《God's Door》 Chapter 1 Sitting in front of my dual monitor set-up, I browsed the internet for any news concerning the new VRMMORPG God¡¯s Door. Finding the new update trailer, I clicked on it; Watching it, I realized it was a basic synopsis of all the features that would be offered in this new game. The thing that I found most interesting was the new pod that they were introducing. They claim that the new seeds acquire more realism than the competitors, but most believe that is just hype advertisement. The next on the bulletin board is the fact that the players can be anything. This statement however vague suggests something beautiful. Though it was in an interview that we got the full picture of this feature. It seems that the creators wanted the players to make up the mysterious character that other players would come across. The example given was that if they wished to be an ancient forest guardian in a specific place, instead of creating their own, they would allow one player to become the old forest spirit and build its personality, the forest/dungeon around it and its skills and abilities. All this isleft to the player, and after completing the creation they can play it when the game comes out, or they could move it to the AI running the game. Something that goes with this Idea is that there will also be gods and the players will also create those, but there is a tighter lease on those. The last interesting point is that there will be a collective narrative since players will create so many things at different times in the history of the world, they decide to give the rest of the players a chronicle of the world with sparse details about certain things in the world so that people would explore it. Ultimately it sounds so much fun to create something in a game and call it my own. At the end of the video is a link with the caption above saying the people who pre-order the new pod can put an application in at this link to send suggestions to make the first God of the world. Clicking on the link brings me to a site that has a form filling the whole thing. The top of the page is stuff to confirm the pre-order and such. Name, of course, is George A. Whitaker after this is the code and other things unimportant. After all that comes the ever important question about the god¡¯s creation, First the name, after much contemplation I decided on YDTIX, Goddess of Darkness, Secrets and Forbidden Knowledge. I decided that I wanted to make sort of an ancient evil some being that hordes knowledge that it deems that others are unworthy of possessing. The goddess, in general, would be a blending of books and tentacles. Her domain would be a place called the abyss where all things go to be destroyed like souls. The void is also the place where things would get banished would end up. At the edge of the falls where the end point lies is anchor her library ¡ª protected by powerful barriers allowing entrance to only the goddess herself. Also, she could be summoned to the overworld, but it would require a lot of sacrifices and long chanting time(End of the World Event?). She also has a cult called the church of the abyss. The leader is the speaker of shadow. After finishing the description of the goddess and all her related things that would deal with her creation as a character, Finally, after what had seemed an eternity ( 2 hours), I clicked send at the bottom of the page. After that was addressed the screen changed. Thanking me for my input and telling me that they would send an email to me if I had one the contest. Two months later sitting browsing the internet like I always do there rang a ding and a notification telling me that I had got an email from [filler] Games. Floating at the top of my email was the fabled letter that I had waited for and didn''t believe it would come. Opening it gave me instruction to confirm my identity after filing away the important stuff. I waited five minutes, and then another email appeared giving me the details. I was due to receive a pod early for testing a well as creating the new god that they liked. They mostly got generic gods with generic domains and yours was the most to stand out amongst the ones that were similar. After that was a question that I had not expected, Are you willing to try out ultra real setting when in the game? I instantly answered yes unwilling to listen to alarm bells yelling at me. Since the release was in less than a month, I knew that the pod would show anytime now upon saying that the planets aligned and the front door buzzed. I was running to see who was at the door. Hayden Gaming Tech was plastering the side of the small moving truck. A man stood at the door holding a clipboard. ¡°Are you George Whitaker?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°OK Can you sign here so we can put the package into the apartment.¡± Reading what it says that signing the dotted line a group of four hosted a box and brought it in and installed it in a hastily cleared corner. After setting it all up for me, they gave me a book of instruction that came with the package and a code to access the private forum that could be used to contact the devs. After all, was delivered the guys loaded up and left. I waved them goodbye and closed the door turning around to see the sleek metal and glass design that was black all the way around. On the side, the company logo was displayed elegantly. Taking the books to the kitchen so I could read them. The first book was the user manual for the pod itself. This one was the thickest out of all of them. I''ll keep it around if I ever need to squash a spider. The next booklet was the game¡¯s introduction booklet you get when buying the game from a VR game store. The last one surprised me a little bit. It was a booklet for the hyper-realism mode. I filed through it searching for anything that would cause an alarm, but there wasn¡¯t. I guess I was worried for nothing. After reading all that I could muster, I went over to the pod lifting the glass top. Inside was a very comfy looking bed. Getting it was everything I expected. Closing the lidit began to scan and told me to show it the code I was given, Showing the scanner the system it accepted it and started the program. Everything went black. I opened my eyes and found myself in a white room. I looked around and standing there was the helper AI. She was waiting for me to enter the space. A black orb I know It¡¯s a she, it has a girly voice. ¡°Hello, you must be George I was expecting you around this time.¡± ¡°Well, here I am.¡± ¡°You are indeed, so first things first. You are here to get used to the system and your new body; you will be occupying for the time you create the goddess. Since the character you will be creating will be a female you will have to get used to said body. Though you will most likely be an intangible object, I wouldn¡¯t worry. Now you must create the character you want the players to interact with.