Myths Reawakened

Once the undead witches were subdued, Wayne came up to Ryza and said, “Ryza, Sukra is the incorrigible type. She won’t change no matter how much you lecture her. She will continue to be my kept woman. Besides, it’s... already too late, isn’t it?”

Ryza scowled. The brutal truth hit her hard. She was not okay.

Sukra wept in silence, offering no rebuttal.

She was a pure slacker. Setting aside the inaccurate phrasings, Wayne spoke truth. Lying flat felt great, and lying flat while being someone’s kept woman felt even better. She had no intention of changing, and she swore to never let anything separate her from the sofa.

“Do me a favor and lecture Sukra another day. Let’s take care of business first,” Wayne said. “Rognes reached the Divine Realm before I did. He’s been fighting alone this whole time, without a single ally. Now that I’m here, I won’t let him bleed and weep by himself.”

Ryza looked at him blankly. The knight had a particular way with words, but the same care didn’t apply to how he conducted himself. She had thought that raising a sword against the goddess was bad enough, but it turned out that this man had already made a move on the goddess’s vessel in the mortal realm.

“Sir Knight, I’ll help you contact Rognes. Sukra, you have committed an unforgivable sin. I hope that you will win the goddess’s forgiveness with merits.” Ryza sighed. It was all too late now. Compared to the Holy Maiden, the goddess needed a powerful knight more.

“It’s not what you think, Master...” Sukra sniffled.

“Ryza, it truly isn’t what you imagine. I merely kept Sukra around without ever developing any feelings for her. I won’t hide it from you. From the moment I laid my eyes on you, I was drawn by your charm. I can’t help but—”

“Bastard, stop talking!” Sukra cut in furiously.

“Oh, you interrupted me.”

***

At the edge of the misty tides, dozens of hazy, shimmering silhouettes stepped forth.

It was only after Ryza’s explanation that Wayne understood the state of the Underworld. As he had learned before, the Underworld consisted of twelve levels, its territory split into three parts and occupied by the three subordinate gods. Because of the uneven division of spoils, they warred with one another endlessly, their grievances never resolved.

Among them, Sizorn occupied the most central levels: the One Universe of the eleventh level and the Temple of Eternity of the twelfth, plus fragments of territory across the other levels.

Wayne was currently on the first level, the Mist of Oblivion. It was the most chaotic area of all, where forces belonging to all three subordinate gods existed, joined by the rebels led by Rognes.

The rebels operated in small, scattered squads that employed a hit-and-run tactic to draw the attention of the three subordinate gods. Their actual goal was above Ryza’s paygrade. She told Wayne to ask Rognes in person.

Wayne fell into deep thought with knitted brows.

Ines had provided him with a secret passage that bypassed the first eleven levels and led right to Aztimor’s private chambers, but he had not entered the Temple of Eternity. From the eleventh level, he had been teleported to the first.

The passage was sealed shut. It seemed that one of the three subordinate gods had obtained partial Authority over the Divine Realm, or perhaps they had joined forces and split the Authority between them. He couldn’t bypass them and access Death’s coffin directly.

He would have to do it the hard way!

The three subordinate gods were powerful; at least they were right now. They were strong enough to force Rognes into guerrilla warfare, not daring to take on any of them in a one-on-one battle.

“In that case, I’ve arrived at the right time...”

***

After many detours and teleports, Ryza led the group to a space wedged between the Mist of Oblivion, the first level, and the Ocean of Serenity, the second level. That was where the headquarters of Rognes’s resistance army was located.

Sukra and the others were already dizzy from the travel. Wayne, with his powerful thoughts, was able to ignore the chaotic tangle of spatial passages and pinpoint the location immediately. He established an anchor to ensure that he could teleport there at any time. He didn’t know if it would ever be of use, but it was better to be prepared.

The thousands of passages crowded in one place. Under the pull of gravity, they winked in and out of existence. Without a guide, it would be impossible to locate the headquarters.

