A Night before the Human Emperors’ Meeting…
Maya’s POV
Cold.
Colder than in my previous world.
My human vision could not see very well in this ice domain with an extremely thick red fog. My nose became numb after I realized that the whole place is made of frozen flesh and blood. I could barely see a pair of glowing crimson orbs that floated for about a few kilometers away from where I’m standing.
Suddenly, those orbs moved closer as the ground shakes intensely. I am certain that those orbs belong to a massive beast that I met 5 years ago because the One True God’s symbol is visible from its forehead but today is my last time meeting it.
“Failure is unforgivable!” The beast growled or should I say the goddess’ puppet was enraged of me.
Yes.
The goddess has a right to scold me and use her puppet to end my life. I failed her after all.
Universe Negative No. 1093
Earth 10,000 I.E. (Ice Era)
A cold temperature that pierced all over my entire being and the gray sky are the first things that registered in my mind. That’s all I can recall how I was born before I could stand on my own in this ice world.
Since I exist for no reason, I am searching for answers as I walked for many years. Sometimes, I met a few aggressive, mindless and massive creatures. Fortunately, they are weak and I defeated them easily by just using my strength, speed, and ice magic.
Years have passed, I found a cave of ice that could create a reflection of myself. It was my first time seeing my appearance and stared at it. I have a pair of golden eyes, head of a dog, a feminine humanoid upper body with pair of arms, and a lower body of a dog with 4 legs and a tail, and white fur that covered my entire body.
A few moments of silence, my sensitive ears could hear a cry coming from an unknown creature deep inside the cave. It is warm and ice is no longer present in the heart of this cave as an orange light that produces heat is dying. Then my nose caught a unique scent. It is unknown and yet sweet. I wonder what it was and so I searched for it until my eyes suddenly can see behind the rocks.
The scent was coming from the bipedal creatures in thick clothing are known as humans and the small versions of myself known as canitaurs. They’re all smaller than me. So small that I could easily crush them by my finger. Those creatures are cowering and tried their hardest to keep their voice down but my ears and eyes never failed me to expose them.
I tested them by simply speaking and a little human boy named Aka replied as he bravely revealed himself. It was my first time chatting to another intelligent creature. I used to be nameless but because of him, I named myself as Maya.
When I noticed that his comrades stealthily left him behind, Aka’s life reminds me of my previous observations. The weakest member of the group of preys was used as a bait to avoid being slaughtered by the predator. Sacrificing one person for the sake of the others is part of their survival in this ice world but I never saw a strong creature protecting the weak. I want to see or experience something like that.
Since that day, I found the answer, my purpose, and a friend. I protected a lot of humans and canitaurs for many years. However, my saddest part of my life is seeing my friends grown older until they left me from this world.
One day, the sky turns blue as the hot yellow orb brightens the day and the white orb appears at night. The temperature rises as the ice melted day by day and the green things sprouted in the vast lands. And as for myself, I instinctively crawled to the hole which is big enough for me to fit inside. The little humans and canitaurs dug this for me.
My little human girl tried to stop me as her tears rolled down her cheeks but the adult humans stopped her from coming closer to me. She said something but I couldn’t hear her words because my ears are no longer functioning.
I didn’t stop crawling until I finally lay down my weak body. The hole they made is a safe place for me to perish and I will become the relic of the past.
I am grateful that the descendant of my first human friend and our kin are no longer shivering from the bone-chilling temperature. The so-called monsters are extinct because I exterminated them all. And because those main problems are gone, my purpose has been fulfilled. They don’t need me anymore and my life has come to an end.
When the darkness took over my sight, the transparent glowing red box with unreadable words appeared before my eyes.
[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/586c4f09-ae2c-4abd-aba5-7c833f8c1bad/ddr7wpu-3725b495-0c53-4951-95b1-44770cfbdbb0.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzU4NmM0ZjA5LWFlMmMtNGFiZC1hYmE1LTdjODMzZjhjMWJhZFwvZGRyN3dwdS0zNzI1YjQ5NS0wYzUzLTQ5NTEtOTViMS00NDc3MGNmYmRiYjAucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.huCcaBVnoARu0LrDVdTXI8EjElYS1L0fTJFUcCB7tBE]
“It said, a cheater has been detected and that cheater is you.” The voice of an old man said as I tried myself to move my body in vain.
