Chương 72: Here We Go

Joe jolted upright as something beeped in his mind. Veda sprang up nearby, eyes wide and darting.

"What is it? What did you hear? I don't sense anything." Before Joe could answer, a Gate flared into existence behind him. A massive swirl of green and orange mana spiralled into a glowing circle just feet away. The air around him shifted as the Gate solidified, medium-sized, but pulsing with power. He stared in confusion. Then the pull began, Wind rushed past his ears as the Gate sucked in the air around it, and him. Joe scrambled for anything to grab. But it was too late. The suction intensified.

In a blink, Joe and Veda were yanked from where they sat and hurled through the swirling vortex. Joe tumbled head over heels through a giant dune, finally landing with a dull thud, his head buried in a soft, warm mound. He pulled himself free and spat out a mouthful of grit.

"What the hell is going on!" he sputtered. Still slick with blood from the fight, he was now also completely caked in sand. The mixture clung to every inch of him. He reached to wipe his face… only to realize his hands were just as filthy.

"Fuck. Veda, where are you?" A small explosion of sand erupted nearby. Veda burst from the dune like a firecracker, spitting and sputtering.

"Ack! Petewwy!" Joe groaned. His body was still screaming in pain, mana low, every limb heavy and sore. Barely ten minutes had passed since the last Dingo died; he hadn't even had time to loot the bodies. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. His neck ached. All he could see was sand… and a gnome.

"What the fuck," he mumbled as a small, frantic gnome ran up to him, panting.

"You're here! Quick, we have to start now!" the gnome shouted, waving his arms wildly above his head.

"What? Who are you? What is going on?" Joe was more confused than he'd been in a long time. The gnome smacked him on the top of his head.

"Hey! That hurt, you little…"

"Heed my words! We will all perish if you don't activate Nature's Paradise right now!" Joe's whole body twitched. Who was this gnome? How did he know his skill? Why was he in such a… A low rumble cut through the air, making the sand tremble around them. Joe's head tilted toward the horizon. His breath caught. A vast wave of pitch-black darkness rolled over the dunes, devouring everything in its path. Whatever it touched vanished into its inky depths. Just looking at it sent a jolt of primal fear down his spine.

He didn't know what it was… but he knew that if it reached them, they were dead. He dropped to his knees and pressed both hands into the sand. He hesitated, glancing at his nearly empty mana bar.

"Shit," he cursed. Nature's Paradise wasn't like his touch. It needed mana, and lots of it. Closing his eyes, he switched to his enriched mana bar. Please, he thought. Then activated the skill. A pulse of verdant energy erupted outward. But instead of the usual reaction, a strange green bubble shimmered to life, expanding ten feet in every direction. It enclosed him, Veda, and the gnome just as the black wave reached them.

"Oh, my system. That was close," the gnome exclaimed, eyes wide as it stared at the churning darkness pressing against the edge of the green bubble.

"This won't hold for long," Joe said through gritted teeth. Every inch of his body throbbed. His fingers were numb. All he wanted was to lie down and sleep. The gnome turned and gave him a quick once-over.

"Ah, I see the problem. You have no mana. And in such a state." It skipped over and plopped down behind Joe, placing its small hands on his back.

"I can stop the mana rebound. You just keep going. If that "£$"%&$£" gets in, we're all dead." Joe shook his head. The word the gnome had used hadn't quite registered in his brain. It was like hearing something he wasn't meant to comprehend. He felt a headache pulsing deep in his brain.

"How do you know me? How do you know my skills?" Joe asked as he focused, forcing nature energy to continue flowing into the barrier. But something was wrong. None of the energy was healing him. Normally, when casting Nature's Paradise, he received a trickle of healing. Now? Nothing. His wounds were closed on the outside, but deep inside, he was still a mess. He gritted his teeth, forcing the pain to the back of his mind.

"Pah! You High Humans, always with the questions!" the gnome scoffed. Veda crawled into view, sluggishly moving toward Joe. Her eyes were wide, fixed on the gnome, not with annoyance, but genuine fear. The look in her eyes was so shocking that the bubble dimmed slightly as Joe lost concentration for the briefest of moments. He'd never seen her so afraid. Not like this. She climbed into his lap and curled up, trembling slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but she looked up and locked eyes with him.

