The void swirled and groaned around me, and I yelped as I was thrown back and forth, upside down, in a spiral, and then spun like a top. My stomach dropped and I may or may not have thrown up several times, though I would deny it if any one ever asked. The only plus side of it all was that for some reason, all my injuries had interestingly been healed up, and I found that I could use my arms and legs normally. Though, it didn’t really do me any good in the mass expanse of nothingness that I was being tossed around in. I groaned as I was spun for the fifth time, and glared at the dark void that had surrounded me. I opened my mouth to say something, but then I felt a force suddenly impact into my gut, and I coughed up blood. What the fuck!?

I got my breathing back to control and screamed at the top of my lungs, “Would ya fucking stop, for FIVE MINUTES!?”

Almost in reply, all the void around me slowly faded into a blur, and I felt that dark expanse in my mind return, coiling up like a sleeping python. My dazed eyes finally took in my surroundings and I watched as that fading darkness was slowly replaced by a world of greens and browns. I groaned and sat up, confused as all the pain from getting tossed around by the void suddenly vanished and I found that I could still move my hands and legs. I frowned and focused on the blurry browns and greens, which suddenly popped into focus. I was standing in what looked like the exact same forest that I had just been in, but there were no wolves, and the sun shined brightly above me. I frowned and reached out my hand to brush up against a nearby tree’s trunk, but suddenly a massive shudder shook everything around me and I was thrown to the right. I yelped and struggled onto my feet, but right as I managed to get up, my entire surroundings suddenly twisted and warped again.

My jaw dropped as a series of ginormous trees exploded through the ground near me, crashing through the small and thin forest trees that had been there and replacing them powerfully. I stumbled back, but the hard earth that had been below my feet suddenly became soft and cushioned, with thick dark green grass sprouting from seemingly nowhere and covering everything in sight. Vines crept out of seemingly nowhere, and they grew and wrapped themselves around the trees, rocks, and most of the vegetation. I watched in amazement at the new wilderness that was suddenly coming to life around me, and whistled in shock as I heard a loud cry and watched as a massive fiery red bird flashed overhead, a trail of cinders and flames being left behind it.

The trees bent and bowed, and I watched as an absolutely massive beast walked forward, its head reaching up into the upper branches and devouring the uppermost leaves. It had a wide body, and it had five rings of limbs running down its necks, each of them made of hardened bone spines that arched backwards and gripped at each nearby tree. To my left, a six eyed and armed beast exploded out of the ground, its massive shovel-like limbs lifting it up out of the ground as its maw gnashed the air. It roared, and a pitch black oil exploded from its mouth and crashed into a tree, hissing and dissolving all that it came into contact with. Another beast roared, its massive maw splitting into six different jaws, and breathing dark green flames that caused the surroundings to suddenly explode with life and grow. Its entire self was covered in dark green scales, and there were ten pairs of scaled tendrils that stabbed into its surroundings and drug it along. A massive dark purple and blue spider-like creature materialized out of thin air, and faster than I could see, created a huge spider web that it rested on, each of its legs twitching in the air as it waved them around, a miasma spreading through the air and dragging into invisibility once more. I shivered in fear, swallowing hard as I realized that I could see more and more monsters and beasts moving in the distance. Fuck… I hope none of them notice me… I started to edge away, my eyes nervously flashing between where I had last seen the spider, and the other beasts, but I was forced to look away as the wilderness shook and rumbled again.

