CHAPTER NINE

A realm beyond realms and gods beyond the system?

~

Suddenly the burden on his body was released

Even in confusion, he knew that his curse had ceased

But then he realized that it could only mean one thing

He was dead, and suddenly he heard a strange sound ring

Achievement: Death

Finally, you poor young soul, a moment free of fate

I’m sorry we could not meet sooner, but it’s not too late

While you’re dying, your soul can commune with us out here

Though we’re trapped, we’re safe from the System, so do not fear

Suddenly, Twig found himself floating around in space

He couldn’t see a single object in the empty place

Everything was white except for one red status screen

Which he looked at intensely, not sure what it could mean

Achievement: Doomed

We’re forgotten gods that watch the whole world from afar

Though it’s hard to explain what exactly we all are

In this place, your soul is free from that strange deity

But if you choose to return, he’ll find you again quickly

“Why am I so hated by one of you deities?

Why have none of you ever responded to my pleas?”

Twig cried out but knew the gods would not be swayed by him

After all his own fate was decided on a whim

Achievement: Pitiable

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Though we cannot bless you we can partially free you

The system cannot touch us here, and you have work to do

There is only one way to undo your cruel god’s crime

You must find a way to appeal to the God of Time

“Why can you not help me now and give my stats a buff?

No matter how much I train, will it ever be enough?

Tell me what I need to do to survive and be strong

Even if you send me back I might not live for long”

Achievement: Loophole

We’ll give you something somewhat different than a blessing

There is one sure way for your strength to keep advancing

The system may have chosen portals to make your world strong

Dungeons of the olden days are where heroes belong

“I have never heard of dungeons, are they portals too?

That still doesn’t tell me what exactly I must do”

Twig was frustrated by the ambiguous advice

Though compared to his own god they did seem rather nice

Achievement: Forbidden Knowledge

We no longer have a place within the realm you know

Our era was ended by the system long ago

But from the start, it’s clear you had a broken destiny

There’s something about you which the system cannot see

"You're telling me I have to find a time controlling god

Isn't he up there with you, does he not give a sod?

What good would a God of Time do for me anyway

Why can't you just buff my stats and send me on my way?"

Achievement: Different

We cannot interfere much more or your world will perish

Seek the God of Time, the dungeons may just grant your wish

Although the system won’t allow us to participate

The dungeons and their cores may solve the problem of your fate

The panic started to leave Twig as he read through the text

Finally deciding what he’d ask these strange gods next

“You talk about a System, but what is that anyway

Aren’t you gods the ones who always have the final say?”

Achievement: Danger

The system did away with us because we were so strong

Deciding that the dungeon era had gone on too long

And though the dungeons left their mark, the mighty System won

And portals came about once all the damage had been done

Achievement: No Time

We’re sorry, but it’s now or never if you’re to survive

If we clear your status you might just barely revive

Sorry in advance for when the System comes to call

We’ll see if our efforts are of use to you at all

~