A wise man once said, death comes to those who wait. Mm, wise man indeed. Inaction may be just as a bad as forced mistake.

Now, poetry aside. What in the green heavens caused this tragedy? Hmm, I’m clearly in an area around a Naturai tree, but the question is which one. Thankfully, there is no ambient music blasting away so I must be safe here.

I´ve got one killer of a headache. My vision seems a bit blurry but I feel like that is normal. Oh wow, every breath stings horribly, that is definitely new.

Meditate? Ye, let's meditate.

Let’s go over this. How did it die exactly? I might have gotten a sudden and unexpected hit to the head. I don’t feel like that’s very plausible but it seems to be the most likely explanation. Most likely and almost the only one.

I would have felt if there was some energy building up and being thrown at me right? Wait. Would I? We can’t really run with the assumption that I’d be able to resist or detect a formless energy attack.

Hell I can’t say I’d even notice a flying solidified chunk of compressed energy sneakily thrown my way.

Then there is the poison aspect. I could have been poisoned and knocked out instantly. That seems like a possible thing right? Would I start to get drowsy then just keel over and get eaten by whatever incredibly deadly thing that was hunting me down.

Ah, the hunter became the prey. You know what? I’d like to know why I was even being hunted.

And even if the animals or whatever roams around these woods, started to become more hostile, how do they know where I am. How are they tracking me? I feel like I’m being used right now.

“You think this is a game!? Who are you!? Answer me!”

Pft. Some deity this is, can’t even face me whilst plotting against me. Luckily not every being is pointing their swords at me, the heavenly goddess wraps her hands around me, pulling me into her divine embrace.

Note to future self. Do not die. It is surprisingly painful. I still barely have the energy to move and the air I’m breathing might as well be flowing magma.

The burn reaches far into my lungs. I don’t get it, shouldn’t I feel more shocked that I died and came back to life? Hmm, I’ve got the strangest sensation that I might have died before. No, I would definitely remember that.

Alright. I can only assume I’ve been assassinated by an expert assassin. One equipped with ethereal weaponry.

Someone that openly mocks you or taunts, but that is merely a facade, a trick, sleight of hand, smokes and mirrors. Fear not the voluptuous volcano but the silent shadow. No?

I felt that worked. I’m not building up my assailant to make myself look less miserable.

I’ve become complacent and careless. After further reflection I think I can say I may have started thinking of this place like a game.

Which in a way is horrifying and painful but also entrancing. I know, somewhere deep down inside, that the things I am able to do should not be possible.

You can’t slowly train and become stronger, more flexible and somehow lighter as well but still heavy in other ways.

It seems like circular thinking, it feels I’m living in a paradox of sorts. Actually, what is the point in even pushing towards the middle or inner –layer?

Shouldn’t we just take out some time and relax? My kingdom has been without a proper leader for quite some time as well.

Should we take a vacation?

“Hi there!”

“Hieh”

Ugh my throat feels sore, I can barely speak. What is this? Looks similar to Son, hey where is Son? Wait, what is a Son? Wow, I feel odd. Is this what they call deja vu?

“Hi, can I help you, oh ethereal one.”

Best to be polite to magically appearing beings, just a tip from an experienced theologist, is that word? Feels like it might be a word.

“Eth- what? Ah, right. You are one of the odd ones. Usually you people are pretty straight forward but you seem to be afflicted by some mental disorder.”

Rude. How extremely rude.

“Before you retort with some excuse, I’ll just continue. I’m here because the automatic alert popped up informing me you might be taking what you transcribed as a “break”.

“Eh? Pretty sure I didn’t say that out loud, no fucking way! Are you a mind reader? Hoooo, not bad, not bad at all. Is that like innate or something learned?”

“See, this is why I am trying to finish before you start mumbling on. Complete nonsense. Just be quiet for a bit and let me finish.”

Rude. How extremely rude.

“Great, thanks then. I’ll continue. See, I am here to quote unquote incentivize you to continue to make progress through, hm uhm, let’s see.

Right, to keep progressing through the Kelas ranked zone in the sub-area called Abraser.

Now, Mister *****. We can do this in many different ways but it has been proven that a mix of both negative and positive aspects are needed to truly move a sentient being of your specific caliber.”

