Chapter 37: Third Kalpa - Visitors From Other Worlds

I did get caught up in that strange journal, but that incident in Ginza has forced me to pay more attention to what he is doing. Not that I mind; it would be remiss if I missed out on witnessing these events. This should be it, finally. He is what I've been expecting, and even what I have not expected. I don't even care that he got the Star Key early. Tricking angels, already defeating one of the gods: I shall have my Demifiend at last.

Still, there are a few things to smooth over. "He's lost faith in his teacher," I say, looking to the puppet servant with me. "You would be a detriment now."

She is nothing but a puppet. I have her bow before she fades entirely. Some little things are better done than not, even if I am the only witness. As for this puppet, a wheelchair-bound old man… well, it is my puppet. I can do with it what I like. This stage is now set, a charming little parlor made for relaxing socialization. Naoki might not know the stage directions, but I'm sure he'll follow them all the same.

He is in the other room now, lighting the candelabrum of Insight, Wisdom, and Compassion after setting them in place. The Third Kalpa is lit now. He may compromise the tests and lessons contained there by being more powerful than expected, but we shall see what he does. Once the door unlocks, he and his sole follower enter. "You're here?" Naoki asks, puzzled and a bit wary. The goddess with him is even more wary.

"Should I not be?" I jest with him, waving him inside. "You've seen through a number of my tricks already, by accident or by your own wits. It seems fruitless to continue with such games. But come now. I've agreed to let you learn of some things when you reach these places and I intend to keep my word."

"I see," Naoki says, then glances around. As I have my wheelchair, I've only called on one chair for this particular location. He looks to his follower with some chivalrous intent of allowing the lady to have the one seat.

That's not necessary. "You've also accomplished some great things recently," I tell him, distracting him from the courtesy. "You do me proud, and I feel you should be rewarded. Amaterasu."

"Yes?" she asks, unsure of why she's being called upon and uneasy with it.

And that's the problem. Like the manikin prophet, she would sway my Demifiend from choosing my side. This is much more easily corrected, in a way that won't seem against Naoki. "A loyal demon is one to treasure. You have a powerful form now, but I feel there is something more fitting that you could be."

Before she can object, I snap my fingers. An energy like demon evolution surrounds her, but there are few who can accomplish this kind of transformation of another. She needs to become something with no qualms with me, and someone who will have complete faith in Naoki to continue supporting him loyally, whatever he chooses. I've decided on the form she first met him in, Pixie, but as one that is far more than any other pixie could dream of being.

"Oh?" She spins around in the air, familiarizing herself again with the motions of a tiny body. "Hey, I'm back to a pixie again!"

"I don't think normal pixies end up more powerful than someone like Amaterasu," Naoki says, impressed at that. "Actually, I'm glad to have you back."

"What're you talking about? I've always been by your side." Pixie giggles, then puts her hands behind her back. "Well okay, I guess I still have to do the thing. I am Pixie of the Fairy clan, treat me gently, okay?"

Once they take a seat, Pixie on his shoulder, I decide to go on with the lesson. "I have heard that you wanted to learn more about Aradia. Are you still interested in that?"

He nods. "Yes, people have been calling her a false god, and then there's that unborn god Isamu called. Beings like that seem like they shouldn't exist."

"In a normal realm, they indeed shouldn't exist. But this is the Amala universe, where many possibilities converge and gods are frequently called upon. The chance to regain full divinity, or even just acceptance and believers, that is enough to draw many gods to this birthplace of worlds. What they don't realize is that this influence they are offered is an empty promise that may only be held for a generation of humanity, which is hardly any time to a god.

"As for Aradia specifically," I tap my cane against my hand, another small gesture that should be familiar to him. "This is a story from a world where magic existed, but was believed to be formed only from evil intentions. A society of witches managed to thrive for several generations, but in time was uncovered by zealots who wished to eradicate all traces of magic from the world. The witches were hunted down and persecuted without mercy, no consideration for how they actually used their powers. As the gods of that world failed them, the witches began to pray for a new god to come to their aide with the last of their hopes. From those prayers, Aradia was born and the hope of the witches was restored.

