Angelica was doubled over laughing at me. This had been going on for a while. The issue is she would wear herself down as she ran out of breath. Then she would look at me and burst out laughing again. The most recent cycle seemed to be the last. She forced herself to stop, and straightened up, “You killed a god,” she managed before bursting into laughter. “And… you… you don’t… food!” The rest was unintelligible.

Strangely, this wasn’t all that annoying. It was nice to see her smile again. That said, I couldn’t just stand here all night, “Okay, Let’s try a different topic. What are we doing out here?”

Angelica was eventually able to quit giggling and straighten up, “We are heading to the Spire to kill the Demon of Frost.”

I nodded before pressing, “Why are we doing that?”

“Oh yeah,” Angelica said, realizing I was new here. She thought for a minute. “Alright, let's go back to a foundational point.” she started pacing as she spoke. “When the system first appeared a very small portion of the population was offered options other than human. An even smaller amount was offered Angel or Demon as an option. Almost no one presented with those options knew what they were getting into, but some people took it.”

Angelica stopped walking back and forth, “This next bit is important. Both the Angel and the Demon race options come with several significant perks and drawbacks. The main perk is that permanently killing either is extremely difficult for most people. If someone gets lucky but doesn’t meet the requirements, the Angel or Demon player is just sent back to ‘Heaven’ or ‘Hell’ with a cooldown to respawn.” She put some serious quotes on Heaven and Hell. if this is connected to the system that is probably wise. “Here is the down side. Both are heavily compelled to play to type. If they don’t, they suffer terribly. Angels are compelled to protect, guide, and sacrifice themselves for others. That may not sound bad but it is indiscriminate and unsustainable… for most anyways. It is common for them to end up burnt out and bitter.” She sighed. “Then there are the Demons. They are compelled to undermine, corrupt and harm others. So they end up either suffering or making others suffer.”

That sounded awful. “So they are victims?”

Angelica made a face. She was less than comfortable, “Yes and no. Like I said, most were tricked when they took the option at the start. Quite a few people have taken it since. They knew what they signed up for. Even the originals have crossed lines that take them from victim to villain. In the early days Demons built strongholds, captured others and made them slaves, and used them to build Spires. Then they used the Spire to corrupt the world.”

That didn’t sound good. “So they made the world like this?”

Angelica shook her head, “Nah. The demon’s got their shit rocked. Turns out most people even in the midst of monsters starting to appear weren’t interested in letting that slide. The Angels helped coordinate the efforts. Military groups launched strikes, the few heroic scale folks around at the beginning organized teams and went demon hunting. The God of Hope freed… so many people. Even Nadia All-Death helped shatter Spires and close gates to Hell. Three years after the system took hold the Demons were pushed to the brink of annihilation.”

“I am glad we fixed that,” I quipped.

Angelica gave me a rueful smile, “Yeah, the world dropped the ball. The Demons changed tactics. They are for the most part manipulators and infiltrators. Demons can alter their appearance or even possess the body of others. Demons can even form pacts similar to what Titan Spawn can. It didn’t take long and most kingdoms… countries I mean. Started claiming they had eradicated demons within their borders, but worried about demons in other places.”

“Ah shit,” I muttered. I had flashbacks of all the stupid “us vs them” infighting that kept happening before the system. Hell, I literally saw people get into fistfights over sports teams back in the day. For the most part I was pretty sure that was dumb tribal mentality undermining people trying to live the best they could. That said, someone with power trying to exploit that…

“Don’t get ahead of me,” Angelica instructed. “A bunch of other things were happening at the same time. Old societal norms crumbled as people with extreme power, Divine Scale players, began to openly exert authority. The rise of both the Giants and their cloud cities and the Dragons and their ocean kingdoms hampered travel by air and sea. The rate of monsters spawning increased as dungeons appeared. Vampires took over Australia. Huge chunks of the world devolved into regional wars as the global supply chains broke and resources became scarce. Then some crazy motherfucker launched the nukes.”

“What?” I was horrified. Everyone has seen the videos of a mushroom cloud. Until that point though I hadn’t really thought about one actually being launched. “How many?” The image of atomic fire devouring a city flashed before my eyes.

Angelica's answer was meant to be soothing, “Technically all of them. Just wait! It actually wasn’t that bad!” She started talking faster, “Zach, Celeste, plus the Gods of Science, Hope, and Justice were able to stop almost all the bombs. Nadia, the beings that would become the Elven gods, along with the first dark spawn were able to restrain Debbie, the Goddess of Death. A bunch of other people were doing stuff too but the death toll was almost nothing… or at least way less than it should have been.”