¡± A display opened up in front of me. It was a character creation menu, but I have full access to the sliders. First I created the first form of the boss monster that would be my character. Thinking it over I started with a sample NPC girl they had built scratch using it as the base. I soon began to modify her; she became the ideal form I would want if I were a woman. She grew taller up to 6 foot tall, along with a face that would be the even mix of beautiful, sexy and cute. It was unnerving, but that was the idea anyway. Next really didn¡¯t matter as just left everything proportional and gave her modest assets. Next came the second stage. I modified it so one arm and one leg would become tentacles with books interwoven into the whole design including the side of the head growing more eyes while the other half remained the same. The final stage would be the old god-ish tentacle monster, that I had envisioned when I sent the request. After touching up on all three forms, I hit the accept button. ¡°Good, you''re done with that part. Next, come the skill creation and the stats setting.¡± I started with stats as that would determine a lot of things, but before that, I talked to the devs to see what level I could put my character. After telling them what I had in mind, they agreed that I could put the final form at the highest level the game would allow: LEVEL 1000 after setting the Third form at her highest level that left me with 1000 stat points to use. The stats themselves are the only pillars that hold the bridge between other games and this one. Though the distribution of the stats is a little different than other games; since the game strives for realism and freedom, the stats determine future growth. As an example, if a fighter gains a level and earns 1 point to spend on stats. Then the fighter puts the point into strength; there is not a sudden increase to power but a gradual increase which could be sped up with training specifically for strength. Though it is only one point is increases as if given 5 in any other game, this makes leveling up more of a strategic decision than an absentminded dispersal of points. Let us see what the starting stats are. Chapter 2 Name: YDTIX Race: Ancient Evil Class: Librarian Titles: Goddess of Darkness, Secrets and Forbidden knowledge Str: 5 Int: 5 Will:1 Dex:5 Cha:5 Luck:1 Con:5 Wis:5 Skills:
After careful consideration of what I''m going to do as the Goddess, I have decided on this stat distribution. Name: YDTIX Race: Ancient Evil Class: Librarian Titles: [Goddess of Darkness, Secrets and Forbidden knowledge] Str: 305 Int: 205 Will:41 Dex:105 Cha:105 Luck:10 Con:205 Wis:205 Skills: Luck goes up a point when each stat is increased by 10 Will goes up a point when INT and WIS is increased by 5 : this skill allows for the player to have space or dimension that they can use as a player home. The look of this space is entirely up to the player. : since this character has more than one form you can switch between them at will. Note: if you turn too often within a short amount of time you will be stuck and wait 24 hours. Titles: [Goddess of Darkness, Secrets and Forbidden knowledge]: You are considered the god of these three domains. This allows for the benefits of these domains to be added to your stats regards less of race or form taken. Darkness: Gain the and Secrets: Gain the and Forbidden Knowledge: Gain +30 INT and - [Creator of the Abyss] Your home Dimension is the Abyss, and you are the absolute ruler there as you are its creator. You are allowed access to all parts of dimension as well as the power to modify as you see fit. You Gain the control of the abyssal army that defends the capital of Darkness where the palace and grand temple are located. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.You can freely teleport from any realm to here free of charge. - [Worshipped by the Cult of the Abyss] You are worshipped by a cult that makes regular sacrifices to you. You can ignore them at your will but they will ask favors, and if you grant favors successfully the faith will grow, and the cult will grow, Meaning more sacrifices. FAITH stat has been added it will start at 1000 points. Each sacrifice will gain 1 to 100 faith depending on the nature and quantity of the ceremony. Gain , this allows for you to grant favors for a cost of FAITH. Gain , your cult can summon you if you are willing and the sacrifice if large enough. This will start a world end scenario: {An Ancient Evil is summoned}. When in the overworld your stats and level will be reduced so that you are only 200 levels above the average level amongst players. After going through all the stuff that the titles added I still had three create skills left to tackle. What ability should I make is the real question? ¡°Can I use these create skills later?¡± I asked the Dev. ¡°Yes, but you only get one if you don¡¯t use them now.¡± Seeing that as an option I think I''m good with my current stats and appearance. OH! Wait I have an idea for a skill. Let us see, I''m going to call it , and it creates a book in front of me that is turned towards the enemy. The book then opens to a page in the book and on that page is a statement that conflicts with the opponent beliefs causing them to gain the {Madness} debuff. With all that sorted I¡¯m finally ready to hit the finish button. I put my finger on it and press it. ¡°It looks like you¡¯re done with your creation let me see what you have created.¡± the dev stopped talking and began to look over what I had created in 6 hours of in-game time. ¡°Everything is in order, and this is interesting and will make the story of this game exciting. Though there is one last question: how old is this ancient evil?¡± How old huh that¡¯s an interesting question to ask but how old is my creation? Since I don¡¯t know why not make it a ridiculous number. ¡°Do things change depending on the answer?¡± ¡° Not the only thing it affects is the backstory.¡± ¡°Ok so how about a billion years old.¡± ¡°Sure that will work. After that everything is complete with character creations and you can now enter your dimension and create a player home. Chapter 3 As these words are said, two black circles appear on the ground. Rising from the black spotstwo tentacles meet to form a high arch with an eye embedded into the top. Beneath, a view of a sprawling city seeped in a green film. Crossing the threshold the white fades to an ominous city draped across a black sky and standing on a large sigil the gate at my back. Upon the square are scattered stalls where a few civilians wearing dull cloaks stand frozen mid-stride. Wondering why they stopped I look down at my personage finding my avatar¡¯s body. I''m currently wearing a black robe with sewn on symbols and runes and underneath I have a black dress that modestly covers the body. Hearing the sounds of bodies hitting the stone, I find that they have aligned themselves in a line of prostration. ¡°Please Punish us we didn¡¯t mean to offend your Ladyship,¡± they say in unison. Walking over to look at them they took off their hoods showing the back of six trembling heads and pairs of horns. I don¡¯t remember picking demons as my favored race, Though besides that I wonder what I should do with this lot. I think that a small slap on the wrist is in order, keeping appearances are important you know. Stroking my imaginary beard made them tremble more almost to make them collide. ¡°As your punishment, you must wear your hoods down until the next time we shall meet.