It was a barren location that fell unnaturally full. It was also where Vermillion wanted to obtain her first position, as it was before her, close, tensed up, and menacing in eternal flow. In a sense, this place was the most important place of this castle, since what was happening here had repercussions for everyone.

Gods were the same. They watched it and took it for a game. Mortals didn't even know of it, but they were so reliant on it, that one would question their integrity. For Vermillion, it meant a path out, because when she looked up, she saw a clear picture of countless strands going into the planet above. Battleworld wasn't close by any means, yet she was seeing how these strands of flows went in and out, often disappearing into Void or space like wind, and touching the world above her.

At the end of the tunnel she just walked from, the lines went onwards to a huge shaft. Down, up, and everywhere, it was like a tornado, storm, and giant blazing mix of lines and cables that looked like hands or tentacles.

Vermillion was standing around the path's edges of this huge pillar. From this position, it was hollow with nearly kilometer-wide insides and incredible height that slowly decreased. With limited to almost no security or sensors, the tension was as incredible as pressing.

Only Extremes would cope with it, and only for a limited time. Most constructs would need daily repairs or specific godly workings to let them exist here.

Those weren't here. There wasn't a need for it, as far as Vermillion knew. There was a security guard here, waiting for everything, or itching to ruin it all. The most questionable moment was right before her and she didn't know what to expect.

Coincidentally, the fact that she got rid of those guards for a minute worked to her advantage. Around the pillar's sphere of influence, there were tight open paths around the edge with almost no flow. She found the access board in a single view, looking like a large metal machine filled with screens and physical structures the size of a mountain.

Etched into the walls, it was The Codex, depicting a humongous information board with hundreds of large screens flowing in the air, wall, or etched to one another. Many of the surrounding lights went in and out of it, processing everything even if it didn't seem that big. Most of it was far too obvious in the shaft itself, while the walls and this Codex were part of it as well.

Vermillion walked toward it, still strained and shrouded by her reality-warping powers. She didn't breathe or see her blunders or nativity in her steps. Her breath was nowhere to be heard or felt. She placed her card on the central screen without thinking before her heart tightened after she took a breath. She shook in hesitation, but her hand moved quicker than her fear. Her Authority drifted away because of something, revealing her body, stressed face, and knitted brows.

Then, screaming terror seized her breath and Authority because she couldn't influence the unauthorized access card. Instead, something influenced her. The Codex seized the flow, flickered in screens, trembled in echoing mechanical screeches, and froze.

This card was nothing but a fake security to remain here, which she didn't have. She didn't need it. The card to get further wouldn't fall from the sky or anyone's hands. She planned to brute force through everything at this point.

What she placed only worked for one thing: starting the process for her Authority to clutch the way into it, or around it, forming the connection to the other side.

It failed.

Nothing that she expected with The Codex happened, nor did her desirable sequence start. She had limited chances of success because she never worked or touched this Codex in her lifetime.

Lordis kept most Gods out of this place for good reasons. It wasn't as if he didn't trust them. He had standards for trust. Those involved emotions like greed, and human and mortal hearts, which carried burdens and power that were easier to control and carry in large quantities.

With alarms knocking over the chains of this heist, her plans were no longer stopping. The Codex stopped her Authority and let out chimes of alarms.

She flared her Veiling apart and pressed her arms beside the card, a bunch of screens, and metallic constructs. Then, she connected with her Authority but felt everything falling apart because she didn't even realize she was out of her wins. She could no longer affect a thing. Something obscure and deafening was there, working against her. It felt large. Bigger than this pillar, castle, or the Divine Kingdom. Something from the other side, she feared.

What she hoped for failed without even a single attempt.

Screens flickered as if flame and water went through them, yet information kept flowing uninterrupted in the pillar.

[Aceess denied] A mechanical voice said. [Unauthorized card... Turning the report...] the voice slipped as if blocked.

“Let me in!” Vermillion demanded, fostering her Authority and flooding the screens with her touch of workings. She wasn't even sure what she was meant to touch or change. Reality was out of her touch.

She overestimated herself.

Then, the screens halted, but not because of her.

[Acesss... aAaa..a...A?] The voice died down, but something else came with a crispier and almost cheerful voice of countless voices humming and cheering on top of one another.

[Enjoyed my dull voice, eh? Cheeky girl. Who roams and is present right before my nose?] A male voice spoke amongst them, talking in tones of carefulness, crispiness, and mischief. [A curious fox, eh? This isn't new, yet it is. Touching and standing in this place is surprising after all that you've done, so you must've enjoyed your ride here. I was watching it with a sneer on my... screen. That sounds terrible!]

Vermillion almost cursed and kicked The Codex. She calmed her face, opened her palm, and her Authority workings stopped. Then, she took a deep breath, flexed her fingers, and felt so lighter even when she realized her current reality might be doomed in much different ways than she envisioned.

“You damn thing. Surely you are responsible for this,” Vermillion forced a smile that hid a hideous emotion. She expected Lordis to have some better security, yet her sequence and this card should've at least worked with something.

It didn't because someone else had already overseen it.

[Ehm... This is awkward. Like really awkward. I promised Lordis to keep things at bay, but look at it in this way. You are hurting me and folding and bending the reality itself! How insane! Ah! I am hurting! So savage of you. I can't stop anything... How could you do this to me? Not sure what to make of it other than changing some tides and acceptance...] The voice panicked and even Vermillion knew it faked its distress by being ridiculous, or delirious. It was a nice actor.

“Bent a knee, or get lost Ravine. I can get something out of this for you as well, so stop pretending, or do it better, or...” She looked around. “Should I have any remote idea of what this means? Are you playing me or your little master?”

[Me? We aren't on speaking terms, girl.] The voice called Ravine hesitated. [This place is special. Not sure what your young self could indulge upon this old me, but you are underestimating...well, you. You thought you could come here? Why? What for? What are you even doing here? Security is all Breached! Why are you in the way of... Wait a damned second! That card? Your silly Authority. Stop slipping this all to a halt! Problem! Error! God help us all!] He panicked for real and this time around, Vermillion wasn't sure if he was delirious or still playing faked innocence.

She bet he knew her enough.

“Found out of me earlier, I bet an ear. Though you would get it quicker if you get me like I think you do,” Vermillion sighed and released her hair, before tossing her glasses away. Redness became free and even her eyes turned to crimson. She knew this little actor, but this went out of her ideas because she wasn't sure how well Codex went with Lordis and... recent things. She thought she was safe and sneaky enough, yet this changed this situation dramatically.

It was at this moment that the security protocols arrived around the tunnels and this place because someone unfamiliar touched The Codex. Vermillion ceased her Veiling as well, so her actions of touching this machine worked against her.

This happened not because Ravine wanted it or not.

Bizzare golems, thin and small, yet larger and crisper in colors of mana than mana itself walked or flew into the thin corridors. They looked like human-sized giants, but clean, smooth, and made of numerous metals and styles. Sensors from their single glowing eyes overlooked the whole place first, before flooding the place with mana, heat sensors, and even divine sensors, which worked against Vermillion.

At this point, she no longer cared for any Veiling. The golems screeched and their runic constructs heated up, noticing an invader that was no longer hidden.

Vermillion wondered where all the living security went, or whether her stamina recovered would be enough to deal with them in this place.

These tools were from a different Sky after all.

Fortunately, the voice that kept her thoughts entertained laughed into her soul alone. [I was joking by the way. Those golems arrived to appease something. You will survive since you are here after all the previous suffering.]

Vermillion raised her eyes and noticed no change in the flow.

[By the way, it is good seeing you again, sneaky God. I thought you would wait years to spend your chains and claims, so call me surprised to see you change. Now... Have you liked my play? Got the applause ready?]

“Give me a slack. Are you down on this business of mine or will you stop this nonsense?” She asked out loud as she dodged the first starting beans of Death Wish, a couple of Death Missiles, and even some curses that would damage Chaos Space itself.

[Call me any day. So? Not sure what is brewing in your head, but I am all screens. Wait, that sounds even worse!]

“You have some talent for being a jackass. That is what you get for sticking too much time and effort into people across the universe or the silly world above my head. You've ended up stupid, I fear.”