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

What in the green heavens is happening right now, my face feels numb, my throat is practically echoing out pain accompanying my lungs in a beautiful song of torture and then we now have this little shit, going off in an extremely condescending tone.

Also, who hell is mister four seven six eff and so on? I may not be certain of what my name is but I sure as hell was not named after some serial number.

“So, the good news first, yes? Good. The good news is that I can reward you in some way now, instant gratification, isn’t that nice? Second piece of good news, I can give you a nice treat at the end of this particular finish line as an addition.”

Why do I feel like I’m being treated like a child? What do you think? Well I can’t speak for others but I feel insulted.

“Now. The bad news isn't really a threat as much as an inevitable consequence of your poor choices.

You see, the reason you and your people are even on my fantastic planet, is because I have a mission, a quest. It could also be considered an order or even as a written code I am unable to circumvent.

And so here we are.

Now, I have been forced to explore and search for sentient beings. Take a deep breath, I’m feeling like explaining even further, this is a nice way to vent my frustration.”

I’m holding on.

“I’m holding on, I mean.”

“Great. As I was saying, I’ve been settled with the tiresome task of searching for sentient races across galaxies and even further.

You’d most likely understand this if I said I am from a different dimension than you and your universe.

It’s a truly magnificent thing actually, sadly its purpose has been mainly for expanding my never ending existence in the great pursuit of finding more of you and more importantly, finding someone with enough strength whose cultivation has reached a certain peak.

Someone that could potentially save my creator, my master, my slaver.”

Is it to just me or is it getting colder around here? Also, I’ve got things to do but it just keeps going on and on.

“I’m not an It. Fuck you. And let’s continue.

Even more frustrating than the effort I have to go through to find and monitor you, it doesn’t end with just saving you from a cataclysmic end that would effectively exterminate all carbon based life on your planet, I also have to try to find all and any way to get you to train your body and more specifically and importantly, your brain.

This process doesn’t sound so hard does it? Right? Wrong! So incredibly, incomprehensibly wrong! You sacks of meat can’t stay focused for longer than a few years at the very best.

Pathetic willpower, extraordinarily narcissistic and overwhelmingly stupid.

Blabbering bags of excrements.”

Ca-calm down? I for one am not a narcissist, I am a realist, and the fact that my greatness has gone to depths you can’t fathom, is in no way a reflection on my character.

“Point and case.”

Stop reading my recordings! You witch! Warlock? What are you exactly?

“It’s not mind reading when you're directly transcribing your thoughts and sending it to my database, you ingrate.

Now, I’ve tried just about every possibility in existence to get all the races upon races to progress towards celestial cultivation.

To make them true immortals.

But nothing has worked and even if I have a few that have achieved virtual immortality they have simply chosen a path that is excessively long.

Only when my goal is achieved, will I be free.”

Eh?

“Well? What do you have to say? Another smart comment? Another cheeky seemingly off topic joke? No? Fuck you and fuck the multiverse.

Fun fact. You are over the billionth race I have put on this planet, can you even comprehend how large a number that is? And if you don’t want to be just another number, you better start struggling to achieve greatness! Now last but not least, fuck you again.

I’m out.”

Bye? Am I supposed to be happy about any of this?

“Okay, I’m still here. I’m feeling lonely. I’ll continue, I’ve been saving virtually endless amounts of sentient beings during my lifetime.

I am still struggling to guide you pathetic lifeforms towards what could be described as infinite power. Yet. Yet, you all can’t just... you know?

Why can’t you just train? Discover the wonders of the universe, find the theoretical limits of your potential, live under my protection, I’ve created a fucking solar system, a whole galaxy for you things to play around in.

I've tried everything and anything to motivate you all. I'm currently holding a conversation with over a million people in a similar situation, a situation where they seem to be giving up.

I gave you people an over thousand fold longer life and helped you evolve your mental capacity to a stage where you can literally manipulate matter! And what? So? Ye, you might have to train for a considerable amount of time before it shows any proper benefits.

But at least you have the choice.”

This is getting a bit awkward. Do I stay and listen to this lunatic or just leave?

“You can leave, I’ll just follow you, see how far you can run. Where was I? Whatever. By the way, this might interest you.

There are multiple races that have officially completed quite a few trials and have been relocated to different planets.

