[43] Caught Between Schemes

[43] Caught Between Schemes

Chapter 43: Caught Between Schemes

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Thin Places are pocket dimensions, positioned between the mortal world and the world of the divine. The aura of the main two realms, Heaven and Earth, collide together to form this middle space.

My [Jade Perception] performed a widespread scan of the entire area; I realized that this indeed was the space – the magical realm – between the main point Earth and the secondary point that was the Divine Dimension of Konohanasakuya-hime.

This was a place separate from the movement and evolution of modern Earth, my perception moved over the figures of Dinosaurs and other extinct species that have long since vanished from the face of Earth. But those existed here; in fact, they were magical beasts. I also sensed a large concentration of magic in multiple places; signs of artifacts. This was a place filled with opportunities and gifts.

In some other terms, this place can be considered a [Dungeon].

“Oh my g-goodness, a thin place!? Those are real?!” Akane sounded frightened, voicing the concern of the other kids, as she added. “I-I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's a theory saying that there are eerie and mysterious places where the line between the physical world and the spiritual world gets super thin and it merges to create a middle-space. You are saying that’s real, Aqua? Isn’t that just a fairy tale?”

Everyone was looking at me, worried, frightened, and concerned. Some looked doubtful too, but there was a bloody body lying just near our feet with claw marks that shouldn’t belong to any normal beast. Perhaps it’s the fact that the generation of kids was a lot more interested in the supernatural, but they didn’t immediately call me quits.

I opened my mouth to explain but quickly stopped. What am I doing? What’s the point in explaining to them anything? My [Jade Perception] earlier had sensed the cause of Sen’s state, a beast that was still in this resort. No other humans were here, and so these kids would just be a hassle if I got down to explain things to them.

“Sorry, guys.”

I closed my eyes and channeled my Qi within me to perform the [Symphony of the Ephemeral Veil] technique. Mist burst out of my body, as everyone went confused and loud. This will make them lose their memories when they wake up.

“W-wait, what’s going on?!”

“I- ak!”

I moved quickly, using my senses to note which person was which, and began to knock them out one by one with a chop on their neck. Then I deposited them in my Void Storage.

First, I deposited all the guys. Then I went towards the erratic Yuki and deposited her too, and lastly I went to Akane. However, before I could knock her out, I paused. She should stay; even if she’s a normal human, she has the Book of Thoth inside her. If I was going to introduce her to the supernatural world sooner or later, this was a prime opportunity.

I dispersed the technique as the mist vanished, leaving only Mem-Cho, Mai, Akane, and me left in the room. Oh, and the body of Sen Kaibara. I stared at it for a moment and then crouched down.

“A-Aqua?!” Akane yelled when she saw me move, her head looking around at the same time to locate where the others had gone. “What just happened?! D-did you do that?”

“Stay quiet,” I told her as I looked down at Sen’s body.

There were large claw marks, three, on his back. I turned him around to see if there was any on his chest, and thankfully there wasn’t. I turned him around again and put my hand on his back, before performing the [Pure Storm Baptism]. Ethereal blue lightning danced out of my hand and into the boy’s body, his wounds began to fizzle with life as new cells grew to cover his wounds.

His wounds visibly closed, and I pushed some more energy into him to fix the blood loss issue. I also fixed the torn mark on his clothes. Half a minute later, I was done and stood up. “There,” I touched his body and deposited him where his friends were.

It was similar to cultivating lands, really. But instead of using medicine to flourish the crops, they were using humans for their life force. Though really, that dimension couldn’t be any richer. They were only messing with the space and teleporting the humans in to piss off the Goddess when she’d find out.

“How is the attack plan coming?” he put the report down and asked his son. “Have we gathered enough manpower?"

Ruval Phenex didn't look as excited as his father, even though he was following orders as given. He wasn't as devious as the others of his family. Usually, Lord Phenex was a very calm and understanding man as well; Ruval and Ravel had taken after him, while Riser took after their mother. But this matter caused Lord Phenex great interest that made him want to do anything. There was an emotional reason for that.

Ruval shook his head. "Father, you're well aware manpower isn't going to do much to a Goddess in her home terrain. But yes, I did gather the ones you've called for."

"That's good enough," Lord Phenex said. Then he sighed. "You look concerned, son. You have to understand this is for our own good. The world isn't just the three factions; now that God is dead as well as the original Lucifer, we devils aren't much of a deal to the other Pantheons. That's why I want to make sure we have a chance to stand alone. If we manage to get the [Fire Stone] that is hidden in Mount Fuji, we can finally awaken Grandmother, the Phenex Ancestor, from her long slumber. Even Gods bowed before her powers in the past."

"...." Ruval didn't know that. His father had kept it a secret until now about why he was so interested in Mount Fuji.

"We don't just need the stone, sadly," he continued. "That'd indeed help us awaken her body, but she'd need to be in an area filled with rich fire energy for a long time to stay awake. The curse that is keeping her asleep is a strong one."

"I see, father."

"So I hope you'll cooperate without feeling guilty about the humans, Ruval." His father said. "You and our men will invade the main divine dimension of the Goddess to fight her, to keep her attention locked. In the meantime, I will bring the ancestor's coffin to the middle pocket dimension where we have been sending the humans. The stone is there. I'll awaken her, and then we will go to the divine dimension to aid you in battle. With the ancestor's help, the Goddess will be dealt with in no time."

Ruval found the plan plausible, but he was still worried. "What if things don't exactly go according to plan?"

"I have backups in such emergencies," he said. "A certain devil woman with gravity powers. Even Japan's strongest battle God shouldn't be her match. If things go south, I have the button that can bring her here." [1]

Ruval's eyes shook. He went silent for a moment as all doubts he had left vanished and a scene of guaranteed victory formed in his head.

The next day, an army of devils began their move.

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Master4thWall Note: Aqua was enjoying his time and minding his business when luck or perhaps fate decided to drag him into this mess. How will it change the planned events of the Devils?

[1] Not a DxD character, but she's a devil from another anime, so it fits. It will add more sense when she appears. Can you guess who?

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