“Calm down, little dog. You are currently dead –Ah! I mean, not fully dead... Let me introduce myself, I’m a nameless God of Space and Time. My purpose right now is to find some cheaters in every functioning universes. The cheaters like you will be sent to the center of the multiverse known as Octavia.” The voice explained but calling himself as a god is unbelievable.
He even called me a cheater. How did I cheat?
“How did you cheat? Simple! For a level 0 monster like yourself is not fair in the world you live in. Your stats such as Attack, Magic, Strength, and Speed are 999.” He answered my thoughts as if he read my mind but his answer is quite difficult for me to understand.
“What I’m trying to say is, the players in your world are balanced but you are born strong which is not fair for the other players who are working hard to get stronger. You just casually defeated them like some small insects.”
His explanation is a bit understandable but calling the living beings as players is a bit off. This so-called god thinks that the world is just a game.
I don’t care if you called me a cheater as long as my purpose is done.
“Your purpose has just begun, Maya the friendly dog. I’ll send your soul to Octavia, work with your respective goddess and begin your new life.”
Calling me a friendly dog sounds like an insult. You even try to revive the dead and force me to work for my second life. Did I even ask you to give me those impossible things?
In my beliefs, a god should never revive the dead and let its creations follow their hearts even they never knew who created them in the first place.
An old man like you or whatever you are should stop playing like a god. It irritates me if someone plays that role even it doesn’t suit them.
“Shut the fuck up, bitch! You even have a gut to say those such things! I am a god and you’re just a mortal who’s good at cheating!”
I never thought a so-called god is a hot-tempered moron. You showed me your imperfection and it disgusts me.
He never said another word as I lose my consciousness.
♦♦♦
As I regained my consciousness, I found myself standing on the palm of a massive and muscular canitaur which seems like a living statue made of gold but its eyes are made of blue diamonds. The halo with a strange symbol on his head and two pairs of wings at his back are made of white light.
This massive being is out of my league as he flew in the sky of darkness. The light from his halo and wings seems like it purified the darkness and created the heavens.
Is he a god?
“Why did that piece of shit gave me a dog?” The voice of a girl complained which ruined my mood.
I crossed my arms under my chest, “Don’t call me a dog.”
“Oh! Sorry. You’re my champion after all. Anyways, I’m Druneas the Goddess of Life and Death. You can’t see me but the thing you are standing right now is my puppet. And today, you have to sign this contract because you are working for me.” She said as a piece of white paper and a red pen suddenly appeared out of thin air. It even floats in front of me as if an invisible being held these things.
“Huh? Why would I sign this? I’m not asking for this.” I tried to push those things away but my right hand suddenly moved its own and starts to sign the contract which I couldn’t read its contents.
“Don’t worry, once you finish your job… I fulfill your wish.”
Those are the last words that I heard from her. When I regained my consciousness, I found myself in a human baby’s body. Then the transparent golden box appeared in front of my face and I finally understood its contents.
Congratulations!
You are reborn as a Human!
My human parents died when a group of 20 ft. tall wolves attacked our village. It might be strange for the humans’ perspective that a newborn human baby could defeat those monsters and flee somewhere deep in the forest.
The so-called System told me that the goddess chose the options before I was reincarnated but I didn’t understand it even a bit. Then the system changed the topic and translated the contract for me. I never liked the fact that I have to hide my identity to any mortals, and demi-gods. If I failed to follow the 8 rules, I will perish. Simple as that.
My human body is too young but I can still defeat some monsters and gained the so-called EXP. Feeling hungry and thirsty for the first time is not what I’m expecting because my past self never need those things.
According to the system, humans are worshiping the One True God. The strange thing I discovered is, the humans or the system failed to utter his name. It was redacted for some unknown reason as if my ears failed to hear or read his name. I ignored that strange problem as I also discovered that humans don’t have any statues of their god. They only have the symbol that has the same symbol as the Druneas’ beast’s halo.
