Chapter 459 - 457:Transformation Completed.

Chapter 459: Chapter 457:Transformation Completed.

My face was hard as I looked at the empty spot before me.

We were currently within the floating world of Aetheris Prime. I had been accompanied by Durmont and his family as I arrived at the place their gates to the Abyss were supposed to be, and just as Terra had said, there was nothing there.

The place was as clean and spotless as they came, it was almost like nothing ever existed there to begin with.

"How... how is this possible?" Durmont’s disbelieving voice rang out from behind me as even the fish man couldn’t understand what he was looking at.

"The gates... they should be here. This is the location we sealed it at, so how is it gone?" The man asked, but—

"I don’t know." I couldn’t answer, as even I myself couldn’t tell.

"Seems I’ll really have to pay attention to this shit, huh?" I had shrugged it off the first time since it was nothing but a ticking time bomb within Terra; besides, it could’ve been a coincidence. After all, strange things happen all the time.

Yes. That would’ve been the final conclusion, but now, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to it anymore.

Once could’ve been considered coincidence, but two times? That was a pattern.

Especially considering that both gates had disappeared only AFTER I had taken custody of both worlds and placed them within my soul space.

There could only be a few reasons as to why this was so.

One would be that I was somehow, without knowing, dissolving or removing these gates, or maybe even assimilating them into myself.

It wasn’t far-fetched to think about as even now, with my low existence level, I still wasn’t operating at the levels I should.

But I didn’t believe that was it. If I were assimilating something into myself, it wouldn’t just be the gates, it would be the whole Abyss itself, and that was a universe-sized realm all on its own. I’m sure I would feel it if I assimilated something that significant.

So the other explanation would be that something was making the gates disappear the moment they entered into my body. Which would in turn mean that something was trying to prevent me from getting that close and intimate with the Abyss. Which would mean that something was trying to hide itself away from me or keep me out of the abyss.

And if that were the case, then whatever it is that was running away or blocking me had successfully gotten my attention instead.

Naturally, it could also easily be a trap. There were forces out there hunting me, I had already come into contact with one, and the situation with the Abyss could easily be related to another one, which was honestly most likely, but even then, I wasn’t shying away from it.

I had already been embarrassed badly by one such beings, so if there was another one lurking around somewhere, then it was time to get some payback.

"Heh!" I guess another thing just got added to my to-do list.

Take out the Calderans from this universe, then go hunting for whatever it was trying to duck me in the Abyss.

"Alright, everyone, the situation with the Abyss is strange, but it is no cause for alarm." I addressed those that had arrived with me before turning to Durmont. "How are the preparations for integration coming along?"

"They’re coming along quite well. Understandably, the people are a bit wary, but I believe the first contact with your people should assuage their worries a bit more," the man replied.

"I understand. And do not worry, from now on, everyone is MY PEOPLE, so there is no need to feel different," I assured.

"Your words are much appreciated, Benefactor Dante."

"Alright then, since that’s done, I shall take my leave." Done with my words, I willed it, and then—

Gone!

...

"What happened? You just disappeared out of the blue?" Leo asked the minute I appeared back within the dining area we had all been eating at.

"Nothing much, just the gates to the Abyss that should’ve been on Aetheris disappearing for no reason whatsoever," I replied as I took a bite from the large drumstick that had been placed on my table.

"What? An Abyss gate disappeared? They can do that now?" Malachi asked, surprised.

"Eyy? You guys didn’t know? Even the one on Terra had disappeared a while back." I was surprised that they didn’t know; I mean, I thought I’d filled them in before.

"Huh? Terra’s Abyss gate disappeared?"

"Yes."

"And you’re acting this casually about it? When it’s clear that something is definitely going on?" This time it was Salazar that was asking. The excited freak was trying to hide his thirst for an adventure behind a facade of caring for the disappearance of the gates.

"Of course I’m acting casually. What? You expect me to fly off into the void and go chasing gates that I could probably find a ton of on any random planet I find myself on? Why would I do such a boring and thankless task? Besides," I threw the now half-eaten bone away, "we’ve got other things to handle before we begin chasing shadows," I concluded, licking my fingers carefully not to miss a spot.

"You’re talking about those Calderans, aren’t you?" Paku.

"Yup."

"And you know how we’re going to find them?"

"Of course not. But I have Sana and that princess of Aetheris, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to trace them." I stood up, getting ready to leave.

"Where are you going? You’ve barely spent any time home," Aunt Shafrin asked, suddenly moody.

"I’m sorry, Aunt, but we’ve got some business to handle and we can’t delay it any longer. I promise we’ll be back to spend time soon."

