The cavern, still and silent in the aftermath of the system disruptions, felt heavy with unspoken truths and the weight of impending choices. Pag, his mind buzzing with questions and a growing sense of unease, turned to Pandora, seeking clarity in the midst of the digital storm that swirled around them.

"So, when you said, 'Do not let the god's power consume you,' was that in-character, or is there something I should know?" Pag asked, forcing a wry grin despite the knot of apprehension tightening in his chest.

Pandora, her ethereal form shimmering with a soft, otherworldly light, met his gaze with an intensity that belied her usually serene demeanor. "You are bonded to one Genesis Crystal and have given a second power over you," she said, her voice taking on a somber tone. "Yes, he may grant you some boons, just as any of us would, but by aligning yourself with him, you have granted him the ability to reward or revoke points in piety, karma, and, among other things, your hygeian meter."

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in before continuing, her voice low and urgent. "Think about the potential ramifications that could have, Pag. Designating one of us labeled as a deity, granting that kind of power over you, in this setting or any other, for that matter, is not something to take lightly."

Pag swallowed hard, the implications of his pact with Dedisco hitting him with a sudden, chilling clarity. He had been so focused on surviving the Tombs Rattle, on finding a way to heal his friend, that he hadn't fully grasped the extent of the power he had ceded to the forgotten god. The icon of Dedisco's power, a swirling vortex of green energy, pulsed on his character sheet, a constant reminder of the bond he had forged, the price he had paid for his survival.

"Us… Us? You’re a deity?" he blurted out, his mind reeling as a realization dawned on him. Memories of his first encounter with Pandora inthe prison at Thalins' forest flashed before his eyes, her cryptic words, her enigmatic presence, suddenly taking on a new meaning. He smacked his forehead in frustration, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. "I'm an idiot. You said to call you Pandora, not that your name was Pandora."

A soft chuckle, like the tinkling of wind chimes, echoed through the cavern as Pandora's form shimmered with amusement. "Honestly, I thought the moniker would have given me away, given the poorly written lore the developers slapped together," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of wry humor. "My name is Zudea, though I would still much prefer to go by Pandora."

Pag shook his head, marveling at his own obliviousness. "Why are you walking around like any other player or NPC? I kind of figured all deities would be in the temples," he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Nah, we may occasionally go to them, but the picture we get of people in temples is incomplete," Pandora said with a shrug, her form shifting subtly as if she were settling into a more comfortable posture. "Often very skewed as well. No, it's the little things, the day-to-day actions that really tell us who they are, so we walk around like this. Sure, Karen, Chad, or Kevin may donate to the temple, they may help with functions at the temple, but if we stay there all the time, we don't see how they belittle those around them, how they twist and cherry-pick their religious texts to suit them, or how they both fail to uphold the core tenets of the belief they try to force on others."

She paused, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Besides," she added, her voice taking on a lighter tone, "it gets boring just sitting in them all the time."

Pag nodded, appreciating her candid explanation. It made sense, in a strange way. To truly understand the mortals they interacted with, to guide them, to judge them, they needed to see them in their natural habitat, so to speak. The temples, with their rituals and dogma, offered only a glimpse, a carefully curated facade. It was in the mundane, in the everyday interactions, that true character was revealed.

"Fair enough," he said, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Next question. If you don't mind, that is."

"Go right ahead," Pandora encouraged, gesturing with a soft smile, her ethereal form radiating a welcoming warmth.

"Or, well, it's really questions, I suppose," Pag admitted, feeling a surge of urgency as he realized how much he still didn't know. "I have a lot, to be honest. First, what can you tell me about the Heart of the Abyss? And what kind of fallout should I expect regardless of whether or not I do the quest?"

Pandora's expression turned thoughtful, her form shimmering as if she were sifting through memories, weighing her words carefully. "The Heart of the Abyss is honestly a joke from the developers to play into the whole 'Dedisco is evil' trope," she explained, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "It's a chunk of some blackish rock about the size of your fist. If you do the quest, then some NPCs will try to stop you, and Dedisco will ask you to take it to your base, the Reliquary, which will open up a chain of quests to get both him and the base to 100% and free himself."

She paused, her gaze meeting Pag's, a flicker of warning in her ethereal eyes. "He won't lie to you or deceive you, per se, but he may be vague, which can be misleading if you're not careful. And he is definitely strict in how things are done, if they are done at all."

"If you choose not to do it, then you may see a decrease in stats, and you may have some debuff or something like that, but that's about it. He will have someone else do it, even if you don't," she continued, her voice taking on a matter-of-fact tone. "Honestly, the main concern you have is his love for terrible jokes and his tendency to match energy."

