Grim expressions fell upon them both. Deities and creatures were able to travel to different realms, sure. But with the Moons this vulnerable? This unstable? It was not advised. Everything, at every moment, was at steak in these conditions. 

“The realms are completely closed off. How do we get in with minimal destruction?” she asked.

“I’ve been tracking that.” he touched a few holograph squares and the screen changed. 

An overview of the space around Moons closest to the Earth appeared in front of them. Different ombres of colored spheres, all of different sizes, orbited Earth just like the well-known moon. 

“The biggest Moon of the Dark Realms,” Anber pointed to one of the shadowy spheres that always resided on the dark sides of Earth, like a shadow of the planet itself.

“Its atmosphere is the most likely to have holes and weak points, since it’s accommodating for such a mass of things. That’s probably also where we’ll find traces of the wielder.”

“Huh…good work. Have you found a breach?”

Anber nodded, touching the screen and moving to view around the Moon. Now, where the Moon used to be behind Earth, they seem to have switched spots.

He zoomed the screen, and pointed to the left corner.

“Somewhere near there, Monsters have been crossing back over into the Dark Realms from my own. I know where the breach in my Moons are, I just have to find the bridge.”

“Wait, we’re taking a bridge?” Kem gasped.

“...Yes? It’s the safest way in.”

“The fact that the normally most dangerous way is actually the safest in this situation says a lot about this situation.”

Anber shrugged, “I’ve looked all around for something better. But without access to Abyss’ power, and no connection to its current wielder…this is it.”

“Well, let me know when you have a plan for how to get past the most likely rogue monsters. I just got a signal from my realms, so I have to go,” Kem pat Anber’s head, taking one last look at the zoomed in bridge. It splintered apart as the spheres rotated, but it would rebuild itself again soon. 

“Don’t isolate yourself. I need you more now, we only have each other at the moment.”

Anber nodded at her words silently, studying the screen in case of a missed, safer, quicker way. They wouldn’t make it across before the bridge shattered. If they were to take it, he had to be ready to sacrifice one or many creatures and beings they were undoubtedly taking with them.

Which means he once again had to decide who lived and died.

A sigh escaped him as he heard Kem exit the space, “Abyss never made it easy either, I guess I can’t expect much different from its successor.”

He went back to looking at different viewpoints of the Dark Realms, trying to find other, safer bridges to take, or looking for pathways he may have missed.

“Please, make this easier for us…”

***********

“What in all the realms is that?!” Kem exclaimed, with a hand over her armored chest.

“That,” Anber started, with a proud smile on his face, “Is quite possibly the Dark Realms’ new ruler.”

On the holographic screen before them were two pictures. The one on the left was from far away, portraying a tall, lanky, pale figure with long black hair, and what looked to be burns, facing away from the screen. It was talking to a human boy, who seemed unafraid of it, as he sat on the ground with an animated look on his face, looking up at the creature.

On the right was a closer picture, this one showing its face. The creature was clearly mad, its mouth wide in what looked like a skin-spitting roar. Two rows of teeth, sharper than swords, could be seen in its mouth. Its eyes were pure black, and inky veins spread around its face and skin.

“That…does not look like a spirit. H-How did you find it? How do you know this is…”

“I received a file not too long ago. Unnamed, but I traced the source to the Dark Realms. At first I thought it was some kind of ploy, I couldn’t think of the last time the Dark Realms had ever sent a message via technology. The Dark Realms rule very different from us, though. All of its inhabitants have access to some sort of simple tech, whereas we keep ours on a hard lockdown. I knew it was unlikely for this file to be a hoax then, so I opened it, and…” he gestured to the screen.

“And you’re sure that’s it?” Kem asked, unsure.

“Abyss was a shadow, a lot of physicalities that indicated its power was activated, could not be seen. It’s very likely that this new wielder is not made of the same conditions, we haven’t seen or felt anything to confirm or deny it until now. And, cmon, does that look like the normal power that common Monsters have?”

“Well…no, but…again, it doesn’t look like a spirit.”

“No, but it has power. Unusual power. Whoever sent this must want us to know about it for a reason. This very well may be the new wielder. Now, it’s just to figure out where to find them…”

“Wait…it’s been on Earth recently?” Kem pointed out.

“Uh…yeah, apparently. Why?”

“Is it possible to pin-point where based on that human boy’s identity?”

“If he’s still alive, then yes, it very much is, but that is your domain.”

“Right, right, of course.” The goddess continued to study the picture, “Do you mind if I…?”

“Oh, not at all, go right ahead,” the Myths’ god moved out of the way, giving the goddess room to sit.

Taking a deep breath, she put her palms against the holographic keyboard, causing it to glow. 

Anber watched in fascination as her eyes reflected the screen’s information. Words, codes, and images flashed in her eyes as she focused her power on finding the boy in the photo.

It didn’t take long before she called, “I found him.”

Her fingers moved swiftly to pull up his location before she forgot the information.

When she was done she let out a long sigh and stood up, stepping back.

The god came over and looked at the screen.

He released a breath, with a face that said he was impressed, “Well would you look at that…I thought that town was a myth.” He said with a smile.