Lulled by the sound of the rain falling outside on her castle, an impressively large purple lamia was half asleep on a throne, her hair cascading over one armrest. Two large, curved horns and a flower were crowning a neutral expression as her amber gaze lost itself far in front of her. She was enjoying the tranquility of the moment to indulge herself in contemplation, something that she didn't have the possibility to do for a long time now.
Alipheese the First. The Founder. The Dark Godddess. The Mother of All Monsters. The Bane of Light. The Defiler of Humanity.
She was now known by a lot of names, and the last ones were born from Ilias, the Goddess of Light and her enemy into the endless conflict that the latter started… How long ago again? Years? Decades? She couldn't even remember.
That war found its origins in her own actions from a long time ago, after all. It all started when Alipheese saw land-dwelling creatures evolve from single cell organisms to primitive apes that became sapient creatures capable of logic and reasoning, and, most importantly, able to socialize and communicate with each others. She realized she was feeling lonely, and consequently, she started experimenting to create her own companions by basing her designs on those humans while adding animal components in hope of increasing their adaptability to their environment. It had taken her a lot of tries to create beings both intelligent, social and able to sustain themselves. The last aspect had been a key problem in her creatures until she noticed that humans enjoyed procreating for the sake of the pleasure brought by the act. She decided to orient the design of her creations to make them attractive to humans while also giving them the ability to procreate and to feed on their sexual fluids. Her goals was to have creatures that could live and mingle with humans to thrive. In the end, only female creatures could survive her alterations, and she ended with six different creatures with the genetic codes of different species which could procreate naturally to birth more monsters.
She was surprised, however, to see that while some humans enjoyed the company of her creations, others were repelled by their more exotic appearances. And so she slightly genetically altered a few humans, implanting a dominant trait that weakened them when they had sex with monsters, allowing her creations to more easily feed and procreate. A few generations later, most of them were affected by what they called "Critical Ecstasy". At the same time, monsters had started growing in numbers as well, since her six original monsters, from that point on known as the Six Ancestors, started having several children who themselves had children with other humans. She soon moved back and enjoyed seeing her creations thrive while they occasionally gave her company and helped her establish a residence. At a moment, she even had a child herself with a human, although her partner was unable to bear through the act, as her sheer natural power and skills killed him. It mattered little to her, and she made sure her child would become well versed in the ways of the world to guide monsters while she herself would reduce her involvement with humanity and her own children to free herself from the burden of reigning... Until one fateful day.
She remembered all too well her original encounter with the one that called herself Ilias, the Goddess of Light. That blond angel descended from the sky, her blue eyes showing nothing but pure fury, and she proceeded to accuse Alipheese to want nothing more than to defile and destroy her creations. Surprised by that sudden turn of event, Alipheese had reflexively answered her that she didn't see anything that marked the humans as belonging to Ilias. For a reason, the other goddess was absolutely furious at her answer and attempted to attack her. The fight soon degenerated into an all-out brawl when her monsters supported her while the other brought in angels that looked like so many copies of her, and eventually into a war when humanity itself got involved, some representatives siding with her while some other sided with that Ilias.
That war was an abomination. Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost on each and every side. That goddess and her angels were less numerous than her monsters, but they were extremely powerful fighters on their own and worked in better synergy. But fortunately, her own forces were still managing to overwhelm her opponents on the battlefield, and her Six Ancestors kept surviving even as they led their armies and fought fiercely battle after battle. That stupid war and the suffering it brought would be over soon, and she would finally be able to work on perfecting her design in peace afterwards.
She was pulled out of her reverie by a powerful moan echoing from the hallway, and the doors opened to reveal Minagi, the ancestor of all succubi.
Of all the six, she was the one that polarized Alipheese herself the most. On the one hand, when it came to attracting mates, her design was perfect and the succubus herself knew it. Her athletic body was curved in all the right places with impressively large breasts, and was further decorated by power tattoos that highlighted her shapely forms. A cascade of hair that was half pale blue, half pink was crowned by two black, thick horizontal horns while her red eyes seemed to promise forbidden pleasure. In her back were three pairs of bat wings, their insides respectively blue, red and purple for a reason that the Dark Goddess didn't quite understand herself. She also emitted a sweet aroma and a strange aura that triggered almost everyone's sexual instinct. Most men were simply burning with lust in her presence, and would gladly lie down in front of her should she ask.