"However, it was already too late. The last circle of witches fell in a deadly raid. Those who escaped were rounded up and burned alive in public view to enforce the beliefs of the zealots. Aradia had barely awakened as a goddess when she lost all of her believers. Perhaps worse than that, belief in her had not escaped the circle of witches. She was not even turned into a demon like other fallen gods. She became one of the lost.

"When Conception occurred, Aradia was still present enough to manifest in that Vortex World. She tried to persuade the Reason bearers there to call on her. They did not listen. For you see, Aradia had so little power that all she could grant was hope. She has no ability to fulfill hope, not even small hopes. She was left behind here in Amala, to slowly go mad like many of the other false gods who were cast aside like herself. Only those blinded by desperation would call on her, as most humans can realize how little she is capable of. I only know this tale because she has been particularly driven to become real."

And even though false gods have their uses, I don't believe Aradia will ever really become anything. She knows she is meant to save people, but her lack of experiences means she has absolutely no foresight, nor any understanding of humanity. She's said some cutting and seemingly insightful things, but she doesn't understand what she's saying most of the time. If anything, she'd end up filling a role like Chemtrail, only Chemtrail knows that he's fueled by misinformation. She has no such awareness and thus has no use to me.

If Naoki had been told this earlier, I know he would have balked at the idea that his teacher was so flawed. But he's realized that himself. "I see. Then what about unborn gods like Noah?"

"They also exist because of the peculiarities of Amala," I tell him. "Recall that I said Aradia brought hope to a circle of witches. These witches prayed to her, discussed her, and shared belief in her. That is how she was born. But let's say someone has a strong belief in something and never shares it. They believe some being gives them greater luck, or is watching over them and helping them succeed. If they're fervent enough, they may even make something that centers their worship: an altar, an idol, something. But as long as they don't speak of their beliefs to others, the being is not real outside of their mind."

"But they might believe it's a more commonly known god or being," he says.

I nod to that. "Yes, that's what happens in most cases. But sometimes, you get a circumstance where that isn't how things go. The unrealized being has all the trappings of a god, with a believer, an object of worship, even rituals. Once that believer dies, however, they are immediately lost. Some of them don't even get a name, such as Noah itself. Isamu was the one who named that one, but it is still an unborn god until it gains another follower, when beliefs and information are shared among humans. As such, its powers are ill-formed and subject to change at the speed of thought. This also means that any world using an unborn god for Creation will have unstable foundations even as it becomes real."

"Isamu's world didn't seem stable in the first place, what with everyone being separated," Naoki says. "It was just bubbles, like sea foam."

"It's one of the laziest Reasons I've ever seen, even accounting for those that want restoration," I say. "It'd hardly be worth taking over as it would be so simple. The Reasons this time around aren't very appealing, not even Yosuga. While I can agree to the general principle, the way it wholeheartedly agreed to the terms of angels mean that the world born of that Reason would be entirely under my enemy's thumb." There is something else that must be said, for his sake. "Although, that one, Jiyuu, it did have promise. There was genuine thought and selflessness behind it."

"It should have been given a better chance to prove itself," he says, accepting my statement as it is. Good, as things should be between us. "But that is proof that this whole game of Creation is rigged even though it gives every appearance that it isn't."

"Yes. He was even given a servant of Kagutsuchi for protection, but one that had already failed in that regards." Since he is insightful, I should also tell him a little something he missed. "I actually gave Futomimi a chance to summon me for assistance, although I would be incapable of supporting a Reason. He chose not to take it. That was when you were negotiating with Michael, so my attention was more with you."

"Are you angry with me for that?" he asks.

I smile at that and shake my head. "Not any more. You pulled off your plan admirably. It was foolish given that your very soul was in danger. But then, what you got out of it, the temporary service of those four seraphs and the freedom of your family's souls, that was well worth it. I commend you for your success." I put my hand to my chin. "That should do for now. Complete the Third Kalpa and we will speak again."

"All right. But first, what rules does the Third Kalpa have?"

It's good that he brought that up. "Ah, well plans have changed. You see, recently four powerful demons who back Shijima have come down here from your Vortex World. Chemtrail, of all people, convinced them that this was a good place to ambush you if they were going to support Hikawa best. For that foolishness, I abolished the rules of the Third Kalpa and let them use it. All rules, even that against new contracts. Though, you may have difficulty finding those that have heard of this."

"So you took their plans as a joke?" he asks, smiling at it.

I have to laugh at that. "Well, yes. Looking at you and Pixie now, I really don't think they stand a chance." While I was concerned when he went to meet with Masakado, he came out far better for doing so. This is a boost of power that he should not have acquired for a long time. It's going to be a lot of fun; it's almost a pity I'm keeping to an inactive mentoring role right now. "Go on, prove to them why you are the Demifiend."

"Sure, I'll do just that," he says, not held back by much now.

My victory is close at hand.

At first glance, the Third Kalpa had some similarities to the First. There were square halls of what seemed like a wooden building, in a more sensible layout than the Second. There were furnishings scattered about, vases, tables, chairs, and similar things. But looking at the wall, one could see dark veins running through them, beating subtly in the rhythm of a heart. Faint lines formed images that reminded him of science textbook illustrations of cell structure. While the furniture was normal, the pieces were more worn down, some damage to be seen in scratches and cracks. There was also the scent and feeling of being something alive. Although, now he was fairly certain it was the energy of the magatsuhi he was sensing that way.

"Off on another adventure," Pixie suddenly sang out, flying off slightly ahead of him. "Down in the depths, what will we find?"

Naoki chuckled at that. "You inherited Hua Po's dream?"

"Yeee-sss~!" she sang cheerily. "Tee hee, everything seemed so serious before that I put it aside. But he's right, we are powerful now, so we can afford to be sillier. Right?"

"For now," he said. This could be fun, especially considering some fellows that he was sensing nearby. "I think we have some friends ahead too. I don't know who Hikawa was allying with, but I'm sure it wasn't them."

"Ooo, who is it?" She looked around, so he pointed out the hall they needed to take to meet with them.

Around a turn, they entered a large room with a ladder in the center and three doors with golden faces. Near the ladder, there was a pair of the jack fairies. Black Frost was a great deal smaller than before, maybe even smaller than a normal jack frost. But he still retained his dark presence and colors. "He's a pompous jerk, that's what he is. He'll be-heeat you up for no reason!"

The other jack was wearing strange sci-fi-esque armor, complete with a little matching machine gun. It meant that unless the four Shijima demons knew Almighty skills, this one could be more dangerous to Naoki. "You be-heeat people up too," he said, his voice altered by the armor.

"Well I usually have a hee ho reason for that," Black Frost said. "And you do too."

"I'm a demon hunter, ho, of course I do." Then he aimed his gun at the two of them approaching. "Like these guys!"

Black Frost glanced at them, then hastily shoved the other to the floor. "Hee ho, waaaait!"

"Why?" The armored jack grabbed his gun, still ready for a fight.

"You doofus, that's the Demifiend!" Black Frost then spun around and saluted them. "Hee ho hello Demi!"

"Hello Heeho," Naoki said, waving to them. If Black Frost was going to greet him in a friendly way even after their battle, he'd do the same. "How're you doing?"

"Ho, I'm doing great!" he said. "But, don't be asking why I'm suddenly smaller or anything. While that heelicious magatama made me a lot stronger, I feel more clear-headed without it, ho. No more creepy buzzing in my head. How do you stand all that with so many of them?"

"Their voices are clear to me," Naoki said. "I have all of them now, so their thoughts are my own. Who's this guy?"

"This is Demonee-Ho, one of us who became a legendary demon on another world," Black Frost said.

Demonee-Ho had gotten back to his feet now. "Wait, I heard of you, Demifiend. You were a human who was given demonic sources of power which should have driven any ordinary human insane. But you've mastered them?"

"I'm still working on that," he admitted. "We are working in union."

