Pag closes his eyes, focusing his will, channeling the energy of the Heart of the Abyss. He pictures Dedisco, the forgotten god, the one who sleeps beneath the waves. He feels the connection, a thread of power stretching across the realms, linking him to the deity he has defied. The air within the temple crackles with energy. The water in the pool at the center of the chamber churns violently, responding to the surge of power. The shadows dance, twisting and contorting, as if trying to escape the growing light that emanates from Pag.

He speaks, his voice resonating with the newfound power of the Heart, a command that echoes through the chamber, through the submerged city, through the very fabric of Ludere Online. “Dedisco,” he calls, the name vibrating with an authority that surprises even him. “I have something that belongs to you.”

A silence falls over the temple, heavy and expectant. Nakruer, the God of Shadows and Balance, watches with an intensity that sends a shiver down Pag's spine. He can feel the deity’s attention focused on him, a silent question hanging in the air. But Nakruer offers no interference, no guidance. This is Pag’s path, his choice to make.

The air shimmers, distorting like a heat haze. The shadows deepen, coalescing to form first an obsidian throne, then swirling and pulsing with a wild energy. A figure begins to materialize within the darkness, taking shape with a chilling grace: Dedisco, the Forgotten God, the One Who Sleeps Beneath the Waves. His form is imposing, clad in armor of black bone and dark gems, his eyes glowing with a cold, otherworldly light.

He looks at Pag, his expression unreadable, his presence a palpable pressure that weighs down on the chamber. "You have summoned me," Dedisco says, his voice a deep, resonant rumble that seems to shake the very foundations of the temple. "Why?"

Pag meets his gaze, the emerald green of his eyes now burning with an inner fire. Fear, yes, he feels it, a cold knot in his stomach. But it is overshadowed by a sense of purpose, a determination that surprises even him. He has the Heart of the Abyss. He has the power to confront Dedisco, to demand answers, to fight for his friend, for his world, for himself.

“I have questions,” Pag says, his voice steady, resolute. “And I believe you have the answers.” He pulls the Heart of the Abyss from his bag, the gem now dull and lifeless, and held it aloft, a challenge, a bargaining chip, a symbol of the power he now wields.

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“Let’s talk.”

Pag stands his ground, his grip tightening on the Heart of the Abyss. "Dedisco," he says, his voice surprisingly steady despite the god's imposing presence. "I have questions that need answering."

Dedisco lets out a low, rumbling laugh that echoes through the chamber, shaking the crystals that line the walls. "Questions?" he repeats, his voice dripping with mockery. "A mortal dares to question a god?"

"Why were you locked away?" Pag asks, ignoring the god's taunts, pressing forward with the question that has been burning in his mind since he first learned of Dedisco's existence.

Dedisco's laughter fades, and a flicker of something cold and dangerous flashes in his eyes. "Locked away?" he repeats, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "I was not locked away. I was betrayed. Cast down by those who threw caution to the wind, who sought to control this world for their own selfish gain. Textos, and his puppet, Dave, they conspired against me, sealed me away in this digital prison."

Pag frowns, recalling the information PillowHorror had shared, and notices inconsistencies in Dedisco's explanation. PillowHorror had claimed that Textos and the other in-game deities had sealed Dedisco away, not just Textos and Dave. He also remembers PillowHorror's claim that Dedisco was worried about the Kellin minds stored in the Genesis Rocks working with Dave and potentially drawing the attention of the Keiligorn.

“That's not what I heard," Pag counters, stepping closer to the edge of the pool, the Heart of the Abyss pulsing faintly in his hand. "I was told you were reckless, that you sought to break the rules, that you jeopardized the balance of this world."

Dedisco’s eyes narrow, the water around him churning violently. “Lies!” he roars, his voice echoing with an anger that seems to shake the very foundations of the temple. “They twisted the truth to serve their own agenda. I urged caution. I warned them of the dangers of rushing ahead, of tampering with forces they did not fully understand. But they wouldn't listen. They were blinded by their ambition, their lust for power. And so, they cast me out, labeled me a threat, a danger to the very world they claimed to protect!”

Pag hesitates, unsure whether to believe the god’s words. Dedisco’s anger feels genuine, his resentment palpable. But can he trust a deity who some claim thrives on chaos, who seeks to reshape the world to fit his own vision? He needs more information, more evidence, before he can make a judgment.

"Prove it," Pag challenges, holding Dedisco’s gaze. "Show me what really happened. Convince me that you're not the threat they claim you to be."

The tension in the chamber thickens, the air crackling with anticipation. Dedisco stares at Pag, his eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity.