After taking a moment to enjoy the view, my curiosity got the better of me. I opened up the fate web for X-002 and found my previous client.

Unit: Great Tree Spirit

[ Watch ]

[ Blessings ]

[ Curses ]

Great Tree Spirit, huh? It’s absolutely surrounded by people. Those must be the humanoids I fought alongside. It’s also got a thick line downward, into the ground. What’s that about? Stranger still, I don’t see the demons anywhere. Why don’t they appear here? It’s got one thick thread upward, and very many thin threads up as well.

I take a look at its curses. The list is long with minor curses, but one curse is heavy just to look at.

Great Curse: Mana Ghoul Siege

By: U-XXXXXXXX

Cost: N/A

[ Enhance ]

[ Dispel ]

It breaks all the patterns of the other curses. Its buttons are disabled and it has no cost. The curses are all laid by the same unknown being. The other curses can be dispelled, but the total cost is far beyond what I have on hand. The one who laid these curses either has more mana than it knows what to do with, or a serious vendetta against this spirit. Or both.

I spend much of the mana I earned by taking the request on dispelling some of the minor curses. Most of the minor curses were some sort of small debuff. Minor penalties to stealth, accuracy, speed, damage, mana recovery… it’s no wonder they were in the position I found them in. Are they actually capable of fighting them off if not for these curses?

I remember the spirit said something about a blessing. I don’t know what it is yet, but while I’m here, let’s see what I can do. I enter the blessings menu, and…

[ Bless ]

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Cannot bless: Great Curse is active.

Very well then. I hit the watch button and call it a wrap.

*

I take a look at the forum next. An absolute clamor assaults me. Someone is very, very angry that someone interfered with his designs. Someone by the name of… me. I’m specifically mentioned in every one of these posts, which consist entirely of unconditional threats. Let’s call him E-1 because, as he makes abundantly clear, he is now my enemy.

I will destroy everything (You) hold dear! *E-1

(You) will be an example to all who interfere with me! *E-1

For every blessing (You) lay, I will lay a dozen curses! *E-1

First! *U-4

(Everyone) Party in X-002! *U-5

What you had done to them is a cruelty. A great curse, and a long list of curses on top. (Sent)

What of it? No one complains when beasts devour one another. I have power, and I use it. *E-1

Our great power should be used responsibly, for good purpose. (Sent)

You must be joking. No being in the worlds leaves its powers unused. (You) will be the first, if you’re not all talk. *E-1

Fight! Fight! Fight! *U-6

Just before I left the forum, a private message came in:

You have made a powerful enemy. *U-1

I did what is right. (Sent)

He will retaliate. Fiercely. *U-1

Come what may. (Sent)

Damn, that sounded cool. I wasn’t going for that, there was just no other option. I had done what I had done, and there was no undoing it.

*

I’ve decided I’ll try to be a regular on X-002. I’ve got a horse in this race now. If U-1 is to be believed, then I’d rather not have E-1 victimize unrelated worlds over our clash. I’ll make myself known on X-002, and I’ll choose my actions carefully so the people don’t suffer more than they have to.

That’s what I’d like to do, anyway. It’s hard to bond with the people of the worlds. Not only is there a communication barrier, but they’re just one of many worlds to me. For them, there is only one world. The things that look so small from here might be the biggest things in their lives. Add a time limit, and an inconsistent form, and it starts to look impossible.

But that tree spirit could talk to me! It was one-way, but I understood it, and it seemed to understand that it wouldn’t hear anything back. Maybe I can reach some sort of understanding with the spirits of the worlds!

Old Man, too; he’s not your typical world-dweller, but he clearly understood what my kind were responsible for. I’ll have to learn what they believe about us to get this ball rolling.

Entering World

World: X-002

Select your form.

Choice: Air Elemental

Select Spawn location.