Ryoiki: Return to The Beyond (6)

CHAPTER 4: Departure.

The small gathering of gods at Ryoiki's main gate was unnatural.

Kuta, Marcy, a reluctant Nuzgul, Sakuna, Bruce, Hollow, Ammy, Xernes, and Trinity, along with Vicky and Yumemiru.

All had gathered to see Ita off on their journey to The Beyond.

But Ita themselves looked VERY different.

To them, this was an expedition.

Their hair was braided, wearing a thin armored bodysuit under some good clothes for exploring.

They also happened to have a pistol, a bullpup assault rifle with a full, and semi auto firing mode, along with a sniper rifle on their back.

They had a cloth mask hanging around their neck, ready to be pulled up whenever, and a pair of goggles on the top of their head.

They grabbed some of their packs of supplies, along with a notebook, sketchbook, and camera.

Ita stood on the central teleport gate for Ryoiki, looking back at the gods.

"Take care of yourselves and remember your duties." They advised.

"Will do." Kuta smiled.

"And hey, you." Ita said, pointing at Sakuna.

"Take good care of them."

Sakuna rolled her eyes.

"And you two?" Ita said, looking and Vicky and Yumemiru.

"Listen to your siblings, all of them."

"Okayyyyy!" Yume said happily, while Vicky just nodded...

And with everything checked...Ita took a big breath, covered themselves in a coating of magic, and flew off from Ryoiki, floating high above it...

After they reached a sufficient height, they put their hands together.

Ita made a square with their pointer fingers and thumbs, like a painter would...

They focused their energy on a central point, willing a portal...a portal to The Beyond.

The air began to crack like a glass pane, and soon it was like the universe had shattered. A large multicolored spiral portal appearing in midair, its edges lined with rainbow glass.

Ita took one last breath before blasting themselves forward.

Ita never understood dimensional portals, anytime Ita had traveled worlds it always fascinated them.

Flying through the beautiful tunnel of rainbow, with Ita passing by many portals, exiting to other worlds...

But they were going for The Beyond.

Ita continued flying down the tunnel, and then they saw the very end...

The portal to The Beyond.

"...Sire, it's time to awaken..." The maid said.

"mngh..." Her master groaned...and sat up.

The hulking body of Void which sat up always took the weak mortal maid by surprise.

Oanki, new ruler of The Beyond.

He was a giant, towering over those around him.

His most defining features were the many horns which littered his body, all forming out of it.

Oanki slipped out of bed.

"Do you need help, sir?" The maid asked.

"No." he growled at her, his voice gruff...and sounding injured.

"O-of course..."

Oanki grabbed his cloak wrapping it around himself and buckling his broach...

He then grabbed his staff, made of a twisted blue wood, with a red gem with a black center as its topper.

He used the staff like a cane, helping him leave his extravagant bedroom...

The maid walked with him through the deep black halls of the castle...

As he walked, he looked out the many windows which lined the hallway...

Down below, was Oanki's city...Temet.

It was a gothic style city, with many tall homes and towers packed tightly.

With the help of magic, technology had advanced in The Beyond...slightly.

Oanki finally finished his walk, entering his throne room.

He sat down...and a tray was pushed into the room by another maid, littered with his favorite foods.

"Morning your Majesty." Came a more male voice.

Walking into the room, was one of Oanki's favorite underlings....Waakhound.

Waakhound was a Void Demon.

He wore nothing but a grey trench coat and long pants, letting his chest be shown.

Waakhounds skin reminded any who saw it of an old wooden doll.

The whites of his eyes were inverted, being a deep black color with green pupils.

The final two pieces were his shortcut brown hair and his black horns with green tips.

Behind him came his servant and lover, Dolly.

She was smaller than him, only ever reaching his chest.

She had the same style of skin, like that of a wooden doll, but with long pink hair, pink tipped horns, and pink eyes with normal whites.

She wore nothing but a thick black cloak...

"Good morning Waakhound, what do you need today?"

"There is something we need you to come see, sir."

"I just sat down..." Oanki groaned, before getting back up. And walking with Waakhound...

He was lead to one of the castles high towers, where many of his advisors and ambassadors from other regions stared up to the sky...

Oanki himself finally looked to the sky...and saw the giant rainbow spiral.

"...By The Flame..."