Book 1 Chapter 19: Why it all is, as it is

Chapter 19: Why it all is, as it is

Tao layed up quite a few protections all over the place. His enchantment abilities were quite stunning, as well as the perfection in his inscriptions, let alone the fact he had to remember all those vast symbols.

Kito was with him the entire time, and although she couldn't project a lasting shield she could bless or conjure certain fortitudes for everything that was made by Tao.

Drek, the cryomancer and Bjor the earth manipulator spent most of their time studying the surrounding natural terrain. They had only come here once or twice for materials that the watch said would appear around the cabin. That was how it was for most, the cabin was far less safe than the fort and so not many had actually explored the terrain around it.

Ito and Jaeger were back in front of the cabin discussing options, the two had quite the respect for each other even though Ito hadn't seen Jaeger fight yet.

Ito rolled the cigarrete in his hand again and again watching as Jaeger thought of their next moves or actions to take.

"Alright…for now, there are 3 areas that cover most bases. One for something of mass count like undead, or otherwise….one for a large boss…and here for a spirit. Each place has its pros and cons…but I think we are familiar enough with each space that we wouldn't have to speak to know what to do." Jaeger finally lit up his own smoke, and Ito followed.

He nodded, "Alright…if you're so sure…alright. How many potions and otherwise have you duplicated?"

"My bracelet only allows about a potion a day…so 7, one for each of us with an extra as back up." Jaeger flicked him a red vial.

"Good…Tao has some too, much better of course but these will make it easier to catch up through battle…Who knows how long it'll take this time."

The 7th day finally came, but instead of a sunrise, obscured grey clouded darkness was the only thing that met those at the cabin. Warily, Jax climbed to the roof of the cabin and squinted his eyes to something in the distance before he felt a vibration from his watch.

"Eh?" He flicked his display open, as his eyes rolled back and he groaned, Jaeger was already motioning for him to hop down.

"This… is unexpected," Ito clicked his tongue, "Capture the totem flag far in the distance before the 9th day. Coordinates are…" he didn't read the list of numbers and merely skipped over them to the next paragraph, "Reward…never told us the reward before."

Tao opened his watch and continued for his brother, he was curious to find out himself what it was "Reward: A weapon of choice from the next battle field, a skill of choice amongst many, a boon of favor, an increase in ability, a power to some, and nothing to one."

Jaeger clicked his tongue catching a glimpse of Ito nodding his head, the 'reward' sounded like a riddle but it was actually telling them 7 different things. 7 different things for 7 different people and one of them would not receive anything at all. They each had to choose what they would gain, and would as well have to choose who would receive nothing even if they helped out in the end.

Jaeger was the first to speak up in response to the reward, he summoned his chain blade from the air and held it up for everyone to see "This is what I gained from killing the ghost…I can summon my weapon, I am not big on skills or anything else…and you all have been through this type of thing, so I will look to you as seniors and not ask for anything in return."

Everyone in their own way flinched or opened their mouth to respond but did nothing in actuality. People weren't selfish, but Jaeger did have a point, they had known each other a long time and fought through many things and only until recently had they met Jaeger.

Tao and Ito gave an approving nod, either of them would've took on the role to receive nothing because it was more important to give everyone else something to look forward to. People needed something to fight for, if they were the one to receive nothing even if they didn't show it they wouldn't put their all in.

"However…" Tao and Ito looked over to Jaeger who was ready to speak again, "I would like to peruse what is available…I want to know what this world has to offer, and it will help me in the future when I too look for something specific for myself"

Ito didn't object, "It is good to know what path you walk, alright" He smiled; he liked people who thought ahead and even more so with people who didn't hesitate, like when Jaeger had put himself up to receive nothing.

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Jaeger slashed downwards with a swing of the chain blade, cascading a faint light over the surroundings. *swish* *swish*

The faster he swung, the faster things disappeared before him. The more slashes he made, the greater the damage would become because of the skill 'Ten thousand fold slayer' and thus the creatures appearing from the murky depths of the ground were beheaded one by one at a speed even with Ito adjacent to him.

Everyone was in a triangular formation with Tao at the center with Kito, the constant blessings and boosts they sent out gave them increased speed and endurance. Like this, they travelled for hours on end. The road obviously wouldn't be easy to get to the coordinates, if it was just about travel then the distance would've been far farther and they would've had a time limit. There wasn't one.

Undead constantly poured from the ground, and with the speed they travelled the summoned creatures didn't even get to leave the ground before they were stepped upon and tread past.

Ito didn't feel this was good though, "It's too easy…" Everyone nodded in response to his mutterings as they moved. It was true, these creatures were slow in comparison so what would be difficult about all this? It said 7 bosses when they began, not this type of situation like a game for kids.

Albeit an adult and deadly one.

About a day of travel later, the watches pinged they were at their destination. It wasn't a desolate swamp or eerie forest they arrived at, but in fact a field of roses. This made it worse in each person's heart though, for if the place it told them to go was soft and cheery then most definitely would the road back be a hell of fire and sadness.