[That was rude of you. Well, you speak for whom, huh? You are brewing your interest over many of the Skies yourself, silly goodness girl! And you have no idea what you are even touching with your little heist. You think I don't know about you? I've seen lengths and times that your little life can't even comprehend! I see your silly adhering Authorities and great...well, that strange Veiling and work with Authority is great. You figured something good out of yourself or experience in Endless Skies.]

“Sure as the toss of a cat to her feet. Now, let's hope your owner won't kick you for this, because I would bet rat's tail you are speaking to me against his wishes and the norm.”

[Oh, he wouldn't dare to chain me like a rat. I played by rules and your Breach into my Codex has its validity and problems along with my interest. In short, I like you. I can find excuses like words to give you or Lordis. You... You are hiding quite a lot of power yourself, but your plans are in your head, hidden from me. Why are you so sneaky here? Are you looking for something specific out of my Codex? Going through the starting layer, this castle, Office Realm, and even pretending to be a stern officer. I was a step from laughing and giving you away. You should be glad I didn't.]

“Wait, what?” Vermillion jumped far above, flying, jumping, and dodging lightning-fast attacks as she spoke to a voice in her head. Surrounding constructs and golems had nothing on her, but they kept sending their attacks anyway.

[Why so surprised? You think you, being here, is easy and delightful just because of some high-class Authority workings and skill? You thought the way through the walls wasn't secured because there were open passages done specially with intent?]

She was silent as she dodged more attacks, jumping to the walls and moving around them as if she weighed a feather. Unwilling to see the truth of this fact, she had some doubts about Ravine's claims. Why would she trust him when she went through these walls with her senses and Authority? If someone was playing with her, she would know.

Unless... “What do you know? Few things would go behind me and my secrets.”

[Who do you think I am? A few things are notable by your cluelessness and idea to heist this place. First, I stopped some last-minute sensors that would discover even your Authority workings, reality-bending methods that meddled with the walls, soul-based movements, or even Chaos Space involvements. You moved through some of them, so you are welcome.]

Vermillion didn't know if she should be suspicious or glad, but Ravine continued without hearing her reply.

[Lordis was proactive giving this place some attention in recent weeks. He feared the defenses of this castle weren't enough because of some things recently happened. Shame everything goes through me, huh? You are the lucky one in this place, I think... Anyway, you are the first one to get this far, even with my little help. It was almost like a trial and you've succeeded. You should cheer!]

“Shame indeed.” Vermillion scoffed and went down to the previous narrow corridor. She couldn't fight all that well in the middle of this open hollow pillar that weighted her down, so she twisted her Authority and went against these attacks with her palms.

[Lordis is too busy fearing for something worse than whatever you are trying anyway, and you are yet to truly get it either. I do... too. What is your plan? I will work with you. Oh, I already did. You have no choice. Or you can refuse me and die. You chose.]

Vermillion agreed with his blackmail, but what was here for Ravine? Did he know what she was planning if he helped her behind her back? Why? For what purpose he was going against his master? She had no time to change her mind, knowing that Ravine was an existence bigger than some worlds.

[Handling me comes with consequences, little fox. Mind you, great Vermillion, you are good and well in my calculation, and even slightly over it considering the present situation. But deep down, the overall heights and depths are a bit lacking if my calculations are remotely close.]

“Stop yapping. What about time? Get me through the line already!”

Constructed golems halted their acts as if frozen. Something got them under control. Any guard had yet to arrive, which was also strange. Perhaps Ravine was halting them by interfering with their screens or constructs in the hallways, or... the cables, or lines? It was all under his control after all.

[Line? Uh... For the start of the bad news, there are still some things that Lordis created himself. He will know you are here. He has less than a few minutes before he gets personal if the situation isn't resolved. Error is gone, glow tight, and flow into... line? Wait, you really want to go there? The Deepest Depths?]

“No time...” Vermillion urged. “Just get it over with, jump over my ass and do it.”

[Ugh... I am not responsible for how this ends with you. In fact, I don't care. You want it yourself! Don't get squished like a bug. Not one bit of it is my fault. No one will be happy. So be quick. Up yet down, there is less of my Authority workings with all of the... locks and bars there, so...]

Vermillion felt the screens flicker and her Divine Power worked overtime when her palms seized control over the remaining spells coming from the slowly weakening golems. Then, the lines and flow shuddered and the whole shaft changed as if a storm crashed. The Codex flickered in noise and surge of energy.

A flood of warping power and spatial currents trembled from the core and glint that flowed upwards. Vermillion seized the change. She put the Warp into the tides of Space and Void that appeared in the middle of the shaft and flow. An official opening was forming on the other side.

Nothing moved her. She sent herself to the other side of this flow that not only went down but also upward toward the sky.

This was the center of this whole Sphere, deeper and more mysterious than most Gods knew.

“Gratitude,” Vermillion said before she disappeared.

[Not sure what this is about, or how you will do this, but take that if you will survive this and his wrath, you insane little fox.] Ravine said and added something after she was gone and no longer able to hear it. [Or his consequences. Or mine!] Then the laughter echoed as alarms resumed and seemingly false errors occurred in the screens, a flood of interferences overwhelmed most sensors. Most guards were asleep a couple of meters before entering this place.

Not only here, but in many parts of this castle, problems began to obscure officers, but the Ruler of it all knew that something suspicious was brewing under his nose.

High-ranked personnel went up at arms, unaware that the center of this whole thing moved against itself.

***

At the Depths of the Battleworld, secrets held its secrets in a deep foundation. Vermillion Warped to existence like a coin falling through a gap in fingers, but unlike the walls, she anchored into the already existing ride that went to the Deepest Depths. Without that help, she wouldn't get anywhere because this place was tight and protected under a mass of earth, space, and formation the size of a continent.

Standing in the middle of an ancient site, cave, and space of large proportions and even more insane origin, she had no idea what was waiting for her.

It was no Ravine yet. No secrets either.

It was an incredibly hostile environment that crushed her spirit, body, and heart. It was as if the world's weight was on her shoulders, causing her to tumble to her knees. Enormous formation bases were obscuring ridiculously large caverns. Holes, numerous cave systems, and stone formations were under every corner.

And it all hurt. Everything seized her flesh and senses as if she was an Extreme at the center of the Seas. For Gods, it was as if the Void and the universe wanted to crush them to bits.

Vermillion was much lower than the deepest possible end of waters, let alone the Depths in general. This was beyond her expectations or rumors, but Ravine warned her.

Below her, the ground was searing hot, flowing, and the air was hard for her flesh and lungs which didn't need oxygen for work. She could generally live in the most hindered and hostile environment thanks to her Divine Power and Authority. Void and space in the universe would rarely pose a problem for her travels unless she viewed and went into some very hostile places.

This place was almost as troublesome as those, if not worse. Gravity, pressure, and the aura of being in the middle of a planet went against her like some parts of the Void, keeping her on her knees. There were many glowing lines around the cave too. Most were thick like rivers, swirling like tendrils, and acting weird and chaotic like strands of lava made of water.

Then, she shook and noticed there were a lot of workers there, which she didn't expect. She had almost no information about this place. Giant figures stood, worked with pickaxes and tools, wrapped by space, Chaos, or time itself. They worked within the cave, suffering the same effects as her. They were working through these lines, or with stones made of lava or space that held no oxygen.

She could see some nasty lifeforms too, depicting weird creatures and all kinds of large demons that had insane survival skills and Bloodlines. Goldsteel Titans, wearing some sort of protection suits, but mostly working naked, shined in their cracked skin and bulging or dense muscles.

Most, if not all races present in the Battlewolrd wouldn't survive being in the middle of a planet. There was a need to ensure the flow of power that kept going in this place without squashing anything away. It was the same for the workings of the Central Codex, as this place was why it existed.

Blazing hot ground scorched red like lava. The air was impossible to fathom to one's lungs, gravity broke the space to cracks, Laws were in shambles, and life forms weren't meant to be here, let alone live or keep their lives.

Yet they were there, working to death because it was their home. Vermillion wasn't feeling sorry for them in the slightest. Most of them weren't even natives or from this world at all, but who was? Lifeforms were subjective to place and world. The ones around here were much more insane than that, meant to work in brutal places, for they felt homey for them.