[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/586c4f09-ae2c-4abd-aba5-7c833f8c1bad/ddu88sm-b007710a-0b98-40e3-8228-9dda3ad04dd5.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzU4NmM0ZjA5LWFlMmMtNGFiZC1hYmE1LTdjODMzZjhjMWJhZFwvZGR1ODhzbS1iMDA3NzEwYS0wYjk4LTQwZTMtODIyOC05ZGRhM2FkMDRkZDUucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.Ruf-Vg-23nI-HBW8E8pbcFFzC84EscVWaInvR0b8t_U]
This world is like my dream, the humans and other intelligent creatures are not suffering from the ice because they were gifted with so much food and resources to live. The system said that my destiny in this world is to end the upcoming calamity as I work together with the other heroes. But every dream became my nightmares after I learned so many things that I don’t want to witness.
I visited the empire called the Superbia Empire or known as the Human Nation of Pride. The system told me that Goddess Druneas assigned me as the hidden hero of this empire. I may saw a lot of cruel things in my past life but this world is worse than I expected. Most of the humans in this empire are strong and trampled the weak. The so-called emperor of light is heartless enough to sacrifice his kin just to enslave the canitaurs and other inferior intelligent races.
For 10,000 years of my life, this is my first time experiencing this inferiority after watching the scene from afar. The emperor has the power to effortlessly split the sky, earth, and mountains which I can only achieve it in full power. Those humans don’t need my help because they have a strong leader. The ones who are worth saving are those inferior beings. I wanted to save them but I’m too weak. So I chose to run and get stronger.
After the 3 years of my so-called grinding, I received a mission coming from the goddess. I have to steal the divine item that was hidden inside the Superbian Cathedral which can be found near the heart of the Superbia Empire.
At night, I used my all just to stealthily passed through their highly secured cathedral. When that item finally falls to my hand, I found out that thing is fake as the strong entity appeared behind me. Chills run down my spine as I slowly looked behind and I saw the man in a yellow hooded robe. This is my first time experiencing this terrifying feeling deep down my entire being. My hard work of grinding is just nothing for him by just simply standing there as his pair of piercing yellow eyes stared at me.
“No way! A hero is here!” The man in yellow hooded robe is the emperor of light exclaimed in disbelief as he withdrew something from his spatial ring while I tried my best to move my body but I’m trapped by his binding magic.
The worst thing is, he can see through my legendary black robe that I crafted to hide my identity and because of that, the demonic voice in my head spoke to me.
“You have violated the rule of your contract. Prepare yourself to face her wrath.”
And now, I’m in her domain but it is no longer heavenly. The whole place is extremely cold and everything is red. After I breathed a whiff of rotten flesh and iron, my nose instantly became numb. The beast from 5 years ago is hiding behind the thick red fog as its pair of crimson eyes are evidently enraged of my failure.
The ground shook intensely as he said with his demonic voice which was the same as the voice that spoke in my head earlier, “Maya the friendly dog from Universe Negative No. 1093, Earth 10,000 I.E. has sinned from breaking the 4th rule of the contract. You have been sentenced to death. Any last words?”
For the first time in my life, I feel grateful to die than to work from another world. His silhouette is enough for me to describe the little changes in his appearance. The halo is replaced by a pair of curled floating glowing red horns and they’re long enough to reach his shoulders as his wings are made of bones. The symbol was placed on his forehead was still the same but it’s red.
“Once you die, another hero will replace you.” The demonic beast said as the flesh and blood from the ground started to float in the air. Then in a blink of an eye, those filthy things turned into a massive scythe.
I see the truth now. The goddess hasn’t given up on her believers who are not worth saving from the calamity. I didn’t regret failing this mission. This world is not mine after all.
“I lived long enough… Tell your goddess, if the humans in that empire never change, just give up and let the calamity finish its purpose.”
“Ha! As I expected, a hero from a dark universe is evil!” He laughed which made me gave him a questioning look.
“Since when did I became evil?”
“Don’t you know why your world is freezing? It was all of your doings!” He growled and I listened to him in disbelief.
“You freeze your world and the monsters that don’t exist were born. Before you did those despicable things, you were an evil spirit with so much power to trample the weak until you felt bored and sacrificed most of your magic to reborn yourself into something else which was the giant albino canitaur then you wiped out your memories.”
When he paused, my mind suddenly aching and the memories that I never recalled before were played as if I’m watching a show. I hear the scream of pain and terror coming from the weak creatures which are the humans and canitaurs. I terrorized the world for more than a million years just to entertain myself. If I compare myself and the Emperor of Superbia, I am worse than him.
