Chapter 3

The City of Orario was a great place to be. The people seemed lively, and the majority of them lived in harmony. As I walked through the streets, I searched for the familiar sights I had experienced when I first walked into the city.

Yet, it was strangely quiet.

No one was around. The shops I had passed by earlier, that were normally filled with customers, were completely devoid of any life, including the staff. The silence was deafening, not even the birds made any noise. Of course, I knew something was wrong. An entire city doesn't just up and disappear, let alone at lunch time.

And then I saw it...

Across the street, by a Tavern named, "The Hostess of Fertility,' there was a vaguely figure. A long, black hood that was attached to a cloak was draped over its head, a porcelain mask concealing its face, preventing me from know anything about him.

It was tall, unnaturally tall, standing at what I'd say was ten feet at least, his body skinny, and bony. Its head tilted ninety degrees to its left, before turning another ninety degrees the same way, staring at me with its head upside down.

"Aria, Lily, Gretta," I said calmly, yet received no response. None of the three familiars in my possession manifested, instead, I was met with a screen.

[Cannot Summon Familiars in front of the World's avatar.]

[Emergency Quest Activated: Survive.]

[Reward: 10 points, Conner Kenway's Assassin Combat Guide, 5 Levels.]

"Oh, shit..." I couldn't help but say, watching the figure's head twist back into a "normal" angle. 'Had I been too bold about using my familiars? Did the world view me as a threat of some sort?' I couldn't help but wonder, before slowly raising my hands into the air.

The movement of my hands caught its attention, but the deliberate slowness in which I did it, likely kept me from losing my head, or worse. "I mean you, or anyone no harm... Truly," I calmly said, however, I couldn't help but feel incredibly worried.

I wasn't necessarily afraid of death, to be honest. Death was an inevitable thing for all things living. It is as much a part of the cycle of life, as life itself is. What I did fear was what came after. I had never been a good person by my world's standards. I used to be kind, but after becoming an adult, I became an asshole, every friend I ever had abandoning me, or flat out just ignoring my existence when I needed them.

The sins I had committed, while not grievous when compared to others, were still sins in my eyes, and so, I feared the consequences of said actions. I blinked, the figure disappearing completely for my sights, yet, I could feel its breath from behind me, on my neck.

I shivered.

"If you do not believe me, please take my sword, and shield," I told it, keeping my hands in the air. In an instant, I felt the weight of the shield on my back disappear, a clunking sound in the distance sound reaching my right ear, while the sound of metal hitting the cobble floor reached my second.

I was unarmed, and completely at this being's mercy, the feeling of powerlessness weighing on me tremendously.

"Why have you intruded?" A female's voice asked. I knew it wasn't the creature behind me, as the sound came from the front, despite no person being present. "I'm sorry, it was not my choice," I replied.

It did not like that answer.

I feel the creature's bony hands wrap around my neck, the force applied preventing me from breathing, my windpipe feeling as though it was on the brink of collapsing.

"Not good enough," The being spoke, my hands reaching up to try and pry the fingers off my neck, to no avail. "I... Didn't come here... by... choice!"I managed to say, my eyes watering, as my vision began to blur. This was horrible, the sensation of needing air, the hands wrapped around my neck... I felt like I was this close to getting a breath, yet couldn't my body twitching, and clawing at the fingers instinctually.

But then, the pressure around my neck noticeably subsided, allowing me a breath, which I gasped for.

"Explain."

'How was I supposed to explain waking up in a void? How did I explain the system?!?'

I could only tell the truth. If I lied, I was sure that this being would kill me... If I told the truth, I may at least have a chance of being shown mercy. "I woke up in darkness. A void, if you will. I had thought I was having a dream at first, but then... A contract appeared. I, in my stupidity signed it, and had a strong power forced onto me afterwards."

Seeing as to how I hadn't had my windpipe crushed yet, I guess it was a good sign. "I didn't come to this world by choice... I don't know who or what brought me here. It didn't give me any purpose, on a way to get stronger."

A long moment of silence stretched on, before I felt the hands around my neck completely disappear, the breath of the being completely gone as well. I slowly turned my head, seeing nothing there at all.

"I shall ask you one final question, and you will answer truthfully."

'Of course I was gonna answer truthfully. The truth is the only thing that's kept me alive so far.' I waited in anticipation for the question.

"What is it that you want?"

The question was actually far more tame than I had thought. I expected something about how my system worked, or what I was capable of, but instead, she asked something else.

I had to think about it, to be honest, the time it took must have made the being angry, or annoyed. "I don't know, honestly. I'm sorry if that's not a good explanation. I lived the first twenty years of my life wasting it. I lost my mother, my father... My brothers abandoned me, my grandparents detested my existence, due to my biological father. I spent my years isolating myself, and being lazy... I guess, right now the thing I want most is to start living a life that my parents can look upon, and be proud of... That, and bring back all the animals I grew up with, and make them my familiars."

