Chapter Text
Zhou paused, looking down from the magnificent stone palace where fog occupied every atom of the divine kingdom. Below the seven lights, past the indescribable spirit world of all color and dimensions, was the mortal plane. A mortal plane that was overgrown, corrupted, dark, and cold. Staring down in silence, his eyes widened slightly, barely controlling his expression.
‘The second epoch…’
He thought aloud, the formerly calm fog around him seemingly beginning to brandish itself and sharpen despite its gaseous form. Unable to take his eyes away from the mortal world below, thoughts rushed into his mind, by the hundreds.
‘Why had he not lost control? Why was Tianzun not already the dominant personality? How in the hell did he get here. Evernight couldn't have made a dream he wouldn't know he was in, even if she were a pillar, he was too.’
He stopped himself forcefully. The spirit world showed the change was true– but what of the Historical Void? Pausing, he ripped his gaze away from the world before, stepping into the void that held the world's story. The history of the planet speeding past him, he had known Earth’s full history. Being from a more technologically advanced epoch, as well as ascending to a pillar, besides if he didn't know something he could simply know it, or just move the corresponding fog so that he could peer into that history. Yet, it didn't truly matter anymore, since that ‘past’ didn’t really exist anymore. Yet, it was sealed behind an illusory barrier by the Creator themself, not completely ridding the Universe of it, likely due to his existence.
‘Did the Creator temporarily stir, causing the Universe to reset by a few thousand years..?’
He couldn't help but sigh, it made sense. He'd suppose he was the (un)lucky one who remained, likely due to his authorities.
‘A bug that fools the Creator themself and goes as they please… this is something only a trojan like himself could survive… not even Almighty could resist this reset, since Almighty lacked the corresponding authorities to begin with..’
He concluded such facts with disappointment, though he considered himself lucky to not be another ‘person’ or a writhing ball of worms right now.
‘Though I wonder… why am I still the Lord of Mysteries… wouldn't the characteristics return to the original owners of the era— oh.’
He sighed deeply, looking back up at the illusory barrier. He stole them. His presence alone as a Lord of Mysteries along with the weird blast to the past ahh plot that seemed to be very much permanent, managed to force all of the characteristics he required, and the ones he owned before this regression, to be forcefully given to him. And no amount of bullshitting would give a reason to why the hell something as weird as that happened.
“You know what, just be positive, yep! Just don't question anything anymore if even the spirit world or historical void can't tell you.”
Sighing for the millionth time today, he returned his attention back to the barrier. He could pass through it, he knew, but it didn't matter. He was the only being who knew of its existence, let alone access it. As wonderful as it seemed, his mental state wasn't the best, and he wouldn't want to risk sealing himself to go mad in a lost past. Shaking his head, he longingly stared at it a moment longer before departing.
…
“My lord!”
A voice called out to him, his gaze resting softly in the skies above. Not bothering to turn to face the being who had called for his attention, he already knew what it was for, and he knew there was no need for urgency. The very presence of that being had taken the Error uniqueness the moment it had awoken. He assumed the same happened with Gregrace, Aurmir and the Demonic Wolves, though it was just a hunch and a guess based on his limited knowledge of the pathways. He finally turned his attention to Sasir after a moment.
“Mysteries…”
He couldn't help but mutter while stealing another glance at the dark clouded skies, yet no rain or lightning fell from the sky.
“It shouldn't be a problem… pretend this never happened. I will deal with it myself later.”
He told Sasir, who failed to ask before Grisha spoke, he quickly nodded and moved away to continue ensuring nothing went wrong with Grisha's ongoing experiments.
“Good morning, Mysteries.”
He calmly greeted them with a soft voice and a warm smile, seemingly meeting their gaze. Yet they quickly withdrew.
‘Perhaps they're not the social type… matters not, we will meet one way or another.’
. • ○ ° ~ < ♠︎ > ~ ° ○ • .
Amanises merged with the shadows somewhat as she walked through the dense forest. She had concealed herself long before, but she still felt on edge, as if bugs were crawling up her back, each leg pinching her skin ever so slightly as they moved up. She shuttered for a moment before continuing on, she still had to uncover the reason why so many humans were going ‘missing’ in this forest, and why they were even going to it in the first place!
‘Flegrea doesn’t even care about people… why do I have to be the sacrifice! Curse that dumb dog..’
Sighing before stopping. She turned to look behind her, but it was still just trees and flora.
‘...I’m so cooked.’
She hadn’t realized it before since she was so focused on ‘kindly’ cursing out Flegrea in her mind, but the forest was silent. Not a living being in sight. But maybe, she’d be fine, she was a subsidiary god under an even more insane god!
“Hello.”
‘Shit.’
…
Zhou stood in front of Amanises, though frowned once he realized he spooked her.
‘Well I can’t really do anything about it… I’m a fucking Pillar of the universe that wasn’t supposed to exist.’
Sighing inwardly after briefly lampooning, he returned his attention to the future Evernight goddess. Fixing his expression to show a soft smile, considering if he should ditch the cloak to appear less… whatever was putting her on edge.
‘I don’t know European memes… she was a CEO…’
He audibly sighed, noting how awkward it was, at least for him.
“Do you… need something from me?”
Amanises finally asked after hearing his audible sigh, having gotten herself together. Zhou remained silent for a moment.
“Zhou Mingrui, you?”
‘Direct is sometimes the best method..’
He thought inwardly, a smile returning, waiting for Amanises to respond.
“Asian?”
“Yes.”
Amanises paused for a moment before pushing down her excitement.
‘He might not be friendly!! Well… he is– but maybe not later. You didn’t survive this long–’
She paused, before quickly looking to her side and returning her gaze to Zhou who kept his smile.
‘What was I just thinking of..’
“You’re a subsidiary god under Flegrea it seems.”
Amanises snapped her attention back to Zhou.
“Yes… are the disappearances because of you?”
“Yes.. I need them to anchor me.”
“Anchor..?”
He clicked his tongue.
‘Right, it isn’t well known yet.’
“Anchors, they keep a god from losing control, helps with humanity.”
He explained rather vaguely. Amanises thinking about it for a long moment before giving a slight nod.
“I see…”
She muttered, before snapping out of another daze.
‘Seriously… why am I so out of it today!’
“Could it help me… stop being a wolf?”
“Yes, it can help you get a more proper human form.”
“Can you help me then?”
“I favor equal exchange”
“I’m broke..”
“I just need a favor in the future.”
“Oh, that’ll be fine… (I think.)”
“Alright then, oh, are you still going to have to see where all those people went?”
“I can just tell Flegrea I couldn’t do it.”
Zhou nodded slightly before turning to face the direction Amanises came from.
“Let’s have this conversation somewhere more private then, yeah?”
...