Here, it was a place capable of sustaining the work Lordis demanded. Most workers were from the Endless Skies; from the planets or depths of the universe that had much harsher conditions for life. Right. Goldsteel Titans were included in this too, although they weren't even in the middle of the hierarchy or pyramid of powerful beings in this place.

Vermillion arrived where she wanted. To a place that was secured like the finest vault. She kept her breath and mind separated, thus she felt even worse when she endured her attempts in former parts of this heist. She was observing the entirety of this space that was the size of a small realm.

Then, she shook again in shock and terror, discovering the picture she imagined to look different. Her sight had to be adjusted by her Authority, otherwise, she wouldn't see the whole enclosure. The reality itself was warping the room.

And it choked her.

It was the halfway point towards being breathless, feeling the Overdrafts thousands of times, or mountains on top of bits of flesh. It wasn't over in a heartbeat, but it was a flood of the very center of this world, squeezed to the utmost pressure. It was happening involuntarily as an aftereffect, or was it something else?

In a place that manifested and distorted by everything the Battleworld was about, Vermilion dropped every speck of Veiling out of her mind. Instead, she did the opposite thing. She should've done that sooner, but she didn't because of Ravine.

Now, she did it before Ravine and not because she wanted to. She had no choice if she wanted to get out of this alive.

Her power and hair all flared up, overwhelming a few meters around her at all times. She wrestled for control and all because of her hidden expertise, she managed to stand up.

“This space...” She grunted; she can keep this up for up to a dozen minutes at best. Fights will lower it to minutes.

Before she even moved, the alarms knocked everything apart, causing chaos, noises, and formations to flare up. The security in this place wasn't normal. She had her expectations for them, but no clues.

There was an actual protector set in this place, guarding this place like a dog, or working and ensuring this place worked under Lordis's command.

It was God. Tall, inhuman, and not of this world, it was a clear indication of a good idea, because Lordis wouldn't trust most rigorous Gods with this kind of job.

It needed Order, so he got the finest race for that task across many parts of the universe. Hunched like an old grandmother, tall and wrinkled like a small mountain, it was a Troll. Skin parched by temperature and pressure, green, red, or grey stone crystals were its flesh and skin. It looked old, hot, and angry.

Troll God wore old and haggard scale chain armor for a cloak, looming over the cave and close to Vermillion with its hundred-meter height. It was the one that activated the alarms, as it noticed the invading fooling goddess.

The place where Vermillion ended up wasn't small in the slightest. It was much bigger than the Office Realm. Thankfully, she was closer to where she wanted to be, directly facing what she desired. Ravine probably helped with that, but that was only her guess.

And it wasn't all shiny and fine. He sent her right where dangers awaited and she kind of expected something worse if she was truly honest with herself.

“God!” Troll shouted at her in a raspy and deep voice, noticing her Divine Power and workings of Authority that overwhelmed the space around her. Troll God didn't talk well, even for a God of its old and rather strange race. Divine Power in its flesh wasn't potent in the slightest, as it wasn't proper at all. It was forcefully created to remain stagnant and greedily self-centered, making it laughable and naughty. But it adapted and got stronger, and its power over flesh and earth was bigger than anything else.

Trolls were part of the Ancients, thus their powers and potential were different. Ancients were the order before the Gods took the reins as masters of many worlds across the sides of the Skies. They were the surviving marks of the previous Epoch.

It followed a change of Order and Chaos in the universe that caused many Ancients to vanish. That meant there were fewer of them as time moved, planets divided or ceased to exist, or where the new rules became unmistakable.

In some way, the old things got outdated and left out. It was natural. When their opposition exceeded them in numbers, it made sense to disappear. However, there were still enough of them to form worlds independently, or they could kneel before the new age.

Lordis made sure to touch on Troll God's potential survival and beneficial instincts. They used their potent familiarity with the Laws of Earth, Space, and power over Order to make a perfect worker for this specific task.

“The Jailer, I presume?” Vermillion asked the Troll without a hiccup. Her power stopped the surroundings from stressing her like a stress ball, allowing her to speak out like in the Void.

“God!” Jailer shouted again, brandishing a long staff made of many ores and a revolving shard at the top. It was huge, looking like a mace, even if it was a magical tool. It even swung it at her like a mace. “Alarm. Alarm!”

Vermillion figured this Troll was old and senile, but these creatures were extremely great workers thanks to their long lifespan, knack for craftsmanship, and way of solving problems for any task, as long as some benefit, trade, or Order was set in place.

It was kind of strange, considering their stature was large, backs deformed, faces weird, and arms twisted with unclear fingers. But it was true. The Jailer was already a second generation at this job, so it knew what to do and it never disappointed its master.

Until now.

It let Vermilion into this realm because Ravine intervened and fucked things up. It was an inevitable clash and invasion that moved through the one this Troll guarded.

Vermilion heard of the alarms, sensors, and defenses at the previous space, but not here. Were there some other concerns? Golems or these fools around seems like that. The middle of the damned planet was much more intense than a forged hollow pillar with its flow and man-made protection.

There was nothing there besides that intense flow that would hurt her if it wanted. Well, she knew that if she kept herself there for longer, many problematic figures would make their appearance. Ravine was the biggest flaw and unexpected turn in everything she thought of.

She wondered what might happen next, as she had all confidence even against some Gods. Until stronger ones would knock on her door, or Lordis himself made his entrance, she had to keep herself together.

She hoped a couple of estimated minutes were correct assessments from Ravine, but she knew he had a warped sense of time. So she stretched her arms and put forth her Authority that bent the space and touched her Path.

It usually had no appearance in its principles. Authority was vague, often forming around the rules for oneself and outer existence. Those were things that a God understood in their reach or possibilities, making them different and unique. Each God was mastering their own life while doing it outwards was difficult if one wanted to see beyond their horizons. Authority was exactly that. It was to feel something vague, imminent, and extremely distant. Mastering it was harder than any mana or magic.

Despite that, Authority was already something that even some Extremes peeked at, so some expected or unexpected things occurred. Especially in Sages and Overlords, although they had it often limited, while Gods started to take advantage of that power. It could twist anything, cause a variety of effects, and work with one's body, imagination, or mana itself. Dependance on the Path was the overall tool and the instrument was expertise and Authority workings.

Reaching as far as she could, stretching her interest, Vermillion was ready for the final push. She found what she wanted almost straight away because it was right beyond Jailer, shimmering in existence and mass exceeding common sense.

Beyond her, in a cave and above, the center of the swirling amassing metallic formation was the core of this planet. A bubbling, rushing, and swirling metallic part of the core stayed in place as it should, but around it and everywhere, azure or white lines circled it like tendrils. It was no finite thing. It was boundless. Then, some buildings made of rune formations worked with it or against it, forming chains of machines, literal chains, and various implementations of what one would call the peak of runes.

The core itself was full of spikes like a porcupine, but only a part of it was visible in this hundreds of kilometers tall and wide cave. Still, what was seen was humongous, albeit it was just the tip of the iceberg. This core's layer kept moving and waving like a heart, or water made of mercury but darker.

An unfathomable mass of formations was all over it, locking some workings in place, steadying the lines or energies coming out of it, and chaining many rules to flow onwards to many structures. There were hundreds of metallic tendrils with many spheres of locks caring for the major workings of this ancient construction. It was like a prison. They flowed all over the spikes, touching the core, and many other things affected these spherical locks.

And Vermillion saw her goal. It was right there... hiding somewhere. She didn't know where, but she was about to touch it, break something out of some sphere, or straight up defy the common sense.

She wasn't afraid of the consequences, but her plan must be feasible if she wanted to keep her life. She didn't want to become hunted across the universe. This world should be enough.

Jailer slammed the lower end of the staff down, crashing the ground and stomping its feet and staff. “Order! Order! State yourself, God! Invader.”

It seemed to be confused about something. Gods shouldn't come and visit this place, but the way Vermillion came here was strange. It almost seemed like an official visit from the other side, though it was unofficial and suspicious.