A loud thwoom pierced through the rumbles and shaking, and I turned just in time to see a wall of water roar through the new forest, carving its way across the verdant ground, and separating me from where the other beasts still wandered. I sighed in relief as a loud thrum echoed through the air, and a great tree rose from the forest floor, its massive trunk and limbs dwarfing the other trees. My mouth dropped as I leaned my head back and took it in. Its limbs arched over everything, and provided a great deal of shade underneath it, even the beasts on the other side of the river. I was cast in sudden darkness and my eyes struggled to adjust as the world rumbled once more. Out of the branches, there came a groan, and then a white hot crack of lightning struck from the top branches and split the darkness with light, briefly blinding me once more. The lightning arced through the air and crashed into its base, cracking and singing the bark and even the core of the tree itself, igniting it with angry hot flames. The flames raged within the crack, and slowly it was widened, spreading itself wide open. Slowly it revealed something that was inside, its form indistinct because of the still raging fire and smoke. But as I watched, the flames petered out and died, revealing a creature, lounging on what looked like a throne made of vines, tree branches, bright flowers, leaves, and… bones.

My mouth went dry as I took in the creature upon the throne. Its form shifted and changed, the entirety of it never exactly settling on one shape for long. One second it was a thick snake, its bright green eyes flashing through the smoke as it coiled around the throne. Then it shifted into a great bear, its massive arms covered in razor sharp spines. and its jaw made of an alligator's maw. Then the next moment it turned into a delicate but proud avian, its four pairs of colorful wings elegantly outstretched, and its eyes piercing through my soul, seeing everything. The avian arched their back, and leaned its head back, letting out an ear splitting screech. I yelped and covered my ears, wincing as I watched it shift and mold once more, finally settling on the form of a great black wolf, beautiful shifting flames spiraled upwards through the air, running down its spine. It was even larger than the massive dire wolf that had killed me, and coal black claws casually clacked together, sending waves of heat outwards, warming me even from where I was standing right now.

I murmured to myself and shifted from side to side as I watched the shifts happen. My mind told me that I should run and get out of there as fast as possible, but for some reason, my whole body was relaxed. Almost as if there was not a worry in the world, even with the massive beasts that roamed the forest being so close, and this massive flaming wolf standing right in front of me. I nervously cracked my knuckles and shifted back and forth again. A fitting beast I guess, given what my last situation had been. The wolf locked eyes with me, and its lips peeled back in the approximation of a smile, its unbelievably sharp teeth glinting red in the glow of the embers falling down from the flames dancing on its back. I winced as I heard a voice in my head, startling me.

It was light, melodic, and calming, like a breeze through the trees or water running down a river, “Hello there little one, I had not been expecting to see you so soon, but I must say, what a pleasant surprise to meet you finally!”

I frowned… their voice sounded… familiar. I couldn’t quite place it, but I had heard it before. But where would I have… I shook my head and pursed my lips. No, that didn’t matter right now. What mattered was why and how the hell I had managed to get here. I flexed my jaw, and then took a deep breath. I had literally just been about to die, with a pack of wolves howling from the surrounding trees. I’d selected yes when that screen popped up, the void had swirled and consumed me, and then… I was here. I stared at the wolf, who was casually curled up on the throne, eyeing me. I licked my lips and opened my mouth, pausing for a moment as I mulled over how best to ask. Ahh… well what the hell was I to do? Might as well.

I nervously cracked my knuckles before I cautiously began, “Um… hello? Wh- where am I? The last thing I remember, I was in a forest with a pack of dire wolves surrounding me, intent on killing me since I had just killed their leader…”

The wolf knocked their head back and laughed, their melodic voice calming me, “Oh, little one, you have nothing to worry about! You are safe here now! Well, at least your spirit is… Your physical body however… ha! Not so much! It is actively being torn into by my children, but that doesn’t exactly matter.” The wolf chuckled and looked off into the distance for a moment, “Right about now, little Jeremiah is devouring your liver. Oh how precious! You know wolves have a certain pecking order in which the pack will devour a corpse? How interesting, no? Of course, you messed it up when you ended up killing one of the sons of the alpha, good work by the way, quite amusing to watch. All beasts should know not to play with their food, because even the smallest can become their undoing… Hmm… It seems they’ve managed to work out the new pecking order between themselves rather quickly… how amusing…”

I frowned, and looked down at myself. The hell were they talking about? I mean, I remembered learning about how wolves would take turns eating from a kill in my old world, but did that really matter to me right now? If I was being ripped apart, which was definitely gonna happen before I had selected yes. Was this all just some kind of dream? Was I in some form of afterlife now? I carefully pinched myself, nodding along and half paying attention as the wolf continued on about the wolves and their intricacies. Pain lanced up from my arm at the sensation and I sighed. No, this definitely was real, though what the wolf had mentioned about my soul and physical body did give me pause. How would I be able to tell if this was my soul? And, how would they know that? Wait, didn't they mention something about this being their own realm? The hell did that mean?

