Dragged to Another World… and I Took the Goddess with me!

Finn finally pieced it together. The difference between Lysithea's slime and the "forgotten ones" wasn't just strength—it was composition.

Lysithea was pure slime. Smooth, acidic, almost clean in a way. Her attacks melted through anything like industrial-grade bleach if need be.

The "forgotten ones," though? They were made of rot—literal decomposition, waste, bacteria. Walking piles of sewage with teeth. Acidic, yes, but filthier in every possible sense.

And when the two met, they didn't cancel each other out. They coexisted. Watching Lysithea's slime burrow into that creature's body made it clear: pure slime didn't neutralize the rot, but it broke it apart, almost like bleach foaming up against mold. He could still see where the clean slime clung to the husk, while the corrupted parts dissolved into froth and pus.

'So just like purified water and tap water…' Finn rubbed his chin, satisfied with the comparison.

Exhaling, he slumped against the wall, head tilted back toward the ceiling. His body begged for rest. His eyes drifted toward Seraphina again.

She sat on a wall not far from Finn, still trying to collect herself. Her golden-white robes—once divine, practically glowing when he first met her—now looked pathetic. Filthy. Dark stains ate up the fabric, the shine gone, her holy aura replaced by something closer to "dumpster priestess chic."

Not that he was doing any better. His shoes were barely hanging on, the soles peeling off like wet cardboard. His black pants were torn in several places, and the zipper? Completely gone. Just a sad, gaping window where his crotch was, with only his underwear sparing him public indecency.

His shirt had fared no better—stained so thoroughly he couldn't even remember what color it used to be. Some foul bacterial rainbow had claimed it.

Yuck.

Both he and Seraphina were disasters. They didn't need healing—they needed a shower, a laundry service, and maybe holy water poured directly onto their souls.

But to his surprise, his wizard hat—his beautiful, stupidly perfect wizard hat—remained pristine. Crisp white. Not a single stain. It gleamed on his head like it had just been laundered by angels.

'Odd…' Finn thought. Probably enchanted. Or maybe hats just had a better union. Either way, he didn't question it.

Instead, his gaze slid back to Seraphina. This time, it lingered longer than it should.

He sighed, pushed himself off the wall, and walked toward her.

As he walked over, Finn noticed Seraphina examining her ruined robes. She looked genuinely upset—not just at the stains and filth, but at something deeper gnawing at her.

Still, he dropped down beside her, resting his elbows on his knees.

"You shouldn't be so upset," Finn said casually. "I mean, look at you—you still look holy as ever. Just… dirty hot. I bet you'll totally rock the Moistvile look."

The words left his mouth and instantly curdled. His face sank.

'Way to go, Finn… smooth as gravel. You absolute moron!' he screamed internally.

Seraphina turned her head and gave him a look like he had just spat on her family crest.

"I'm sorry…" he muttered in defeat.

But instead of lashing out, she smirked faintly. Then came a soft giggle, muffled behind her hand.

"You really are weird, you know that?"

"Well, yeah," Finn shrugged. "But at least I own it!"

"That's the thing… you own too much of it. You're honest about being disgusting."

"Okay, well… at least it's—uh—" Finn stalled, eyes drifting up like the chamber's ceiling like it had the answer. Then he jabbed a finger forward. "At least I'm honest and cool. Oh yeah." He nodded with exaggerated self-approval, like he'd just dropped the hottest wisdom of the decade.

Seraphina shook her head slowly, looking back down. Her fingers dug into her collar, pulling out a necklace Finn hadn't noticed before.

It was a circular medallion, half etched with radiant sunrays and stars, the other half with mountains and tiny trees. In the center sat a small white crystal, catching what little light the cavern offered.

Finn tilted his head. Rosary vibes. Definitely holy girl merch.

Seraphina caught his gaze. "I see you're curious about my Aetherlace?"

"That's what it's called?"

She blinked in surprise. "You… don't know the name?"

"Not even a clue," Finn said, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "I live under a rock. Pretty much everything in this world is news to me."

Her lips parted slightly. She looked between him and the pendant, still baffled. "…I can't believe you've gone this long without knowing."

"Shocking, I know. Go on, please educate me."

And so she did.

Seraphina touched the etched stars and sunrays first. "This represents the heavens." Then her finger traced the mountains and trees below. "This represents the land, where we live."

Finally, she tapped the white crystal in the center. "And this… represents the soul of every person."

"Ohhh," Finn muttered, genuinely intrigued. "So that crystal isn't the goddess herself?"

Seraphina shook her head softly. "No. The white crystal is humanity—all who were created by her. It is the bridge that connects the land to the heavens, allowing us to be blessed by our loving goddess. The rays of light above are a reminder that the heavens are always watching. That she is always watching."

Finn hummed, impressed despite himself. He hadn't expected such a detailed answer from what looked like just some piece of jewelry. But one question itched at his brain, and he couldn't hold it back any longer.

"How exactly do you know she's your goddess?"

Seraphina's expression lit with reverence. "In the beginning, the goddess created the lands and the waters. Then she created us—the humans—in her perfect image. In those days, she descended upon the land, but only one man was able to witness her holiness. That man was Thariel. He built the Church we know today, in honor of our eternal goddess."

Her voice carried pride, almost glowing in the dark cavern.

***

After some time of talking, the silence between them finally said what neither could: it was time to move. Time to reconnect with their teams.

As they trudged forward, Finn thought he knew what to expect—more slime, more rot, more disappointment. But what actually awaited them made his stomach drop.

Only then did he realize the real nightmare was just beginning.