¡± The trembling stopped as they came to accept their fate. The cruelest punishment one could ever make in the city without causing physical harm. ¡°You may leave now and do show your face to all that you meet including me.¡± At this command, all six rose to face me revealing women faces with ram horns and ashen skin. Soon they disperse to all corners of the square leaving me to smirk at their reactions. With nothing to interfere, I take in my surrounds. Buildings made of dark stone with hypnotic carvings line the square revealing eight streets to take. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I open the map of the city revealing a spoked wheel city. Four plazas sit at the main cardinal directions; each contains a different important place. To the north is the area, to the south is the grand temple, To the west, is the army headquarters, to the east the Merchant market. All of these places sound like very interesting placed to visit, but first I should meet the leader of this city. They might have some quests for me though I wonder if this place can be accessed by players in the future, Though that will most likely will be years down the road. Moving through the streets following the line, it shows the path to a destination, up the main northern highway. I was slightly surprised by the number of cloaked figures passing down this road. Those I moved past kept a distance from me not walking to close as if I was diseased. Hearing the creak of a rusted sign I wondering to find the source and soon I¡¯m at the step of a tavern. I can see the dancing shadow from the windows either side of the door. Wanting to see if the inside is as I imagine it to be I open the door and step inside. Once inside I see a cozy looking Inn similar to the way the popular imagination of fantasy Inn looks. I also notice several figures look over to see who entered. After a glance, they return their meals before stopping and slowly turn their head back to face me. Their eyes meet with a smirk of the devil. I came in to see the inside, so I quickly exit to return to the streets. These men would get to see her again but in their darkest nightmares and soon they would go insane. After a few more blocks, I finally saw the palace and was quite amused by its construction. The shape of the build resembled an octopus in construction with eight spires surrounding a large bulbous building with spots of light speckling the outside. The gates were made with an obsidian looking material that made it seem almost translucent. Two guards were posted at the entrance wearing dark leather with a chitin looking plate covering the vital areas with pikes with a sinister looking guisarme. When in proximity to the guards they seem slightly surprised to see me but take a 90-degree bow to show respect. Then direct me inside the wall to the VIP waiting room though we don¡¯t stay there as the guide me directly to the audience chamber of the ruler of this city. The halls we passed are furnished with gold and ebony fluted columns and a mirror-like tiling for the floor. All the servants we movepast bow, and even some nobles do the same. As we arrive in front of the door, I find a massive wooden door with engravings of an epic battle between the forces of darkness and light with massive armies below two figures locked in combat. Its unsettling since the one with the armies of darkness looks just like this avatar. These devs are fantastic, and the AI is quite responsive. The guards in front of this door also bowed then one entered to announce my presence. He returned almost immediately, and I was quickly ushered into the room. ¡°The Lady of the Abyss has returned.¡± Chapter 4 The door is pushed opened as the crier announces my presence to all parties inside the visitation hall. Stepping inside I stop just past the entrance to admire the throne room. Fluted columns flank a full path between them. Lain on this path is a thick red rug that leads to an elevated throne. The guards that showed me the way exit back to the hallway and the door is closed. I¡¯m surprised that they¡¯re not going to escort me, but it means I get to explore. Keeping to the carpet I make my way towards the throne, passing statues that share uncanny resembles my character. Each shows a different pose with different weapons and objects, but the way they were carved almost makes them look like they could move on their own. Walking past them slightly worried what this visit entails, I notice that the columns create a semi-circle around the throne ¡ª coming to the base of the semi-circle I find nine groups kneeling around the throne. The problem with them kneeling is that there are facing me. So that title means I''m the leader of this place. In a few hours, I went from quest taker to quest giver. Though I am a little disappointed, this situation could be somewhat unusual for other players and me. Taking a deep breath, I take a closer look at the people assembled. Looking at them each has the dull cloaks about them, but that doesn¡¯t hide the fact that some have four arms or the some are at least eight feet tall. They will most likely introduce themselves later. After a quick sweep of the kneeling, I look up to the throne. On a raised platform sits a throne made of materials that make it look like it was made out of pure darkness. Engraved in the back of the throne is a symbol of a book being engulfed by tentacles painted with gold decoration. Bowing next to the throne a man on one knee is bent, unlike the rest, he isn¡¯t wearing anything over the body but instead wears a freshly pressed navy blue suit. His horns were much larger than the rest even in this room. He must be the one that the players will interact with since he has a familiar suit instead of a dull cloak. He looked at me with a broad smile and then his face turns into a mug of confusion. ¡°Why are you in such awe at your throne room my lady?¡± ¡°It is because I have never seen this throne room before though I do know of this realm I made it after all.¡± A loud gasp is heard through the audience hall coming from all gathered parties even the man by the throne.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°That''s quite a brash claim but if you haven¡¯t been in this palace before than you are the lady of the abyss. Guards!¡± All the groups in front of me pull their weapons ranging from short swords to bows. The guards from the door start running towards me with swords drawn. This battle is not good for my plans. I wonder if there is anything I can do. Wait I can modify this realm as I please right. Looking through the menus, I find the free script and script which can put to use. Looking through the text, I see the golem status. Reading it is says I can apply it to statues and objects with a humanoid function. My grin starts to grow a little bit, turning to face the hall of statues I highlight all the figures and apply to the golem status. The ground begins to rumble as 16 sculptures stepped off their pedestals all at once. Looking back at the attacking party they seem to be quite startled. They began to back up as all sixteen eight foot tall statues formed a defensive barrier around me. I wonder what level these golems for the attackers to back up as such. Though that is for me to worry about later, seeing that they were only protecting me, they looked to the demon. ¡°Did you do this?