Snow began to fall once more as the morning light began to break. Fielma and Aku were joined by Homorotabi, a soldier clad in iron helm and armed with a spear. Additional weapons were strapped to the warrior's bag as he led the two outsiders toward the temple of god.

Typically, a barrier shielded the temple from outsiders, but the king had granted permission for the goblin and the human mage to enter. They passed through the nearly transparent dome as if it were non-existent. The barrier appeared to be composed of hexagonal plates fused together. When touched by an unauthorized individual, it emitted a wave of light that momentarily revealed its presence. This sight reminded Fielma of the barrier employed by the Fragmentor drone that had slain Shasha.

The snow attempted to conceal the bloodstains from the layer beneath, while the biting cold sought to mask the odors of putrid decay and death. Though Homorotabi had already claimed the shattered bodies, victims of the demon known as Hannathema, the pungent scent still lingered, undeniable to the goblin's keen nose, drawn to the aroma of gore.

"I smell the stench of blood"

"Really!?" Fielma exclaimed not noticing it.

"It's more like an instinct than my sense. But I feel like an incident just occurred here recently"

Fielma scanned her surroundings, initially perceiving nothing amiss. All that met her gaze was the expanse of white plains until her eyes caught sight of a severed, preserved finger partially buried in the snow. While most of the body parts had been retrieved, they were so mangled and scattered that not all missing pieces could be located.

"Actually, you're right... We've lost our templars from a demon attack just a couple of days ago." the soldier guiding them confirmed.

"Really!? Isn't that a big problem?"

"How many demons attacked?" Aku asked

"Well, based on the footprints and the type of wounds on the corpse... the assailant seems to only be one person wielding a sharp weapon"

"Pardon?"

Aku found it difficult to accept that they couldn't defend themselves against a lone demon. Doubts began to creep into the goblin's mind about their chances of survival, even if they attempted to rescue them from Magroth. Reflecting on this, memories surfaced of the templar who had lost his arm, likely meeting his demise as anticipated.

Ultimately, the sole protection sustaining the Homorotabi thus far was their barrier magic, a skill exclusive to the royal lineage.

"We don't like to admit it but we're powerless against demon" the Homorotabi bow his head in shame.

"How did she enter the barrier?"

"She?" Fielma's voice was drowned out by the conversation, but she noticed that Aku was referring to the entity with specific pronouns, as if he already had an inkling of who that person might be.

"It forced her way through. It cuts a way in through the barrier."

"And the stupid king didn't notice it? It's his barrier, isn't it?"

"N-Normally, our king could tell if someone is touching the barrier, much more is hitting them forcefully. He could even tell the direction of the wind through this power but this is different. The demon cuts the barrier in a way that it couldn't feel it. It's like the blade transcends physicality that it simply slashed the barrier without making contact."

The king's barrier is an extension of the king himself, allowing him to sense any harm inflicted upon it. However, for reasons unknown, the demon was able to breach the barrier without physical contact. Consequently, the barrier remained oblivious to the intrusion, suggesting that the demon possesses some unknown technique. This also implies that the demon might have previously cut a portion of the barrier within Ruifia's forest without anyone's awareness, potentially explaining the origins of most of the monsters Aku has encountered thus far.

"I am sorry for the unsightly environment" the soldier stated apologetically as they reach the temple.

Blood adorned every surface, staining the stairs and walls, evidence of a brutal massacre. Despite the abundance of splattered blood, there were no bodies to be found, lending an eerie air to the exterior of the temple that caused Fielma's face to pale as she beheld the scene.

Ascending the stairs, they gazed upon the already ajar door. Trailing forward were a pair of bloody footprints, indicating that the demon's target lay within the temple. She likely remained there, awaiting her next victim.

Just as they were about to enter, Aku noticed Fielma's pallor...

"Fielma, are you feeling unwell? If you are, then get out of here. You're just going to drag me down"

"Are you, perhaps, worried about me?" Fielma smirked.