"Hmm... alright. I guess I can’t hold you boys back from doing what you’re supposed to do." Luckily, the woman was quite understanding.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! An adventure! Finally! I can stretch these old bones of mine." Son-Kai laughed uproariously as he stood up valiantly, his Hawaiian shirt flapping dramatically.

The image of a large, crimson-furred ape in a Hawaiian shirt was one I’ll never get used to.

"And where do you think you’re going?" Aunt Shafrin shut down the man’s excitement in a heartbeat.

"Ehh? My love, I’m... I’m just going to..."

"You’re going nowhere."

"But the boys! Yes! The boys. They need supervision."

"And you’re the one to give it? You’re just as reckless, if not more so, than them."

"But... honey... pleaseeee..."

"You’re not going anywhere, Son-Kai Stoneborn. You’ll stay here and manage what your son left behind. Do I make myself clear?" The woman was as staunch as they come.

"Haaa... yes, honey. Loud and clear." The large simian could only slouch back into his chair in defeat as he looked at us with the same eyes a kid that had gotten candy snatched from him would have.

"Yeah. Sorry, Uncle Kai, but ain’t no way I’m sticking my head out for you." I just got out of her grasp; I’d be damned if I tried to jeopardize my freedom.

"We’ll be leaving now, Aunt Shafrin. Take care."

"Alright. You boys watch yourselves out there, and don’t get into anything too dangerous, alright?"

If only she knew.

"We will." With a thought, spatial displacement dropped me right back at the control room—now turned ABSOLUTE estate area—the others appearing one after another.

A flash of golden light covered my body as my oblivion markings reappeared, my eyes returned to their heterochromatic state, and my height jumped by a foot as I regained my 8ft5 frame.

"Haaa... finally. Freedom." I couldn’t help but sigh in satisfaction.

It had felt claustrophobic within that frame, which was weird since I’d only gotten this large not long ago. ℴ

"Damn! If I ever go home again, it won’t be within the next century," Malachi cussed as he returned to his original state as well.

"Meh. I don’t know, I kinda like your mother. She was nice and sweet." Leo’s nasty voice was more grating to the ears than the scratching of nails on a blackboard.

"You just enjoyed seeing us suffer, didn’t you?"

"You yourself made me the Apostle of Despair. If I didn’t enjoy your suffering, I’d be doing that title a disservice." The chicken-cat shrugged his wings.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. One of these days, I’ll get you back. All of you." I hadn’t forgotten what they did, and revenge was a dish best served cold.

"Alright, let’s get our navigators out here, shall we?" Done threatening the group—not like they took it seriously—I contacted the emperor.

"Yes, Benefactor Dante?" The man’s voice came from a light screen display that had appeared within the domain.

"Durmont, I need Nyssara’s assistance. Could you please ask her if she’s available?"

"One moment..." The man’s image disappeared for a few seconds before he appeared once more. "My daughter says she’s free."

"Alright, tell her not to be surprised." I grinned.

"Alright, but what—"

The man hadn’t even finished speaking before—

"KYAAAAAA!!!" A sharp scream resounded through the whole place as Nyssara fell from the very skies, and then—

Thud!

Landed into my waiting arms.

"Hey there, princess. I didn’t realize the weather forecast today was sunshine and a chance of raining beauties."

"Ugh... fuck this bastard!" Malachi.

"I can’t even..." Leo...

"I just hate how shameless he can be sometimes." Sana.

"Husband really doesn’t know what restraint is." Terra.

I ignored the noises in the background as I turned my attention back to the image of the emperor, who still had his mouth open.

"Well then, Durmont, you can go ahead with your business." The connection ended swiftly.

"Can you... can you put me down now?" Nyssara’s voice finally alerted me to the fact that her soft and plush body was still in my arms.

"Ahh... my apologies, I didn’t realize I was still holding you."

"Sure, of course you didn’t."

"Yeah. Like we’d believe that."

I placed her down gently, watching as she tried to compose herself, a teasing smile at the edge of my lips.

My mouth opened as I was about to speak, but then—

ROOOOOOARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

A thunderous draconic roar shook my soul as a horrifying presence awoke from within me. My aura broke free as everything and everyone around me dropped flat on the floor.

"Ughhh..." Groans of pain were all around as the aura kept rising and rising. Along with it, my smile kept growing wider and wider, because finally—

"Master... did you miss me?" Elira had completed her transformation..

*********

A/N: Elira is back, finally! Let’s see what my girl now looks like, hehehe, oh and,

***********

Thanks for reading...