Name: ??? Sentence: ∞ Sentence served: Nil.

The champions continued staring at the notifications above Scott’s head, baffled by his blurred out name. It was something none of them could explain.

“Honestly, what did you guys do to get tossed in here?” Arseni asked, flashing a casual smile. Unlike the others, he was more surprised by the short sentences of the other champions than by Scott’s infinite judgment. The champions exchanged uneasy glances, unsure if they should reveal why they had been banished to the forsaken island.

A moment later, Slim recounted the incident from the dark forest, his voice steady. Arseni exploded into laughter. “They sent you here because of that? What a load of bullshit!” His laughter rang out even louder than before.

“What do you mean by that?” Slim asked, curiosity piqued. He too had felt a hundred years was too much for simply cheating. Then there was Ember’s lingering words about the island. Why would they be sent to a place meant for the most abominable champions for simply breaking the rules? It made no sense.

Arseni, barely managing to regain his composure, took a mouthful of liquid. “This place isn’t for petty things like that,” he declared, lowering the gourd once more. “Everyone here is being punished for going against the fundamental order of the tower.”

“Pardon me for interrupting, but what do you mean by going against the fundamental order?” Orion interjected; his curious eyes focused on the undead.

Arseni met the mage’s gaze, a hint of amusement on his face. “Do you know why this place is called Godsfall Island?”

The champions shook their heads. Although they had their own theories, they remained silent, eagerly awaiting Arseni’s answer. The skeleton neatly tucked away his gourd and pointed toward the blackened sea behind them. “A god met its end in this place,” he declared.

Scott’s expression darkened, as did those of his companions. Zara and Slim stood with mouths agape, as did the vampires, shock evident on their faces. Ember stood frozen, her mouth open, eyes wide, unable to process what she had heard. Orion, on the other hand, squirmed excitedly at the new information, a grin spreading across his face as questions plagued his ever-inquisitive mind.

Arseni burst into laughter, his head thrown back, his voice echoing through the night. “Well, that’s what the rumors say. No one knows for sure why this place is like this.” He paused, his gaze locking onto the blackened sea. “What we do know is that this place isn’t under the authority of any god, and no one seems to want to claim it.”

He turned to face the unamused champions; his visage serious. “Consider this the best advice anyone will give you: do not, for any reason, attempt to leave the island by sea, air, underground, or any other ingenious method you can dream up. Trust me, in the long history of this island, plenty have tried, and they all failed. You won’t be an exception.”

Arseni's smile brightened, a stark contrast to his ominous words. “But, as with all things in life, you don’t need to take my word for it. I’m just a wickedly handsome skeleton who has been here for a couple of years, after all.”

Thunder rocked the heavens once more, lightning bolts striking the sea around the island but sparing the forgotten land.

"As long as you remain here, you’ll be safe," Arseni assured. "Let’s head to the general area. The wardens should arrive any moment now," he said, turning to Scott. "You can ask them for an explanation regarding your sentence. They will surely provide a suitable answer."

Without another word, Arseni moved towards the barely lit forest, his pace measured and deliberate.

Slim's voice echoed mentally, "Guys, I think we should follow him."

Zara shot a fierce glare at the necromancer, her eyes burning like a mother who had caught her child with a stranger. "You’ve barely known him for a second, and you want us to follow him? What if he has ulterior motives?"

"He doesn’t," Slim replied with unwavering confidence.

"How the hell do you know that?" Zara snapped; frustration clear in her voice.

"It’s impossible for undead to lie to each other. It’s a decree ingrained in our bones by the Bone God himself," Slim explained calmly.

"Bone God?" Zara muttered, glancing at the other champions. One by one, they shook their heads, unfamiliar with the elusive deity.

"It’s possible what he says is true," Ember interjected. "Dragons, regardless of race, cannot wage war against each other. It's a decree imprinted in our souls by the Dragon God. Many have tried to circumvent it over the eons, but none have succeeded."

Zara frowned, unable to refute. The felines had their own gods, but none had imposed such rules or decrees.

"Trust me, guys, he’s telling the truth," Slim insisted.

Zara took a deep breath, her tense features relaxing. "Well, if anything happens, I called it first," she conceded mentally.

Slim smiled, ready to speak, but Arseni’s voice suddenly boomed from afar, "What the hell are you guys still doing over there? Don’t tell me you’re planning on staying. Just for the record, you’re not going to like it. There’s literally nothing to do out here."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Let’s follow him for now. But stay alert. There’s no telling if he’s still under the decree of the Bone god,” Scott said mentally.

“I can’t argue with that,” Slim consented with a nod.

Without another word, the group took a final glance at their surroundings before approaching Arseni, who waited at the forest's edge. They covered the distance swiftly and entered the eerie jungle. Instantly, the champions halted, their eyes wide as they took in the vibrant vegetation. The chaotic darkness of the shore had given way to an emerald warmth that bathed the forest, and briny air had been replaced by a vibrant earthy waft. Bioluminescent flowers and moss lined the massive trees, and the occasional trill of hidden birds echoed through the air. Despite their vigilance, the champions found no traces of the elusive singers.

Zara, Ember, Orion, and the vampires exited and reentered the forest repeatedly, their steps growing more deliberate each time. After the fifth circuit, they finally accepted that the forest was no illusion.

Arseni chuckled softly as he watched them. “Forgive me, I should have mentioned it earlier. My memory isn’t what it used to be,” he teased. “While it’s lousy being stuck here, it’s not all bad... I think. You’ll get used to it,” he laughed, continuing forward.

The champions followed, their eyes darting between the strange vegetation and the skeletal figure leading them into the unknown.