I looked up at the wolf and nervously cocked my head to the side, “So, umm… sorry to interrupt, but who are you, if you don’t mind me asking? And also, where am I?”

They paused and slowly looked at me before laughing again, their body stretching out languidly on the throne once more, “Ah, a fair question, little one. I'm known by many names… but… Hmm… You can call me Verdant! I've always enjoyed the word. I'm the goddess of the Wilderness here in this world! The forests, deserts, oceans, and all the creatures within them bow to me and my will, though I do try to not intervene too often. As to the answer to your second question, you are here in my own realm, a land of pure wilderness and true beasts. You were asked if you wanted to evolve a new ability, isn’t that so? I happened to be watching your last stand, and gladly offered to be the one that gave you a new one, I hope you don’t mind, hmm?”

Verdant’s eyes twinkled with amusement, and they twined their tail around their front paws. I swallowed hard, and went to say yes, but hesitated. What did that even mean? To evolve an ability? Would it even do anything? Would it even save me from the wolves? Wouldn’t I probably just get sent back to the real world where I was getting torn apart after this? I sighed and shook my head. Well, I guess if that was the case, it's not like I had any other option, right?

I cast my eyes up again and locked eyes with Verdant, throwing them a smile of my own, “Yes, well… I would love to take you up on your offer, Goddess of the Wilderness, Verdant.”

Verdant giggled and sat up in their throne, cocking their head to the side, “How polite of you… very well. I accept you as worthy of my attention, little one. Now, there are four options that will be available for you. In order to choose one, you must merely place your hand upon the stone. I’ll do the rest, just make sure you don’t remove it before I am done, hmm?”

As they finished speaking, they leaned their head back and howled, the noise echoing through the air, swirling around and around until a wild tornado suddenly appeared, stabbing into the earth. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the tree shook, and then another crash of lightning exploded into the ground. The ground rumbled and shook where the strike happened, and then split open, lava spitting and reaching into the air. Then, it came into contact with the swirling tornado and cooled, becoming an expanse of black volcanic rock. Three stone pillars cracked through the rock, pushing up higher and higher, only stopping once they were waist height. Atop each pillar was a crystal, each glowing a different color. One was Green, another Blue, and the last was Red.

My eyes widened as I took them all in, and I took a small step forward before I stopped, hesitating before I even raised my hand. “How… how do I know which one to choose?”

The wolf laughed again, slowly stepping down from their throne, their piercing green and blue eyes looking deep into mine. They arched their back and cocked their head to the side, their eyes passing between each pillar. Slowly, they walked up and began to pace back and forth behind each of the pillars, before they finally began, “You don't! Isn't that the funniest thing? Oh I love listening to you already, little one! Are you so sure you have to choose? To return back to that world, where you are already but a pile of gore and bones?” They giggled and shook their pelt, “Oh how I love when you little mortals get to this point, always so confused! Always so quick to make their choice…”

I frowned at that, but looked down at the pillars again. I guess it didn't matter too much. I really just needed to choose one, right? So that I could leave before the wolves had killed me… and then I could spend a few moments fighting them off before… well, before they had managed to kill me. Which, according to Verdant, they had already done… Ugh.

I looked the pillars up and down, and reached out to the green one before hesitating. No… that wasn’t right. I turned towards the Blue pillar and stretched out my hand, before freezing. No… not that one. It just felt… wrong. I reached towards the red pillar, but… that felt wrong too! Frustration growing in my heart now, I turned back towards the green pillar but froze once more. No no no… that was wrong. Each of them just wasn’t right! But I had to choose one before… wait…

I turned to Verdant and folded my arms, “Didn’t you say there were four choices for me? Where is the fourth choice, Verdant?”

