If we stop to think about it, really, what is time? What is reality? What is... Perception?
Existence, a fairly simple word, yet one that opens up endless rabbit holes towards what it means to be alive. Are we beings with intelligence? Or, does simply being aware, meet this arbitrary threshold towards becoming real? Must one have a physical presence? Or, does merely the thought, the idea of something, create the being?
While philosophy had been somewhat of an interest of mine, these thoughts were floating around in my... Well, I wasn’t quite sure really, hence the pondering.
How much time had passed since I started thinking? I could feel myself, or rather, something that was probably “myself” floating through an endless dark space. I remembered being killed, or, presumably killed by a minotaur, but was struggling to collect my thoughts, as sounds and voices from my memories, floated all around me.
[Hisssss... Such a... Dissssappointment, and after I did all this work in bringing you here!]
A snarky, snake-like voice entered my mind, or what I could only imagine was my mind, clearly unimpressed at... Me?
After it’s simple, yet disappointing words towards my failure at... Something, I was once again, left alone with my thoughts. Eventually, as fate, luck, or whatever you would have it, decided I had floated around long enough in this endless abyss, I finally found my... Footing? Parts that were probably my feet, were overcome with a familiar, yet distant memory of cool, calming waters, gently rolling around my ankles, as my toes were submerged just below the surface of tranquil liquids. I could feel, presumably rocks... Pebbles? Small, stone-like objects beneath my feet, easily supporting my weight as perception gradually returned to my... Existence.
Darkness, turned into a painful light, as I squinted to take in my surroundings. I was encircled by a thick, misty fog, in a very dim... Room? I couldn’t see how large the area was due to the expansive fog, but regardless, it was very poorly lit.
*Badoom*
A powerful pulse echoed throughout me, as my body remembered how to perceive sounds and increasingly complex textures. I could feel a cool air, blowing around my skin, followed by warm, gentle gusts, enveloping me in a calming embrace, partially lifting some of the fog.
*Thud*
[Really now. You still haven’t regained your senses? Not even a simple “thanks” for my efforts? It seems I really did pick a failure...]
That voice again from earlier, echoed throughout my head. A heavy, feminine luster, filled with a confusing mixture of confidence, and condescendence, as I apparently failed to “thank” them for their efforts. At odds with myself, I tried calling out to the mysterious voice.
“Who... Are... You...?”
[Hahaha! Wouldn’t you like to know— Kotato. It’s not that difficult to figure out, just use your head... And your eyes... “Hero”.]
*Thud*
Struggling, yet following the suggestions of the alluring voice, I started focusing on my surroundings in greater detail. All around me, I was still surrounded by a thick, misty fog. Seeing into the distance was difficult, but just ahead of me, I was starting to make out the shape of a... Rock? Mountain? Some type of large object, with “something” coiled around it. As I continued staring into the distance at the confusing structure, I started walking closer in an attempt to provide better clarity.
As I approached the mysterious object, large, imposing trees, began to come into focus, nestled orderly along jagged rocky cliffs in the mountain. Or... Should I say... Larger boulder? While I had remembered mountains being rather tall, the shape I was walking towards, was anything but tall and impressive. With the fog continuing to clear, I could confidently say, I was staring at a massive, stone boulder, perhaps the size of a modest house, with what looked like a massive bonsai tree growing off the side. While I was thankful to have finally identified the mysterious object in question, I was equally confused to see a... Gigantic serpent, coiled around the boulder, angrily “thumping” it's tail against the rock.
*Thud*
The serpent’s body was a pure, ivory white, covered in fine, intricate scales all throughout. While mostly pure and pristine, several, pitch-black, ebony scales were present along the snake’s body, serving as appropriate accents, twisting all around it, very much akin to the balance observed in the common “Yin & Yang” symbol. Looking at its face, it was annoyingly flicking its tongue towards me, as I continued taking in it’s presence. Above it’s eyes, were sharp, raised ridges, providing a commanding aura to the powerful and pure, red pupils it possessed. However, while the snake was both beautiful and intimidating, that didn’t describe the more “interesting” features it was covered in.