“State myself? Me?” Vermillion smiled as she kept flaring and warping space and pointed at herself. She almost thought of introducing herself as some official business, but she knew Trolls saw through most lies. “I think it is nigh as alarms toning your head apart. Catch me if you can.” Then, she exploded in sudden strength, and Jailer made its move as well.

Space and Divine Power clashed, the air and space became unhabitable even more, and the Authority clashes at this level seemed like an explosion of tiny stars that huffed and weakened in a second because this place was extremely unhinged and hostile. Formations floating around should survive this clashing reality, yet many of them broke. Jailer's long staff lost its luster when it slammed against a giant vague palm. Vermillion clutched it, gesturing with her real hand at it as heat and her workings pulled on reality.

It was a weird contrast in size. She was like an ant before a mountain, yet the ant pushed against it, nearly lifting it away and smashing it as if it were an ant.

Jailer lost the first probing clash, until Vermillion arrived at its flesh personally, forming a rather fundamental form of Divine Power next.

Manifesting it with her flesh and movement, her palms touched and a small sun appeared between them. She made a slapping motion that bloomed the little sun, crashing Jailer as a whole to a distant wall where the little blooming flower grew and kept Jailer pinned to it.

Both ranged and compact, her power wasn't small because of her Authority alone, yet she doubted this attack would survive that long in this place. She didn't look at Jailer again. She aimed at the twisting workings and locks around the core and focused on them.

Then, the gigantic workers turned to her, watchful like hungry dogs for benefits that wouldn't come again.

Catching or dealing with her meant great merit for them, yet Vermillion denied them this idea by going straight for her target. She was quick even with such a hostile place like the core of a planet. Gravity here was abnormal like the toughest places in the Endless Skies, so it ate her reserves like a curse. She had limited time, so she opted for essential actions that used the least force. She couldn't kill Jailer. Requirements to do that would endanger her position, fuel, and time.

Just standing here was much more savage than traveling across the Endless Skies or flying through the Chaos Space unobscured. Perhaps in the dangerous parts of the Void or depths of the universe where mana turned abnormal, things would be more intense.

However, fighting turned this place into a different dimension. Vermillion had to do what she could and made it into the center of the Battleworld. The Codex was just a codename for an Entity called Ravine, which was the entire world by itself, with roots from a very distant period, or starting Epoch.

She exploded in all power she could muster, which put tremendous pressure on her flesh and core. Guiding her control and workings, she found an outlet in the surroundings, and these large or small spheres of locks.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

They were behind numerous important points the size of buildings or mountains, yet tendrils or chains kept them in place. Every one of them looked like the finest vaults; all locked and protected in various protection spells, runes, or treasures. Some were clear, while some were small or big. Most had large quantities of materials and machines, depicting conduits, core parts, or metals and rocks that were part of tendrils overflowing with energy. Bright lines, cables, or waves, everything was alien yet part of this massive jail.

Core had no way to move, for obvious reasons for the planet. This little part was exposed and stayed in the same spot for an untold amount of years since its creation, so working around it was the only possibility. Attached to the worlds under many Gods, chances were in places with the tightest protection.

Vermillion knew it, so she wasn't going to steal the impossible price. The one with the most defenses will be enough.

She will be satisfied with the core workings, a small chunk that looked like a piece of unimportant debris, yet it was under sizable layered formations thicker than a bull. Bright and shiny, the Core Codex was there for her senses, eyes, and plans. She realized it quicker than she expected, which might be suspicious or something that Ravine wanted and hadn't mentioned before.

In a way, she was terrified because she had no choice but to accept it.

Head-sized at best, Core Codex was under one of the most formidable defenses she barely sensed. Nevertheless, it called her back!

And Jailer was coming behind her after a second and a half that was longer, yet faster than she expected. Her chances were yet to shine, so she stormed at the lock, flying through the air and cracking the ground below, which was either impressive or insane for her legs. Manifesting flaring and flaming waves out of her Divine Power—which appeared like wings—her palms seized and forged large clusters of stars out of them, which then changed into drills bigger than her body.

They began to deteriorate almost right away because of the location, fusing with the world and heat. She aimed her Authority at them, twisting the already hot reality and core of this planet hotter when she squeezed everything tighter. She ended up coughing blood and cracks spread all over her skin, leaking light, flames, and blood. She didn't care. Her arms went ahead first, a heated aura enveloped her body, while thinly, a strange vague wheel appeared behind her like a shadow.

Aiming at her target, one after the other, and after she unleashed her Path's offensive strength, the lock hadn't crumbled in the slightest. All the little drills puffed to smoke even with her Authority. She had no idea about what sort of defense was before her. Layered and strong, yet their thickness wasn't big.

It was no surprise. This formation was from Endless Skies. The only possibility that could go against her Authority without breaking a sweat.

Jailer looked at her actions from below with absolute rage and unhinged cracking stomps. It made an ugly face when Vermillion started to touch a very sensitive concept straight away, which meant trouble. It got closer and prepared its spells by hitting the ground with its staff, turning the gravity, earth, and lava to its Authority. Massive storming earthly rivers shrouded its figure next, creating hands hundreds of meters wide that flew up. Many of the surrounding demonic figures went there as well, but because of their worker status, their powers were essentially sealed and limited.

But their bodies and tools weren't. They will storm this God anyway.

Vermillion looked behind, hovering nearly a kilometer above the ground, surrounded by her Authority that failed her again. Behind her, the core of the planet was bobbling and twisting. It was big like a small realm in just this small portion, with most of it being hidden in the earth above, or was it below? Gravity wasn't certain. She should be upside down to the overall picture of the Surface, with the core being in the exact middle of a planet.

Just a part of it was required for these constructs to work, while Core Codex was surprisingly closer to the ground because the surroundings required it. It was too bad for its defensive structure and treasures, even if it had reality-warping powers that made the lock identical to many others. Vermillion knew the depiction of the Core Codex, yet many others were the same. If it hadn't been for the previous little calling, she would waste time.

A very sensitive Authority could sense many things, but not everything. So Vermillion pulled a weird, twisted, and sharp-looking construct out of the Void. Resembling a sharp sizable drill, it glistened as if made of mercury. She activated it and her Authority twisted apart as her hand became a mangled mess.

She barely flinched when her clothes got torn with ridiculous speed and power, while her control and the rest of her Authority became fuel and a mess. She launched it at the sphere and exploded the locks apart, tearing through it, finding a way in, and letting the layers aside. It stayed that way for a split second exactly how she wanted.

The defensive formation was thicker than she anticipated, so spending a fortune on the last touch wasn't bad. Seeing the hole, she reached inside with her remaining hand.

Which was enough for her, even though the defenses tried to wrestle with her and close her hands inside. She Warped reality with the remaining power she had to force something out. She cried as she created, kicked, and exploded a bunch of human-sized stars around her. The first rounds of attacks came from below, so she countered.

Just in time. She retrieved a weird rock that looked metallic and heavy like the largest possible shard from a dead star. She looked sorry and like a mess afterward, yet it wasn't over.

Something shook her. Her own workings crumbled, and backlash of incredible proportions hit her flesh and mind. It felt like an out-of-body experience, but she clutched her teeth and hand, unleashing the remaining stars around her with just an arm's gesturing shrug. She was leaking many of her powers right now and felt even worse. She used gravity to dodge the attacks that she couldn't foresee or solve by jumping away.

With a goal in her hand, what she needed was a bargaining chip. The Core Codex will do just fine for that purpose. The remaining workings around hundreds of other similar locks wouldn't do. Only this one had the proper meaningful power to change the status quo.

Out of the whole core that Ravine was made of, this here was the main component. A slip. A flickering emotion. It was enough to power the Divine Camp and turn this world so intense. Taking it away won't destroy everything, but it will change many things. In a sense, it was like stumbling a first domino with many others behind.

It was like stealing a key to a house. Vermillion was momentarily lost in the weight of that chunk of heavy substance. She even took some attacks head-on afterward, stumbling, bleeding some more, and feeling like her Authority was slipping under her clutch—which it did. She quickly changed her ways and decided on her finishing line.

She spent herself laboring through the pressure of this entire place, but the surrounding beings weren't affected by it as much, for they were far more used to it than her. They were flexible, existing for this place, even though it was brutal.