¡± pointing at my guards." ¡°Indeed I have given these statues life.¡± ¡°It seems your claims weren''t so unfounded; everyone put your weapons away.¡± ¡°Thanks, I was getting nervous there.¡± motioning for the golems to put their weapons down." ¡°May I ask what your name is since you are not the Lady we were hoping to receive." ¡°My name is Ydtix.¡± "That can¡¯t be your real name. The creator of this realm was much more powerful than you.¡± "Is there a way to confirm my identity?¡± ¡°There is, in fact, a way to determine if you are who you say you are. Follow me.¡± The demon walked down the stairs towards the pillar holding a torch sconce and pulled it revealing a secret passage in the stairs to the throne, the demon motions for me to follow. I order all the statues to return to their original pedestals and resume their previous poses. Following the demon, we navigate through various corridors around traps and cross a bottomless pit. After an hour we arrive at a door with no visible way to open it. The surface is a black tinted mirror reflecting us. ¡°OK, when I say the words to activate this door the mirror will cut through all illusions and forms and reveal your true form. If your true form is anything other than what opens the door, I will kill you where you stand.¡± I nod to him when he begins to chant a strange language, but instead of not understanding it I comprehended completely. That is a little shocking but what came next came to be a bit more surprising. After the chanting ends, the mirror starts to shimmer. Chapter 5 After the mirror shimmering stops, shadows begin to form starting at my current size and then starts expanding more massive and more significant. Soon the door is filled with the shadows meaning that my true form is tremendous. Even in character creation, I had never intended for such a massive body, but I suppose this kind of thing befits an end game boss. The image on the door than zooms out as if it were a camera moving further until the full silhouette of the monstrosity is visible; Standing at a nearly 300 ft tall the tentacled creature rises out of the ground with solar eclipse just behind the maddening head. With cities burning and ground cracking in the foreground with armies charging each other over body covered fields. When it stops zooming out the image begin engraving itself into the door leaving the picture for all eternity. A loud click rings out as two handles form so that the door could be opened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I doubted you, but I had to be sure.¡± He prostrates before me now knowing that I am the true master of this realm. ¡°What lies beyond this door if I may ask?¡± ¡°I sorry I don¡¯t know beside no is allow to enter besides you I''m afraid.¡± Leaving him to prostrate, I pull on the handle, and the grand door opens quite easily as if well oiled. Inside the door is a pitch black darkness which seems more like a veil than another room. Entering into the room the door slide closed behind me leaving completely blind until blazer in the room light up in a sequence leading down a ramp into a large chamber. Following the procession of flames, it soon reveals a pedestal with a single item placed on little cloth pillow. Moving closer show the item to a statue of multiple tentacles grasping a book. Now I stand before the artifact staring at its beautiful intricacies. Not able to hold the anticipation of wondering what this is an alarm appears on my hud. Indeed it has already been 8 hours since I started playing. That doesn¡¯t seem like I have been here for that long, but I did take a couple of hour in creation, so that is what got me to eight. I need to get off soon, or I¡¯m going to be very tired at work tomorrow. Reaching my hand for the logout button, I stop short from pressing it. I will see what this thing is before I leave to go to bed. Exiting the menu I look at the object of my interest once more. Reaching out I place my hand the purpose of expecting a reaction of some kind, but there was nothing. Bringing it closer to inspect it I realize that it is a bottle with liquid inside.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Listen to it slush around as I shake it; I wonder what content it holds inside. Looking at the top shows a cork placed correctly in the neck of the bottle. Since I don''t have a bottle open at my disposal, I order the work to remove itself from the container which it does in an orderly fashion. Smelling the contents, I feel like the ocean is inside. Looking for a glass, I notice the pillow has been removed and replaced by a goblet. Not suspicious at all, I take the cup I pour the contents out. What comes out has a deep color turquoise filling the cup exactly with nothing remaining the bottle. Taking the goblet in both hands, I lift it to my mouth and take a sip. The liquid taste like nothing I have tasted before but it is pleasant though it feels like it came from the ocean the salt does not impede the experience. Seeing that the drink is good, I finish it promptly. Seeing I will have to get off after this it is a shame I can''t have an actual liquor before bed. Putting the goblet down on the pedestal. Opening the menu, I click the logout button which has changed colors to the same color as the drink I ingested. I wonder if that was a rare cosmetic item that changed menu colors. Pressing the button, I get the usual confirmation prompt. Clicking yes I expect to be ejected from the game and wake up in the capsule but instead, the scenery around me changes to my apartment with me currently playing the game. A prompt appears in front of me. Are you sure you want to return to your old life? What kind of question is that? This prompt is making me nervous in an existential crisis sort of way. I mean my life isn¡¯t too bad, but there is anything that appeals to me. Kind of like someone drifting through life like a bystander on the street corner watching the traffic go by unable to act; After thinking about it, I click the no option even though my instincts are telling me this is a bad idea. I want to go on an adventure to see the world, but work and everything else ties me down in place forcing me to stay still. I want to escape this cycle somehow, and this seems like an unusual path to take. You thought long about your answer. Will you have any regrets? I hit the ¡°no¡± option. Ok, then you will be forever changed because of this choice. I hope you enjoy the life you have created for yourself. The City of Teyr The capital city of the Helvan Empire, Teyr, sits in a luscious valley filled with bountiful forests, teeming rivers and endless fields of grain. The city itself is no less impressive with a tall wall surrounding the outside with watchtowers at set intervals. Inside builds made of carved sandstone are set in a grid pattern. At the center is the square where the