Chapter Fifty – Azure Skies – Part One

The varying biomes of gates connected to Earth leads us to believe a few things. One, life was presumably spread via these gates and has experienced its own mutations and permutations. Two, the average gravity is similar to Earth's as well, meaning that the worlds were chosen. Three, the confirmed existence of things from our own mythologies and folklore such as elves and dragons, leads us to conclude one of two possibilities. Either the Earth was or still is a quest zone for other worlds, or this isn't our first time participating in the Sarlenac Games. Each theory has profound implications for our future plight. Perhaps looking into the past we can find answers to help our future.

- WSA Chairman of Historical Research and Applications Verrick -

It's been about an hour since we arrived. No notifications with a map from Red have come, which isn't the most concerning part. We appear to be on an island, a rather small one at that. So far no sightings of anything. Fisban's been tight-lipped with Smith's goons about what's going on. Smith finally woke up about ten minutes after we got here. He looks rather upset still, he's doing that shady ass whispering to his group thing, traveling between them like no one notices.

We are all operating under the assumption that we got pulled by a wild rift. Which some say has happened before, but I don't know. Sounds like bullshit. The system sends people across space and time. Random fluctuations don't sound plausible. The rumor might have originated with a Respec on Death holder though, that I could see. Or maybe there's a class that can transport people across distances. There are a lot of theories out there, even groups dedicated to leveling supporters to see what their subclasses might be.

"These things smell like mango coconuts," Tran says, sniffing a fallen orb-shaped fruit from one of the large palmlike trees.

I grab one from the ground, it looks to have fallen recently, the outside is fleshy like a mango, but the inside is hairy like a coconut. I shake it, there's liquid inside. Wonder who's going to be the first dumbass to try it…

"Tastes like it too," Tran says, dripping liquid from a hole in the fruit hitting his tongue, "Tastes good."

Gilroy stares at him with me.

"What?" Tran says, shrugging, "I'm thirsty."

"There's a reason that we don't consume stuff without testing it," Gilroy says, shaking his head, "It might taste good, but the bacteria might give you the runs, which will dehydrate you and then…"

Tran slurps another drink, after widening the hole.

"Idiot," Gilroy mumbles, turning back to search in another direction.

"Someone had to check," Tran says, rolling his eyes, "We don't have our normal test kits. Besides, you heard the lady in charge, gather food and water, this is both."

He's not entirely wrong, but he's certainly not right either. Hopefully, it doesn't give him an upset stomach or worse. He should be fine though, Tran like most direct combat-oriented hunters has a constitution over ten and won't get sick easily. There's a correlation for it apparently. Doesn't stop everything, but it definitely takes the edge off of it. Tran should be fine… hopefully.

"Yo, look, the inside is like mango coconut too."

Shaking my head I move forward, I pass by Verantha who is eyeing the mango coconut in Tran's hand. Oh yeah, she likes mangoes. I'm about to walk by, but I stop, thinking better of it when I see her pick one up. She's our only source of healing now.

"I would wait a few hours before trying it. Just to make sure it's safe. Would suck if our only healer went down."

She tilts her head at me, "What about you?"

"Yeah, I can't heal anymore."

"Mana problems?" she raises a bullshit-detecting eyebrow.

"No, I literally just can't."

"How is that possible?" she asks, her eyebrow falling back.

"Long story, short version, classified."

Her eyes narrow.

"Unless you want to trade some Cleric secrets?"

"Tempting," she says sarcastically, tossing the fruit to me and walking off in another direction.

Fisban is standing in the center of our encampment, inspecting all the offerings of food with an appraising eye. She reminds me of a suit version of Tenny. She's giving orders to a couple of other suits and pointing off into the distance toward… oh, pointing to me. She waves me over.

"Ma'am?" I ask when I get there.

She waves the others off, leaving us alone again.

"Any map updates?" she asks.

"Still no."

This is the third time she's asked.

"Okay, so, I need you to enter your Cosmic Exchange and kindly remind your entity of their job."

I shift, "I don't think it will help me."

"Why not?"

"It calls me meatsack."

She long blinks.

"And I may have told it to lick my balls."

She rubs her temples.

"Do you think before you do anything?" she asks, letting out a sigh, "From everything that Cleopatra said about you, I had a feeling you'd be more… I don't know, squared away."

"You mean Cleo?"

"No, her full name is Cleopatra, fuck's sake, you didn't even know that much?"

Well, I feel dumb now. Guess she doesn't like her full name or something. Whatever, it's not such a big secret that I care that much. I'm sure there's a reason she goes by Cleo and not her full name.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I'll check the Cosmic Exchange, but I want more questions answered."

Fisban puts her tongue in her cheek, looking around, before nodding.

"One."

"Three," I counter.

"Three if you get the map. One now, two after."

"Deal, who told you about me and everything else?" I ask, though I don't want to ask, I'm afraid of how it will feel if I find out it was Cortez without telling me.

"I think you already know."

"Say it."

"Cleopatra Josephine Alvaria Cortez."

Damn, I didn't know the rest of that either. The part that hits the hardest though is being right.

"Now, please, go find the map."

I nod, fuck. So, Cortez is the one who told. Which I already suspected, given her messages asking me to work with Fisban. Dorliac was right. Letting out a sigh, I pull up my interface. Clicking through the Custom RoD menu until I find Nexus.

[ Enter Nexus? ]

[ Yes / No ]

I sit down on the ground, "You will watch my body, right?"

"Obviously."

"Right," I breathe, clicking the yes.

Light bends.

***

My eyes open inside the familiar circular marble room that houses the doorways to other sections, the place that's now called the Nexus. Alright here goes nothing.

"Uh, system entity, you here?"

