Nick stared into the eyes of a deranged god, who looked back at him with an expression of predatory delight.

In one corner of the cozy saferoom, Nick sat in a comfy recliner, still covered in grime and muck from his tutorial’s climatic conclusion. In the other stood Taltos the Mad God, the mysterious being who had hacked the System and claimed the Earth for his own.

Between Nick and the deranged deity, a fire crackled merrily in the hearth. Completing the bizarre scene were the relics of his former life, or someone’s former life at any rate.

Family portraits hung on the walls, brass frames and glass faces gleaming in the firelight. They were displayed beside crude drawings of dinosaurs and rocket ships, children’s names in the corners, written in an unsteady hand. Works of art celebrated by their loving parents.

Souvenirs from dozens of family vacations lined the mantle above the fireplace. Decorative knickknacks, ticket stubs, and commemorative statues wove a story of happy days spent together. Of carefree adventures, good cheer, and fierce love for one another. Artifacts of a civilization that no longer existed. Treasures of people who were dead and gone.

After delivering his greeting, Taltos seemed content merely to watch, gazing at Nick with a piercing stare. Savoring his confusion, his shock, his rising panic. His mind reeled as he struggled to wrap his head around the situation. In front of Nick loomed Taltos himself. The architect of immeasurable suffering and the arbiter of humanity’s fate.

Clearly enjoying Nick’s bewilderment, the Mad God took a few steps and cast his gaze around the room. He ran his fingertips across a photograph of the family enjoying a day at the beach, then plopped down into the recliner across from Nick, stretching out his legs as he fiddled with the footrest. Taltos chuckled when the mechanism popped out, then kicked his feet out in front of him.

To say that Nick was surprised would be an understatement of the highest order. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to find himself face-to-face with Taltos, lord of the labyrinth. A being so far above Nick that he couldn't even begin to comprehend the magnitude of the chasm lying between them. Sitting across from an insane deity, moments away from having a cozy fireside chat with a being incomprehensibly more powerful than himself, boggled Nick’s mind, threatening to overwhelm him completely.

He fought the urge to panic. To keep his brain from shutting down. He was able to summon a ghost of his arctic clarity, just enough focus to keep it together. He knew that whatever was happening, he was helpless to do anything other than take the situation as it came and learn everything that he could. Although Nick sensed that saying the wrong thing would have dire repercussions. He ran his gaze across Taltos’s figure, cataloguing his features while he tried to form coherent thoughts.

In his present incarnation, the Mad God looked a bit like an absent professor, though his ominous aura made him seem sinister rather than scholarly. Like a dragon playing with its prey before pouncing. Taltos had long white hair streaked with bands of grey, and his weathered face was lined with deep creases. If he had been human, Nick would have placed him in his early seventies, although there was an ageless sense to his features that was hard to quantify.

The Mad God wore robes of blue silk, embroidered with creatures in gold thread that reminded Nick of mythological beasts, although their forms were subtly different from the legends of Earth. He wore dark pants and plain leather boots, caked in layers of unknown muck, like Taltos had walked here rather than opened a portal and stepped through.

Each article emitted an air of power and majesty, though they were muted by the fell might radiating from Taltos like heat from a bonfire. Nick knew on a deep, instinctual level that Taltos was suppressing his presence. That Nick’s mind would unravel, and his body would burst at the seams if he were to face the god in his full, fell glory.

I have to say something before he gets bored. “Taltos. What a pleasant surprise,” he managed not to stammer. I need to get him talking. Learn whatever I can from this encounter. A chance like this won’t come again.

Taltos saw those thoughts register on Nick’s face, and his expression shifted into a beaming smile, obviously enjoying the moment. “I made enough of an impression that you remember me. How flattering. It’s good to see you again Nick,” Taltos leaned forward. Nick was unable to step away, so he pressed himself into the back of his chair to keep himself from trembling. “Before your tutorial officially comes to a close, I thought that we should have a little chat.”

Taltos knows my name. That can’t be good. “What?” Nick’s brain struggled to process what was happening, going round and round like a hamster on a wheel. “Why?”

“I see that you aren’t one for small talk, Nick. Asking the big questions right out of the gate. Fair enough, I suppose. I’m not really the type to provide clear answers, but I think that I’ll make an exception in this case. As you have surmised, my name is Taltos. I own this little corner of the multiverse, your planet, and every creature and speck of dust on it. I know that the transition for your species has been a little… rocky. Freeing you from the clutches of that prude Astra must have been quite a shock. But rest assured, Nick, it’s not all bad news.”

Nick knew that this was a once in a lifetime situation. He had no chance of outsmarting the being lounging in front of him. No way to make him reveal anything beyond what he chose. All that Nick could do was keep the Mad God talking for as long as possible. Commit every word to memory, hoping that they contained a hint that would lead to his planet’s redemption.

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This time, Taltos didn’t wait for Nick’s mind to catch up, continuing with his revelation at full steam. “Yes, the Earth is slated for recycling, but it doesn’t have to end like that. Out of the boundless generosity of my heart, I’m here to offer you a chance to win it all back. Return the Earth to humanity’s stewardship for all time, if you can complete a little challenge I’ve whipped up.”

Those words cut through Nick’s shock like a blade. The knowledge that the Earth was in imminent peril, that there might still be a way to save it, riveted him to the core of his being. If a path to salvation lay before mankind, Nick needed to know how to find it.