On the other hand, her feeding method was so effective that she could directly devour her victim's vital essence. The process was pleasant as well for both sides and could be performed simultaneously with the classical way, but she never held back and often killed her partners in throes of pleasure, something they thoroughly enjoyed if the number of humans that kept presenting themselves to her were any indications, and all in spite of her rising body count. Of course, that design was also present in her children, something that could become concerning should their number grow too high.
Curiously, instead of choosing to birth children through the biological way, she fashioned an ability to transform human women into other, slightly less powerful succubi. She herself only created three of them that she called the Lilith Sisters, and they in turn started turning more women into their own kin. She had expected Tamamo to be the one to come out with something like that since the sly fox was more skilled in the magical arts, but for a reason, Minagi was the one and the only one to do so.
In any case, she was glad the succubus was alive and well. She had been quite seriously wounded in a fight against one of those seraph a few days ago, but Tamamo No Mae had stepped in and pushed back the assailant. Minagi then took the opportunity to recover at the castle, feeding on several men and angels that had volunteered or had been taken prisoner. And after a few hours of indulging herself, she was as fresh as the morning dew, her wings flapping happily.
"Greetings, mother, how are you doing in this day?" Even her tone was as sweet as honey.
"I am currently fine, than you for asking." She pointed to an orb that was resting on the armchair. "I am waiting for a report from Saja. Your sister was leading the assault on the last stronghold on Sentora near the Navel of the World, and I want to know how the assault went. Should her attack be successful, only the Ilias Continent will remain in Ilias' grasp."
Minagi chuckled as she sat herself mid-air in front of her mother, one leg crossed over the other. "She's quite the egomaniac, don't you think? Calling a continent after her…"
"I see your point. Even the local settlements have Ilias in their name. Iliasville, Iliasburg, Iliasport… She shows an alarming lack of originality."
"We already saw that with her angels." Minagi exhaled as she leaned back. "As powerful as they are, most of them are too limited in their skills, and they don't look that much different. Halo, wings, holy magic… Her first lieutenants are just copies of herself." She chuckled. "I must admit, I would not mind discovering more about them and their own practices..."
A small spot of darkness appeared on the resting orb. Alipheese focused on the globe, and the next instant, an image of a regal-looking monster appeared. Her hairs were made of snakes that concealed the most important bits of her large chest, and her arms were replaced by feathery wings, while her lower half was that of a snake. Her smile alone already promised good news.
"Greetings mother! I am glad to announce that our assault on the Navel of the World has been successful and with minimal casualties. Tamamo and Kanade's trap was successful, and we could take the angels by surprise afterwards."
"Great job, Saja. Rest and prepare to move on to Ilias Continent. This war has already lasted too long as it is…"
"Yes, we'll start when we're ready."
"Say, sister..." Minagi leaned forward. "Did you grab a few angels for me?"
Saja chuckled. "No, I'm sorry. However, I'm sure you'll manage to get yourself a few of them should you accompany us to Ilias Continent."
"Oh, but I will. I will also bring my lovely daughters too…"
"We'll be on the southern coast. See you there!"
The communication cut off. Minagi got up from her invisible chair and stretched herself while moaning excessively sensually.
"Well then. I'm off. I already missed the party in the Navel of the World, I wouldn't miss the one in Ilias Continent for anything…"
"Take care."
Alipheese fell back into contemplation when she noticed several wards placed around the room triggering. Feeling something important, she temporarily deactivated them while several guards posted in the shadows prepared themselves.
The next instant, a projection of Ilias appeared in front of her. The Goddess of Light seemed as haughty and proud as ever, even as her world was falling apart. Alipheese could only recognize her audacity.
"Ilias, are you finally asking to surrender?"
Ilias chuckled haughtily. "Yes, I came here to ask for yours. Oh, before you start telling me that the shameless harlots that make for your children are victorious and now in control of the entire central continent, I want to tell you that this victory does not mean anything in the grand scheme of things. This world means nothing to me if your children keep defiling it. I would see it burn before that happen."
