Lord Of The Mysteries: A Slug of Time

"Can you feel it? The effects of Ritual?"

Just as Klein said that, the gigantic dead body of the Evernight Demonic wolf appeared in front of Amanises. On it lay three things: Three crystallised near transparent dark hearts seemingly absorbing all illumination around them, concealing and cursing the surroundings to an unfortunate end. 

The Knight of Misfortune characteristics!

However, Amanises's gaze was drawn to the empty space which seemed to cause all three characteristics to rotate around it. She instinctively extended her hand, but froze in place as her instinct was stolen by Klein's. "This is the Uniqueness of Darkness." He commented as "He" controlled the empty space to move it towards him, while sealing the characteristics of those who wished to follow it . 

Amanises restrained herself, yet her gaze remained fixed on the Uniqueness. "I see nothing… in fact, if not for this primal attraction, convergence, I would completely forget it's here." She absentmindedly muttered, earning a nod from Klein. "It makes sense, if you simply examine your own authorities as a servant of 'Concealment'."

Amanises nodded, as two of the Knight of Misfortune Beyonder characteristics appeared before him. "For now, I will keep the Uniqueness and the last sequence 1 characteristic within Sefirah Castle, and slowly chip away Flegrea remaining will form them. It's a uniqueness so it will take quite a long time for that to be done." 

Suddenly, Klein paused, his pupil dilating while his gaze remained fixed at Darkness Uniqueness. This… Mystical patterns appeared in his eyes as he examined the characteristics and Flegre's corpse as well. Amanises noticed this sudden change in demeanour, but before she voiced a question, Klein relaxed while the sealed Knight of Misfortune characteristic and the Darkness Uniqueness vanished, entering Sefirah Castle. 

"As for these two…" Klein resumed as if nothing had happened, turning to the remaining characteristics while he pulled the projection of a cauldron and let it lay before Amanises. "I can seal the mental imprint of Flegrea within them. Mind you, this does not include the Primordial will of the characteristics, only the imprint of the previous owner."

Amanises keenly noted, watching as Klein put the two characteristics within the summoned cauldron. He then crouched down before the body of the Annihilation Demonic Wolves, and said. "To craft a potion requires two sets of ingredients. The main ingredients being the potion itself and then there are supplementary ingredients which are used to lessen the corruption brought about by drinking the potion."

Just as Klein said that, he brought out a knife and a small tube, stabbing Flegrea's dead body, causing blood to pour out, which Klein then collected in the small tube. While he could simply steal the blood from the corpse, he suddenly felt the need to take his time drawing it. As for why a knife could pierce through the flesh of a dead God, that was because Klein had applied a controlled version of space destruction on the tip of the knife.

Watching him made Amanises recall the potion formula of Knight of Misfortune. 

"Knight Of Misfortune.

"Main Ingredients: One Knight of Misfortune characteristic. 

"Supplementary Ingredients: 30 Milliliter Blood of a dead Knight of Misfortune."

Amanises gulped, while Klein poured the blood inside the cauldron. Almost immediately, a black fog was ejected from the vessel, covering the mountain range in seconds. The cauldron shook as the characteristics and the crimson liquid, combined together, forming a shapeless dark void within. 

Amanises looked around, noticing thin, almost invisible strands of hair protruding out of the dark shapeless void within the cauldron. Klein took out a bottle and poured this shapeless void in the bottle, stirring it out around a little, before turning towards Amanises. 

The beautiful women let out a sigh, gazing at the shapeless void—the Knight of Misfortune Potion. The potion seemed to devour all bits of lightning and illumination, akin to a pool of pure darkness. 

Amanises fixed her gazed at the potion for a long time, feeling her heartbeat quicken. Klein noticed this and assured her, "Don't worry you have completed the Ritual. It will help you anchor yourself during the advancement."

Amanises extended her hand, taking hold of the potion. She deeply sighed, pausing as a thought occurred to her. "You said you could seal the mental imprint of Mas—Flegrea?" Seeing Klein nod, Amanises narrowed her gaze and continued. "I have an idea but I don't know how feasible it is.

"You once told me existence at our level needs to have anchors to fight against corruption from the Original will of the characteristic? How about instead of sealing Flegrea's mental imprint, I use it to fend off the will of Eternal Darkness?" Klein lifted his hand caressing his chin. 

"I don't have too many anchors, so this would be a better way to take care of this issue and achieve stability. By having Flegrea's remnant take care of the mental imprint within the characteristic, I can then have my anchors act as a pillar for support."

Klein remained silent for some moments, keeping his gaze fixed on her. After a while, he slowly spoke in a serious tone. "This would work but on the basis that you can handle the…" Klein paused, his voice becoming distant. ""Wills" within the characteristics during ascension and can act fast enough to immediately direct Flegrea's Will unto the original imprints."

Amanises nodded with a smile. "Have faith in me." Klein chuckled upon hearing that, a smile likewise forming on his face. "That I do." 