"Match energy?" Pag echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"You give respect, you get respect," Pandora clarified, her form shimmering as if she were demonstrating a concept. "You give insults, you get insults. Seems normal, maybe not a big deal, until you consider that here, he's a deity."

Pag shuddered, imagining the potential consequences of offending a god with a penchant for "matching energy." It was a sobering thought, a reminder of the delicate balance he now had to navigate as Dedisco's follower.

"Ok, that brings me to my next question, and well, it’s backtracking a bit," Pag said, pressing on, seeking answers to the growing list of mysteries that plagued him. "You said he had the ability to mess with stats. Do one of you have to be a deity we follow for you to do that, or can any of you do that? I’m not sure exactly what point it happened, but my stats seem to have frozen and don't change when I level up.”

Pandora blinked, tilting her head as if considering the question for the first time. “Typically yes, we would need to be designated as a deity that you follow to have that kind of access," she replied, her voice thoughtful. "But there may be some rare instances in which that may not be a requirement, though I have not come across any, so I'm not sure what they may be."

Pag frowned, a sense of unease settling over him. His frozen stats, the system disruptions, the cryptic error messages… it was all starting to feel connected, like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite assemble. The cavern, once a place of refuge, now felt like a pressure cooker, the air thick with unspoken truths and the weight of impending choices.

He needed answers. He needed to understand the forces at play, the rules of the game he was now caught in. But as he looked around the cavern, at Pandora's shimmering form, at the empty space where PillowHorror had stood moments before, at the distorted reflections in the stagnant pool, he couldn't shake the feeling that the answers he sought lay beyond the confines of this digital world, somewhere in the shadowy realm where reality and virtuality blurred, where the whispers of a forgotten god echoed with the promise of power and the threat of destruction.

"Stats can be a bit finicky in any game," Pag said with a thoughtful frown. "I guess it's not a huge deal for now. We have bigger things to worry about anyway, like figuring out what's going on with the system and finding the Waffles." He glanced at Pandora, seeking confirmation. "So Kyrbane, right? Any idea how we're going to get there with the system acting up like this?"

Pandora nodded, her ethereal form shimmering as if she were considering the best course of action. "Kyrbane is a considerable distance from here," she said, her voice taking on a practical tone. "Under normal circumstances, teleportation or a guild summon would be the most efficient methods, but with the system instability…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing slightly.

ProlixalParagon, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, their form flickering erratically as if they were struggling to maintain their presence within the unstable game world, suddenly spoke, their voice a strained whisper. "There might be another way." They hesitated, their form solidifying for a moment before dissolving back into a shimmering haze. "There's a… a hidden pathway… a network of ancient tunnels… that connect the major cities of the Lunar Empire. It was used by the patala… in the early days… before the Cataclysm…"

Pandora's form shimmered with surprise. "The patala tunnels?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "I had heard rumors of their existence, but I never thought…" She paused, her gaze sweeping the cavern as if searching for something. "They are said to be dangerous, unstable, and fraught with… unforeseen challenges. But if they are still accessible, they might offer a way to reach Kyrbane without relying on the compromised system."

Pag felt a surge of adrenaline, a thrill of anticipation mixed with a healthy dose of trepidation. The idea of exploring ancient patala tunnels, delving into the hidden depths of the Lunar Empire, appealed to his sense of adventure. But ProlixalParagon's warnings about their instability, the potential dangers that lurked within their depths, gave him pause.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Are you sure it's safe?" he asked, his gaze fixed on ProlixalParagon, searching their flickering form for any sign of hesitation or doubt. "I mean, with the system acting up like this, who knows what we might encounter down there?"

ProlixalParagon's form shimmered, their static distortion intensifying as if echoing Pag's concerns. "There are always risks… in any path we choose…" they whispered, their voice barely audible above the soft gurgling of water that filled the cavern. "But the tunnels… they are… outside the system… a relic of a time… before the Cataclysm… before…" Their voice trailed off, their form dissolving further, as if they were struggling to maintain their grip on the unstable digital reality.

Pandora stepped closer to ProlixalParagon, her ethereal form radiating a calming warmth that seemed to push back against their flickering instability. "You know the way?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm.

ProlixalParagon nodded, their form solidifying slightly, as if drawing strength from Pandora's presence. "I… I can show you…" they whispered, their voice gaining a hint of confidence. "But… it will not be… easy… The tunnels… they are… a reflection… of the chaos… that lies… within…" Their voice faded once more, their form shimmering erratically as they turned towards a section of the cavern wall that Pag had previously dismissed as a natural formation.

