In the darkest depths of the dungeon, something stirred it from its rest. The blue sphere floating above its cupped pedestal turning grey with confusion. It heard whispers, voices. It felt that it had forgotten something important.

From the darkness tread a shadow given form and substance. The shadows approach had gone unnoticed by the seemingly omniscient dungeon core. It raised up its hand in anger forming a fist. Only when the shadow’s bloodlust spilled forth from it did the core notice the invader.

All at once it commanded its guardians to advance upon the figure, to its dismay the guardians remained dormant. The shadow brought down its raised fist seeming to shatter the dungeon core. It was at this moment, for the first time in an age had the dungeon core felt fear.

The fist halted hardly an inch above the core. “You have wronged me.” The voice came, roaring with ten thousand voices. The dungeon core was unsure what to do. “I…I…I…” The dungeon core tried to speak but could not find the words.

Sensing the fear, he had instilled within the core the figure of shadow changed. Its appearance became translucent, and there before the core was the pale shadow of Athes.

“You harmed someone I did not desire to be harmed!” the gods voice shook the walls and structure of the dungeon with such force that it could be barely felt above ground. “Please tell me who I have harmed and how I may please you!” the dungeon core begged, the pale image of Athes.

The image brought down its palm upon the dungeon core, the core begging for mercy, but his pleas feel on deaf ears. For a moment, the eyes of the pale figure burned gold and a web of light raced through the dungeon core like the shattering of glass.

For a moment, the core believed it was its end. When that moment passed, it found it knew who he spoke of. “Jacob Ashwin.” The core and the god spoke in unison. Athes had not come to destroy the core but to set in motion something far more, interesting. “Now, we have much to discuss.” Spoke Athes.

Jacob turned looking down the street, and in a moment, he closed his eyes, leaned back, and roared to the sky. Hellen jumped to her feet, turning with the others of her party ready for a fight, only to find Jacob. They raced to embrace him, asking what had happened, where he had gone.

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Jacob heard in the distance the heavy footfalls of many feet. ‘I may have…oh dear.’ Jacob thought as he heard the continued advance of no less than 100 city guards. “I had to face the consequences of my actions.”

“What did you do!?” Hellen asked as she held the tip of her great sword up to Jacob’s throat. The others looked at her as if she were crazy. That was before she spoke anyway. “He is Undead!” Immediately his friends backed away from him, both suddenly scared and confused.

“Your right! I am now undead, but that wont last long if I have anything to say about it.” Jacob said in a calm voice. Most looked at him with shock. Calista looked at him and her eyes grew distant.

Hellen looked upon Jacob with a look of disgust and anger, her face darkened as she cast her gaze downward speaking in a low voice. “You have abandoned…” “I have not abandoned Hethara!” Jacob proclaimed with his voice of authority.

Hellen looked at him confused, “But you are?” “I am undead, but! I will not be this way much longer I assure you.” Hellen slowly lowered her great sword from his throat.

In a flash Hellen raised upon her hand and a bold of radiant light leapt forth bound for Jacob’s face. The bolt of radiant energy splattered against his face only to stop. The once bolt of radiant energy instantly sprang back from his face, coalescing into a sphere.

A small flame leapt from Jacob to the small hovering orb of radiance. Jacob reached up his hand catching the radiant orb in his palm. When he touched it, he heard within his mind something unexpected.

System ban has been overturned due to requirements having been met…

Welcome back Jacob Ashwin…

You have earned the title, “He who triumphs against adversity!” …

You have earned the title, “Man of Greater Good” …

Jacob felt that cold, hungering hand reaching out for him once more. The hand reached forth and grasped his still heart, "May your days be long. Oh child of the Night Father..." He heard the voice of the void in his mind. Then it laughed, and faded back unto is empty home. As its laughs faded so to did the feeling of its hand holding his heart.

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