The core of the world wasn't right for any presence. Even if the human in question was a God. Vermillion endured the clashes and squeezes that would wound most Gods, or destroy any kind of Extreme into dust long ago.

Powers of reality, partial Authority, and most Divinity were all suppressed in this place. Fleshly powers seemed like the best chance, yet the weights and layers of Authority were endless and better. Flesh had some end. Mana had its ending sequence. The universe didn't.

It never ended. The pressure kept going even when Vermillion held the key to this place. Perhaps it was even worse after she got it, or was it the backlash after unleashing the World Drill?

The weight of the world aimed at her, followed by Jailer's powers and all the beings around this realm went up at arms, sizzling in heat as a surge of power exploded from her body, storming the hopes of their hearts.

Yet... Vermillion smiled, brandishing the Core Codex in her single arm. It weighed on her spirit as if it connected to her, eating her, trying to wrestle the thing she had or who she was.

Then, the bright lines and space shuddered, gravity turned upside down, and pressure rose and twisted. Vermillion seized some chance and pushed down against the giant hands with unnatural force. She let loose and ignored anything wrong. She destroyed numerous other attacks with bright light and the twisting nature of this space.

Most attacking fools cracked to pieces, similar to their attacks, feeling the higher gravity and her pressure. It felt as if Vermillion had become the center of the world. She even looked like that, beaming, yet dimly as if her power was invisible like a twisted space. Her counter happened in an instant, after all, seeming like a blink.

Jailer crashed to the ground and its body twisted in stones, revealing a hideous mouth. It knew something changed in Ravine's core. She took it! Jailer howled and shook the ground and space, yet it didn't change a thing.

Jailer failed, so it went all out in Authority. Behind, a massive block of pillar arose out of the ground, with a wide wheel spinning in the middle, looking like an old fossil made of rocks, bland crystals, and numerous formations that might be runes or something else. Even more earthly energies and streams came out of the ground, looking thicker than ever.

Jailer's flesh fueled and glowed, and the gestures of its hands sent and assembled spells one after the other. Jailer unleashed a storm as the noise and rumbling of the earth shook the entire Deepest Depths.

It was an all-out attack that involved Samsara Wheel.

Then, Ravine—the swirling aimless metallic stone—trembled, and a voice shimmering as if raging currents of Endless Skies went out of the Core Codex.

[I am freeeee!!!] A voice poured out of the little rock.

“No, you aren't,” Vermillion headbutted the stone substance, found a thick wrapping chain out of the Void with her teeth, and wrapped it around it like a bag. She tossed it behind her shoulder and almost stumbled from the space down. She flinched and thought of this foolish tool as way too heavy.

[HEY! YO! That is rude to tell your savior! What a rude hot fox you are! I even guided you... thinly. Don't tell anyone. It sounds shameful.] Ravine complained, yet couldn't, or shouldn't do much about it. Who was the savior again? The chains wrapped over him, putting pressure against a much ridiculous pressure which then chained the stone.

He felt short and weak, like having cloth wrapped over his screens. He wondered where Vermillion got this sort of stuff. Many more worries and questions entered his Codex for sure, followed by possibilities that Vermillion was more complicated than he thought.

She succeeded in doing something ridiculous because he hadn't expected her to pull out a World Drill, let alone survive the onslaught of her enemies and this space. It wasn't within her possibilities and his calculations that she would get this far.

As a simple rock, he had limits in what his mind should speak about. The limits that were no longer adhering to the entire core itself, compromises, or common rules. Just a fragment, albeit important, won't end this entire world, which was enough for Vermillion and her desires.

“Shush and be patiet rock. Good too. Now, tell me the time or where to go next. I can't leave this place alone. New Authority wraps the spacetime.”

[Where? Time?] Ravine was confused. Why did she ask this for? [Lordis is... Not sure. You wrapped me. Put me back! I can't see!]

“You are a terrible liar,” she sighed as her power flowed out of her in continuous stress, making her look like a star that hindered everything around her next. It was like breathing. She couldn't keep going forever. By now, most attackers from below were back on the ground, either in pieces or waiting for her to lose her touch. She kept this bright, insane, and pressuring ability for ten whole seconds, even through a barrage of hands, spikes, and meteors half the size of a mountain.

Then, her power failed, so she had to dodge a barrage of attacks that stormed the location apart, creating space tears, rolls in space, and some attacks touched upon the Void itself when some demons howled and went at her again. They became a mess and disintegrated under Jailer's powerful tearing fingers and hands.

The damaged space healed relatively well, since this place was incredibly dense and stable, since if it was more dangerous than those tears.

Jailer managed to gain its stability and pushed attack at the cheeky thief from the ground. Vermillion felt much more powerful than possible, yet how long could it go for? Jailer knew some limits should be there for any invading God unfamiliar with the weight of this space.

The hotness was unbearable, weight heavy, and she overwhelmed her Divine Power and Authority. It was a price that will undoubtedly reveal itself. Yet she still had to do the last thing before that.

Gravity was in shambles, but thanks to the rock on her shoulders, she fell to the ground in a moment, dodging most of the space-tearing attacks next, looking as if she danced through them in her descent. Her red veils of hair traveled behind her, followed by streams of her leaking powers.

Trolls were insane when completely unhinged in terror and anger. They could destroy plains, cities, and continents in some worlds.

Ravine whistled. [A fine dodge. Fine... Lordis is here in 3... 2.... I am kidding. He can't come in that quick. I locked the control room codex with errors to access. Asshole though there shouldn't be a backdoor, lest someone use it against his will. Hilarious, isn't it? It backfired like you handling me and bearing with this place. Never seen it, huh? Feels heavy and hot like you? Wait, huh?! How does it feel to bear with my weight?] Ravine sounded more like an old fool the more she felt him.

“Should get a diet. Could be good at you.” She said sarcastically, which sounded cold when she was feeling the limits of her potential. She was bleeding through many wounds and nothing was regenerating like it should. Her left side was still in pieces.

Her time was reaching its nasty sequence.

Which Ravine took with the light chiming laugh.

“I am all laughing out loud.” Vermillion turned serious on the ground and dodged for her life when a small army of Goldsteel Titans arrived with gravity-defying powers next, smacks of swords, chops, and some tools for mining. This group never made their move because they bid for time and opportunity, or they couldn't attack her when she was a kilometer above the ground.

Tall and insane, they usually wielded intense swordsmanship, glowed in glistering veins through their skin, and glowing eyes. Now, most had staffs or large pillars for weapons, or quickly made-up spears capable of shattering the space. Each was in their prime and equivalent to a Rank 3 God.

But they didn't have the right flow to possess godly qualities. Their flesh often defied this choice, similar to their Paths, which countless beasts were also finding poor, while some races were no different. Limitations of Pathways and Paths were also a reason for that, although small.

In simple terms, raising a God among them was impossible.

That gave rise to new forms of power. The kind that Ancients possessed, while the current Epoch couldn't really hinder it completely. Power was power. It was about the weight and Authority to make good use of it. It might be vast like the Divine Power.

For Vermillion, these Goldsteels were bothersome flies. And that damned rock didn't make it easier.

[Again? You are rude to your savior.]

“Or scrutinous curse, and a kidnapper,” she added.

Before her, roughly a half kilometer away, a massive mountain pillar and wheel trembled. Jailer was close and shouted, mumbling weird noises that shook the surrounding workers. It knew no bounds of failure.

Then, Jailer panicked after noticing the worst possible outcome. It took a second to adjust its mind to the current mess. Flames flared everywhere alongside magma and the source of this world. Dense mana also escaped through cracks in the crust, flowing like water, or glue, and turning the flow of this world weirder.

It put additional weight on a fight that was shaking the entire world. It was shaking. Everything did for a long time as sensors and core formations put many workings into struggling labor.

“Shouldn't fight like a maniac, old fool,” Vermillion reckoned but she doubted Jailer heard her. “World will survive it, but who knows whose heads won't.”

The core didn't need Core Codex back. Gods did, or this Troll, or those surrounding and living beings on this planet. This entire machine won't have its proper flow back, unfortunately. It needed that component.

