Epic of Caterpillar Chapter 2929 2930: The Darkwood Fae Family

~8 minute read · 2,102 words
Previously on Epic of Caterpillar...
A colossal serpent commanded by Tsukuyomi freed the brainwashed Supremes of Time, Destiny, and Souls, enabling them to reform bodies and annihilate their husks. Allied forces liberated countless gods en route to Flora's brutal duel with the brainwashed Genesis, where mutual hatreds erupted amid ferocious clashes. The Dragon King Ao Guang and his sea dragon family unleashed oceanic judgment on Genesis, followed by the serpent ripping her soul free and obliterating her husk. Warriors united against the Sun God's endless army as Izanami retrieved the black core and Kireina's familiars Bubu and Silva from the Labyrinth of Madness.

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Germany, Schwarzwald.

Darkwood Fae Territory, Corrupted Domain.

The Darkwood Fae King stared at the fractured heavens while endless spirit crystals strived to seize control of his realm.

In contrast to other realms across the world, the Corrupted Domain belonging to the Darkwood Fae lineage wasn't a naturally formed space—it was crafted by their own efforts.

Moreover, they had purposefully maintained it as a Corrupted Domain since it perfectly matched their abilities, despite the fact that it could transform into a Heavenly Domain whenever they desired.

"How irritating. How much longer will you harass us?"

The King let out a deep sigh. He stood tall and muscular, strikingly handsome, with flowing white hair and piercing red eyes. Though he looked like a man in his late thirties, with flawless skin and no beard, he had existed for tens of thousands of years beside his wife.

Clad in black leather pants, a white blouse, a black-and-red tunic, and black shoes, he lifted his gaze skyward with shining red eyes. Suddenly, a third purple eye emerged on his forehead. Spiraling horns sprouted from both sides of his head, radiating brilliant light.

Behind him unfurled vast butterfly wings that shimmered fiercely, displaying numerous glowing eyes embedded in their intricate designs.

This was the King of the Darkwood Fae—Eliadol, Kireina's grandfather.

Shadow, Blood, Abyss, Chaos, Poison, Curse, and Spirit Energies surged endlessly from his form, swiftly gathering into a woodland of shadowy stars.

"Abyssal Darkwood Dominion – Awakening of the Shadowood: Schattenwald Erwachen."

TRUUUMMM!!!

A colossal realm of void and shadow materialized, devouring the spirit crystals along with the millions of spirit beasts invading his domain.

All was swiftly obliterated amidst myriad blasts resembling a shadowy, ominous forest that burst forth and enveloped the entire sky.

Meanwhile, nearby, another presence utilized her sheer might to tether the entire Dominion to the planet—one of the rare places not yet drawn into the Labyrinth of Madness.

She towered over her husband—twice his height—elegant and stunning, seeming no older than her early thirties. Her long, flowing dark purple hair cascaded down, her red eyes gleamed sharply, a third golden eye adorned her forehead, and elongated spiraling black horns betrayed her essence.

Draped in a lengthy dark purple gown decorated with red gems, she stood barefoot. Her slender fingers, ending in black-and-red nails, traced myriad runes and curses.

She was the Queen of the Darkwood Fae—Isolde Nachtglanz, Kireina's grandmother.

Through her abilities, she secured the Dominion to Earth's Plane, steadfastly resisting until the pull of the Labyrinth of Madness faded—only for fresh assaults to strike their realm anew.

On her left, a horde of Dream Entities rushed ahead. On her right, legions of tens of thousands of demons advanced.

Both onslaughts targeted her and her forces, but neither could claim victory or land a single blow.

"Abyssal Darkwood Dominion – Rain of Dark Stars: Dunkelstern Regen."

Reality warped around the mighty queen. The fabric of existence twisted.

The vast Corrupted Domain—which spanned three times the size of a typical Heavenly Domain—contracted around her before exploding outward, as if birthing a fresh cosmos.

Dark stars materialized and poured down upon every foe. Innumerable detonations followed, spawning tiny black holes that consumed all in their grasp. Dream Entities with their formidable Dream Kings, Demons alongside their Demon Dukes—all met their end.

All but one.

"Oh?"

Her keen vision fixed upon the sole survivor: a reptilian demon radiating dream essence—a fusion of demon and Dream Entity that had sneaked into the demon lines before. It bellowed, drawing strength from both Hell and the Dream Plane, and ballooned to enormous proportions.

"WRAAAAHHHHH!"

With a thunderous cry, this freakish outlier expanded into a colossal Kaiju and barreled forth, shredding anything in its way.