Verdant finally stopped pacing, and sat, their tail curling up around their massive paws. “I did say that, didn't I? Four choices… Are you so sure that you want the fourth choice? Why not just choose one of the ones right here…? Wouldn’t that just be easier, hmm?”

I glared at Verdant, annoyed at all the back and forth, “None of these are right! They aren’t what I need in order to survive when you send me back, are they? Where is the fourth option? That is my only and last chance, isn’t it? Please, show me the fourth pillar, Verdant. I know that I need to choose it.”

Verdant laughed again, and shook their pelt before standing up, “Very well, little one. But you see, I am not so sure you will be able to reach where the fourth pillar lies. It is not a place that many can reach, and it is quite likely you will die before you manage to get to it. Are you so sure that you want me to show you?”

I frowned and considered that for a brief moment, taking another glance at the pillars again. No… those definitely weren’t the right ones. I wasn’t sure if the fourth option would be correct, but those three definitely weren’t. I let out a sigh and cracked my neck. I would have to risk it, death be damned. I locked eyes with Verdant and nodded. “Yes. I would like to be shown where the fourth pillar is Verdant… please?”

Verdant shook their pelt again and started off into the forest, “... Please… I must say, I’m not very used to the polite customs of humans, but I do find them quite refreshing. In the wild, there is no politeness. There is no such thing as the word ‘please’ or ‘thank you’, it is simply to be stronger than any others, and then take what you want or need. You respect those that are stronger than you, but respect is not the same thing as being polite… An interesting point don’t you think?”

I followed behind Verdant, confused by the change of conversation as I dodged around trees and stepped over the creeping vines. I winced as a branch struck my head and ducked the vine that snapped up at me from a tree. It was unlike any forest I’d been in before, and that was saying something considering the last several days that I had spent literally just trekking through wilderness that had changed day by day, “I think… It is a very human thing. Something that we created for no other reason than civility. Back on my…” I hesitated, pursing my lips together. Does this goddess know I was summoned from another world? Should I let them know that? Would they still offer to help me if they knew? I sighed and shook my head. Ah… what does it matter anyways.

I looked back at Verdant, who was still casually walking forward and began again, a small hesitation in my voice, “... World, humanity was at the top of the food chain. Sure, we couldn’t defeat every animal barehanded, but we made tools and instruments that could decimate entire islands and every life form there. How do you treat others who could kill you at the drop of a hat? Someone that could have been smaller, weaker, older, less clever, and in any natural situation, below you in the food chain? Civility, kindness, and simply just being polite… It is something that helped the day to day keep on moving forward. It ensured that everyone didn’t end up shooting or blowing each other up by the end of the day.” I chuckled and shook my head once more, “Besides… a good deed or even receiving a simple thank you… well, it just makes one feel good. I’m not sure why exactly humans evolved that way, but do you not feel that same joy? Or something similar?”

Stolen novel; please report.

Verdant considered that, briefly pausing as they walked forward for a moment, before continuing onwards, “An otherworlder… I had suspicions when you first arrived, but ignored them when I had peered into your status. Only having the Enduring Heart Ability, sword slash skill, and sprint skill… When the goddess took you from your old world, she did not treat you very well, did she?”

I sighed and jumped over a rock, yelping as it suddenly got up and started moving, growing a series of limbs and tails, “Are… are you allowed to say that? Isn’t Malxonus the strongest goddess here in this world? The one in charge and all that?”

“Haha! Oh… She is strong, of that I know for a fact…” Verdant bared her teeth and snapped the air, gnashing them together, “But she cannot hear me here, this is my personal domain after all. I do not fear her, I have fought her before but she could not contain me. The wilderness here in this world is much too strong even for that one to completely defeat. I agreed to coexist with her, but the day she shows weakness is the same day I will strike.”

