Phantom: Traversing and Phantom: Traversing

Phantom: Traversing

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Commissioned by Chaosbrain

Word Count: 1008

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Hyoudou awakens after you manage to do so, while the Shard of the Morning has seemingly not fallen asleep at all. 

Your recuperation was quick in the world after the void, but that world had lacked in magic, technology, and any sign of anything familiar, so you both chose to leave it quickly. You can only hope that the pillar that two of you decided to enter, which was composed of light and stretched well into the sky, had disappeared after both your entry.

Now, though, the two of you have found yourselves in another world… with another pillar in the distance.

Only this time, as you stretch out your senses to enrobe and search it, you find no civilization whatsoever. 

It is a world composed of flora and fauna. An Earth without humanity, the other races, and untouched by civilization, with vast forests filled with populations of prey and predators, which live their lives according to their nature. 

It is only besmirched by your presence and the massive pillar of light that you and Hyoudou had entered, which has taken on a different color, and all but exudes the sense that entering it will see you in another time and place.

Whether that is home or not, you do not know.

You share this all with Hyoudou after he rubs away the sleep in his gaze.

“Huh, so we’re Sliders now?” The concept is unfamiliar to you, but Hyoudou explains it with ease. Sliding seems to be a form of dimensional travel popular in science fiction. It means to slip between realms and dimensions. You can’t help but agree with the notion. The world you’re in is a parallel Earth, but one that is entirely different, so it can only be an Earth in another time and place. One alien to the one you know. “Well, ummm, I guess we should just keep going into the Pillars, then. That’s the only way we could get home, right?”

That is indeed the case, but you voice your concerns regarding that. The Pillars are things you and Hyoudou do not understand, nor can the two of you interact with them. Even if it’s your only choice, you shouldn’t take them lightly. If anything, the two of you should take the world you’re currently in to resupply and research as much as possible about the situation, especially since there’s no sign that you can go back to the previous world.

“But, what about home? We can’t be away for too long, right?” Hyoudou’s point is astute and gives you pause. Though you’ve proposed caution, it is undeniably that taking your only path at the moment is the best way to try and get back home. The Preservers, the world, and you’re the threats against both of them are unlikely to be static. “What about we compromise? We spend an hour or two picking up and making supplies we can carry? We managed to bring our clothes and stuff across, so if we make packs, we should be somewhat fine, right?”

Typically, trying to achieve two goals at once means not achieving either, but the compromise suggested is fair. There’s no populace to be terrified by the unknown. The world is peaceful. You and Hyoudou both need more time to rest… and there’s plenty of things to hunt.

Yes.

This world will host the two of you until you can resupply and gain some supplies, while the two of you ponder your situation.

…

The deer is quite fat and plump as it roasts on a small ditch over a roaring fire. A small mechanism connected to the river you’ve chosen as a temporary base turns the carcass so that it bastes itself over the coals. The scent of roasting meat attracts predators who lack the instincts to avoid it, but you scare them away with a glance. They still know what a predator is, even if the world lacks other people.

As that one cooks, you eat while you skin and dry some hides. You’d never thought the knowledge of leatherworking, as simple as your knowledge of it is, would help you in the Wastes, but the time you spent learning it pays off in droves. You have simple sacks sewn together with sinew and cord soon enough. They’re not particularly nice to look at, but they are sturdy and will hold supplies. You debated on making a water skin from the bladders, but Hyoudou had the foresight to take some plastic bottles of water. They’ll do and are plenty reusable. 

If you consider the lean-to you’ve composed from the greater part of the tree that you’d cut down for the sake of your fire, the two of you are much better off than you used to be. In the empty expanse, there was no food nor water, and you had to create everything you wanted and wished for with your magic. You have a vast array of things that you can replicate and call into being, but it is not infinite. Being able to exercise your skills in survival is not only calming, but is also saving you assets you might need in the future. 

You’re tempted to make a shelter to rest in, something particularly modern, but you resist the urge.

For the foreseeable future, you’ll be conserving as much of you limited assets as possible.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, as the saying goes.

And, you’re most definitely not in need at the moment.

Though, if you must admit, you’re tempted to make something from your original world just so you know what you’re looking for. 

It’s incredibly silly to think that you’ve already forgotten, but going from one world to another so quickly has raised your need for something familiar.

And, of course, if you’ll be going from one world to another without any end in sight… everything familiar is a necessity.

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Phantom: Traversing…

Commissioned by Chaosbrain

Wordcount: 1000

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After your journey across parallel worlds began, there’s very few times you’ve been surprised. 

However, without a doubt, you didn’t expect to enter a reality where a parallel world had a parallel world.

“What.” Issei’s statement is apt, even as he partakes in Ramen alongside you. The one good thing about traveling through so many Earths is that there’s plenty of them not ravaged by intergalactic wars. Most are peaceful and its inhabitants know plenty. However, that’s not important, even if the Shard of the Morning is enjoying herself. “How is… how can a parallel world have a parallel world?”