All across the body, the serpent was bound to the boulder with heavy, metallic chains, anchoring it to the ground. There were 4, tightly bound metal clasps spaced along its slender body, binding it, and immobilising it against the boulder it was so calmly resting against. Additionally, it’s right eye, was completely covered by a thrice bound chain with intricate locks, clearly indicating that whatever was inside the eye socket, should never see the light of day. As I was in awe of the massive beast before me, I once again, heard the confident feminine voice inside my head.
[How impudent! To call my world a mere boulder! And what is that horrid description for my perfect existence?]
But I didn’t say anything... How did it—
[Know your thoughts?]
Yes, that. How did you know my—
[Oh please... Do I really have to spell every little thing out for you? Even after I gave you such an obvious hint with my presence too... You really are a disappointment...]
Still upset at my inability to correctly identify who I was conversing with, I suddenly became alarmed when the textures around my feet, became slimy and sticky, along with the uncomfortable feeling of something “moving” around my ankles. Looking down, I yelped in terror as the water I remembered standing in, was transformed into an endless army of snakes, rapidly slithering around my feet, as their slimy, scaly bodies, effortlessly wrapped around my limbs in a sickening embrace. I could feel their countless tongues, tasting my ankles and toes, as their horrid hissing sounds flooded my mind. I tried to scream at the sensation, to show my disgust and displeasure, but couldn’t. Gradually, the serpents began climbing up my body, until one of them, wrapped itself around my chest, anchoring itself to stare straight into my eyes while manically flicking its tongue. My brain and thoughts, racked themselves in a panic, trying to figure out what in the world I could possibly be speaking with. That’s when I had the sudden realization, as all the disorderly pieces of the puzzle came together. Speaking my thoughts, I confidently identified the powerful existence before me.
“You’re... The World Serpent!”
A sharp, yet snarky grin grew across the serpent’s face, as the being, along with all the other snakes currently embracing my body, dissipated into a fine, coarsy sand, which was carried away by the gently blowing breeze. Freed from the horrifying experience, I brought my gaze back to the giant boulder the world serpent was using as a perch, as its voice, once again, filled my mind.
[Hahaha! That’s right, little one. You are speaking with the one and only true ruler of Terra, the most powerful existence the universe has ever known. The creator, and the destroyer, the giver of life, and the bringer of death. Destruction, creation, power, intelligence, and desires. All these things exist, because I allow them.
I am the being that brought you to this world, that plucked you from the sky and saved your pitiful self from crashing into the forest’s floor. The being that permits your existence and endless struggles.
Human, you stand before the presence, of a GOD!!! Bow before me, reveling in my might, and generosity for allowing you this divine blessing.
For I am Coileene, The World Serpent!]
...
Coileene... The World Serpent...
“Hahaha!!”
I could hardly contain myself, choosing to laugh at their ridiculous introduction while clutching my stomach in gleeful agony. The being before me, was apparently an all-powerful god. No, the most powerful god according to them, and they were seriously called Coileene? Like... How a snake would coil around things? To preserve it’s internal temperature, and protect itself from predators?!?! Not only that, but this “god” was heavily bound by chains, indicating it clearly wasn’t as “all-powerful” as it claimed! Wiping some of the tears from my eyes, I tried to respond with a calmer tone, which probably didn’t mean anything considering they could read my thoughts.
“Haha! Coileene... The World Serpent. Why, I must say, it is an absolute pleasure to finally meet you. After all, I was wondering when the voices in my head would finally materialize into something! My status screen and powers, along with the sword and shield... Those are your doing, I presume?”
Looking at me, while letting out a haughty “humph” sound indicating their disapproval, the snake transformed itself into a beautiful human female, then confidently began walking towards me. While they were still bound by the thick metal shackles, each of the cuffs was now clearly present on her wrists and ankles. As she got closer, I could see her right-eye was completely wrapped in intricate locks, much like how I observed them in her serpent’s form. However, while they very much appeared to be a prisoner, the appearance they chose for their visage, was breathtakingly distracting.
