Winds of Change (DxD)

Volume 7 - Chapter 20 - Eternal Hide & Seek*

Word count: 71k

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Aaron Toole's Soliloquy

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Göndul whisked us away to a sprawling gate, surrounded by ancient remnants in the distance. In a matter of seconds, Amina, Edlion, Rossweisse, Lavinia, and the accompanying valkyries appeared alongside us.

"Let him go, Granny!" Rose exclaimed, tightly grasping my other arm.

Wearing a smile, Göndul retorted, "I'm merely escorting him to the designated area, Rose. This should be okay, don't you think?"

Their banter continued until we reached the dwelling, where the remaining members of [DxD] teleported in as well, creating an uncomfortably tight space. Shaking my head, I entered the abode, prompting Göndul to swiftly unveil a concealed staircase. We descended and found ourselves transported to an entirely different location.

Surveying the surroundings, an eerie atmosphere pervaded, casting an invisible orange hue in the surroundings. Despite the peculiar ambiance, the surroundings lay in a state of disrepair.

"Hmm, so this is the place?" I murmured.

"No," Amina corrected, "I believe it's just a fraction of it. We must delve deeper into the underground to unveil the remnants of the main city."

"I can assist with that," chimed in Cúntóir's voice as she teleported to our location.

"Uh, I've already located it," I responded, and Cúntóir playfully glared at me. I raised my hands in surrender. "Go ahead."

With a tap of her foot, Cúntóir transported us to another spot. Once there, she tapped her foot again, and a mesmerizing transformation ensued. Rectangular edifices began reconstructing themselves, pillars and peculiar structures emitting flames rejuvenated. Below us flowed a river of lava, while small lamp-like structures dotted the surroundings, casting a strange glow. Buildings and residences seamlessly integrated into the walls and ceilings, creating a captivating and harmonious cityscape.

"This is... the main city? It seems much smaller than I anticipated," I remarked.

"Because they were forced to conceal themselves underground," Cúntóir explained, drawing everyone's attention. "This part of history has been obscured by Magnum Tenebrosum, Phumera, and Yve. But, before these three altered the course of events, and prior to the emergence of Magnum Tenebrosum, as I mentioned earlier, this universe resembled any other—normal, free from oppression or enveloped in darkness."

"Allow me to elaborate," she continued. "A conflict erupted between the old civilization of Viriterra Remetura on this planet and a neighboring one. The victors were the inhabitants of Viriterra Remetura, and though the residents of this place were once part of that civilization, they sought refuge underground when the god and many of his generals turned tyrannical."

"The old Viriterra Remetura was governed by two gods in perfect harmony. However, as I mentioned, when circumstances took a turn, they sought refuge underground. The ancient god, in an effort to safeguard their sanctuary, sealed off the entrance—a powerful barrier that even the other god struggled to breach. The latter expended a substantial portion of their life force and powers in the attempt, leading to a significant decline in their strength."

"Despite this, the weakened god aided their people in constructing this subterranean realm. Eventually, the god passed away, a stark contrast to the immortality of gods in our universe. In our realm, with sufficient believers and power, a god or goddess can be resurrected. Nevertheless, at present, I sense that the god of this place still lingers, right, Aaron?" Cúntóir inquired, turning to me after her concise exposition.