Alipheese's eyes narrowed. "Do you care to elaborate? I do know for a fact that you are quite one for violent, destructive schemes, but I didn't think you would be quite as insane as planning to destroy the world you live on."
"Oh, but you are entirely right. You only seem to forget that I live in Heaven while you only have this world as a refuge. As to how I would do it… You know our powers are equals. You've seen what my lieutenants are capable off. You might be able to kill all of us, but we would still be able to destroy this world beforehand. It would be very easy: We just need to kill the Four Spirits. With the elements thrown into chaos by their death, everybody else will just die afterward."
While her expression remained neutral, Alipheese was aghast. "Are you actually telling me that you are ready to personally destroy those humans you consider your followers for the sake of destroying us?"
"You and your abject creations already defiled most of them. Those are no longer my loyal subjects. And if that ball of dirt doesn't harbor anyone looking up to me, then it is as good as dead."
Alipheese leaned back on her chair. "So you want us to simply die to satiate your ego."
"I would be happy to see your life end, but I am ready to make a compromise. If you and your lieutenants sealed yourselves away from this world, I will allow the remaining monstrosities to live on their own accord… As long as they stay away from my own creations, that is. I can only be so much magnanimous."
The Dark Goddess took the time to ponder the situation. Would monsterkind survive without the Six Ancestors? Her own child could lead them, most races counted enough specimens to survive and thrive, and if they didn't meet opposition stronger than humans, then they could further develop without issues. However… She didn't feel comfortable accepting the terms of someone who was actively threatening her and everyone with destruction. Besides, What guarantee she would have that Ilias would indeed let them be?"
Not before long, she was interrupted by her counterpart. "The clock is ticking, do you really want everything you did to be destroyed? All of your children reduced to dust in an empty void?"
"Do you swear you and your angels will let my monsters live alone?"
"I swear we will not meddle with them directly. The air down there is bad for my angels anyway."
"…Very well, I accept your conditions. Me and my lieutenants will leave this world be."
Ilias chuckled. "I knew that you would see reason. I will personally see to your removal. You have three days, and I want you to recall all your damnable ancestors now. I will take my leave. I can feel your dark taint starting to come through this projection already."
As the image disappeared, Alipheese closed her eyes. Did she take the good decision? She could hardly tell for now.
A minute later, she sent a mental message to her second-in-command.
"Saja. Come back and bring your sisters with you. I need all of you right now."
As she cut the communication, Ilias wallowed on her throne, sighing in relief. That sorry excuse of a goddess had fallen for the bait hook, line and sinker. She was going to get rid of her enemy simply like that. Why didn't she think of it earlier? If those damnable spawns disappeared, she could then sweep in and finish exterminating monsters as soon as the more powerful abominations were away.
Well, the fact that Lucifina, Micaela and Eden were all too seriously wounded to do anything right now was a good reason. It was only because all her direct lieutenants were out of commission while the Six Ancestors were breathing down her neck that she considered the option. After all, she wouldn't even have tolerated anything less than the total destruction of monsterkind in the first place if she had it her way.
Her real issue in this war was that this defiler only had to give a minor part of her power to a creature and groom it a little to make a powerful servant, while Ilias herself had to give up a large part of her power to create a new angel. Granted, that task was now in Eden's hand (who got incapacitated by that damn eldritch, childish, glutonnous tentacle heap), and she could still recover her own power afterward with time, but creating more angels was out of the question. Ilias was initially convinced that her angels, supported by the humans she personally raised would have been enough to oppose the monsters while she held back her power to end the Dark Goddess herself in an epic confrontation. Unfortunately, two major troubles countered her plans.
The first was that the Dark Goddess wasn't as active on the battlefield as Ilias hoped her foe would be. She was apparently content to let her children do the work for herself. As such, Ilias herself always stood back, waiting for her opponent to show up to crush her with the support of her own lieutenants. But that clash never happened. Instead, she had nearly caught up Saja a few times, and the last attempt was a critical failure that killed hundreds of her own angels when their target was revealed to be that damn Kanade disguised by this cursed fox. The slime apparently exploded, blasting every angels that were too close and creating a huge crater in the middle of a plain. Then she apparently slithered away just fine and even ate the ones that were unable to escape.