The feminine image they had chosen to take on, was stunning, possessing long, slender limbs, along with a well-endowed bosom, happily swaying back and forth with each step. Wearing an elegant, side slitted dress to show off her thighs, the playful fabric was coloured in the purest of whites and blacks, as Coileene confidently walked towards me in a seductive fashion, making sure to exaggerate the movements of her hips with each step. Her face and skin, were free of all imperfections, adorned with soft and subtle red lips. Long eyelashes completed the attractive canvas, making it nearly impossible to resist her lustful charms, as she shrewdly glanced towards my direction. Covering her hair, was a cobra-like hood, which closely resembled a nun’s headwrap, while still allowing most of her hair to be visible. The beautiful strands she possessed, were long and flowing, reaching to just over shoulder length, with various streaks of whites, blacks, and silvers, all throughout its silky texture. Her eyes were a sharp, crimson red, with thin, slitted pupils, examining my presence in full. As she approached, she playfully flicked her hair, before stopping uncomfortably close to me. Then, choosing to be somewhat flirtatious, she seductively dragged her soft, elegant fingers across my chest, slowly bringing them up to my lips, which she lightly pressed into, before calmly resting her arms around my neck. Finally, she spoke to me in a charming, breathy tone, while lightly examining the cuffs bound to her wrists.
“And? You seem to doubt my powers, don’t you? These chains... While I know how to use them in... Exciting ways... Really aren’t meant for me.
Since time is of the essence, I’ll be straight, and to the point.”
Gently pulling my head forward, the temptress of a goddess exhaled her warm and soothing breath into my ears, causing the skin along my neck to suffer the pleasant feeling of goosebumps, tingling, and chilling my body. Then, she whispered into my ear the words I had already been anticipating, along with some soft, subtle licks from her snake-like tongue as it flicked around my earlobe.
“You died... Ko.”
Well, I had honestly been expecting as much. Based on what I remembered, it was highly unlikely I could survive a single attack from the minotaur, and, seeing how I was probably in “limbo” between the afterlife, this whole interaction was rather—
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“Curious? Naturally, I agree. Why would a god such as myself, take the time to hold your soul in limbo?”
“Because... I probably possess something you—”
“Want?”
Another grin grew across the demi-human serpent as they released me from their clutches, choosing to give some much-needed distance between ourselves. Next, Coileene wandered behind me, flicking their wrist to materialize a very... Simple, yet extravagantly lavished couch, one often seen in those... “Adult” type movies. Then, choosing to sprawl herself across the fancy fabric, she made sure all of her wonderful curves were well received, playfully tying her arms above her head, chaining the cuffs to the seemingly invisible air. Starting to get slightly annoyed at her flirtatious nature, I carried the conversation forward.
“And? What exactly is it that a simple human such as myself, could possibly possess to entice a... Clearly modest god such as yourself. Also, if I may, I would greatly appreciate it, if you could stop acting like that while completing my—”
“Sandwiches?”
Coileene laughed lightly, having actually correctly completed the word I was about to say. Then, she carried on with her teasing attitude.
“You see, Ko, I’d rather not... It is... After all, rather... Entertaining, seeing you all flustered from my advances... Is my behaviour really that distracting?”
“With all due respect, I think this behaviour would be distracting to anyone... Also... Why did you chain yourself up???”
Pausing slightly while continuing to examine the cuff she had voluntarily bound herself with, it was only then I noticed she had done the same with her legs as well. Then, with a small huff, Coileene freed her slender limbs from their “prison” before continuing our conversation.
“No, I was just thinking, these cuffs, really aren’t meant for me.”
“Heh, so much for being to the point.”
“Oh please, for a god such as myself, even time shudders at my existence. Now then, shall we continue?”