"A reflection of the chaos, huh?" Pag muttered, his gaze following ProlixalParagon's movements. He felt a shiver run down his spine, a premonition of the challenges that awaited them in the depths of the patala tunnels. He glanced at his character sheet, the icon of Dedisco's power pulsing steadily, a reminder of the god's influence, the power he had embraced, the path he had chosen.

The cavern, once a haven of mystical energy, now felt oppressive, the air thick with an undefined threat. The system instability, the cryptic error messages, the absence of PillowHorror, and now, the prospect of navigating ancient patala tunnels - it was as if the game itself was testing him, pushing him to his limits, forcing him to confront the consequences of his choices. He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. He had to stay focused, had to trust in Pandora's guidance, in ProlixalParagon's knowledge, in his own abilities.

He had made a deal with a god, a pact that had saved his life but bound him to a destiny he barely understood. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger, but he had no choice but to follow it, to delve deeper into the mysteries of Ludere Online, to seek answers, to find control, to protect the fragile balance between reality and virtuality.

"Do you know where to find these tunnels, ProlixalParagon?" Pag asked, his voice echoing in the cavern. The idea of navigating a hidden network beneath the Lunar Empire, especially given the current state of Ludere Online, filled him with a mix of excitement and trepidation. He glanced at his character sheet, the icon of Dedisco's power pulsing, a constant reminder of the dark god's influence. He had to tread carefully, maintain control.

ProlixalParagon, their form flickering, drifted towards the far end of the cavern. "Follow me," they said, their voice a low hum. "There's an entrance... concealed... behind the waterfall".

Pandora, her ethereal form radiating a soft, calming light, moved to Pag's side. "Be cautious, Pagacco," she warned, her voice a gentle chime. "The tunnels are ancient, remnants of a time before the Cataclysm. They may be unstable, unpredictable. And remember... Dedisco's influence grows stronger the deeper we go"..

Pag nodded, acknowledging her warning. He had tasted the power Dedisco offered, felt the god's dark energy coursing through him. He knew he walked a dangerous path.

As they approached the waterfall, Pag felt a surge of anticipation. The roar of the cascading water filled the cavern, creating a curtain of mist that obscured the far wall. ProlixalParagon, their movements fluid and ghost-like, passed through the waterfall as if it were a mere illusion. Their shimmering form reappeared on the other side, gesturing for Pag and Pandora to follow.

"The entrance is well hidden," Pandora observed, her voice barely audible above the roar of the water. "It seems the patala were masters of concealment".

Taking a deep breath, Pag stepped into the waterfall. The icy water slammed against him, the force of the current threatening to sweep him away. He fought his way forward, his vision blurred by the spray, his muscles straining against the relentless torrent. And then, just as he thought he could hold on no longer, he stumbled through to the other side, gasping for breath.

He found himself in a narrow passageway, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and moss. The sound of the waterfall receded, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the drip of water from the ceiling. He shivered, his clothes soaked, his body trembling with cold.

"This is it," ProlixalParagon said, their voice echoing softly in the confined space. "The entrance to the patala tunnels".

Pandora, her ethereal form radiating a warm glow that seemed to push back the chill of the passageway, moved closer to Pag. "Are you alright, Pagacco?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Pag nodded, trying to regain his composure. "Just a bit shaken," he replied, feeling the water trail down his scales. "And cold".

He glanced at his character sheet. He squared his shoulders, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. "Let's go," he said, his voice firm, his gaze fixed on the darkness that swallowed the passageway. "We have a long journey ahead of us".

The passage, barely wide enough for them to walk abreast, snaked deeper into the heart of the mountain, the rough-hewn walls damp and slick with moisture. A strange luminescence, emanating from the moss and lichen that clung to the stone, cast an eerie green glow, illuminating the path ahead. The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of damp earth and a faint, metallic tang that Pag couldn’t quite place.

ProlixalParagon, their form flickering like a heat haze, led the way, their movements eerily silent. Their ethereal body seemed to glide over the uneven ground, unfazed by the darkness and the oppressive atmosphere. Pandora, a beacon of warm light in the otherwise gloomy passage, stayed close to Pag’s side, her presence a comforting counterpoint to the growing sense of unease that gnawed at him.

"These tunnels..." Pag began, his voice echoing strangely in the confined space, "how old are they, exactly?" He couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking through a graveyard of forgotten history, each step echoing with the weight of centuries.

"Older than the Cataclysm, that much is certain," Pandora replied, her voice a soft chime that seemed to soothe the growing tension. "They were carved by the patala, a race known for their mastery of earth magic, long before the Lunar Empire rose to power. It is said they used these tunnels to connect their cities, to travel unseen beneath the surface of the world."

"And they were abandoned?" Pag asked, his gaze sweeping the tunnel walls, searching for any sign of the patala's presence. "What happened to them?"