The second was that humanity, the species she uplifted for several hundred years and that her opponent defiled with her parasitic creations, the one to which she gave all her love and care, had largely betrayed her. Almost half of humanity had sided with their tormentors and joined monsters willingly into their fight against angels and her own loyal supporters, giving them resources, manpower, and -Ilias shuddered in disgust- a food source. And most of them seemed pretty happy with their arrangements with those parasites. She smote down personally a few of them, but it wasn't nearly enough. If they had followed the righteous path, she would have won. If only a few of them had abandoned her, she would still have stood a chance. But almost half of them… It was the second hardest blow she received during this war, only surpassed by the crushing realization that she was losing this conflict.
And so she had been gradually pushed back, until she eventually reached the brink of despair. No matter how effective Lucifina and Micaela were on the battlefield, no matter how much angels her loyal Eden created, she simply couldn't seem to get any sort of advantage over her opponent. She had fully lost the control of Sentora and her forces had to guard its access to Heaven from this side. Only Ilias Continent and its temple could be used to deploy more troops.
She even briefly contemplated suicide to not end in the hands of her enemies as a toy to be debased, but it would have pleased them too much. After spending a night desperately looking throughout the world for something, anything to prevent the apocalypse that would happen should Alipheese and her creations be unopposed, she realized that the solution was already there. Their war had indeed damaged the world a great deal, reducing a large portion of the Gold Region and Hellgondo itself as a wasteland. She had been offered the perfect reason on a silver platter, and managed to cram it down her adversary's throat… Actually, she swallowed that one of her own, which was better in a way.
It was still her victory. The rest was just petty details that would be dealt with later.
Now she had to announce the new of their triumph to her lieutenants. She had no doubt Micaela would see the wisdom of this decision, while Eden would gladly support her whatever she said. And Lucifina…
…Well, Lucifina would likely be as disappointed as she was herself with that arrangement. Convincing her would take time, and the energetic seraph would probably need another outlet for her lust for battle once monsterkind was done for…
The voice of the Goddess of Light echoed through Heaven, inviting everyone to gather in front of her temple to hear the new from the goddess herself. After a few minutes of letting her angels wait patiently, she stepped on her balcony and basked in their adulation for a moment. Their cries elated her, and that defeat that used to be so close barely a few minutes ago was now only a bad memory, even if she was still saddened to see that her followers were less than half as many as they used to be. She raised a hand, and all of them fell silent.
"My dear and loyal subjects! Today, I come in front of you with great news. After years of suffering and blood spilled by the hands of those horrendous monsters, we are victorious! On my demand, that anathema that calls herself the Dark Goddess will seal herself with her whorespawns, and will leave mankind, our devoted protégés, live free from their horrid influence! Only their weaker subordinates will remain on the world! My dear angels, I am delighted to announce you that we won! We saved the world from its destruction at the hands of those demented perverts!"
Cries of joy echoed through Heaven once again as her subordinates celebrated the new. She watched over the assembly in contentment, although she could feel a slight disappointment in their gazes that the great enemy hadn't been utterly destroyed yet.
However, another feeling spoiled the mood. Someone was looking at her with a hostile intent. She spent a minute to check every one of her angel to know who was disregarding her glorious message. It didn't take long to find out the source of that disdain.
It was coming from Lucifina. Her icy blue eyes were surrounded by a frown, and were carrying a message the goddess didn't like in the slightest.
You will regret this decision.
"I can't believe it! She's just letting them escape!"
Less than a few minutes later, Micaela, Lucifina and Eden were in an argument in a temple dedicated for training. The place was unusually empty, as most angels were too busy celebrating the victory just announced by the Goddess of Light.
The second seraph was furiously pacing back and forth into an arena, the yellow ribbon covering her body almost threatening to fall at each second. She was swinging a sword at invisible enemies, with a lack of grace that betrayed her exhaustion.
"Who do you think she's to take that decision? Monsters should be eradicated, once and for all! Nothing else!"
"Well, she's the Goddess of Light and our mother, we follow her word and fulfill her wish first and foremost."