“It disgusts me when you acted heroically as if your sins have been completely forgiven by the ones you killed just for your pleasure.” Those are the last words I hear from him as he swiftly cutting my body in half.
-9,999,999,999,999,999,999,999 HP
The damage I took from him is not what I’m expecting. It instantly drained my HP bar as the two red words appeared before my eyes. It stayed in there as my consciousness faded.
Game Over
♦♦♦
High Elven Empire…
3 Hours after the war…
Haldir’s POV
My father or should I say, the king was disappointed and frightened at the same time as he heard the news about the war. He can’t accept it because humans are used to be weak in the past but they suddenly rise from the shadows and rival all the races.
However, all of the elven soldiers from the war are missing and we suspect they surrendered but it’s too impossible because they swore to never forfeit until they die. Even some of them are marked to trace them but it seems that technique won’t work as if the enemies know how to analyze it and removed the ˹Tracking˼ spell.
I was disappointed that I wasn’t reborn as a human. Being a High Elf with the blessings from the Goddess of Nature is pretty impressive but my body is too young to fight. I want to grow up fast so I can help these people to win the war.
♦♦♦
Universe Positive No. 25
Earth Year 1955…
My name is, or was, Viktor Palas. A simple name, living in the province, going to a high-tier college university with scholarship and became the greatest scientist.
At school, I was never the athletic type. Instead of joining the various sports clubs, I spent my time reading any book I could find in the library, listening in class and researching various knowledge.
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Naturally, I wasn’t always like that. When I was a kid, I loved to ride the carabao, hang out with my friends and helping my parents in the rice fields until the age of 9.
The carabao is a swamp-type domestic water buffalo native to our country. Carabaos have the low, wide, and heavy build of draught animals. The horns are sickle-shaped or curve backward toward the neck. The carabao cools itself by lying in a waterhole or mud during the heat of the day. Mud, caked on to its body, also protects it from bothersome insects.
I envied my friends who were so lucky to go to school every day while I’m with my parents in the rice fields. My father doesn’t want me to be educated because for him, it’s useless and expensive but my mother made a bet. If I get to top 3 every year, he’ll let me get through to college and if I failed, I’ll become a farmer like them.
My father accepted the bet and the next morning, I excitedly went to school, forgetting to bring my sack bag as a school bag where my school supplies and lunch were inside of it. I even traveled 3 hills and a river before I arrived but I’m too early. Good thing my mother brought my bag though.
By chance, I had a perfect score in my class, enticing my parents to say that they were proud of me. I was happy to receive praise, especially I got accelerated to college because my I.Q. is above 269 but I didn’t try that hard. I guess this is my talent.
Unfortunately, when I tried to tell them about it, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to erase the smile off from their faces. I tried a little harder during tests, national or international intellectual contests and science fair while earning money every time I won then I created a business because of my successful inventions. So that my parents would be happy, praising me more and they don’t need to work in the rice fields.
10 years have passed, the world changed because of me. Everything became advanced such as portals for fast travel, space ships that can travel through galaxy to galaxy, and etc. but some people want to steal my ideas. My predictions are precise, if the blueprints of my weapons exposed to the public, some rebels or any crime syndicates will probably use it to wipe out the government. So I’ve been so careful to hide them somewhere in my lab and most of them are in my mind.
One day, I went back home to tell my parents about my newly invented medicine but I found the fresh corpses of our livestock, hired farmers, and machines. Especially one of my favorite ride of all time, 15 carabaos’ corpses lied down right in front of the house. It pained and scared me at the same time to see them like that because judging from their cause of deaths, they died from gunshots. If the intruders are using guns, my neighbors would’ve been alert but they didn’t seem to notice it which means they’re using silencers or maybe they’re also dead.
How did they breached my high-end security measures so easily?
If my machines couldn’t handle the intruders and don’t have enough time to send the report to me is not normal.
I thought in disbelief as my eyes stared at the slightly opened door, my instincts told me not to go inside because it might be a trap.
But what about my parents?
In the end, I chose not to go inside and call for help but when I turned around, the group of armed men blocked my way without any sound as if they appeared out of thin air. All of them are wearing different masks which I couldn’t tell who they are.
