“Very good job everyone,” Tyranis said, distinctly ignoring the conversation Asher was having with the girls. “Asher, I know you’re still healing, but I have some good news. You have received a lot of interest from Sponsors.”
“Oh yeah?” Asher asked. “Do we really want that?” He asked Lyola. “Or do we want alliances?”
“We have a few Alliance options, but those will wait until your planet has Initialized,” Lyola said. “Sponsors would open more doors.”
“Is there a big risk having sponsors?” Asher asked. “You had mentioned that the Seinsterf Pirates were kicked off their planet because other people with sponsors took over their planet. Do I need to worry about a sponsor trying to muscle in?”
“That is a possibility,” Tyranis answered. “During that planet’s trials it was noticed they had huge deposits of Elatium and other ores. A sponsor swooped in and demanded they take over the planet. Then they were able to monopolize the planet’s resources with help. Sponsors can be hit or miss. Since you showed such strength, I’m confident many simply want you for wartime alliances. These are the most common. For instance, the Demonkin you fought in the 2nd trial. Though they didn’t win, they still got a sponsor with a mutual wartime agreement.”
“They did?” Tiff asked happily. She squeezed his hand, he could feel the joy radiate off of her. Tyranis nodded. Asher too felt a little better that they wouldn’t have to worry about Prillish.
“What about the clones?” Ria asked.
“They are still with the Burills. The agreements can’t be easily broken, on either side. But since their Champion was the only survivor, I doubt much will come from it.” Asher had forgotten that Alfa survived. He hoped that wouldn’t bite him in the ass later.
“Do we have any good options?” Asher asked.
“A few, but I know some people wanted to…” Tyranis looked to Tosh.
Tosh stepped up and addressed him. “I was hoping you would let me join you back on Earth,” the half-elf admitted.
“Really?” Keera asked excitedly. She put away a new computer she bought with her points and ran over to him.
“Is it a problem if you do?” Asher asked. “I don’t want the System angry at us.”
“As long as he does not leave until the planet is initialized, no it wouldn’t be. Since it will be your ship, the System will consider him part of your people,” Tyranis answered.
“I would like to see if my old family is alive, and other things…” Tosh said, squeezing Keera’s hand.
“I mean it's fine with me. Of course. Hell, I offered when we met,” Asher said.
“You did,” Tosh said with a nod. Keera latched onto him and kissed his cheek. Causing the elf to blush.
“Me too,” Batman said, stepping up. “I um, want to ask Aneela to come with us,” he admitted.
“Oh my god, yes,” Tiff said excitedly. With the idea of them no longer being separated she was 100% on board of their relationship again.
“If she says yes I don’t see why not,” Asher said. “Will she leave the Roktai?”
“That would be up to her,” Tyranis said. “Carl checked with me first, but it is not uncommon to leave. I think it best to discuss with her.”
“Yeah, what the hell? You knew we wouldn’t care,” Asher asked. Without a word Batman nodded and disappeared into the shadows. Asher looked around but didn’t see him leave. “How does he do that?” He found himself asking.
“With that out of the way. Let us review your sponsors,” Tyranis said. “This can be a tedious process. Those of you with other things to do, may want to skip this.” Abby, Keera, Tosh, Vincent, and Ming left. Tyranis walked out. Asher, Tillie, Lyola, Tiff, Atty, Eliffy, Bishop, and Ria followed. They were soon at the dueling platform on the side of the palace.
“Is there a reason we are doing this here?” Asher asked.
“It would be hard to accept an alliance if you did not meet them and I do not like random portals to places inside the Guild Hall,” Tyranis said. “Each of them has entrusted me with a Portal Summon that would take you to them.”
“Should I be hesitant?” Asher asked.
“No, these are all legitimate offers,” Tyranis said. “You received a total of 362.” The number surprised Asher. “I have narrowed that list down to 10. The top option would be King Sustutna.”
“No!” Eliffy said as Asher said, “Skip.” She gave him a happy smile that he didn’t hesitate.
Tyranis was hesitant. “Are you sure? He is known as one of the strongest Sex Mana users.”
Asher hadn’t known that part, but from Ely’s description of the guy he wasn’t interested. “Bad blood,” Asher said. “I don’t think we want to be associated with him.” Tyranis slowly nodded. The fact that they stole the Emerald Key also played into his decision. He hoped there was no way the Dion king knew.
“There is the Aartiliak Empire again,” Tyranis said. “They offer much better terms this time.”
“They’re the people that like to start wars and monopolize materials right?” Asher asked. Also they supposedly double crossed him during Atalanta’s Roktai Trial. Tyranis nodded. “I would prefer someone that would let me do as I please. I don’t mind fighting wars. But if there's a chance my planet has a rare material, I’d rather we take control of it than the Aartiliak.”
“I would agree,” Tyranis said. He began moving down the list. Eliffy knew most all the names and commented on them.
“Them? They’re slavers.” “Skip.”
“Their guild master double crossed on one of the biggest deals in their Sector.” “Skip, can’t trust people that don’t keep their word.”
“I don’t know anything about them. I just know they’re really ugly.” “How ugly?” “Boogers ugly.” “Skip.”
Finally they came to the last name on the list. “I must admit, I don’t know this one. The only reason I put it on here was because the terms were good. They offer to give you guidance after reaching level 100, and their protection until that point as long as it happens within 20 years. They wouldn’t expect anything of you until after that.”
“Really?” Asher asked. That didn’t sound so bad. “No war agreements, or anything?”
“No, and the weird thing is they offered to sponsor your First-Wife as well,” Tyranis said.
“Tiff?” Asher asked. “Me?” Tiff asked.
“Is that normal?” Asher hesitantly questioned.
“No,” Tyranis said simply. “The Hard Tutorials or Guild Trials would be instances where individuals are more likely to get Sponsors. The Champion Trial is typically about the Champion.”
“What’s their name?” Asher asked.
“Tacitae, is the only name given,” Tyranis said.
Eliffy gasped. “The Queen of Death?” She asked. Everyone turned to her. “She’s known as the Primeval of Death.” Still they stared at her. “You don’t know either?” She asked Tyranis, the older elf shook his head. With a long sigh she began to explain. “You know Primevals, right? The founders of the League? There is some 30 or 40 or 50 of them, no one knows for sure. Each is a master of their mana type. Tacitae is supposed to be the master of Death. But I heard she was dead.”
“It seems not,” Tyranis said. “Shall I assume you want to skip?”
Asher thought about it. “Know anything bad about her?” He asked Eliffy.
“I’ve only heard that the Celestials and Primevals don’t cross her. There was a big war like 8,000 years ago that she fought in. She disappeared and no one has seen her since,” she said.