Lucifina glared at Eden who recoiled slightly under her sister's gaze, her large brown mane now covering most of her nubile curvaceous body as she looked down to avoid it. She was getting used to Lucifina's more violent outbursts, but she still feared being the target of one of them. The second seraph's bloodlust was legendary, and only the goddess hated monsters more than her.
"Make sure our goddess is fine, Eden, I will handle it myself."
Eden nodded toward Micaela as she walked away after the latter's measured words. Lucifina was now looking at her older sister, and the latter had no difficulty bearing her glare with the same blue eyes, standing tall with a neutral expression as her golden hair seemed to flow in a non-existent wind. Lucifina snarled.
"Don't tell me you're swallowing that one… That snake and her spawns are basically going to escape their judgment, and their children will survive to time. We should go back down there and exterminate them!"
"Lucifina." Her voice didn't carry a single emotion. "You are right when you say that monsters should all be destroyed to the last. However, I invite you to consider our current predicament. Most of the world is under their control. Our forces are weakened, and our number dwindled to an alarmingly low level for those last months while our enemy feeds on the ones they take prisoner. We are currently recovering even as the Six Ancestors roam free, and should one show up right now, our victory would be all but guaranteed. Even with all three of us against her."
"Oh, you really think so? Allow me to show you…"
A crystalline projection representing a succubus appeared. Lucifina pulled out a large blade from one of the weapon rack, and approached the dummy with a clear intent.
"Ninefold Rakshasa!"
Lucifina repeatedly slashed at the projection at high speed. While several of her attacks hit the target, most of them ended around as she even had difficulty controlling her own weapon. She groaned at the pathetic result that only proved Micaela's point.
"See? I will not even attempt such a stunt myself, I know I wouldn't fare any better." Micaela sighed. "We have to accept that it's already a miracle that Alipheese and her monsters accepted to seal themselves and not destroy the world. You've seen the damages they already did to their native region."
Micaela's last statement brought a scoff from Lucifina.
"Destroy the world… You know Ilias and ourselves are just as responsible as them, right?"
Micaela raised an eyebrow. "Do you place us on their level?"
"Of course not, Micaela… I'm not saying we're anything like them in that regard." Lucifina smirked while getting uncomfortably close to her older sister. "What I am saying, is that we have to give back to Ilias what belongs to Ilias… We have to accept that it's a miracle she didn't destroy the world herself."
Micaela frowned in front of that insubordination. Such words coming from a human would have been treated as blasphemous, and the man would have been smitten accordingly. Her own tone became more amicable.
"…Look. I wish as much as Ilias and yourself that we would be celebrating our victory over the broken bodies of our enemies to lead humanity to a new golden age. But I consider the fact that she somehow managed to convince them to seal themselves away from this world a miracle given that they were about to wipe us out."
"Right. She convinced them and they accepted just like that. Alipheese and that fox aren't planning anything to get back at us in any way."
"Maybe they are, but those are only conjectures for a far future, and we will keep an eye out on them ourselves. For now, we came out victorious of this conflict thanks to the clever designs of the Goddess of Light."
Lucifina took a few steps back from Micaela, freeing some breathing room from her sisters as she carefully chose her own words.
"Ok, fine. I accept that Ilias did come out victorious of that desperate conflict. Here's the deal though. We both know that those monsters shouldn't be trusted, and I maintain that they're preparing something. So if we end up with monsters in Heaven because she believes in her plans too much, don't come to cry onto my shoulder."
"If this is your only condition… Then let's join back Ilias to celebrate this day. The Goddess is probably already waiting for us."
As they stepped away, Micaela wondered how afraid her own sister actually was. Those damn monsters would have desecrated Heaven with their presence and defiled their holy bodies for their own wicked, perverted pleasures. Without the Six Ancestors, such a day would never come, after all.
Or would it?
"I refuse."
Alipheese's shoulders slumped ever so slightly in front of the answer that had just been given. She had expected the Six Ancestors to show resistance, but she was still disappointed by their instant refusal to listen to reason.