"Well that's far better than you should be," he said, giving a nod of respect. "And you have a mission down here? It is bad manners to interrupt another on a mission, ho, so I can leave you be."

"Hey, hey, but maybe all of you can work with me?" Black Frost said. "I'm on a mission too, ho! To defeat Frost Ace!"

"He's a superhero," Demonee-Ho said.

Black Frost waved his arms. "And a demon too, don't forget that! We're all demons here! And I'm gonna be the most hee-evil demon ever, so I've got to beat up Frost Ace!"

"Where is this Frost Ace?" Naoki asked.

"Um, I dunno!" Black Frost said. "But I know I saw him lurking around here! It's just these doors; there's so many of them around, leading to twisting halls and small rooms, and they all test your innate powers. I can pass some of them, but I got lost and found one I couldn't pass. It warped me to a dark place and I had to fight my way back here to the beginning."

"Did he go downstairs?" Naoki asked, pointing to the ladder out in the open.

"Not that way," Demonee-Ho said. "I just came up from there; it's a dead-end due to one-way doors in the lower maze. And there's most of these face doors down there too, along with a group of powerful demons. I think they're hunting you."

Nodding, he said, "I was warned about them. Who's down there?"

The armored jack tapped his chin. "I know-ho that I saw Surt down there, definitely. Not sure of the others."

"And you just left him down there?" Black Frost asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "Sheesh, what kinda hee-hick demon hunter are you? He'd freeze easy and quake before our magic!"

"I'm not after hee-easy targets," Demonee-Ho said. "I'm looking for a challenge to match my heero!"

"Frost Ace would be a challenge!"

This could go on for some time. Since he could make contracts down here, Naoki said, "I have to get through three more Kalpas to complete the challenge that's been given to me. There's going to be a lot of powerful demons for certain out to fight me, so some of them might unwisely shrug you guys off."

"Hoooo, you got that right!" Black Frost said. "They shouldn't ignore us!"

"So why don't both of you tag along with me and we'll face these challenges together?" he said. "The rules have been altered, so we can make contracts here in the labyrinth."

Black Frost bounced and saluted. "Hee ho, h'of course, Demi! We're still friends, right? And you did help me get this powerful."

"Sure, I still consider you a friend," Naoki said. As long as he didn't have ambitions to steal the magatama back, even if it would be impossible now. The two of them then shook hands on a contract.

Meanwhile, Demonee-Ho had been thinking. "Well, my heero did go around with a group," he said. "H'okay, I'll come along too! And, there's another demon hunter demon around this level here that we can look for too! Hee's a fun guy and if he realizes his next big target is after you, he should agree-hee to travel with us too. You'll know him from his cool hat!"

"All right," Naoki said, then also shook hands with him over a contract. "So these doors are going to test our power?"

"Sort of, you just let them scan you," Black Frost said.

The door thought Naoki's strength was worthy of praise, so they were all allowed through. It seemed the doors didn't care about a group as long as at least one of them had the power it wanted to see. Occasionally, there were doors that insisted on measuring a demon's power. Naoki couldn't pass those, but he could judge which of his three companions was most likely to satisfy the door. Black Frost was powerful magically, while Demonee-Ho was all about physical power and defense. And then Pixie somehow had an absurd amount of luck in case the doors wanted that.

In one of the winding halls where they had a choice between a ladder down and another gold-face door, the sound of gunfire caused Naoki to step back into the short hall they'd emerged from. Demonee-Ho went ahead; his armor would keep him safe. "Hooooo there, fellow!"

"Oh, hooo there fellow!" another voice called back. Another jack came over. Not only did he have a cool black hat, but he also had a suit and cape to match, giving him a very dapper appearance. "Sorry, ho, didn't realize you were with those guys."

"It's h'okay," Demonee-Ho said, then introduced them to each other. This was Raiho they had found. "How's your hunt going?"

"Not too great," Raiho said, although he didn't seem discouraged. "I got separated from Samurai Jack; I'm not sure if he's even in this world anymore, so I'll have to track him back down once this mission is done. Also bumped into some crazy calling himself Frost Ace, which got me lost when I stepped on a teleport trap. Yet I'm not giving up, ho!"

