”This... is grand.” Nithra said. Shugireth stood with his old follower infront of the solid looking purple barrier that kept the water from washing over the Sanctuary, and as before, many strange creatures swam by, some glowing by themselves while others were lit up by glowmoss stuck to old buildings in the distance.

It really was a mystical scene, and he stood here with... Nithra.

”Grand, but only fitting for you, master. Pandemonium... eternal.” His old companion said.

There was more than one reason for Shu to bring her here. Of course, one angle would be that he was just trying to fulfill the last wish of a dying old woman. For Nithra, just seeing this place again seemed to be enough.

However, Shu was left with a sour taste in his mouth. He could not help but want more for his old companion. He had spent more than 10 years with Nithra, after all. From his fledgling days in the game until the end, she'd always been there with him. Talking and fighting just like any human player despite the fact that she had been an AI. What was she now? Just how the hell did this place even exist?

When he'd first arrived in this world, had he not heard an elegant female laugh blowing by on a phantom wind? Like the laughter of a goddess. A mischivous, cruel goddess. If so, for what purpose did she bring him into this weird dimension?

There had been no interactions, no suggestions or commands or even a briefing. Not a single word of guidance, advice or explanation. Hmm. He might prefer it this way though. He didn't fancy meeting a god or a goddess.

”Come Nithy, let's go to the core. I have something I want to try.” Smiling ruefully, Nithra nodded her agreement, following behind Shu as he made his way back through the giant double gates into the foyer-like entrance hall with its myriad mysterious doors. His home, which had once been full of life, full of players and AI followers milling about, was now an empty shell.

A dead husk.

Walking past the masterful paintings of locations in Edge, like the seven diamond ridges of Ubrelblanth or the eternal falls, he felt lonely all over again.

He felt the loss of his companions, his friends for over a decade, and the AI's too. He had been on friendly terms with many of the game's high ranking AI and now they were gone... but, Nithra was here.

”Nithy, do you know if there are other survivors from back then?” Nithra shook her head as they walked. ”Unfortunately, I haven't found any.”

”Well, maybe they will be able to feel the call of the core and journey back? But how will they get in...” Shu mused, growling his frustration into the dead quiet of the empty hallways. 寂しい.

After some time trekking through large and empty corridors, through majestic lifeless rooms, they finally arrived at the desired destination. This was something like a basements basements hidden basement, deep underground.

In the center of the dim room there was a translucent white pillar.

Inside of that pillar rotated a giant purple gem. Energy from the gem flowed up through the pillar, connecting to the various magic systems in the Sanctuary and even powering the barrier itself.

That very barrier that was at present keeping the water from crushing his home. In edge, it was a fairly common item, though like with everything else, his guild had upgraded it to be ridiculously overpowered.

As a consequence, the sanctary had been a true safe place for them. No matter how many guilds tried to break it, Pandemoniums sanctuary would still stand strong. There was a reason why he had called it the Sanctuary.

Shu recalled a raid of 58 top guilds. What a ridiculous battle that had been. Pandemonium and Ouroboros defending, and many legions of players and hired AI mercs attacking... Shu smiled, turning to Nithy.

”Well. Go on Nithy.” Shu said, flicking one of his pale small hands towards the pillar. Nithra turned to him with a question in her eyes. ”Go touch it, the core pillar.”

”As you command, Master.” Nithra replied dutifully. As she shuffled her old, crippled, half-bent body forward, Shu closed his eyes and freed his mana. Not 1% as was usual for him, but all of it.

[Presence suppression, release]

[Mana adjustment, release]

[Anti-leak, release]

The air crackled as Shu's magical aura filled the room like a dense, choking black fog. It filled the entire Sanctuary... and it spread beyond the barrier, scaring away the many animals that swam about outside. And further still, it spread.

And with it, Shu's consciousness of his domain increased and increased until finally, he felt the core click and give way, recognizing him as its master. It was possible then. The core AI... he could access it this way through brute force, after all, even if the AI functions were gone... how delightful!

He gave it the order immediately.

