Chapter 29: Messenger of the Dark Goddess

Author's Note: This is the first chapter of the third arc. 

NOTE ON NOVELIZATION OF THIS ARC: Unlike what I have done up to this point, I am planning to entirely REWRITE this arc from Chapter 33 and onward. Chapters 29-32 will simply be edited to be novelized, but the rest of the arc after that will be fully rewritten. Why? Because as the author, I find this arc to be a tedious slog, and if I don't like it, why would I expect readers to like it? The end results will still be the same so nothing will break something that happens later. It will also be the same number of chapters. It's just that the process of getting to the end results will be different and much better paced. To be honest, I've wanted to rewrite this arc for a long time, but was against it because my story is planned out so I didn't want to risk breaking something. I am fully confident that this rewrite will not break anything. The novelization has provided a good excuse to do this finally. I'm looking forward to it.

Chapter 29: Messenger of the Dark Goddess

Somewhere at an unknown location.

A man walks down a dirt road, grass swaying in the breeze past both sides of the road. The man’s upper-back-length black hair flows to the side in the breeze. An inch-wide scar runs down the middle of his forehead. His dark blue irises reveal a cold purpose. He looks relatively young and generally stares forward, not showing emotion one way or the other. He wears a uniform that is a mix of black and gray with some red in it too, a style representative of a past era. He stands about 6 feet tall.

Messenger of the Dark Goddess – Korobu.

As Korobu walks, he narrates. “For a long time now, I have loyally served the Dark Goddess. Whenever she has an immediate need that she wants taken care of, I’m almost always the first person she goes to. She highly values my magic, and that magic is Abyss Magic. She has a very good reason to value it, because the truth is, Abyss Magic can be considered the greatest magic in the entire galaxy… I wonder if you’re watching… progenitor.”

The dirt road he walks leads to a small town. However, five male warrior humans approach him before he enters, each one clad in thin silver armor with a number on it, one through five.

The warrior numbered one shouts, “Hey you! You look suspicious!”

“What business do you have here?” warrior number two asks.

Korobu’s expression changes from a blank stare into a serious one as his eyes narrow, annoyed by the disturbance.

“You may call me Korobu, and I have a meeting in this town. Step aside. I will not warn you again.”

“Nonsense!” Warrior number one yells. “I don’t like the atmosphere you give off.”

“We are the elite guards of Kopesh!” Warrior number four proudly shouts. “We deal with criminals trying to enter our town all the time!”

“And we five all have D-Rank and E-Rank magic power!” warrior number three adds.

“So you better leave before we have to rough you up!” warrior number two demands.

Korobu closes his eyes, his patience eroding. “Do you know what happens when someone challenges me? They fall. I can make anything fall. That includes your lives. Let me introduce you to my Abyss Magic.”

He opens his eyes, and a dark abyss surrounds his irises, changing their shape into red-colored skulls. Five black transparent skulls release from Korobu’s body and surround him.

Warrior one’s eyes widen. “What the hell!?”

Korobu grits his teeth before saying just one word. “Die.”

The skulls launch themselves forward toward the warriors, each piercing the hearts of the warriors, causing them to all fall and die. Their facial expressions in death look as if they just saw a ghost. Korobu stares down at the bodies as his eyes turn back to white and his red skull-shaped irises fade back into normal blue irises.

“Your D-Rank magic can’t compare. Such a foolish system to measure magic strength created by arrogant humans who want nothing more than to stroke their own egos while there are beings in existence that are far stronger. Stating your magic rank is the best indicator that you stand no chance against me. You fell and died as I said you would.”

Before he can go anywhere else, two new people from the town approach him.

Worshippers of the Dark Goddess – Sachi and Ben.

Sachi’s mostly flat black hair combs forward with a slightly receding hairline. His white and light blue-striped button-up shirt are tucked into his black pants, fastened with a belt. He looks like he is in his 30s.

Ben, on the other hand, is bald and a bit chubby. He also wearing formal clothes, but it’s much tighter against his body. He also appears to be in his 30s.

Sachi frowns while bowing. “Lord Korobu, I apologize for the trouble these idiots gave you. We are ready for you, the Messenger of the Dark Goddess, to make our town one of the Dark Goddess’s Chambers of Influence.”

Ben also bows. “Yes, we are ready to worship the Dark Goddess and be spared from her wrath when she makes her ascension.”

His annoyance vanishing, Korobu smiles. “Very Well. Take me to the center of this town.”

“Follow us, Lord Korobu,” Sachi says.

With Korobu following, Sachi and Ben lead him back to town. It’s considerably smaller than Flagron. Most buildings are made of wood rather than brick and other strong materials. The town’s condition makes it highly vulnerable.

Not wasting any time, they walk until they reach a specific building, one that perfectly blends in with the ones surrounding it. The sign on the front of the building reads, “Midrow Bank.”

“The center of town is technically inside this building,” Sachi says.

“Good,” Korobu replies. “Then we are going in.”

They enter the building, closing the door behind them. The inside has a main lobby with a desk at the end of the room, and there are some office rooms connecting to it.

“This place is a bank on the verge of closing down,” Sachi mentions.

“That makes it perfect for a new base,” Korobu suggests.

They walk towards the very center point of town within the lobby.

Korobu grins as he clenches his fists. “Watch as I create a new place underground.”

A black aura surrounds his body as he thrusts both his hands against the floor. The room shakes slightly.

“What’s happening?” Ben asks.

Keeping his hands against the ground, Korobu replies, “My magic is creating a new underground chamber. It will be the best place to show your support of the Dark Goddess.”

He removes his hands from the ground, standing back up. “Not only that, but soon the whole town of Kopesh will feel the presence of the Dark Goddess.”

“So, indoctrination?” Sachi asks.

“Not exactly,” Korobu replies. “If there is anything humans want, it is to feel cared about. They will feel that they are people that the Dark Goddess cares about and will freely worship her on their own without any mind manipulation. However, outsiders, you will need to worry about.”

Sachi rubs his cheek. “What do you mean by that?”

“People from outside this town who come here will sense the influence of the Dark Goddess. Worshippers of the Light Goddess would start a witch hunt over it.”

“I see. Well, now what?”

“I will stay here in this town for a while until the chamber is fully created. Then I will show you the chamber, and be on my way.”

Ben gives his own input. “Once this is all done, Kopesh will stop being a terrible place to live.”

“Lord Korobu, shall I get you a place to stay?” Sachi asks.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” Korobu answers. “Just make sure no one enters this building. I will stay here.”

Korobu, the Messenger of the Dark Goddess, makes his introduction!

Chapter 29 END

To be Continued in Chapter 30: Udana’s Words