Ryza believed Wayne was the Death Knight and believed that he knew Rognes, but the stakes were too high for her to bring him straight to the headquarters. She stopped at the entrance to the chaotic region and sent a mental signal to Rognes.

Soon, an armored skeleton strode out of a black vortex, coming right up to the group.

It was Rognes, the former Death Knight!

“Wayne, it is you...” The two skeletons gave each other a bear hug. Rognes was both delighted and resigned. “I told you not to set foot in the Underworld back in the mortal realm. You have a heavier burden on your shoulders than I do. It hasn’t been that long, and you’re here already.”

“It’s been two months.” Wayne kept a diary, so he remembered clearly.

“It’s only been two months...”

“Two months is plenty long,” Wayne boasted truthfully. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m super strong now. I can make those punks—the subordinate gods, I mean—cry with a punch.”

Sukra nodded. She had only been lying flat for two months, and it was far from enough. So she also remembered how long it’d been quite well.

“How much stronger can one get in two months? Even someone with your talent...” Rognes shook his head, clapping Wayne on the shoulder. “I’m moved that you would come to the Underworld to fight alongside me. I told you in the very beginning that you possess every virtue a knight could possess. The goddess is luckier than any other deity to have a knight as loyal as you.”

Wayne blushed—or he would blush if he weren’t a skeleton with no skin or face. He had to shamefully admit that he hadn’t come to the Underworld with good intentions. At the very least, he planned to receive freebies; if he could awaken Aztimor from Her slumber, even better. He would then reshape Her to his liking and make the Underworld his. He would profit either way.

Hearing Rognes’s praise made everyone fall silent. Ryza, for example, had not known Wayne for long, yet her glorified imagination of the Death Knight had already crashed, even burned.

It was, frankly, unbelievable.

It pained her to hear Rognes offer Wayne such heartfelt praise. She quietly comforted herself that it was all pleasantries for the goddess’s sake. Rognes must be just as anguished as her right now.

“This isn’t a good place for a conversation. Let’s head in first.” Rognes nodded at Ryza, then turned to the large group of undead witches. “Ryza, why are these elegant ladies here? Are they your guests?”

“Here’s the situation...” Ryza summarized how the current situation had come about.

Learning that the undead witches had served Sizorn and were now free captives after Wayne defeated them, Rognes nodded and said, “Since they’re devout followers of the goddess, they are our own people. Wayne is willing to trust them, and I’ll do the same. Please follow me. If our hospitality falls short, I hope you won’t take offense.”

Omeros nodded. Though it was her first time meeting Rognes, she couldn’t help but be won over by his magnanimous bearing. She marveled at the difference between the two Death Knights. One could serve as an exemplar of integrity, while the other was best left out of the conversation.

Rognes opened a spatial passage with a wave, leading the group into a green sea of trees that stretched from the earth to the sky. The rolling waves of mountains were shrouded by swirling mist. Like a sleeping giant, the sea of trees was lush and green, brimming with vitality. The surging life force masked the Death energy of the undead perfectly from detection.

Omeros looked at the sea of trees in surprise. “This is neither the Forest of Forgiveness nor the Summit of Pride. This isn’t any part of the twelve levels. That such a world teeming with life should exist within the Underworld is unthinkable.”

“This is the Heart of Nature, sitting in the rift between the twelve levels. From here, one can reach any of the first ten levels. It’s just as important to the Underworld as the One Universe of the eleventh level.”

“No wonder your people are everywhere.” Omeros became even more astonished. She blurted out, “Is it really appropriate to tell us something so important? We’re Sir Sizorn’s subordinates, sent to hunt you down. We’re your enemies.”

Rognes shook his head. “No, you’re the goddess’s followers, so you aren’t my enemies.”

Omeros stilled and frowned. “If you’re trying to sway me, you’d better give up. The bandits you lead have been taking advantage of the situation and stirring trouble across the Underworld...”

“Why don’t you stay and see for yourself?”