And the first one to make her opinion clear was Kanon. The planturous, green-skinned alraune had become angrier by the second when Alipheese explained her the situation, and even before the Dark Goddess finished, it was clear she was disapproving the deal her mother had made, as several of her vines were moving frantically throughout the conversation while her azur eyes seemed to attempt to pierce through her mother. And of course, once she had finished…
Saja stepped in right afterwards, her snakes already hissing at the alraune. "Kanon! This is an order from your mother and your lord. We don't submit for the sake of Ilias, but only by pure necessity."
"And I refuse!" Her plants rose up around her as she got closer to Saja. "I refuse to bend my knee to mere food. I refuse to do the smallest effort to please their goddess! I shall gorge myself on her angels and on herself as soon as we storm Heaven! There will be no greater pleasure than eating them! Don't you agree Kanade?"
A blue slime taking the form of a beautiful human woman with a red gem in the center of her forehead shrugged before answering in a whispering voice. "I agree. However, I am also concerned by the state of the world. Our conflicts with the angels did make several regions dangerous to live in for my children."
"We'll repair the damages done anyway! I'll grow new plants, and beasts will naturally come back! I repeat, I refuse to seal myself in a cage simply because that tease told she would throw a tantrum otherwise!"
"I support Kanon in her decision." Minagi flew on the alraune's side. "I will not be imprisoned against my will when so many humans are waiting for the pleasure only I can bring. And I also need to feed as well. Besides, I know that Ilias hates me and my sexy little daughters enough to guess that she will try to destroy them even if I disappear."
"See! We won't give up both our freedom and our children! Would we?" Kanon stared at a strangely-shaped pillar. "Hiruko. You can't hide yourself for that one. It concerns you as well."
A small, childish form revealed herself, clad in a red elaborate coat with white fur at the trim and boots to match. Her long brown, blond-tipped hair was adorned with ribbons at each side and covered with a red, plain cap. She opened her yellow eyes and sighed.
"I don't wish to involve myself in this dispute. I wish as well for nothing more than to devour and absorb those seraphs and to continue creating more monsters, but if doing so is against the wish of our mother… I won't do it. I'm also concerned about whether they'll have enough ressources to grow if Ilias does damage the world even more... Actually, I'm not sure about what I should do."
Kanon snarled. "You shouldn't hesitate! I'm sorry mother to stand against your decision, but as you always told us, we should thrive. And to thrive, we need to feed."
"Feed on what?"
A clacking noise punctuated that interrogation. The next second, the speaker came out of the shadow, her long, golden and wondrously fluffy tails attracting everyone's attention. The fox ears at the top of her head twitched periodically, as if they were offended by what they heard. Even as she moved, her white kimono seemed to flow like the wind, while clinging to her forms to reveal just enough to attract any male's gaze.
Kanon chuckled in front of the newcomer. "Strange. I thought you would be the first to talk to create a web of intrigues to bring us to the conclusion you want, and instead you hid yourself during our conversation. Was it in fear?"
Tamamo No Mae stepped closer and closer to the alraune, her sandals now clacking on the ground with a measured rhythm. "I wanted to have the time to do that thing called thinking. You should try it sometimes."
Kanon leaned closer to the kitsune with her plants ready to strike the offender. "Are you saying that I'm an idiot?"
Tamamo remained perfectly still and returned Kanon's gaze. "I'm saying no such thing. I am only saying that your impulsiveness already led you to places most unpleasant. I only invite you to take a moment to reconsider your position."
Minagi could see sparks flying between the two sisters and Hiruko made a few steps back, but Kanon eventually looked down, to everyone's relief.
"Fine, you win."
"I didn't win anything, you didn't answer my question. What will you feed on if Ilias indeed ends the world? I have no doubt we would survive her mad scheme, but humanity is too frail to survive in an harsher environment. We will need to spend as much energy keeping them alive as we will gain by feeding on them should it happen, and this is not even accounting for their own children, meaning we would be forced to keep only a small number of them around. Without more humans to feed on, our kind would soon become unable to thrive, and may even be force to turn on each other to survive in the long run." She positionned herself at the end of the room to face Alipheese, before turning towards the assembly and making sure all her sisters were looking at her as she started fanning herself. "This is her real intent, and in the end, even if we manage to wipe out her angels, she will have the last laugh at our depends as the world falls into oblivion, bringing us down in its death throes sooner or later while she laughs in Heaven. Did you consider that?"