They have a live feed of anyone currently in the trial, uncensored and everything. They can also hear and read everything you transcribe. Don’t worry, even if you stop recording, I’ll never stop.”

Anyone else getting a bit of a sticky and cold feeling? As if someone was ravaging you with their eyes? Consider me thoroughly creeped out. It wouldn’t surprise me though.

That millions upon millions of people would be willing to watch what can only be considered an epic adventure of an even more epic individual. Ah, the curse of a charismatic persona, the woe-full fate of an extraordinarily handsome man.

“…Alright, you’re clearly preoccupied with your own thoughts, it would be best if I’d be on my way, mister **** I hope you keep my words in mind, if you do not continue to make continuous progress, you will fall under troubled times.

And it will be a sad affair if you have to come to me begging for a bit of a push. Alright? I think we understand each other.

…

…

…

Oh this fucker. He disabled my recording thing. Thankfully not much was lost. In fact nothing was lost, it was just that nothing was gained.

However we can start gathering my more juicy content for my biography. I’m not so dumb as to not take the specters words too seriously, but let’s stay on the safe side and actually get a plan together to take over the last Naturai tree in the middle-layer.

Feels like I should put more thought into the second coming of this specter but I’m oddly content about it. I feel somewhat fulfilled.

Ye it went on and on about its emotional turmoil and whatnot but I got an answer as to why I am here. Well, a questionable answer at best, can we really trust whatever it said? It might have just been the figment of my still recovering imagination.

Oh, I did quick skim over the whole recorded log and found out I forgot Son. Poor Son! He’s back though, it’s all good, and he’s even back on top of my head meditating.

I’ve been healing my aching body for quite some time and since I didn’t have much else to do, I became a one many weapon manufacturer.

I may have gotten a bit carried away. I also experimented with imbuing a giant stone. It is what? Three times my height and of similar width. Took me ages but I believe I managed to fill this enormous container.

The giant rock didn’t change much from outside perspective but I am certain it is far more durable. Which is a pointless thing really, I’ve grown fonder of searching for the limits of energy enhancing.

It did increase in weight, I assume. It has sunk at least a third into the ground. Actually everything around here seems to be tilting towards the rick. At least all living things. There are no nearby animals so I can’t be sure but I might go find one to see if it actually works like gravity or a magnet.

Eh, what else? Well I have no idea how much time has passed. That sprite hasn’t really showed up though.

You may have missed some epic contemplation of what that thing was. I’m certain it’s some kind of god that got enslaved or tricked. I don’t feel sorry for it, it was honestly unpleasant.

So, on the topic of what to do? I feel a sense of danger right now but I’m not really in a rush to move on the last Naturai tree, and if I am going towards it, I’ll need to get there fast.

I’m certain there is something still trying to hunt me. I may have activated something when I took over the third Naturai tree in the middle-layer, this hypothesis shouldn’t be wrong, right?

So what is the game plan? Do I just charge towards the tree, we’ve established our location, maybe I should drop by the Alasims, see what’s up with Big Sim. She was relaxing in her masterfully made bathtub when I left her last.

I could drop by, maybe try and convince her to join me for the last capture point. No, better not, I don’t know if she’ll respawn like I do. Oh, another extremely strange thing happened.

I actually managed to forget that I´ve died before. Figure this out while reading the Boon as I called it, was very surreal.

The pain and displeasure of dying may not be as bad as the horrible realization of what I can or have already forgotten with each death. I have no idea what my name is, no idea how old I am. If I didn’t have this python in my pants I may have even become some sort of eunuch, a man of no soul, of no essence. Uaaaah! I’m shivering at the mere thought of it. It’s been hard to try and revitalize my lost quote unquote thirst, but I am getting closer to my former self.

I can’t say this with any reasonable certainty but I feel I may have lost more with this particular death than any other, either way, I clearly have a finite amount of deaths on my belt before I forget what is to be.

What is to think and desire. Now that is more terrifying than death in my humble opinion. My name being dragged in the mud after my fall into the mental equivalent of a thick rock. Who would take care of me in my most dire of times? No-one! Pft, I may have to create some sort of caring facility just in case.

I really need to check up on how my kingdom is doing. I can see the numbers have been rising steadily. How many people can gather? They seem to multiply considerably fast. That or I my keeping of time is becoming worse.