“The big thing though is that it kicked off another series of wars that went on for decades.” Angelica paused for a moment, head tilted slightly and clearly listening to Celeste, “Technically, that is what started the European conflict that just never stopped. Anyways, fast forward to eighteen years ago. We found a Hellgate in the Fantasy coast, close to the Shattered Mountain. The Demons, upon being found out, launched a full invasion. Thousands of demons charged the surrounding area. Yeah most of them were imps, but since the gate was open anything that wasn’t holy wouldn’t permanently kill them. They would almost instantly respawn at the gate.”

Angelica walked away from the dryer and sat back down on the bench, “I was there for that. Celeste was able to close the gate. Which was good because Zach and the gods had to repel an invasion from the Technacoast. Upon finding out we had an open gate they declared war. To close the gate only, of course.” That last bit had some venom to it.

I didn’t want to loom over her, so I sat down on the floor again, “Then what happened?”

“We spent another ten years hunting demons, and having on-again-off-again conflicts with the Technacoast. We found evidence that Demons were within the Technacoast. There was even evidence of a second gate somewhere in North America. We couldn’t find one anywhere in the Fantasy Coast. Aella insisted it wasn’t in her lands... Celeste believes her. So that left the Technacoast.”

Angelica sighed and sagged in her seat, “We got in pretty easy. The place is one massive city. If you stick to the lower levels and just keep your head down no one notices. We scoured the undercity for years and couldn't find anything. No gate. No demons. Then we went to the upper city. Eventually we were found by Herschal. I won. He died. Still no gate.” She shook her head. “I went back to the Fantasy Coast. Getting desperate, I even consulted an Oracle. They pointed me to the Goblin Wastes.” She thought for a moment. “The line was ‘You will find your destiny at the Black Spire in the ice of the Goblin Wastes. It rests above ancient horrors dark and terrible. Hunt the Demon of Frost and you will find what you seek’.”

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“That seems vague and ominous,” I said eventually.

“Oracle,” Angelica agreed.

“So the Oracle found this new demon hiding out here?” I asked. “Wait, why wouldn’t an army get sent after something like this?”

Angelica looked deeply uncomfortable. “So, the Demon of Frost has basically been out here for two hundred years give or take a few decades.” She saw my question coming and continued. “He made a deal with Nadia, Zach, and Aella, and apparently some of the gods also. He set up his stronghold way out here away from everyone else and serves as a buffer between North America and the majority of the portals that connect to Europe so none of that violence happening over there spills into here. He also helped keep the Mob population down. He sort of acts as a gate to further discourage anyone that would try to approach Nadia as well.”

I facepalmed. “That… just wow. Wait, where were the Angels during all of this?”

“They have been spending the entire time trying to stop the world from exploding. It sounds like a lot of them are burnt out and withdrawn. After the God of Hope died they also adopted a more cell-based structure. Celeste once told me they had difficulties connecting to the world. She is the only Angel I have ever met, but apparently the Demon of Frost was just always the lesser of evil and was ignored.”

That made a bit too much sense. I didn’t like it but it made sense. A hard to solve but relatively small problem will last indefinitely longer than any massive but untenable issue. We cured smallpox, but the common cold is with us probably till the end. …I think. I made a mental note to follow up on how diseases worked. Need to focus on the issue here and now. “So we are likely heading into a fight with this demon, and the Gate is going to have him and a big chunk of buddies infinitely respawning.”

Angelica thought through it for a bit, “The goals are in order of importance: find and close any gates to Hell, Kill the Demon of Frost, free any prisoners of value to the Fantasy Coast, and acquire any items or information of value and return them.”

I considered that, “It’s a good thing we have Brand with us then. I think if we ask her, Brunhilda will help. It sounds like some of the people here have an axe to grind against the Demon of Frost too. Maybe they could…”

“No,” Angelica cut. She had that absolute tone in voice, and her expression had gone stony as well.

“What?” I managed.

“I am not going to let a crowd of people get pulled into this. I am still not sure I am going to allow Brand or Brunhilda to join my quest.” She paused for a long moment, “I am not certain you should come either.”

Oh… oh no. Huh. That… that hit harder than losing twenty hitpoints. My ears were ringing. When did my mouth get dry? Thinking on it now, it was dumb. Angelica and I were just traveling together because Wilson had literally tossed us together. Had anything positive actually happened since we met? We almost died fighting cats. Adora roofied us and nearly had her way. Then we murdered a tortured woman. After that we were imprisoned in a dungeon. We killed another lady and almost got killed by a lunatic.