impressive statue of the founder of the empire. The grand temple is here as well as the adventurer''s guild headquarters. Recommended starting area for semi-casual players, but hardcore will find this has many secrets to find and discover. After reading the description for one of the starting cities of God''s Door, I was impressed by how specific it was as well as vague. I''m glad they let the player find out about the city themselves. The city of Teyr was where I was assigned to start for the beta test. The other 10,000 public beta testers would enter the game a week from now in real life or a month in play. This game me plenty of time to find and bugs, see if the NPC were acting correctly, and to review how players would enter the game. I hit confirm, and the surrounds turn black as im transport to the game world, or that''s what the Dev said it was. All my senses return to me at once and open my eyes slowly to look around the forest I''m currently standing. Already knowing the general layout of the area, I start heading about a mile to the west. I am so glad they made the starting areas close to roads. Arriving at the dirt road that stretched to left and right with a road sign sitting directly across the way. The destination has long faded meaning this was not well maintained at least not this part. Moving done the road to the left, I pull up the menu to occupy the time since it will take till evening to get to the capital gate. Combing through the options all seems to be in working order a sigh of relief goes through me as it appears that Jared almost killed himself trying to get the menu working before the beta version release. After leaving the forest, I come to crest a small hill, beyond is endless fields of wheat and other crops which surround a beacon of civilization glimmering in the afternoon sun. A small hamlet laid on the road between here and gated city. Continuing to walk, the wheat field swayed with the pleasant breeze when suddenly a boy ran of an area a plow straight into me, sending us sprawling to the ground. He was the first to recover, and he picked up a sack he must have been carrying, and he ran in the next field. Wondering what that was about as I stood back up and brushed off the seat of my pants, the shouting could be heard. "I swear if I find you boy I going to post your head on a pike and feed the rest to my pigs." Soon a tanned faced farmer emerged from the wheat swinging a scythe wildly as if practicing the very act he threatened. He saw me standing there and without words, I pointing to where the boy had gone, and the farmer nodded and went back to chasing the boy. Disregarding what I had just witnessed I continued until I reached the small hamlet of Hommlet. With only a handful of wood homes with a few stone buildings, one being the Inn. I didn''t plan on staying, but I had time to look around Hommlet since this would be the first place players would encounter. Just glancing around this most a place the farmers to back to with little in the entertainment of niceties. Seeing what was to know, I finished my journey at the gate of Teyr. A line was formed when I arrived most were returning merchants since the wagons were empty of wares. When it came to my turn, I showed him my personal ID. Taking it and looking it over before returning to me and opening a door. Entering into the city, the street was full of people moving to their own destinations, buying goods, or enjoying the late afternoon weather. Walking through the crowds, I check my map, making sure I''m heading to the main square where the adventurer''s guild is located, the location of my investigation. After maneuvering through the crowds of the market district, a procession of priests and paladins are walking down the center surrounding a black-cloaked figure in chains. The strangest thing about the man was that the cloak seemed to be made of the shadows themselves. Chained by the hands and feet, the group''s progress was slow moving towards the city center. Piquing my interest following them to the square doesn''t sound like the worst idea. It seems I''m not the only one to come up with this idea as a group has formed from curious passersby. The main square holds many of the most essential builds for regular citizens and adventurers alike. With the adventurer''s guild, the merchant''s guild and the magical research institute. At the center of it all stands a giant statue made of bronze of the founder looking towards an unknown horizon. Seeing the square, the group makes its way to an upright beam surrounded by lumber on the bottom covered in some sort of oil. Only realizing now what they intend for the man, contacting a dev would make sense since if a player were to engage a filter for gore, then they would need to build it. Pressing the dev contact button a call link connects.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "Please describe the problem that you are experiencing, and we will be right with you," says a female voice. "I''m one of the system testers, and I wanted to talk to dev for the gore blocker," I say, and I hear the call is forwarded. "Yo, what can I do for you." "I''m currently viewing a public execution by burning at stake, and I was wondering if you had implemented that event to the system." I hear his chair return to the upright position and tapping on a keyboard. "I don''t have that event in the system for towns or cities, are you sure it''s burning at stake?" "Call me back after it''s over, so I know how long it lasts." "OK, I''ll call you back." Looking up towards the unlit pyre, the robed man has been tied, and the paladin has surrounded him forming a circle. A priest steps up on a box. "Today this blasphemy shall be cleansed by the flames of purity, the great creator shall smite the wicked and worshipers of false gods." after the speech the priest nods to the paladin and he ignites the pyre with white flames. It soon consumes the pile and the lower garments of the man. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA The man on the pyre begins to laugh a wicked laugh which quiets the square. As the flames reach his torso, they start to darken to an all-consuming black. "I DIE FOR MY GODDESS, BUT YOU WILL DIE WITH ME" The flames swell, and the last thing I see is a wall of black fire. The flames give off no heat and I feel no pain as the flames consume me. Pitch black surrounds me as I float in an empty space without light or sound. This place is not a place I have been to before. Let''s see if I can log out. Opening the menu the light radiants out into the darkness but it soon starts to be consumed by the void. Then the menu closes as if it were a candle in a storm. Another presence is close but it seems to surround me. ¡°HEllO ChiLD, WHat Are YoU doINg In mY rEaLm?