Pandora hesitated, her ethereal form shimmering as if she were struggling to access a distant memory. "The details are lost to time," she finally said, her voice laced with a hint of sadness. "Some say they were wiped out by a natural disaster, a cataclysmic event that reshaped the land. Others whisper of a plague, a curse that consumed them from within called the titans rot."

“Titans rot?”

“sometimes called the witches mane, this is caused by wildmagic infecting the body and causing magical parasitic mushrooms to begin growing on the victim along the spine, around the neck and at the crown of the head. The alleged first known case is that of Ligma the Titan. Ligma had been harassing farmers for weeks when he accidentally stepped on a witch's house and her prized mushrooms. In fit of rage the witch cursed Ligma with what she dubbed Titans Rot meaning for him to die slowly and painfully as the mushrooms sprouted from him invading his neurological systems until everything finally shut down. As she cast the spell the titan fell on her killing her as she wove the last of the spell taking any potential cure with her to the grave. The name Witches mane came many years later and is considered slang in educated society. There are waves of it occasionally.”

ProlixalParagon, their form flickering, interrupted “It. . . it wasn't the titans rot that got them. . . it was . . . Oozing chills. . . Thats. . . where the forehead thing originated. . .”

Pandora cursed and turned to pag. “The oozing chills is an infection of foreign mana. All liquid in the body begins to crystallize, if left untreated. Initial symptoms are headaches, fever, chills, light sensitivity, muscle spasms, dehydration, grains or crystals forming at the corner of eyes and mouths. This illness is Spread by insects or magical creatures. While it cannot be passed person to person unless via direct blood contact it can be passed on if sharing magic such as in joint spell casting. It can lead to embolisms, aneurysms, strokes, heart attacks or if the victim manages to survive long enough they will just turn into pure crystal.”

Pag gulped. He had thought that tombs rattle was bad but both the titans rot and oozing chills sounded far worse.

As they progressed deeper into the tunnels, the smooth black stone gave way to rough-hewn walls of a shimmering, iridescent mineral. The ethereal glow emanating from the runes intensified, casting swirling patterns of light and shadow that danced across the tunnel walls. Pag felt a tingling sensation on his skin, a low hum vibrating through his bones. The air grew heavy, charged with an energy that was both exhilarating and unsettling.

"The mana flow here… it's… different," Pandora remarked, her ethereal form pulsing with the shifting energy. "More… primal… chaotic…".

ProlixalParagon, their form flickering erratically as they moved ahead, turned back to face Pag, their voice echoing strangely through the tunnel. "The patala… they were masters of earth magic… They channeled the raw energy of the world… These tunnels… they are conduits… pathways of power… Be cautious, Pag… The energy here… it can be… overwhelming…".

Pag, his senses heightened, felt a surge of adrenaline. He could feel the raw power thrumming through the tunnels, a wild, untamed energy that seemed to whisper promises of strength and danger. The icon of Dedisco’s power on his character sheet pulsed brightly, a surge of warmth spreading through his body. He fought to maintain control, to keep the god’s influence at bay. He remembered Pandora’s warning, Dedisco's influence grows stronger the deeper we go. He had to be careful.

"Do you know where these tunnels lead, ProlixalParagon?" Pag asked, his voice echoing in the tunnel. "Can we reach Kyrbane through here?".

ProlixalParagon hesitated, their form shimmering as if they were struggling to maintain cohesion within the chaotic flow of mana. "The tunnels… they are… a network… a labyrinth… They shift… change… with the flow of energy…" Their voice trailed off, their form dissolving further, their words echoing with uncertainty.

"It is said that the patala tunnels connect the major cities of the Lunar Empire," Pandora interjected, her voice a calming presence in the midst of the growing unease. "But their paths are not fixed, not like the roads above. They are… fluid… responsive… to the will of those who wield earth magic." She paused, her ethereal form shimmering with the pulsing runes. "If ProlixalParagon can regain control, tap into the flow of energy here, they might be able to guide us… But it will be a perilous journey, fraught with unforeseen challenges…”.

Pag nodded, his heart pounding with anticipation and apprehension. The prospect of navigating the patala tunnels, of harnessing the raw power that flowed through their depths, both excited and intimidated him. He glanced at his character sheet, the icon of Dedisco's power pulsing, a reminder of the dark god's influence, the pact he had made. He had to stay vigilant, maintain control, resist the whispers of chaos that echoed in the depths of his mind. He was walking a dangerous path, but it was the only one he had. The fate of Ludere Online, the balance between reality and virtuality, hung in the balance. He had to find a way to reach Kyrbane, to find a way to protect the world he had come to cherish.