I felt the faint phantom sensation of needles when the Titan took control. Am I actually a person? Two hundred and eighty fucking years. ‘What about you, Sport? Having fun yet?’

Willpower check… Successful!

Emotional state remains in control

Skill Successful without roll. Checking for breakthrough…

Willpower Breaks through to the Master Level!

New Achievement: Master of One

Okay normally this achievement is for cool things like a Swordsmanship Skill or Sniping. Hell, I could understand something less cool like Craft: Spaceship or Art: War. Those could be kinda badass. You, though… what the shit? Willpower? You get the skill that allows you to be more consistently less fun. …okay.

Reward: I don’t want to give you this but there are rules.

2500 XP

7,237 experience to next level

I snapped back to reality. I hadn’t been breathing.

“Doug are you alright?” Angelica asked.

Nope. I was not. I exhaled, “I assumed we would continue to travel together.” Oh good I am talking overly formal.

Angelica mulled that over, “I really want you to understand that you have a choice. It is easy to feel like you don’t. You don’t have to do this.”

That wasn’t as bad. Wait. “What does Celeste think about us splitting up?”

“I think you should stay with us,” Celeste said, her eyes flashing with the light.

“Why did we even talk though this beforehand?” Angelica demanded. She paused for a moment, “Yes I know he asked you directly… I know… I just wish you would let me handle this… I don’t like arguing with you in front of people. It sounds like I am talking to myself.”

Celetes flashed to the surface, “I can speak out loud if that helps.”

“No, it makes us sound crazier,” Angelica said, shaking her head.

“You don’t want me to go to the Spire with you. Do you?” I asked.

“I don’t,” Angelica admitted.

“Can I ask why?”

Angelica stood and walked to the dryer. “Okay. It isn’t that I don’t like you or you did something. I just worry that what we are heading towards… is too much for you. I don’t think you are ready.”

I considered that. “I would like to ask Celeste a question.”

‘Go ahead,” Angelica replied instantly.

“Why do you want me to stay?” I pressed.

Celeste’s eyes glowed, “I think you are a great help to us.”

I honestly was a bit dubious of that, “How?”

The Angel paused for a long moment. She had to think before she spoke, “I am not going to lie. We could have handled the Wendigo. It likely would have run away, rather than releasing the victim it held. Also if you were not with us we likely wouldn’t have been put in the dungeon either. If we had though, I suspect only Angelica and I would have made it out. Grond probably would not have stepped in either.”

“None of that sounds like help,” I pressed.

“That wasn’t,” Celeste admitted. “Without you though, Angelica and I would probably have wandered the wastes alone. We would not have found the Journal with the proof of life of prisoners, nor whatever other information Brand can learn from it. It is possible Brand could have survived the dungeon and Brunhilda may have rescued him. We did, though, because we were with you. And if Angelica and I were not traveling with you that village and all the people in it would have been left behind in the cold. I think you are a good influence on both of us.”

Something didn’t feel quite right, “You are holding something back.”

Celeste sighed, “I am.”

“Could you not?” I asked.

For a long time I thought she wasn’t going to answer. I saw some sort of discussion happen between her and Angelica. Finally she said, “I believe I have a responsibility to the world to supervise you. Every Titan Spawn before you has grown into a monster.”

That sounded reasonable. It was even probably true, but I could tell it wasn’t the whole truth. Celeste had made it a point to be kind and approachable. She had been open and honest. She had honestly tried to be a friend. What she just said technically still aligned with those actions but implied a formality and distance that clashed with what she had said about me helping.

I could be wrong, but really did believe that Celeste was someone that just chose to be honest. She would only obfuscate to protect someone. Considering what she just said was kinda hurtful to me, that meant she was most likely protecting Angelica.

She saw me have this realization and frowned.

Whatever it was, I wasn’t concerned. I trusted Celeste and I trusted Angelica.

“Given that this is a major decision with consequences, I think we should all take some time to think it through.” I took another deep breath, “If we can’t all agree to travel together then we shouldn’t.”

“Well wait a minute,” Angelica said, stepping back into the conversation. “I am not kicking you out of the group. I figured you would stay here. I handle the Demon of Frost, and then come back and we…” She shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“Let’s take the time we have to think,” I said again. “Once the Spire issue is resolved, and if you and Celeste are willing, I would appreciate your help finding Kate.”

“I would like that,” Angelica said.