"What? Of course not."

"Aww... Don't be shy. Come here, I'll give you a hug"

Aku grimaced, but before he could react, Fielma leaped towards him, attempting to steal a hug. The goblin masterfully evaded her grasp, causing her to slump to the ground with a yelp. "AW!" she exclaimed as her face met the solid floor.

"I can't believe we are really doing this. This is a waste of our time" Aku complained as he entered the temple.

Truly, they found themselves confronting a god possessing the power to open portals to parallel dimensions. Gods were believed to be immortal and unkillable, with merely laying eyes upon them said to drive one to madness. Facing such a being was unthinkable, especially considering they were neither Homorotabi nor related to that species. Yet, they were thrust into this perilous situation where failure meant certain death.

The only reason the goblin could fathom for undertaking this perilous journey was because of the two children and their grandmother who had sheltered them unconditionally. In the end, Aku couldn't help but reminisce about the time when he served as a hero's subordinate. The Hero Albert would extend help to anyone in need without hesitation—a quality Theo admired and endeavored to emulate in practice. Although he found it challenging to be as altruistic as the Hero, over time he cultivated a sense of justice and kindness within himself until the day he realized it was all an act.

However, as a goblin now, empathy seemed elusive. He found it difficult to care if people perished before his eyes; in fact, he might even find it amusing. Strangers held little significance to him now—they could perish without stirring any emotion within him. Yet, if someone he knew stood on the precipice of fate and death, a fiery determination could ignited within him. It felt as though his soul compelled him to act; he couldn't simply turn his back. This drive to aid those he knew transcended the typical instincts of a natural goblin, hinting at a deeper essence within him.

"We don't have a choice now, do we?" Fielma stated as she rub her forehead that was bumped into the floor.

"Tch... Fucking Homorotabis"

"Hey... I could hear you, you know?" the soldier accompanying them hesitantly mutter

"Shut it, you twerp!"

The soldier recoiled as the goblin shouted. Aku began to remove his costume and mask, deeming them unnecessary now. They would only hinder him. Besides, the royalty and the elder were already aware of his existence; the disguise had served its purpose primarily to avoid attention when traversing the city, although it hadn't been particularly effective in that regard.

"AGHHH, Sempai! What are you doing!? Why are you stripping yourself naked!?" the mage shrieks as she watches him. She tried to cover her eyes but then still peeking between her fingers.

"Don't make it sound weird!"

"NOOOO! MY VIRGIN EYES!"

It wasn't as if the goblin had nothing underneath. That would be impractical given the climate on the 28th floor. Beneath the costume, he still wore layers of cotton jackets, providing warmth with their slight heaviness. He handed the costume to the soldier accompanying them.

"I don't need this shit anymore. Hold it. And don't mind this idiot"

"Y-Yes!"

"I thought, you would reveal yourself in a bikini! Where did all my hopes are for!?"

"Seriously, what's your problem?" Aku folds his eyebrow as he stare down at Fielma in disgust. Later, he shift his sight towards the soldier, "Where's our weapon?"

The soldier handed them the two swords he was carrying. They appeared to be ordinary swords, nothing particularly remarkable but not poorly crafted either. Constructed from Black Metal, they boasted a sturdiness surpassing that of high carbon steel. It could have been a remarkable piece of craftsmanship had it not been limited by the smith's skill level. Nevertheless, the Homorotabi had long abandoned their barbarian ways after incurring the wrath of their god.

"I don't need it. I'm a mage so I need a staff, not a sword", Fielma declined the sword, as she possessed neither the knowledge nor the skill to wield such a weapon. Being a pure mage, her expertise lay solely in the manipulation of magic.

