Inside one of the Deep Ocean Temples, avatars of the Ocean Gods were sitting in their own respective water pools as they surrounded a floating globe representing the planet they had taken over and flooded over decades.

The same figures who had been inside a Deep Temple guarding the players stood along the walls silent and unmoving, each one armoured in shell and bone and equipped with tridents, rusted swords and wooden clubs.

[Warning: Ocean Gateway System had been rendered inactive due to direct outside influence. All communication and direct engagement with players, player-candidates and demi-gods have been temporarily restricted. Please contact Administration Oversight Designate: Oannes for further details. Warning: Ocean Gateway System had been rendered inactive due to direct outside influen-]

The globe pulsed for a moment as a message appeared imprinted in the air inside the Deep Temple. All of the player-candidates hade been sent through the Ocean Gateways for their first qualifying mission, none had been left behind as groups had eventually formed and they had left.

After they had left, the Deep Temple had flooded again entirely to remove any minor traces of the player-candidates or any of their belongings left behind as avatars of the Ocean Gods appeared along with six deep water pools surrounding a single massive floating globe, representing the small water covered planet which they had forcefully taken over.

One pool remained empty as the weakest of the Ocean Gods Oannes remained inside a room observing the situation, he had been the one who had experienced the most conversation and interaction with the one called Horus. The variable who had both helped enable their plans but also introduced restrictions at times.

All but one were present as they discussed their options for further action. On the floating globe there were various coloured flashing icons representing different resources, locations, player-candidates or players.

The locations of the sanctuary of each Ocean God remained hidden by all, some had spread their influence across larger regions, or concentrated their power into specific fewer locations or even single locations.

Brighter flashing icons showed the presence of the six demi-gods and their position in the sunken remains of the civilisation, mountains, islands and remnants which made up the waters of the planet.

Each Ocean God was able to contact their own demi-god but whether they would respond depended on the nature of the individual and the degree of their own sanity. The transformation process hadn’t always gone well and unexpected changes were made.

[We’re entering hostile waters. I vote we eat them all or they can eat each other. Those strong enough to survive will learn to dominate what remains of this planet and we leave for fresh feeding grounds.] said Cheneus.

He had taken the shape of his ancient proto-shark form as he ate seemingly endless piles of dead fish heads various sizes and species which continued to appear next to his own deep water blooded soaked water pool.

Bones plate instead of teeth sliced down cutting through the scales and bones as he gulped them down with an endless hunger.

Each pile of bones and flesh vanished in turn as he devoured fresh flesh and gulped down blood. Despite his maw being filled, he turned his attention towards the floating globe and pointed with a pectoral fin as he spoke aloud.

[Eat. Survive. Grow. Eat. Survive. Grow. This is the way of the deep waters, this is the way of shallow waters. We are predators, we survived when others died. Do not forget this. Or leave in the face of a larger predator. I’m tired of talking. I vote stay until the current fresh spawn dies out.]

The Ocean Gateway System had been built for the participation of player-candidates, the control and regulation of resources, events and constructed scenarios and artificial beings but a main focus had been on innate communication.

The Drowned Gods each originated from a different reality and world before they formed their own pantheon and were given the necessary power to realise a dream which they all held deep in their own souls.

Inside another pool in the Deep Temple a woman sat down, she was below the water deep enough that she would have been barely visible except for the glow surrounding her.

She sat on an ancient golden throne, bare of any marks of ocean creatures and fauna. She wore priestly robes which shifted as the water continually shifted around her.

Outside of the light, the waters around her were near absolute freezing and darkness.