Jailer cracked its power to its full potential, causing tides of shimmering lines to spread from the pillar, its hands, and the ground. They changed into thick spears next, lurching at her like mountains. Spear flew over the Goldsteel Titans that barely managed to move closer to Vermillion, before hovering above.

Whenever Goldsteels moved, she used her single arm to squeeze them dry or toss them away with a flick of her finger. Ravine cheered her on from her back.

Core Codex's protection was folded over a formation that could survive world-shattering meteors. Some said that it would outlive the core too, but it was just a guess.

How had Vermillion gotten through its protection so quickly, and even through all the enemies and this place? Jailer couldn't understand it, even though his appearance was monstrous and his power flared in hopes of getting that rock back.

“Lordis can't get in?” Vermillion frowned after hearing Ravine's laughter. She wasn't interested in this Troll any longer. She dealt with the Goldsteels in a flick of her point finger. “Should've told me that sooner, rock.”

A line spread across the surrounding army. A line that warped and slashed through the space, cutting front-facing Goldsteels but not killing them outright. Most of them stumbled back, followed by others who felt the sharpness and force of this hot and cunning attack. Their bodies scorched in a line as if a beam of radiating sunshine slashed them.

Vermillion didn't even look at them next when massive spears hovered over her position, acting like a shield, Authority to not let her move, followed by this space itself.

Cornered like a mouse, Ravine wondered what she had left in her hand. As far as he could tell, she had his rock alone.

[As someone... Anyone. Not sure who told me. Not knowing things may be a blessing.] He gave her some old useless quote before cheering her again.

“Aww. So nice of you. Now, shut up.” She had a single arm free if the chains resting over her shoulder didn't move much. Thanks to the heat and incredible gratifying acts, she cracked the last of her floodgates open. Any more and she won't be able to move.

Mana, Authority, and Divine Power all went out of her with their latest drops, and even her leaking injuries temporarily stopped wasting her stamina. A single speck of dot appeared on her open palm, before suddenly becoming large, then little, and then, countless little dots. It didn't bloom.

Just when the rest of the beings arrived at her, countless spears glinted for her life, and the world turned still. Only after that did she unleash her attack.

Why hadn't Jailer attacked yet wasn't insensible or blunderous? He put his spears to good use and allowed others to get closer, himself included. It should've been a good jail because that rock was precious. Who knew if this lofty God would toss that rock into the Void? In that case, finding it would be a challenge.

Like stars birthing new stars, Vermillion unleashed the ultimate part of her Path, while the wheel behind her shined and brightly endured this act. It almost turned real like Jailer's, but for some reason, it couldn't reach that level. Countless dots that each weighed a ton, stormed off, glowing like scorched metallic glass balls, and appearing like small suns.

Because of the area of effect and location, the heat helped them this time around, as each sun went along her limited Authority, but not against pressure. This place helped outline and empower her attacks as long as they mended well to this insanity, which meant they became their own things. Outside of her touch. They will soon become independent, and since there were thousands of them, if not more, she couldn't control the outcome other than set them out.

They blasted many beings aside, some apart, and those spears ate hundreds of them before cracking apart. Without stopping, the suns kept going, flooding half of this cave from the tiny little palm. Jailer and others ended up on the far end, each with many suns on their flesh. Some burned, some cracked, but few of them died.

Chaos ensued when thick flames spread from cracked ground as these balls bounced, and they kept attacking on their own. Some went against Vermillion as well, but she wasn't affected by them because the flame outside of her own engulfed her hair, haggard uniform, and anything else. She kept bleeding, barely standing, and feeling like shit.

She was spent. She had nothing else to offer next.

She smiled as the world and flame deformed and cracks in space spread under her latest control of spatial manipulation. She wanted to pull her finger ahead and form a tear in space, but all she managed was to pull something out of the Void.

Named Chaos Void Gate, it was her escape after Ravine gave her the direction with the least issues. Her last attack helped with that significantly, much to the rock's spirit.

It was heavy, hard, and almost impossible, but through a bleeding heart and mind close to the limits, she fled to the Void Gate that almost crushed her mind. Away from this world, she escaped to the place where Fate had yet to reach.

Gone out of sight, with a component that aimed at tens of billions of lives, she left the center of the world on its own devices.

Ravine was happy about that.

But someone...well, a lot of beings weren't happy already, since this fight trembled the world. Even more, many will follow this with despair after the news of this incident spread. Even with stabilized space, will the Divine Spheres be more hectic, or will the Surface turn into a chaotic storm? Vermillion didn't care for both.

Soon, the Deepest Depth turned into hell, with most workers enduring their disappointment, while Jailer could barely keep up with its shame.

An uncertain time later, the entire space trembled, ceasing those little suns and flames to null. The pressure and hotness kept blazing, but something worse came closer. The cracks in the earth, walls, or some formation away from the core recovered when a vertical line shook the space, calming everything as if the Ruler arrived. Fingers stretched this line apart until a person fell out of this forceful tear in the space.

It wasn't his favorite way to get to his backyard, but it wasn't his choice. Lordis was a bit too late to save a huge incoming headache he couldn't even fathom. Now, he did... A lot more than he preferred.

Watching the workers in pieces or injured, Jailer met his sight with fear and shame. Enduring Vermillion's last attack ended up drowning everyone, and few could've stopped it. Jailer fell to the knees before its master, voiceless.

Lordis didn't spare him a glance. There was something much more prudent.

Ugly and late, he blamed himself. Not them. The problem was somewhere else, hiding or long gone. At the core of this whole situation, the planet's core was still in one piece and so did its formations, and other things that flickered in their careless cycles. Something dear was missing; something impossible to create again.

It was starting. The flow was stopping, formations slowed, and far away, things were changing.

Soon, the Divine Camp will cease to exist.

“Ravine...” Lordis said in an annoyed tone, folding his arms before the large core.

Nothing changed.

“You ungrateful.. and spotless fool!” Lordis said coldly, but the last part did bring out his killing intent that shuddered the whole existence. The core didn't care.

The surrounding hundreds of kilometers became barren of their aure, lines, or bright flames. The core changed under Lordis's eyes when the azure and mesmerizing lines ceased to exist. They made the core much more apparent since it would never become dull. If it did, the true End of this world would start next.

Then, the core churred and flickered in a delightful and crazy movement akin to countless mountains rolling.

[Not my problem she took part of me. Have no hands to stop her advances. Can you imagine that?] the male voice told with the same annuncation and tone as before. Careless and with mischief, Ravine didn't see destruction or loss of himself as an issue. Such personality was almost guaranteed after living who knew how long? Lordis didn't know. Perhaps even Ravine didn't know how long he was alive either.

He just kept living, cycling the living, and enduring this whole planet in its mass and mana flow.

Yet he was still a living entity. In a poor sense of the word, of course. Lordis wished it was different.

“Do you have even a remote idea what are the repercussions for this moment?”

[I have vivid memory and imagination. Want a proper reading? How about a screen to see the show? Scene? Comic? I heard of these long ago from nice words and voices. Or were they memories? How about a movie?! I will call it...]

“Keep trying me, and you will get burned.”

[Try me too after solving your mess. I won't burn from anything. You caused this. Burned yourself as well. Ha!? Serves you right.] Ravine scoffed at him and Lordis felt an unending amount of troubles ahead.

“Fine. Give me the full readings of what occurred here and... pictures, voice lines, and everything that went under your Codex before. Be quick. I need to solve you first, or see... what Vermillion even caused or plans out of this.”

[Righ away master!] Ravine cheered, knowing that his important workings were in a safe and questionable hand. It was fine. There was no way Vermillion would do something great for Lordis. It was a great situation and a change of pace in his long-ass life.

Ravine will be more than happy to see Lordis unhappy and rules gone.

***

Out in the Void, Vermillion drifted in the middle of Nowhere. She breathed hard under the controlled remains of her Authority, taking the brunt reality of being Nowhere. She still lived, though she felt like she was cut into many dimensions that were part of Everywhere, or was.... it called Somewhere? She could barely think of correct terminology for something very few beings could muster to name. Dimensions were that kind of thing.