Asher looked at Tiffany. She shrugged. “Maybe she saw our skills and wants a taste,” she whispered.
Asher laughed. “Let’s try, not gonna hurt anything,” he said. Tyranis and Lyola did not seem so convinced.
“Are you sure, husband? I have heard stories of Primevals,” Lyola said nervously.
“Yes,” Tyranis said. “I am not very convinced this is a good idea. Primevals are a….touchy sort. From what I’ve heard at least.”
Asher didn’t feel too fearful of it. Tiff squeezed his hand and they nodded. “Let’s give it a try. Great risk, means great reward.”
Everyone around him didn’t appear too happy about it. Tyranis sighed but pulled 2 black rings from the air. He tossed them to the center of the dueling platform. 2 swirling vortexes appeared. Asher recognized them from his Champion Interview. “See you on the other side,” Tiff said. Without waiting she jumped onto one. Asher cursed but caught up and did the same. Everything turned black.
—
It all stayed black. Asher waited for long minutes for something to happen. Nothing changed. Drawing out Holy mana the area around him became alight, but there was an encroaching darkness just outside of his mana’s reach. The blackness swirled and came at him. Using Mana Sight he couldn’t see anything glowing.
A deep womanly laugh sounded in the darkness. “You would have to be much stronger than you are now to see the mana of a Primeval, Lawful Good,” a woman’s voice said from somewhere. The darkness appeared to get thicker.
“At least it's a woman,” Asher whispered, raising his Pheromones to 100. They wouldn’t extend past where his light hit. Then suddenly his skill ended, and no more mana leaked out of him.
“Your skills would have to be much stronger as well,” she said. Asher thought he heard a whisper behind his ear. He turned, starting to sweat. He had hoped he could seduce her if all else failed.
“If you don’t want to talk, then give me my wife, and we will go,” Asher said.
“I killed your wife,” a voice said from behind.
Asher frowned. “No, you didn’t,” he said. She was still on his Relationship Screen.
“Confident, human,” she said with a hiss. “I like that. But I could kill her,” she said. “Easily.”
“As you could kill me,” Asher said. Suddenly an immense wave of mana fell into him. He stumbled forward, sweating immensely as he fought to not fall to his knees.
“I might just do that,” she said. “You have caused me a lot of pain, Lawful Good.”
She appeared in front of him out of the darkness. Tall, she looked human. Long black hair was draped around her body. Pale gray skin was barely covered by a long cloth sash draped over her skin. A tiara sat upon her head, miniature skulls screamed from spikes on the crown. A red ruby glowed from the front. He couldn’t see her eyes as they were covered by her long hair. He could see a rather large bust and curves. They were lightly caressed by the black cloth sash. The mana still poured out of her as she studied him.
“I’m not sure what kind of pain I could cause you, but I’m sorry if I did,” he admitted. “Kill me, and leave Tiffany out of it. I’m sure that would be payment enough.” She frowned with the offer. He slowly began to walk forward toward her, this was all some show, and he was done playing.
“Why the game?” Asher asked. “You expressed interest in sponsoring us.” She didn’t answer. The darkness swirled around him as he got closer. The black cloth around her wrapped tighter on her body. Hiding her breasts and lower lips. He studied her more. Her upper lips were almost black. He thought maybe she really was a dark elf from the color of her skin, but he could see rounded ears on the side of her head. Asher wondered if this was the first full human he had seen since leaving Earth. There were high humans, but he couldn’t remember any human humans.
“I have interest in both of you,” she admitted. He stopped 10 feet away from her. The mana had only become denser, and that was all he could handle. He didn’t fall, but after the Avatar, the sheer power of it wasn’t as stifling. “You appear to be more trouble than you’re worth though. First of all, the System wants you dead.”
“It does?” He asked in surprise. “At the trial-”
“At the trial it put a bigger target on your back,” she spat. The wave of mana coming from her disappeared. “Lawful Goods aren’t long for this world. Always, they die young. The very first Champion was a Lawful Good. I killed him myself.” That made him a little nervous.
“Here to collect another’s head?” He asked.
She chuckled. “Perhaps, if you piss me off too,” she said. The darkness disappeared and they were in a grand throne room. Skeleton guards stood all around them. They wore thick armor, some were skeletons of giants that towered over them. The Queen of Death moved to a throne made of…you guessed it, bones.
“The System wants me dead then? Any special reason?”
“Heroes are tools. It wants all the Champions dead. It will send you into fight after fight. Uncaring if you can win or not. As a Lawful Good it will send you to the most righteous causes. Those are always the most dangerous,” she said. She let out a long sigh as she frowned. Relaxing in her throne her black hair still hid her eyes.
“The very first Lawful Good simply had the System name Hero. He was a young man, like yourself. He wanted to do what was right. I pissed off the System, and it sent him after me. He heard Queen of Death and assumed the System was right to kill me.”
Asher frowned. “The System can be a dick,” he said. He didn’t know who would be right or wrong. If someone came at him, he would kill them, hero or not. He did know the System was a son of a bitch though.
She laughed loudly. “How refreshing to meet someone with the same respect for the all knowing System. Most Primevals are too scared to curse the System. Too scared to have the System after them.” She sighed staring down at him from her throne.
“Are you serious about this sponsor thing?” Asher asked. First she threatened to kill him, now they were cursing the System over tea. “I can go if you’re not.”
“Why did you accept to see me?” She asked, crossing her long smooth legs.
“The other options sounded boring,” he said. “Call it a gut feeling. Besides, you’re a woman. The others weren’t. My wife assumed you wanted us for our skill in the bedroom.”
The dark haired woman laughed loudly. Her deep voice echoed in the large throne room. “Maybe I do,” she said. “Come closer, Lawful Good.” Asher walked up the dais stairs until he was only 5 feet in front of her. Her gray skin was smooth. The cloth wrapped around her tight now. He did his best not to stare at her bust. Her lips and eyelids were a dark gray. She had a familiar scent that he couldn’t quite place.
“A month ago, I did not know who you were,” the dark woman said. Her eyes still hidden, he focused on their general location. He didn’t want to get caught staring at her cleavage. “I left the League years ago, and was happy for it. Everything I need is here.”
Asher looked around with a frown. A good bone? He thought. They were everywhere. She barked a laugh. “Fuck, sorry,” he said aloud. It was annoying to keep running into psychics. She visibly forced herself to stop laughing. A smile on her face disappeared as she made it into a frown. He actually liked her smile and frown. There were no wrinkles on her face as she did so.
“No enemies for one,” she said. “The League is a pit of vipers. More than a few already want you dead.”