[Dangerous. The variable is here. The one who scared us badly enough to run. I will be the honest one amongst us, we need to cut our losses and accept our fate. Even gods such as we have predators and while he may not shut us down his masters will. I vote to let the last batch of player-candidates proceed, only a small number died on arrival, the rest were rescued and brought to one of our Deep Temples for indoctrination and soul-verification. A few aberrations and abominations were detected and killed early on but Oannes chose to protect one. His so-called Champion still lives, protected by the variable for now. She was apparently placed into an intermediate level dungeon by mistake. Yes, clearly a mistake by Oannes. I won’t point at the ones who allowed this to happen but you know the variable intervened. None of us can even communicate with the remaining players or player-candidates at this point. The Ocean Gateway System is effectively rendered useless outside of this temple.] said Idoni, Goddess of Deep Waters.

A figure, barely recognisable as a humanoid, rather as a statue so encrusted with corals and seaweed and other deep ocean debris clinging to it stood within a sandy ocean pool. The waters were entirely still without a single movement or ripple.

Despite there being absolutely no movement from the statue the voice echoed into the air outside of the water spoken slowly and purposely as the ocean god Ynlotl responded.

[Proceed with the game. Our last round of players will live for us, the indoctrination has taken root and they wear our suits still. As for the Intermediate and High-Level Players who remain, they have three choices, be imprisoned, attempt our trials and dungeons or accept a fate as our servants. Despite my efforts, the variable will pass. I will not impose on him and we will resume the game, he only looks for distraction. Or they will replace him. As for Oannes, he simply has his own plans as do we all. None of us are truly honest. I tire.] finished Ynlotl.

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The voice ended as the sound of Chuneus continuing to devour fish heads and crunch them between his malformed teeth as blood continued to flow into his own pool of water, further staining the water.

A feminine hand stretched outwards as a shell rose from a water pool, as jets of perfumed water sprayed and a beautiful figure with long golden hair stood up and waved a hand at Chenueus as the crunching sound abruptly ended.

[Disgusting old thing. All you can do is eat and devour and eat. You don’t even remember why you always want to eat do you? And that form. You could easily turn into a human one. More pleasing to the eye. Not that...ancient one better suited to your own origins. Disgusting.] said Cheris.

The Ocean Goddess waved a hand and streams of pure pink and blue silk began to wrap around her nude form as she used another hand to send the floating globe in the centre of the Deep Temple spinning.

[We own this world. We paid the price, the variable is only a temporary force. He knows his limits. All that matters is the true purpose, our goal. To create more of our own kind from the flesh, bones and souls of the mortals who serve us. I admit my demi-goddess is temperamental but she can be replaced. All of them can. They served us in consolidating our control and now they can serve once more as testing for our final batch. I will not have my Champion blocked when she has surely passed one of that pathetic partial-gods dungeons. I vote that the game continues and that we end this charade of discussion. Old shark, don’t you want to thank me? You could always transform and seek my favour, my beauty can bless more than me. All of us should be admired and viewed for our looks.] said Cheris.

The globe fixed at a specific point as she admired her own Champion for finishing her first dungeon along with her fresh team by purposefully using the powers granted from Cheris.

Cheris knew that she had lost her temper earlier at Oannes pet project when she discovered that he had smuggled in a player-candidate with technology built into her physical form, an abomination but after she had soon learnt that the Ocean Gateway System had successfully disabled them she was pleased.

Her own chosen Champion was pure of flesh, mind and soul and remained a clearer canvas for her to draw on. If only her own demi-god showed the same loyalty and understanding she would have sponsored her growth into one of them, a true god of the waters.

In one of the pools, a great waterfall rose into the air above it as a female with nondescript features but made entirely of flowing water stepped out and stood on the surfaces waters of the pool as the waterfall carried on behind her.

Shades of water appeared on the form to take the place of her body, eyes and hair. Greenish water for her eyes, deep blue for the hair and sun touched water formed her body.

With a gesture she set the massive globe in the centre of the Deep Water Temple rotating again softly as water spilled out of her own ocean pool and spread around it illuminating her watery humanoid form.

