Novels2Search

Chapter 2: Of Gods and Men

The headache that split Dane’s skull was not improved by his accepting the invitation. He had felt himself pulled through space, swirling colours moved across his vision like oil over water in a kaleidoscopic assault of the senses, before he had found himself on a floor of gargantuan stones before two towering beings who seemed to burn the very air around themselves. As he appeared before them, he fell to his knees, the fragile joints smashing painfully against the stone as he felt a gargantuan weight fall upon his shoulders. He had not even recovered from the agony of his stats increasing so drastically and now it felt as if the air itself was trying to squash him like a bug.

“That’s enough Hephaestus,” one of the figures spoke finally, a deep baritone echoing out of the armoured giant. He was tall with the lithe build of a trained athlete, his armour clung to his body like a second golden skin, if Dane had to guess it resembled Ancient Greek armour of the heroic era, forged to look like muscle in peak physical fitness. The helm looked like a Corinthian style with a tall crest of white horse hair as pure as fresh snow and a long cloak of Tyrian red draped from pins in the shape of lion’s heads.

The second figure was shorter and more broad, though still towered over Dane. If he didn’t know better he’d have thought the figure was a Dwarf, but his skin was made of stone and veins of molten rock flowed between the cracks and crevices while a beard of what looked to be actual gold fell down his front. The weight lifted off Dane’s shoulders as the giant dwarf with the gold beard stepped back, and his newly awakened sense of mana felt the retraction. It was as though the mana in the air was a projection from the one called Hephaestus.

“Just enforcing some manners Craterus, these newly integrated usually have a hard time meeting Gods and showing proper respect.” Dane understood the words individually but together he could not make sense of them. Gods weren’t real after all, he’d seen enough of the world to know that the delusions his fellow man relied on to get through the day weren’t useful in the slightest, but these two beings did certainly defy what he knew to be reality in more ways than his recent forays into the new system.

“Gods?” He managed to squeak out in an entirely undignified tremble. The golden helmed Craterus turned to face him now, his brilliantly blue eyes visible through the eye slit of the helm.

“I am Craterus, dubbed the Chivalrous Hero by the System, and this is my brother Hephaestus the Forge Saint, and yes we have attained Divine Immortality in our time within the System, you are newly integrated so I assume you have not heard of many of us yet.” The deep baritone was calming and Dane was sure there may have been a skill at work behind it to soothe his fear, because otherwise he had no explanation for why he hadn’t fainted, as embarrassing as that would be.

“How should I address you?” Dane’s newfound calm allowed him to order his thoughts and think somewhat through the situation he found himself in, “apologies my life hasn’t prepared me for a reality with gods, although the name Hephaestus does ring a bell as a god from ancient myth…” he trailed off as he realised he might be rambling to a pair of beings who could snuff out his life in an instant.

Craterus laughed first, a rumbling chuckle as he slapped his brother on the shoulder with enough force to flatten a continent, “I guess you won the Bleed this time around,” he looked at Dane once more, “when a new universe is born, some of the essence from previous iterations within the multiverse bleeds through, the System likes to ensure that new Universes will be able to transition through the integration with at least some knowledge, I’d say you likely had games that resembled the system in some ways too to assist with the mental transition, it’s the same with every new Integration, although each universe is unique and there’s no way to predict what will Bleed through and what won’t, some things are constant.”

“Don’t overload the poor man’s brain Craterus, we summoned him for a reason, and I’m sure he’s curious, until he’s finished his Tutorial there’s not a lot we can share anyway.” Hephaestus told his brother with some heat. Craterus only nodded.

“My brother is right, we may be gods but the System controls everything, we summoned you because you managed a great feat, your new titles, the crafting of a Master-Work item before even attaining your tenth level of Blacksmith and tapping into my essence to create the item, all means you have now forged a karmic link to me and by extension my brother who is known as the Forge Saint.” Craterus explained.

“Karma is real?” Dane asked.

“After a fashion, I’m sure it differs to what was originally taught on your home world, but karma is merely links forged by joint endeavours throughout the universe, I wouldn’t worry too much, but I wanted to meet someone who could do that and offer a boon if I liked what I saw.”

“This is a lot to take in,” Dane answered in turn.

“I’ll bet, it’s been a long time since we were integrated to the system, but I remember what it was like, your world’s notions of Chivalry are interesting to say the least, and they resembled my own so much that through them you tapped into my very essence to empower your work.” The god reached up and removed his helm, revealing shoulder length hair of golden blonde that shone with a lustre beyond mortal ken.

“I’ve seen enough, Hephaestus, what say you?” Craterus asked suddenly, changing the topic and ignoring the look on Dane’s face. The stone-skinned dwarf’s face broke into a curious smile as his molten eyes gave Dane an appraising look.