It was close to Void. That was enough for her tongue. Her hair swayed in the vacuum like the blood and light going from her wounds. At least her Divine Power vibrated through her body, letting her live in this harsh environment that wanted no lifeforms. Being away from the proper rules will not speed up her recovery. But being away from that planet's core will. By now, she felt hundreds of times lighter, although the Void won't help her either.

She wasn't dying like a fool. Her Divine Body kept the damage and previous stress inside, so when away from that crazy core, she felt lighter than a breeze. Recovery at this stage was a slow process that felt like ants crawling under her every sense.

Yet she smiled after enduring a heist and fight of her life. At last, the sizzling and disappearing flames and mist around her body gave her enough ability to control herself.

However, controlling the piece of rock from flying away wasn't easy. Its weight seemed to work like a flying comet, planet, and ocean's current on its own. It constantly shifted in her single's grasp and chains.

“How about you calm down?” She grunted as she wrestled with the chunk of ancient debris.

[I am calm. You aren't calm.] Ravine reasoned.

“Agreed.”

[Agreed so easily?]

“I am not calm. Really. Got what I wanted after dozens of cycles. Give my heart a break. You are the insane one if you expect me to not be an emotionless fool.”

[Than cheers for you. What now? I can't be with you for long. You can't keep me! And you certainly can't toss me away either. No way I want part of me lost. Especially this part of me!]

“No worries. I will give you back to Lordis soon enough.”

[Eh? Just like that?] Ravine was dubious and unsure of what she was planning.

“After working on what I want.”

[Oh, of course. Which is what?]

“Heard of an Old One?” Vermillion told with melancholy, pain, and a slight sneer.

Ravine hummed a long tone. [Oh, that one is crazy and ancient. Yes. Numerous times. You have no idea how their creation process goes, and what they truly mean. Now, there is one right here, so... do you want to know how he arrived here, and what his deal is? Poor duck, he is out of his wits, yet he keeps stretching the limits of the Breaches. Poor. Truly. He tries against his lacking luck or Fate, yet never seems to get anywhere. I feel kind of melancholic about it, for he is just like me....]

“Oh, how bad for you. Have you worked on him yourself?”

[I wish. You are so quick in your words... What makes you say I want to touch that freak?]

“You implied to know a lot. He is shackled in numerous ways, yet his soul is more unrestrained than chained like yours. It is weird how I couldn't look at the picture entirely, but I've got my tides covered with your voice, reasons, workings, and... weight.”

[By a little toy called Iris, I presume?]

“You are well informed, unlike me. But no. Things were... complicated with him and her. I think I underestimated the situation and overestimated my lacking parts. I should've revealed myself to him long ago. In different lives too... but... I didn't.”

[Saw that but can't care about the distant Skies. Wanna show that picture? Well...]

Vermillion knew their conversation was more private than ever. Hardly anything was in Nowhere. It was close to being in Murai's soul space thanks to how she spoke to him.

[What about him, then? We have time here, but I am an impatient stone, and you shouldn't have much patience unless you've dealt with repercussions from this action of stealing my piece. By now Lordis should know what you've caused. Your Divine Kingdom, families, forces, or... whatever else. On their own, they will crumble under pressure. You turned yourself into a fine villain, so consider this stone impressed.]

“Than cheers for me...” Vermillion sighed and adjusted her hair after her other hand regrew ever so slowly. Her clothes were in shambles, but it didn't bother her too much.

[Have you catered for them already, or... I know you are as sneaky as a fox! How have you managed this concept of heist if you want to keep your reputation after you give me back? Seriously... you are insane! And that is coming from my current appearance...]

“Wait it out. There are no problems there on my part because I know that things will get busy and not focused on me. Focus on what I've said. Old One!” she said firmly. “My subjects will bear with my results, and so will my Kingdom. or the people close to me in the Surface. Why? I call it the politics but some call it planning.”

[Yeah? Sure. Sounds confident like Death.] Ravine moaned and went with the flow. [It is here, isn't it? Is it why you look like an impatience child for me? Just for a duck?]

“Never mind that. Are you put in an oath or some rules or what exactly are you on about? I thought this rock was supposed to be special.”

[I don't know what or why you know things you do, but I am not chained! Not this me. I just find this funny. I think a barter is more acceptable. What do you want?]

“I want arrangements, information, and agreement that you won't joke about this. I spent this once-in-a-lifetime chance for this, so think about this from other perspectives than your stone-cold one,” She said coldly.

[Hm... I will try, but if you want my empathy, find it in some flesh. So, you want my handling and flow? What do I get in return?]

“Anything you want.”

Ravine paused his tones, finding this suspicious like her carefree and cold shrug. [Anything? That is... generous. Not every day do I get a time without those cursed rules. Do you know what Core Codex does on its own without this thing?]

“No clue besides the obvious answers that I heard from a few rumors. Chaos? Death?”

[Lordis can't override the overall storm of his construction, but with enough time, he will fix the mild problems for sure by outside influences. I doubt he even gets the degree of this creation at some points, so this is going to be a fine challenge for this Ruler. Perhaps he will find it bothersome because of it, or... what he did before will turn into a problem for him instead? What are your plans?]

“What had he done?” Vermillion asked seriously.

[Just some little plays against the rules. No one knows about it as far as this little rock is concerned. He took the brain of the operation as me, even with hundreds more of them on sight. You took it out of his hands! That is hilarious! Good job by the way. It was a fine battle and you looked good doing it. Your Wheel is also gone... Shame.]

“Thank you. So? What had he done?” She said impatiently.

[As I've said. Wants are various. I want something myself, you see, but I wonder if it can happen now or later, or if it is too soon.]

“That is what?” She grunted as Ravine played with her words. She expected this problem in one way or another, but with him in clarity, she had all the time to get some answers.

[Won't tell, hah!] Ravine chuckled.

“Tell or I will toss you right now...”

Laugher stopped. [You wouldn't dare that. Fine. I want some spare time to do something private.]

“Not on my watch. You can do something dangerous, so let me get the gist of it first. Not later.”

[Ok.]

Vermillion got a little suspicious since he agreed too easily, but she let it slide for her sake.

“Where to start with your workings?”

[Not in the Void or Nowhere. Battleworld will do, or close to the... Divine Camp, or so you call it?]

“Not important.”

[Names are important! I am called Ravine! Wanna spell it out to your little head?]

“Said a little speck of dust for a planet. And I am not a fox.”

[Sure, little kitty. Sure. Now, you need me close to my former Authority to let me work like a granny knitting the edges of a sweater. I can do a lot on my own, even in your possession, but what you want depends on what you want and what I can do. Before that, I can't guess your needs.]

“Can't create miracles, however.” She sighed.

[Miracles? Define that! And yes! I can't. Depends on what you want to do with the Old One. State your business. I can disappoint you if it touches something nasty. Considering you made this move and it was... kind of absurd, I doubt your intellect. Old One is a tougher topic than you would ever get.]

Vermillion didn't find his words absurd. They were correct. “Alright. Listen and let's do it both ways. Helping each other out is an easy enough start.”

[I am all screens. Oh... wait...] Ravine laughed like a depressed maniac and heard the plot that would crash and revolve around Murai to his core.

“I want to change his path going onwards give him a chance, and cause him to depend on me.”

[Impossible. He is a private stake more than any Blessed. Him especially. Do you think I can touch anyone as if they are a puppet? Nah.... Not this Old One for sure. Sounds like a headache when I remember what those fools from the private sector made him through. I call it stupidity, but they called in a necessary touch to chain him down.]

“Oh? Blessed under Lordis are tough and secret. I know that, but why him? Chains... You can change the flow, however. A stake or flow, information, and knowledge go through you. Well, all I speak about is just a help along the way, which should be appreciated as an interesting start. Also, some things are bugging me. Like the unknown that is out of my reach. With you, that should be solved right away.”

[Alter it a little, sure. But you are speaking of an insanity. He took a massive plunge.]

She didn't get what he meant by that. “I will get the reason out of you, but for now, I have my idea about the Gate 3 that he is about to get. Ip'ur Mountain sounds like a good target for his journey through Levandis Temple.” Vermillion cut the chase.

[.... uh?! Wait! Not so fast. You are speaking of the Hellscape in that insane and silly temple?]

“Old One's adventure plunge. Yes. That one.”

