AN: Tomorrow's chapter is another NSFW chapter, by the way, and it's one of abuse that I do NOT condone. I just happen to write about it.

In any case, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.

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The Kitsune sighed as if recalling an old thought from his past, as his eyes gazed upon those before his person, "For those of whom do not know, or do not remember, I was originally from the world called Earth." This statement caused many to murmur, in which he held up his left paw in order to forestall any more words, "Yes. I was from this place, but I do not recall it as much as my past self could. This is so, as I do not much care for it. However, there are still a few bits and pieces I can recall even to this day.

"One being the world was dying due to over hunting and fishing, as well as the over sapping of recourses. At this time, I've heard tell of how the world is no longer inhabitable, and yet the Humans still try to do so. Of course, I had offered to take over the management of such a place, but have been denied solely for the second reason.

"Of which is the crime and abuse of others. Yes. Even to this day, they still hold thieves, bandits, and corrupt officials which have all, but been eradicated upon our worlds. For I will not suffer the fools who place their own greed and well being over the masses in which they are to serve. As to the abusers? Yes. There are child abusers there, and they are allowed to do as they please due to a flawed system.

"Yes. I would indeed remove such individuals, if I had become the god of that world, and sentence them to a fate far worse than death. Whereas those who are thoroughly corrupted would be forced to work inside one of the Dungeons of Forge for a single lifespan." Upon these words, he sighed once more whilst placing the top of his head upon the back of the throne, "However, there was still beauty within such a place. Such as the few trees which still thrive within such a harsh environment, the art that these Humans come up with, as well as the new tactics for war.

"This is all they are capable of doing. War. For they have found a way to enter the void between worlds, and have set their sights upon several worlds which are inhabitable for their species. These Humans," chuckled the Ageless, as his eyes flared a brilliant crimson, "I shall be looking forward to, if they can find our world of Terra."

*****

Robby and Shiro were the only ones from the world called "Earth", and spoke of many ideas. From the rampant corruption within their political systems, to the sharing of little joys through confectionary treats. Of which was strange, as I could not taste anything at that time, but held the desire to try after listening to their descriptions. However, when one of them pulled out a small bowl with an odd, thick white substances with berries and oats mixed in, I was perplexed.

"What is this white substance?" I asked whilst taking a wooden spoon in order to lift a small portion of it away from the whole.

"Ah, that's yogurt, Boss," called out Robby, who passed the confectionary to the Halflings and Shadow, "It's made from goat's milk."

"Goat?" my voice was barely a murmur, as I placed a spoonful into my maw, and swirled it around. Of which led to my immediate disappointment, as I could not taste anything. However, I could not let this on, and devoured everything within the bowl, whilst telling the others that I enjoyed it.

Sighing mentally, I stood up from my place and paced slowly around our little group. Of which caused the others to simply watched as my Human features furrowed into concentration. For I was wondering how I could taste an item without actually reverting back to life. No. I have never reverted back to a mortal's depiction of Life, not after speaking with the Ferryman at such length.

Ah, which reminds me. The Ferryman of whom I speak of, is the same one which drives the boat upon the River Styx. It is He who leads others to where they will be judged so that they may either suffer an eternity for their collective sins throughout their reincarnated lives. Or, perhaps, they will enjoy a much needed rest before venturing forth to continue onwards throughout the system known as Reincarnation.

In any case, one of the conversations we had was of Life, Undeath, and Death.

Having Life meant you were subjected to the system known as Death. Of which will lead you to the pier in which he shall take your essences to the place where it will be judged. However, for those of whom had chosen to be an Undead being, such as my past self had, then it will lead to a very different outcome.

For example, if one is forced into Undeath, and perishes through the means of others, then the essences will be transported to an area dedicated to the resting of such essences. This was so, as the Ferryman believed such individuals are tortured throughout their time as an Undead creature. Therefore, they are allotted such pleasantries, but must still be judged at the end of the turn.

Now, if one were to become an Undead by choice, then that individual will be forced to endure an eternity of Hell for a set amount of time. Of which will add on depending upon the atrocities inflicted by the individual in question. Yes. This also includes the dealings of the being when the achieve godhood. However, it actually increase one hundred fold per act.

Which means, my dear audience, that if I were to perish, I would never be allowed to leave the depths of Hell. For I am quite evil in my ways in the eyes of others, even if they are not within my own.

In any case, it was time to move on from our position of the burnt farmhouse, and towards the city proper where we would begin towards whomever this new "King" was. Of which was difficult, as the Humans with strange markings whilst wearing an iron kilt were at the entrance searching for someone or something. This meant that they knew our features, which meant we needed to change them.