Then one of them who is a bit thinner and shorter than me grabbed my neck in one hand as if my weight is nothing and threw me inside the house. As my back landed on the ground, I couldn’t stand immediately. It was painful and yet I’m stunned in disbelief when he threw the corpse of the 435 kg carabao that blocked his way in just one hand. That man is not normal as if he was the same as the superhuman characters in the comics.
“My sister said, thanks to your blueprints. I created a legion of monsters. And now, I want your brain.” He said as he walked closer to me.
I can’t believe someone managed to steal my ideas.
Then I turned around and crawled away from him but as soon as my eyes laid at the center of the room, it felt like I was buried by a large mass of snow. The corpses of my parents were tied on the pillar as I saw the holes on their foreheads.
Fear and rage formed inside me and the only thing formulated in my mind is revenge but they’re many of them with guns while the other one is superhuman. I couldn’t help but silently cry in despair.
A few moments of my sobbing, the man grabbed my hair and slit my throat. My blood sickly gushed out as my eyesight blurred drastically. If I’m strong like the superheroes in the comics, I could’ve saved my parents from these men.
Then suddenly, the red transparent screen appeared before my eyes as the men and myself stopped in motion which was the bleeding paused too.
Cheater has been detected
It confused me to the extent which I mentally questioned it, hoping it will answer my question.
Cheater? Who is the cheater?
“The cheater is you, Viktor Palas.” The voice answered my question seemed to have belonged to an old man.
I was insulted by his answer and I mentally talked back.
I never was a cheater! My talent made me a bit successful and I’m proud of it!
The voice chuckled and said coldly, “Your so-called talent is considered as a cheat.”
No way! Then what about this man? His sister used my theories and make him strong. He’s the real cheater!
“When he was Level 0… His Strength Stat begins at 5 but because he worked hard, he achieved his goal to become this strong. Unlike you… When you are level 0, your Intelligence Stat begins at 999 while the normal newborns could only get 45 and the highest so far is 200. You are the real cheater!”
How in the world did I cheat? The world I lived in is not a game! I was born intelligent but I never cheat something like that. I could only think God gave me that talent.
“You cheaters have the same excuses. God this! God that! Fucking annoying!” He said in exasperation.
If I’m not the only one with this so-called cheat, what happened to them? And what are you anyway?
“Oh! Where are my manners? I’m the God of Space and Time. I’m a nameless god. The cheaters like you will be sent to the center of the multiverse known as Octavia.”
Since he’s a God, maybe he could help me a bit. At least save my parents and let me die.
You? A God? I–
“Oi! Don’t you dare ask for my help you little shit! Your style is the same as the others! ‘Bring me back to life or bring my loved ones to life’ something like that. Fuck this! I’m sick of this job!”
This so-called God can hear my thoughts as he starts complaining about his job. I could imagine an old man kick an empty can in the streets.
If you hate your job, then let me have it.
“Hell no! You’re a mortal and you know nothing about this shit! Oh! Your time is up! Goodbye, little farmer! And don’t you dare talk shit behind my back.”
Then everything around me is back in motion as the darkness took my sight.
♦♦♦
When I regained my sense of awareness, I was standing in a different world. The sky is light green as the sun is white. Colorful alien plants, exotic flowers, and trees can be seen around me. Then I found a small pond right in front of me to see my reflection. There’s no blood as I touched my throat which means I was not hurt.
When I looked behind, I saw a lone massive tree without leaves that can be barely seen because it was hidden behind the white fog. It might be far away, maybe a couple miles or more but it seems that the tree is moving? Maybe there’s something wrong with my eyes.
“Welcome, my champion.” I heard a soothing voice, which seemed to have belonged to a woman.
Then the massive tree starts to move towards me as the ground shook violently. The vines sprouted from the soil and coiled around my body as it grows bigger and taller. It was so fast which took me to the air in a matter of seconds. When I looked down while I’m stuck on the very tip of the massive vine, I developed a phobia in this scenario. If I move, I will probably fall and die for a second time.
Everything I felt is so real and I guess my brain played tricks on me. Maybe my theories about the mind manipulation became real and this is happening to me right now.
