Helena’s delightful evening was rudely interrupted. Crumbs of snacks already filled the floor beneath her seat. There were even wrappers that were cheaply bought from the nearby store. As soon as she took a step out of her chair, crinkling sounds echoed out throughout the empty store.
“Cain! I’m going out!” Helena gritted her teeth.
Cain screamed out from below the store. Metal clanks could be heard as well as the angelic choir blessing his new creations. “Alright, have fun!”
“Harry summoned her again. Little brat ruining my fun. Who just erases my magic like that? I’ll have to teach him not to erase my surveillance magic. Tch, if once I get my strength back then I’ll show him who’s in control.” Helena’s strength had massively increased ever since returning. Currently, she was a Peak Rank 10, now capable of traversing the world as she pleased.
“But I’ll have to deal with Fortune first. Ugh, this is going to be a complete pain.”
Even still, she had to make sure nothing too bad happened.
“Teleport.” Unlike Harry who could make space stable, Helena was currently unable to do the same. She still needed spatial coordinates of where she needed to travel. Fortunately, she had already managed to acquire them before Harry disintegrated her magic.
Her figure shattered, shifting through the void. All her surroundings seemed to stay still for but a single moment before her entire being moved through space. She saw vast landscapes and an overarching spread of space before immediately changing her scenery back to stillness. Helena had arrived at Dominion’s headquarters, the city that they were so proud of creating.
“Technology’s already back. I guess using magic does make a lot of things easier to conceptualize. Still, it’s good to see Earth regain some of its former glory.” Helena looked up at the sky where a being shrouded in a grim black mist spewing out black lightning all over the place. Yet before the black lightning hit anything, it vanished as if it never appeared in the first place.
“Helena! Where were you?!” Harry lugged along Elliot and Nue within his arms. Beads of sweat flowed down his face. His anxious state was without doubt real. “Please tell her to stop!”
Helena grabbed Elliot and Nue from Harry without much thought. “Alright, that’s all. See you. Teleport.” The same scene appeared as she tried to shift through space and appear back at Cain’s store.
Before she finished the spell, Harry had already locked down the area, only keeping Helena back. As for Elliot and Nue, they were comfortably resting back at the store. Nue continued sleeping while Elliot was terrified. Good thing that Cain prepared something.
“Ah, you must be my apprentice’s friend, Elliot, right? Care for a drink?” Cain prepared a warm cup of tea.
“Yes?” Elliot could only answer such a thing.
Now back where the action was, Fortune was no longer playing around. A series of monstrous energy began charging up. Dominion had already decided to evacuate everyone in the vicinity as they realized this power wasn’t something they could deal with. Sval was still unreachable during his closed-door training session and Miyamoto was off wandering the changes in the Dungeons.
“You little… You have a death wish or something?!” Helena started kicking Harry in the face. This left marks on the poor man’s face. Even still, Harry grabbed ahold of Helena’s dress.
“Please! She’s going to kill me!”
“That’s your problem! Not mine! Now get off me!” Helena started wagging her leg, trying to get Harry off but he was fully determined to not let go. If he did so then Helena would take this opportunity to leave him.
He was lucky enough to catch Helena off-guard once but he knew better than to mess with a True God.
“And Fortune.” Helena grabbed Harry’s hair and peeled him off her body. Her tone immediately shifted from playing along with Harry’s stupidity to one that resembled her true status. The entire seemed to have stopped as Helena grasped the authority she had.
“This is my world. What are you doing here? Go back already.”
Fortune didn’t listen rather she increased the severity of her attack. “He… might be able to stop me from intruding into his world but you can’t. Dear husband, you shouldn’t have left your safe haven.”
Harry proudly thumped his chest. “I go where my master goes. I am not unfilial. “
Helena smacked him square in the face. “You, shut up. I’m dealing with your mess here.” She didn’t hold back at all, forcing Harry to protect himself with solidified mana. Even still, his head was deep in the ground.
Time had stopped. Just as she had done with Sval back then, she showed even a greater range than last time. Her improvements weren’t something mortals could even come close to. Not even Harry was able to escape such a power. Though granted, Helena was using a large amount of power to keep Harry restrained.
It wasn’t obvious but it seemed as if Fortune held a sinister grin beneath her black veil. “Helena, the True God of-”
The power that Fortune had been piling up started vanishing before her eyes. Fires raged on as they consumed her reality-warping power. Not even ashes remained as they started to consume everything.
“I quite hate that title.” Helena's hands were placed behind her back yet her aura was rising even more than before. The air around her started disappearing, returning back into a state of nothingness. This power was creating a vacuum.