¡± A sound like a scratched record player resounds in my mind overwhelming me, as an eye opens in the dark looking into me. Chapter 6 The message disappears from my view, and I¡¯m left viewing my pod. Though I feel the creeping dread tapping on the back of my mind telling me to look at the pod. Moving over to the pod, I look down on my person in the pod. There is some movement on the floor of the pod as a black liquid rises. Where is this liquid coming from? It soon reaches the torso. The pod won¡¯t open. Why won¡¯t it open. Soon the liquid covers the face. I feel the black entering my lungs, coughing the black fluid. My vision starts to dim. Am I going to die? Opening my eyes, I find myself in a canopy bed decorated with flowing lace. Looking around the room, it has the same style as the abyssal palace, noticing a full mirror across the room. I move the cover and rise out of bed. Standing in front of the mirror stands my avatar but more. It¡¯s hard to explain exactly, but before drinking the bottle, this body was only an avatar. Now, it seems this body currently holds power. I must test this as soon as possible, but before I can, there is a knock on the door. ¡°Mistress I¡¯m coming in,¡± said a soft voice as a servant door opens revealing a maid holding a freshly pressed dress. Her skin is grey with red hair done in a working bun with ram horns at sides of an elegant face. She gives a curtsey then proceeds to the dresser grabbing new undergarments and a comb. Understanding what is to happen, I raise my arms a let the maid do her work. Brushing aside the details of the treatment I¡¯m now standing in a fashionable black dress which reaches the knees with the Lady¡¯s Robes draped to the side. ¡°What¡¯s on the schedule for today.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve been gone for so long Mistress, Val¡¯ goth has offered to give you a tour.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Val¡¯ goth?¡± Giving me a surprised look ¡°He¡¯s the head butler as well as your adviser.¡± ¡°Very well, I wanted to explore the city anyway,¡± the maid nods at my words then bows out of the room. Leaving my room behind I stroll the empty halls looking at the shadowed portraits hanging there. My wandering leads me to various places of importance, lying unused as if waiting for their chance. The grand ballroom is a grandiose room with glittering chandeliers but sad like a solo dancer moving to silence. Continuing down the halls, I find the familiar doors of the throne room ever beholden with endless war. The guards are feeling my presence get one knee facing the floor. I move to open the door and find that they are not as heavy as I thought they would be. Entering the room, the crier announces my name, resulting in everyone in the room to halt and bow. I could get used to this kind of thing. Making my way to the throne, I sit upon it. I eye Val¡¯ goth standing in the shadows waiting for me to call him. I motion him with my finger to come beside me. ¡°Yes, my mistress,¡± he says, speaking softly. ¡°I am accepting your request, please do be thorough with your tour.¡± he nods and motions a butler over. He conveys his order and butler goes to fulfill them. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°While we wait, why don¡¯t we have some entertainment.¡± As he says this a side door opens, revealing two guards are dragging an unconscious man. From the looks of him, he has been tortured and beaten to an inch of his life. ¡°Where did you find this pitiful creature.¡± One of the guards speaks, ¡°One of the patrols found him in the darkness struggling with a dying light source.¡± ¡°What did you find out,¡± motioning to state the man is in currently. ¡°He says that he is a ¡°beta tester¡± and he is only playing a game, what a fool.¡± giving the man a kick to the back waking him up. ¡°Your new job is to entertain the mistress until she leaves this hall and then we good back to have more fun.¡± The man starts looking around the throne room with bloodshot eyes scanning the face trying to see anyone he would recognize but only the demons stare back. Then he looks at me, and he perks up a little, and he seems to know me. ¡°I know how you are. You¡¯re George, the one who got the first god position.¡± That is a bit startling to know that he recognizes me even though I¡¯m no longer that p- WEAK HUMAN anymore. What was that voice I just heard coming from the back of my mind? That must have been the inner demon that hasn¡¯t been fully integrated yet. I hope that it won¡¯t change me too much, but that is for another time. ¡°Leave me,¡± I say to everyone in the room. I motion for Val¡¯ goth to stay by my side. The look of disappointment is shown on all the leaving demons. I return my gaze to the man who averts his eyes. Once everyone leaves, I get up from my throne to get closer to him. The first thing I notice is a grave brand upon his bloodied shoulder. The mark of my throne lays bare. He is my property; it would seem to me to do with as I wish. Also, I can feel an energy inside him that also bears my mark. It would seem that even death itself cannot let him escape. I¡¯ll ask him a few questions of my own. ¡°How do you know who I used to be?¡± He gives me a look of worry but quickly switches to a neutral expression. ¡°I was there when you created your avatar a few days ago.¡± A few days ago. I must have been asleep a lot longer than I thought. That doesn¡¯t matter, though. ¡°How did you get here,¡± at this point circling the prey like a hawk.\ ¡°I was in the city of Teyr when a cultist was being burned at stake, and then a wall of black flames took me and then I was here.¡± Oh my, I had forgotten entirely about the cultists in the game I¡¯ll have to contact them later. Though is story sounds a little far fetched but don¡¯t sense any deceit from his soul. Hmm... ¡°Do you want to leave this place?¡± He seems to have suffered enough trauma from recent events. ¡°YES PLEASE SEND ME BACK.¡± He shouts his answer and breaks into the face of a shattered man who begins to weep loudly ¡ª covering his face from view the tears stream down. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back but do know that when you die, you will return to me and this place.¡± He shows relief and anguish in the same expression, unable to decide which he should be feeling. Before he can thank me or curse me, I put my hand over his eyes and close mine. I search for a body that this soul is connected. Finding it was the natural part but putting it back in would surely be more difficult. I imagine my hand plucking is a soul from here and depositing it in the vessel. When I opened my eyes, he is gone from view and the realm. ¡°Was it alright to send him back to his place of origin with the knowledge he has? Val¡¯ goth asks a bit of worry in his voice. ¡°No, he will find this to be a lesson to learn from since one must see depravity before they will appreciate life itself.¡± Chapter 7 Val¡¯ goth began to grumble at the fact that his lady¡¯s entertainment vanished in thin air. But being the professional right-hand man he was, he moved effortlessly to the next topic of contention. A smirk began to creep across my face. I realized he had a little bit of character to him. ¡°Since the pet, I had provided for you to play with has gone, I suppose we should start the tour¡± as he said this, he made a snap-on his fingers. Soon a servant came through a side entrance and stood before him. ¡°Is the carriage ready for travel?¡± The servant nodded, ¡°Then let us depart.