Once again, the serpent seductively approached me, wrapping her arms around my neck in another gentle embrace, then, as she was slowly pulling my face closer to her succulent lips for presumably a kiss, aggressively pushed me away, forcing my body to collide with a nearby wall. With my senses jarred and jumbled, I noticed a mysterious weight and pressure, binding my arms and legs to the stony surface, with an uncomfortable cold permeating my back, as I struggled to free myself from the unconsented binding.
“Hmmm, as I thought, these look a lot nicer on you, don’t you think?” she said while pulling out a mirror from between her breasts, happily showing me my body’s reflection, elegantly bound by intricate chains to a cold, stone wall. While I was confused at this whole interaction, even more so as to how she produced the mirror, I calmly tried to remind myself that I was currently conversing with a god, and “hopefully” not trapped within some deranged, perverted hell inside my mind. Finally, the snake grinned after seeing my expression, once again, talking to me in her usual, charming, heavy tone.
“You see Ko, you were summoned to Terra under normal circumstances. This... Scenario, has actually occurred many times throughout Terra’s history. However, while I’ve ignored all the other summoning’s which have happened during that time... I sensed a... Dare I say... Strong compatibility with your... Core... I just simply had to intervene when I noticed your presence crossing the spacetime boundaries.
That said, someone, or, something, is using my world as their little sandbox, manipulating, and resetting it as they see fit, playing out the same, boring story, time and time again, with me, buried in this prison. What, or who it is, I don’t know, but this isn’t how the world is meant to be. As it would seem, most of my memories, along with my power, have been sealed away, as you can probably infer from this bold fashion statement I’ve been so graciously modeling.
...
Now.... With that small... Exposition out of the way... I have a proposition for you, Ko. I want you, to help me. Free me from this bore of a prison, so I can extract my revenge on whatever being trapped me down here. Terra, deserves more than this, and it is my duty as it’s creator, to ensure it achieves eudaimonia... The good life, as one might call it, in modern terms.
But for that... I need you, to accept me... I need... Your body...”
Pausing to process all of the information the serpent was so happily providing me, apparently, there was some divine being out there, fixated on watching this world experience a repeating series of events to provide itself entertainment. At some point prior to this, Coileene was stripped of her powers, and locked beneath the labyrinth, and now, with my sudden appearance, wishes to confront this being to regain control of her world again, utilizing my body. Seeing as she was now devilishly grinning at me, it seems I had managed to accurately summarize her story thus far. Nonetheless, I still had some unanswered questions from the alluring serpent.
“But you said they keep resetting this world, how are you so sure this is the first time we’ve met? That this hasn’t happened before? What’s stopping me from saying no? From my experience, divine beings heavily bound by chains and buried under the ground, are usually a danger to the world, and better left undisturbed. My hidden title, the harbinger of destruction, if I free you, won’t that make its wording, a reality?”
Still uncomfortably close to me, Coileene pressed her body into mine, making sure I was well aware of her... Comfortable pillows, before slowly dragging one of her long and slender fingers down my left arm, digging them lightly into my skin with her sharp and excessive nails, forcing my arm to tremble at the playful pain she was inflicting. Finally, once the extravagant digits had finished their unnecessarily long journey down my arm’s sensitive skin, she naughtily cupped my chin with her hand, before answering my questions.
“All fair, and valid concerns, Ko. While I find it funny that you use the phrase “from my experience”, it is true that some of those stories from your world contained harsh warnings regarding these situations. After all, works of fiction often require the tiniest hints of truth, to achieve literary greatness.
...
Your hidden title, that is the world trying to compensate for your existence. I’ve managed to assimilate you for the time being, unbeknownst to the thing controlling this world, hence the difficulties with appraisal. Speaking of, you still haven’t properly thanked me yet for interfering with your summoning... It really is quite the feat to accurately intercept such a spell you know, not to mention calculating your exact spatial position during a terminal velocity freefall, all while elegantly manipulating winds, when I’m chained and buried beneath thousands of feet of earth... But I digress.”
