The Dark Rebirth of Pandora: Revenge of the Abyss

Chapter 754: The Beginning

”...Is this how you live, Echidna? It seems like such a lonely life, full of deep emptiness,” Pandora asks me. This visitor from another universe is strange; she speaks to me casually, as if she isn’t afraid even though she’s weaker than I am.

”Yes... why are you here following me? I was already generous enough letting you spend some time in my castle,” I ask her. She appeared out of nowhere in the Abyss, her red skin and long black horns a stark contrast among the beings here, which are usually quite gray or black.

”Just thanking the one who saved me... but don’t worry, I plan to leave soon...” She looks around at my castle.

”Do you live alone? No sons or daughters to keep you company or inherit your legacy?” Her question is very invasive, but since I haven’t spoken to anyone in a long time, I decide to answer.

”I live alone. I have no daughters or sons. After all, I am the Goddess of the Abyss—why would I need to pass on any legacy?” My lack of interest is clear in my voice, but instead of fearing my power, Pandora in front of me seems curious.

”But children are useful. I have many children—like, 1,395,378. Of those, 700,000 are girls who produce more children. They do everything I want, and unfortunately, they all died in the destruction of my universe, but I’ll have more children again so they can do things for me.” She talks about things I don’t care about.

”Will it take long for you to leave?”

”I don’t plan to take long. Maybe just 10,000 years. Thank you for your hospitality, but your universe isn’t suitable for my children. It has too much Mana—that’s a harmful poison for my race. I tolerate it relatively well, but all my children would die...”

”Oh? Invading a universe that has a deadly poison for you was a good choice? It sounds almost stupid considering what you just said. It’s like a fish trying to live out of water.”

”No, but I needed to. Besides, Goddess Echidna, there are fish that live out of water, so it’s not that bad... And you? Don’t you want children? They’re very useful.”

”Why do you insist so much on this? I don’t want children.”

”I’m trying to repay you for your help. When I fell into the Abyss, I would have died if you hadn’t shown an interest in me. But in my universe, I was a parasite-style world conqueror, so I can only help by offering possibilities. Children are useful tools for powerful beings—they solve things we don’t want to or can’t solve ourselves,” Pandora says something interesting.

’A child... actually... could be useful... I’ve been trapped in the Abyss for so long without being able to leave... a child could stay on the outside and try to help me get out. It would be help I wouldn’t refuse... but pull me out of the Abyss? Impossible. If I couldn’t get out on my own, how would a child get me out of here?...’

”I can’t have children...” I touch my own belly.

”My womb isn’t functional, because if something tried to make contact, it would be destroyed. So it wouldn’t even help if I had relations with another being to try to get pregnant.” My interest cools. I have no way of having children.

”And besides, children aren’t automatically loyal. A child born from my blood would be completely untrustworthy to me. I don’t want to create a problem—I already have too many problems.”

”Hmmm... I want to help you as payment for your help, but if I teach you my method of creating children, I’ll be giving a payment that’s too high. My way of producing children is worth more than my life... But let’s do this: you help me leave this universe, and I’ll give you my method of creating children,” she proposes something audacious.

”Oh? And what method would that be?”

”I use Kralatak, which is the energetic equivalent of what you call Mana. I use it to generate eggs in my womb, and then my children are born from those eggs. There’s no need for a partner or even fertility, since the generation doesn’t start in the womb. The egg feeds on the energy your body releases.”

’An egg fed by Mana... that would solve my problem, since that way it wouldn’t be automatically destroyed by my body. But it still wouldn’t be loyal...’ I lean forward on my throne.

”That sounds interesting, Pandora, though I still don’t see much use in having children. There’s no guarantee of their loyalty. Besides, this is another universe—your method clearly won’t work perfectly.” She looks thoughtful.

”...Why not base it on races that already exist? I noticed the Abyss is full of different, unique living beings, and many of them already lay eggs. You have plenty to draw inspiration from. I can also let you see the process inside my body so you can learn the most relevant parts of the modification.”

”Hahaha, funny you say that. So you’ll let me open your body with a blade and watch it work?”

”...If necessary, yes. I don’t know how to tear through the veil of reality to leave this universe. I’ll need help one way or another...”

”...Are you really going to do this just out of gratitude? For a world conqueror, you’re very generous.” It’s not exactly the attitude one would expect from a parasitic world conqueror.

”Generous?... Ah... a rat who meets a lion would do anything to help the lion feel satisfied. It’s not generosity—I’m just managing all the risks. Honesty has proven more efficient, so I’m being honest and offering what I can to get out of here alive.”

”Hmmm... good answer. For a monster, you’re quite clever. Are monsters from other universes as intelligent as you? Most monsters in this universe are stupid, or very primitive.”

”...I’m the only one, as far as I know. And I’ll look for a home once I leave this universe. Until then, all I can do is try to survive. So... do we have a deal?” I remain thoughtful for a few seconds.

I lose nothing by accepting, but accepting doesn’t change much either. I don’t want children now, but it could indeed be useful in the future. So learning might be good.

’She clearly can’t do anything against me... I think I’ll accept...’

”Of course. I’ll accept your gratitude. I don’t think I’ll use whatever you teach me, but if one day I see that having a daughter or a son is useful, I’ll use it. And if I like the results, I promise to give the name Pandora to one of my children—but only if the result is good. If the result is bad... should you ever set foot in this universe again, I’ll kill you.” She swallows dryly when I say that.

”...I’ll do my best to teach you... I’m honored that you’d decide to give my name to one of your future children. I can’t return the gesture because I plan to have many children, and I don’t think any of them would be worthy of the name of a powerful goddess like you.”