¡± He moved toward the double door motioning me to follow, walking down the corridors to the entrance and the grand procession waiting for me. The first thing that catches the eye is, of course, the carriage made of ebony with gold dancing around the wheels. My symbol, engraved on the side in jade, stands confident in a sea of black. Pulling the wagon is two large black horses with a ghostly main. Surrounding it was a group consisting of several palace guards formed in two rows either side of a red carpet. Approaching the guards began to salute as we passed, finally stepping into the comfy interior. I was sitting on the dark velvet cushions Val¡¯goth taking the seat flanking me. He tapped the wall above him, and the carriage began to move at a steady pace. Pulling out a black book from his side pocket, ¡°The first thing on the schedule is to meet the high priest. Though I must warn you, he is a little over the top for my taste, but he is dutiful.¡± As he begins to describe the rest of the schedule for the day, I look outside the curtained windows at the city inhabitants. Some are wearing cloaks to hide their faces, but others have their faces exposed. But looking at their attire, I can guess they are powerful enough to move around without worry. ¡°Are you evening listening, my lady?¡± His words pulled me out of my wandering gaze. Looking over at him, he had a slight hint of in his voice while his face was perfectly neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be ok, just get me to the places I¡¯m supposed to be, and then I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± As he begins to describe the rest of the schedule for the day, I look outside the curtained windows at the city inhabitants. Some are wearing cloaks to hide their faces, but others have their faces exposed. But looking at their attire, I can guess they are powerful enough to move around without worry. ¡°Are you evening listening, my lady?¡± His words pulled me out of my wandering gaze. Looking over at him, he had a slight hint of indignation in his voice while his face was perfectly neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be ok, just get me to the places I¡¯m supposed to be, and then I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± I¡¯m not a coach hand looking for my next meal. I¡¯m your loyal advisor,¡± he pouted a little ¡°Could you at least listen to a little bit, my lady.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Wanting to tease him a little for the uncharacteristic display, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen just this once, but the next time I¡¯ll need some convincing.¡± Soon he has given himself a nod of satisfaction as if he had won some battle. Now that he had my ear, he was ramping up to start his speech again when the carriage came to a halt. ¡°Sir, we have arrived at the temple.¡± Wow, this city must be more significant than I thought since nearly twenty-minute have passed to reach the temple. Vol¡¯Goth almost reluctantly opened the door and proceeded out to help me down. Stepping down was practically a disaster. I didn¡¯t bother to look down. The building that stood in front of me looked like the Parthenon. Still, it was slightly twisted and corrupted with tentacles like pillars spanning across the front, With the roof section showing a diagram of the torture of humans by the demons. Following Vol¡¯goth up the stair towards the entrance, I soon realized the under the pillars were humanoids being crushed with weary faces. Past the supports into the interior, a faint chanting could be heard from an undetermined source. The main area of worship looked like a slaughterhouse with many altars placed on the side walls with new sacrifice. In the middle, a line of pews flanked a large open Dias where a podium was raised to an elevated position. Thought the most impressive thing of all was the statue on the far wall, which depicted me on a platform held up by humanoids in chains struggling to carry the weight. On the one hand, outstretched hung my symbol brighten by a brazer, and on the other hand, it held a planet. After viewing the room, we began to make our way to the back. Good thing that the temple was empty; otherwise, I¡¯m sure there would have been a commotion. Soon we find ourselves dwarfed by the massive statue which, on closer inspection, I find the ones holding it up are the many races that can be found in the game. Elves, Dwarves, and Humans find their home under my feet AS IT SHOULD BE. The voice from earlier seemed to rear its ugly head again. I was shrugging off what it has said. Though I totally don¡¯t disagree with it. Am I turning into the bad guy now? I¡¯ll have to spend some thinking about this particular problem. The sound of a heavy door opening brings me out of my thoughts as an elder demon in thick dark robes approaches us. Welcome, my lady, to my humble temple. I hope that this servant can be of the utmost help to use.¡± as he says, he kowtows to the ground as if worshiping a god. I wait a minute. I am a god. Looking over to Vol¡¯goth, I catch the tail end of an eye roll as he starts to stroke his face. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be of great help to us in the coming years.¡± hearing this, the priest stopped his worship and bolted back to standing, showing a glistening eye as if he had been crying. ¡°Thank you! I will not let you down. Not that has been settled, let us move on to the other subjects.¡± adjusting his hat made of maddening shapes, he began to move from he had come from expecting us to follow. Deciding to take the initiative, I followed behind him a few steps. So we found ourselves in winding passages with rooms and chambers on either side with no clear indication of where we were going. Soon we came to a set of double doors with the picture of the masses worshiping my symbol with a keyhole in the center. Your bath of faith has been prepared for many years, waiting for you to return. He pulled a key from under his robe and slots it and turns it with some enthusiasm. A loud click is heard as the doors slowly open in a room that looks like a royal bathhouse. With mosaic stretched across every surface, in the center of the bathhouse sits a black circle, but as you get closer, it turns out that is the bath. The priest seemed to present the blackness to me then turn to leave with Val¡¯ goth in tow. Damn, we should have brought a maid since now I have the bath to myself but no one to help me out of clothes. Well, here goes nothing. First, I remove the robes, the simple part. Staring at the dress, it is a tight fit, but I don¡¯t find it uncomfortable. Reaching to my back, I find that there is no zipper but a lacing down the back. Soon I grab the knot at the top of my back and begin to loosen it in a very time-consuming method, but it finally comes loose. I¡¯m free. Now naked, I can¡¯t help but look at the body I created with my own hands. The feeling was more of admiration than anything sensual. Shrugging my shoulder, I made my way to the black pool. Standing on the edge, I find no reflection staring back at me, just the abyss in front of me. Bracing myself, I reach out a toe and dip it into the black. Feeling