As my eyes laid at the massive tree behind the fog, I developed another phobia when that thing seemed to be a humanoid monster. The upper body has 6 arms with branch-like 7 fingers in each hand and if I have a weak heart, I would’ve died from a heart attack.
When that thing is close enough to grab me by using one of its hands, 7 glowing green things can be seen. One is a tree symbol in the center of its forehead and 2 columns that consist of 3 orbs. That thing is so massive as if I’m a very tiny ant.
[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/586c4f09-ae2c-4abd-aba5-7c833f8c1bad/ddu89nz-d7cf400c-d18d-4a99-97c7-afe1fb9d32ea.png/v1/fill/w_1024,h_1365,strp/feazola_by_lorddagz_ddu89nz-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTM2NSIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzU4NmM0ZjA5LWFlMmMtNGFiZC1hYmE1LTdjODMzZjhjMWJhZFwvZGR1ODluei1kN2NmNDAwYy1kMThkLTRhOTktOTdjNy1hZmUxZmI5ZDMyZWEucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEwMjQifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.lSSbdZMRkCqjXWiDU3VRs36bQ4hPncoSk539_KuDc8E]
Suddenly, a strong wind hit the both of us which removed the fog that covers the giant monster. As I looked at it one more time, I wished everything happened to me is just a bad dream. But no, it feels so real to be a dream.
6 glowing green eyes that seemed to be carved by gigantic emeralds that were attached to the humanoid tree’s faceless head and the lower half of its body is more like a wooden centipede. It has no mouth, ears, and nose but that thing is alive then it spoke.
“Fear not, my champion. What you are seeing today is not my real form. This is just my puppet.” Its voice is the same as the woman that I heard earlier.
“If this is just your puppet, I doubt you are probably more monstrous than this one.”
The monster acted like it was hurt by my words as it placed its hand on its chest, “That pained me, my champion but I forgive you.”
She sounds truthful and so I said, “Why are you keep calling me a champion? Just look at me. I am nothing compare with that thing.”
The monster seemed to be laughing as the voice giggled, “A cheater like you is more powerful than my puppet.”
“Me? Powerful than your puppet? How?”
“Let me introduce myself. I am Ava, the 3rd God of Octavia, the Nature Goddess. The ruler of the Eastern Continent, Nature Continent. Various fairy race lives there and it was blessed with the most abundant source of food and medicine.”
The so-called Nature Goddess continued as the monster pointed its finger at me, “You… The cheater from Universe Positive No. 25, Earth Year 1955… Your soul is here in my domain. The God of Space and Time sent you here to be my hero, a champion.”
“If you’re a 3rd God, are there more Gods in Octavia?”
It nodded, “3 million years ago… The One True God, our father created the 8 Gods. Each of us watches over 1 continent but the 8th nameless God failed to help his people because the continent is too uninhabitable for humans. Even he has the power to grant their wishes, it still ended up in vain. As a result, their faith in him instantly vanished… If he learned to undo the corruption in that continent, humans would never scatter around Octavia. Those selfish humans left him and forgot his existence.”
“But… 2 million years ago… He discovered his true power… He created a new race that should never exist. He called them… Shadows.”
Then I was transported to another world as the blue sky and the fertile ground that full of life were shifted into the so-called corruption. Everything is dark and lifeless. Then there’s an ocean of black humanoid monsters in different types and sizes with glowing purple things around their bodies in the horizon which sent chills to my spine. Those things are called shadows as they just passed through me as if I’m a ghost. The next thing I saw was they fought the humans and other races such as dragons, angels, demons, etc.
Those things effortlessly disintegrated everything in their path as if they’re simply strolling in the park but they’re extremely vicious when they mercilessly killed everything that moves. Even the defenseless people are being slain such as elderly, children and the like.
The non-shadow army used some sort of different types of magic but the shadows copied it in an instant as if their enemies are fighting their own reflection. In the end, they failed to win against every wave of the army of shadows. They may have casualties but it seemed their population never diminished.
“The Shadow Wars occurred 7,000 years ago… The 8th God has the ability to ˹Copy˼ and ˹Paste˼ his armies which he called, [The Unlimited Soldiers].” She explained as the most realistic Virtual Reality Movie ended and now I feel mad at that 8th God.
“What?! That’s cheating!”
