Nether Gates

HELEN'S POV

The determined and eager features of the countless souls that swam furiously past me were something astounding to see. It never failed to escape me the ways this game made things realistic and exhilarating.

The golden waters of the star ring rushed around me, caressing and rubbing like a clingy child. Definitely star"s doing. The little fae-like being leaped from my shoulder to his gift. A beautiful chariot forged from calcified star river energy. I found it could create more after receiving it which got me thinking of many things.

I had given him a chariot as a gift both because of my promise and my statements to the Jorkstorns of Oritais. Lores and myths did not make themselves. By constantly mentioning the chariots to them I had made it clear how the agents that would reap their souls after death would look. The tales would spread from there.

Back to Star?

What was it exactly? An incarnation of the river or something else. His knowledge was low compared to other NPCs, almost like he had been taught nothing.

'Did it have to follow a specific set of controls? It would explain why it knew nothing but what it could do. I sighed at that making a mental note to teach star a lot of things about everything. Then my gaze left the fae child who had forgotten me to focus on his toy.

'Tssssk. Kids. '

My attention nevertheless was affixed on the great gates that loomed beneath the river. It was one of the many things that astounded me. My true purpose in the river of souls, not that star needed to know that fact.

My descent into the river had brought me very deep. So deep that I should have reached the sea floor. If there was one. Yet before me, the gates loomed. Its lower end was out of sight and its top ending was just before it could have escaped the waters.

There was nothing behind it. The gate didn't exist from one angle but did from another. It was surreal but.

"It is a game". I muttered with a shrug.

" I can speak underwater." my voice was clear and loud even. Echoing through the river and alerting the souls to my presence. A wave quickly pushed those who tried to near me away. A snort came from Star who took one childish look at floundering souls and went back to his chariot again. I chuckled but did nothing. While I was certain that they could not harm me, well. I rather not test what could happen.

I pushed myself forward, the deep blue limb that went from my waist down ending with a golden tail propelling me forward. Several intricate flowery designs adorned my lower limb and my upper body was covered by a form-fitting silver material that covered down to my wrists. Several golden designs ran all over it and glowed dimly despite the similarly golden river I swam in.

My body arrived close enough to the gates to activate the prompt that flashed in my mind.

[SYSTEM DUNGEON - NETHER GATES]

[Refresh]

[Proceed To Last Checkpoint]

[Select Checkpoint]

Mentally prodding the refresh option I watched a flash leak from the gate before a rumble rolled through the river and a huge wave flooded over to me. My will moved to blanket the incoming wave whilst I kept watching as the gates creaked open.

It never opened more than an inch. Almost like it was scared of letting something out. A dark light escaped the little gap revealing an endless darkness. One that felt more than it looked more familiar.

Or at least that was how it had always felt ever since I started running the dungeon.

My body slipped in through the gap, my right hand outstretched forefinger pointed out to the black ink of endless darkness. It was cold just as I remembered. Fast to engulf my arm and slip me into its grasp.

Everything vanished and I was plunged into the ink. I remembered the first time it had happened, the panic that had set in. Thoughts of the game having crashed or something even worse seeped into my mind back then.

Now, I just patiently waited.

The sound of a waterfall reached my ears as I plummeted down into the chasm. I could fly or float if I wished with Argonne wings but I didn't. Down was the way to go.

My skin shifted and rippled. My tail shrunk and split forming two legs. Wings burst out my back just as the ground came into sight. The golden muscular feathers, golden skin, and blue eyes illuminated the dark world as I descended onto the ground. The golden waters that fell from above splashed into a large stream where it turned black.

I landed with a crouch flapping my wings before they shrunk back into my body.

[You have entered System Dungeon - Nether Gates]

'Here we go'.

NAME - Hildelith Fearghal - Warrior One, Of Fire and Brimstone

TITLES - One of the Speakers, Ender of the Beginning.

FEAT - Creation's Witness, Motivated.

RACE - Nothing >>

BEING - Creator 79

LEVEL - 23(756/2300)

HEALTH - 34/34

STATS

Str - 235 + (50)

Agi - 355 + (30)

End - 340

Mind - 346(380.6) + (20)

Will - 300(330) + (20)

HIDDEN STAT

Perc - 10

Def - 00

Soul - 10

UNALLOCATED STAT POINTS: 90

SHARDS

1909(Minor)

131(Lesser)

56(Small)

1(High)

1(Higher)

1 (Greater)

CORE

One-Spark

SKILL

Eyes of the Unseen (INNATE)+

Meddler of Fate(INNATE)+

Soul Dao (PASSIVE)

Swordsmanship Lv5 - (67/250)+

Archery Lv7 - (173/350)+

Evade Lv 18 - (241/900)+

Dagger Lv10 - (43/500)+

Aura Lv8 - (56/400)+

Daemon Fist Lv3 - (45/150)+

Golem Armor(ACTIVE) Lv2 - (0/100)

Kill Slot(PASSIVE) Lv5 - (78/250)+

INSIGHTS

Divine Purity - (+ 18%)

Earthen Grace - (+ 17%) + (+ 2% sp)

Earthen Forge - (+13%)(+ 2% sp)

Embers of the Flame

Titan's Step

DOME RUNE - Source Eternal (+10%)- (Mellifleunce +10% +5%) (Eternal Frost +5%) ( Unbound Mists +5%)

SHOP

I sighed at the sight of my template. My unallocated stat points were arriving at one hundred but I was still unwilling to use them. I was plenty strong already. Best to use it when something dangerous came up.

