Chapter 229: Did it work? (2/2)
At the same time, the neutron star released a blinding light and every other star started closing in at a speed far exceeding light-speed. Then, one after another, the burning stars collided with the neutron star.
The ocean shook again and the defense Arima had set up finally displayed its purpose. He steeled himself as he was struck by the heat and shock waves. He was instantly ejected out of the ocean and crashed on the surface of his soul realm.
The earth crumbled and the ground quaked. Boulders the size of a mountain were flung toward the sky before falling on the ground again. In the middle of that, a sphere of darkness demolished every chunk of stone or soil touching it. When it dispersed, a hundred-meter-tall figure stood up. A pair of wings were wagged and retracted.
A humanoid silhouette with the head of a dragon growled. The runic robe over his lower body was glowing and healing the smalls injuries and cracks on his scales. Arima exhaled and some flames escaped his mouth. He waved his hand to get rid of the remnants of darkness around him and looked up. Layla and Karma jumped on his shoulders just after.
The ocean in the sky was now clouded by a thick white mist. But you could still see the waves behind, as well as a giant emerald sun of which the light passed through the water and mist to illuminate the surface.
Arima's eyes widened as he admired the scene of the green hue mixing with the Eion energy filling the air. The green light also interacted with the small 'stars', which were the result of Arima placing the bomb in his soul realm, and formed a magnificent starry sky behind the wall of vapor.
”{…This place is seriously turning into some sort of piece of art,}” Night quipped and Arima couldn't help but agree. He breathed in as the plants and soil around him were steadily being restored. Countless flowers also bloomed under the illumination of the green light and the blue fireflies.
When Arima was sure that there wouldn't be any more damages because of the formation, he dispelled the resonance with Night and reverted to his human form. He put his glasses on and looked around.
”Well,” he raised his voice while massaging his shoulders. ”Maybe I'll make this place my actual home one day.”
Layla smiled. ”I'm sure that it would be the best residence in the world,” she said and gazed at the green sun shining in the sky. ”So, did it work?”
”Impeccably,” Arima seemed to be quite pleased. ”If you were to dive into that ocean and reach that green star you see up there, you would get transported randomly to any place in existence. Perhaps, you would arrive on another Plane, or another Reality, or even somewhere unknown to us.”
”In any case, now my soul has acquired the ability to move across any dimension, spatial layer, or even time lock,” Arima activated Natus and the pentagrams spun in his pupils before expanding. He looked up and squinted. ”In addition, I may have gotten myself the power to control space at will as well as a new mana core.”
He observed his hand and a small crack in space opened above his palm. He mused then clenched his hand to close the crack. Night scowled though. ”Isn't that a little bit too overpowered?”
Arima laughed. ”Definitely,” he replied and created a path to the outside world. ”Let's go. I just have to assimilate this attribute to the Second White Art and we are set,” he declared and left his soul realm.
When he reappeared in the room he had rented to talk with the Guardians, he witnessed something that startled him. The only people in the room were Aergia and Chulainn. The former was sleeping, as expected, and the tiny Hellhound was being squeezed by her in her sleep as if he was a plush.
”...Hel…p….me…ee…eeeee,” Chulainn was suffocating and he desperately called for help when he saw Arima. Night, Karma and Layla arrived at the same moment and stared at him perplexed.
”…How did you even end up like that?” Night uttered and Chulainn couldn't answer as the foam was leaving his mouth.
Arima blinked and looked away. ”Anyway,” he lifted his head. ”Jorga, call them, please.”
”{Right away,}” the azure clouds in the sky moved and the snake cloaked behind sent a telepathic message to everyone. In just a few seconds, the Guardians had been gathered again. Malum also returned along with them and approached Arima with an exasperated expression.
”What the heck were you doing? I got hurt, scared, and physically disturbed all in one day. I never even thought that could be possible,” he complained and Arima brushed it off with a shrug.
He clapped his hands and caught everyone's attention. Aergia woke up right then and finally released Chulainn. The small dog inhaled strongly and rolled on the floor. He was far from being strong enough to resist Aergia in this form.
”Hm? Why were you here, Kerberos?” Aergia yawned and rubbed her eyes.
”Because some damn sleepwalker grabbed me to use me like a freaking teddy bear!”
”Oh… sorry,” Aergia apologized so easily that Chulainn felt like his anger couldn't be pointed at her anymore. He directed his glare toward Arima instead but the piercing gaze he got in return made him purse his lips. With no one to get angry at, he dropped on the floor and sighed.
”Good. Now that everyone is listening; I will soon open several paths toward other Realities. We will separate and take care of the resistance there. The army waiting inside of Gilga's Babylon will take care of the lower worlds while we will get rid of the Guardians and the Pillars,” Arima said and grinned. ”Shouldn't be too hard. I hope you're ready to get to work.”