Kanon looked down, ashamed. "…Fine. I apologize. I should have known better… I will submit and join you."
Alipheese sighed in relief. "Great. Now the only issue remaining is that we have to seal ourselves, and I don't think she'll be satisfied if we just hide in a place we can leave as soon as we wish."
Tamamo clapped her fan close and raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me that we have to design our prison ourselves? Some goddess she is…"
"Well, since you're the most skilled in magic, maybe you can come up with something that will satisfy her holiness?" Minagi sounded more sarcastic than she intended.
"I already did it. I created a seal that uses the power of the one it imprisons to sustain itself, and is exponentially as powerful as the target. We'll only have to use it on ourselves."
"Of course you planned something like that… I suppose you never considered using it on your dear sisters, did you?"
"The spell requires the target to remain still for a short moment. If I worked more on it, I might be able to make it work on a moving, struggling target like those seraphs, but right now I can only use it on consenting, static victims. Also the seal can be easily broken if used on a weaker creature."
Kanade stepped forward. "I'm still not fully convinced. The survival of our children relies only on Ilias' words. Who will punish her if she starts killing them?"
Tamamo tapped her chin with her fan. "That's a pretty good idea actually. Now, let's see if I can alter that spell to siphon power outside…"
Alipheese tilted her head in confusion. "Didn't you say that the more powerful the monster was the stronger the seal? I don't think any power outside could break us out."
"The power of one person? Certainly not. If however the power of enough monsters was absorbed by the seal at the same time… That would break it. It wouldn't be that hard, since all of them carry a part of our darkness with them at all times."
"So if too many monsters died at the same time because Ilias started acting up again, we would be freed. I see… Clever… Very clever."
Tamamo bowed. "Thank you."
"In that case, I suppose I have no choice but to submit as well." Kanade looked at Alipheese. "I suppose there is no way I can let one copy out of the seal, even a weaker one."
Alipheese confirmed that she couldn't.
Tamamo blinked repeatedly before she started smirking while fanning herself in satisfaction. "Actually you gave me a good idea. When the seal is applied, if someone's consciousness was to be transferred into a weaker body… Yes, they could escape the seal like that, although with only a small part of their power."
"So we can all escape like that? Well that's easier than I thought."
"No." Alipheese made a dismissive gesture. "Ilias would soon take notice, and we would have broken our word, justifying her destruction of the world. Only one of us would be able to do it."
"Then it should be you, mother." Saja bowed in front of her. "You are the Founder, the one who gave us life, the mother of everyone."
"As much as I wish, I simply can't. I am not certain I would be able to sneak under her sight undetected. She will be on the lookout for anyone that remotely look like my descendant. A Monster Lord look-alike will definitively grab her attention, which is the last thing we want."
"Then I'll go in." Minagi hovered forward slightly. "I will make sure that she doesn't act up, and take appropriate measures should anything happen. I will also personally teach the old ways to the Monster Lord and her descendants." She licked her lips excessively.
"You will get caught after a night of binging on men." Saja smirked while Minagi stepped back, silently conceding the point.
"I'm not sure I would be able to." A pink tentacle came out from under Hiruko's skirt to nuzzle against her neck. "I mean, I would be able to disguise myself quite effectively, and I can create a few monsters to support me, but I'm not sure I'd be able to guide anyone effectively against Ilias without getting noticed myself."
"Don't worry about it. My decision was taken from the beginning, and it will be Tamamo No Mae."
"What?" The kitsune was the first surprised by her mother's decision.
"Of all the Six Ancestors, you are the most qualified to guide the Monster Lord from the shadows. This conversation just showed once again that you are the most level-headed of us all. You successfully infiltrated the highest levels of human kingdoms several times, successfully evading the gaze of Ilias's angels, and even managed to guide some of them in their evolution, starting a technological revolution in some cases, all while still remaining undetected. And you are the one to come out with this plan, and as such will know its ins and outs, mitigating the risks inherent to the evasion process itself." She pointed one of her hand to the kitsune. "At such, if you accept it, it will be up to you to ensure the survival and the thriving of my bloodline and of the different races through the world in our absence, and to guarantee that Ilias will keep her promises."
