I followed my string down, through the depths of rock and back up to the surface. Eventually finding my target. Brille the Goddess of Fate and Death floated ahead of me. She knew what I had come for, and rather than fleeing she confronted it with courage and dignity.
We talked for a while, as equals rather than rivals. Mentally communicating details of both great importance and sweet nothingness. I conveyed my anger over the state of the World I found myself residence in. She returned the same anger with a more detailed history than anything I'd heard before.
Long ago, further back in time than anything that still stands at present. It was a similar World to my own known history. Cities that ascended skywards with millions of souls looking for their own happiness. There was magic and science, working together in tandem. Images of flying cars and busses carrying passengers to their various destinations. People getting along with each other and while there was crime it wasn't on the level of what I've witnessed in the present.
A dark eldritch shadow crept across the globe. Killing millions in seconds. Souls flitted up from the planet being consumed by the creature. The people were horrified.
As people do when faced with something awful some turned to religion, others to science and a third group towards magic.
With so many people believing in the various religions and offering their souls up for saviours, Gods were created.
The scientific side had a breakthrough as well, combining the base scientific side with more magical means. The system was created. It wasn't perfect, but it allowed individuals to advance further and faster on the merit of Desire, Will, and Determination.
The magic focused group also created the first Dungeon Cores at this time. An arena to create stronger citizens, to the goal of being able to combat the Destroyer.
The three groups worked together for a time. Made difficult by the Destroyers constant gaze, for any large gatherings were decimated. The survivors spread out thoroughly and lived as they learned from their own history.
Eventually the first level 500 person Ascended to Godhood. What she learned caused a schism more significant than anyone was ready for.
"The Gods had been successful immediately in slaying the Destroyer. They had existed for hundreds of years, pretending to be the being of torment. All to keep the mortals supplying them with power. Memories to feed them and faith to grow their power."
"They had lied to everyone, as people with power are won't to do to keep their station. Killing millions to serve as a mask of their deceit. By the time I returned to report my findings, it was far too late. The Dungeons we're tainted, technology and science had been erased and those with power ruled with an iron fist."
"This was 1373 years ago, Thomas. I lost my motivation, my determination and drive. I went through almost one thousand years of wallowing in my despair without gaining another level. Then I found you."
She looks to be on the verge of tears as she continues her story. Thoughts and mental communication verify to me that this is all truth. Fabricating the memories I've witnessed is impossible and direct mental communication as I've learned always holds to truth.
"I was looking for a way to unseat them, to bring life, and freedom back to the world. In my Madness I had gained a skill, Strings of Fate. Allowing me to see all the potential ends. I manipulated your string Thomas. I'm sorry I did it but I had to, and I knew you would understand and play your role. I know you will do so, since it aligns with your own Souls' Song."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
My anger rises with the first half of her sentence and fades with the second half, emotions from myself slip through my mental walling.
"Yes, I robbed you of your afterlife, I brought you here and gave you the tools you need to fulfill my goals." Sadness bleeds through on her end of the connection. "I know I won't survive today, once we finish this mental communication the others will be watching our dance of death. You will win. You will replace me as the new God of Fate and Death. Then they won't be able to stop you."
She backs up a bit from where she's been floating idly, ripping her dress off to reveal the armor she has equipped. She summons a replica of my own Scythe, and with one last glance at me she sends the thought of "Thankyou" a single tear falling from her eye as she dashes at me.
Being a Dungeon Core has its own advantages. I'm fast, each second in real time let's me have minutes of planning. I've learned how to recall memories from my past life and as I dodge her first swing I settle on a song from my favorite playlist. It's fast paced, definitely a song to fight to.
https://youtu.be/PH4Sfk_eRjE
The music starts and I dodge four more swings from Brille. Floating off to the side on the same plane and separating us by several more feet. I've learned to observe my opponents for patterns and take advantage of the gaps.
She swings another time, aiming for my neck as I block it with my own weapon she kicks with her left foot, impacting the invisible handle and sending me flying backwards to the wall. I recover from the negative momentum and fly back to go on the offensive.
I swing low aiming to remove a limb from my much more fleshy enemy, only for her to block it with a group of Fate Strings. Some were severed and while I could contemplate on who just died I'd rather focus on the fight. I remove my scythe with a back swing and pull a flourish, spinning my weapon like a helicopter prop.
I caught the fingertips of her right hand, slicing it layer by layer closer to her arm before she pulls away. Her blood splatters across her face, the look of shock evident on her face for a few seconds. Before returning to the uncaring visage she wore before.
She swings, if I dodge now I won't have my weapon follow me. I duck my head back a few inches and tighten my grip on my handle to stop the weapons spin. Her scythe head goes into one of my eye sockets and out the other, bone pieces falling out with the follow through. I snap my right hand up and to the left.
Her lower body splats down to the cavern floor below, entrails flowing out onto the rock. She manages one last swing and at this distance I can't block it either. It's erratic and non-lethal though, only slicing a gap between the teeth in my lower jaw bone as she loses her grasp of flight and falls down to the bottom as well.
She's in pain, but not dead yet. Divinity or perhaps her level being so high keeping her alive for a bit, but too weak or in pain to move. She's crying and smiling simultaneously. I feel bad for a moment, then flourish my weapon again to put her out of her misery. I grab her soul as it leaves her body, I have plans for her still.
We ascend back to my Core, it's bigger now. A black star of beautiful diamond. I flourish my weapon again, severing all the Strings of Fate coming from my Core and going in every direction around the World.
I summon a young body, one without a soul, just like I would do with the rats - then I throw her into it. It's mortal, and still has room to grow, but I will have my answers.
I select a song to listen to, then float back towards my heart, the place where my soul lays trapped.
https://youtu.be/R2ct_Gkq-HQ
Upset at the world itself, and finding solace in my song choice. What I have to do is like a gun that shoots the wielder and the target. A double bladed sword that exacts a blood price from my targets and a soul price from myself.
I will remove the Gods from power, and remake the world like a smith repurposing old tools. I will elevate the weak of the land and eliminate the mighty. Some of the people I will have to end will be innocents, some will be young, others will not deserve it. Regardless of that, what the World needs now is a villain to unite against.
Forgive me Erifis, Tomas, and all who live above. I slice through the strings connecting to my contracts, releasing them from my service.
Sym has been silent most of this time, but now speaks up asking what is going on. I brush off my passenger. He need not know yet, his very existence is because of my enemies. I don't need to give them information and the chance to smite me before I'm ready.
Returning to my Core I begin the next stage of evolution. It begins to glow, not growing this time but taking on a purple and red aura. The pain starts again. Brille is just waking up when I slip back into unconsciousness, the island above and the Dungeon itself shaking violently.
https://youtu.be/g33N8WKTVUI