The inky blackness stretched out in every direction, like an endless void with no beginning or end. I stood there no longer feeling weightless instead I had a feeling of an odd mixture of anxiety and curiosity, my heart pounding in the absolute silence. I couldn't believe it. The voice that had been my constant companion throughout my time on Dodola island was no longer just a presence in my head; it had a tangible form and not just any form a form of somebody I’ve known for years.

“You... you're real? I'm not just hearing things?” I said surprisingly.

“Oh, I'm very real, Miles. You could say I'm as real as it gets in this peculiar world of ours. You can call me... well, let's stick with "System" for now” the beautiful Latina woman said with a smile.

“System? Seriously? That’s what you’re going with couldn’t you use a bit more imagination.”

“Touché, Miles. But let's not get bogged down in names. We've got bigger fish to fry.”

“What do you mean?” I said surprisingly. I then saw the Latina woman’s face suddenly go from the happy go lucky face I’ve known for years and more recently from the limited conversation I’ve had with her via the system to now of a more serios tone.

“You see, Miles, you weren't brought to this realm solely for the thrill of slaying monsters and looting caves. No, you've got a much larger role to play,” the system said with look of deadly seriousness.

“Larger role? What do you mean?”

“You were chosen to help revive the other Gods like myself,” the system said with a hint of sadness behind her voice. Almost as if mentioning the other Gods made her feel very lonely.

“Gods? You mean there are more like you,” I said flabbergasted at the sudden revelation that there were Gods and that it was plural meaning more than one and for whatever reason I was chosen to help bring them back.

The system nods, “Indeed, Miles. Once, this world was teeming with divine beings, each governing different aspects of existence. But they've fallen into a deep slumber, their power waning. The world is suffering, and you're here to save it.”

“Save it? But I'm just a regular guy. How can I possibly do that?” I say shaking my head in utter disbelief.

“Ah but that is where the real adventure begins. You'll need to seek out ancient relics to bring back their power, as well as unlocking forgotten knowledge, and face challenges that will test your very limits. Along the way, you might even uncover the mysteries of your own destiny.

“So, you're saying I have to become some kind of divine hero?” I say. The system then lets out a big laugh.

“Divine hero, reluctant savior, call it what you will. Just remember, Miles, I'll be here to offer my... unique guidance, every step of the way.”

“Well, System, this is far from what I signed up for, but it’s not like I have anything else going on. And who knows it could be kind of fun, and if I pull this off, I could be the man who saved the Gods that’s going to make for some major bragging points,” I say with a chuckle.

In the boundless void, the sarcastic System I’ve come to know and depend on reaches her hand out to me. I stretch out my hand to take her hand and as soon as my hand touches hers, I’m thrusted violently back into my unconscious body. I gasp for breath as I feel as if I just got sucker punched in the gut after running a marathon. Beads of sweat dotted my forehead, and I try to catch my breath. The dank, dimly lit jail cell of the pirate ship seemed like a nightmare of its own. I glanced around, disoriented. Aiden, the wiry and weathered man who shared this wretched cell with me, must have heard my gasps and thrashing. He bolted upright from his cot in the corner, concern etched across his scarred face. "Miles, what's happened? Are you alright?"

I couldn't speak at first, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Aiden rushed to my side putting a hand on my shoulder, and he waited patiently for me to find my voice. Finally, I managed to stammer out, "A dream, Aiden. It was just a dream.” It had to be a dream right there’s no way I could be that important.

***DING***

It was not a dream, now get cracken.

I guess that answers that, its still a little hard to believe that a person like me is this important.

“It must have been one heck of a dream,” he said as he removed his hand from my shoulder. “You have been asleep for almost an entire day, and you were talking in your sleep, you kept saying the name Rosa. Is she somebody important?”

“Not really she was just somebody that I use to know.” I say with sadness in my voice. "Aiden," I began "you seem to know a lot about ancient gods. Mind telling me a bit more?"

Aiden, who had already walked back to his bunk, looked up, his eyes glinting with interest. "Ancient gods, eh? Well, Miles, they're a fascinating bunch. What would you like to know?"

I sat down next to him, the rough wood against my back sending a shiver down my spine. "Let's start with the basics. Who were these ancient gods, and why were they so important to people?"

Aiden adjusted his position, as if settling in for a story. "Ancient gods were divine beings worshipped by various cultures throughout history. They represented different aspects of life, nature, and the human experience. People believed in them because these gods had power over their lives and could influence everything from the weather to their daily fortunes."

I frowned, trying to wrap my head around it. "So, these gods basically controlled everything?"