“What?”

“I’m right in front of you. You have eyes. Why don’t you see for yourself who the traitor is and who’s fighting for the Divine Realm?” Rognes said in a composed tone.

Omeros was at a loss. She realized that she had been subjected to his sway since they met. She said stubbornly, “I don’t need you to tell me that. Letting me in will be your greatest mistake. I’ll report every detail to Sir Sizorn.”

She led her band of undead witches into the dense forest to gather intelligence. Rognes didn’t stop her, nor did he take Omeros’s threat to heart. Almost every captive said the same thing when they entered. After some time...

They all felt like Rognes was too conservative. They didn’t fear sacrifice, so even if the three subordinate gods were their enemies, they would willingly fight to the death.

Ryza hauled Sukra away with a dark face. Several former Holy Maidens would like a word with her about her being someone’s kept woman.

Sukra followed her master with her face scrunched up, turning around every few steps to shoot Wayne a vicious glare.

Wayne watched her go with envy. He had no interest in a meeting between Holy Maidens, but a meeting between generations of masters and students? That was tantalizing. There would be multiple possible pairings and generational interconnections for a variety of effects. Even a nature documentary program would be eager to make several episodes out of the group.

Rognes led Wayne deeper into the forest. Once there was no one else around, he voiced the question on his mind, “How did you get in, Wayne? As far as I know, the Underworld is sealed off, its connection to the Chosen Land severed.”

Wayne didn’t hide the truth. “I acquired the coordinates from the Goddess of Darkness. She’s close to the goddess and knows a secret entrance. I paid a steep price for the key to the backdoor.”

Darkness and Death were good friends, but Darkness had not reacted at all during Death’s long absence. Clearly, their friendship was only an act.

Knowing that, Rognes said in a grave tone, “You’ve worked hard. I cannot imagine the price you must have paid.”

“It’s not too bad.” Wayne shrugged. “I pay in small installments, so it isn’t that rough.”

Hearing Wayne downplay the price gave Rognes a newfound admiration for him. Not wanting to wound the knight’s pride, Rognes changed the subject.

“Wayne, you’ve come at just the right time. My strategy in the Underworld has hit an impasse. I need a demigod of considerable strength to share my burden.”

Wayne had paid an enormous price to reach the Underworld; it would be too late to send him back. Since he was here already, Rognes shared his strategy: “The Heart of Nature connects to the first ten levels of the Underworld, but not the One Universe of the eleventh level. It’s occupied by Sizorn, the traitor. To meet the goddess and take Her out of the Temple of Eternity, we must defeat Sizorn head-on on the eleventh level...”

Rognes turned to Wayne and continued gravely, “One of us must lead the troops and draw Sizorn’s attention to cover the other’s infiltration into the One Universe. Both tasks are extremely dangerous. Which do you choose?”

No need to even think about it. I came looking for you precisely to find a reliable teammate who would shield me in the front. Of course I’ll cover you from the back!

Wayne was about to answer when Rognes reminded him, “Whoever leads the assault will certainly face the three subordinate gods. And there’s a high chance that they will attack together.”

“I understand. I choose to face the three subordinate gods’ encirclement!” Wayne said firmly. “Rognes, I’m stronger than you are now. My odds of taking on those formidable enemies and coming out alive are better than yours. I should take on the role.”

“I very much want to say no to you, Wayne, but I know you won’t accept that. I also know that this is our only chance...” Rognes lowered his voice. “Your talent surpasses mine. Your loyalty and knightly virtues surpass mine, too. You will surely outshine me in the future. If there were any other choice, I would face the three instead.”

“Your face is a funeral, Rognes. Someone would think you were saying goodbye to a cadaver!” Wayne shrugged and raised his voice. “Has it occurred to you that I’m actually incredibly powerful now?”

“Yes. True conviction is not about overpowering everyone, but refusing to be overpowered by anyone. Conviction cannot be defeated. You’ve always been mighty beyond measure!”