Fortune couldn’t grasp anything under her command. When Harry dispersed her power, he was breaking apart the control she had over it, destroying it from within. But Helena’s method was even more oppressive, there wasn’t a single semblance of technique or beauty behind it like Harry’s did. It was complete and utter oppression. If Helena deemed you unable to do something, you would not be able to do so. It was not a matter of will, it was a matter of power. Unless someone had the power to overcome her oppression, any thoughts of rebellion would be quickly disregarded.
“I just want my husband back. Is that really such a sin?” Fortune tilted her head, appealing towards Helena’s desire to end this situation as soon as possible.
“You want him? Then tell Cain that.” Helena started laughing as she mocked Fortune.
Fortune’s heart tightened. She wouldn’t be able to do that. Helena and Fortune both knew that this was the same as setting yourself up for failure.
“That busybody behind you? I never really understood why he would follow someone so… unruly. If you are a True God, then act like one.”
“With enough power, you can do anything you want. Like subduing a cosmic horror or gaining the favor of reality. That’s how he sees things anyway. Not like I could do anything.” Shrugging her shoulders, Helena started conjuring an even greater flame right in front of Fortune.
This flame was odd for the sole reason that it was empty. To give shape to such a flame, the surroundings itself were vaporized to give it shape. Helena’s hands that were behind her back had their veins start to pop out of her skin. The burden on her current body was immense.
Materializing the power of a 3rd Phase world with her weak body and unstable world should be that difficult.
Fortune looked around, seeing a much more interesting world than anything she had seen before. This was the ingenuity that humanity was able to achieve without the power of mana.
“The great Helena, only able to conjure just flames now. I still remember when you could enjoy the loneliness of being at the top.” Fortune narrowed her eyes, the situation was getting dangerous for the both of them. “Still, I’m a guest. Is this how you deal with guests?”
“There have been quite a few unruly guests that have arrived lately. I have to keep up with the problems, right? I’m just being cautious, is all.”
This situation was currently disadvantageous to both of them. Helena was already straining herself beyond belief while Fortune didn’t want to lose a part of herself here. This standstill continued on for what seemed like an eternity.
“I just want to deepen my relationship with my dear husband. Is that allowable?” Fortune’s sinister black dress slowly transitioned into a golden royal attire. Her radiance was what a person would assume to be divine.
Helena took a deep breath and slowly removed this invisible flame. It took a large amount of power to keep it restrained, much more than what it took to keep Harry from breaking free.
“Hahahaha!” Helena started laughing out of nowhere. “This is hilarious. A recently evolved 2nd Phase world containing so many notable figures. Have you ever heard of something like that before?”
Fortune gazed up to the skies and started giggling as well. “Indeed, it’s quite amusing. Within the myriad worlds, this is the only world that could contain so many figures that not even 9th Phase worlds could handle. Yet, harmoniously settled with one another.”
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“At this rate, not even his nurtured world can compete. Is that what that bastard’s thinking? He wants a world that could rival his? Evolving a 1st Phase world into a 2nd Phase world should take countless centuries. And a 2nd Phase world evolving into a 3rd Phase world should take countless millenniums! And the time it takes as the worlds become grander exponentially increases to the point that there are only 5 10th Phase worlds and… a single 11th Phase world, the Land of the Gods.”
“Reality could be considered as an 11th Phase world by definition.” Fortune snided.
“Miss Fortune, I apologize but I cannot let you settle down in such a weak world. It’s already difficult managing everything from shattering apart.”
Fortune’s angelic golden dress immediately turned vicious red. Her temper was quite obvious for everyone to see. “Helena, the True God of Death, do you want to take responsibility for what you just said? Do you even want to go back to where you came from?”
“Then go on. Attack me.” Helena raised her hands up and offered no resistance. “If that’s enough to vent your anger and go back to where you came from then so be it. One attack only aimed at me. Make it count.”
Fortune’s eyes glowed from within her veil. “Really? You want me to use the power of an 11th Phase world? Heh… You’re out of your mind.” Fortune started gathering a different kind of power. This was no longer just the ability to erase, but the power… of reality itself. “You’re going to die.”
Helena smiled. “Somehow I don’t feel like I’m going to.”
To ensure that Earth wouldn’t break apart, Fortune condensed the power of reality into a singular speck. One touch from this attack would completely break apart countless worlds. The destructive strength within it was something even a True God at full strength would have to be wary of.
“If you survive, then I won’t return unless Earth has become a 5th Phase world. That should be a good enough deal right? Though, that won’t stop me from influencing Harry’s surroundings.”
“Then it’s a deal.”