In the middle of the field was a door, made of a dark but beautiful carved wood of unknown origin. "6 may enter" was written in golden calligraphy following an arch above the door. Everyone looked at each other and then back at Jaeger.

He shrugged, "I meant it".

Each nodded and strode forward to the door with Ito the first to turn its silver coated nob and enter.

*eerrr*

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The door made silent shutters before finally closing, Jaeger sighed to this noise though and took out his smoke.

With a puff, Jaeger slapped his butt down on the ground and looked around to the flowers.

"Huh…Don't remember seeing these anywhere before…hmm…"

*puff*

A frog popped out from a mist in the air and landed on his shoulder, with a pat it fell asleep just as fast as it came.

"You know little guy…I guess it ain't too bad. I did get that ghost heart…that did give me quite the benefit" The chain blade fell from the air into Jaeger's awaiting hand. With two lightning runes on his hand, the chain too glowed with matching runes. It crackled with lightning every once in a while, and if he snapped it like a whip through the air it would let loose a thunderous sound. It was real befitting of a high grade item, to take on any skills applied to the user onto itself was overpowered as hell.

If Jaeger was invincible, so was it. If Jaeger could fly, so could it too. The list went on for skills, or buffs people had and thus this chain blade was a powerful item that evolved naturally with its user.

With a flick, the display from his watch appeared before his eyes.

'Material Augment: 5%'

The enhancement skill had gained a 4% increase just recently from countless uses. Jaeger was very fond of this skill which could evolve. A 5% increase didn't seem like a lot, but a 1/20th increase in the potential of anything used? Put into different terms it sounded overpowered. Especially because it could be applied to anything, albeit not all at once.

'Mending: Remake any broken material back together again. The larger the damage, the longer the mend will need to be applied.'

'Material Augment: Enhance the properties or aspects of a material by a percentage.'

'Ten-thousand Fold Slayer: With each consecutive slash, gain .1% damage increase. 10 slashes = 1%, 100 slashes = 10%, 1000 slashes = 100%'

'Summon: Use this skill to summon an assigned weapon, current summon 'Chain Blade''

'Eldritch Bane: Imbues Chain Blade with the current buffs or skills being used, changing properties as to that of the user.'

"I really gotta say I haven't lost out all that much, hell what would I receive anyway…fuck me…sucks I couldn't at LEAST go in and look around…fuck."

*Puff*

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"Reward: A weapon of choice from the next battle field, a skill of choice amongst many, a boon of favor, an increase in ability, a power to some, and nothing to one."

Tao read it aloud again before peering out into the strange space in front of them.

"A shop though?..." Jax was bewitched by the monstrosity of a room in front of him.

The room was hundreds of feet wide and at least a 1,000 feet long. To some this wasn't large right? Well they couldn't see the ceiling! Only rows upon rows of glowing lights that shown upon countless items going upwards.

"Hello!" A man shouted a greeting before moving out from behind a shop desk.

Ito stood forward before everyone, "What is this…"

"Well the reward doesn't have to be granted at the end right? Hahaha…hell, why not get it now. Might help you along right?"

Everyone looked at each other warily, but the man seemed quite easy going in his approach to the current situation, he wasn't wrong.

"How…does this work then…it says a weapon of choice from the next battle field, a skill of choice amongst many, a boon of favor, an increase in ability, a power to some, and nothing to one." Ito threw out what his brother Tao had said when they had entered.

"Yes…yes…I know the words yes…you all shall choose an item for the person you left out there, and they alone shall venture back for you! Isn't that exciting?"

"What?!" Everyone shouted curses in surprise. The man however, didn't seem perturbed in the least by their reactions.

Ito grit his teeth, "You said nothing to one…but if 6 get nothing, why not say 6 get nothing?"

"Riddles are like that sometimes…it isn't how you read into them sometimes, but how a situation interacts with them to give you an answer…nothing to one…get it?"

Ito shook his head but slowly his eyes widened, "It didn't mean they receive nothing…those are the odds" Everyone turned to Ito in horror.

"Correct! Nothing to one are your odds. If he fails, well you all are doomed, if he succeeds you all pass. Nothing to one. Hate the way they wrote it, but I am merely a giver and not a chooser…sorry about that. Nothing to one means no odds…it doesn't even make sense as a riddle…just a joke…sigh…

Here…where it says a power to some, well 3 of you choose a power for him…lets just get started…each of you take one of these sticks…it will say what you will choose from. This is just how it is, so it is the time to think wisely….when you entered, time in here is stagnant…so you have all the time until you die of old age to choose don't worry…who in their right mind would give someone half an hour to choose amongst infinity, they are at least fair."

Ito picked up on key words, "Who are 'they', or 'we' that you keep mentioning?"

The man smiled, "Well since you reached this far…you are allowed to know…I bet the god of this sanctuary out there sent one of you or him in right? Well, it is because they know of what goes on inside this particular portal….it is called a chosen portal, and each sanctuary has one…so far no other people have reached this point in the portals elsewhere so he must have forced his hand and sent someone in prematurely for some other circumstance…"

Nobody spoke, so the man waved his hand and before their eyes a string of comfortable chairs appeared. He beckoned and they all sat down around him ready for his story.