Well, from what you can tell, magic in the world you’re currently in is incredibly robust. Robust to be utilized by someone particularly skilled to create another world. The Earth you’re currently upon is tethered to a smaller world, based upon Mars, which is incredibly rich in magic… to the point where magical creatures and sentient beings live upon it, have created their own civilizations, and advanced quite a fair amount.

However, from what you can tell, the world in question can’t sustain itself forever, especially since its inhabitants are utilizing its power quite extensively.

“…So, what are the chances of our exit being there?”

Given the fact that no news outlet has reported a giant spire of light anywhere around the globe? You take a sip of your own bowl of ramen. It is actually your third. Paper currency typically can’t be used between worlds, so there’s no harm in a little indulgence. You finish answering Hyoudou after sighing contently. Very likely.

“So, while we’re there, we’re going to try and fix things, right?” Issei’s shoulder sagged. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to help, of course. Fixing whole planets is difficult. Fixing a parallel world within a parallel world? That’s surely going to be even more difficult. “And, let me guess, you think it’s going to be good training for me?”

You really wish he’d have more confidence in himself.

“Look, if it’s about punching stuff and beating up evil guys, I’m fine! But, I’m not an Aspect. I can’t fix everything, Song!” Again, Issei has a severe lack of confidence. “It’s not that I lack confidence, it’s that I—get down!”

He didn’t yell that for your sake. It was for the elderly man sitting beside him. The projectile which burrowed through the wall, composed of solid shadow, slammed into you and disintegrated. 

Huh, it’s been quite a long time since anyone’s been able to see through Nemesis’s ability to conceal you and your party. 

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Demon.” And, there’s the reason why you dislike it when it happens. Given your status as the Reincarnation of Lucifer, the amount of power you have, and how individuals react to such a power hiding itself, you’re almost always labelled a Demon, a Demon Lord, or the coming of the End Times. No one ever tries to just talk to you. “Hmph, don’t think that you can trick me. Human you may be in manner and appearance, but there’s not a doubt in my mind you’re not a Demon.”

“Says the lady that busted open a restaurant for a sneak attack! What if a regular person got hurt!?” Huh, Issei’s fully armed and armored. That’s enough of a message for you to not simply converse. Typically, at first glance, Issei can tell whether an individual should be conversed with or fought. Given the fact that’s he’s in full Scale Mail, but still speaking, you should be ready to fight. Not to kill, but at least score a victory. There’s a misunderstanding going on, but it won’t be rectified until the end of the fight. “We might look sketchy and terrifying, but you could’ve at least waited until we left the restaurant to attack us, lady!”

Though, the two of you have attacked people for being sketchy and terrifying a few times…

“Don’t interrupt my monologue, Li!”

Right, right, well you’ll leave this to him and make sure no one gets hurt.

“If you didn’t add that last part, you’d sound like a Demon Lord sending me to die, you know!?”

But you did add that last part!

“Tch, I suppose it was too much to ask for a respectful Demon the night I get permission to leave!” Well, it seems like your opponent is more than capable of not letting distracted. Your attempt to attack her from behind has been repulsed by a wall of Shadow, which is surprisingly resistant to your Nemesis. Hmmm. No. It’s not resistant. It’s just that there’s enough magic within it to resist being utterly dispelled. “So, that’s your game! You have anti-magic properties! Well, you’ll need plenty more to defeat me!”

Given how much magic she’s made of, the amount of Nemesis that would kill her, and you have no intention of murdering anyone who’s sallied out to attack a threat they view as a “Demon.”

You don’t say this aloud, but a few signals to Issei is enough for him to know that you’ll only be able to provide a modicum of support, while you secure a means to escape unnoticed. Making a more sophisticated means of avoiding detection is now your chief priority, while he raises a fuss while you commit to it and ensure no bystanders get hurt.

“He’s not who you have to worry about!” Issei’s taunt and charge is successful. A burst of power that blasts apart the detritus created by the initial attack, along with a burst of his magic, surprises your attacker. Again, however, her utilization of shadows come into play. She disappears into the shadows, before reappearing and casting a pillar of ice at Issei, which he smashes through. “It’s me!”

Hmmm, weren’t the two of you trying not to look like Demon Lords, though? What’s up with that monster-of-the-week line, then?

“Oh, be quiet Li!”

You’re sure that the creature with the form of a young girl is about to retort, perhaps to agree with Issei, but arrows composed of wind smash the battlefield apart.

A boy with red hair, riding a staff, descends from the sky with a wand in his hand.

“Sensei, I’m here to—

Ah, well, that solves the current problem neatly.

“BOYA, STOP!”

With a little effort in your step, you appear before him before he could finish his sentence, in the middle of the night sky.

-help?”

You place a hand on his shoulder and tell him that he shall be helping.

Just not his teacher.

“You bastard!”

…Huh, without the contest of stopping a fight with just a single threat instead of a blow, this really does seem like a Demon Lord thing to do.

It’s a lot easier to make mistakes like this than you thought!