She shook her head slowly. Saying nothing. Joe shut his mouth. He closed his eyes, focusing on Nature's Paradise, watching his enriched mana bar tick down as the dark wave coiled and raged outside their tenuous sanctuary. Ding! Profession Nature's Guardian has reached level 83 - stat points distributed. Veda's tail snapped up and smacked Joe across the face. He blinked, shaking his head.

"Thanks," he muttered, barely able to stay conscious. Exhaustion clung to him like a weight. He was far beyond the limits of fatigue, past any reasonable understanding of the word. How long had he been sitting in this bubble, holding Nature's Paradise? His enriched mana bar was nearly empty… again. The gnome sprang up and jammed a rainbow-coloured pill into his mouth without warning. Then he returned to his spot behind Joe, placing both hands back on his back. Joe's enriched mana bar surged to full in an instant.

He just knows, Joe thought. Every time his bar gets low, he knows. He shook his head gently, too drained to even be surprised anymore. He'd been holding this barrier for at least a few hours now, maybe more. And Veda… she still hadn't said a single word. Not out loud. Not over the party chat. Nothing. Joe's mind was unravelling. Frayed, half-delirious, he sat surrounded by the relentless storm of darkness pressing against his bubble of green light. He was starting to hate everything…

his body, his mind, this cursed place. He needed sleep. Rest. Healing. Anything. Why was he even here?

"Can you at least tell me what is going on?" he asked. His voice was raw.

"How long is this going to last?" No response.

"Mr Gnome?" Nothing. Joe let his head hang in defeat. His body trembled as he fought to stay upright, to stay awake, to keep the bubble alive. He tried not to pass out. __ Corel sprinted down a corridor at full speed, cursing aloud as she rounded a sharp corner and bolted toward the palace's eastern wing. Why was this place so damn big? It was larger than most cities, she was sure they could've fit the entire Relashra Pillar and all its people into just one wing, and there would still be room left over.

She raced past a group of armed guards, who simply nodded as she flew by. No one questioned her anymore. It felt like every guard had seen her at some point or another during her endless errands. The princess and the monster never gave her a moment's rest. She tried to recall the last time she'd slept… was it three days ago? Four? Everything blurred together now. Rose had a bottomless list of tasks for her, and Daisy… Corel grit her teeth, sliding to a halt and falling to one knee, panting for breath.

A door creaked open ahead of her, revealing a wrinkled blue face with long ears peering down.

"Still at it, I see. Well, come in now, hurry," the old, gravelly voice beckoned. The speaker was one of the long-eared, multicoloured race Corel had come to know were called the Vries Mortifi. This particular one went by the simple, if baffling, name of Old Codger.

"Take a seat, my dear. The potion will be ready soon," Old Codger said with a warm smile as she helped Corel to a chair. Corel collapsed into it without protest, immediately massaging her legs. She'd been running at full speed for over two hours to get here. For now, she was just relieved to rest, if only for a moment. A knock at the door.

"Enter, Daisy, it's open," Old Codger said, not turning from the swirling mass of liquids and clinking glass flasks before her. Daisy glided into the room with the poise and grace of a dancer. She approached Corel without a word.

"Here, for your return run," she said, handing Corel a small pill. Corel accepted it gratefully.

"Thank you, Mistress," she replied in her most polite tone before swallowing the pill. Instantly, her aching body was restored to peak condition. She stood up straight and gave Daisy a respectful bow. Daisy gave a slight nod of approval.

"Ready to give up yet? You can leave at any time," Daisy said nonchalantly.

"No, Mistress," Corel replied, keeping her irritation firmly in check. Daisy made that same offer every few hours, but Corel would not break. She met Daisy's gaze and held it. You will not break me, she thought. Daisy smiled faintly, then turned and left the room. Corel exhaled slowly, relieved. The monster hated her; she made no effort to hide it. Yet, strangely, she still treated her well in some ways.