"Alright…so this year is a special year, it only happens so often so it is an important one. When the gods come down, the world changes as they have the time to play their hands on man. This has created new species, powers, magical schools and users….to some of them it is a game, for others a way of changing the fold of reality when they are given the chance. The gods live amongst a different plane then this one you see…and that isn't the highest one…no…the highest plane has the true manipulators of the fold of reality. They are the ones that allow these 'gods' to come down….usually, they place one god at random in one of the many cities that dot your continent and the entire city is a sanctuary rather than these small spaces you have seen…between the city are dark forces, untold horrors and constant wars between the gods. That's why you see ruins of certain gods….find random items yes?"

Tao nodded, "Indeed humankind have found different magical items of power we call artifacts that people revere…we also have noted that those who pass powers down, over time gain a flaw in their powers….for those of magic, depending on the purity of their line can have different outcomes to their magical affinities…rather then pure fire, a child of those with fire and those with ice may have the chance of gaining Fiery Ice….we have noted the time in which these have originated but have never been able to uncover the truth of why they appeared…"

"Wow you are a smart one…well yes…powers that pass person to person will each leave a bit of the power behind, and thus by the end have a flaw or be half the power they once were. It is just how things are…for magic the same as you explained it…the wars as I said created other races, Genome had his hand to play in these affairs…but he isn't the creator of those blood lines…no…he uses the blood line of other races he comes upon to enhance humans."

"So…these other races actually exist elsewhere…" Jax was deep in thought, "Why don't we see them?"

"Because little mortal…they live on other worlds! While the gods are gone here, they are on a different plane or planet doing what they do here…elsewhere. Genome in those places gives human genetics to creatures…he is quite the ballsy one. Anyhow back to what I was saying…the special year. You see, every once in a while the gods of the highest plane play their own hands…in this case they place all the gods into one city, and kill off ever other being of that planet outside of that one city…"

Silence filled the air, mouths agape, each person in the room felt a weight on their chests.

"I know…this seems quite horrible, but in the end you will understand. Yes they kill off the rest of that race outside this one city of choice…and then, they take the races they did the same thing too from other places…and place them each in one of the cities in this world."

"Do they intend to have a mass war amongst these different races?" Kito asked silently.

The man shook his head, "No…they do this to create the ultimate world, full of different life…conflict…happiness…despair…they do this to create a larger…hmm…ecosystem. They take the best of what the gods can make in those places, and then cram it all together. You're world that was originally what 50,000ish miles in circumference? They snapped their fingers, and now it is over a billion"

"My gods…" Ito sat back a little deeper in his adorned chair.

"Yes…they have done this several times, and each time the races have grown strong but over time destroyed each other…they do this, until the world stops destroying itself. Not eternal peace…no…no… just not mass destruction either. A balance of sorts you could say…enough of one. You could call it, like what some call the big bang…they are that bang, and they recreate the world again over time."

"So the gods are merely terraformers…" Tao had even less to say then his brother.

"Yes…" The man nodded, it wasn't particularly accurate but it worked.

"Then what are these portals for?"

"Well…to make someone a chosen of course, the gods each choose one from your race to be the leaders of their kind. Each god gets a choice, and those people can band together or fight for a top position…it all depends on the free will of the chosen."

"Did he know he was chosen?" Ito asked curious.

"No…no he did not, Jaeger was it? No, he chooses honestly and full heartedly to give up receiving anything at all. He is quite the simple one in nature…but he reveres friendship and is very loyal."

Everyone felt good about this, because they weren't played but also felt bad because of what Jaeger might be put through.

"So…to sum it up, everyone outside this city is dead…the portals here amongst the fog and that in which can be acquired are merely facades of sorts…yes they are good, they are there to enrich your people and will stay there…however I will let you know, that the city you once knew is far larger then it used to be…you may have felt that some streets were far longer than they were…well, those 'routes' you take to short cut it are in fact unchanged portions of the city itself. The city that was 100 miles across, is now already by my estimates several thousand."

"Holy fuc…"

The man cut off Drek, "Don't say that…I don't recommend it" Drek shut his mouth with his hands, from disappointed to horrified eyes in mere seconds.

"You're world was the chosen planet…as so by fate is the one to grow larger, and gain the capacity for other life. In fact in my opinion, it is the one with the greatest potential…whether it be in magical alignment, the surrounding planets, galaxies, nature…so nice."

"What now…" Ito was quite confused by everything the man spewed, but didn't dare forget a word of it.

The man sighed and clapped his knees before standing up straight, "Now…to make your friends choices he doesn't know about yet"

Ito looked back towards the space where the door had been, which was now a wall. He felt guilty, guilty that he wasn't the one on the other side taking up that role and that a person he didn't know but liked so much had to be in that very role without his or anyone's help.

"His chances are good…come…let us choose" Tao patted his brother's shoulder and stood up before following the 'shop keeper'.

Drek curiously thought over what he was told, "Hey shop keeper?...you mentioned genome several times, does he have any other name?"

The Keeper smiled, "The man immo….it doesn't really matter", before he turned with a stride away.