“So you want me to piss more people off?” He asked.
“That does sound fun, but no,” she said. She tsked looking him up and down. She waved her hand and Tiff appeared next to him.
“Hey!” She said angrily looking at the Primeval. “I’ve been yelling for like 20 minutes.”
“I heard,” the woman said. “I simply wanted a private conversation with the Lawful Good.”
Asher grabbed Tiff’s hand trying to calm her down. He mentally gave her a quick rundown of what they had been talking about. Slowly she nodded and studied the dark haired woman. “What do you want from us?” Tiff finally asked.
“What do you know of the universe Pre-League?” The Queen of Death asked. She waved her hand and they were in outer space. Or at least a hologram of it. They stared at a planet. Far enough away as if they were on a moon.
“Not much, just what happened in our Wist,” Asher answered. “I hear that all Primevals come from Pre-League.”
She nodded. Getting up from her bone throne she approached a large view of a planet. “The System is very old. Older than me. I don’t know where it came from. I doubt anyone but the System does.” The planet in front of her looked like Earth. Blue oceans, green continents, but the land masses were different. “I believe that the System spent a few millennia figuring things out. It went to a planet. Granted them Systems. And let them go at it.” They zoomed in on the planet showing people fighting with magic. Fire, ice, lightning, and earth flew from people’s hands.
“What people don’t know is that during these mass awakenings on planets, the System copies everything. It was hardly using any of it’s capabilities back then. Everyone on these planets was duplicated. The System then jumped to the next planet. Thousands of planets with sentient life were thrust into a world with new powers. It took a long break after it replicated enough test subjects. Bringing those copies to wherever it resides, the System analyzed them for centuries. Figured out what it was doing wrong or right.” The hologram zoomed out to show the universe. “Slowly these planets died out. Dungeon Breaks were a common occurrence. There was nothing to stop a Tier X from going to a Tier I. Civilizations were destroyed. We call this the Primeval Era,” she said. The hologram showed planets explode, but others thrived.
“All 53 of us rose up,” she said. “Our people perished, but we survived. By the time we were the only people left, the System had finished analyzing all of our people and planets. It had begun to give newly Initialized their Heroes, and Tutorials. Something we were never afforded.” The hologram showed people teleported while their planet increased its Tier. Earthquakes, tidal waves, and monsters ran around. People suddenly appeared, killing monsters and making homes.
“We did not know this of course. By the time I made contact with someone the System had been Initializing people for 900 years. I was the last person from my planet. I had portal jumped until I met someone semi-human. The System began to gather us then. Quests to meet. Offers of Teleportation. Eventually we agreed and though there were hiccups, we began to work together. We made League Prime. It was good. And for a time we were at peace.” She sighed sitting back down on her throne. The hologram disappeared.
“You can guess it didn’t last long,” she said with a wry smile.
Asher nodded. “So you’re a Primeval. What does all this have to do with us?”
The Queen of Death bit her lip looking at them. Her eyes were still hidden behind her hair. “What do you think a Wist is?” She asked.
“We went back in time,” Tiff said without hesitation.
The Queen smiled. “Close,” She said. “I told you that the System copies these planets. Everything, and studied them. The Wist, is the System allowing you time on those copies. It traps them there. Always replaying events with different scenarios so it could learn and process. When the System feels it has gathered all the information it could from a planet, it releases it’s Wist. It’s done with it now. There’s no reason to keep it.” She stood up and stepped away from them. Staring at one of her skeleton soldiers she continued to talk. “I was born on a planet called Wesrall.”
Tiff ran over to the Queen and grabbed her. Asher tried to pull her away but Tiff hugged her from the back. “I knew it!” She cried. “I could feel it.”
The queen was quiet, Asher stood staring at them amazed for a moment. Slowly the Queen's shoulders began to shake as Tiff hugged her tighter. “I did not know my family, for the longest time,” she whispered. “Then over a month ago I had a dream about them.” Her voice cracked as she continued. “My father was Delios, my mother was Shea, and my little brother was Los.” Her shoulders shook more. She and Tiffany fell to the ground. Tiff began stroking her long black hair and whispering to her.
“My father was killed for a loaf of moldy bread,” she said. “My mother and brother starved with me in that alley.” Asher heard she and Tiff snort as they both cried. “In the real world, I don’t know how I escaped Truskin. The first thing I could remember was when I was about 14. I was part of a caravan group. We escaped the Gone, but they always followed. Eventually we found a portal and went to a new world. I was 16 when I received my System. And I’ve fought every day since.” She sighed, her body shook. Tiff whispered in her ear. “They called me Dea.”
Asher found tears on his eyes as well. He moved over and wrapped them in his arms. Tiff was sobbing, the Queen of Death less so. Asher put his hands on her pale skin, and he felt how cold she was. He pulled them both to him. They didn’t fight. Tiff whispered kind words in her ear. Accepting the possibility wholeheartedly.
“We asked the System for you, for our rewards,” he said. “It ignored us.”
She laughed. “Of course it did.” Slowly she began to speak again. “I’m sure the System didn’t know where I came from. And if it did, who would suspect you would walk down a random alley and help a dying girl?”
“I would,” Tiff said. “He’s the best.” She laughed, and the Queen laughed too. They still didn’t look at one another.
“Every night I have been receiving memories from the Wist version of me. I have not needed sleep in a long time, so I thought someone was casting a spell on me,” she said. “But every night I would cry more and more. I never knew my family. And you 2 gave that back to me.”
“How?” Asher asked.
“The Wist I am sure. Usually Primevals are known. The System made copies of hundreds of planets. Only 53 of us survived, so it had hundreds to choose for Wists. The System was off analyzing planets. By the time it was ready to go back into the world I had jumped a hundred dungeons. When it started a Wist with me on it, I became linked to it. Sharing its memories. We are the same person after all.”
Slowly she tried to rise. Tiff grumbled. The Queen of Death turned to her. Moving the hair from her eyes Asher recognized them as the blue of Deacia’s. The Queen slowly dropped back down and let Tiff hug her more.
“Why did you treat me like your own?” The Queen asked. Her arms wrapped around Tiff, as his wife buried her face in her bosom.
Tiff was quiet, then she sobbed out, “I couldn’t help it! You just latched on to Asher so hard. You loved him unconditionally. And your feelings leaked over to me.” She sniffled, uncaring who was holding her. “I felt your fear anytime someone came close. How at any instant you thought we would throw you aside and you’d be back on the street. And how happy you were to have us there. You didn’t know us, but you loved us, and-and I couldn’t help but feel the same. My damn psychic powers and emotion control took my brain over again.”