Whenever Corel was on the brink of collapse, Daisy would appear with one of those miraculous pills, instantly restoring her body. The first time it happened, Corel had foolishly believed it was a sign that Daisy was easing up. She'd been so wrong. Those pills weren't kindness, they were fuel. Fuel for harder tasks, longer sprints, more strain. But Corel couldn't refuse. She had a job to do. She did want to know the recipe for those pills, though…

"It's complete, dear," Old Codger handed her a small, ornate vial filled with a vibrant pink liquid.

"You'd better be off. And don't worry, we are all rooting for you. Whatever the reason you are here, I hope you succeed." Corel gave the Vries Mortifi a grateful nod and bowed before sprinting off at full speed toward the princess's wing. Corel knelt in the chamber just outside Rose's dressing room, clad in the same gold and black uniform Daisy wore. To her surprise, it was both comfortable and unrestrictive, and it even gave her a +500 boost to both agility and strength.

She made a mental note to keep the outfit once all this was over, even if she had to fight Daisy for it. A door creaked open, and Daisy strode into the chamber. She stopped in front of the kneeling Corel.

"Rise," she said smoothly. Corel stood at attention. Daisy turned and moved to stand beside her in the same formal posture she'd drilled into Corel from day one. A moment later, Rose entered the room. She wore a dazzling blue and green gown, its skirts cascading elegantly to the floor. Her hair floated in a suspended halo of water, and within it swam three small green fish that bobbed as she walked.

"How do I look?" Rose asked with a graceful twirl.

"Beautiful," Corel replied, awe in her voice.

"I preferred the russet dress," Daisy said flatly.

"Oh, shush, Daisy," Rose said with a playful wave. She smiled at Corel.

"Thank you, Corel."

"Now, shall we go?" Corel stepped forward and opened the doors to the portal chamber. She led the princess inside, and soon, they were off to another long day of greeting emissaries and entertaining Empire officials. Corel sighed quietly and prayed the quest would end before she ended up murdering someone. __ Joe's eyes flickered as sleep began to pull at the edges of his consciousness… but they sprang wide open as a roar erupted in his mind. Time seemed to slow as the black shadow crashed down toward him.

He moved on instinct, grabbing the gnome as it swung into his view. His bloodline skill, Light of Uriel, activated, and a surge of radiant energy filled his entire body; even his mana-depleted arm pulsed with light. Desperately, he reached out with his mind, searching for any place, any scrap of safety. There was no time. The shadow was about to hit. Drawing on his enriched mana, he triggered a Space-Jump to a destination he couldn't see… anywhere but here.

He reappeared high above the desert, miles from his previous location. The Light of Uriel faded from him. His mind reeled from the strain of the overextended jump, pain screaming through his body… and he blacked out. They plummeted. Veda coiled her tail tightly around him, hugging him close just before they crashed down into a dune. The gnome landed with a bounce on Joe's back, cackling with glee.

"Hahaha, that was close! You, serpent, wake him. Here it comes." Joe jolted awake as something shook him violently, spitting out a mouthful of sand. It took him a few disoriented seconds to register where he was. He sat up and dropped into a meditative pose, drawing in nature energy to mend what he could. His body still throbbed with pain, and his mind spun in chaotic turmoil. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

He heard the crash of waves, an unnatural sound in the middle of the desert. He activated Nature's Paradise. The protective bubble sprang up around them just as the black wave slammed into it. The shield held. They were safe. Again. The gnome danced in a wild circle, laughing before hopping back onto Joe's shoulders. The nausea from the enriched Space-Jump began to ease. Joe took deep, steadying breaths, trying to calm the frantic beat of his heart. That had been way too close. But it gave him an idea…

"Gnome, give me a normal mana pill," Joe said suddenly. Veda turned toward him, her eyes wide with alarm. The expression on her face was clear: You're insane. Don't push your luck. Joe ignored it. After a pause, the gnome tilted its head.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch it."

"I said," Joe growled.

"Give me a normal mana pill. Not one of those enriched ones you've been shoving down my throat." His irritation slipped through his words, the strain of everything catching up with him. Another long moment passed before a blue mana pill floated into view. Joe snatched it out of the air and swallowed it. The familiar pulse of mana flowed through him as his bar surged to full.