“The shadows are JUST the simple corrupted versions of humans and other races because their bodies don’t need anything to survive in any harsh environment as if they’re the weaker versions of Demi-Gods but when they reached their max level… They are called [The Better Versions of Any Race]. In our calculation, 100 quintillions of shadows can kill a God. You may call us cowards because we stayed hidden in our domains for 1,000 years and let our people suffer from those things.”
I scratched the back of my head in disbelief, “So Gods can die? Why you guys did that cowardly strategy? You could just at least send your people in your domain. Or… Since you are a God, you can just create another world for them to live peacefully if you can’t exterminate those shadows. And if you just let your people suffer for 1,000 years, the shadows would’ve already ruled the world in just maybe a few hours.”
She giggled, “As I expected from my champion… You are very intellect even you are a mortal. The 8th God didn’t rule the world in an instant, he just wants to let our people suffer so slowly… We are hiding because we were waiting for our father’s return. Unfortunately, I have no power to create a new world. Only our father could do that.”
“Did your father did something helpful?”
The monster puffed its chest and the goddess said proudly, “Of course! He gave us an idea to exterminate the shadows with the help of the cheaters from the other universes. Then he blessed us with his aura so we could fight the 8th God.”
Every time she mentioned the word ‘cheater’ made me feel offended, “Then, did you guys won the battle?”
“Yes, we won. But, we failed to erase him.” She answered in dismay.
“If he’s alive, where is he? He’ll probably strike back if he has a chance.”
“We know where he is but I’ll keep it as a secret because your mission is to meet the other heroes so all of you will find and assassinate the 8th God.”
“What? Why us? You Gods can just kill him by yourselves.” I asked as the monster tilted its head and its eyes glowed intensely.
“Don’t question me, Viktor Palas. You are talking to a God and you are just a mortal. Show some respect.” The goddess sounds offended so I asked another question.
“What will happen after we assassinate the 8th God? Well, I don’t even know how he looks like.”
The monster’s arms lowered as the goddess’ voice answered, “He looks like a child with a bone-chilling rage in his eyes even our brave souls never failed to feel afraid with such a little monster…”
“Uhm… That description is not helping.” I commented.
“…After you successfully assassinated your target, what is your wish?”
“My wish? Just only one wish?”
The monster nodded and I thought deeply before answering, “I wish I can go back to my world, a day before my parents’ death. I… I want to save them!”
“Very well. Then sign this contract.” The goddess said as the monster extended its right hand and the tiny green light materialized out of thin air as it hovered over its palm.
Then the light floats towards me and when that thing is close enough, it was a contract with a ballpen beside it which was made of green leaves. The paper is big enough to fit all the glowing green writings and I read the contents first before signing the contract.
Divine Contract
KNOW BY ALL RACES BY THESE PRESENTS:
This contract made and entered into, by and between:
The DIVINE DOMAIN OF AVA, a domain instrumentality with office address at the Center of the Domain of Ava, represented by its GOD, AVA THE NATURE GODDESS, as authorized under Section 3 of Domain Ordinance No. 0000002-031, and hereinafter referred to as “NATURE GODDESS”;
- and -
VIKTOR PALAS, 19 years of age, Human, (single / married / widow), and a resident of Earth Year 1955, Universe Positive No. 25, and hereinafter referred to as the “HERO”;
WITNESSETH: THAT –
The NATURE GODDESS and the HERO have agreed and covenanted as follows:
1. The NATURE GODDESS undertakes to provide a Hero Support Program to the HERO for the duration of his/her mission which duration shall not exceed 100 years provided that the same is continuous and uninterrupted. The hero support program shall take effect after reincarnation.
2. The NATURE GODDESS agrees to extend the HERO as a cheat assistance an amount of 15,000 Stat Points per month and cheat titles, skills and passive skills after reincarnation, which amount must be given directly to the HERO.
3. The HERO undertakes to spend the whole amount of the cheat assistance in to all of his/her Stats.
4. The HERO may transfer from one continent to another but never set foot near the center of the map and never ever be detected by any Demi-Gods and mortals with the ability to see the status except the Demi-Gods of the High Elven Empire, Heroes and the Calamity. The Hero must hide his/her identity.