A tear went down the Queen's eye. She looked at him, a warm smile on her face. He tried to mirror it, tried to see that little girl, but it was hard to see. She had changed so much. “We really didn’t have that long together,” he said. She could read his mind, there was no reason to hide.
“We didn’t,” she said. “But you gave me something I didn’t know I wanted.” She drew him in and kissed his cheek. He pulled her closer, Tiff between them. They stayed there for a long time, enjoying the feel of one another.
“What do we call you?” Tiff asked, finally done crying.
“I would prefer Queen of Death,” she said. Her face cold Tiff burst out laughing. The queen smiled as well. “Dea would be fine.”
“Then you can call me-”
“Tiffany,” Dea answered. Tiff deflated. “Though you treated me like a mother for a few weeks, you are not my mother. I remember her now, and would like to honor her.” Tiff nodded.
“Do you still want to be my sponsor?” Asher asked.
Dea looked at him, she still had a cold exterior. No tears streaked her skin anymore. She was pale and spotless once again. “I was not joking about you being a lot of trouble,” she said. “But I have been out of the League for a long time. Maybe I wouldn’t mind causing some more headaches.”
“What would I do for you?” He asked. “I couldn’t give you much.”
“No, but my name could give you protection. I file your name with the League and everyone would know not to fuck with you,” she said. “They wouldn’t know I won’t be helping you.”
“You won’t?” He asked. She stepped away from them. Moving to her throne she stared at the both of them.
“It’s literally just me here,” she said. “All of my people are dead. My alliances were broken 8,000 years ago. Granted, I would help you if I could, but I won’t. I happen to think the people do a lot better without sponsors. Helps you grow, build character.”
Asher frowned. “Then what do I get out of it?”
“It is a big universe out there, Lawful Good. You are a guppy in a land of sharks. The first threshold for your planet is going to be you or someone else getting to level 100. That is the level that strength truly begins. If you can do that in the next 20 years. I will teach you what it really means to be strong,” she promised.
“And if I can do it in less?” He asked.
“Then more time to train,” she said. “I will assist you when I can. If there are things you want to discuss we can meet every year or so. Then if you make it to level 100, you can come here, and I can train you. There are many new abilities you will receive and things to learn. Your skills and stats will evolve, and I can help you understand them.”
He liked the idea of being able to ask questions. “I have the Hell Title,” he said. “There are some garbled words, next to 1%, what does it mean?” He brought it up to look at it.
| Hell Title |
| A trial's difficulty has been forcefully increased by the System. This proves that despite things being bad, they could still be worse. Just hope there isn't a Super Hell title next time. \ |
| Rewards |
| 5+ stats |
| 1+% &($#(*@(&$ |
“Hell already? The System wants you dead,” she said again. With a sigh she explained. “Have you ever fought someone, and done something you shouldn’t have been able to?”
“Like what?”
“Like an enemy trying to read your mind, but they can’t. Or cast a spell and it didn’t take.” Asher remembered Fetince Burill casting the sleep spell on him, but he broke out. He nodded.
“Everyone has Hidden Stats that you can’t see on your Status Screen. One stat that would block mental attacks is Psyche. These stats show up on your screen after level 100. You don’t get all of them, but you will start to see them after certain level intervals. You can raise them with your stat bonuses from each level. You should have automatic raises in them now. The Hell title raises all of those stats by 1%.”
Asher was surprised, he hadn’t expected that. The Hell Title was a lot better than he assumed.
Should I? Asher asked Tiff. He sent her a mental image.
Tiff nodded. Moving over she sat on Dea’s lap. The pale woman looked at her angrily but didn’t fight it. Her hand slowly moved to Tiff’s back as his pink/blue haired beauty put her arm around her shoulder. “I trust her. This is my beautiful Deacia.”
Asher sighed. Dea looked annoyed, but he could also tell she enjoyed the embrace. There was still a little of the orphan girl in her. He was sure the memories were fresh in her mind. He hoped they stayed that way. “The System gave me something else, when it wouldn’t give us you,” he said. He pulled the Onyx Key from his ring.
“A Celestial Key!” She gasped, staring at it. Asher brought it over and she took it gingerly. “You should not show me or anyone this,” she said. “Civilizations have been destroyed for them.”
“That’s what we hear,” Asher said.
“Then why?”
“Because it was what we got instead of you,” Asher said. “And honestly they’re getting heavier. I would like answers.”
“They? How many?” He raised 3 fingers. “3 more!?” He shook his head. She sighed. “Good. More than 3 will attract attention,” she said. “This is a blessing and a curse. In all my time I have only seen 4, and those were 4 separate openings of the Gates. The System really wants you dead,” she said sadly.
“I’m starting to believe that,” Asher said. “What should I do with them?”
“Hide them. Kill all those that know of them,” she said.
“Not an option,” he said.
Dea rolled her eyes. “You and your wives I assume?” He nodded. “Then I will keep this,” she said. “No one comes here. And you can take it back when you’re level 100. You should be able to protect them by then.”
“You have no interest in going?” He asked, a little surprised.
“No,” she said simply. “You think high humans are bad? The Celestials are ass hats. You could gain much from there, but I’d end up killing a few of them. I doubt they’d let me in anyway.” She sniffed as she angrily remembered something.
“Why did you put the high humans in charge of League Prime anyway?” He asked.
Dea rolled her eyes. “You remember at your League Trial how the System said a war is coming? A war is always coming to the System. And sometimes it's right,” she said. “There was a big one. Us Primevals fought like mad, and when all was said and done we weren’t talking to each other. The high humans, as they named themselves, took over. More power to them. They play games they don’t understand.”
“And you do?” Asher asked.
“Of course,” she said. “Listen up, both of you. The System is not your friend. It is not your savior, and definitely not your god. It is the enemy as sure as death. It plays games and pits us against one another simply because it’s bored.” She had a vehement hiss in her tone. “It will try to convince you that it knows everything. I am living proof it does not. I’m sure it noticed me getting the memories of the Wist Deacia. That’s why it tried to kill you. The Destruction Boss was just another tool for it to use. Has it tried to convince you that it places everyone around you yet?” Asher shook his head. “It will. It will say it made your parents meet. That it brought everyone around you for some specific goal. It will be a lie. Everything will be said to manipulate you to do it’s bidding.”
Asher stared at her for a long time. Her anger slowly faded as Tiff let out a long sigh. She patted Dea’s head. “Enough about boring stuff,” she said. “Tell me about your life. I want to hear everything.” Dea looked at her surprised for a moment.
