AN: So, today is going to be another dual post as a thank you for 200 followers, and afterwards is the same schedule of one per day.
Now, for the next few chapters, the MC and Brutus will be upon a world called Forge. This one is going to be hinting at what you will expect within the second book of "The Sins of The Abyss" arc. However, some of points will be glossed over, as the audience our MC is speaking to already know about his adventures within the world. So I'll be apologising in advance if any of you are confused.
As per usual, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
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Now then, I believe Brutus had left off with him standing within the centre of the Hub World, correct? Yes. Well, soon after I had noticed the presence move away, my mental self guided him towards a very different part of the area we were currently within. This one was one of many portal rooms upon the first floor. One of which held a golden archway which led to the world called Forge, and the dungeons situated within.
However, not everyone was allowed to enter, and as such had to be "screened". I believe that is the word, which is to say that they are to understand that death is not really an absolution upon the worlds. On the other hand, they had to bind their essences, or souls, to a large crystal within each town they journey to. Or else will either have to wait until a passing priest resurrects their persons, or stay dead and enter the reincarnation system situated within that world.
Now, many, if not most, of you know all this. For those who do not, each town upon Forge holds a crystal called Vitae. It's a Life Crystal, and within it are the general energies of everyone who binds themselves to it. Every year it needs to be done in order to keep it running, else it will grow dark and die or attract the various monsters upon the world.
Once you have bound yourself to it, you gain a chance at life after dying. Unfortunately, it doesn't work if you die of old age. Which includes death by Time Magicks, as the system within the crystals will still believe you died from old age. We're still working on it even after all these centuries.
In any case, once you perish, you and others will be resurrected next to the crystal with only peasant clothing to wear and a short sword to defend yourself with. There's also a small bag containing a hunk of hard bread, some dried meats, cheese, and a canteen of water. It's enough to allow a person to survive for a few days, at the very least, but if you die before reclaiming your body, you enter the reincarnation system of the world you died in. Thus, allowing others and monsters to loot your body of anything valuable.
Then again, with most of the worlds within my Pantheon holding the most Minour and Higher Immortals, the crystals are rarely, if ever, used, but no matter.
As we entered the area which housed the portal to Forge, all of the guards for Forge paused in their assigned tasks to stand and either salute or bow in our general direction. Whereas my sword body slowly became a silver coloured mist which then collected itself to form my endarkened, Kitsune self. Of which I only had a pair of crimson trousers and simply stretched before waving at everyone present. This action caused many to chuckle as they returned to their tasks, which caused those who desired to enter the world to wonder who we are to be able to cause such a scene.
To this, I simply ignored, and looked about for someone in particular. "Ah, there he is," I sighed softly, and slowly moved my person towards a long table piled high with all manner of foods and drinks. This was where I found Flint, an experimental Dwarf I had created out of food. Yes, the race is created by magicks after being sculpted, as they do not have any females, nor genitals.
"Flint," my voice boomed throughout the room, causing many to jump which included Flint.
Of whom then turned around to glare at my person as he Stuffed his face with a leg of cooked venison. "Wadda ya want, Boss?" he grumbled, nodding towards my and Brutus's person.
"Always charming to see you, too, Flint." My lips peeled away to reveal a few of my fangs, which caused the other to show a small, begrudging smile which turned into a frown as he returned to the food.
"Why do you allow this one to address you so, My Lord God?" asked Brutus, who was rather perturbed towards Flint.
"Dwarves are Dwarves, Brutus," was my response which was accompanied by a shrug, "Besides, this one is one of those 'Foody' types."
To which the other growled a, "Shaddap," before turning away with a huff. I, on the other hand, simply chuckled whilst turning around and motioning Brutus to follow close behind.
For I desired to enter Forge in order to plan our next steps, as the False God had grown wary of our presence. Of which would hinder anymore advancements upon "his" world from our side. One of these hindrances would be him deciding to band my person from ever stepping foot upon Terra forevermore. Whilst another would be him coming down from his high horse and doing battle with my person.
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Which is ideal for us, don't get me wrong, but at the same time it also means he can pull more strength from the world. As many of you know, pulling the energy of a world will equate in its quick destruction. Especially if the one doing the pulling is a God, Goddess, or simple caretaker of the world. This is not ideal, especially when I held the reigns of six worlds at that time, and would need to rely on them to counter the assault of said God and his might from Terra.
Before I forget, the room which we were in was cylindrical in shape, and covered in gold. From the trimmings to the paint, light fixtures to the furniture; everything was made from gold. Of which was perfect, as the world all of this came from was Forge, the World of Avarice; of Greed. In that world, before my arrival, it was run by the Dwarves you see all throughout the Pantheon, and they were the greediest of the greedy. Which included a tax on everything from simple cloth, to food, to passes to enter the dungeons, and to whatever you brought out, but when I brought out the Tower of Babel, everything destabilised.
Ah, but I digress, and if you desire to read such an event, then you would best do so from the libraries.
Now, as we made our way towards the portal, there was a line of about a dozen or so Humans and creatures who desired to enter the world. These ones had been waiting almost a full turn of the sun to do so, which was how long the screening process was. When I stepped ahead of the line, however, a large brut of a Human stepped out in front of my person. It was glowering down on my Kitsune self, whilst I wondered why there was a meaty wall in front of my eyes.
"Get back in line," it growled, "You can wait yer turn like the rest of us. Ain't no way yer goin' first before me." A large and thick forefinger tried to jab at my chest, but went missing almost as quickly. This led to it staring at the missing appendage just as the first spurt of blood erupted from the stump. Which then screamed with both pain and rage as its large sword was unsheathed and about to slam down upon my person.
Unfortunately for it, the guards of Forge acted upon such an advancement. Whilst Brutus wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me back, I watched as the Human brute was pincushioned by hundreds of bolts fired from only ten crossbows. Each of these weapons was called an "Automatic Crossbow" which was able to fire up to ten bolts per minute. This was quite astonishing to my mind, but it was terribly inaccurate. In that each bolt only flew up to one hundred metres before losing much of its strength, but in every direction except for straight ahead. It was still impressive, don't get me wrong, but the thing was better against large groups than it was against one or a few others.
On the other hand, it was also loud.
Imagine, if you would, an army of Elves strumming their bow strings thousands of times per second, right in your ear. Now couple that with the sounds of wood sliding across wood, as well as an incessant clicking sound between each. That's what it sounds like, which can become rather annoying after being near them for too long.
However, it was rather effective up close, which the Human had felt as it fell forwards dead. Strangest thing, though, not a drop of blood fell upon the golden floor, of which I brought it up as soon as I noticed it. "Ah, yes Boss," began one of the guards who also happened to be a Dwarf with dark coloured hair atop his head and upon his face, "See, the bolts are coated with Lathix Poison. Which is a type of poison that effects the blood, causing it to become like puddin'."
"Huh," I was impressed by this, yes, "Can you have some sent to Rojaahn?"
"Tha's the thing," began another Dwarven guard, of whom had golden hair upon his body, "Your Ro'aahn ma'e 'em fo' us to'ay." As he spoke, a vial of clear liquid with a tint of violet was held up to my person. Of which caused my held to tilt towards my right shoulder.
This was then offered to my person, which I declined saying, "No, you keep it. You will be needing it more than I, in any case."
By the by, the rest of the line was quite taken aback from what had occurred, and a few seemed to have feinted from the stress. Or perhaps from holding their breath for too long. In any case, when no one offered up to stop my person, Brutus and I entered a small room which was the portal to Forge. After a few moments, another Dwarf, but with alabaster coloured hair and skin, appeared before our persons, bowed once, and opened the portal into Forge.