Abyssal Awakening

"Shall I tell you. . . how we Outer Gods entered this world?"

Alice didn't answer, but her gaze and silence spoke volumes.

This was a question that hung heavy above her head. From what she understood and what she was told, the barrier protecting their world was still in place.

The veil created by Velouria with the help of the other Gods hasn't disappeared yet.

Zal-Ka'Rith took this silence as permission to speak.

"We Outer Gods did not enter this world through force." He began. "The barrier put into this place was one that was extremely strong against outside influence. Even if the strongest of us Outer Gods tried, they won't be able to break it."

He smiled a wicked smile. "Instead of force, we came by invitation. A contract between us and a few individuals."

"A contract?" Alice creased her brow.

"Indeed. Two key individuals, one of whom I was unsure of until just recently. A name you're very familiar with. Nyer." Zal-Ka'Rith trailed off, observing Alice's reaction. Seeing that she wasn't as shaken as he had hoped, he shrugged and continued.

"The second is Enris, God of the Eclipse. Though I'm sure you've already made that connection to some degree. Of course, this is something that not even her Apostles know. Otherwise, why do you think Kazira believes that she could usurp the divine throne with just Eldritch Energy?"

"Enris? But why does she want you guys to come into the world? Chaos?" Alice frowned. No matter how much Enris loved chaos, having Outer Gods getting involved was still a step too far.

"She didn't. Enris did not want our collaboration." Zal-Ka'Rith shook his head in agreement. "However. . . She was promised something. By Nyer. All I know is that after a certain point, her perspective shifted and these two agreed to the first contract."

Alice folded her arms.

She somewhat understood why Nyer would want their collaboration. Eldritch energy flowed through her veins after all. But Enris?

The only thing that Alice could think it could be was only one thing. Velouria.

But even so, something felt off. One contract between them shouldn't allow such a large scale invasion. On top of that, the contract must've happened long ago. It wasn't something recent.

"Something else allowed more and more of you to enter this realm, right?"

Zal-Ka'Rith curled his smile upwards. Indeed, it was more entertaining to talk to someone who could put the pieces together.

"It's as you say. The contract between Nyer, Enris and us Outer Gods were a simple one in the grand scheme of things. But what truly allowed us to enter were the contracts we formed later down the line. Contracts between us and mortal humans."

Alie's gaze darkened.

"Any contract that's fulfilled by us rather than the Gods allowed our influence to spread. And after a certain point, our existence could no longer be denied. But that's only if the humans had been truthful with their Gods." Zal-Ka'Rith chuckled.

"Some believed they were the chosen one, fated to overthrow the Gods. Unique in that they could harness this energy we lend to them, drunk on their own power. Some sought to create Outer Gods of their own, some tried to enslave us for their bidding.

"But as you can imagine, it didn't go so well. Now a sort of. . . 'backdoor' exists for us Outer Gods. Just barely wide enough for some of us to get through but not enough for the. . . Older ones."

Alice wanted to know more but Zal-Ka'Rith didn't continue.

"I believe this information should be satisfactory for what you've given me."

Understanding that he wasn't going to say more, Alice nodded her head.

"Thanks."

"A pleasure, I look forward to the next exchange we will do." The thick Eldritch energy around him faded away as Isolde was handed back her own body.

Collapsing on one knee, Isolde clutched her chest with gritted teeth. Despite the pain she was feeling, she maintained her smile and slowly stood up.

"You know, you can tell Zal-Ka'Rith that he can just speak to you and have you tell me what he says." Alice gave Isolde a side glance.

However, she simply shook her head.

"My Lord has mentioned that for moments like this, he wished to speak personally rather than have someone else speak for him. It's a form of respect given to the one he wishes to exchange information with."

"Even at the cost of your health?" Alice questioned but Isolde didn't answer.

She simply smiled and walked away to rest her body.

Shrugging her shoulders, Alice turned her attention back on the battle.

'What do you think?'

[It does explain why the barrier is still in place even though Outer Gods are now running rampant.] Cayla sighed.

