The Neverworld

Sunday morning found me sitting in The Velvet Pavilion, waiting to be dragged into the Neverworld by the mysterious god.

No matter how many times I faced it, the shift never sat right with me.

A god's whim yanking me into a realm I barely understood, all for the price of my title: The Fool.

A low hum vibrated through the tent, and pain spiked behind my eyes.

Here we go.

VOOM.

Darkness swallowed me, a gut-churning void where I was nothing but a puppet on divine strings.

I hated this part. For the journey, I was helpless, blind and at the mercy of forces beyond me.

VOOM.

My vision snapped back to me.

I stood in my tent, yet it wasn't quite the same as mine.

The crimson fabric hung heavier, the air thick with an unnatural chill.

Outside, a scream tore through the silence. It sounded guttural, skin-crawling and wrong.

I was inside the Neverworld. My battlefield, and there was no time to waste.

I closed my eyes, focusing inward.

Bringing the beautiful Knight Glory to orgasm had flooded me with a major amount of mana. I could feel the tingling rush of power that still hummed in my veins.

Her love had granted me [Major Mana], which was always 100 units.

Enough to wield spells I'd normally shy away from.

I sensed the beast outside: a hulking mass that threatened to destroy me and the Knownworld.

It sounded heavy and wet, slithering closer with every passing moment.

One mistake, and it could rip through to barrier between our two worlds, dooming the city I'd sworn to protect.

I steadied my breath, channelling mana into three spells, each drawn from my arsenal. They came from a mix of the gods' gifts and secrets I'd obtained through the Neverworld's whispers.

"Sword of Radvaha. Shroud of the Forgotten. Codex of War."

Mana surged, a hot pulse running through my veins.

First, the Sword of Radvaha. Forged by an ancient arcane blacksmith, its white blade, longer than my six-foot-two frame, materialised in my hands, golden runes glowing along its edge. No mortal could lift it without magic; it demanded 40 mana units just to summon.

Next, the Shroud of the Forgotten. A glowing red armour set, edged in black, wrapped around me, gifted by a nameless god who haunted this realm. It boosted my strength and speed tenfold, costing 40 mana units. With it, the sword felt light as a dagger.

Finally, the Codex of War, an ancient journal floating at my side, its pages whispering battle tactics. It sharpened my reflexes, costing 15 mana units.

Together, these spells transformed me into something more than human. A demigod in a clown's mask.

My mana reserves dipped to [5 Units Remaining], enough for a healing spell if things went south.

With Glory's boost, I could've cast more, but caution kept me frugal.

The Neverworld taught hard lessons.

RAGHHH!

The screech outside grew louder. The creature was thirsty for blood.

If that thing tore a rift to Lirania, the holy war would be the least of their worries.

I burst from the tent, the Shroud's speed sending me skidding across cobblestones.

The Neverworld mirrored Lirania. Same gothic buildings, same foggy streets, but empty, lifeless, save for the monstrosity barreling toward me.

It was a slug-woman, four times a human's size. Her lower half was a grey, oozing mass, leaving a trail of slime behind her. Her upper body, a grotesque parody of a woman, had scaly skin and writhing, snake-like hair.

Her arms clawed the air, shrieking, "PREY!"

Her mana pulsed powerfully, probably around 20 units.

Strong but no match for me today.

I gripped the Sword of Radvaha, its golden runes glowing. The blade didn't swing like mortal steel.

Instead, it cut through space itself.

I slashed, and a golden arc of energy leapt forward, bridging the ten-meter gap in an instant.

The creature's face twisted in confusion.

How could he hit from there? It must have wondered, before the arc bisected her, severing the slug from the torso.

Black blood sprayed, her scream deafening as she dissolved into mist.

[Threat Neutralised. 33% progress made]

I was a third of the way through completing my goal. Afterwards, I could return home.

Two more screeches echoed in the distance.

More beasts, lurking in this warped Lirania, hungry for the Knownworld.

But today, thanks to Glory's mana, I was unstoppable.

I felt confident in my ability to handle the threats waiting for me.

In other words, The Fool had won this Sunday.

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