I cocked my head, curiosity blossoming in my chest. So… the other gods and goddesses here weren’t all just under Malxonus’s thumb… Interesting. “That’s… interesting to say the least. Thank you for talking with me, but if I may ask, why are you? Aren’t I just a simple man in the grand scheme of the forest? A being not worthy of the goddess of the wilderness’s attention.”

Verdant laughed again, and dashed around the trees, climbing up the side of a massive rock wall that we had been nearing, “Oh little one, every life matters in the wilderness, within the endless cycle of life and death. Svenkal, Lysan’s, all of them matter. Even if it is a new pup or babe that is hunted by a circling Loongdom.” Verdant sighed as their tail twined around their massive paws, their eyes scanning the deep forest, “But that is not the answer that you are looking for. You see, the evolution of abilities in this world are overseen by varying different powers. Sure, I swooped in and gave you the option of choosing one of mine, but there are other gods and goddesses that can offer you other options. Malxonus is as strong as she is partly because the abilities she oversees are so physically powerful. When she gifts them to others, she does not do it for free however. She asks them to become her champion, to spread her influence and power throughout the world. A rather boorish thing to do… but I can see the appeal. However, the wild does not ask for champions. The wild only asks that one survive.”

I hesitated at that and considered the implications of what Verdant had just told me. Other options… Did that mea, if I didn’t want this fourth option, I could ask to see another god or goddess? I eyed Verdant’s looming shape, and sighed. No, Verdant, the literal goddess of the wilderness, had chosen to give me an ability. What more could someone like me ask for? This was exactly what I needed, exactly the step up I’d need in order to make my way in this world.

I laughed and began climbing up the rock wall, carefully pulling myself up rock by rock. I ignored the burn of my muscles, the screaming of my lungs, until I finally slid over the edge of the top, where Verdant was sitting. I groaned, and rolled onto my back, taking a second to catch my breath. We had to be close to the fourth option if Verdant was still sitting there, thank the gods. I sat up, and looked down, a loud gasp coming unbidden to my lips. Below me, there was a massive crystal clear lake, so deep that I couldn’t see the bottom, and stretching out almost as far as I could see.

I shook my head and closed my gaping mouth, turning and looking at Verdant, “Oh my… this… this is gorgeous, Verdant! Why have we stopped? Is this where the fourth pillar lies?”

Verdant didn’t even glance at me, simply continuing to stare out into the lake, “The fourth option lies at the bottom of the center of this lake, little one. Not even I truly know how deeply it lies, but you will not be able to miss it, it will call out to you as you get closer. You… are not the first child to search for the fourth, but you will most certainly be the last…” She turned to me and locked her piercing blue and green eyes on me once more, “First, a warning. I have had many children search for it in this lake, but only a few have managed to survive. Of those few, the ones that have survived have had to sacrifice much in order to claim the power. The sacrifice changes from person to person, but there is one thing that does not. You will forget much, and will be reborn anew after taking this power for your own. Do not disappoint me little one, you have piqued my interest.”

With a flick of their tail, Verdant leaped from the rock wall and silently fell, vanishing into the trees. I leaned back on the hard cold rocks and sighed, watching them disappear. Oh man… this really was going to be such a pain in the ass wasn’t it? I stood up and stretched, looking down at the edge of the lake, which was about 3 feet below me. I could still see the bottom here, but as my eyes followed it, I watched as it slowly vanished into the depths. I cracked my neck and stretched my arms and legs out. I eyed the lake again and shrugged, taking off my shirt and clothes. They’d only slow me down, and if Verdant was correct, I had to swim a long way to reach the bottom of this lake. Ugh…

I made my way down the rock wall, and slowly stepped into the water. I was expecting it to be freezing, but it was surprisingly rather warm. Huh… Well, I needed to get to the middle of the lake at least, before I started diving. Something deep inside me told me that was where it would be… Ha, I guess Verdant was right about that. Cautiously, I started out into the water, paddling once my feet could no longer touch the bottom. I swam for who knows how long, but thankfully I could tell my Enduring Heart and the few level ups I had gained before coming here were doing some real work, and it was pretty manageable.