5. The HERO shall pray to receive another assistance. It must be done once a year.
6. The HERO shall never play fair to avoid defeat.
7. The HERO hereby agrees that he/she will maintain a Weighted Average of Faith at least 80%.
8. The HERO hereby agrees that in case of violation of any provisions of this contract, his/her life shall be terminated after due notice to the HERO, in which case the latter shall be forever barred to avail of the Hero Support Program of the NATURE GODDESS.
___________________
Hero’s Signature
The conditions in this contract are too much. I want her to explain this for me but some smaller vines moved on their own to cover my mouth and the goddess ordered me to sign the contract but I refused. Then the vines covered my entire left arm and controlled it to sign the contract as if I’m a puppet. I widened my eyes in disbelief as those things could 100% copied my signature.
After that, the vines let go of my arm and mouth as the contract and ballpen disappeared. Then the goddess said, “Before you get reincarnated, ask three questions but don’t ever question me about the contract.”
“How powerful is the 8th God before? Please answer it honestly.”
She grunted at first as the monster crossed its arms, “Powerful enough to defeat the 7 of us.”
I gulped the lump of my throat because the 8th God is not an easy target.
“Does the 8th God have a champion before?”
“No.” She answered but the monster’s entire body is shaking.
“The God of Space and Time mentioned the stat things. You guys called me a cheater because I have 999 Intelligence Stat when I was born. What if there’s a cheater who has 999 in every Stats which probably the 8th God’s champion, is it possible?” My last question made one of the monster’s left arm transformed into a wooden blade and slashed the air horizontally. Then the trees and mountains were cut into half which made me more frightened of the Nature Goddess.
“We hope that the Ultimate Cheater is on our side.”
Those are the last words I heard from her before the darkness took over my sight. Then the green transparent screen appeared in the middle of the void while my entire body couldn’t move.
System: Please be patient, player. The game is still loading.
…Game Loading… 1% …………………………… 2%...............
I can’t talk so I mentally asked the system, hoping that thing can read my mind like the Gods.
What is going on? Why did you call me a player?
System: You are in the reincarnation process.
System: You are called the PLAYER because you are inside the game.
Huh?
System: Do you want to know more while the game is loading?
> Yes
> No
Before I could answer, the system already finished loading.
System: …Recording 100%…
System: …Saving 100%...
System: …Game Loading… 99%
System: Initiating the countdown…
System: 3… 2… 1…
Notification
Please answer the 2 questions honestly.
1. Please select at least 5 genres of your likings.
> Action
> Adventure
> Arcade
> Board
> Card
> Casino
> Casual
> Educational
> Fantasy
> Family
> Horror
> Music
> Puzzle
> Romance
> RPG
> Simulation
> Sports
> Strategy
> Trivia
> Word
Before I could select the genres, it suddenly picked 8 genres which are Action, Adventure, Strategy, Puzzle, Simulation, Fantasy, RPG and Family. Then it automatically saved and I can’t do anything about it.
2. Choose your game difficulty.
> Ultra Easy
> Very Easy
> Easy
> Normal
> Abnormal
> Hard
> Hardcore
> Ultra Hardcore
> A game difficulty which made you wished that you didn't exist in the first place.
I want to choose the hardest difficulty because it seems very challenging but I couldn’t interact with it. I tried the other hard difficulties but it was the same until to the Very Easy difficulty. I doubt that the Ultra Easy difficulty is the only option that I can interact with. In the end, I was right. My game difficulty is insanely easy.
When I regained my bearings, I found myself in a baby’s body.
Why am I like this?! I thought the game is so easy!
I mentally complained as my new beautiful parents looked at me in shock. Then the transparent green screen popped up.
Congratulations!
You are reborn as a High Elf.
I may not understand my parents’ language but the system translated it for me. Those two are the Demi-Gods of the High Elven Empire and they knew that I’m Ava’s champion. They kept my Hero title as a secret because they can see the Divine Contract.
Then they gave me a new name, Haldir Almarin. It sounds manly for a simple guy like me.
And now, here I am, inside a crib while listening to my father who muttered in disappointment. I only pretended that I’m asleep because I want him to leave me alone. When he left, I heard the beeping sound effect coming from the system then I immediately opened my eyes.
System: Should we begin the tutorials?
> Yes
> No
The End of Chapter 13.5 Intermission
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