Aiden nodded. "Yes, in a way. These gods were responsible for the natural forces they couldn't explain, like thunderstorms, the changing seasons, and the movement of the stars. And they believed that by appeasing or praying to these gods, they could gain favor and protection."

I furrowed my brow. "What if someone offended them in some way? Were there consequences?"

Aiden smirked. "Ah, well, that depended on the society and the nature of their God. In some places, offending the gods could be seen as heresy, and you could face punishment or exile. In others, it might just mean you didn't receive the same benefits and protections that believers did."

I sighed, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. "It's all so confusing. I mean, I don't even know where to begin with these gods."

Aiden chuckled softly. "Don't worry, Miles. It is a complex topic, but that's what makes it so intriguing. It's like peeling back the layers of history and human belief. Just remember, these ancient gods are a vital part of our lives and shape cultures in profound ways."

“I remember you saying earlier that Gods haven’t been seen in centuries, does that mean they use to be living breathing beings walking around in the world” I said quizzically. Aiden just raised an eyebrow.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“You really don’t know anything do you,” Aiden said while rubbing his temples. “Yes, the Gods walked the lands, living among their followers and in fact in rare instances having offspring with their followers however it is considered taboo therefor very rare because depending on the strength of the God it could have killed the follower who decided to mate with the God. However, one day and nobody really knows for sure, all the Gods big or small stopped whatever they were doing in starred off in the distance almost like they were in a trance and walked away never to be seen again. The one thing that is considered absolute in this world though is that every living being’s soul has been touched by the Gods giving everybody unique abilities that we refer to as scars.”

As I leaned back against the damp wall of our cell, I couldn't help but feel a newfound appreciation for the depth of human history and belief, even if I didn't fully understand it. Aiden's knowledge had opened a window into a world I had never considered, even as we sat imprisoned on a pirate ship, waiting for our uncertain fate.

As I pondered the aspects of Gods and the fact that I had one currently bunking up with my brain, my mind wandered to other aspect of my life that I had to come to grips with and that is that I had killed a man. Not just any man either but the brother of the person who had shared all this info about my new world and my cell mate.

I leaned in closer to Aiden. "Aiden," I said, "I know I have no right to ask but I’m just gonna ask anyway and feel free to tell me to piss off but what was Thomas like?"

Aiden's face softened, and a nostalgic smile played on his lips. "Thomas," he began, "he's quite the character, Miles. He's my elder brother, you know, and he's always been the responsible one in the family. Always looking out for me and my younger sister, even when we were kids” he said as is voice chocked at the mention of his sister.

I leaned in, eager to hear more. "What did he do for a living?"

Aiden chuckled. "Thomas was a hunter. A skilled one at that. He had this uncanny ability to track animals and beasts through the wilderness, and he’s a crack shot with a bow and arrow. He made a name for himself in our village as one of the best."

I nodded, intrigued. "That's impressive. It must be quite a challenging and adventurous job."

Aiden's eyes lit up with pride. "It is, indeed. He had this deep connection with nature, and he taught me a lot about surviving in the wild. We used to go on hunting trips together when we were younger, and those were some of the best times of my life."

I couldn't help but smile at Aiden's fond memories. "It sounds like you two were close."

Aiden's expression turned somewhat somber. "We were, Miles. But things changed when I decided to take on a dangerous quest. I wanted to prove myself to Aiden, to bring back a legendary beast's head as a trophy. It was a dangerous hunt and Thomas was against it at first, but I persuaded him to let me go so I could be a great hunter just like him. The only way I could convince him was if our sister Vida came along with us, as she was a skilled sorcerer and could heal any serious wounds if need be. I had left for years, but I had finally done it and was proud to show him the head of a diamond crusted goblin."

Concern welled up in me. "Was it the same day that Captain Sylvester showed up to you and your brothers’ village?"

Aiden sighed, his gaze distant. "Yes, the captain had heard of my hunt and wanted to take the head for himself to either say the feat was his and his crew’s or to sell the head I can’t really say but the fact remains is that he wanted it for himself."

I placed a reassuring hand on Aiden's shoulder. "It’s not your fault, I hope you know that."

Aiden nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Thank you but I’m afraid it is, Miles. Thomas he wasn’t just my brother; but he was my role model and my protector. I pray that one day I’ll be able to make the captain pay for what he has done." As we continued our conversation about Aiden's brother, I couldn't help but admire the bond they shared. We sat and talked for a while until Aiden glanced at me, his eyes reflecting the weariness of our captivity. "Miles, do you ever wonder if we'll ever get out of this place?"