However, magic staffs were not mere trinkets; they were intricate creations. Crafted from the wood of Yggdrasil, a rare tree found in specific locations with a high density of manasphere, they were highly prized and consequently, exorbitantly expensive. Fielma's own staff had been inherited from her ancestors, its original creator being a witch who had fashioned it herself in the Forest of Witches—a secluded realm inaccessible to ordinary humans.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"I'm very sorry. Homorotabi can't use magic so we don't really have a reason to create a magic staff." the soldier explained.

"Well, that's unfortunate. You should go home and cry to your momma then" mocked by Aku.

But even with that, Fielma is determined to participate no matter what, "Idiot. Even if I can't use most of my magic, I still have my fist! Look!" she punched the wall besides her. The two men might have assumed she was merely harming herself, but to their surprise, her fist effortlessly pierced through the wall made of sturdy metal alloys.

"What the fuck!?" Aku exclaimed seeing how her fist easily get buried inside the wall.

"What the fuck..." Fielma mutter to herself, surprised by her strength as well.

"Gorilla girl." the soldier commented.

"Who the hell is the idiot between us? What will you do if you accidentally break the seal!?"

"I didn't expect it to actually break! I'm just a fragile young girl!"

"A fragile young girl will never try to break a wall using her fist!" Aku tried to punch the wall as well but his fist just bounced off and he felt a sudden burning pain into his knuckles. "SEE!? You are making me look like I'm the woman!"

...

After a brief exchange of banter resembling children mocking each other, Aku finally relented and erased the scene from his memory as if it never occurred. "Let's go then."

"AGH!"

As the two ventured deeper into the temple, the soldier took a step forward, only to be forcefully propelled backwards by an unseen force. Turning to look back at the soldier, they processed what had just happened. In that fleeting moment, they caught sight of it—a barrier.

"It seems like they are not lying that they can't really enter the temple. Hey... Are you okay?" Fielma shouted towards the soldier.

The soldier immediately stood up, "Y-Yeah... Don't worry about me"

"Sure" Aku walks away, soon after, Fielma followed suit.

"W-Wait!" the soldier called at them once more, then he kneel and lower his head heeding respect, "Thank you very much for doing this."

Aku sensed a peculiar sensation gripping his chest, as if something was reaching out to him from within. Quickly, he turned away before it could manifest on his face. In the past, people had always shown their gratitude simply by accompanying the Hero. He cherished those moments, basking in the warmth of their accepting smiles. While he couldn't recall the exact sensation of those scenes, the feeling he experienced now might have been similar.

...

As they ventured deeper, the soldier remained outside the temple, leaving the two alone within its confines. They gazed at the colossal statues that surrounded them with messed up faces, their footsteps echoing softly as they made their way toward the center where a pool of stagnant water lay. Despite the serene atmosphere, they remained vigilant, wary of any potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

"Finally, we're alone now," Fielma broke the silence after minutes of walking. "It's almost like a date, isn't it?" she added with a playful smile, hoping to elicit a reaction from the goblin, akin to the typical scenes from Rushia's favorite shouned animes. However, the goblin remained unresponsive, unfazed by her attempt to tease him.

"Sempai, don't stay silent. Talk to me!" The silence began to weigh heavily on the mage, suffocating her with its oppressive presence. She yearned for someone to break the quietude and engage in conversation, "Sempai, if you don't want to talk, I will blabber nonsense here. I'm warning you"

The goblin remain silent, ignoring the mage completely.

"Did you know? There are many types of gods. I learned this from Yurn before. Magroth is just one of the Lesser Gods meaning they are actually weaker compared to a real god"

Fielma continued to speak, elaborating on the different types of gods within the Homorotabi's religion. She explained that Magroth was just one of their gods among many, as there were five distinct categories of gods.

The first type, she explained, were the Idol Gods. These gods encompassed any divine entities that did not fall under the four upper categories. They were often perceived as weaker or mortal gods, despite their ability to manipulate life and the cosmos through scientific means. They could create life through advanced technologies, manipulate galaxies using highly developed technology, and even engage in inter-universal battles with powerful ships. However, despite their vast capabilities, they remained mortal at their core, even if they discovered methods to halt aging. For instance, the Homorotabi were created by Idol Gods through a combination of genetic codes from various animals, but they could only serve as vessels for life; they lacked the ability to create souls. In essence, these gods merely imitated the abilities of the true gods through their advanced scientific knowledge.

