Chapter 230: Lets swim. (1/2)
”Wait, how will you choose the destination?” Raylein raised his hand and asked. ”I'm sure you know that it's incredibly dangerous to travel without a set destination. How do you plan to go somewhere as indefinite as another Reality?”
”I won't be the one setting the destination,” Arima retorted and Raylein frowned. ”Follow me,” he beckoned everyone and teleported outside. He led everyone to a large meadow and looked up at the sky. ”Come down, Deva.”
As soon as he said her name, the magnificent beast came down from the sky and flapped its two pairs of wings to land. He patted her and looked back at Raylein and the others. ”She was created by the Original God in the first place. She will be the one guiding us through the Realities.”
Raylein gazed at the sky-dragon-like beast and pondered.
”But you just said that she had been created by the Original God,” Ganesha remarked. ”Are you sure that we can trust her?” He asked what everyone was thinking.
”We can,” Arima immediately answered and turned toward Deva. He stared at her with Natus and the huge beast growled in response. ”I've already made sure that there's no link between her and the Original God. And she won't betray me since she perfectly knows that I would kill her and take her aptitude for myself if she were to do that,” he 'smiled' and Deva huffed before looking away.
Layla wryly smiled and the Guardians shivered as they recalled Arima's true strength. They saw him getting stronger during a fight with their own eyes. They would not dare to doubt his ability to steal the power of others.
”Let's do this then. As you already all know, there are only five Mother Realities, including the one we're in,” Arima's body started expanding as he spoke. ”The number of gates I'll summon amount to four.”
His scales replaced his clothes and a robe materialized around his waist. His muscles bulged and his hair turned into a mane. His fangs grew and his feet grasped the ground. A dog tag hung from his neck and slowly transmuted into a Cross necklace. His irises split up and a pair of large wings were deployed on his back. Two horns grew on Arima's head coiled on themselves. The Guardians watched with widened eyes and dropped jaws.
”I will go with Flavio and Chulainn. Malum will go with Shakti. Aergia, Layla, and Evangeline will form the third group. And Night, Karma, Ganesha, and Raylein will go in the last portal,” Arima continued to give his instructions as he finished his transformation.
He sat cross-legged and started floating in mid-air. He opened his eyes wide and four pentagrams were projected. Deva bowed her head and released her aura. Arima scanned it and channeled his mana through the green star that had taken home in his soul realm.
A white light came out of his body while red lines spread across his scales. He clasped his hands together and began to prepare his Art. Even though his appearance was so fierce and domineering, at that moment, he resembled a sort of omnipotent sage.
”And finally, Gilgamesh will stay here to send his army through the gates. All, except the one I'll be taking,” he added and Gilgamesh could only nod silently. ”Deva, send me your mana and aura while I complete the formation,” he ordered and began his incantation.
Deva howled and her voice resonated strongly. Her feathers glowed as she transmitted her energy to Arima, as well as the information about the other Realities.
”[Aperi iter ad aethereum] (Open the path of the ethereal).”
”[Detrahet me in somnis etiam fines se nisi arcerent illum] (Bring me to horizons only restrained by my dreams).”
Arima looked at the sky and his eyes locked onto four spots before he extended his hand.
”I'll borrow them for a while,” he mumbled and four planets in outer space shined and saw their terrain change. Nature turned into a silver liquid.
”[Materia obliviscentes] (Forget the material).”
”[Atque uti origins ducere me] (And use the origins to lead me).”
The four planets were quickly remodeled as giant silver gears. Arima breathed in and used the necessary amount of mana to build the dimensional bridges. The Guardians instantly paled and struggled to breathe. Except for Shakti who was protected by Malum, and Aergia who seemed to be fine.
In fact, Arima had to let go of nearly 20% of his mana pool. For him, it wasn't that much, but for the people around him, it was enough energy to kill them if they were to try to interact with it.
Layla sighed and teleported far away in space. Her eyes glowed and the entire planet they were on was bathed in a warm light. The inhabitants immediately fell asleep so that they would not be injured by Arima's aura and mana. She landed back on the surface and Arima smiled.
”Done,” he declared and the four gears in space started spinning and producing intricate dust that could be seen from his location.
Arima stopped floating and stood on the ground again. He snapped his fingers and the four silver gears were instantly transported. The Guardians spotted the silver discs over the clouds and became even more amazed.
”I'll take this one,” Arima pointed at the far-left gear and announced his choice. ”You can go anywhere else, but that one is mine no matter what,” he insisted and everyone looked at him puzzled. They had no idea why they were not allowed to take that one.
”Before we go, I wish to confirm one thing,” Flavio spoke up while looking at the sky. ”We have to go in there and locate the followers of God and the Devil. Then either kill them or rally them before taking control of everything else, right?”
”Yes,” Arima affirmed while looking down at Flavio. The latter fell silent.
”…One last question; why am I in your team?” He inquired and Chulainn squinted because he was wondering the same thing. Without a doubt, they both were sure that Arima could take care of an entire Reality without the help of anyone.
”You'll understand once we're there,” Arima replied and took a glimpse of everyone's faces. ”Since everyone seems to be ready, it's time to depart.”
Malum snickered and changed into a giant dragon made of flesh and blood. Contrary to Arima, he still had the appearance of a regular noble dragon. His scales were also gray instead of black and his mane was black.
”We'll go first,” he said and Shakti jumped on his shoulder. He flapped his wings and left the atmosphere in no time with his speed. He entered the portal at the very right.
Night shrugged and changed into a dragon as well. His group climbed on his back afterward. He looked at Arima and they nodded at each other. Night kicked the ground and flew off toward the second portal from the left.
”Well, I guess we don't really have the liberty to pick anymore,” Layla smiled and glanced at her team. ”A team of girls, that sounds fun.”