A gigantic monstrous jaw emerged from the darkness ahead of us, large enough to swallow mountains whole while endless rows of crimson teeth stretched outward grotesquely into the void. Thick black saliva dripped endlessly between the massive fangs while the darkness inside the creature’s mouth twisted unnaturally like a living abyss.
Even I paused slightly after seeing that.
Defender Aurora raised one eyebrow faintly.
"That’s strange," she muttered quietly. "Even this is not its true form."
Then she snapped her fingers again. The monstrous jaw collapsed instantly into black mist.
This time a giant coffin appeared before us instead.
It stood vertically like an enormous black doorway covered in ancient funeral inscriptions while complete darkness swirled endlessly inside the partially opened lid. The surrounding lantern flames dimmed visibly the moment it appeared.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Is this the real one?"
Defender Aurora shook her head calmly.
"No. Even this is not correct."
She slowly raised her hand again, preparing to snap her fingers one more time—
"Now," a calm unfamiliar voice echoed through the darkness suddenly, "I would respectfully request that you stop doing that, Lady Aurora."
Both of us turned immediately toward the narrow lantern-lit pathway.
Soft footsteps echoed slowly through the darkness ahead. Someone was approaching.
The footsteps continued approaching steadily through the dim lantern-lit pathway before the figure finally emerged from the darkness completely.
He was tall, easily over six feet, with a lean frame hidden beneath a long black coat that reached almost to his knees. Beneath the coat was a perfectly clean white shirt paired with a dark tie while black gloves covered his hands, one of which rested lightly over the handle of an old silver-tipped cane. A black hat shadowed part of his face, though not enough to hide the strange flow moving within his eyes.
Because his eyes did not look normal. The black within them moved slowly like drifting liquid darkness.
The man stopped several meters away from us before smiling politely.
"Why do you feel the need to keep changing the doorway, Lady Aurora?" he asked calmly. "Is it truly not good enough for you to enter?"
Defender Aurora remained completely unfazed.
"Why fake it at all?" she replied calmly. "If this realm wishes to show its entrance, then show the real one."
The man chuckled softly at that while lightly tapping his cane against the stone pathway.
"It is simply courtesy toward our guests." His smile widened faintly. "Many are unable to properly handle the truth."
Then his strange flowing eyes shifted toward me.
For a brief second I felt an uncomfortable sensation run through my soul itself, as though he had looked far deeper than my physical body.
"Anyway," he continued pleasantly, "I have been waiting for you, Mister Billion Ironhart." Then his gaze briefly moved toward Defender Aurora beside me. "Though I admit I did not expect you to bring along a guest." His smile became slightly amused afterward. "And a Demi-God at that. Now that certainly complicates things for us."
I narrowed my eyes slightly while studying him carefully.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"Does my identity truly matter to you?" he asked back immediately without missing a beat.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Well, you already seem aware of our identities, so it feels fair that we know yours too."
"Fair?" He tilted his head slightly while smiling faintly. "Now that is a very strange word." He lightly tapped his cane against the stone pathway. "And who exactly decides what is fair and what is not?"
I glanced briefly toward Defender Aurora. This man was clearly talkative.
Unfortunately, he also looked completely uninterested in answering simple questions directly.
"But," he suddenly spoke again before I could continue, "since this is your first physical visit to the realm, introductions are only proper."
He adjusted his tie calmly before lifting his black hat slightly, finally revealing his face completely beneath the dim lantern light.
"My name is Augustus Nevermore," he said politely. "Among those aware of the Null Realm, I am generally known as the Gatekeeper." A faint smile formed on his face afterward. "It is a pleasure meeting both of you."
I nodded slowly, though before I could say anything Defender Aurora suddenly spoke.
"The Gatekeeper?" Her golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you ever visit the Prime Universe?"
Augustus chuckled lightly.
"Yes," he replied casually. "I was on... vacation."
"Is that so?" Defender Aurora asked while continuing to study him carefully.
I looked toward her.
"Why does that matter?"
"You may not know this," she replied without taking her eyes off Augustus, "but there is a trial inside the Prime Galaxy. For an extremely long time, the highest record holder of that trial has been someone known only as the Gatekeeper."
My eyes shifted back toward the man standing before us.
He simply continued smiling pleasantly.
"It was you, wasn’t it?" Defender Aurora asked. "I can still feel traces of the same aura connected to that title."
Augustus nodded lightly.
"Yes. That was me." His smile widened faintly afterward. "I was merely entertaining myself during my vacation." Then he looked directly toward me. "The trial itself was quite enjoyable though. You should attempt it someday."
I blinked slightly.
"You left the record intentionally?"
"Of course." He sounded almost amused by the question itself. "I also left behind a reward of my own for whoever eventually surpasses it." Then he smiled again. "Unfortunately no one has managed yet."
I honestly did not know how to respond to that. Who even went around casually leaving rewards inside ancient galaxy-level trials?
"So," Augustus continued smoothly afterward while resting both hands lightly over the top of his cane, "now that introductions are complete, perhaps we may finally discuss business." His dark flowing eyes shifted calmly toward Defender Aurora. "May I know the purpose of your visit?"
Defender Aurora glanced briefly toward me.
I looked back toward Augustus calmly.
"And why exactly does our purpose matter to you?" I asked.
Augustus continued looking at me calmly while the pale lantern flames flickered softly around the narrow stone pathway.
"It matters," he said eventually, "because this realm is not a place meant for the living. And as the Gatekeeper, it is my responsibility to ensure that those entering do not create excessive chaos inside."
The strange flowing darkness within his eyes shifted slightly afterward.
"Now, since you possess the key, I cannot outright deny your entry." His smile remained perfectly polite. "However..." He paused briefly. "If I determine your presence will become problematic for the realm, I can certainly make it impossible for you to remain inside for longer than a second."
That immediately made me more cautious.
I still had absolutely no intention of revealing the true purpose behind our visit. The Null Realm Key alone already felt valuable enough to attract dangerous attention and mentioning the Eternals or souls taken by them here sounded like a terrible idea.
So instead I answered carefully.
"We came looking for loved ones," I said calmly. "People important to us who died."
For a moment Augustus remained completely silent. Then suddenly he chuckled softly.
"Go on," he said pleasantly. "I’m listening."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"What?"
"I know it is a lie," he replied casually while smiling at me. "But please continue anyway. I would love to hear the full lie."