it on my toe feels so good that it surprises me a little. Soon I yearn to enter the bath as if I had not bathed in years; I wanted to be clean. Before long, I find myself immersed up to my head in the liquid, finding total bliss in it. Closing my eyes, I let my head below the surface. Chapter 8 Darkness surrounds my awareness as I try and determine where I am. Moving is complicated, almost as if I''m swimming in syrup. But the more I move, the easier it becomes until I feel something break, and I find myself in the middle of the street in some downtown district. The neon lights glare from the storefronts and restaurants. A peal of thunder booms from above as my senses return to me as the falling rain hitting the ground enters my ears. Though I don''t feel the rain on my body, just the slight tingle passing through me. Looking at my transparent hand, I wonder if this is a dream of some sort. Looking around the street is empty, with a few patrons visible enjoying dinner. Feeling a slight pull from my left, I turned to find a door leading to an apartment complex. The glass looks clean and interior lit brightly. Walking towards the door, I grab to open it, but it just passes through. Rubbing my eyes at my stupidity, I walk past the door into the lobby. Walking past the wall of lockers and the reception desk, I walk up the stairs till the pulls stop me on the third floor. Moving down the hallway, I arrive finding a plain black door with a plack showing Room 313. Beyond the door, the antithesis of the building revealed itself to me. It was dark and messy with clothes and garbage tossed on the floor. Moving into the living room, I found that furniture had been moved to the sides, making room for something. Losing interest, I wandered to the bedroom, finding it in a similar state, but something was different. It felt good here like it had felt when I entered the pool. Searching for the source of this feeling, I soon find a black book hidden under the mattress. Moving to pick it up, instead of it passing through my hand, I could pick it up. Opening it exposed the ramblings of a mad man with rough sketchings of horrific things. Before I could explore the book further, the front door slammed shut, and keys jingled. Leaving the bedroom, I find a man putting something on the empty floor before taking off his hoodie. Distracted by the thing he put down, I didn''t notice that he had made his way past me into the bedroom. The rustling of cloth fills the silence, and a robed figure returns. The robes themselves are black and hastily put together; showing seems with different colored threads. Carries a black waved blade with white knuckles. In his other hand, he brings a bag full of red candles. Returning to space, he starts placing the nine candles in a specific patterning forming a circle around a large circular rug. Seemingly happy with his work, he removes the carpet revealing a nine cornered shape with overlapping lines surrounded by a ring with symbols at each corner. Moving the candles so that they covered each symbol, he grabbed a matchbox from his pocket and lit each one. The robed figure starts a low guttural chant as he grabs the knife, he pulls up his sleeve revealing scars of various sizes. Dragging the blade across his palm, he drops blood on each candle following a pattern. As the blood hits the symbol, it lights up with green energy with the candle following suit. Reaching over, he starts to unzip a large duffle bag revealing a girl of around ten or so years old. A gag was put in her mouth, blindfold across the eyes and arms tied behind the back. I''m conflicted about this. It seems he is about to sacrifice a little girl, but I don''t feel anything for her. I should be feeling horrified or be showing pity, but I feel nothing. Removing the girl from the bag, he places her in the middle of the circle. The green spreads from the corners to surrounding the girl. Taking his bloodied hand, he starts drawing symbols on the face, hands, and feet, also taking in the green aura. Seemingly down with his preparation, he takes the knife into his hand and lifts in the air and then close to his chest. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "Ydtix, my Goddess, I have prepared a sacrifice for you; please accept it in exchange for a favor. I''m the only one in this world who worships you. I want to be more useful to you. So please grant me some power so that the skeptical can be turned." After his words, he raised the knife once more. I know this voice sounds so familiar as if I had heard it earlier today. That''s when a loud crunch is understood as the blade penetrates the ribcage into the heart. In the process, the hood falls, showing the man I had set free. I am showing a face of not regret but of hope. He was calling me to give him powers outside of the game by killing innocent children. I can''t accept this at all. I need to report him at once who knows how many kids he''s- [A cultist has made a sacrifice in your name. +100 FAITH] [A cultist has asked for powers beyond the Abyss. It will cost 250 FAITH to give him what he desires. GIVE/DENY] I''m speechless. There is no way that this is real, but what happened in front of me would prove otherwise. I don''t know how to feel about this. Though the fact that I got a notification through this game means that this isn''t real, right? Yeah, there is no way that this is real, and this is just an episode created for the game since he said that he worked for the game company. Then if this part of the game, then I want to increase my FAITH in the future, so giving him his request makes sense. I reach out and hit the GIVE on the notification in front of me. After pressing it, the blood on the floor starts emitting a black fog that swirled upwards. It starts spinning faster and faster before shooting into his heart, knocking him on the ground. His body convulses with dark energy trying to assimilate into his body. Soon he stops and lays still without moving from his position. Soon I start to feel the force that put me here begin to grab at me, pulling me to where I came from. The building begins to shrink as the vast void once again takes front and center. Pushing my head past the dark surface reveals the exquisite bathhouse. Removing my self from the dark water, I find that I''m not wet, but I feel refreshed. A knocking can be heard from the door. "Mistress, it is your maids may we come in." "Yes, you may enter." The door opens to reveal my personal maid and her assistants carrying a new set of clothing this time with a deep purple shimmering on black fabric. Focusing on the material, it almost gives off a soothing feeling, but I simply shrug it off. "What is this made of?" "It is made from an abyssal beast with extreme mind-controlling power. Its skin was highly prized for its looks, so they were hunted for millennia, but now has managed except for one time, and that was offered to you," She looks a little stunned by the question but quickly hides it. "Interesting, but I would rather not keep the rest of the tour waiting." motioning to the maids. Now fully dressed, I make my way to the door to see what else this city has in store.