"Hah, how entertaining. So a unique specimen appears, does it?"

Isolde laughed gracefully. She flicked her hand, spinning black threads around her form and hastily crafting a novel spell as the giant neared.

"Abyssal Darkwood Dominion – Blossom of Corruption: Verderbnisblüte."

The threads morphed into thorny vines, fashioning a splendid blooming garden encircling her. It unveiled countless blooms—millions, billions… trillions.

The infinite flowers engulfed her enemy, devouring its mind, soul, and essence. The massive Kaiju tumbled down, spewing blood.

"GAAAACK! GRYAAACK!"

"How adorable. What's the matter? Weren't you so mighty moments ago?"

The Darkwood Fae Queen—the mightiest Spirit across Europe and the sole one who had spurned Sofarpia and Sofelaia's futile war against her kin Oberon—approached the planet-shattering Kaiju with serene steps. "You shall serve as my Familiar. The decision is made."

Her grin held a savage greed eerily akin to Kireina's frequent expressions.

Truly, she was unmistakably her grandmother.

"Abyssal Darkwood Dominion – Chains of Soulblood: Seelenblut Ketten."

Blood fused with Soul, conjuring black chains that ensnared the beast's soul and very being, chaining it to her will.

The aberrant wonder shrieked and thrashed, yet submission came in mere seconds, reshaping it into her devoted Familiar.

"I understand, I see… So you're a formidable Nightmare Entity that consumed billions of souls while attempting to breach Hell. It didn't go smoothly for you, did it?" she remarked with a nod. "How delightful! Now, you belong to me."

As her laughter rang out, she channeled vast power into the Kaiju-scale Dream Entity Demon. It stood once more, roared fiercely, and sprouted enormous spikes aglow with dark purple and pink radiance, quaking the whole Corrupted Dominion.

"Now charge—crush our foes!"

The formidable Kaiju bounded ahead, rending with massive claws, ripping and swallowing all, single-handedly repelling the incursion.

The queen strode to her king's side, regarding him with a satisfied smile.

"It seems chaos reigns beyond our borders," the King noted. "I'm concerned, Isolde. What of our daughters and grandchildren?"

"Hm, indeed. I share your worry," Isolde agreed with a nod. "Yet where do we head? Is the outside world secure?"

As they mulled their next move, a flash of golden lightning mingled with red brilliance pierced the Corrupted Domain and materialized before them.

It was Agatheina and Alice.

"Mother, father!" Agatheina cried out. "A dire catastrophe looms over our world! An wicked Sun God aims to devour it all. Kireina battles it, yet she requires our aid. Without us… I dread she won't prevail."

"…!"

"…?!"

The King and Queen shared a look and nodded without hesitation.

"Guide us there, Agatheina," Eliadol commanded.

"We'll transport the Corrupted Dominion too!" Isolde grinned. "With stakes this high, there's no reason to restrain ourselves further."

"We ignored those centaurs' plight since it wasn't our affair," Eliadol explained, "but now the world's destiny hangs in balance. We must act."

"Thank you!" Alice exclaimed.

"Then let's depart, Mother, Father!"

Agatheina—overjoyed at reuniting with family—snapped her fingers, calling forth several others to join her.

Among them stood a lovely girl with lengthy red hair and the lower body of a huge crimson centipede. She radiated a potent aura akin to the clan's, bearing large butterfly wings upon her back and black horns matching theirs.

"Hello, Grandma, Grandpa!" she greeted with an endearing smile. "I'm Scarlet! And I'm here to assist!"

"Oh?" Eliadol appeared startled.

"G-Grandma?!" Isolde was clueless about this unexpected granddaughter—and one with such an unusual form. "My sweet child, your connection to us is clear at once, but from whence do you hail? Who are your parents?"

"I have three mommies!" the girl beamed. "I'm Scarlet! Mama Kireina, Mama Nixephine, and Mama Nesiphae! Pleased to meet you!"

"EH?!"

The King and Queen reeled upon discovering their granddaughter had borne a child. Within their lineage, it was commonplace—particularly among the abundant females—for bonds with same-gender lovers or several partners, so that held no shock. The surprise lay in an unknown great-granddaughter.

"Now let's get started!"

Scarlet giggled and unleashed her aura across the domain. Her body shifted into a colossal cosmic centipede woven from starlight and nebulae. It stretched over the Corrupted Dominion and initiated teleportation of the whole realm via the Blood Dimension.

From that realm, she siphoned energy. Perceiving the rare chance, the King and Queen quickly followed suit, drawing in the power to bolster themselves and their kin for the trials ahead.