I made it to where I guessed the middle was, and paused, bobbing up and down as I slowly kicked to keep afloat. I had no other choice but to dive here… Damn it. What a long way I had come… I used to just wonder what mom was going to make for dinner. Now, I wondered if my spiritual self was going to drown before I reached the bottom of a lake and chose a pillar that would save my dead self.

I took a long, deep breath and shook my head. Well, now was as good a time as any, right? I dived, kicking my legs behind me and stabbing both my hands and pulling them through the water, propelling me further down. I had figured the lake was deep, but… this was just ridiculous! I glanced back to the surface and rolled my eyes after about 15 minutes of swimming. I could just barely see the light glimmering through the clear water, but when I looked down again, it was just pitch black darkness. How deep was this damn lake?

I pushed down again, pulling forth more and more, until I finally felt like I was running out of breath. Probably only a few more minutes… damn it, was that gonna be enough? I bared my teeth in frustration, and pushed forward more, dragging myself closer to where that feeling deep inside me was calling out to. I dove and dove, and then… I saw it. There, a little to my right, I saw a glimmer in the darkness. I grinned, and pushed even further, my lungs screaming at me to hurry it up. If I didn’t turn around now… I might not actually make it to the surface… I narrowed my eyes and cursed inwardly. No, I had come this far hadn’t I? I just needed to make it to the pillar and then I could go back to the real world. There, hopefully, I could make some sort of stand and make it out. Hell, maybe the others would come back and save me?

I swam harder and harder pulling myself closer to the glimmering light in the unending dark waters. As I got closer though, a dense object formed into my gut and I had to stop myself from screaming. The place that I had swum for, the glimmer in the dark? There was nothing there, just sand and more sand along the floor of the lake. I bared my teeth and got ready to push off so that I could make it back to the surface when my hand passed through an opening. As I paused in the water, my eyes widened, and I screamed curse after curse in my mind. In front of me, there was an opening in the water, a tunnel, that I could not even see how deep it went. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck! I glanced back up at the faint faint glimmer from the surface and groaned internally. If I went back to the top, I could probably make it back safely, but if I followed the tunnel? How did I know if I was going to make it to the end in time? Sure the light was coming from it, but the walls of the tunnel were shimmering, which meant that it could be reflecting the light from somewhere far inside. Damn it! I punched the side of the tunnel, my fist going in slow motion as I rolled my eyes. Ugh. No, I was this far, I might as well risk it. This was the only chance I could survive when I woke back up in the real world! This was my last chance, I couldn’t just give up now.

I grabbed the rocks at the side of the tunnel and pulled myself forward, reaching out and pulling over and over. The good news was this was much faster than just diving deeper and deeper through dark water. The bad news was that I could feel my lungs being crushed by the weight of the water, and I was running out of air. Oh gods… was I going to die in an underwater tunnel in a lake? In another reality… while my body was being ripped apart in another world… with my friends all thinking that I had sacrificed myself for them… and my family probably didn’t even remember my name? Oh man…

I pulled forward more and more, focusing on my task. I blocked out the feeling of my lungs screaming for air, and I blocked out the burning in my limbs. I just needed to make it to that pillar! Who knows? Maybe there was a tunnel at the other side with an air pocket I could use? I laughed inwardly and winced as my hands scraped along a rock. Now wouldn’t that be nice? Ah… probably not. I shook my head and kept on pulling, fully committed. I was either getting to that pillar, or dying here.

I could feel my lungs finally begin to shrivel up, and my mind screamed at me for air. I felt every cell in my body wither and cry, but I ignored them. Even though I could feel them all slowly dying, and my vision starting to go dark, I couldn’t care. I had no other choice! But they didn’t care either, and screamed back at me, begging for air. Rage crashed through me, and I roared at them. KEEP ON PULLING DAMN IT! I wasn’t giving up now! I wasn’t dying here! Fuck this, and fuck you all! I wasn’t just going to just be one more corpse at the bottom of this gods damned crystal lake!