“I almost died during that!!!” I exclaimed in anger towards her boastful attitude.
“But you didn’t... Did you?” she said while grinning at me once again, before releasing my face from her delicate hand’s grasp. Then, much to my relief, unlocked the chains happily binding me to the cold, stone wall, before walking towards her “world”, which was still calmly watching us from a distance.
“While it’s true that I can’t... Guarantee this hasn’t happened before, magic, does have its limits. Divine beings can feel the interference of time, when the carefully woven fabric stretched across the universe, is tampered with. If, after countless millennia, I continued to store my mana, gradually regaining my strength, doing nothing after each and every reset this world has gone though, then, suddenly used it in a desperate attempt to free myself, I must have had a reason, don’t you think?”
Finally arriving at her boulder, Coileene gently laid her body into its sturdy exterior, rubbing her hands along the bumpy, yet smooth surface, before pushing herself away to head towards my direction again, continuing to emphasize the movements of her hips with each meticulous step.
“Emotions, another theme from your world’s countless “stories”. Memories and experiences that bring the greatest sensations, and darkest betrayals, can become etched into your very existence. Magic may have bound me, erasing my memories and existence to the world above, but it couldn’t erase this hatred in my heart, the feeling that I was wronged and betrayed by someone I knew.
Who it was, I don’t know, but somehow... They concealed their identity while casting me into this prison... This... Labyrinth....
But this pain, this... Feeling... It can never be erased, even with the magic of a god, this hatred, will continue to burn inside of me, for all eternity.
---
While I can’t stop you from saying no, “free will”, being an important part in drawing out latent power and all, trumps even my capabilities. Without consent, your core would shatter under the sheer potency of my endless mana reserves. That said, it doesn’t mean I can’t give you any incentive.”
At the conclusion of her long-winded explanation, Coileene raised her arms into the air while snapping her fingers. In an instant, hundreds of holographic, status-screen like boxes, surrounded my meager existence, rapidly swarming me from every conceivable direction. Startled, yet, trying my best to focus on the endless army of windows being thrown my way, I was able to see they were playing the events of my arrival in Terra, just like a movie would from my world.
Looking at the screens, I saw my distant memories of landing in the Eldermyst forest, the fight with the bandits, my encounters with Inari and Felice, and subsequent journey to the royal palace. Feelings of happiness and fulfillment, continued to flood my body, as experience after experience, forced my existence to remember itself and what I’d accomplished. Finally, I could see my most recent events, the fight with the minotaur, saving Inari and Raya, and ultimately, my demise. However, much to my surprise, the slideshow didn’t abruptly end at my death.
Oblivious to my shock, the screens gleefully continued playing out the events of the story I had never experienced, the sequences after I had “died”. I saw Inari, valiantly holding off the minotaur, as she was rushing towards my aid, panic etched across her entire face. Behind her, almost all of the guards had fallen, with Raya calling out to her in anger. Next, I observed the heroes, knocking on death’s door, as the lumbering beast calmly walked towards the panicked, tear-stained fox in her desperate pursuit towards me.
Frantically arriving at my body, which was buried underneath some rubble from the horrid collision, Inari expertly removed the boulders using her magic while continuing to defend against the minotaur’s stone barrage attacks lobbed her direction. From my external perspective, it was alarming seeing my mangled corpse, battered and bruised beyond all recognition. Vibrant, tacky blood, had completely dyed my armor in its grungy, reddish hue, while my face appeared partially crushed from it’s violent impact with the rocky perimeter. In a vain attempt to revive my body, she had quickly applied one of the bandages I’d given her for emergency situations to my forehead, but nothing happened. Mana, failed to gather, as the mythical healing item appeared oblivious of it’s intended task of applying full body restoration to my deceased person.