A dark blush went across her cheeks. Asher noticed her grip around Tiff get tighter, hugging her more. “Ok,” Dea said. “My first love was a caravan boy by the name of…”
“Very good job everyone,” Tyranis said, distinctly ignoring the conversation Asher was having with the girls. “Asher, I know you’re still healing, but I have some good news. You have received a lot of interest from Sponsors.”
“Oh yeah?” Asher asked. “Do we really want that?” He asked Lyola. “Or do we want alliances?”
“We have a few Alliance options, but those will wait until your planet has Initialized,” Lyola said. “Sponsors would open more doors.”
“Is there a big risk having sponsors?” Asher asked. “You had mentioned that the Seinsterf Pirates were kicked off their planet because other people with sponsors took over their planet. Do I need to worry about a sponsor trying to muscle in?”
“That is a possibility,” Tyranis answered. “During that planet’s trials it was noticed they had huge deposits of Elatium and other ores. A sponsor swooped in and demanded they take over the planet. Then they were able to monopolize the planet’s resources with help. Sponsors can be hit or miss. Since you showed such strength, I’m confident many simply want you for wartime alliances. These are the most common. For instance, the Demonkin you fought in the 2nd trial. Though they didn’t win, they still got a sponsor with a mutual wartime agreement.”
“They did?” Tiff asked happily. She squeezed his hand, he could feel the joy radiate off of her. Tyranis nodded. Asher too felt a little better that they wouldn’t have to worry about Prillish.
“What about the clones?” Ria asked.
“They are still with the Burills. The agreements can’t be easily broken, on either side. But since their Champion was the only survivor, I doubt much will come from it.” Asher had forgotten that Alfa survived. He hoped that wouldn’t bite him in the ass later.
“Do we have any good options?” Asher asked.
“A few, but I know some people wanted to…” Tyranis looked to Tosh.
Tosh stepped up and addressed him. “I was hoping you would let me join you back on Earth,” the half-elf admitted.
“Really?” Keera asked excitedly. She put away a new computer she bought with her points and ran over to him.
“Is it a problem if you do?” Asher asked. “I don’t want the System angry at us.”
“As long as he does not leave until the planet is initialized, no it wouldn’t be. Since it will be your ship, the System will consider him part of your people,” Tyranis answered.
“I would like to see if my old family is alive, and other things…” Tosh said, squeezing Keera’s hand.
“I mean it's fine with me. Of course. Hell, I offered when we met,” Asher said.
“You did,” Tosh said with a nod. Keera latched onto him and kissed his cheek. Causing the elf to blush.
“Me too,” Batman said, stepping up. “I um, want to ask Aneela to come with us,” he admitted.
“Oh my god, yes,” Tiff said excitedly. With the idea of them no longer being separated she was 100% on board of their relationship again.
“If she says yes I don’t see why not,” Asher said. “Will she leave the Roktai?”
“That would be up to her,” Tyranis said. “Carl checked with me first, but it is not uncommon to leave. I think it best to discuss with her.”
“Yeah, what the hell? You knew we wouldn’t care,” Asher asked. Without a word Batman nodded and disappeared into the shadows. Asher looked around but didn’t see him leave. “How does he do that?” He found himself asking.
“With that out of the way. Let us review your sponsors,” Tyranis said. “This can be a tedious process. Those of you with other things to do, may want to skip this.” Abby, Keera, Tosh, Vincent, and Ming left. Tyranis walked out. Asher, Tillie, Lyola, Tiff, Atty, Eliffy, Bishop, and Ria followed. They were soon at the dueling platform on the side of the palace.
“Is there a reason we are doing this here?” Asher asked.
“It would be hard to accept an alliance if you did not meet them and I do not like random portals to places inside the Guild Hall,” Tyranis said. “Each of them has entrusted me with a Portal Summon that would take you to them.”
“Should I be hesitant?” Asher asked.
“No, these are all legitimate offers,” Tyranis said. “You received a total of 362.” The number surprised Asher. “I have narrowed that list down to 10. The top option would be King Sustutna.”
“No!” Eliffy said as Asher said, “Skip.” She gave him a happy smile that he didn’t hesitate.
Tyranis was hesitant. “Are you sure? He is known as one of the strongest Sex Mana users.”
Asher hadn’t known that part, but from Ely’s description of the guy he wasn’t interested. “Bad blood,” Asher said. “I don’t think we want to be associated with him.” Tyranis slowly nodded. The fact that they stole the Emerald Key also played into his decision. He hoped there was no way the Dion king knew.
“There is the Aartiliak Empire again,” Tyranis said. “They offer much better terms this time.”
“They’re the people that like to start wars and monopolize materials right?” Asher asked. Also they supposedly double crossed him during Atalanta’s Roktai Trial. Tyranis nodded. “I would prefer someone that would let me do as I please. I don’t mind fighting wars. But if there's a chance my planet has a rare material, I’d rather we take control of it than the Aartiliak.”
“I would agree,” Tyranis said. He began moving down the list. Eliffy knew most all the names and commented on them.
“Them? They’re slavers.” “Skip.”
“Their guild master double crossed on one of the biggest deals in their Sector.” “Skip, can’t trust people that don’t keep their word.”
“I don’t know anything about them. I just know they’re really ugly.” “How ugly?” “Boogers ugly.” “Skip.”
Finally they came to the last name on the list. “I must admit, I don’t know this one. The only reason I put it on here was because the terms were good. They offer to give you guidance after reaching level 100, and their protection until that point as long as it happens within 20 years. They wouldn’t expect anything of you until after that.”
“Really?” Asher asked. That didn’t sound so bad. “No war agreements, or anything?”
“No, and the weird thing is they offered to sponsor your First-Wife as well,” Tyranis said.
“Tiff?” Asher asked. “Me?” Tiff asked.
“Is that normal?” Asher hesitantly questioned.
“No,” Tyranis said simply. “The Hard Tutorials or Guild Trials would be instances where individuals are more likely to get Sponsors. The Champion Trial is typically about the Champion.”
“What’s their name?” Asher asked.
“Tacitae, is the only name given,” Tyranis said.
Eliffy gasped. “The Queen of Death?” She asked. Everyone turned to her. “She’s known as the Primeval of Death.” Still they stared at her. “You don’t know either?” She asked Tyranis, the older elf shook his head. With a long sigh she began to explain. “You know Primevals, right? The founders of the League? There is some 30 or 40 or 50 of them, no one knows for sure. Each is a master of their mana type. Tacitae is supposed to be the master of Death. But I heard she was dead.”
“It seems not,” Tyranis said. “Shall I assume you want to skip?”
Asher thought about it. “Know anything bad about her?” He asked Eliffy.
“I’ve only heard that the Celestials and Primevals don’t cross her. There was a big war like 8,000 years ago that she fought in. She disappeared and no one has seen her since,” she said.