They locked eyes; dark eyes reflecting each other, before Amanises took hold of the potion, and brought it to her lips. Her eyes remained fixed on her friend while doing so.

The shapeless dark void, that was the potion, seeped into her mouth, down into her throat entering her body. In an instant, Amanises felt herself "fall" into a never ending pit of obliviousness. The more she "fell", the less she felt as her senses dulled, her powers followed, and then her memories were mostly erased. She was rapidly approaching a state of complete isolation. 

Her memories especially flared, showing her past homes, her parents, her work, all these cherished memories seemed to work against her, feeling more and more distant, as if she could never reach them.

Maybe she really never could. 

The realization caused Amanises's "eyes" to flutter open, as she squinted them, and tried to overcome the "fall" as well as the all encompassing darkness. But she was at an impasse. This Darkness felt endless, insurmountable, terrifying. She was scared, she was alone. She was once more going to lose herself into it, with no chance of waking up.

It was at this moment that she felt a weight on her. The endless Darkness seemed to move as a gigantic shadow formed, one reminiscent of a primordial demonic wolf. The wolf howled, and "His" once distant sound grew in intensity, until it resonated with Amanises. Or more precisely, the characteristics she had just consumed. 

The resonance made her more attuned with the Darkness, as she stabilized her "fall" and recovered her other senses fully, her memories following as her identity and sense of self were whole once again. 

She then walked, seemingly defying gravity as she ascended the pit, aiming to get out of it. As she did, the feeling in her back increased; its weight doubled—no, it triple, or quadrupled. It seemed endless. 

Flegrea. Amanises thought as the gigantic shadow of this True Deity moved, and fused with hers, carrying with it an endless amount of demonic wolves, undead creatures, humans, and beings of all other races, with the demonic wolves being the most prevalent. They all seemed to latch onto her, as if wanting her to sink in all their misery.

However, Amanises continued her ascension, not ignoring their unfortunate and disparaging wails, but instead carrying them on the ever growing weight on her back. This was her burden, one she had created by bringing an misfortunate "End" to an Unstoppable Obstacle. And one she would carry with her everywhere she went.

Her burden.

The more she moved, the more things cleared as a river—the River of Fate seemed to appear on her back, a main tributary attaching to her "burden" as well, but she didn't stop to analyze it. However, one thing did draw her attention.

She turned and peeked at the pit below, endless, boundless. She knew she had merely grazed its surface, and if she wished to stand by "his" side, then she'll have to one day plunge completely into its depths.

She let out a sigh, and turned back to peer at the "light" above. She pacified the raging will of Flegrea within the two Knight of Misfortune Beyonder characteristics, and then used it to fend off the Primal will of the Eternal Darkness, and another mysterious will she couldn't fully comprehend. 

Nevertheless, she proceeded with it, and at this time she realized that her facing Flegrea for her ritual was the perfect scenario. This was because the Misfortune and resentment "He" felt for her could resonate with "His" will within her, and seek to fuse with it. Through this, the will could be stabilized for a more efficient use. Flegrea's blood aided greatly with this fusion.

Amanises felt slightly enlightened as she understood something: A Knight indeed had to carry a burden with them, but this wasn't a disadvantage, as it could be effectively used to exert their will.

This was an acting principle she could make on the spot due to her favourable ritual, but she still needed to actively act on it in the real world inorder for digestion and a positive feedback to be felt from her potion. 

After the wills all reached a standstill, she used her faint anchors to further stabilize herself, and finally walked out of the pit.

In the real world, standing quietly, motionless, Klein, wearing an empty expression, observed the spot Amanises stood at before, now only laying a glass bottle as the Goddess of Misfortune had vanished upon drinking her potion, as if having instinctively concealed herself.

Suddenly, the Half-Fool's intuition was triggered, as he noticed his surroundings grow dark once again, prompting Him to crack a smile. 

A figure suddenly outlined itself from thin air—a beautiful woman wearing a simple plain black dress, seemingly enhanced by Darkness. Her silky, long black hair fell to her knees, and partly covered her fair arms.

The woman had an extremely beautiful face, with Two large wolf ears protruding from the top of her head, while a fluffy tail peeked out from the back. Her deep dark eyes fluttered open, realising a sense of serenity, repose, but also an incomprehensibly large burden streaming from an endless stream of misfortune which instinctively caused the ever cautious Klein to feel goosebumps.

He sighed and relaxed himself, watching as the woman's lips curled, while her head slightly tilted. Klein tipped his top hat, giving a gentlemanly bow, his action repeated by the women who curtsied by holding the helm of her dress and giving a faint bow. As he straightened his back, Klein placed his hat back, and redirected his eyes to the floating woman, who did the same. After a while, he softly spoke.

"Shall I honour this Knight upon successful advancement?"

A chuckle escaped from the women, the new King of Angels, the sole Knight of Misfortune. 

Amanises.