"Kireina, hold on just a while more. We're on our way!" Agatheina declared with assurance.

. . .

Legions of gods and warriors ascended the heavens, clashing against millions of Sun-Touched Outer Gods, Demons, Machines, and Dream Entities. They battled relentlessly to rise higher yet failed to fully penetrate. The Sun God's forces were overwhelmingly vast and ridiculous in scale.

Yet one figure on the ground ignored the skies entirely—she focused on the scene before her.

Adjusting her glasses, she summoned holograms surrounding her as she raced across a massive mothership, bounding with mechanical wings and cosmic energy from ship to ship.

Upon each landing, she imprinted her unique ability. Blue and golden circuits proliferated rapidly.

Machines, motherships, lesser vessels, tiny mechas, even mechanical armor and arms—everything underwent "assimilation."

Beside her, a charming girl with long blue hair and circuit-pattern tattoos mirrored her mother's actions, her eyes sparkling with extraordinary might.

"Mama, we're nearly finished with the Cybernetic Takeover and Mechanical Assimilation!"

"Excellent! These are premium resources! Combined with a bit more, we can at last complete our masterpiece, my precious daughter!"

Upon completion, a colossal Chaos King—or ex-King—drew near after her odd summons. The gigantic entity regarded the woman not as prey, but as a potential catalyst for his greater ascension.

"You're one of Kireina's comrades, aren't you?"

"I am her wife, Charlotte! And this is our daughter, Elektra."

"She boasts numerous partners, it seems. What's your proposal?"

"My scheme is straightforward, Fifth King of Chaos, Obhedhrur! Serve as the core of my latest invention."

"Oh?"

"Your enduring bond to the Chaos Plane will power my most potent creation ever. I'm convinced you're key to realizing it."

"And afterward, what transpires?"

"We'll craft a machine capable of razing entire universes effortlessly—no, maybe even dimensions."

"…?! What monstrosity are you forging, mortal?"

"Fufu, I transcended humanity ages ago for mechanics and alchemy—my deepest calling. Now, through Kireina-sama, I've arrived here with a daughter as brilliant as I—or surpassing me."

"…"

Charlotte stroked her daughter's head. Both stood prepared.

"Andromeda and Astraea stand ready to assist too, along with their offspring, Origin and Asteria, who wield the strength to forge this supreme Cosmic Treasure. Here are the schematics."

"…?"

Obhedhrur scrutinized them with his glowing red eyes, expanding them in wonder. "Oh?! I get it…! Hah… Brilliant! Agreed! Remake me. Shape me as you wish. If we attain that state…! If we aid and astonish Kireina…! Proceed, Charlotte!"

"Delighted we align, Obhedhrur!" Charlotte chuckled.

She dashed to him alongside her daughter. Together, they contacted his mechanical frame and dispersed myriad circuits.

Obhedhrur's form—which had already integrated the Humanity Space Federation's ultimate fused mecha—fractured into innumerable components that scattered widely.

Simultaneously, the twenty-one motherships, 10,344 machines, and all remnants ascended, swiftly assembling.

Portals then yawned open, connecting to Charlotte and Elektra's Divine Realms and Kireina's too, where a immense mechanized labyrinth continent of dungeons rose and fused into the growing construct.

An truly immense and horrifying entity took form at breakneck pace. Familiar allies emerged: Wagyu, Kekensha and fellow wolves, Monkey Warriors, Elemental Lords, Wyvern Lord with his brood, Luminous the White Dragon God—they bellowed powerfully and integrated.

Mechanical components enveloped each, absorbing their essences, evolving, and manifesting their might and shapes, driven by souls and auras.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

They morphed into diverse cosmic mechs, merging into a gargantuan titan. The uproar drew gazes from Frank and the high-altitude fighters, who stared in amazement below.

"What on earth is unfolding there?!" Frank exclaimed, eyes bulging. "Wait… what?!"

A titan assembled at furious speed. Gods, werewolves, vampires—all watched in astonishment and incredulity. Genesis and the Supremes recognized the mastermind: a wife of Kireina, renowned for deadly machines—robots empowering mortals against divinities even pre-Space Humans.

Now unleashed to build unbound, she forged her pinnacle work. Hundreds, thousands of mighty souls—Kireina's steadfast allies—infused the colossal mechanism, amplifying it ceaselessly.

Some Sun-Touched Outer Gods lunged at it, only for the titan to stir—pulverizing them with one strike.

"It's unfinished yet—this is merely the Beta Test! Let's eradicate those sun deities!"

Charlotte rallied with myriad gods and comrades, propelling the titan skyward.

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