Asher looked at Tiffany. She shrugged. “Maybe she saw our skills and wants a taste,” she whispered.
Asher laughed. “Let’s try, not gonna hurt anything,” he said. Tyranis and Lyola did not seem so convinced.
“Are you sure, husband? I have heard stories of Primevals,” Lyola said nervously.
“Yes,” Tyranis said. “I am not very convinced this is a good idea. Primevals are a….touchy sort. From what I’ve heard at least.”
Asher didn’t feel too fearful of it. Tiff squeezed his hand and they nodded. “Let’s give it a try. Great risk, means great reward.”
Everyone around him didn’t appear too happy about it. Tyranis sighed but pulled 2 black rings from the air. He tossed them to the center of the dueling platform. 2 swirling vortexes appeared. Asher recognized them from his Champion Interview. “See you on the other side,” Tiff said. Without waiting she jumped onto one. Asher cursed but caught up and did the same. Everything turned black.
—
It all stayed black. Asher waited for long minutes for something to happen. Nothing changed. Drawing out Holy mana the area around him became alight, but there was an encroaching darkness just outside of his mana’s reach. The blackness swirled and came at him. Using Mana Sight he couldn’t see anything glowing.
A deep womanly laugh sounded in the darkness. “You would have to be much stronger than you are now to see the mana of a Primeval, Lawful Good,” a woman’s voice said from somewhere. The darkness appeared to get thicker.
“At least it's a woman,” Asher whispered, raising his Pheromones to 100. They wouldn’t extend past where his light hit. Then suddenly his skill ended, and no more mana leaked out of him.
“Your skills would have to be much stronger as well,” she said. Asher thought he heard a whisper behind his ear. He turned, starting to sweat. He had hoped he could seduce her if all else failed.
“If you don’t want to talk, then give me my wife, and we will go,” Asher said.
“I killed your wife,” a voice said from behind.
Asher frowned. “No, you didn’t,” he said. She was still on his Relationship Screen.
“Confident, human,” she said with a hiss. “I like that. But I could kill her,” she said. “Easily.”
“As you could kill me,” Asher said. Suddenly an immense wave of mana fell into him. He stumbled forward, sweating immensely as he fought to not fall to his knees.
“I might just do that,” she said. “You have caused me a lot of pain, Lawful Good.”
She appeared in front of him out of the darkness. Tall, she looked human. Long black hair was draped around her body. Pale gray skin was barely covered by a long cloth sash draped over her skin. A tiara sat upon her head, miniature skulls screamed from spikes on the crown. A red ruby glowed from the front. He couldn’t see her eyes as they were covered by her long hair. He could see a rather large bust and curves. They were lightly caressed by the black cloth sash. The mana still poured out of her as she studied him.
“I’m not sure what kind of pain I could cause you, but I’m sorry if I did,” he admitted. “Kill me, and leave Tiffany out of it. I’m sure that would be payment enough.” She frowned with the offer. He slowly began to walk forward toward her, this was all some show, and he was done playing.
“Why the game?” Asher asked. “You expressed interest in sponsoring us.” She didn’t answer. The darkness swirled around him as he got closer. The black cloth around her wrapped tighter on her body. Hiding her breasts and lower lips. He studied her more. Her upper lips were almost black. He thought maybe she really was a dark elf from the color of her skin, but he could see rounded ears on the side of her head. Asher wondered if this was the first full human he had seen since leaving Earth. There were high humans, but he couldn’t remember any human humans.
“I have interest in both of you,” she admitted. He stopped 10 feet away from her. The mana had only become denser, and that was all he could handle. He didn’t fall, but after the Avatar, the sheer power of it wasn’t as stifling. “You appear to be more trouble than you’re worth though. First of all, the System wants you dead.”
“It does?” He asked in surprise. “At the trial-”
“At the trial it put a bigger target on your back,” she spat. The wave of mana coming from her disappeared. “Lawful Goods aren’t long for this world. Always, they die young. The very first Champion was a Lawful Good. I killed him myself.” That made him a little nervous.
“Here to collect another’s head?” He asked.
She chuckled. “Perhaps, if you piss me off too,” she said. The darkness disappeared and they were in a grand throne room. Skeleton guards stood all around them. They wore thick armor, some were skeletons of giants that towered over them. The Queen of Death moved to a throne made of…you guessed it, bones.
“The System wants me dead then? Any special reason?”
“Heroes are tools. It wants all the Champions dead. It will send you into fight after fight. Uncaring if you can win or not. As a Lawful Good it will send you to the most righteous causes. Those are always the most dangerous,” she said. She let out a long sigh as she frowned. Relaxing in her throne her black hair still hid her eyes.
“The very first Lawful Good simply had the System name Hero. He was a young man, like yourself. He wanted to do what was right. I pissed off the System, and it sent him after me. He heard Queen of Death and assumed the System was right to kill me.”
Asher frowned. “The System can be a dick,” he said. He didn’t know who would be right or wrong. If someone came at him, he would kill them, hero or not. He did know the System was a son of a bitch though.
She laughed loudly. “How refreshing to meet someone with the same respect for the all knowing System. Most Primevals are too scared to curse the System. Too scared to have the System after them.” She sighed staring down at him from her throne.
“Are you serious about this sponsor thing?” Asher asked. First she threatened to kill him, now they were cursing the System over tea. “I can go if you’re not.”
“Why did you accept to see me?” She asked, crossing her long smooth legs.
“The other options sounded boring,” he said. “Call it a gut feeling. Besides, you’re a woman. The others weren’t. My wife assumed you wanted us for our skill in the bedroom.”
The dark haired woman laughed loudly. Her deep voice echoed in the large throne room. “Maybe I do,” she said. “Come closer, Lawful Good.” Asher walked up the dais stairs until he was only 5 feet in front of her. Her gray skin was smooth. The cloth wrapped around her tight now. He did his best not to stare at her bust. Her lips and eyelids were a dark gray. She had a familiar scent that he couldn’t quite place.
“A month ago, I did not know who you were,” the dark woman said. Her eyes still hidden, he focused on their general location. He didn’t want to get caught staring at her cleavage. “I left the League years ago, and was happy for it. Everything I need is here.”
Asher looked around with a frown. A good bone? He thought. They were everywhere. She barked a laugh. “Fuck, sorry,” he said aloud. It was annoying to keep running into psychics. She visibly forced herself to stop laughing. A smile on her face disappeared as she made it into a frown. He actually liked her smile and frown. There were no wrinkles on her face as she did so.
“No enemies for one,” she said. “The League is a pit of vipers. More than a few already want you dead.”
