Chapter Twenty-Five: Shift in Priorities

Alice closed her eyes after turning away from Zach, only to open them in a white room.

'System, where are we?' Alice asked. After a few minutes, the system didn't respond.

'System?'

"I'm sorry, Alice. I had to cut your connection with your powers for a moment. I hope you don't mind." A kind looking man appeared in front of Alice wearing a long black robe, with a sword hilt in his hand. He had a gray beard, and calm green eyes. "If you'd be so kind as to follow me."

Alice went to grab her rapier, before realizing she was in a sleeveless black dress with no weapons. "Who are you?"

The man laughed as he opened a door in the white room. "In due time, dear. In due time. I need to show you something so you can... have a shift in priorities."

Alice followed him down a hallway which felt like it kept getting longer. She began to feel tired the longer they walked, like a human after walking for hours on end.

"Here we are." The man stopped in front of another door as it opened, revealing a room that was on fire. "Don't worry, it's safe."

As they stepped into the room, Alice saw small a crack in the southernmost wall. It emitted a great power, a power that felt like it could destroy anything.

"What is this?" Alice asked as she shifted her gaze to the man.

The man turned his head to her before looking back at the crack. "You know all the theories for the end of the world? The ones that include a massive war, similar to Ragnarök? Gods will die in a fight as worlds burn before re-emerging to create new life?"

Alice slowly nodded her head before he continued. "This will be the cause of it all. Except I fear it will happen much sooner than I anticipated. Odin, Zeus, no god with a name has grown powerful enough. It also doesn't help that Zeus caused the Titanomachy in his universe, that idiot."

He smiled at Alice faintly. "My name. I've long since forgotten it. I only know my title now: Warden. I am who keeps this power sealed, but I won't be able to hold it for more than two hundred years."

"That's why I have certain beings being born in each of the ten known Universes. A blade to complete this sword, a shield, a set of armor composed of four beings, a gun, a bow, a spear, and an axe."

"These ten beings, along with help from each universes Gods will be what stops what I call Prisoner. It's why my title is Warden."

Alice stared at the man. "Why can't I just help when I need to?"

"You're a special case, Alice." Warden sighed. "You are the Goddess of your universe now, but not only have you not awoken as Fetoria once did, but you are also meant to be the blade of the sword."

"Awoken?" Alice tilted her head slightly.

"It means to give up your mortal self. Become a True Goddess and get rid of your mortal life. Forget your friends, family, and feelings. Become a being of power!" The man's attitude became aggressive for a moment as he spoke. "I'm sorry. It's just so nice to talk to a real person. Observers don't like to relax and talk about the worlds."

He shook his head as Alice looked back at the crack. "Give up on your mortal problems and awaken. Your body will change in a way that will make your much more powerful than maybe what's in there."

Alice felt the man's voice growing much more distant as she was suddenly back in the throne room.

Jason continued to stare at her. "How could you summon a Hero by yourself!?"

Alice looked around her, before walking out of the room.

"Lady Alice?" One of the former Demon leaves asked,"Are you alright?"

"I'm going for some fresh air." Alice frees her wings and flew high into the sky. She flew high above the clouds and in a straight direction once she got to a certain height.

Slowing down, she 'sat' on a cloud and stared blankly into the distance. "A shift in priorities..."

———

- .lheidifb. -

- Sys... hekeurh -

- System is... hsisidb -

- ... -

- Rebooting... -