However, rather than laying it all out for him, Taltos’s words took a different course. “Before we get to that, I’ve heard some complaints about capping your species at basic classes. Your objections have been noted, and I assure you, the adjustment was a regrettable oversight. An artifact of the code I used to liberate your little blue planet from the System. Not that it’s possible to remove its influence all together. That meddlesome, busybody AI thinks that it's superior to the gods, but I digress.

“Back to the matter at hand. It may surprise you to hear this Nick, given how my good name has been slandered by the lesser deities, jealous lot with no sense of humor. Reputation aside, I’m not a heartless monster.” Nick nodded, unsure to what extent Taltos was speaking to him instead of at him. “I can admit when I’ve made a mistake. In short, I’m here to remedy the situation. To make amends for my oversight and help humanity unlock some better classes.”

Nick didn’t believe a word of it. He was dead certain that Taltos was playing with him. Nick could see it in his eyes, although he didn’t trust that either. There was no way that he could sense anything that the ancient, immensely powerful deity didn’t want him to see. Games within games. But Nick couldn’t afford to squander this opportunity either. Even though his instincts were screaming that Taltos was leading him into a trap.

“I’m listening.” Nick’s heart hammered within his chest. He tried to keep his fear off his face. His hope. His rising anger. His efforts were likely futile. Nick was certain that the Mad God could read his thoughts and emotions as clearly as the words on a page. “Exactly what are you proposing? Some kind of deal?”

“My, that’s a sharp insight Nick.” Taltos’s grin sent shivers running down Nick’s spine. “I knew that I liked you. Unfortunately, the System won’t let me unilaterally raise the class rarity cap, now that it’s been established. Power must be earned. Strength through conflict, and all that.” The Mad God’s words were dripping with scorn and dark mirth.

“Technically, until you receive the System’s rewards, your tutorial hasn’t officially ended. There is still time to sweeten the pot, as long as you’re willing to put your life on the line. I propose that we add a bit of icing on top, to mix my metaphors. Cap off the tutorial with style. It’s time for, what do your people call it again? Ah yes, a bonus round!

“With that little preamble out of the way, let’s get down to brass tacks. I’ve set up a modest brawl in one of my arenas, and I’m extending an invitation to the top scorers of the tutorial. A round ten thousand has a nice ring to it. If you win, I’ll pay to unlock common classes for your entire species and let you pick a new class right away. To encourage anyone still sitting on the fence, I’ll give the winners a special reward. A chance to choose an uncommon class and take your first true step upon the myriad paths of power.

“Participation is optional, but I’m offering a prize that won’t come your way again. At least not within your lifetime.” With those words, Taltos’s demeanor shifted. He began making a wheedling pitch that would have reminded Nick of an infomercial if the situation wasn’t deadly serious.

“Are you bummed out about being stuck with that basic Survivor class? Would you like to have your choice between a range of commons instead? Well turn that frown upside down. I’m here to offer you the chance not only to unlock common classes for your entire species, but to secure yourself a sweet pick from a choice list of uncommons as well. What do you say Nick? Are you willing to wager your life for a chance of climbing the peak of ascendancy?” Taltos turned to look Nick straight in the eye, his good cheer morphing into predatory anticipation. “Would you care to make a deal?”

Nick knew that subterfuge wouldn’t work against a being far beyond himself. But every word that he could pry out of Taltos was an invaluable chance to understand what was happening. “Why are you here? What makes me so special?”

“Don’t flatter yourself Nick. While your performance has been more entertaining than most, it’s nothing to write home about. I always try to introduce myself to new arrivals. It isn’t always possible, but with a small batch of only a few hundred million, dividing my attention long enough to say hello is a trivial task." A few hundred million? That’s all that survived integration and the tutorial? Nick was staggered by the loss of billions. A tragedy of such immense proportion that he barely noticed when Taltos lowered the footrest and got back onto his feet.

Part of Nick had already decided to participate. Humanity needed those upgrades if they were to have any hope of surviving the dark days ahead. But he was desperate for any additional information that he could get. “After that, you'll give us a chance to win back the Earth?”

“Of course,” Taltos offered a beaming smile. “I promise to give your species a fighting chance to keep your world off the slag heap, although incorporation into the labyrinth is nonnegotiable. But whether your planet will become a full member, world untouched by my hand, or recycled and used as raw materials. Well Nick, that remains to be seen. Either way, it should be quite a show. With that, the time for questions is over. As much as I’ve enjoyed our little chat, it’s time for me to be on my way. I’m a busy god after all. Worlds to steal, others to destroy. I won’t bore you with the details.”

“I’ll consider it,” Nick sighed.

“Excellent. I knew I had a good feeling about you. I’ll authorize the challenge with the System and let it handle the details. When you see the prompt, you can register your decision and make your entry official. We can discuss the fate of the Earth once the bonus round is over. Goodbye for now, Nick. Try to survive, I’m looking forward to our next little chat.”

Humming a merry tune, the Mad God walked over to the door, stopping to snatch a drawing of a T-Rex from the wall along the way, and then another featuring an angry rhinoceros. Taltos turned to look him in the eye, winked, and then left by the doorway he had come through.

It vanished the moment that it closed, leaving Nick alone with his thoughts.