Ember glanced at Scott; her eyes filled with worry. “Are you okay?” she asked mentally, reaching for and squeezing Scott’s hand.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?” Scott replied, glancing at the dragonkin.

“Buddy, you don’t have to pretend with us. We’re here for you. I’d be bummed too if I found out something like that,” Slim said, looking back at the voidweaver.

“Yeah, Slim’s right. There must be a mistake with your sentence. We’ll go with you to speak with the warden or whoever is in charge here. Hopefully, they’re reasonable,” Zara declared resolutely.

Scott chuckled, shaking his head with a faint smile. “Thanks, but I’m okay, really. Things will sort themselves out.”

“Holy shit, buddy, you’re smiling. I don’t know if today’s going to be a good day or a bad one,” Slim teased.

The group laughed, the sound lightening the air. The tension eased, their steps becoming more relaxed as they moved forward. Moments later, Orion’s voice echoed in Scott’s mind via a private channel. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”

“Of course,” Scott replied without hesitation.

Orion's smile was radiant, his laughter a melodic echo in Scott’s mind. “I had a hunch that was the case, but the ‘why’ still eludes me. Any ideas?”

Scott’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “A few theories, nothing concrete. For one, my name being invisible might mean I’m not the target.”

Orion’s pupils widened as realization dawned on him. “Oh… I see. If you can't reach the point of no return, the invasion can’t happen,” he muttered mentally, but his lips trembled with excitement at the revelation. “Doesn’t that mean the lesser gods and those wanting to avoid war are the culprits?”

“That’s my guess too,” Scott replied, his voice steady. “Our punishment doesn't fit the crime. My actions must have given them the excuse they needed.”

Orion’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “That’s amazing! I’m so excited to uncover who’s behind this. But how did they find us under the protection of the blessings?”

Scott frowned. "I'm not certain yet. It could be that meddlesome trader or the lesser god of illusions. There's also a chance the administrator is involved, or perhaps it's a party we aren't aware of yet."

Orion nodded, his thoughts racing. "True."

"Have you lost connection with your main body?" Scott asked abruptly, changing the topic.

Orion smiled. "I thought that was obvious. This place is truly remarkable," he said, his smile broadening. "Only a handful of places can suppress or sever the links between us. I'm confident my main body will figure it out. We love a good challenge."

"Let me know if you figure something out," Scott replied.

"Aye aye, captain," Orion teased, then his tone grew serious. "Surely, you must have considered the possibility that whoever wants you here will ensure that you remain here."

"I know, and I'm ready for it. I won't make things easy for them," Scott said mentally, his eyes scanning the path ahead.

Orion chuckled, drawing the attention of his companions. "I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"Buddy, what are you talking about?" Slim asked, but Orion's whimsical smile was his only answer.

Orion eagerly explored the unfamiliar surroundings, collecting samples he found fascinating and worthy of study. Meanwhile, the vampires lingered at the rear, their gazes locked on the hound extermination crew and Arseni leading them.

"I chose poorly, sisters," Ivona said mentally. "If I wasn't desperate, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"It's not your fault," Oana and Illena said in unison. Oana continued, "I doubt anyone could be blamed for this. We're likely collateral damage in someone's quest to punish that creature." Her eyes lingered on Scott’s back, a frown creasing her brows.

"I feel the same," Illena added, her eyes on the voidweaver. "I'm certain his companions feel the same, especially that obsessive human."

"Regardless, our reality is that we are stuck here for the foreseeable future," Ivona said. "Attempting to escape this accursed island is tempting, but a hundred years is nothing to us. I won't take actions that could lengthen or worsen our situation."

"Me neither," Oana and Illena agreed.

"Good," Ivona nodded. "Then we must sever our relationship with them. We can't be yoked with them any longer."

As the vampires discussed among themselves, the champions ventured further into the dreamscape forest. Bioluminescent dandelions danced through their path, and the hidden birds sang harder than before. Muffled chatter and the clanking of metal striking metal slowly replaced the birdsongs, interspersed with occasional grunts and excited screams.

The group could tell they were getting closer to civilization once more, but they didn’t know what to expect.

Arseni turned toward the cautious champions, flashing a bright smile. “We are almost there,” he said, stepping forward. Suddenly, he paused, a slight frown marring his visage.

Slim, standing next to the skeleton, frowned as well. “What’s the matter?”

“I forgot to tell you guys something important,” Arseni said.

“What is it?” Zara asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.

Arseni tilted his head from side to side, as if mentally debating whether to reveal his concerns. After a moment, he sighed and faced the group fully. “There’s no point hiding it,” he began. “I’m not sure how much the tower has changed, but you must have heard of the point of no return, right?”

“What about it?” Scott asked.

Arseni responded with another question, “Have you guys crossed it?”

The champions exchanged uneasy glances, sensing trouble. They shook their heads simultaneously. Arseni's smile turned dry. “Well, the good news is, as long as you’re here, you won’t have to worry about being erased by other versions of yourselves—should they cross it. Congratulations, I guess.”

“What’s the bad news?” Ivona asked, her stern gaze fixed on the skeleton.

Arseni’s smile stiffened. “Should any of your variants cross the point of no return before your sentence is up, you’d gain absolutely nothing from it when you do cross it. That’s not the important part,” he paused, his visage growing more serious. “The fact that you haven’t crossed it yet means you’re probably the weakest bunch dumped here. I’m not one to gossip or pry, but I’m dying to know who exactly you guys pissed off to end up here.” He chuckled before turning away.

“Luck is on your side. The people here are relatively peaceful, but I’d advise you to avoid trouble as much as possible.” Arseni’s words lingered in the air as he marched forward.

The champions digested the skeleton’s words in silence, neither sharing their thoughts nor uttering a word. They pressed on, inching closer to their destination.