My eyes went dark, and my arms finally stopped moving as quickly, unable to fuel my movement forward any more. Still though… still my legs kicked. Ha… at least my legs could still… Wait! Desperately, I pulled on that dark place and activated it. Sprint…! My final chance… I pulled and tore at the darkness, screaming at it and demanding that it give me what I wanted… no, needed. At first, nothing happened, but then my body slowly began to wake up. It screamed at me, and I screamed back. I am not dying here! I was getting back to that damn world, and I would sacrifice all I had to! I roared into the dark void. CYLKIA!!! HALFI!!! I am coming for YOU!!!

The void, the same one that had given me the strength to use sword slash before… the same one that had empowered my limbs to continue moving, long past when they would have been able to in the past… and the same one that had quietly, patiently waited in the back corner of my mind this whole time… it uncoiled and hungrily pulsed. A hungry, consuming pulse that ignited my entire core. Flame… white hot, incinerating, and destructive… flaming, burning, and raging… it burned and consumed, carving a path throughout my whole body, and as it raged, so did the anger. So too did the fury. And as the red hot rage pulsed through my body once more, power flooded my weakened, dead cells. Strength filled my core, and I felt my legs begin to move. I ground my teeth together, until I felt them crack, and screamed. I screamed and screamed, pulling and pushing them harder, demanding more. Demanding that they move quicker and quicker. Demanded that they just did what I wanted! And slowly at first, my legs began to kick. They kicked and pushed and moved, and then the slow kicks became stronger. They became faster. And then, it was like they were propellers, and my body tore through the dark water, moving towards that damn pillar. The one that even now, tugged at my core.

Without my arms, I had no real way to really swim upwards, so I pushed and scraped along the ground instead. But still the flame raged inside. I ground along, my body being torn and sliced up as I continued forward. But still the flame raged inside. Blood poured from my body as I could feel my body grating and burning along the jagged rocks on the floor of the tunnel, layers of skin being scrubbed and burned away. But still the flame raged inside. As the friction tore my skin off and my blood filled the water, I felt my lungs slowly begin to shrivel up, the last of my air having escaped me… but still the flame raged inside. I laughed and screamed, tore and raged, begged and pleaded, but still, the flame raged inside.

I strained harder, but my body wouldn’t move much anymore. And the rage fluttered. My legs turned from little propellers to spasming sticks. And the flame sputtered. The cold water warmed by the blood pouring from my skinned body. And the flame flickered. I grinned as I felt tears vanishing into the cold water, unable to even stream down my cheeks. And then the rage… died… and I let out a long internal sigh. Ah… after all of that too… I guess I'm dead now…? Haha… Bitch ass goddess in a dumbass world… Haha…

Pain raced through my skull, startling me awake. I hadn’t even realized I had almost passed out, but the lack of air in my lungs would do that to you… Good thing the pain that just exploded from my skull woke me up. I must have run into… Wait, what was I doing again? My whole body floated in what was like zero gravity, and numbly I allowed my mind to wander. Oh yeah… I was diving down a massive crystal lake. Hmm… Why would I do that? I didn’t even like swimming that much… I was a runner after all! Well, until I got pulled into this weird world… and then I was put through bootcamp hell… and then I had fun traveling with… people? before I got attacked by wolves and… Wait, what was I doing again? Where was I? Wasn’t I doing something incredibly important?

