>>5162750Thinking it over for a moment, you decide that caution is prudent when facing the Abyss. You focus on the dark portal open in front of you, making sure nothing comes out as you speak to your son.
“Not sure? Well, that's more than I can do to close it.” you tell him. “We'll bring everyone down here, and keep you covered while you get this hole sealed up. Sound like a plan?”
Glancing away from the hole for a moment, you see your son is looking up at you with a mix of shock and surprise. You look back at the Abyssal gate, making sure no more hungry worms emerge while he thinks it over. But that only takes a few moments.
“I think I can seal it.” he suddenly answers, projecting his voice a bit more as it's filled with confidence. Seems like your faith in Chilli has emboldened him. “It'll take some time, but I believe I can close it for good.”
“That's it!” you say excitedly, then telepathically reach out to Towa and Meloka both. “I need everyone down here, ready for a fight.”
“The hell?” Meloka replies immediately, her confusion evident. “What's going on?”
“Chilli's going to seal up a dark portal, but a giant worm came out of it and tried to eat me whole.” you tell her. “So, while he closes it up, we have to make sure nothing else comes out of it and disrupts him.”
“Very well.” Towa replies. “Meloka, I'll meet you down there. I have to get something first.”
“What about the youngest two?” your wife asks you.
“Maz and Kayle can watch over them, at least for a few minutes.” you reply. “Better to keep the four of them out of this, I think.”
“I understand.” she replies, mental link pulling back away from you a moment as she thinks something to herself. “Alright, I told everyone what's going on. Just a minute.”
And she ends the link, leaving you and Chilli alone in this dark cell. You keep your gaze on the dark portal, watching the dark smoke curling up from the portal into the air as you decide to ask your son a question.
“So, how will you close it?” you ask him, not breaking eye contact with the dark portal. “Flood it with light or something?”
“That would work, if I still had Mechikabura pouring his power into me.” he replies, sounding wistful. “With his power we could do that. But by myself, I don't have the power to alter an entire reality. So, I'll have to seal it with Dark magic. Somehow.”
“Leave it to you to find even MORE trouble today.” Towa says, appearing beside the two of you. For an instant you don't recognize her, the demon princess having taken on her transformed state you haven't seen since Chilli's wedding. “But I suppose it's better today than after you're already gone.”
cont
