Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 966: URGENT TO THE LAIR! - Part 1

Luserferious has been called upon to answer the whims of a worthy god. Like any named devil or a primordial, even he was bound by the law of the creator to abide and play his role as the servant of those worth his servitude and time. And one such goddess had called upon him, Athenia–not of this world but another. As such, an army he unleashed over the ribs of Nerva where the fae mothers were in binds.

For the goddess of calamity, however, striking down a few named devils and imps was no more than stomping a bug. But curiosity led her further, digging deep, and as Luseferious answered who was behind the attack, he revealed everything. Athenia, the goddess of death and life. Two days before the infiltration was meant to take place, she was toying with Nerva–keeping her on edge.

With a smug look on her face, she sat atop her throne, looking down at the dead goddess standing in her prison. Their last encounter wasn’t that long ago, and it was Nerva’s understanding that the two had called for a standstill, but apparently Athenia did not get the memo.

”You really want to push me, don’t you?” She sneered, her eyes turning a deep crimson gold.

Crossing her legs, Athenia chuckled to herself.

”Push you for what? Those fairies aren’t your property, sister. You’ve simply imprisoned them for who knows how long, keeping the magic of this world hostage. Controlling the flow of mana from land to land, moving in with your corruption wherever there’s a window of opportunity.”

”So that’s it, huh? You’re trying to screw with me? Like little girls on a playground, even though the fate of the world remains at stake?”

”Which world? Yours or mine?”

”What?” Nerva was at a loss at Athenia’s words. There was an obvious hint of superiority in her tone as well as a smug look that spelled. ”You think you’ve done something? Dragging me here, what do you think you have–”

”Nerva, are you sure you’re still where you think you are?” Again, Athenia’s words confused the goddess. What world? Where? And...

”What are you talking about?” She asked, at an utter loss at last.

Athenia’s smile stretched even further, and with a laugh, she waved at the goddess.

”How about you stay here for a while? Have some tea with me?” Waving a hand, she conjured a looking mirror. Within it was a woman of flesh and steel getting off a surgery bed. As the image moved, Nerva looked closer, and to her surprise, Mono was standing right behind that woman. ”Made from the flesh of a dragon, cored within the toughest of metals and soaked with a goddess’ immortal blood. At last, it seems your prisoner has found freedom.”

Nerva’s eyes quivered at the sight; she knew exactly what the goddess meant and who it was within that vision that happened a few hours ago.

”Athenia...She escaped the prison?!” Glancing up, her air of superiority dropped at once. ”Then, who are you? And where am I?”

A blinding beam of light swept away the illusion of the goddess’s prison. Revealing in its place a realm of purity and pure light–the realm of the most benevolent and perfect version of Athenia. Smiling down at the wicked goddess, she explained at last.

”I lured you out and brought you out of your world to mine. Stay, why won’t you? I’m sure we can become good friends, or maybe not; you’ll be back where you came from as soon as my other self rescues those poor children from your cold, dead grip.”

Struggling to grasp what had happened, Nerva stood there frozen like an idol. What she assumed to be Athenia’s prison had been replaced by her other self’s domain for a while. Even her first visit there was meant to ease her reservations, and now, two days before the heist was planned, she couldn’t have expected to be trapped while visiting her own dead mind.

”You...you were acting as a decoy. That means,” gripping her fist with rage, Nerva growled through her teeth. ”Athenia has been gone. She was never here, just biding time until I stepped into your trap!”

”And stepped you did. An hour, you and I will share together; even the god of time has allowed me to break the rules and trap you until then.”

”EVEN THAT DAMNED DEMI-GOD?!”

”To tell you the truth, it all began when that skull-headed god you mentioned before left me with a message for her daughter beyond many worlds.” A silent chuckle left Athenia’s lips, further pushing Nerva towards her maddened edge.

”SHUT UP!” Lifting her hand, Nerva reached for the goddess’s face but her powers... ”What the–?!”

Like a candle flame snuffed by the thumb, her magic was snuffed away before she could even breathe a spell. Staring at her hand, she drew long, deep breaths as a sense of powerlessness slowly started taking over her.

”In this world, I decide what goes, Nerva.” Taking a step off her throne, the perfect Athenia reached down and grabbed the goddess by her chin before lifting her face up. ”One hour and then you’ll be back to your world, and I will be powerless to stop you. Breaking the laws of time and dimensions leads to...well, quite interesting consequences, so why don’t you just settle down and enjoy this time before that storm hits?”

Anger quickly replaced Nerva’s fear, and she pushed Athenia’s hand off of her. Then, with a grunt, she added.

”You’re not the only goddess who can reach beyond worlds!”

”I know, and that’s why you’ll have to wait to do whatever it is you’ll do eventually.”

Despite being stronger than Nerva in this world, Athenia knew that a dead goddess and her countless many versions would soon descend on her for revenge. Even Atlaris, the true world of the now kidnapped Nerva, would suffer from the consequence of this little misadventure, but the time to worry about such things would come after the children were rescued and the fae mothers freed from their prison.