44 Tartarus (Part 1)

He felt like his body was so light as if he has no weight whatsoever. He also felt like he was floating, it had the same feeling as floating on water. He tried to move slightly and it felt almost like his movement was smooth as if he needed not strength to move.

Furthermore, he felt like something was crawling and starting to cover his entire body. For some reason it felt familiar, he couldn't understand why, but he just felt it. Even the sensation felt so familiar.

He tried to remember the reason why he was feeling the sensation. Immediately, he had come to a realization. Due to that, he swiftly opened his eyes, as he did that, a blinding light caught his sight, then it felt like he was being pulled towards something, as he went through the light, he covered his eyes due to the sudden brightness. However, before he was pulled into it, amidst the blinding light, he caught a glimpse of what seemed like deep darkness.

Shortly after, he felt like he was falling – no, he was precisely falling. As he fell, he opened his eyes widely to see what was going on. What he saw baffled him a bit. What he witnessed was blue – no, it was sky blue, and white clouds.

In his confusion, he gazed dumbfoundedly at the thing that has the same color of the sky while trying to process and connect everything that happened. However, in his contemplation, he suddenly hit something on his back. He was surprised, but of course, he was not hurt.

…What the hell?

He was lying flat on something. As he laid down, he already knew what he was laying on. He used his hand to make sure and held it.

…Grass?

"Grass!?"

He immediately got up at that realization and looked around. He was even more surprised than before. He was surrounded by grassland and a few hills. He looked closely and grabbed what seemed like dirt.

… This is dirt!

Then he immediately got up on his feet.

What's going on? Where's the black hole?!

He couldn't understand anything. For all he knew, he was pulled into something that looked like a black hole. With that thought, he thought that he would forever drift into that unknown, and forever his body will distort, and might eventually kill him. At least, that was one of the theories he thought and heard about black holes.

However, if he was indeed swallowed by something like that, he was sure that he was pulled into something that was not of Earthly origin. Into someplace that he would not recognize, or perhaps into nothingness. But what was currently happening was totally unexpected.

Am I back on Earth?

If that's the case, then perhaps something happened to the world he once knew, he never saw a clean and calming sight like this before. Everything looked so clean, the grasses were purely green, even the air he was breathing in was fresh, it felt kind of fresher than the air in the forest.

Then could it be time travel?

There were theories that going through a black hole can make you travel through time. Then if that's the case, what happened to Earth? Could it be that the humans had finally taken care of nature and the world? Well, he immediately crossed out that idea because he thought it was impossible.

Then, could it be that the humans had destroyed each other out? Killed themselves over such ridiculous reasons? A selfish war which never cared about the damage it might cause to the world and its people?

Yeah… perhaps that. Or maybe this was in the past. Hmm.

However, there was one crucial question that must be asked. The one that would trample all the theories he just made.

Still, was that even a black hole?

That was the question which suddenly overtook him, he couldn't give a total answer. However, he had a gut feeling that it was not really a black hole, but just something quite similar. Especially to the gravitational pull part.

All of a sudden, he was struck by a vital realization.

Wait, why am I even thinking about this now? Where are my servants!!?

He couldn't see any of them in front of him so he quickly turned around. After he did, he shrugged in surprise.

He saw the ruins of his precious mansion. The first home of his creations. All of it was broken in pieces. Then, flames of anger began to grow within him. How dare anyone just destroy the home he made for his creations? That was unforgivable. Anyone would be angry if their home was destroyed.

"A-aagh—"

He was suddenly snapped out from the anger when he heard groaning nearby him. Immediately he went to the source of the sound. There he saw a beautiful lady with a pair of long pointy ears wearing a maid uniform. It seemed she was about to get up.

He quickly went to her side and kneeled to one knee. Then he smoothly extended his hand as though offering it to a beautiful young lady, and he tenderly smiled.

"Are you alright, Cleia?"

The beautiful lady was startled when she heard that familiar voice. When she gazed at the person beside her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"L-Lord Xyn!"

"Get up, Cleia. Take my hand."

Cleia shifted her eyes to the hand.

"Y-Yes."

She slowly and gently reached for the hand extended by her master. Then Xyn gently pulled her up while also placing a hand on her back as though she was something fragile.

"T-Thank you, lord."

"Hm… It's nothing."

"Where are we?"

"I don't know. But more importantly, we need to find the others. They should be nearby."

"I understand."

"Hm, or they should be already standing now. You didn't lose consciousness, did you?"

"Um, no. I just felt dizzy for some reason."

"I see."

Xyn pondered why she would feel dizzy. Perhaps it was when he felt like he was floating. But he didn't feel dizzy though, he only had a weird feeling, it was like floating on water. Then it may have a different effect on Xyn for some reason, perhaps due to his level.

Then Xyn heard sounds of grasses being moved nearby, gradually the number of those sounds increased. Shortly after, in Xyn's point of view, he could now see some of his servants standing up.