My true disappointment was my insights. Despite my great trials and medications to locate more Dome runes for each of them, I was largely unsuccessful. It was the major reason why I was running this dungeon for the second time.

Hopefully battle would give me the inspiration to unlock or push past my cap.

"Now I sound like a cultivator' I shook my head before willing out my armor. The light as my armor weaved over my body barely illuminated the area. It faded to reveal a new armor. silver chest plate with intricate rune marks on it. Chain links stretched down to my wrist where a likewise silver gauntlet adorned my wrist.

My thigh and legs were also covered with armor paddings. My boots were silent as I stepped back to admire myself.

[MITHRIL ARMOR - OBJECT]j

Armor forged by the Unborn.

+10 to Defense.

[Shard Hold - Energy shield - 5

Creates a shield of energy when supplied with divinity]

Then came the weapon. A new long sword, white grip, silver pommel, light glowing blade, and a golden guard. It wasn't the best but it had been good enough to get me through the dungeon the first time. It would serve well again.

[Weapon] - [Mithril sword - Unborns Gift]

[Epic] - [BASIC]

Forged by the Unborn for their mother. A high-quality mithril blade with mana conductivity and 10% resistance to divine energy.

[Effects] - [+40 Slashing Damage] - [+ 100 Stabbing damage] [Bleed - 10 hp/sec] - [Mana Conductor] - [Poor divinity inductor]

"Every day I miss my beautiful Sword of Murre" I grouched.

Now I looked up and walked forward leaving the golden waterfall that turned black, the dark inky blackness behind the wall of golden water and above from which the water suddenly appeared disappearing as I walked farther into the dungeon.

As I walked I watched the environment twist and blur. My eyes narrowed at this. The ground seemed to disappear for just a second and with my second step I halted just as my feet touched the ground again.

[You have entered Cavern of the Harbinger]

"This..." I froze in surprise. Then looked back confused, stepping back I tried to retrace my steps only to hit an invincible barrier.

[Creator Player may only leave after completing a checkpoint or defeating Floor boss]

'This was not the floor I conquered before.'I stood there looking around in confusion. Wondering when dungeons changed their floor arrangements or environments.

I had never been to this Harbinger floor. What was this?

"And what do you mean checkpoint and floor boss? Doesn't the floor boss come before you get to the checkpoint" It was obvious the system was messing with me?

There was either a timer to stand without attacking that ended or the system just got impatient with me and sent the very first of my hosts to come greeting.

A soul-panicking cry pierced the air. One not as scary as the cry of the Destroyer but still bone-chilling nonetheless. I looked ahead to finally note just how dark this lair was. Not dark enough to leave me blind. Unless my godly sight was working to gaze into the dark.

"Fortunately it's not the darkness of void". I muttered.

Another screech came yet again from within. This time louder and different.

" Two".

No sooner had I spoken than yet another and then another cry sounded out making me frown as I took another step back only to bump against the invisible barrier once more

I grumbled but stood my ground. Best to have it watching my back and keep the entities in front.

Something scurried about in the darkness ahead. While I wasn't blind, whatever it was kept clear of my sight. It was like a shadow in a black-and-white world. But dimmer and inconspicuous.

'I need light.' My eyes darted about as more steps sounded out. "This feels eerily like Pre Vaustaris and my dear unknowns. Running out of script ". I taunted the system.

I looked within myself as I searched tugging at the insight I needed. My left hand was outstretched palm up, and a little spark crackled from the center of my hand, a spark that ignited into a flame as it roared up.

" Don't fail me here" I muttered to myself while willing the flame to burn oxygen. 'Hopefully, that works'.

I watched the flame as I compressed it into a ball while still feeding it with more energy from within. I was half a mind to quickly attempt tracing the energy once more now that I had it burning stably, but with a groan, I ignored the thought focusing on my task with the fire.

Once it was the size of a basketball I sent it curling into the darkness. The fire lit up the surroundings as it passed over the countless moving shapes moving the air as it went. Shapes that all froze as they watched the unwanted light of the flame fly above and then crash into a pond behind them.

The flame flared once and blinked out. But it didn't matter I had seen enough, my legs stiff as I kept replaying what I saw.

"What. The. Hell".

A myriad of red glares affixed unto me and I gulped.

"Infernal imps, goblins, undead, direwolves. Lots of supernatural creatures to put. But no.." I grumbled as I entered a stance.

"..the lovely system had to make it all different."

"Exciting. But Scary". The first of the red glares moved and I finally realized that each glare was four attached to a single entity.

" Crap. It just had to take my taunting seriously eh".I hissed. ', Lesson to be had from this. Don't go taunting the will of the multiverse. Not a bright idea'.

" Gods be with me." I mumbled as the thing stepped into the light created from my body's glow.

"Oh wait. I'm the gods here." I frowned. "Well I'll be damned ".

My eyes hummed as I willed to know what it was.

[Netherling] - [Deviling]

[Lv 5] - [IMPIETY]

Lesser devils. Beings born forth of the nether realm.

[PERKS] - [Lie Affinity] - [Nether mark] - [Sin infants]

"Crap. The Will of the multiverse had better be with me for this. After all it put me in this".

It lunged with a screech, it's brethren on it's tail. Each eager to have a pound of flesh. My flesh. How flattering. Yet again I desired to curse at the devs.