I know her title is 'Mother of the Earthly Realms', but is it really necessary for the Sect Headquarters to be so far underground?!

Larona Denarvé, ArchDeacon of the Sect of Gaea was yet again struggling to fight back an almost overwhelming bout of claustrophobia. It was something she'd struggled to cope with since childhood. Though she currently sat at the peak of the (A-Stage), barely a half-step away from nigh immortality, she was fairly certain that this subterranean complex was going to be the end of her.

But her worries mattered not. She was already late, Gaea had to be warned of the new developments.

Abnormal energy fluctuations emanating from the Impure Realm made it impossible to mistake that the ArchDaemon, Zalbohg The Impure, was about to make his move. His preemptive actions would put the Sect of Gaea in a precarious position. One they might not recover from. There were already so few humans left. Their reintroduction to the system had come far too early.

Oh what I wouldn't give to feel the breeze on my skin right now, Larona thought wistfully. She wriggled her bare toes in the cloud-like layer of purple moss covering the hard-packed earthen floor With every step she took, she sank several inches deep, only to be sprung forward by the rubbery moss conforming to the soles of her feet.

“I'm almost there,” she said bleakly, trying her best to ignore the feeling that the vine-covered walls were steadily closing in on her. On the brink of a full blown panic, the corners of her vision began to darken.

ArchDeacon Larona focused on the vibrant green vines, and the massive leaves they supported. Though she tried, it was a struggle to overcome her fear of confined spaces.

Sensing her profound life-force, the blood-red leaves reached out toward her expectantly. Swaying to and fro under a wind only known to them. As she passed, the leaves lost their vigor, and drooped sadly to the floor.

Not much longer now, She thought wistfully. All that's holding me back is a small burst of momentum. I'm but a single step away from discarding what remains of my mortality. If only the Humans hadn't allowed their backwoods 'Technology' to cloud their vision, I would almost certainly be one with transcendency. Sitting with the Mistress as a peer… “Ugh…” She groaned in disbelief. After being hidden away for over ten-thousand years, humanity had accidentally returned to System-governed space. And upon their return, the entire planet had been steeped in absurd levels of radiation. Even those foul Goblins know that improperly harnessed Nuclear energy is akin to poison. She thought with a grimace.

Upon Earth's reintegration, the System had been forced to send in cleaners to extract over sixteen-thousand nuclear warheads. While they were on-world, the determination was made to remove all traces of nuclear energy. The reactors, submersibles, and battleships were all destroyed, crippling the planets military infrastructure overnight.

Aside from its uses in weaponry, it couldn't even be considered efficient. Especially with hydrogen being so plentiful on Earth. They had been in possession of a trove of nearly limitless energy. And yet still the Humans chose to irradiate themselves and their environment in an unabashed display of hubris. Even without the Systems intervention, it's likely they would've destroyed themselves in another pointless war. Only this time on their very own planet.

Larona sighed in frustration. She was still relatively new to her post. She had officially taken her office little more than a decade ago, yet already things were already coming apart at the seams. The Human Tutorial was less than a week away from starting, and the entire Multiverse was watching with bated breath. It had been fully expected that the ten-year Ban System Administration levied against Humanity would end in their utter annihilation. But as of now, there were still over two-thousand Human Survivors remaining on Earth. As such, the Tutorial had unfortunately yet to be called off

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Of course that foul Daemon would wait until the Mistress was secluded in meditation to play his games,” Larona snarled.

It had all started with the disappearance, and subsequent reappearance of Earth. Known as a 'Seed World', planet Earth had been both the place of origin, as well as the final bastion of Humanity. Created by Gaea, The founder of the Pantheon of the Gods, and over one hundred of her peers untold ages past, Earth was meant to birth the next successor to the Vertex.

They had come very close to succeeding. Since the creation of Earth, and with it the Humans, Humanity had been an overwhelming presence in the Multiverse. Yet their glory fell to ruins just over ten thousand years ago.

They had been given a taste of real power, and found that they relished the flavor. When whispers got out that they were blatantly abusing their authority, humanity began a fierce campaign of conquest and domination to silence all opposition.

High on their own doctrines, and convinced of their own superiority, they waged a devastating war among the stars.

Although Humanity had once been known as the Champions of the Pantheon, after showing their base, genocidal nature, System Administration was forced to issue an Extermination Quest. After being labeled an [Apocalypse] Level threat, every last Human above the (G-Stage) was snuffed out within a years time. The under-evolved survivors were once more relegated to Earth.

Fearing the end of their grand creation, Gaea and a few of her compatriots secreted the Earth away.

They placed it in a distant universe, hidden away in a dense cluster of stars known as the Milky Way Galaxy. It was hoped that once out of the reach of the System Kill Squads, Humanity would be given a second chance to thrive. But alas, it seemed the Humans were fated to be relegated to the annals of history.

Though she had to admit there was always an impossibly small chance that a few stragglers remained out there. But if such a place existed, it would have to be in some far-away hidden corner of an unaffiliated universe.

With a start, Larona realized she had reached her destination. The narrow passage she followed suddenly opened up into a brilliantly-lit, domed cavern. It's sole occupant; a massive weeping willow tree.

Brushing aside her concerns, and taking a deep breath to steel herself, Larona pushed the hanging canopy to the side, entering into the brightly lit clearing within. She heard a loud crack right as a single, stone-grey hand broke through the surface of the floor. The aura emanating from it left her with nothing but a calm surety.

Though her Mistress had long ago locked herself away, secluded in meditation, Larona felt her heart lighten as she realized what this meant. The Mistress had come to greet her.

Albeit in clone form.

As she watched with rapt attention, the small grey hand opened up, the mouth on its palm speaking in a high-pitched childish voice.

“Once again you forget I already know your thoughts my dear worrywart.“ Gaea's fragment spoke out. “Preparations have already been made. I will soon be forced to show my hand.“

ArchDeacon Larona bowed deeply to her Mistress, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. Perhaps I'll be ascending Sooner than I thought!

“I heard that,” Gaea's clone said, delight heavy in its voice. “Quit daydreaming and alert the Deacons. They are to begin channeling the necessary energy. I will be prepared to act within the week.“

“And before you bother to ask, Yes. I have already communed with the Fates. Though he may be little more than a boy, it has to be him.“

Without further explanation, the small grey hand retreated once more from view. Sinking back into the floor. Larona bowed once more, her forehead nearly touching the ground in a display of her great respect for the Mistress.

Her mission complete, Larona turned and left with all haste. She had a job to do.

At long last, she would be able to leave this damnable Sect Headquarters. For the Mistress had spoken.

Gaea, Mother of the Earthly Realms, and last of the Primordial Deities would be making her move within a weeks time.

Larona shivered with barely restrained glee. Ohh I can't wait!! Daemons give such GREAT Experience!