"You've seen that jerk Frost Ace?" Black Frost asked. "Where did hee go?"

Raiho pointed over to the ladder. "Downstairs, pretty sure it was heere too. And, uh," he shifted his hat, "I've been hunting all h'over this place, but I'm starting to think that my target is actually in the next Kalpa. For one thing, there aren't any signs of his magic around. There's some pretty tough demons down on the next floor to the exit, though. Don't want to exhaust myself before the big battle, so I was thinking of some way to sneak by."

"Who are you after?" Naoki asked.

Happy to be asked, he twirled his old-style pistol around. "H'only one of the biggest baddest demons around, ho! Any demon hunter who tangles with that pest and comes out alive is honored, even more if they're actually victorious! He's one of the great lords and princes of Hell, with many faces for many evils. Even the horrible evil god Baal is merely only of his guises. I'm after none other than… Beelzebub."

"Dun dun duuuuun!" Demonee-Ho sang out cheerfully. Pixie giggled.

It was likely that Beelzebub was around to test him. But these guys were making this huge maze of doors and teleports more fun, and there was no rule about him doing this alone. "Well I have to get to the next Kalpa too," Naoki said. "And I'm helping Black Frost at least find Frost Ace. Why don't you come along too?"

Raiho looked him over. "Hmm, well you're the Demifiend and that'd make you a high profile target too. Buuuut, if Demonee-Ho likes you, then you can't be all bad."

"Well he respects us, which is more than most high-profile demons do," Demonee-Ho said.

"Great! Then sure, I'll join the hunt with you?" They spoke a contract and shook hands on it.

Since Frost Ace had gone down the ladder and the exit wouldn't be up here, they headed down to the next level. Naoki closed his eyes and scanned the area. Moving in a downward spiral, this level's path was made up of many loops big and small. There were a number of portals in dead-ends too, although he couldn't sense which portals were connected to which. All paths past this area before the spiral would eventually go down. Oddly enough, there were only five demons here. One felt much like the group of jacks with him.

"Either Frost Ace or your friend Samurai Jack is down here," Naoki said. "There are four other strong demons around, the ones who must be working for Hikawa. Other than them, this place is empty and winding."

"Whoa, you've already got intel on them?" Raiho asked, his eyes wider than usual. "Te-heerific!"

"Mmhm, Demi's got special powers," Pixie said proudly.

"So who are these guys working against you?" Demonee-Ho asked.

"They're followers of Shijima which is really fucking awful!" Black Frost said.

"To put it bluntly, what he said," Naoki said. "They want to remove all emotions from everyone to create a world of what they call serenity. I call it total boredom."

"That is awful," Demonee-Ho said. "You can't let 'em win!"

"I won't, don't worry," Naoki said, looking down at him and Raiho. "But you two are demon hunters. We're contracted already, but I'm willing to pay you guys for helping me knock off these four, a mix of makka and items. What do you say?" He didn't plan on any costly fusions soon and there were plenty of items that he could spare as rewards. It would make them happy while embarrassing the Shijima demons in losing to these jacks. It was an all around winning situation as far as he was concerned.

"You got it, Demi!" Black Frost said, even though he wasn't one of the hunters.

"Yeah, we'll prove ourselves to you!" Raiho said eagerly. Demonee-Ho just saluted to the offer.

Naoki smiled at them. "Great, then I'll let you know when we're coming close to one and the layout of the halls around them."

Just for the fun of it, he shuffled his skills around to play a supporting role to the group. It left him without any skills or spells to attack with himself, but he could always give a good punch in a pinch. They found Surt first; the reds of his dark skin stood out in the brown halls. However, the fire giant would struggle to crawl through the doorways around him and some of the walls in the spiral were replaced with bars. All of the jacks and Pixie knew ice spells, so they could assault him quickly through one of the barred walls. Surt fell before he got more than one bar out to reach them.