And so, crackling energy leapt from the purple gemheart into Nithra's outstretched hand, obeying Shu's wishes. Reintegration. Nithra's old body began convulsing, and she fell to her knees. Then, with a horrible scream that made Shu wince, Nithra collapsed on the floor, writhing about as if she was being electrocuted.

Oh shit! Did he make a mistake? He was about to forcefully halt the integration when the purple energy suddenly stopped attacking Nithra. Like a corpse, she lay still on the ground, face down. From where Shu stood, it merely looked like a pile of clothes.

”Nithy?” Shu asked, taking a tentative step forward.

”Oh shit oh shit.” He muttered under his breath as he approached the unmoving pile of clothes, and the barely visible human shape that lay hidden beneath. You better not be dead. Please, please. He couldn't handle this shit.

If Nithra, after a thousand years of waiting for him, died by his hand just after meeting him... he.. should just kill himself.

Kneeling to get a better look at her, the ominous purple light from the gemheart core pulsed, providing a fittingly eerie lighting.

His small pale hands shook as he reached for the pile of clothes. Then he tightened his lips, set his shoulders and manned up, turning Nithy so that he may look upon his follower one last time.

”It... worked?” He said, the question echoing throughout the eerie basement. The woman who lay unconscious before him, was undoubtedly his old companion from Edge. Her skin was baby smooth now, a delicious chocolatey brown that made you want to eat her all up. Her hair was still that greyish white color though...

She opened her eyes. Two yellow pupils with vertical slits and a green outline, stared back at him. ”You're back?” Shu asked.

”What happened?” Nithy asked, but then her eyes widened at the sound of her own voice. No longer was it the creaky voice of an old crone. Her voice had returned to how it had been in Edge.

Shu loved that voice. Hearing it once again made him close his eyes. ”Say that again?” Shu asked, his eyes closed. ”What... happened?” It was like someone was pouring honey into his ears.

Ah, unknown Japanese Seiyu, how can I thank thee for this pristine voice thou hath gifteth mine follower?

Shu opened his eyes to find Nithy running a finger across her face, a look of disbelief on her pretty face.

Without a word, Shu brought out the guild chest and handed Nithra a handheld mirror. ”Pandemonium eternal, Nithy.” Shu said, smiling. ”You are part of Pandemonium. Never forget that, my beloved follower. My beautiful slaughterer. My old friend.”

”Un. I understand, Master.” Nithy said, tears welling in her eyes as she looked into the mirror. Once more, Shu reached his hand into the guild chest.

”I believe these guys have missed you aswell.” He said simply, handing her the two daggers. One was translucent as if it were made of glass, while the other was black as night and spots in the metal twinkled and glowed like stars in the night sky. Both were about as long as a forearm, with guards on both sides. For someone of Shu's size those two daggers would be like shortswords, but for Nithra's build they were just right.

”Spiritsever, Starshard... how've you been.” Nithra asked, her face twisting into what some might consider a rather perverse smile. The kind of smile where you couldn't tell if she was going to fuck you, or kill you.

To be honest, he might've gone down a twisted path when designing her personality, and shaping her throughout their journey together.

Nevertheless, Shu returned that rather perverse smile which his old follower retained as she turned her old friends over in her hands. ”Bind, bind!” Nithra said eagerly, and the two legendaries became mist, then two marks appeared on her hands, one for each of the daggers.

Nithra had transformed magnificently from dignified old woman, to a bubbly and rather twisted and deadly teenage girl, atleast if you judged by appearances alone.

Nithra pounced on Shu, hugging him close and burying his face in her ludicrous boobage. ”Thank you, master.” She whispered. Shit, her voice was dangerous. But hadn't he wanted a big chested, attractive woman with whom he could corpulate in order to cure himself of his dangerous attraction to little Loli Lisa? No, that girl was 16. She was technically legal according to his county's laws, despite that body of hers....

What the fuck did that have to do with anything though? He was never going to see earth again, much less be subject to any law other than his own will. What was he even thinking about? He was seriously messed up...

Coughing once, Shu pushed Nithra off of him. ”Well, I'm glad you're back old friend. Here, take the rest of your gear and go put it on. I have some things to sort out...”