Next, she released a powerful earthen pillar spell, quickly followed by a ferocious kitsunebi, surpassing all intensity I had ever witnessed her cast before, towards the minotaur in an effort to buy herself some critical, and precious time. Finishing her cast with a small, powerful barrier, brilliant wavelengths of mana, began coalescing all around her paws, as she started preparing her next spell in an effort to save my already extinguished life. Through a cracking and struggling voice, I could hear her yelling “Heal!” through the screens I was observing from, producing a rather staticky tone from her intensity. Tears, dripped in violent agony from her face, falling onto my cheeks, prompting me to touch the same area on my own. For a moment, I swore I could feel their salty embrace as the trembling fox continued to shout out in anguish, having failed to save me.
“Inari...” The words softly left my lips as I found myself reaching towards and placing my hand across the cruel screen, in a desperate attempt to console her. Finally, after recovering from the brutal spells sent its way by the distraught fox, the minotaur rushed in to deliver its killing blow, a powerful, vertical smash to cleave the vulpine in two. However, just before I witnessed the blade’s horrid impact with my friend and party member, Coileene paused the movie with another snap from her fingers.
“What you saw, are the events leading up to your inevitable decision to accept me, and where we currently are in time... Should you do nothing, your precious fox, along with everyone on the expedition, will perish at the hands of the labyrinth’s boss.”
An uncomfortable, maniacal grin, grew across Coileene’s face, as she threw her arms into the air, commanding powerful gusts of wind to viciously blow around us in a dramatic and intense fashion. Then, she carried on her one-sided exposition in a powerful voice, shaking my very core from her thunderous ramblings.
“I will be your Deus Ex Machina, Ko. The divine intervention needed to solve this chapter’s problems. The unexpected plot device that births a new era, into this endless hell of a poorly constructed novel. All I need, is for you, to accept me!”
Finishing her excessive showboating of the pending future should I fail to accept her existence, accompanying brilliant streams of light, shot forth from behind her visage, joining the eccentric gales, as galaxies and stars, materialized from nothing, and began dancing all around us, enveloping us in a mystical, surreal ballet through space and time itself. Then, her boulder, the “world”, transformed into the image of a planet, a perfect, spherical orb, covered in beautiful greens, blues, and whites, happily began swirling around in the colourful abyss of space, as the entire cosmos itself, excitedly orbited around us, eagerly awaiting my response. Nearly on the verge of tears myself, I mustered the final thoughts I had, to the cruel serpent and their unreasonable demands.
“If you want my body... To use it as a vessel to house your power... Then I have a condition.”
Coileene’s face descended further into hysteria, bordering on the cusp of insanity, as her horrifying laughter filled my mind, reveling in the fact that I was brazenly making demands in front of a god. Then, her conflicting voice bellowed in response to my bold and defiant statement.
“And? What makes you think I would bother with a request from a mortal such as yourself? That a being such as I, should even entertain the demands you would make before me?”
“Because, from all the Terras past, from all the resets you’ve endured, you’ve never once acknowledged a summoned individual’s existence. Should I transition to the afterlife, you would be forced to continue waiting untold millennia, in the vain hopes that another, meets your criteria, forced to watch from your pitiful prison, as your precious Terra, suffers at the hands of its wrongful owner.
---
It’s quid pro quo Coileene.
Since you took a gamble on me, it’s only fair I take a gamble, on you.”
The winds around us transformed into ravenous blades as I finished my exclamation towards the cackling snake, as gale after gale, collided with my frail skin, eviscerating chunks of flesh with each and every passing greeting. As the serpent goddess continued contemplating my words, the stars and galaxies around us, spiraled into a maddening descent, exploding with incomprehensible fury and vigor, into beautiful rays of light and dust. The extravagant world she had so effortlessly made, rapidly began crumbling around us, while my eye became overwhelmed with the familiar, burning sensation of pain.
Satisfied, and, signaling the climax of our grandstanding confrontation, Coileene confidently offered her hand towards my direction. Then, as if she was seemingly already aware of my unspoken conditions, I caught one, final, confident smirk, grow across the serpent’s face, as everything:
Turned to light.