“So you want me to piss more people off?” He asked.
“That does sound fun, but no,” she said. She tsked looking him up and down. She waved her hand and Tiff appeared next to him.
“Hey!” She said angrily looking at the Primeval. “I’ve been yelling for like 20 minutes.”
“I heard,” the woman said. “I simply wanted a private conversation with the Lawful Good.”
Asher grabbed Tiff’s hand trying to calm her down. He mentally gave her a quick rundown of what they had been talking about. Slowly she nodded and studied the dark haired woman. “What do you want from us?” Tiff finally asked.
“What do you know of the universe Pre-League?” The Queen of Death asked. She waved her hand and they were in outer space. Or at least a hologram of it. They stared at a planet. Far enough away as if they were on a moon.
“Not much, just what happened in our Wist,” Asher answered. “I hear that all Primevals come from Pre-League.”
She nodded. Getting up from her bone throne she approached a large view of a planet. “The System is very old. Older than me. I don’t know where it came from. I doubt anyone but the System does.” The planet in front of her looked like Earth. Blue oceans, green continents, but the land masses were different. “I believe that the System spent a few millennia figuring things out. It went to a planet. Granted them Systems. And let them go at it.” They zoomed in on the planet showing people fighting with magic. Fire, ice, lightning, and earth flew from people’s hands.
“What people don’t know is that during these mass awakenings on planets, the System copies everything. It was hardly using any of it’s capabilities back then. Everyone on these planets was duplicated. The System then jumped to the next planet. Thousands of planets with sentient life were thrust into a world with new powers. It took a long break after it replicated enough test subjects. Bringing those copies to wherever it resides, the System analyzed them for centuries. Figured out what it was doing wrong or right.” The hologram zoomed out to show the universe. “Slowly these planets died out. Dungeon Breaks were a common occurrence. There was nothing to stop a Tier X from going to a Tier I. Civilizations were destroyed. We call this the Primeval Era,” she said. The hologram showed planets explode, but others thrived.
“All 53 of us rose up,” she said. “Our people perished, but we survived. By the time we were the only people left, the System had finished analyzing all of our people and planets. It had begun to give newly Initialized their Heroes, and Tutorials. Something we were never afforded.” The hologram showed people teleported while their planet increased its Tier. Earthquakes, tidal waves, and monsters ran around. People suddenly appeared, killing monsters and making homes.
“We did not know this of course. By the time I made contact with someone the System had been Initializing people for 900 years. I was the last person from my planet. I had portal jumped until I met someone semi-human. The System began to gather us then. Quests to meet. Offers of Teleportation. Eventually we agreed and though there were hiccups, we began to work together. We made League Prime. It was good. And for a time we were at peace.” She sighed sitting back down on her throne. The hologram disappeared.
“You can guess it didn’t last long,” she said with a wry smile.
Asher nodded. “So you’re a Primeval. What does all this have to do with us?”
The Queen of Death bit her lip looking at them. Her eyes were still hidden behind her hair. “What do you think a Wist is?” She asked.
“We went back in time,” Tiff said without hesitation.
The Queen smiled. “Close,” She said. “I told you that the System copies these planets. Everything, and studied them. The Wist, is the System allowing you time on those copies. It traps them there. Always replaying events with different scenarios so it could learn and process. When the System feels it has gathered all the information it could from a planet, it releases it’s Wist. It’s done with it now. There’s no reason to keep it.” She stood up and stepped away from them. Staring at one of her skeleton soldiers she continued to talk. “I was born on a planet called Wesrall.”
Tiff ran over to the Queen and grabbed her. Asher tried to pull her away but Tiff hugged her from the back. “I knew it!” She cried. “I could feel it.”
The queen was quiet, Asher stood staring at them amazed for a moment. Slowly the Queen's shoulders began to shake as Tiff hugged her tighter. “I did not know my family, for the longest time,” she whispered. “Then over a month ago I had a dream about them.” Her voice cracked as she continued. “My father was Delios, my mother was Shea, and my little brother was Los.” Her shoulders shook more. She and Tiffany fell to the ground. Tiff began stroking her long black hair and whispering to her.
“My father was killed for a loaf of moldy bread,” she said. “My mother and brother starved with me in that alley.” Asher heard she and Tiff snort as they both cried. “In the real world, I don’t know how I escaped Truskin. The first thing I could remember was when I was about 14. I was part of a caravan group. We escaped the Gone, but they always followed. Eventually we found a portal and went to a new world. I was 16 when I received my System. And I’ve fought every day since.” She sighed, her body shook. Tiff whispered in her ear. “They called me Dea.”
Asher found tears on his eyes as well. He moved over and wrapped them in his arms. Tiff was sobbing, the Queen of Death less so. Asher put his hands on her pale skin, and he felt how cold she was. He pulled them both to him. They didn’t fight. Tiff whispered kind words in her ear. Accepting the possibility wholeheartedly.
“We asked the System for you, for our rewards,” he said. “It ignored us.”
She laughed. “Of course it did.” Slowly she began to speak again. “I’m sure the System didn’t know where I came from. And if it did, who would suspect you would walk down a random alley and help a dying girl?”
“I would,” Tiff said. “He’s the best.” She laughed, and the Queen laughed too. They still didn’t look at one another.
“Every night I have been receiving memories from the Wist version of me. I have not needed sleep in a long time, so I thought someone was casting a spell on me,” she said. “But every night I would cry more and more. I never knew my family. And you 2 gave that back to me.”
“How?” Asher asked.
“The Wist I am sure. Usually Primevals are known. The System made copies of hundreds of planets. Only 53 of us survived, so it had hundreds to choose for Wists. The System was off analyzing planets. By the time it was ready to go back into the world I had jumped a hundred dungeons. When it started a Wist with me on it, I became linked to it. Sharing its memories. We are the same person after all.”
Slowly she tried to rise. Tiff grumbled. The Queen of Death turned to her. Moving the hair from her eyes Asher recognized them as the blue of Deacia’s. The Queen slowly dropped back down and let Tiff hug her more.
“Why did you treat me like your own?” The Queen asked. Her arms wrapped around Tiff, as his wife buried her face in her bosom.
Tiff was quiet, then she sobbed out, “I couldn’t help it! You just latched on to Asher so hard. You loved him unconditionally. And your feelings leaked over to me.” She sniffled, uncaring who was holding her. “I felt your fear anytime someone came close. How at any instant you thought we would throw you aside and you’d be back on the street. And how happy you were to have us there. You didn’t know us, but you loved us, and-and I couldn’t help but feel the same. My damn psychic powers and emotion control took my brain over again.”