The second type of god is known as the Lesser Gods, to which Magroth belongs. Also referred to as the Children of Gods, they are created with a specific purpose in mind by their creator. Lesser Gods are more formidable than Idol Gods, as they surpass mere scientific knowledge and possess the ability to manipulate reality without relying on technology. While they are born to be gods, their free will is limited compared to the true gods.

The third type of god is the Devils. Traditionally viewed by human churches as adversaries of the gods, they are beings of pure evil that oppose the will of the divine. However, in reality, they are fragments of the revered gods themselves. Similar to Lesser Gods but more potent, Devils are not offspring of the gods but rather lesser replicas or inferior copies created from the waste material or fragments of the true gods. To Devils, Lesser Gods are mere sustenance, consumed to empower themselves in their pursuit of rivalling the True Gods and seizing their throne. Their eternal ambition is to obliterate the originals and usurp their position—a desire ingrained in their very nature as part of the original gods.

The fourth type of gods are the Ruler Gods, also known as the True Gods. They are the creators of creators, possessing infinite intelligence and power. Merely a single utterance from them could enlighten a person, and merely witnessing their presence would make one feel as though they were in heaven. Their purity exceeds existence itself, residing beyond realities where mortal eyes cannot reach, omnipresent yet ethereal. The extent of their power is incomprehensible—those who dare to behold it perish in an instant. There exist countless Ruler Gods, more numerous than the grains of sand on Earth, all equal in their unfathomable might. While the devils perpetually strive to overcome them, they also harbor a deep-seated fear, knowing that there is no conceivable way to defeat them.

The last type of god is the Origin, the Final Unknown from whence the Ruler Gods emerged. While there may be further unknowns beyond the Origin, this is the limit of the collective understanding of the universes. Known by many names—The One and Only, The Singularity, Luminous, Light Bringer, The Beginning, The End—the Origin represents the ultimate destination of all souls. When the time is ripe, all shall return to her embrace.

"Living creatures sometimes desired to meet their gods in hopes that they could grant a wish that they desire. If you are to meet a God, what will you wish for them to grant?" Fielma asked.

"I will wish that they wipe that creepy smile on your face."

"Huh?"

Fielma quickly attempted to adjust her expression by pushing her cheeks up, hoping to alter the shape of her face. However, no matter what she did, her expression remained unchanged.

"I feel like it's some sort of uncanny valley whenever I look at your face. It's nothing but creepy"

"Why are you suddenly calling my face uncanny? Is it that weird?"

"Yes it is, it's hard to sleep at night thinking about it. It's giving me nightmares! Even now, I could feel my spine having chills."

"Nobody told me I'm that ugly before... And it came from a goblin... How can I accept this?"

The mage gave up attempting to fix her smile. Instead, she covered her face with her hands, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

"Ah... yes. That feels more natural. Come on, cry more. Don't try to suppress it." Aku urged. In fact, he felt the urge to laugh at her for the pathetic display. It seemed like he had humiliated her, and strangely, he felt a sense of pride in it.

However, he hadn't anticipated that she would throw herself into his arms and burst into tears.

"Ah shit... I didn't told you to cry on my shoulder!"

"I-I have something to confess..." Fielma told softly, hesitantly.

"What is?"

"I can't help you in creating your cure anymore. Shasha died... how could I forget her?"

"I see..."

Aku already knew that; Old Yurn had already mentioned the tragic fate of her friends. The specific reasons were never revealed, but Fielma had her suspicions. She remembered, but she wasn't sure if she could trust her own memory, or perhaps, she simply didn't want to believe it.