The soreness of my mouth dissipated until I felt normal. A green light entered my vision, before a a woman I recognized appeared. "Riveria?" I asked the woman with long elven ears, long emerald green hair, and a white sun dress. Her gaze was neutral, devoid of any emotion whatsoever, her voice replying to my question with a dead tone. "I am not Riveria Ljos Alf. I am Gaia, the world itself. She is a princess who belongs to the Great World Tree of mine."

I pretended to care about that bit, the only thing I truly paid attention to was her name. "Gaia... I apologize. I really didn't have a choice in where I-"

"Silence." She interrupted, my body obeying her command without a choice. "I need not the apologies of someone not in control of their own fate." The sentence itself was rude, yet, it didn't seem as if it were intended like an insult. I guess it felt more like she was pitying me, though I didn't know why. "Okay... Where are we going from this point on?" I asked the being. "Because, if you're going to kill me, may I at least get a quick death? I do not wish to suffer, unless it's in some type of war, or battle."

Her gaze remained neutral, but a small little smile briefly formed, before going away. "I give you an option. If you choose to hear out my words, I shall explain something to you. If you do not wish to hear it, I will remove you from this temporary space, and place you back in Orario without any issues."

"I feel as though I am going to have trouble in the future if I don't listen to what you say... So, I guess, please explain whatever it is you wish to say." If she knew something, which I figure she did, since she's the world, then it would be best to know ahead of time, instead of encountering it later.

"My realm is in chaos. While gods play their games, and fight amongst one another for reign over the realm, innocents are killed every day by the disease that infects my body. You already know of this disease. Outsider, I offer an accord."

The mention of an accord reminded me of Melina from Elden Ring, which made me more nervous, since that game was fucking batshit insane. "I am listening..."

Hearing the unsteadiness of my voice, she nodded, before speaking once more. "Fight against this disease that plagues me. Slay the soon to be reborn leviathan, Behemoth. Once you have accomplished that, aim your sights at the King of The Skies, The One Eyed Black Dragon, and free Aria before conquering the disease known as the dungeon."

"I hope this doesn't come off as ignorant, but I've been here for less than a day. I haven't the faintest clue as to what those monsters are, but they sound like they're incredibly powerful. What makes you think I can defeat them?"

"I am the one who has created the greatest heroes in times long past. I search for those with potential greater than others, and wills that are unbreakable. You possess a soul that has limitless potential, whether due to this 'System,' or your own nature."

Yeah, that sounded like a whole lot of horse shit. Unbreakable will? I had conceded to allowing her to kill me, how was that an unbreakable will? Limitless potential I could believe, due to the system, but not my willpower.

"I see many doubts in you. You need not complete these quests immediately. Grow in strength, and mature. Should you choose to accept this, then I will grant you even greater blessings than the spirits did to the Crozzo bloodline."

"Once again, I am ignorant about the history of this world, Ms. Gaia. What exactly would that blessing allow me to do?" Maybe I should pick up some history books in the future. learn about the world, and what not to make communication with this grand being easier.

"The Crozzos were blessed with the ability to create magic swords, weapons that could unleash devastating power, at the cost of breaking after a few uses. My blessing would extend beyond that, granting you the ability to infuse magical concepts into armor, weaponry, and anything you crafted."

"That does sound nice, but, my main strengths right now lie in the contracts of spirits to make them my familiars... Is there any blessing you have that could allow for me to more easily contract common, and rare spirits? If so, could I possess both the initial offer you presented, and the blessing I am asking about."

A frown formed on her lips. "You are a greedy one. Even one blessing would tire me, but to ask for two at once, what exactly would you need more than one for?"

"Gaia, where I am from, there is a saying, 'Never put all your eggs in one basket.' I am a weak person, so much so that I have had to have familiars assist me in fighting the weakest of monsters within the dungeon. You are asking for a seemingly impossible task, one that apparently hasn't had any familia complete yet. If you are going to request of me something as grand as slaying what might as well be labeled the 'Three Evils,' then I need you to do exactly that. I need you to believe that I can do it, and support me unconditionally. I am young, but my father instilled in me that a man's word is his bond."

I looked the being in the eyes, my gaze hardening. "I do not leave things to chance, and therefore need that extra blessing, especially if it'll mitigate the loss of life in the future."

The frown was still present on her face, however, she did not seem as displeased as earlier. "Your greed is odd, however, I will offer you a counter offer, as I can sense the sincerity in your words. I will grant you both blessings, in exchange, you will do as mentioned previously. I also request a binding vow, to prevent you from abandoning your mission."

"That seems like a reasonable request, Gaia. I will form this Binding vow, so long as you grant the blessings I have requested."

"Then let us begin."