In order to find Nyx, Shiro had to travel across the world. It was a rather simple ordeal due to the fact that she already knew where Nyx was.
Her domain was in a cave system surrounded by tall mountains. There was only a single hole that allowed the moonlight to shine down while the rest of the city was bathed in shadow. It allowed Nyx to exert as much of her divinity as she could without needing the night all the time.
If it wasn't for the abnormality that occurred with the system and the strange barrier, Nyx would've had an easy time fending off against the assailants. Out of all their allies that were attacked, she was the least wounded due to the advantages that came with her domain.
Traveling to Nyx's domain was as simple as pinpointing it with her satellites then marking down a teleport node.
By the time she had teleported, Nyx had already appeared in front of her with a smile on her face.
"Seems like you were expecting me." Shiro chuckled as Nyx nodded her head.
"Well I felt a familiar teleport technique being used so it's only natural I come check it out. Though I must say, not being able to sense you at all is a little unnerving I suppose. What happened in the time you were gone?" Nyx asked curiously as she couldn't sense Shiro at all even though she was standing in front of her.
"Let's just say I reached balance between destruction and creation."
"I see… You can explain the story while we walk. I still have some repairs I need to do. The attack did quite a number on my domain and my anchor was almost destroyed." Nyx sighed as Shiro nodded her head.
Explaining how she had obtained balance, her journeys in the world of creation along with her knowledge on Aria, the system's current state of affairs and the mysterious third party, Shiro watched as Nyx fell silent.
"Hmm… I don't like this. This third party knows so much yet we've barely scratched the surface of our knowledge regarding the system. It seems to me that their control over the system is equal to if not better than Chaos." Nyx scratched her head before flicking her finger.
"However, this might be good for us. If the system is down for an unknown reason, we might be able to talk more freely. I doubt the third party will be as strict as the system when it comes to censoring our conversations. The only thing to keep in mind is that they don't want us to discuss their identity or information around them until you find it out naturally with your own two eyes."
Thinking to herself for a moment, Nyx opened her mouth.
"I'll try to tell you some restricted information that I know. If the system was around, you might not be able to hear this." She narrowed her eyes. Organising her thoughts, she glanced towards Shiro.
"There was always a name that's closest to the system. Despite the many cycles, this name has never changed. Every time there is a new cycle, a new incarnation of the name appears beside it. It's also one of the reasons I stood besides you. The name closest to the system was Anima, and every cycle the name bestowed upon the new Anima is etched next to it. While I don't know if the system was built by Chaos or not, it is undeniable that you have always been a core part of the system. The system can pose challenges for you but it never worked against you, even if some of the admins didn't enjoy your presence. Chaos has always been the highest authority from what I could see, but her identity was strange. It was as though it was but a camouflage. I still don't know who the third party is but I assume they have something to do with this."
Furrowing her brows, Shiro digested the information.
"I'm guessing from your reaction, none of it was censored." Nyx smiled as Shiro nodded her head.
"So you're telling me, my name has always been in the system? Even the current one?"
"Indeed. But I only came across it through sheer luck. This information shouldn't be normally accessible. I was trying to find the same terminal that I saw a few times but I couldn't find it anymore afterwards. So I assume I was never meant to find it. Either that or it was arranged for me to find it once and never again." Nyx shrugged.
"What role does the First Born of Destruction hold that's so important for the system? Enough to the point where it's valued above the First Born of Creation. In all of my memories and knowledge, it seems as though the First Born of Destruction is in the centre of everything that happens. The great war in the past, the cycles of the present. And even the events of the system in the future." Shiro sighed. She didn't know what the universe had in store for her, nor does she know why the mysterious third party wanted to meet her properly.
So many questions but so little answers. She needed answers fast and the only way she imagined herself finding answers was through Aria as well as the system. She needs to find the origin of the system and Aria.
"Nyx, do you have a way to go back to the God Realm? I want to see if I can find Aria to get some answers." Shiro asked curiously.
"A way back to the God Realm? Hmm… most of the portals are already closing since we're reaching the merging point where this planet becomes the sole planet for gods, demons and humans alike. If you're looking for a path… there are a few but they're disappearing one after the other. Once the last one has been sealed, the God Realm will be reduced to nothing so we'll need to work fast." Nyx smiled as she waved her hand and took out an item.
It was an iridescent blue crystal that flickered with a purple and pink glow.
"It's something I received from an old friend of mine. I heard that you owe her a favour as well. She'll be able to open a path back to the God Realm for you and you can also see what she needs you for."
Hearing this, Shiro raised an eyebrow.
"You're friends with Juri?"
"Yep. I occasionally borrow her power to go to different worlds as well as set up instances for dungeons." Nyx shrugged.
A surged of mana converged towards her hand as a spectral figure appeared in front of her. The figure was slightly taller than Shiro had had her hair tied up in a ponytail at this moment in time.
Opening her eyes, she looked at Nyx before glancing at Shiro. Furrowing her brow in confusion, she opened her mouth.
"Can I assume that you're calling me right now to borrow the Beyond again?"
"Bingo~ That and since I am borrowing your realm for Shiro, she's also here to repay your favour." Nyx smiled and gave her a small thumbs up.
"I see… Alright. Let's deal with the favour right now since I'm a little busy. I was going to contact you soon anyways but talking to you now does make things easier for me. Here, take this portal and you'll reach where I am." Waving her hand, the space next to her ripped apart as a new portal to the Beyond was established.
"Welp, let's go. No reason to delay things." Nyx nodded her head and stepped through without any hesitation. Seeing this, Shiro decided to follow.
When the light cleared up, Shiro found herself on a floating island within the beyond. The skies were a swirl of blue and purple energy with several holes appearing across the sky. Next to her was Nyx who had a serious expression on her face.
"Seems like there's no issue with making portals…" A soft voice rang out as they turned towards the source and saw Juri standing there with a tier 8 magic array surrounding her.
"What's going on? I've never seen the Beyond this unstable before?" Nyx asked with a frown while jogging over. Using some of her own mana, she assisted Juri in stabilising the realm.
"The system. It helped maintain the different worlds and dungeons to avoid it from clashing. But now that it's out of commission, they're being drawn towards the Beyond. I'm holding them back right now and there's no problems just yet but I don't see a situation where this slows down I'll be honest." Juri frowned as she set up a new array, allowing the stabilisation of the realm to be autonomous for now.
"If I remember correctly, you said you'll do me a favour as long as it doesn't cross your bottom line right?" Juri asked as Shiro nodded.
"Then I need you to do your job as a destroyer and destroy some of these worlds and dungeons. They're getting out of hand."