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“I’ve seen enough for now, I’d like a more in-depth discussion once he survives the tutorial,” his gravelly voice answered his brother.

Dane tilted his head curiously at the pair of gods, while Craterus in turn returned to looking at Dane.

“We’re going to offer you a small boon Dane, it should help you with your next steps within your Tutorial, you can refuse it and change your mind at any time, although I will say it does not come with any permanent ties,” Craterus and Hephaestus raised their hands over Dane and enveloped him in a blinding light the colour of flame, though it curiously did not burn, if anything Dane felt invigorated by the surge of energy.

“We will explain more after the tutorial when we’re less bound by the System’s precepts, for now perform chivalrous deeds,” Craterus informed him as more notifications popped into his vision.

“And craft mighty arms young Smith.” Hephaestus continued.

The world began to dissolve around Dane as he took note of the first notification.

**You have been Blessed by the Twins of Blood and Flame**

**Title Earned: [First of the Blessed]**

*********************

It didn’t take long for the questions to start once Dane reappeared. His dwarven mentor merely gave him a knowing nod before moving on to other students and work, the rest clearly needed more details. Dane did his best to assuage their curiosity as best he could until he mentioned the word gods and suddenly there was a whole other round of questions and demands.

“Look it’s all very exciting but I didn’t really get much information out of it beyond a promise of more when we survive the tutorial, so now, how about we get ready for our first dungeon dive?” He moved across the forge and picked up his new helm and buckler, while sliding his sword through his belt, not having time or materials to make a scabbard for it.

“Fine,” Erik said with his hands on the heads of his two axes, “but you are going to tell me everything when we get back.”

They arrived at the base of the tower to see one of the Guides out front of the glowing portal that would lead them to the first level. It seemed to actually notice Dane this time, rather than a scripted line it spoke quietly so that only their group could here.

“Greetings Blessed One, if you have a moment I have a quest for you,” The creature said. When Dane nodded it continued.

“As you are no doubt aware one member of an early group has returned to us without the rest of his party. Typically each party can not interfere with another within the confines of the dungeon, however if you would agree to enter their particular portal and rescue them I can promise a reward as well as bonus points on the scoreboards.” Dane didn’t even have to think, whether it was his spur of the moment decision to engrave the virtues on his new kit or his interactions with a literal god of chivalry, he knew he had to do it.

“Of course we’ll bring them back safely.” He told the guide.

**Quest Accepted: [Save the Integrated (Difficulty: Hard)]**

“You know you could ask your party first before agreeing to a quest.” Lucas’ amused voice came from over Dane’s shoulder. Dane had the good grace to look sheepish as he turned to face the rest of them.

“I mean we would have agreed anyway I imagine, but maybe just include us in the decision making, alright?” Erik added as he met his brother’s eye.

“You’re right, I’m sorry guys, won’t happen again.” Dane told them.

“Sure it won’t, now come on, let’s go kill some goblins.” Lucas said as he walked through the portal ahead of them all.

*********************

The portal had felt like stepping through water, although it dissolved into technicolour bubbles very quickly and did not leave them damp at all, a profoundly strange experience of sensation. As the world resolved around them they found themselves in a small green clearing covered in swaying grass and surrounded on all sides by tall trees of indeterminate species. Dane didn’t waste any time, closing his visor and getting his buckler on his left fist while drawing his sword into his right, without a scabbard the draw was unconventional and certainly wasn’t part of any technique, but with the blade secure in his right hand he felt ready to face the dangers of the first floor.

**Welcome to Tutorial Dungeon Level 1:**

**Goal: Destroy the Patrols: 0/3**

**Goal: Locate the Village of Clan Broken Fang: 0/1**

**Goal: Locate Hidden Treasures: 0/3**

**Bonus Goal: Rescue the Previous Party Members: 0/4**

The words left them with no doubt that there were additional rewards now, but it also showed that the dungeon would not be a linear case of follow the hall way until you reach the boss room. Dane looked around at his friends and saw them preparing. Erik had an axe in each hand and was looking around at their surroundings, Lucas had his own sword in a two handed grip and Brigid had her arming sword in her right fist with a parrying dagger in her left. Only David looked awkward with his arming sword in one hand and a wand in the other.

“Now how do we go about finding this first patrol?” Lucas asked.

“Better yet, what do the patrols consist of?” Erik added.

Dane shrugged as they all heard a high pitched yip echo around the clearing as one after another, lithe green bodies began to rise out of the undergrowth, their crude leather and fur armour giving only the slightest of creaks and showing why they had been able to blend in so easily with the surrounding brush, mottled as it was in greens and browns and greys.

“I don’t think we’ll have to go looking guys…” Dane muttered.