He saw Aesyla, Mira, Ambrosia, Nisea, Cardia, Fera, Xelya and Sagremor. He smiled in joy knowing that they are safe. However, the others could not be seen, perhaps they may have fallen on the other side of the rubbles of the mansion.

"Sisters!"

Cleia shouted to her sisters with a really happy expression on her face. It appeared she was relieved that her sisters were safe. Then she quickly rushed towards her sisters. The first one she reached was Aesyla, then she hugged her with no hesitation.

"C-Cleia?"

"I'm so glad you guys are alright!"

She said as though she was about to cry.

"Ah, hm."

Then the other maids gazed at Cleia with an amused and happy smile on their faces.

Xyn, on the other hand, was also, of course, glad they were alright. Furthermore, witnessing the healing scene before him relinquished a bit of the flames of anger in his heart.

Xyn changed his sights on the two guardians near him.

"Are you two alright?"

"Yes. Surprisingly. I thought I was a goner."

"I-I'm alright lord."

Xyn looked at Xelya and focused on the staff in her hand.

She's still holding it even at this moment huh.

Xyn patted Xelya on the head and tenderly smiled.

"I'm glad you're alright."

Then Xyn heard sounds of grasses and it sounded like those were coming towards them. Xyn prepared himself to attack just in case. After all, they were in unknown land and place. He can't afford to be careless anymore, especially after what happened.

However, he immediately lowered his guard when he saw familiar faces heading towards him. The ones approaching were Criswell, Adrasteia, Brutus, and Agiel.

When they reached closer to Xyn, they all bowed. Xyn looked around and it appeared they were all there and safe, so he sighed in relief.

"It's great you're all okay. Now then, as we are in an unknown place, do not lower your guard."

Everyone responded in affirmative.

"So, does anyone have any idea where we are?"

Sagremor asked.

"It appears we are in a grassland. Yet, I have no idea where we are." Criswell said.

"We are indeed clueless." Xyn quietly said.

"However my lord. May I ask we set aside that topic for now?" Criswell said.

"Why?"

"I want to settle a problem. It's about how the culprits got through our defenses unnoticed."

Xyn agreed on settling that problem first due to the reason he also can't understand why he wasn't notified about it. Thus, he turned his eyes on the two which he had suspicions on. The two walked out of the mansion without telling anyone, so they must know something.

It wasn't just Xyn who looked at the two, the others were also intently looking at them.

"Brutus… Agiel. Care to explain?" Xyn asked them in a cold tone.

The two of them bowed their head and glanced at each other. They looked nervous, for Xyn, it was plainly obvious. They can't even look at Xyn nor on the others but only unto the ground and to each other.

Shortly, they suddenly fell on one knee and deeply bowed as though they were in regret.

"I deeply apologize my lord!"

"I deeply apologize my lord!"

The two of them said in unison.

"I know our apologies alone won't be enough but –"

"Explain."

Agiel's words were cut by Xyn's cold voice.

Then as if they have no other choice, Brutus spoke.

"I… I knew there were intruders due to my minions being eliminated. Then, I and Agiel went out to take care of it."

"Then why didn't you tell me!!?"

Brutus and Agiel shrugged in their master's sudden rise of voice – no, it was not just them but also the others. With a sudden change of tone alone determines that their master was indeed angry and displeased.

"The two of you went past me and the others! How hard is it to tell any of us!? Give me a reason WHY!!? WHY DIDN'T THE TWO OF YOU TELL US!?"

Their master continued however now showing more of the anger he was feeling inside. Furthermore, it was supposed to be the two to feel fear from their master, however, that was no longer the case.

The other servants began to feel frightened, they began to breathe as how someone in fear would be. The pressure in the air also began to change, it was like getting harder to breathe. The air felt like it turned dark and gloomy and if felt like the air itself was choking everyone. The other servants could do nothing now but stand frozen in their master's anger. It was the first time they've seen their master angry.

However, in spite of that, Agiel grew the courage to answer his master. Besides, if no one answers, the master might get angrier than before.

"We… We didn't want to trouble you my lord, it was a day of celebration so…"

"YOU FOOLS! HOW CAN THERE BE A CELEBRATION WHEN EVERYONE'S LIFE IS IN THREAT! I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU! IT WAS OUR HOME! IT'S NATURAL TO TELL US IF IT'S IN DANGER! BUT YOU DIDN'T! BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU PUT EVERYONE'S LIFE IN DANGER!"

The two had nothing to say nor excuse to give, all they could do was lower their head in shame. Thus, for several seconds there was only silence.

Meanwhile, Xyn had realized that he had said too much and also realized that he had lost his composure. So he took a deep breath to calm himself down.

…Wait, it was not totally their fault. We never expected for them to attack… They attacked us with our lowest guard possible. Dammit!

Xyn felt like he was partly responsible for what happened. He dropped his guard down, he was so focused on the celebration that he had come to ignore any possible threats. If only he immediately took action when he saw the two of them went out, this never would have happened.

