Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Yuyui would have laughed at the expression on Grim's face. She had been in Suzamete's domain before, only hours earlier. It wasn't something she could get used to after only a single experience, but that first time obliterated most of her shock over the gigantic form of the Deitess' body melded into the sky-themed space in a fashion beyond words.

Understandably, Grim was struggling to perceive where Suzamete began and ended in this odd territory. He was flustered. He, like the others behind him and Yuyui had got down on their knees, almost unwillingly upon being invited into the domain.

The rest of the Stark Troops were just as shaken as Grim, as were the beasts which had been forced asleep by the Nigella and her company before – Azila and Hauza included. This place had a way of tautening the senses, stretching them to extremes; as soon as the beasts had been carried into the domain, they had been forced awake.

Suzamete seemed to recognise that Yuyui was a good, lucid candidate for a clear conversation. She addressed her.

<I congratulate you on defeating foes much stronger than you are. You're a wonder. Few have been able to access the true mechanism of growth I, Listafelle and Quintess developed for Aigas before it was tainted. I anticipated it, but I'm pleased all the same.>

Yuyui blushed.

Somehow, it felt wrong to accept the compliment, given that her master and Suzamete didn't see eye to eye. But that was an even more absurd thought. Skullius had grown to the point where he could argue with Deities.

"T-thank you," Yuyui said and found no other words to add.

Suzamete allowed an awkward pause to reign before speaking again.

<You must be wondering why I invited you here. To be sure, I have a task for you… and him.>

Grim sensed the intense wave of attention and lifted his head.

"M-me?" he stuttered and chuckled sheepishly. "Me?"

<Yes. You will be integral for what I hope to do, but you will have all the help possible, besides Yuyui.>

Both Grim and Yuyui were staggered. The idea that a Deity could find value in them was absurd. It wasn't a mark of doubt in their own prowess as a whole, however. Grim and Yuyui understood their current limits, especially when they matched themselves against the likes of Kintar and Pherdanta. They had every hope to grow and even surpass them by leagues, but s they were now…

<The job I have for you is as simple as it is complicated. The lynchpin of it has all to do with your recent growth, Yuyui – your new eye.>

"My new eye?" Yuyui reeled. "The Eye of the Visitor?"

<Indeed. Awakening it at this time was the best thing that could have happened, where your Hidden Class is concerned.>

Yuyui was puzzled. Her mind raced and raged.

She had awakened her new eye only a few minutes ago though, and she found it both impressive and unbelievable that Suzamete had concocted some sort of plan for Aigas' benefit from the eye already. She recoiled. Or maybe, was it…?

"Forgive me for asking," she said, "but when you invited us here before, didn't you say you couldn't see the future now that Boron has been released?" Yuyui remembered Skullius barking at Suzamete for not being certain about the future when it was in her powerset to know everything that happened on Aigas.

<No. I merely said events become uncertain when someone of a similar calibre as I is involved. I can see the trajectories of all lesser beings – multiple trajectories for the future per individual. Since the presence of another Deity can cause many variables I won't able to predict, I can only make guesses according to the many possible futures I begin to see. For instance, I saw you and Grim die to the Order of the Trodden Rose in a future where they attacked you in full force – all twelve.> Experience new stories with empire

<I saw you awaken all twelve eyes after hunting down and killing all twelve women in another future, but Aigas was crumbling and everyone including your master was dead. It is hard to ascertain anything now, and I can only be glad when one of the futures I hoped for turns out to be the new reality. In this case, I so desired for you to awaken this obscure, unique eye.>

Yuyui slowly nodded and reflexively touched her eye.

Right then, one of the many individuals she had seen in this domain before, bowing at Suzamete, spawned, drawing behind them a large cart. This individual then immediately joined the others, bowing deeply before the Deitess.

It was a momentary distraction that didn't take away from the punch of the situation.

"Um… what exactly does the Eye of the Visitor do?" Yuyui asked.

<I would rather explain what I expect you to accomplish and why.> Suzamete said, but not harshly. <The threats from the past – the drapes of Aigas' previous times – will only continue to grow in number. As quickly as your order, the Stark-Soul Order, is moving to intercept the many threats, it may take a little longer than I expected to quell all the chaos. That little delay from a critical point is what I hope to clip. I need to hasten the process of weakening the effect of Boron's influence on the drapes of time.>

Yuyui nodded and waiting patiently for Suzamete to continue.

<The great void is a very dangerous place. It breeds more than just intelligent Divines and Deities. It also spawns powerful forces, natural disasters, some of which take the form of living, irrational beasts. There is one which might be able to help me. I know its location, but I cannot leave to get to it, and unfortunately, my Fruit Bearers aren't strong enough for the task either. Your eye, Yuyui, is the key…> the Deitess said before turning to Grim. <And your affinity with beasts is another. Yuyui, with my help, will draw the creature to Aigas and you will capture and siphon its abilities. I believe you have that capability.>

Grim gaped for the better part of ten seconds.

"Capture… Capture a creature from the great void?" he stumbled over his words and turned pale. "There's no… I mean, isn't it a Divine creature, like my master? How on earth could I even hope to do anything against it right now?"

<Your objective is not to fight and kill it. Indeed, that is impossible. All you need to do is learn as much about what it's capable of as possible. For that, you will need to survive. You won't be alone. I will send with you a portion of my Fruit Bearers and their artefacts, and the guardian beasts you have rallied will be your allies as well. And of course, you won't be travelling far into the void. You will meet the creature right outside Aigas and make your stand there.>

Grim's eyes flashed a deeper gleam of red. Cold fear raced through him and many questions came to jab doubts at his resolve.

But then he recalled the Impossible Task, and remembered how desperately he had been anticipating judging his new strength against a powerful opponent and circumstance, just like Yuyui had done minutes ago.

This was as best of an opportunity as he was going to get, it seemed.

Sweat dribbled from his forehead. He emitted a nervous laugh.

'What would the boss think if he heard I was too much of a coward to invite such a challenge?' he psyched himself up.

But it seemed Suzamete had more to share to ease his concerns.

<For an added measure, I will also have another competent ally join you. He may still be halfway through the process of healing, but there might be no better help on present Aigas than him.>