[Ip'ur... Who do you want him to meet? That sounds awful. Well, I can surely send Mindarch a world of words. That little guy listens to me like a puppy, but... Ip'ur? What are you thinking? Help? He might detest you out of his sheer spite. I would!] Ravine said suspiciously, knowing that location was kind of sensitive in some ideas that Vermillion knew or didn't know. In fact, where had she heard it?

Was it related to the interesting and unknown blackmailing he heard Ceila do to Levandis? What was it about the previous Epoch that was so sensitive to let the Ruler of Somalis Hell swallow her pride?

“Detest? I think he will appreciate it because I know him. It is barely something inconvenient or something that couldn't come out of me holding your Codex.”

[Says who? Err... Ip'ur, huh? Fine. Will do. Anyway, what needs altering in him? He is altered enough, so what do you want to gain out of it? His feathers? His stuffed body? His vast Chaos? His... pat on your back? Sorry, but what is there for you? I call it more than invalid because there shouldn't be some good Fate in thrilling yourself onto that cursed spirit. Not as if I judge you, but yeah. I am judging you.]

Said a stone weighing a fragment of a death star.

“Don't get me wrong. I need the knowledge to gain full merit of this heist. For now, handling what he does isn't all up to him, but I want to give him everything he could get. His power, soul, and other things are thrilling. That is kind of little in my head by now, so first, what are things I don't know? How about Sternface? Where does Fate go with him in the way with Depth and the unknown factors of Fate that changed more than two years ago, and what is exactly Lordis's idea over him? He is weirdly into beating that simple duckling, and now, it is slowly growing into something special regardless of it. Perhaps it is close to Murphy Law that I've heard about. Encounter and all, Lordis is the one Breaching the norm, isn't he?”

[Sure. Rulers can do that sort of thing with little work and me. Trust me on this when Old One is here. What Lordis do is for a reason that kind of shakes the spiritual realm and destiny itself.] Ravine said the truth that he previously proposed and ignored.

“That much, huh? Then let's start with what is not under his... or better said, what happened with him in here? Anatidae and all, changing it better is a nice alteration, while I have something in specific for him later.”

[Altering the Old One sounds promising to you, but not to me. Do you know how fucking miserable he is?! He is insane!] Ravine reckoned the overall picture, knowing that the truth was harsh. He will work on him as easily as Vermillion wanted, but he didn't want to sound too cheap. He had no problem with handling something insane at all. He had done it numerous times already and knew many insane shocking news himself.

“Worse than what is your rock and your tries? You want something out of this rock and chance, so if it is something you desire, it shouldn't be easy either. You have my full support if you are helpful. Let's call it a basic trust between us as colleagues of this heist.”

[Your... Oh! That is a nice premise. You speak as if you did half the job, but without me and my hidden help, you would be crying or looking at the river without any end. And I agree. My Core Codex can forge and work through quite a lot of workings. Handling an Old Fool is as easy as flipping a coin. Glad you have two hands back for it. Isn't it easier with two? Anyway, if you will go to the Divine Faction, or at least closer to the castle, I can do so much more.]

“Bullshit. Your Core Codex should be a work of art and independence. You can work on it through the resonance with your main workings even above the Battleworld. The castle is just medium. Your core is the center of the planet. Some hiding spot in Depths should work the best for you, won't it?”

Ravine whistled and even the weird rock trembled. It was lifeless otherwise, with the voice coming all over it. [So you knew? What else do you know? How, even?! This is no fun when your secrets aren't under my hands. Wait! What hands?] Ravine panicked and felt immense gratifying emotions that caused his rock to shudder and sway.

“Got a friend to back you up, and I kind of like secrets. They make godly weapons, and seeing you like this is blissful. Now! Old One,“ she reminded him to go back on track and not be a handless fool. “Altering. Start with what you kept out of the public. The kind that even Gods don't get. I got some news myself by the way, but you don't have to stop the flow or your words by little things. Speak freely as if you talking to a clueless child you think I am.”

[Are you aware that since you took me out of the core, your attempts are weird like your choices to affect that duck?]

“Another partial lie. You can't affect it much, since Boosts are gone as of now, but that isn't my priority anyway. Why? Do you think some Boosts are everything? They aren't. You are lying or being clueless. Old World is still there. Its premise will restart the flood of how things were. Old One could handle it like many others. The blessing of your Boosts grants a foundation to affect it. Some think of it as an endless supply of power or something close to being too much. It is hardly something incompressible for those knowing the grandeur of the universe. They can grow without this system. Anything can. It is just a tactic that changes things up.”

[Sure. It is called natural selection. It weeds out idiots, but the universe and how this world works isn't that simple. Lordis gave it this attention as well. He thought he created a validating response and creation. That it should solve something that wasn't an issue. It was an idiotic idea at first until it worked. Oh, and it works wonderfully!]

“It sure does. For some. Or... to the benefit of the now who created it, because it can be forced and done in many ways. For some who are unfamiliar with it, it can be like a chain wrapped in glitter and gold. You can still handle the core and affect many things as if Will of the Battleworld is alive. If Lordis is clever, he will stop it all or alter it as you've said. Fearing that I would do something he can't stop, he should prioritize his possessions and think I won't be able to do much. I think he is correct, is that right?”

[Yep. His workings are something that even my Core Codex can't overthink. He is the Ruler after all.]

“Which is why I want you to crack it up a notch, while... I bet something worse is happening behind the scenes. You spoke of it. Hinted it. I get the flawed versions of flow. With your Core Codex, who takes those premises? Working with you will give me that edge. See things you know without any of your rumors or rules.”

[You.. No! You know the creaks in these rules of mine?]

“A little what one would see through ages and times. Who do you think I am? I waited and bid for time for ages. So speak.”

[Fine...] Ravine mumbled some curses about how certain Gods were arrogant, laughable, and childish, yet some were ridiculous and secretly finer than the finest of Everflowers. [It will be intense and wild, but let me tell you the story of an Old One. The one that wasn't meant to live. The one that suffers for the sake of it. The one that shouldn't have come here again...]

Murai didn't want this interest. He never asked for it. He wanted to be left out of the living itself. Others kept pursuing and giving him decisions and lives to solve. Now, it was no different, even if he was a spark in a world of much more heights and fun, overseen by those hoping to take advantage of everything.

He was at fault, albeit it was no fault. It was an inevitability of that single sneeze.

Vermillion earned her prize by listening to Ravine, getting information about secrets that moved this world and some individuals, which shook her more than her face could ever take. She started and accomplished something that never happened in the history of this world, which left Ravine being her tool for a greater truth.

It wasn't about Murai straight away, but it was a key that would close some gaps and create something completely new.

Vermillion fucked up.

She never intended or knew the greater truths of what was happening.

She was naive.

Stopping Ravine from existing in the consensus of Boosts and readings was enough of a distraction. Soon enough, Divine Camp will halt its acts, turning the world above it into a frenzy, Gods included.

Any living being will be affected. Vermillion included, directly or indirectly.

And for what? Because she wanted to stir trouble and Murai would help her, or she would help him? Calling it greed multiplied by stupidity was far too fitting, but Ravine wasn't complaining in the slightest. Chained and full of rules under Lordis, this was a chance for his Authority to do something he couldn't. It would never happen again, so he would gladly take advantage of this fervent and naive God who thought of being way too savage about something that might bite her back.

The gamble paid off and Vermillion might not dread the consequences for now, but it was just a guess. Ravine was sure that her position would change for the worse, her subjects would suffer, and her Kingdom would go through some changes.

Ravine had his stakes and desires to create, yet he knew that Vermillion hadn't committed any crimes.

Gods made no crimes. They made blunders with repercussions that were up to them to solve. It might be a mistake that would piss those who didn't want to be pissed off most times. This one was about a certain Ruler, who wasn't taking things for something small, which Ravine knew, but hadn't feared in his life.

With an unexpected turn happening because of many unlisted and gratifying rules or Breaches, Murai was the unwilling target of some hidden interest that took years to blossom. Murai didn't know about him, them, or her.

He won't get it all for a long time, even when his Fate might change and shift under this world itself.

Now, Vermillion learned the truth.

Murai was no hope.