"All of them died... my family died... I don't know what to do anymore... I can't fix my party anymore. What should I do? Help me... I'm so lost right now"

"..."

"Even if I have a second chance in life, everyone kept on leaving me behind... I should have died with them... Why am I the only one left? Are you going to left me alone too?"

Aku felt the urge to push the mage away from him, but the thought didn't translate into action. Suddenly, the mage blew her nose, leaving a mass of green jelly substance on the goblin's shoulder.

"What the! Don't put your snot in my clothes!"

"HAHHAHA! You just drop your guard to the helpless me aren't you? Do you think I'm that weak to actually cry? Too bad, I'm not a damsel in distress for you to act like my prince in shining armor." Fielma laughed it out, "But I'm glad you're worried about me. I think I am starting to believe you're still a human despite all"

...

They continued to follow the trail of Hannathema's bloody footsteps until it finally faded. Walking straight, they ended up at the central body of water. Stagnant and calm, its surface remained undisturbed, reflecting the surroundings with eerie stillness. Aku could see his reflection clearly—it wasn't the first time he had seen his abhorrent face, yet he still felt disgruntled by his appearance.

Out of curiosity, the goblin touched the water, expecting something extraordinary, but it was disappointingly ordinary. The circle of water had a diameter of twenty meters and an unknown depth that couldn't be fathomed by the naked eye.

"The demon isn't here," Aku remarked, scanning the surroundings. Despite their efforts, they couldn't sense any sort of presence nearby. However, there was definitely something lurking beneath the water. Though faint, they could easily discern it as Magroth.

"Does this mean she was spirited away?" Fielma pondered aloud. Given Magroth's ability, as explained by the queen, to open portals to other realities, it wasn't difficult to imagine that she had been taken elsewhere.

"SHIT!" Aku suddenly shouted.

"Sempai!?"

"Something grabbed my hand!"

Aku faintly glimpsed what it was for a brief moment. When he attempted to submerge his entire arm to investigate further, there was no reaction. However, as he withdrew his hand, suddenly, he found himself seized by a tattered, decaying arm.

Strangely, the water remained undisturbed as the tattered arm emerged, as if the existence of the hand was nothing but an illusion. Yet, Aku felt its grip vividly, despite the absence of any physical movement in the water.

"What? From fantasy becoming sci-fi, now it's starting to become horror? I won't even be surprised at this point if the next genre we'll have is Boys love. Can't the author be anymore consistent?" Fielma complained then she noticed a growing crack on space behind one of the pillars. "Sempai, behind the pillar. There's a portal!"

Aku noticed the water starting to react, creating puddles one after another until it became a chaotic pattern of movement, rippling and swirling unpredictably.

"It awoken, huh"

"What should we do?"

They had initially been worried, but this turn of events was actually what they had hoped for. Upon entering the temple, they had expected to find portals everywhere, only to be disappointed by their absence. Without these portals, they couldn't fulfill their task. However, as Magroth awakened, portals began appearing left and right. Currently, there were eight of them and still growing.

These portals were the source of Magroth's strength. The queen had explained that although Magroth was a god, its ability to traverse worlds was currently limited to the confines of the temple. It could only open portals to places it had visited before, and its colossal size prevented it from entering them. Instead, Magroth drew mana from these worlds to gather enough energy to reverse causality and shatter the temple from within. Aku and Fielma's task was to close the portals that Magroth could interact with.

"Let's first recall what we'll do once we're inside the other world. It would be bad if we forget what the queen told us when we're already there," Aku stated as they walked towards an open portal they could enter.

"Okay, our main mission is simply retrieving the fragments of the Magroth that is keeping the two worlds, this world and that world, connected. Identifying the fragments is easy since it's part of the god... It's presence is full of divinity"

The twist was that if the fragment suddenly disappeared—obliterated from existence—they would be trapped in the unknown world forever. They had to move swiftly and exit the world as soon as they retrieved it.

"It seems like we're ready. Shall we go then?"