With only the thing backing up their claims being their own words, both of them silently decided to uphold their own parts. The speck slowly rushed forward towards Helena slowly. If not for Fortune being quite delicate with her method then Earth might’ve been unwillingly erased.
Helena welcomed this speck. It moved ever so slowly until it made an impact. A previously invisible cloak reappeared out of nowhere. This cloak had been hovering over Helena this entire time. This was none other than the cloak that Helena had taken from Cain before. The item was made out of Eternal Silk.
Fortune expected Helena to be erased from existence yet contrary to her belief, Helena still remained there unfazed. “H-How… there’s no… way… that’s the power of reality…”
The speck merely blended into Helena’s cloak. Not doing anything. The power of reality had been tamed, the power of someone from the 11th Phase world had been fully nullified.
“Eternal Silk.” Helena smirked. She knew that not even Fortune could’ve expected such an item.
“That’s… so much Eternal Silk. How did you get enough to even make a cloak? Not even Fate can touch you now.” Fortune raised her hand and started massaging her temples. “What can even touch you anymore? If you are using the same material that is woven to influence destiny then how will you even die?”
Helena sadly smiled. Even she knew that no matter how terrifyingly well-done this material was, without the mana to power it up, it would sooner or later shatter. Thus, that was exactly what happened. Right before both of their eyes, one of Cain’s strongest equipment shattered due to the lack of nourishment. Created using his best technique with the best possible material yet it was still not impervious.
Fortune felt her heart ache. Even she felt the loss of such an overbearingly powerful item. It was enough to be the flagship item of a 10th Phase world. Even True Gods would be desperate for such an item.
Fortune fell down on her knees. It was the equivalent feeling of shattering a historical item with deep importance. The loss of such a masterpiece wounded everyone.
“A deal’s a deal. Leave.”
“Cain must have spent countless years creating that item.” Fortune was forlorn. It could’ve served a much greater purpose but not anymore. It was now gone.
“Not really, he spent possibly a few hours making this.” Even Helena couldn’t believe the words she was saying herself. “If you want to see something just as great, if not greater, than that then you should keep an eye out.”
“I can’t if you keep blocking my vision.” Fortune quietly muttered before turning into motes of golden light. She had returned back to the beyond, the place where no mortal had ever set foot for it was no longer the material plane but the conceptual. And there, Fortune would seek out and watch Harry’s days, making sure he stays faithful to her.
Helena fell down on her butt. She let time flow as usual. No one except her and Fortune knew what transpired here. Harry pulled himself out of the hole and looked around.
“Is it safe now? Did Fortune leave?”
“Yeah, yeah. Did you get the Mana Stones from Dominion?” Helena showed a smile that was not a smile. Harry immediately knew what Helena was referring to. “Well, did you?”
“I uh… about that. I got lost.” Harry knew that Helena had been watching him but he might as well try to see if Helena would be generous enough to let this incident go. “So, if you can forgive me-”
Helena smacked Harry in the head again. A small bump appeared on his head as he quietly nursed himself back to health. Both of them were tired from dealing with Fortune, a short rest was needed.
During this silence, Helena couldn’t help but ask. “Why do you keep going against Fortune’s wishes? Isn’t she your wife, technically speaking?”
“Yeah.” Harry looked up at the skies. Back in the conceptual plane, Fortune saw Harry looking right at her. “I guessed that having everything go your way, wasn’t that fun. Hahahaha.”
“Lecher!” Helena punched Harry’s shoulder but this time she didn’t use her full strength. She understood it somewhat.
Harry had once been in complete and utter control. A break from that monotony was a blessing. Despite being shackled, he didn’t hate it, and in fact, welcomed it. The curiosity he had once lost returned to him and to repay that favor, he decided to show Fortune something fun to watch.
“Watching someone just read books and train all day must be exhausting right?” Harry then removed his sleeves and held his slightly muscular biceps. It wasn’t overwhelmingly large and could still be considered as skinny but he was happy about it.
“It’s your relationship, you do what you want.” Helena could see Dominion finally respond to their descent. Those Rank 8 and Rank 9s were the strongest bunch of Dominion. From the looks of it, they weren’t aggressive but were instead grateful. “I wonder what your children would look like?”
Harry immediately blushed and pretended not to hear that. “Ahem, carrying on.”
Back in the planes beyond, Fortune was watching Harry’s actions. “I’d keep watching you even if you did just read all day.”
Just as Harry had wanted a break from everything going as he had expected, Fortune similarly wanted to have a break from everything not being within her control. That feeling of being able to finally have stability was far from her nature.