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For the time being, they each wore a cloak to hide their features, as my magicks flowed over each of them, transforming their persons into male Human-like creatures with bandages wrapped around their heads and limbs. This was to give them the illusion of being badly injured or ill to the point of their needing such wrappings to keep their skin from falling off.

"It itches," murmured Shanna, of whom her and her sister was bade to only whisper, as the illusions caused them to be of the height of an average, Human of fifteen cycles old.

"Bear with it," my own voice murmured in response, as a collar of leather was placed around each of their necks, along with a silk rope leading to my hand. Of which was used to guide their persons, whilst I carried the basket, towards the queue in front of a large, but badly damaged portcullis where a cadre of Human guards similar to the ones I had killed some time ago. Yes. There was a kilt wearing Human there within the cadre, of whom stared at each individual who passed through the inspection.

This inspection, by the by, was one where the guards stole much from those entering, and harassed each female who passed through. Even going so far as to laugh, as their fronts were exposed to the world, whilst many licked their lips in response as a few of their underlings tailed their victims so that they may "visit" them later. Yes. Such things would need to be addressed at a later time, and this illusion cast upon the group was used to keep the twins and Shadow from having to endure such torments.

Our turn soon came upon us, to which the kilt wearing Human growled something about my person being the one who killed his companions. Of which caused the others to unsheathe their weapons as they advanced upon my position.

"Remove your hood," commanded one of the males who wore a red cape over his right shoulder whilst pointing his sword at my chest.

"Of course," I spoke slowly, my voice quivering from a perceived old age with a twinge of fear. My left hand, which also held the basket, slowly pushed back the hood atop my head in order to reveal a pair of twitching, round nubs atop my head. These were none other than a bear's ears, which led to my person needing to revel the side of my head where a pair of Humans' ears might be. To which they found none, and caused the one wearing the kilt to grow agitated. Especially when it was revealed that those with my person were each a heavily bandaged male.

"You really shouldn't touch them," my voice, old and haggard, called out to a pair of armoured individuals, "They have Leprosy, you see, and-"

"Lepers?" cried out several voices, including the one with the odd markings upon his exposed skin. This revelation caused them to leap back, whilst I pulled on the leash leading to Shadow, as she desired to lash out against those who moved so suddenly.

"Calm down, my dears," my voice became soothing, as I lightly pat each of their heads, "The Humans meant nothing by their actions. They were just surprised, right?" My own eyes drifted over each of them, to which they responded with quick nods as they rubbed their hands against the sides of their iron or leathers. "Be sure to burn those leathers, alright? Don't want you to catch their illness and have your own limbs start falling off.

"Though," my eyes glimmered with an eerie light as a thought passed through my mind, "the first to come off is something you always touch often." The gaze from my sight drifted slowly downwards, to briefly pause upon that which was betwixt their legs, before snapping back into their own. Whereupon I did grin quite evilly as nearly all took heart to my words, as their eyes widened greatly, whilst a runner was sent off to find a healer to detoxify their bodies of any chance the disease might be upon their persons.

Of course, such a thing was not possible, but it was enjoyable to witness such an occurrence. For I smirked lightly, whilst another approached my person with great disdain, "We-we can-not ha-have the-them in h-h-here," he began, shaking greatly at having pulled the short straw in order to tell my person such words.

"Oh?" My right eyebrow was raised as I slowly turned towards the male, "My boy, I am an Apothecary, and require servants to handle very dangerous ingredients. Many of which can cause great burns and even death. This requires those who are willing to undergo such risks, and who better than Lepers? They do not have much to lose, and everything to gain. For I am very close to coming up with a cure for their disease."

My upper body leaned closer towards the very uncomfortable male, who slowly backed away with his hands raised high as though to ward off my body, "Are you going to deny me the right to pursue my goal, when my equipment is in the city? What if you gain such a disease, and know the cure was close to being completed, but you barred the only person who had all the research for such a thing from completing it?"

"Okay, okay," cried out the Human, who pleaded towards his commanding officers for a release from being near our persons. Of whom relented, and would have sent someone to escort our persons, if it weren't for the lack of volunteers.

"Don't worry," I waved my left hand, still holding the basket, "Our home is close by, but away from everyone else. So no need to worry about an epidemic, or anything." With that, we left the area, and entered one of the city's alleyways. Whereupon I did cast a spell of invisibility upon our persons whilst I removed the illusion spells which caused them to appear as though they were Lepers.

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AN2: Anyone catch the foreshadowing bit in the chapter? It's around the bit with the Kitsune, but won't pop up until the end of the 'Children of Terra' arc, and THAT one won't pop up until after the 'Sins of The Abyss' and 'The Family' arcs are completed.

I like making plans for the future. :D