Arriving at the duat and meeting moon knight(76)
prevoiusly in chapter 75
Back on Earth, it was the dead of night, with thick clouds gathering overhead, obscuring most of the moonlight from reaching the ground below. Beneath a bridge, a massive lizard, almost resembling a dragon, roared at Oliver, who stood his ground, wielding Peak. Unfazed by the creature, Oliver faced it head-on. As the draconic lizard lunged towards him, jaws gaping wide, Oliver simply drew his sword. Though his movement seemed casual, it was anything but. In a flash, he made a diagonal sword cut, and at that precise moment, the clouds in the sky parted.
-------------------------------
A rift was carved into the sky, and with a swift motion, Oliver's attack sliced through the draconic lizard's head, causing it to slide from its neck. Oliver breathed deeply, surveying the scene. Luckily, he managed to avoid damaging the bridge. "Huh, this is actually powerful," he remarked, glancing at his recovering MP. "Well, time to visit another realm," he decided, dismantling the lizard to retrieve its valuable parts. Activating his Chrono Nexus watch, he opened a portal and stepped through.
Upon arrival, Oliver noticed the sky was a dark, ominous red, with a bleeding red moon casting an eerie glow. The streets were crowded with Ushabtis, clay funerary figurines, and people of Egyptian heritage, distinguished by their traditional clothing. "Huh," Oliver mused, picking up a small claw figurine of the Egyptian god Set before imbuing it with an option. Though the options weren't impressive, they served their purpose, providing him with information about his current location. "The Duat, the Egyptian afterlife," he concluded, observing the structures and culture around him. "Yeah, that checks out," he remarked, beginning to walk through the city.
The atmosphere in the city of the dead was somber, but there was a strange calmness that enveloped Oliver. "Hmm, it's quite serene in here," he noted, looking up to see a floating boat, a sight that sparked an idea. "Yeah, I gotta make that," he resolved as he continued his exploration.
-Scene Change-
After traversing the city of the dead, Oliver was amazed to find that it comprised various cultures and people from different times, each with their own buildings, customs, and attire. It made sense, considering they were all from different points in Egyptian history. Oliver seized the opportunity to explore different eras of Egyptian civilization, collecting various items along the way.
"I never thought I would see a pharaoh in a nightclub, let alone a pharaoh crime lord," he chuckled to himself, passing by a club where such a spectacle unfolded. Suddenly, the aforementioned pharaoh was sent crashing through the nightclub, propelled by someone Oliver didn't expect to encounter - Moon Knight. The moon priest noticed Oliver, his frown indicating displeasure.
"It's you," Moon Knight stated as he observed Oliver, with a woman in red, gold, and white armor appearing behind him. She had black hair, olive skin, and brown eyes, her expression surprised upon seeing Oliver. "A living person in the Duat," she remarked before regaining
her composure. "You are not supposed to be here," she asserted, her tone firm. Oliver simply shrugged in response. "Well, I am not planning on staying here for long—" Before he could finish his sentence, he deftly caught something in his hand, reacting to the sound of a gunshot echoing through the area.
His eyes narrowed to slits, resembling a dragon's gaze, as he scanned the source of the disturbance. With a swift motion, he flew towards the direction of the shot, his draconic wings propelling him at lightning speed. Landing with precision, he found a human male wearing a jackal mask, wielding a gun and attempting to flee. Oliver wasted no time, swiftly descending and pinning the man to the ground.
Confusion registered on the man's face as he stammered, "Wait, wait, I... I didn't mean to shoot you. I was aiming for the Moon Knight." Oliver's expression remained impassive as he released the man, who promptly fled, only to be swiftly dealt with by Moon Knight's blade. The woman, identified as the Scarlet Scarab, the Blade of Taweret charged with overseeing the balance of the Duat, approached Oliver with a furrowed brow. "What is a living person doing in the Duat?" she demanded to know.
Oliver met her gaze calmly. "Oh, I am traveling through different dimensions and realms, but don't worry, I don't plan on creating trouble or getting involved in any business here. I'm just here to do some forging before I leave," he explained, honesty evident in his words. As Moon Knight and the Scarlet Scarab observed him skeptically, Oliver nonchalantly retrieved his crucible and began to forge.
"He really is here just to forge?" Layla, the Scarlet Scarab, whispered to Moon Knight, who grunted in response. "Don't let him fool you. He is dangerous," he warned. Layla nodded in agreement, watching Oliver closely as he worked. "I can see that," she conceded as Oliver removed his shirt, revealing his toned physique, prompting a curious glance from Moon Knight before he ushered Layla away.
-scene change-
A couple of hours after arriving in the Duat, Oliver could be found at the harbor, inspecting one of the flying boats he had acquired from a pharaoh. After demonstrating his qualifications to make the purchase, he became the proud owner of a Duat Soul Carrier, a vessel designed to transport souls from the material plane to the Duat. He admired the ship's ethereal design, running his hand over its smooth surface as he contemplated its magical properties.
"If I wanted to make my own, I'd either enchant it magically for flight or build an engine," he pondered aloud, his voice carrying over the tranquil waters of the harbor. He continued to examine the ship, finding it to his liking before bestowing it with an option.
[ Name: Duat's Soul Carrier ]
[ Grade: Purple ]
[ Description: This majestic flying ship is one of the many vessels tasked with ferrying the souls of the departed from the material plane to the Duat. Its ethereal design is both enchanting and practical, ensuring a safe and swift journey for its precious cargo. ]
[ Option 1: Soul Chamber - This passive option creates an independent environment within the ship tailored to the specific needs of its passengers. Whether they require warmth, comfort, or tranquility, the Soul Chamber ensures their journey is as peaceful as possible. (Rank: D) (Passive) ]
[ Option 2: Ethereal Shield - Surrounding the ship in a shimmering shield, this passive option not only protects it from external threats but also enhances its speed by 100%, allowing it to traverse the realms with unmatched swiftness. (Rank: D) (Passive) ]
[ Option 3: Miniaturization - With this passive option, the ship can be shrunk down to a toy-sized object at will, making it easily transportable and concealable when not in use. Despite its diminutive size, it retains all its magical properties and capabilities. (Rank: D) (Passive) ]
[Durability: 88% ]
The boat, adorned with a purple grade, bespoke its special nature, and Oliver's smile indicated his satisfaction with the option he chose. With a deft motion, he activated the Miniaturization option, shrinking the ship down to a toy-sized object that he could easily store in his shell home. "This was a nice harvest," he remarked, content with his acquisitions from the realm before preparing to depart. "Well, I can come back anytime I want," he concluded, opening a portal to a random location.
--------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: For those who are disappointed that Oliver isn't meeting or scrapping with gods, don't worry. I am quite literally about to write the volume where he takes on gods, conceptual beings, and Marvel's most powerful beings. In fact, I am going to create a list of people he needs to beat. It's not just going to be him fighting random people; it will include people who can provide him with special materials. In the meantime, enjoy the little time of peace that Oliver has, and maybe... just maybe, take a good hard look at your favorite equipment that Oliver has.