Harry’s consistent attitude and never-breaking character gave her the sense of stability she so desperately desired. She would always see him go out and seek trouble using her powers, she would get him out of that problem, and he wouldn’t change his actions at all.
It was the same story over and over again but for some reason, Fortune would never get tired of such a thing.
It was even more comical when Harry would try and seek out other women. He would “try” to get close to them but he would only come close enough for Fortune to use her powers in ways of protecting him from other people. Harry was showing Fortune that she had control all along. A lesson that Fortune had learned long ago but still ignored.
In this vast space of emptiness, Fortune would endlessly float and watch the material plane. Her only source of entertainment was seeing things unfold. Once she latched on to Harry, her dull days became much brighter. It had come to the point of her looking forward to Harry’s shenanigans.
In this place where no one but her existed, Fortune quietly teared up. She didn’t expect such a humane expression from her. Fortune shook her head and watched on from a distance. Harry was being escorted by people from Dominion to meet their guild leader. As he was walking, time seemed to slow down.
The clouds in the skies slowly stopped to a halt, those Rank 8 and Rank 9 escorts were frozen in their march and even Helena seemed to have been affected by this power. Fortune could not understand what was happening.
Harry turned his head and looked up to the skies. “Fortune, it’s embarrassing but I heard it all. Hahahaha. I guess even Helena has weaker control than me, even when I’m severely restricted.”
“Ahem. This is odd but hear me out. I didn’t hide out in that world for no reason. I sought out Fate and found a person who could help me out. The material and conceptual plane are contradictory against each other but you know who I am. I’m the Sage. What can’t I ever figure out?”
Fortune tried to figure out where Harry was coming from with this yet she was unable to.
Harry started scratching his cheek. “So I was wondering… is there a way to bridge the gap? And the answer to that is yes.”
Fortune heart’s started beating for a reason unknown to her.
“It takes a large amount of power for you to descend and you can’t materialize yourself for long periods of time. So, I was thinking. Is there a way to make it so that you can stay here permanently? Mortal bodies won’t be able to bear the burden and would immediately explode.”
“You can’t mean…” Fortune’s body started shaking.
“Then, as the Sage with immense knowledge of everything, thought, what if I make a body that’s not mortal? That’s quite a feat, a divine body that could bear the power of reality. That’s impossible right?”
Fortune’s tears started tearing flowing.
Harry looked away for a brief moment. “A crying girl’s my weakness, you know?”
“You… can see… me?”
“I’ve been able to see you for a while now. You have Helena to thank for that.” Harry started thinking. “I wasn’t able to communicate with you this clearly before even when I was at my peak but for some reason, I could now. Never mind that.” Harry got off-topic.
“A divine body that could handle the power of reality. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Helena’s cloak. He could casually create items of that magnitude. I’ve already drafted the blueprints in my mind but the problem is…” Harry turned slightly red. “It requires a catalyst that binds you to the creator. I can’t ask my master to do that since… you won’t be my wife at that rate. Hahaha, I’m not interested in that kind of romance.”
Harry raised his arm and flexed it. “I can’t wait to finally hold your hand. The day won’t be that far. You’ve already waited for nearly an eternity, what’s a few more years?” Harry’s smile was so blindly bright that Fortune had to look away.
Yes, Fortune looked away not because Harry had been thinking about her this entire time. It was not because Harry had been thinking about her all this time. And it was definitely not because Harry stole her heart once more.
“So… this means that we can finally talk without the world you are in shattering right?” Fortune wiped away her tears. A connection that she had been looking out for was finally coming to light.
“Uh, what’s that? Your… bzz…” Harry intentionally made those buzzing sounds with his voice. “Bzz… cutting… bzz. Wow, that’s wild. I have to go now.”
“Heh. Bastard. Always making me laugh.” Fortune held out her hand to the screen. Harry, who was supposed to be cutting off also similarly reached his hand out.
And just like that, time resumed. And this time, Helena genuinely did not know what happened. This was Harry’s secret, something that only he had the right to pursue for the reward only benefitted him and no one else.
A task that could only be done by him.
“What’s with that smug look on your face? Want me to rip it off? You just had to make everything complicated for no reason.” Helena menacingly threatened Harry. Her eyes were devoid of humor.
“It was supposed to be a surprise, you know?” Harry sighed before getting smacked in the head again.
“You know what’s a surprise? How I haven’t gutted you already. You better hope Cain treasures you enough of an apprentice that you can survive my wrath. Come here!” Helena’s fists of fury beat Harry into submission.
“Always… making me laugh.” Fortune quietly watched on from the distance… but soon, she’ll get her wish.