A tear went down the Queen's eye. She looked at him, a warm smile on her face. He tried to mirror it, tried to see that little girl, but it was hard to see. She had changed so much. “We really didn’t have that long together,” he said. She could read his mind, there was no reason to hide.
“We didn’t,” she said. “But you gave me something I didn’t know I wanted.” She drew him in and kissed his cheek. He pulled her closer, Tiff between them. They stayed there for a long time, enjoying the feel of one another.
“What do we call you?” Tiff asked, finally done crying.
“I would prefer Queen of Death,” she said. Her face cold Tiff burst out laughing. The queen smiled as well. “Dea would be fine.”
“Then you can call me-”
“Tiffany,” Dea answered. Tiff deflated. “Though you treated me like a mother for a few weeks, you are not my mother. I remember her now, and would like to honor her.” Tiff nodded.
“Do you still want to be my sponsor?” Asher asked.
Dea looked at him, she still had a cold exterior. No tears streaked her skin anymore. She was pale and spotless once again. “I was not joking about you being a lot of trouble,” she said. “But I have been out of the League for a long time. Maybe I wouldn’t mind causing some more headaches.”
“What would I do for you?” He asked. “I couldn’t give you much.”
“No, but my name could give you protection. I file your name with the League and everyone would know not to fuck with you,” she said. “They wouldn’t know I won’t be helping you.”
“You won’t?” He asked. She stepped away from them. Moving to her throne she stared at the both of them.
“It’s literally just me here,” she said. “All of my people are dead. My alliances were broken 8,000 years ago. Granted, I would help you if I could, but I won’t. I happen to think the people do a lot better without sponsors. Helps you grow, build character.”
Asher frowned. “Then what do I get out of it?”
“It is a big universe out there, Lawful Good. You are a guppy in a land of sharks. The first threshold for your planet is going to be you or someone else getting to level 100. That is the level that strength truly begins. If you can do that in the next 20 years. I will teach you what it really means to be strong,” she promised.
“And if I can do it in less?” He asked.
“Then more time to train,” she said. “I will assist you when I can. If there are things you want to discuss we can meet every year or so. Then if you make it to level 100, you can come here, and I can train you. There are many new abilities you will receive and things to learn. Your skills and stats will evolve, and I can help you understand them.”
He liked the idea of being able to ask questions. “I have the Hell Title,” he said. “There are some garbled words, next to 1%, what does it mean?” He brought it up to look at it.
| Hell Title |
| A trial's difficulty has been forcefully increased by the System. This proves that despite things being bad, they could still be worse. Just hope there isn't a Super Hell title next time. \ |
| Rewards |
| 5+ stats |
| 1+% &($#(*@(&$ |
“Hell already? The System wants you dead,” she said again. With a sigh she explained. “Have you ever fought someone, and done something you shouldn’t have been able to?”
“Like what?”
“Like an enemy trying to read your mind, but they can’t. Or cast a spell and it didn’t take.” Asher remembered Fetince Burill casting the sleep spell on him, but he broke out. He nodded.
“Everyone has Hidden Stats that you can’t see on your Status Screen. One stat that would block mental attacks is Psyche. These stats show up on your screen after level 100. You don’t get all of them, but you will start to see them after certain level intervals. You can raise them with your stat bonuses from each level. You should have automatic raises in them now. The Hell title raises all of those stats by 1%.”
Asher was surprised, he hadn’t expected that. The Hell Title was a lot better than he assumed.
Should I? Asher asked Tiff. He sent her a mental image.
Tiff nodded. Moving over she sat on Dea’s lap. The pale woman looked at her angrily but didn’t fight it. Her hand slowly moved to Tiff’s back as his pink/blue haired beauty put her arm around her shoulder. “I trust her. This is my beautiful Deacia.”
Asher sighed. Dea looked annoyed, but he could also tell she enjoyed the embrace. There was still a little of the orphan girl in her. He was sure the memories were fresh in her mind. He hoped they stayed that way. “The System gave me something else, when it wouldn’t give us you,” he said. He pulled the Onyx Key from his ring.
“A Celestial Key!” She gasped, staring at it. Asher brought it over and she took it gingerly. “You should not show me or anyone this,” she said. “Civilizations have been destroyed for them.”
“That’s what we hear,” Asher said.
“Then why?”
“Because it was what we got instead of you,” Asher said. “And honestly they’re getting heavier. I would like answers.”
“They? How many?” He raised 3 fingers. “3 more!?” He shook his head. She sighed. “Good. More than 3 will attract attention,” she said. “This is a blessing and a curse. In all my time I have only seen 4, and those were 4 separate openings of the Gates. The System really wants you dead,” she said sadly.
“I’m starting to believe that,” Asher said. “What should I do with them?”
“Hide them. Kill all those that know of them,” she said.
“Not an option,” he said.
Dea rolled her eyes. “You and your wives I assume?” He nodded. “Then I will keep this,” she said. “No one comes here. And you can take it back when you’re level 100. You should be able to protect them by then.”
“You have no interest in going?” He asked, a little surprised.
“No,” she said simply. “You think high humans are bad? The Celestials are ass hats. You could gain much from there, but I’d end up killing a few of them. I doubt they’d let me in anyway.” She sniffed as she angrily remembered something.
“Why did you put the high humans in charge of League Prime anyway?” He asked.
Dea rolled her eyes. “You remember at your League Trial how the System said a war is coming? A war is always coming to the System. And sometimes it's right,” she said. “There was a big one. Us Primevals fought like mad, and when all was said and done we weren’t talking to each other. The high humans, as they named themselves, took over. More power to them. They play games they don’t understand.”
“And you do?” Asher asked.
“Of course,” she said. “Listen up, both of you. The System is not your friend. It is not your savior, and definitely not your god. It is the enemy as sure as death. It plays games and pits us against one another simply because it’s bored.” She had a vehement hiss in her tone. “It will try to convince you that it knows everything. I am living proof it does not. I’m sure it noticed me getting the memories of the Wist Deacia. That’s why it tried to kill you. The Destruction Boss was just another tool for it to use. Has it tried to convince you that it places everyone around you yet?” Asher shook his head. “It will. It will say it made your parents meet. That it brought everyone around you for some specific goal. It will be a lie. Everything will be said to manipulate you to do it’s bidding.”
Asher stared at her for a long time. Her anger slowly faded as Tiff let out a long sigh. She patted Dea’s head. “Enough about boring stuff,” she said. “Tell me about your life. I want to hear everything.” Dea looked at her surprised for a moment.
A dark blush went across her cheeks. Asher noticed her grip around Tiff get tighter, hugging her more. “Ok,” Dea said. “My first love was a caravan boy by the name of…”