They found Mada next. The blue-skinned god made strange dancing movements as he walked around, his fiery aura illuminating the dim hall. If Naoki had run into Mada much earlier, he could have been trouble as physical attacks would actually heal him. The guns Demonee-Ho and Raiho had would also heal him, so he warned them about that. But against another flurry of ice magic, he fell as well. They didn't even give Mada the chance to see them. Nor Mitra, who also had the misfortune of being weak to ice.

Near the end of the winding level, they found both Mot and the other jack. He wore silver armor and a white cape, making him Frost Ace. "You are hee-evil and so you must be stopped!" Frost Ace declared, hovering after Mot.

Mot was floating too, seemingly nothing but an ornate golden sarcophagus. "And you're nothing but an annoyance, a fly to swat away," he said, shifting his lid aside. A decayed black arm emerged. "Be gone." He then slowed down time with Beast Eye to avoid Frost Ace ramming into him, then used Makakaja to make himself more powerful.

That was a dangerous skill; they'd have to take Mot out quickly. But then Mot used Beast Eye again, keeping his altered time going to keep raising his power. Even though Naoki and his followers were out of sight, they were still in range for this. Mot then blasted Frost Ace with Megidolaon twice, knocking him to the ground. Black Frost was snarling now, odd when he seemed so against Frost Ace. Perhaps it was a feeling that only he should defeat Ace. The time distortion was fading, but they'd need to move quickly to stop him from using it again.

Mot would not resist physical attacks. Naoki used Tarukaja as soon as he could, then grabbed Black Frost and hurled him at Mot's back. Thankfully, Black Frost caught on and curled himself up to hit as hard as he could. It knocked Mot right onto his lid, getting a startled yelp out of him. Black Frost posed darkly on Mot's back, glaring at Ace. "Hey, don't you go falling to anybody before I can beat you up!"

"Huh, B-Black?" Frost Ace said, sitting up barely conscious.

"Pixie, heal him up and then start using Maziodyne," Naoki said. Electricity was Mot's one weakness; he shifted Shock back into his abilities just to take Mot down before he could use Beast Eye again and blast them all without end.

"Gotcha," she said, using Mediarahan while Demonee-ho and Raiho joined in on attacking Mot.

Thankfully, they got him down before Mot could make another move. "Hooo, that was embarrassing," Frost Ace said, still sitting on the floor despite being healed back up. "A hee-ro shouldn't be the one being saved."

"Right, but I'm your villainous rival!" Black Frost said. "Nobody else gets to defeat you, got it? You'd better shape up!"

Frost Ace looked at him. "Huh, you did save me. Yes! I knew you had a heart of gold!"

"Whaaaaaat?!" Black Frost stomped a foot down while Demonee-Ho and Raiho snickered behind his back. "No way! I have a heart of black ice and a soul of complete burning darkness! I'm heeeeeee-evil! I only stepped in because I want to beat you up myself!"

"You were hanging out with a hero in Demonee-Ho," Naoki pointed out.

"W-well that's only because I was gonna turn him against the others," Black Frost said, crossing his arms over his chest. "And then I stuck around cause if I get to defeat Beelzebub…"

"Dun dun duuuun!" Raiho added in with a fist pump.

"…then they gotta recognize me as a powerfully heeeee-evil demon," Black Frost finished.

"Hold on, you guys are going after Beelzebub?" Frost Ace asked.

"Dun dun duuuuun!" Demonee-Ho said, also pumping his fist in the air.

"Sure we are!" Raiho answered. "It'll be a challenge for us all, even Demifiend here! So we're gonna make it epic!"

"Heeeey, if you're gonna have an epic battle against heeeee-evil, then you gotta have a superhero along!" Frost Ace said, hopping back into the air. "Lemme come!"

"Great, as long as you don't mind Demifiend being the leader," Raiho said.

"That's fine!" he said, flying over to Naoki's side. "You mind?"

"No, it's going to be fun and epic with all of us working together," Naoki said, then made a contract with Frost Ace as well.

"Well, I guess we can work together for this battle, just because Demi thinks it's a good idea," Black Frost said, turning away. But he seemed eager for something, either for the battle in the next Kalpa or a chance to corrupt his rival.