My eyes shot open and I glanced around frantically, searching for anything that might give me any idea of what I had been doing. Didn’t I just run into something? Where was that? Whatever in fuck had I run into? My eyes scanned the darkness, and I struggled to make my limbs move, but they protested, screaming back at me. Hmm… The fuck was going on? My eyes finally landed on a glowing pillar, and my whole body went electric, being reenergized somehow. Aha! I finally fucking found you! It was exactly like the other ones from before! I frowned and cocked my head to the side. Wait, before? Oh yeah… I was doing a trial right? I had to find the fourth pillar! Verdant had said it was at the bottom of the lake, right? I looked around at the water streaked with red. Isn’t this the bottom of the lake? Hey… that looked a lot like blood too…! Oh yeah… that was mine right? Almost as if it had been waiting for that exact moment, I finally became aware of the pain from my chest and screamed. Fuck me! That fucking hurts! I pulled myself together and glared at the pillar. Well… I mean I was sent here for this pillar right? I might as well go to it.

I forced my screaming limbs to move, and slowly I managed to turn towards the pillar and bared my teeth. Damn it! Why the hell did everything have to hurt so fucking much!? My chest, my arms, my lungs, and even my legs! Also, I had this odd feeling that I probably shouldn’t be able to move too! I shook my head and pushed through the water. This was fine though… I’d be dead if I couldn’t, right? This deep in the lake, I had no other option. I pushed forward until I finally was floating in front of the pillar. I hummed to myself, looking it up and down. What now?

The pillar was glowing a bright white, the light shining off of the rocks around it. That’s how I had managed to find it, right? This is the whole reason I had descended down here… haha. Almost died for this shit, might as well thank the gods… Or wait, actually, scratch that. There is only one god… goddess really, that I should thank. I closed my eyes and raised my head. Thank you, Verdant! I may not remember my name or why I was down here, but I knew one thing. You were the reason I had a second chance at life, and I was suffering because of three things. Halfi, Cylkia, and Malxonus… They were going to pay. I opened my eyes and looked at the pillar. This, whatever it was, was going to be the chance I needed. The chance to get stronger and one day, get my revenge.

I growled and struggled to move forward. Oh man… I was pretty much dead at this point. I just needed to get to that damn pillar! I ground my teeth together, and slammed my head forward, crashing into the pillar. Pain raced through me, overriding all that I had been experiencing before. What screaming lungs? What burning limbs? The water was nice and chill, not warm with my blood at all! The only thing I knew was pain and agony. I groaned, but instead of stopping I crushed my head against the pillar again. My blood ran through the water once more, and as the pillar turned a dark purple, I reached for that place in my mind. It had been calling to me louder as I got closer to the pillar, and I had the feeling that I needed to call on it in order to access the gift that the pillar offered. I roared and dug in, gripping the void and tearing until… A snap happened, and I felt a connection blossom between myself and the pillar. I could sense a sentience from it, and it hummed in surprise as it felt my mind come into contact with it. It grasped my mind, sending out tendrils that dug deep into everything I was. It wasn’t a painful experience per say, but I felt as if it had taken a microscope and examined all that I was… by force. It went through memories that I couldn’t even recall experiencing, It scanned emotions I could not remember feeling, and by the end of it, I felt like it knew me better than I knew myself. The pillar, or well, whatever possessed it, was incredibly ancient, powerful, and curious. It was not inherently malevolent however. When it finally finished its examination, a simple question emanated from it. I got the feeling that I had been asked this question before, but it had not felt… right. I had chosen to wait, and finally, the question felt right. I smiled, and pushed towards the yes option, closing my eyes.

New Ability Evolved!

Unending Vitality (Incomplete)

Oh, Little One… I was not sure if you would make it there, but I am quite happy you did! It was a fun little time that we had together, I did quite enjoy it! Now what was it you said… ah yes! Thank you for the little entertainment! Now, a brief bit of information about this particular evolution of your ability. The Wilderness and Life is always in a constant cycle of growth, decay, death, and then rebirth. It is infinite in this manner, and nothing in this, or any world can really escape its clutches. Even the ‘immortals’ must one day end, and when they do, another ‘immortal’ will take their place. Such is the beauty of the cycle! It winds and snakes, but it always continues. It is… Unending. Make sure you do not regret the choice you have made. For I hope the sacrifice was worth it.