"Very well." Tamamo No Mae kneeled. "I accept this mission, and guarantee that the bloodline of the Dark Goddess will survive until the end of the world, no matter the hardships I shall face. I swear it on my life, I will fulfill your order."
After more debate, Alipheese and the Six Ancestors agreed to seal themselves in a cave in the far north of Hellgondo. Ilias was watching from Heaven with a certain satisfaction, a ball of light acting as a camera. She had even managed to convince the Dark Goddess to also seal the Lilith Sisters under the pretense that they were just as destructive as one of the ancestor themselves. Lilith, Astaroth and Morrigan weren't exactly looking happy, and only their mother's presence saved the world from their rampage. The second one, in particular, often glared at Tamamo, silently accusing her of being the reason they all had to submit.
The Lilith Sisters were the first to seal themselves. Their bodies were bathed in light, surrounded by strange flowing symbols as they remained still for a few seconds before they disappeared. Even from afar, Ilias made her satisfaction known and clear. The Six Ancestors placed themselves in circle, while the Dark Goddess took the central position. She then looked at the ball of light, and while she couldn't see the face of Ilias, she had no doubt that the Goddess of Light was enjoying the sight of her enemies disappearing.
"Children. We're here today to cast ourselves away to protect the world. We do not stand defeated, and only accepted that recourse under threat, for the sake of the future of our children, humanity, and this world." She narrowed her eyes. "So let it be known, should the continuity of our kin be threatened once again, should the flames of one too many monster extinguish unnaturally, we shall come back and deliver retribution on those that harmed the ones that carry our blood and our future. Let it be a warning that we will endure this challenge through the undisturbed existence of our children. Today we disappear, but this shall only birth an era of peace for all."
Since Ilias didn't feel the need to add any more remark, the present monsters started sealing themselves away. Not one turned back or hesitated a second. One by one they disappeared, their eyes closed in silence and apprehension as they left this world for a prison. The light of Ilias disappeared, and the cavern became eerily silent, as not even the smallest insect disturbed the sanctity of the place.
A few hours passed by without a movement before a small stone rolled around, revealing a pair of triangular, golden fluffy ears. The next instant, a small silhouette extracted itself from her hiding spot, revealing her nine wondrously fluffy tails.
Tamamo slowly dusted her kimono as she looked at her new, childish body with mixed feelings. Even if she had carefully weaved her counter-spell to keep her body as powerful as possible, she had less than a tenth of her original power. She could still hold a candle to low rank angels, but anything above that was a risk, and she had a feeling that Ilias would definitively send Micaela and Lucifina to end her once and for all should she learn of her escape. She couldn't take the risk to be detected. At all.
Her new body also had a certain charm, but the kitsune was afraid she would only attract the more… perverted fringes of the population. Infiltrating kingdoms at their highest levels like she used to do would be much harder now. Maybe if she taught and passed on more of her skills to more of her children to compensate… Yes, it was definitively a good solution to keep an eye on the human kingdoms. Nobody ever bat an eye in front of an exotic concubine after all. She could still make it work.
She shook her head, she didn't have time to think about it right now. Her first priorities were escaping the place unnoticed and rally the main continent where she had a greater chance to go by inconspicuously. Then she would have to make it to a monster-friendly settlement, and find a way to contact her own children. She could even confide her plans to the oldest, most mature ones shouled her burden become too heavy to bear.
And then, she would consecrate herself to her mission. It was clear Ilias saw what happened today as her victory over the Dark Goddess. But the bloodline of Alipheese was living on, and it was now her own duty to make sure it would remain so until the end of time. Tamamo had seen and broken enough promises herself, and knew enough about Ilias to tell that this goddess was likely already plotting and seeking a way to end the descendants of her mother once and for all. Assassins, wars… Nothing would be low enough for the one that always thought of herself as above all. From today onward, Tamamo had to protect Alipheese the Second and any of her descendants from the shadow against every one of Ilias' ploys.
And last, maybe if she had the time, she could find a way to get her power back. Even if it was only temporarily, a burst of power could save her in a pinch. And besides, she always survived against those seraphs thanks to numerous trump cards. She had every reason to try getting that one back in her hand.