I'm also such a fool! So much for being their master…

Then amidst Xyn's blaming on himself, Brutus spoke.

"Considering everything that happened, master. I have come to the conclusion that in my incompetence and foolishness, I will only hinder you. Thus, I will willingly take my life in order to no longer bring you problems, as well as in hopes to atone for my sins."

"As will I, lord." Agiel followed.

Saying so, Brutus's staff began to glow and Agiel's hands began to be engulfed by flames. Then, they began to move their hands as though they were about to hit themselves.

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone froze in their master's loud shout.

"I didn't give you life for you to just take away! You should give importance to the life I've given you, not just casually throw it away. Value it!"

The two of them have come to a realization in the words of their creator. So the two of them lowered their hands.

"I deeply apologize."

"I sincerely apologize."

"Just, don't make the same mistake again."

"Yes, my lord."

"Yes, my lord."

"Then, I forgive you, Brutus, Agiel."

Both of them were surprised that the master forgave them all of a sudden. They never expected nor thought they would be forgiven, so for a moment they didn't believe what they've heard.

Well, Xyn could never stay angry at them for too long as well as on the other creations, after all.

"We are grateful for your kindness my lord!"

Both of them said in unison.

"Besides, they used an unknown method. Something that I've never heard of before."

"You mean the barrier and the hole master?" Criswell asked.

"Yes, those."

Xyn thought of it and imagined different scenarios. If they managed to notice the intruders or known about them, he thought that they would still use the barrier in the end. They planned it, everything. And for them to sneak to the mansion, it means they were confident. Indeed, they should be confident on the barrier they used. In short, Xyn thought that them being sent to this unknown place was kind of inevitable.

That barrier was one of the things he never expected. He had never heard of a barrier that powerful. If it was cast by a person, then that person must've been more than level 100 to cast that level of a barrier, however, Xyn thought that the chance of that will be very low, he never heard of such a powerful individual. Then the other one would be that they used a magic item or weapon, magic items were a thing, so it must be one of them. But if it was that powerful, then they might have been through a lot to create one.

However, there was still a thought of them killing the intruders before they could cast the barrier. Even so, considering that the enemy was someone they've faced and killed his allies, Xyn could imagine that they would do it even through death.

Vincent, that bastard. When I see him, I'll make sure he will suffer before he dies!

Xyn clenched his fist in hate and anger.

Then a question popped in Xyn's head.

Wait, how did they even find us?

The mansion was deep within the forest and far away from any humans. So Xyn was confident that no human would manage to find them, so how did they.

Did they use divination magic?

That was also something that should be considered. Divination magic could be learned almost anywhere so it was likely to be used. However, if that was the case, then Xyn should have noticed that divination magic was used. With his anti-divination magic that was always on effect, the divination spell cast near him would be broken and would hurt the caster and might kill him. Then that could conclude that they never used divination magic. However, there was still the fact that maybe they used magic that Xyn never heard of.

How did they do it?

In deep thought, Xyn looked at the sky.

So, what if they didn't use magic.

Xyn thought of methods that could be the way they used to find the mansion. As he gazed at the sky, he finally thought of some things.

Oh! Then they could've used drones, or perhaps planes. But, wouldn't we at least notice those? Perhaps they managed to sneak those. However, what if there was something beyond those two.

Then Xyn bit his lip in distaste.

What if they used satellites, after all, those things are out of the world so no way we could detect them. Also, those don't use magic. Those bastards! Dammit, if they really used those, then it would be likely for them to find us. Aaaah! Technologies are troublesome!

With those thoughts in mind, another question popped in his head.

How did they even managed to pinpoint and specifically find my mansion!? Don't tell me they really went to look around the world. Then they must be insane or had a lot of people.

With no more questions appeared in his mind, Xyn snapped out of his contemplation and returned to reality.

With it, he saw his servants casually looking at him as though they were waiting.

How long have I been thinking?

"What were we talking about again?"

"Um, the barrier and the hole my lord."

"Ah, yes that. I've never heard that level of magic as well as the hole. That said, I've also thought that if they really have those level of magic, then it's likely the same thing would happen in the end."

Xyn looked at the kneeling Brutus and Agiel.

"So, you two don't have to fully blame yourselves."

He said as he smiled. The servants were all confused about that. It was such a sudden change in his mood.

"Rise, the two of you."

The two of them responded in affirmative and stood up.

"Criswell, wear your full battle gear. We don't know this land, so we'll be having a look around."

"Y-Yes lord!"

"Before we go. I'll be creating a temporary headquarters here, I won't make it too big to avoid unnecessary attention. So the rest of you will be staying here. Going in groups might get troublesome and separating is a bad idea."

"Do you really have to go lord?" Criswell asked.

"Yes, I want to see what is out there so I can think of what to do next."

Well, that was not only because of that. In addition to that was because he felt responsible for their situation, especially with the fact that he was their leader. Thus, he decided to go himself in order to make amends.