I leaned back against the rough-hewn wall, a sigh escaping my lips. "I try not to think about it too much, Aiden. But it's hard not to wonder." Just then, the distant sound of shouting and clashing swords echoed through the ship. Aiden and I exchanged glances, our hearts pounding in our chests. Something was happening, something unusual.

Aiden's eyes widened with a glimmer of hope. "Did you hear that, Miles? It sounds like a fight. Maybe a mutiny!" My curiosity piqued, I strained my ears, trying to make sense of the commotion outside our cell. The shouts grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of chaos and struggle. Aiden and I exchanged a mixture of excitement and eagerness to know what’s going on, realizing that this might be our chance for freedom. We pressed against the cell bars, straining to see what was happening beyond are confines.

Suddenly, the door to our cell burst open, and a group of fierce-looking pirates stormed in, their weapons drawn. Aiden and I instinctively raised our hands, not knowing if these newcomers were friend or foe. The pirates eyed us with suspicion, their faces hidden beneath beards and tattered clothing. One of them, a grizzled figure with an eyepatch, stepped forward and spoke in a rough, gravelly voice.

“It’s time to go, the captain has given us the order to give you two pieces of scum the chance to officially join the crew and leave this cell for good. All you need to do is help defend the ship from the navy. So, what’ll it be stay here or fight alongside us.” The eye patched man said at us with dead eyes or to be more accurate dead eye.

Me and Aiden shared a glance “I can’t speak for Aiden, but you can tell the captain he can go fuck himself” I said with a nod and Aiden nodded in agreement. That was until I felt the tattoo on my forearm begin to burn and then it felt like my skin was getting seared from my body. I looked over at Aiden and he was holding his forearm as well.

“Wrong answer you bastards, also it wasn’t really a request it was an order,” Mr. eyepatch said as he threw a saber at me and Aiden.

As Aiden and I joined the crew of the Foul Serpent of Deanity, we found ourselves thrust into a whirlwind of preparations for the impending battle against this so-called navy. The atmosphere on the pirate ship was charged with a mix of excitement and tension as we armed ourselves and received hasty instructions from the crew.

The deck of the ship was a chaotic scene, with pirates scurrying about, loading cannons, and securing supplies. Aiden and I had been given saber and a single shot pistol, our newfound comrades offered us words of encouragement and advice.

Aiden whispered to me, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination, "Miles, we've got to make this count I really don’t want to be back in that cell for one more second."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "I know, Aiden me either. Let's do our best."

The Foul Serpent of Deanity, with its ragtag crew, sailed alongside the navy ship, with the words “The Sapph” written on the sides. The roar of cannons and the smell of gunpowder filled the air as the battle began.

Aiden and I found ourselves at the forefront of the action, engaged in a fierce melee with the navy who were defending their ship. It was a chaotic and brutal dance of clashing blades, shouting men, and the occasional deafening explosion as cannons fired from both sides.

Despite my limited experience in combat with actual people, I fought with every ounce of strength and resolve. I watched as Aiden moved between navy soldier delivering killing blow after killing blow, the fact that he was now missing an eye did not seem to slow him down. That was until he came in contact with a giant of a man wielding two giant axes. Aiden tried to make quick work of the axed navy soldier, but he was fast as he was big. The axed navy soldier raised his axe expecting to split Aiden’s head in two, but Aiden quickly raised his saber to clash with the imposing enemy, while I fired my pistol at an oncoming foe, narrowly missing his shoulder. I then came to Aiden’s defense and slashed at the navy soldiers’ arm cutting it completely off from the rest of his body, and thus giving Aiden the chance to land the killing blow. With the big guy down the remaining enemies nearby where nervous to attack so quickly, thus giving me the chance to lean down towards the dead axed navy soldier.

Would you like to loot [Seth Anderson]

Yes/No

I quickly pressed the yes icon as the battle raged on, and the Foul Serpent of Deanity’s crew fought valiantly, slowly gaining the upper hand. The enemy navy captain, realizing the tide was turning against him, made a desperate attempt to flee, but he was swiftly apprehended by Captain Sylvester.

With their leader captured and their ship in ruins, the navy surrendered, and the battle came to an end. The crew of the Foul Serpent of Deanity cheered in triumph. Captain Sylvester then +approached Aiden and me, his eyes assessing our performance. "You two fought well for newcomers," he said with a nod of approval. "You've earned your freedom."

Aiden and I exchanged a look of relief and gratitude. The weight of our captivity had been lifted, and we were now free to chart our own course as reluctant crew members of the Foul Serpent of Deanity.

As we sailed away from the Sapph, leaving behind the wreckage. Aiden and I couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration and adventure. We had found unlikely allies in each other, and our journey on the high seas had just begun, filled with both peril and promise.