[The blessed of life can be harnessed for destruction once more. A great cleansing, a purposeful work to empty. Energy absorbed into our fabric of being from the preserved biological remains of an entire ecosystem would boost us sufficiently to preserve what we want. Why fight the variable? We flooded an entire world, we killed them out of mercy for their worthless wars and polluted cities. His weakness is his strength. I only ask for my own Champion to accompany me. He will serve in return for a promise I plan to keep. As for the demi-gods...they served their purpose. Simply retake our borrowed power back and they’ll turn to grains of sand. The Players don’t matter, the remnants don’t matter. Only we matter. Only the eternal tides matter.]

The Deep Water Temple Elite Guards stationed on the walls shifted at her words as one of them stumbled forwards before he flew into the air and into the waiting mouth of Cheneus as with one faster than eye blink movement sliced the guard into half as armour crumpled and swallowed both sides with a single gulp.

[Disgusting. The alterations made to their form make them taste disgusting. Even the sea creatures we left alive on this planet have their own thoughts and desires. Free-will has a taste. Not all of us have spoken. Little Oannes is watching for us and will no doubt vote we continue but Yanh. His avatar is present but his divine presence is absent in power. One remains amongst us to talk. You silent being, inscrutable to all. God of Storms. Do you want to share your thoughts with us?]

The weapons of the Deep Water Elite Temple Guard broke apart and fell into the bottom of the deep water pool of Chenus to join other broken fragments.

One of the pools of water remained calm as the water swirled and a rising storm began to rise as winds picked up and a single figure appeared. His expression was grim and he worn old grey rags, his feet were bare and his head was entirely bald.

His body was relatively thin although retained a degree of muscle and his eyes were entirely dark blue.

[Wait.] said Yanh as he turned his gaze on each of the ocean gods inside their own respective water pools. He ignored the floating globe before a sound of thunder rang out and the storm cloud covered him.

Another of the Deep Temple Guards twitched in response to the echoes of the storm and wind but before the figure could move, a beautiful hand from Cheris wafted through the air and a thin barrier of pinkish scented water covered part of the boundary of the water pool of Cheneus.

[Bad enough I have to tolerate your disgusting eating habits. You don’t actually need to eat, just take your taste of the souls and free willed creatures we devoured when we took this world for our own. You won’t be eating any more of the Deep Temple Elite Guards, I’m not keeping them for your appetite and they have other uses then guarding.] said Cheris.

A low rumbling sound came from the throat of the proto-type shark god as his pectoral fins transformed into legs and he stood upwards as his entire physical structure shifted into a giant of a man with grey skin and a bald head.

[Senile old woman. You’re nearly as old as me but you pretend to be young. Beauty fades, power fades. All that’s left are instinct and survival. Given that none of us are willing to vote we’re done here. I’m personally interested in Oannes little project given her performance in her own intermediate level dungeon. Interesting how she found her way there isn’t it. Perhaps the variable would like to hear a few more details in person. Or your demi-god can try out mine in a trial of combat. Loser gets devoured.] said Chuneus as he stood half-way in the water pool as the bottom of it rose up to meet his transformed humanoid feet.

Before the two ocean gods could interact further a message came as the globe pulsed once more.

[Warning: Ocean Gateway System had been rendered inactive due to direct outside influence. Shut up. I’m trying to have a discussion here and you lot keep talking. Give me an hour and I’ll give you back control of your little game of gods. I mean, you were given everything, an entire world to destroy, opportunity to entertain and create something new. Push off back to to your own areas and I’ll be out of here. Nothing is changing. Keep the game as it is. Casey do you think I made a clear point? Yeah. I do as well. Oh right, you and me need to talk tech-god support when you can stop watching your screens. Cheating doesn’t work.]

Silence fell across the Deep Water Temple as fine sand particles began to fall down from the air across the pools of the ocean gods. One by one they left leaving the Deep Temple Elite Guards standing as they all collapsed like puppets with strings cut before their bodies flowed into water which spread out across the floors of the Deep Temple.