Calling Asuna over I pick her up in my arms and start flapping my wings. A few flaps is all it takes to get us to the top of the city wall, which allows me to avoid those stupid statues. No matter how much stronger I have gotten, I am still not fast enough to dodge laser eyes.

So, I plan to make use of my wings to completely avoid the gates and their annoying guardians. My new ability to fly is going to make avoiding whatever traps are here easier. The controller may have planned for my return, but I doubt it planned for me to be able to fly.

From the top of the wall the city looks deserted, there are no signs of the driders at all. However, I know better, the driders are just hiding and waiting for the controller's signal. I am hoping that whatever trap won't trigger until I have had a chance to get some answers.

I doubt I will have time to properly explore the city, but there are two main things I want to know. First, I want to know what is up with the central column and second I want to know what the controller is. Before that though there is something else I should take care of.

"Oh great and glorious Krenocia, please heed my prayer!"

Krenocia laughs and says "While flattering, that isn't necessary, Ash."

"Well, I figured since it was the first time I would do it properly!"

Krenocia says "I appreciate that. So, what do you need?"

"I am at the city I told you about and wanted you to take a look."

Krenocia says "Alright, give me a minute."

From the looks Asuna and Kechara are giving me I can tell they can't hear Krenocia. Having the two of them look at me like I have gone crazy is a new experience. In the future I will have to beware of having people see me talking to the goddesses.

My reputation doesn't matter much to me, but it will matter once I become the beast king. The beastmen have enough bad reputation without the world thinking their king is a lunatic. Although, if people could hear the goddesses respond to me, that would give me a different reputation.

Krenocia says "Okay, the city is ancient, far older than anything else on the peninsula. Also, there are thousands of undead hiding within the buildings of the city."

"That's about what I was expecting. Can you see what is controlling the undead?"

Krenocia says "No. I do feel some strong life sources, but that is more my sister's area. I suggest you pray to her next and see what she can tell you."

"That was the plan. I just felt that since you made me it was only right to pray to you first."

Krenocia says "Thank you, Ash. That's very sweet of you!"

"Ahem, anyway, is there a way to talk to you without looking like a lunatic?"

Krenocia says "Yes, once you have spoken our name and have our attention you can just think what you want to say."

"Wait, you can read my mind?!"

Krenocia says "No, only thoughts aimed at us. Wait, why would us reading your mind cause you to panic?"

"Um, no reason! It's nothing! Got to go!"

Krenocia laughs at me and as the laughter fades away I can somehow tell I no longer have her attention. This is getting complicated, I will have to be careful what I think about when praying. At least it isn't the soulscape, it is easier to control my thoughts when I can't actually see them.

"Seronia, goddess of life and beauty, please heed my prayer!"

Seronia says "Hello, Ash. Why so formal?"

'Just being polite since this is my first time praying to you. Can you hear me?'

Seronia says "Yes, I can hear you. Why do you sound nervous?"

'Ah, just testing. Krenocia said it would work but I wasn't sure.'

Seronia says "It works. So, what's up?"

'Oh, I am at the city. Krenocia sensed the undead but there are life forces she couldn't tell much about.'

Seronia says "Alright, I will take a look!"

Somehow I can feel Seronia's attention on me increase before it spreads out away from me. It is like she is using me as an anchor for her to reach this place, it is a weird feeling. Unfortunately, I cannot see what she is seeing so I have to wait until she tells me.

Seronia says "Ash, have you been doing anything foolish?"

"What? No! At least, I don't think so?"

Seronia says "The reason I ask is there is a life form that seems to have recently evolved and it tastes like your energy."

"Um, where is this life form?"

Seronia says "Inside that big column."

"Ah, okay that might be my fault."

Seronia says "What did you do?"

"I sort of fed my power into the barrier around this place. When I did I sensed that most of it went somewhere inside the column. But I didn't know there was something alive in there!"

Seronia says "Well, there is. But, luckily for you, it seems friendly."

"So, it is sentient?"

Seronia says "All I can say for sure is that it is aware."

"Okay, did you find anything else?"

Seronia says "Yes. Somewhere below the city there are thousands of life forms. One of which makes me nervous."

"What do you mean it makes you nervous?"

Seronia says "It is powerful. Maybe powerful enough to be a threat to me."

"Are you saying that there is something down here with the power to harm a goddess?"

Seronia says "From what I can tell yes. It may even be a god."

"Ugh, anything else you can tell me about it?"

Seronia says "I can tell that a lot of the lifeforms are connected to it. Other than that, no. You would have to get closer and pray again for me to find out more."

"If it can threaten a god, I don't exactly want to get closer to it!"

Seronia says "I am not telling you to get closer to it. I am simply telling you that is the only way I could find out more."

"Oh, okay. Can you tell me where it is?"

Seronia says "It seems to be beneath the city. Several thousand feet below it, from what I can tell."

"Okay, so don't go down. Got it!"