding in the shadows. Nearly raising her eyes to the fake sky above in exasperation, she lightened the room. "ROOOOOOAR! WHO DARES ENTER MY DOMAIN!" The giant dragon was standing on his two legs, dominating Leilade with his height. As for his behavior, that was why she hated this guest. Except for that mad dragon, who would use their own power just to act dramatically? After all, she was the one that will pay the price at the end.

"Drogoth, are you really asking the question or not?" Seeing the frail child that was not even the size of one of his toe, the massive creature agilely moved to put his face on her side. His giant eye was looking at her so closely that she could have almost touched it. Opening his maw full of sharp teeth in a smile, he did not seem that he truly respected Leilade. "Yes, tiny human. Also, I order you to call me by my full name. The Demon Emperor Dro ..."

"STOP!" Raising her hand, she began to feel a headache. In reality, even if she had only a few beings above her, this dragon was part of them. He was killed recently while battling a Saksa. Not a 1 on 1 duel, of course, otherwise he would have been slaughtered in a few seconds. But he did reduce the casualties from millions to million. As the monster created by the Ancient, he had been destroyed when he self-destructed itself. From their guesses, the last order the Saksas received was to not let a single trace of their existence if they were to be killed.

"We are no longer in the Demonic Empire." " ... estructor of Worlds, God Eater, Slayer of Sak... WHAT!" He had completely disregarded Leilade when she told him to shut up since he was superior to her. But in the end, he was still shocked when he told her that. Trying to remember the last thing that happened, he was leisurely idling in his lair when the entire Vault violently shook. And after that, a huge blank in his memories. Realizing that, the head of the dragon faced directly the small girl.

"How many days did I slept?" Counting for a few seconds, Leilade raised her head. "More or less three months." "THREE MONTHS!" The majestic posture that Drogoth had previously was nowhere to be seen. He was almost running in a circle, murmuring things like "Unacceptable" "How dare they!" before remembering the important part of what he heard. But the more he looked at the immensely bored face of Leilade, the less he wanted to ask.

Knowing what was in the mind of the proud dragon, she could only try to reduce as much as possible her interaction with him. "Tha Lanfos managed to activate The End of the Ancients, we end up on this planet, also created by the Ancients with a sleeping Saksa. And right now, gods are trying to mess up with us." The visage of the massive creature went from surprise, intense fear when he heard one name and then sheer anger.

Finally sitting down and being in a position where Leilade didn't need to raise her head so high that she had her neck completely bent, Drogoth was thinking. Not something that he usually was doing, but he had no choice. On the other hand, Leilade was wondering what was going on in his empty brain. Not that she intentionally smeared the intelligence of the dragon in general, but that was the harsh truth for this one. If not for his strength and resilience against almost anything, Drogoth would not have become a Demon Emperor. Before dying, his body could only be measured in hundreds of meters.

"I ... eh, no." Raising one of his claw, he almost immediately put it down. Sensing that it could continue for a long time and since she didn't have all the time in the world to please the soul, Leilade had to influence slightly his thoughts. "Facing those gods, only a mighty being could be able to slay them. Unfortunately, I am too weak to do that." Seeing the corner of his maw being lifted, she knew that it was done.

"Gods, hehe. Petty and frail weaklings. For who they are taking themselves, to dare impede the Demonic Empire? The Ancients?" As he was shouting, he passed the massive door and arrived in the open space of the Vault, lifting his massive wings, the strong muscles could be seen to be used on his entire body. At the same moment, Leilade was opening a way for him to leave this place, a bit relieved. If that lazy dragon wasn't so arrogant, it would have been a lot harder to force him to move.

"They will see why I am called the God Eater, tiny human. MWHAHAHA!" As he was speaking, he still looked at Leilade one last time. After all, she was the one that preserved his soul during that unfortunate event. But because it was her job, he just felt that she was good at it, no gratitude or anything alike.

VOOM VOOM VOOM VOKRAP

Barely after flying upward, the dragon felt no strength in his body, and suddenly, he plummeted toward the ground. Crashing down, he could not see the two fingers that Leilade was using to massage her eyelids. Truthfully, she had not expected that situation to happen. First of all, the fact that he was awake when she arrived proved that he had recovered, but she had no way of knowing how much. And contrary to Master Agnil that immediately begged to be saved, her most honorable guest would never do such a thing.

"Hmpf, a minor setback. I will take care of those weaklings another day. You can go now, tiny human." Still acting proudly, the powerless dragon immediately closed the door behind him afterward. Looking at the place where he will rest, the little girl was trying to see if she could provide him enough energy to get rid of that pesky fellow. But knowing very well how important the cost will be and with the incoming war, it was a bit too risky. Even with the potential outcome of getting rid of the gods.

Finally returning to her body in the real world, she looked at the completely dark cave. Previously, it was filled with blue lights, but now, it was empty. Controlling the shadows with her thoughts, she was glad that not everything was consumed just to fix the Vault of Souls. But if Drogoth did not decide to rest by himself, the expenditure will be a lot bigger than first expected. As for her not even trying to force the dragon to do it, it was because it was completely useless. Only another Demon Emperor could force him, but she was just the rank under that.

(As expected, our guest will cause more problem. But, I had to admit I did not expect him to not be able to even lift his wings more than three times.)

"Agree. Even Agnil was not that weak, and he didn't even have the best protection. But now, I will not have to use as much mana as previously just to prevent their souls to disappear. Anything while I was away?"

(Nothing. No scream, unexpected sound or earthquake. Like previously, even if this cave was filled with mana, the monster hiding deeper does not seem to be able to come here. I will still advise you to not face the unknown by yourself, Outlander.)

Shaking her head, she gripped a mineral that was void of mana. The frail stone broke under her grip, turned into dust. "I know you are more careful than me. But facing gods without my full power is also a risk. Now, can you tell me which is the worst choice?" The soul in her head that had accompanied her from her natal planet did not answer this, letting her gaze at the darkness. "That's also what I think."