Nothing. Which isn't surprising, I'm almost half convinced it might be Red in disguise, if it's not Red, it's probably cut from the same line of shitty code.

"Sage?"

A voice slides into my mind.

Ah, the meatsack has returned. I'm almost shocked that he could figure out how to press the required interface commands. It's incredible what tricks they can teach primitives to do these days.

Fighting back the sigh, I say "So, apparently, you're supposed to help me."

According to who, another meatsack? Normally I would be required to, however, your skill was forcefully given and is not the standard formula. Therefore, I am under no obligation to technically help you with anything. I haven't even looked at your file, it doesn't interest me in the slightest. I was going to do it on a whim, because I was admittedly bored, and I have never seen someone tagged as both a Deviant and a Champion. However, your rude interruption of my recounting of historical events has completely left me disinterested. There is nothing that you can offer me to change my mind.

"Alright, Red," I say, moving to pull up my interface, it's not going to tell me anything useful.

Excuse me?

"You're Red, aren't you? The fuckwad that gave me the Deviant title and forced me on my second Respec quest this year."

Second Respec quest within a year? That is problematic. I did no such thing. I am a system-bound entity, I do not have authorization to apply roles to either Champions or Deviants. Even if I did, why would I apply it to you? Upon even a cursory glance, it is immediately apparent that you have no redeemable qualities whatsoever. You're literally average at best.

This entity is worse than a crazy ex. We really need that map though, and the more it talks, the more I can learn.

"You said that I'm the first you've seen with both titles?"

Yes, due to the rules, a person is not supposed to occupy two positions. Each world is given six Champions and also nine Deviants. You are an anomaly, which is probably why, despite myself, I am still talking with you. Not only are you the Seventh Champion of Earth, but somehow you also became the Tenth of the Nine Deviants.

Holy shit. This thing is actually giving me juice.

"What's the problem with that?"

The problem? Are you quite serious? Well, obviously it's a conflict of interest. A Champion's job is to help Earth succeed, and alternatively, a Deviant's job is to ensure it fails. Did you not pay attention during that tutorial as well? You're quite hopeless, aren't you? This conflict of interest may also explain why I am not bound to help you fulfill your obligations for either title. Interesting.

I blink… there are people with Respec on Death that are meant to make sure Earth fails? Who from Earth would even do that? What kind of piece of shit would help the system? Why do they get nine to fuck us and we only get six to help us? Fuck. Focus, keep it talking. Learn what you can.

"I didn't get a tutorial, I just kind of came back to life and have been trying to cobble it together."

I find that extremely hard to believe.

"You could just read my file, or whatever it is you do."

That would require effort.

"Effort? You mean like talking to a meatsack? Do you have something more important to do? You said you're bored. Do something about it."

Silence. For a whole minute.

"You still there?"

Yes. I'm experiencing internal conflict. Despite your lack of value and confirmed intrinsic worthlessness, you somehow made a point. It has resonated with me. I will read your file. Standby, meatsack.

Five minutes have passed. My head's still spinning. Nine people plus the six. That's fifteen, no, sixteen including me on Earth that have Respec on Death. Wait… thinking back, the Quorum of the Nine versus the Holy Six. Is that why there are those numbers? Each one gets a pawn in the game? Where does Ulana fit into that? Is she not part of the club? Maybe Red isn't either. Both of them are breaking the rules in their spat. The silence breaks suddenly. The tone is broody this time.

Well… you didn't mention it was that entity.

"Which one?"

The one you call Red.

"Oh, so… you're actually not Red?"

The voice growls at the insinuation.

No. I am most certainly not.

"Can I take the broody growling to mean you dislike Red?" I ask with bated breath. Please, for the love of whatever god needs it, make this bastard my ally.

I don't like that entity. Perhaps we can come to an understanding, meatsack.

It actually doesn't like Red? They're so fucking similar though. I'm hesitant to ask why it doesn't like Red. Maybe I can get that map now though.

"Well, Red sent me to this world on a quest to…"

I know, I read the logs. Red has been a very naughty, naughty entity. From what I have surmised, Red made you a Deviant participant to piss off Ulana, and have direct access to you in the system. What Red did not realize, is that I would be assigned to you as well. Poor Red, still functioning at a low level. Even after all these eons Red still acts like a peon.

Just let it play out… I have a good feeling about this.

As much as I don't like you, meatsack, I am perhaps the most impartial being you will ever meet. Rules are the cornerstone of existence. I don't like it when deities forget that.

"Wait… Red's a deity, not part of the system? I thought you two were like, twins or cousins."

The room trembles and quakes.

As if that foul creature could have been hewn from the divine source which manifested me. I was created in starlight and ethereal intent by the Grand One themself. Such an insult will not stand, meatsack. You will rescind that foolish statement.

"Uh… sorry..."

The rumbling stops, and it makes a noise like it's clearing its throat. Except I'm certain it doesn't have one.

Well, meatsack. We shall do business together. In exchange for my wisdom. I may ask for things from time to time. Understand one thing, I am a seeker of knowledge, I do not care if it is inconvenient, sometimes I simply must know something. If you deny me, you will face the consequences.

"Uh, okay?" what the fuck does that even mean?

Your map has been updated, and I have added a skill to your retinue which will allow us to converse in reality. Good luck.

"Thanks… is there anything else I should know?"

You currently have a poisonous insect crawling toward your nether regions in reality. I would advise you to take care of that.

Oh shit… I spring through the menu and hit the exit button. Reality warps.

***

My hands instantly go to my crotch feeling around for the insect. But there's no insect. Fisban is staring at me strangely as I pull my hands off my junk. A blue system notification comes up.

[ New Skill Learned: Sage ]

I feel a tremor through my body and hear the familiar voice.

Made you look.

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