Chapter 67- Dead Zone

Chapter 67- Dead Zone

[Keeno POV]

After bursting in and basically strongarming the leader of the Family I don’t care to remember the name of into leading us to and through the Dead Zone, we arrived in front of the gate to what looked like a crypt.

“Madam Okami, this is the gate to the Dead Zone. Please rest assured that I will lead you through the maze of tunnels and rooms down there to the core. Though I ask that you be mindful of what you touch down there. There have been times I’ve lost good people to undead they’ve woken up down there.” (Boss)

“I understand.” (Keeno)

After a little struggle opening the rusted gate, we entered the dark stone building. As we started to descend, the gate screeched and clanged shut. As we walked, our surroundings got darker and darker and eventually it was complete darkness. Even my natural night vision didn’t help, so I made a small fireball for light.

“Thank you, Madam Okami. It seems the torches that are supposed to be lit have burned out. My people haven’t been doing their jobs.” (Boss)

“Having subordinates who don’t do what they are supposed to is a bad look. Fia told me good things about you, but this and the way they acted when I got here haven’t matched up.” (Keeno)

“...It seems they’ve grown lazy. I apologize for their incompetence and will severely reprimand and reeducate them once we’re done here.” (Boss)

“Ah, also, you seem to have some rats in your home. Freya, if you will.” (Keeno)

“Yeah, I have a list of names to give you later. All traitors or informants that you thought you bought off.” (Freya)

“I’ll reward you for that information later, Miss Freya. It will be very valuable to know this and any other inside information you have.” (Boss)

This conversation helped pass the time until we stopped descending down the stairs. The place we ended up was basically a big hallway that split in three directions. The walls were filled with bones of the deceased like the French catacombs. The entire place was filled with an ominous feeling, yet I felt a faint sense of comfort being here. In the distance I could just barely see faint humanoid shadows moving about, carrying souls with very faint light coming from them.

{Death spirits. If you asked them to, they would gladly lead you to the core.}

‘I figured that, but I wanted to go with my plan.’

Looking around, the Family leader moved closer to a wall and stared at something that I couldn’t see.

“Alright, please follow me. If you see any skulls with faint lights in the eye sockets, do not go near them.” (Boss)

We silently nodded and started following the boss down the left passage. As we progressed, the feeling of comfort I felt slowly grew.

‘It’s like I’m getting closer to you, Ama.’

{Well, you are getting closer to a piece of my Divinity. It may be just Divinity now, but at one point it was part of me, so it would make sense.}

‘So does that mean I’ll be putting a part of you inside me?’

{Hehehe. You sultry little vixen you.}

‘Hehehe.’

After a while of walking, we came to a large room with several other passages connected to it. In the center of the room was a small pedestal with a carved drawing on it. The boss walked up to and stared at it for a minute before looking up and moving to another passage. We followed him and this process repeated several times. As we went, I saw more Death Spirits moving around, though when we passed by, they stopped and bowed to me. Though they were just faceless silhouettes I could just tell they were smiling happily and the only thing stopping them from following us and celebrating me being here was their job of helping the faint souls move on. Some did start moving in the same direction as us, only to disappear by walking right through the walls of the catacombs.

{Keeno, Red just arrived.}

‘Thank you for watching over her, Ama.’

{It’s only natural.}

After what felt like another hour, the feeling I was getting this whole time was getting even stronger. I also noticed that the number of skulls on the wall that had faintly glowing eye sockets also increased. As we passed by them, it felt like the small lights followed us, or more like the boss, Freya, and Pram. They seemed to avoid looking at me at all costs. I even saw a few attempting to reach out and grab one of them, but when I moved to stop it, it immediately went back to trying to act like an inanimate object.

Even more time passed and the passageways grew increasingly older looking and the bones in the walls became more ancient. The boss also got jumpier the further we went, flinching at every small noise.

“Why are you so jumpy?” (Keeno)

Freya shone for a moment, showing that the Trial declaration actually worked. I then turned to Red.

“Red, you have fulfilled the conditions, abstract as they are. You have succeeded in anything I can consider a Trial for you, so, will you accept the position of Valkyrie from me, Keeno Okami, Goddess of Death? If so, you will be bestowed the Family Name Okami, and all the benefits bestowed upon an Apostle.” (Keeno)

“Red...accepts...Red will become...a Valkyrie...and take the name...Okami...From today...onward....Red will be...Red Okami.” (Red)

I felt a small amount of power leave my body and one of my tails shone a bit. Red then began to glow as well and when the glow died down, she gave off a feeling of closeness to me that I only ever felt from Ama.

{That is the bond between Apostle and Goddess. You’ll be able to talk to Red wherever, whenever, and for however long you want, like me, or me and Fia. Also, since Freya is now taking her Trial and Red is your Apostle, they should be able to hear me like Pram when I want them to.}

‘Alright.’ (Keeno)

I looked at Red again and saw she had a big smile on her face. She was standing still with her eyes closed and when she opened them and looked at me, she jumped at me and wrapped her arms around me.

“Red...Red is so happy!” (Red)

I patted her head and smiled at her.

“Welcome to the Family, Red.” (Keeno)

“Congratulations, Red.” (Pram)

“...” (Freya)

Pram walked over to us and started to pat Red on the head as well. Freya also walked closer, but she just observed, though I didn’t miss the small smile on her face and the slight wave of her tail. We all stayed like that for several minutes when I noticed the Death Spirits all standing in the entrances of the passageways. Their faceless heads staring in our direction, conveying a silent message.

“Death Spirits, I commend you all on your work so far. I ask that you continue with your previous task until I fully take my place. Also, I ask that you try and keep those who would make your work harder in check. Do not harm those who are uninvolved or innocent, but those like the ones led by these two mongrels must be watched. Now go. Ah, and one of you stay here and act as a guide for us to leave once we’re ready.” (Keeno)

The Death Spirits all nodded in unison at my order and all but one left to go back to their work. I then turned back to the two unconscious mob bosses. I waved my hand and ropes of blue flame surrounded them.

“Pram, if you please, wake them up.” (Keeno)

Pram summoned her bell and rang it once. A shrill sound came from it and the two on the floor woke with grimaces on their faces.

““WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS DIVINE DID YOU DO!!””

Chaos Realm:

Luna: *reclining in a chair sits up and points at the television, snapping her fingers* OI! NO FAIR! WHY DID SHE NOT FALL OVER IN PAIN WHEN SHE GOT A NEW TAIL!?

Different world, different rules.

Luna: That’s not an excuse! I mean, I’m not mad that she didn’t go through excruciating pain, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but I’m also a bit...jealous?

That’s understandable...Oh, Luna, you’re being called to your home...oh, and happy birthday.

Luna: Thanks...wait, it’s my birthday?

Yep. Have fun at your party.

Luna: *poof*

...And now I’m all alone...*sigh*

Order and Astraea: WE’RE BACK!

HURRAY!