[But I don't know how they can make a backdoor in the barrier. Even if they spread their influence, it shouldn't be enough.]

'Unless someone understood Velouria's methods and helped them from the inside.' Alice added as Cayla nodded her head.

[The Will. They're the only one I can imagine who could even make a backdoor for the Outer Gods. Unless there's someone else with the same understanding of Velouria's barrier or an extreme exception, I can't see how else they'll enter this realm.

[The Void is being looked after by Feris and you already know her dislike for them.]

Tapping her heel against the ground, Alice had a deep frown on her face.

Kazira made an agreement with Outer Gods to usurp Enris's power.

Enris made a contract in the past to get something unknown.

Nyer probably made a contract to get his hands on this energy and take his research to the next step.

Whether or not the Will was truly involved is unknown.

The Sun and Moon haven't made any major movements yet.

The Zenia's are beginning to speed up their experiments even with their limit resources now that they know she is alive. And on their side is the Doctor that is seemingly unkillable, even with all of her firepower.

In the North, Verona was cultivating a fake divinity with Caera. . .

Pausing for a moment, Alice's pupil constricted.

As her thoughts lingered on Caera, she recalled the first moment they were 'reunited'.

Caera felt like a Lord yet her body lacked Abyssal Energy.

But now that she knew what she knew, now that she had experienced Eldritch Energy, there was only one conclusion that Alice had come to.

Caera filled her body with the corruptive energy!

The demonstrations of her power, her hatred for the Will. It was only natural that she looked for something outside of its power.

'Do you think Caera had something to do with the backdoor?' Alice asked as Cayla fell silent.

She wanted to think to some extent that her old comrade wouldn't do such a thing. But time is a merciless thing.

It can inflict changes in ones personality without them even realising that something was wrong.

However. . .

[Caera revered Velouria. Even if she joined hands with the Outer Gods, I don't think she'll help them make their backdoor. Instead, I think it's more plausible to believe that she learned to harness their power and make it her own.

[While it may inadvertently help the Outer Gods, she shouldn't be doing it with the intent to corrupt the realms. Doing so meant that Ayr wouldn't have a chance to be reconstructed. Plus, this was part of Nyer's plan. You know how much she despises Nyer.] Cayla defended Caera as Alice thought about it for a moment and nodded her head.

However, the fact that Caera was wielding Eldritch energy couldn't be ignored.

'I'll see if I can contact Caera later and ask her about this. Depending on her stance, she might even be able to help Jin.' Alice sighed.

Eldritch energy couldn't be allowed to remain in their realm for long. Doing so would begin a long chain of corruption that would eventually leave them with a desolate wasteland or be forced to carve away pieces of this realm.

Therefore, having a solution to Jin's modified body would be ideal.

'The only question now is how much does the Sun and Moon know. I find it hard to believe that Solaris or Lumiria are clueless about what's happening.'

[Well considering the fact that Solaris should've been relatively clueless until you basically told him that you're from Ayr, I think they're more concerned about their own agenda than Outer Gods. To them, the barrier should hold firm without needing to worry.] Cayla theorised as Alice let out an awkward cough.

Before Alice could respond, a flash of white and gold split the sky.

*RUMBLE!!!

Alice's head snapped towards the source of the explosion and there she saw, a column of raw destruction.

A spire of stars that ascended into the sky. Radiant arcs cut across the battlefield like a drawn blade with Suyin hastily trying to block the attacks in futility. Each slash of the energy cut through the barrier like butter as Suyin's serpent was torn apart.

Alice felt her senses going haywire, alarm bells sounding in her head.

Goosebumps forming across her skin and as cold sweat filled her back.

A Lord has made a move!

As dreaded, in response to her previous actions on the battlefield, a Lord was waiting here. According to Suyin's estimations, they shouldn't have made a move unless she made one first on the level of Lord.

But she didn't! Unless. . .

'Sh*t I should've known!' Alice gritted her teeth.

The barrier was the construct of a Lord!

And because she broke it, it's no wonder a Lord might get involved. Without hesitation, Alice jumped up and ran towards the spire.