"Thank you." Joe let his muscles relax and closed his eyes. He stretched out his senses as far as they would go, probing the darkness beyond the bubble. But there was no edge that he could feel. The darkness blanketed everything above the sand on which they sat. The edge of the darkness was beyond the distance he could sense. He took a deep breath.

"Veda, climb up and hold on tight." Veda stared at him in disbelief, vigorously shaking her head.

"Trust me, okay?" Joe urged. Still shaking her head, she hesitated, then sighed and reluctantly climbed onto his chest, wrapping herself around him in a tight hug.

"Mr Gnome, or whatever your name is," Joe said, glancing back, "please hold tight; I'm going to try something." The gnome cackled raucously.

"Atta boy!" he cheered, clutching Joe's back tightly. Joe closed his eyes and extended his senses, this time downward, deep into the sand. He pushed harder, forcing his strained, weary mind to stretch as far as it could. Slowly, he felt the edges of his perception settle far below, where there was only sand.

"Time to roll the dice," he mumbled, then activated Space-Jump. Boom! The dunes shook all around as the trio exploded into the tiniest of spaces deep below the sand. The space warped and puffed out as Joe found himself inside a small, cramped, cave-like space, barely big enough for the three of them. Joe breathed in. Air. Real air. He closed his eyes in silent thanks. Veda slid off him and collapsed next to his side.

"Excellent! Great idea! Nap time," the gnome announced, then rolled onto his back and fell asleep on the spot. Joe didn't hear him. He passed out the moment his body hit the cave floor. A distant rumble shook the small cave. Joe blinked, his mind sparking into wakefulness. His heart thudded loudly in his chest. He reached out, grabbed Veda, and pulled her onto his chest. The gnome climbed up behind him and clung to his back once more.

"Time to go, go, go," the gnome sang eagerly. Joe activated Uriel's Light and launched them upward with a Space-Jump, aiming for the surface. They appeared mid-air and immediately began to fall. Joe twisted as they dropped, scanning the horizon. He caught sight of the darkness-now drilling into the sand, carving a path downward. It paused, then shifted direction, flowing straight toward him. He Space-Jumped again, blinking miles away and landing softly on a distant dune.

By his guess, he'd managed an hour of rest, far more than he'd hoped for. It would have to do. He broke into a jog, mana wrapping tightly around him as he activated Mana-Coating and then Nature's Paradise. The familiar green bubble shimmered into existence, moving with him as he ran. It worked. Normally, the skill rooted him in place, but in this strange world, the bubble gave him freedom to move. And now, after his short rest, his legs were steady.

He kept jogging forward, the bubble soon swallowed by the incoming darkness… but it held strong. On his back, the gnome howled with laughter. Ding! Profession Nature's Guardian has reached level 89 - stat points distributed. __ Corel sat beside Rose, nodding along as the princess vented about her duties, expectations, and how unfair life could be. She offered the occasional word of sympathy while keeping part of her attention on Daisy, who stood nearby like a silent storm cloud.

Corel waited patiently for the moment Daisy might drop her guard. It came when a short, yellow-skinned maid entered and whispered something into Daisy's ear. The Vries Mortifi cast a glance in Corel's direction. Corel kept her expression neutral, as though hanging on every one of Rose's complaints. Without a word, Daisy turned and followed the maid out of the room. Corel moved the instant they were gone.

"I agree completely. Your mother should have known better," she said smoothly, rising to her feet.

"Would you like some tea, Princess?"

"Oh, Corel, that would be lovely. And make sure you pour a cup for Daisy, for when she returns." Corel walked to the dresser and began preparing three cups. Her hands moved calmly and efficiently.

"Princess, have you given any thought to what kind of dance you might practice for the upcoming competition?"

"Oh my, what a wonderful idea! I still need to choose the perfect dance, something elegant but with impact!" Rose launched into an excited ramble about styles, moves, and matching outfits. Her attention shifted completely from Corel. With deft fingers, Corel slipped a tiny pouch from her sleeve and sprinkled its contents into the cups. The leaves dissolved instantly, leaving no trace. One for each of them. By the time Rose's gaze returned, Corel was already approaching with two cups in hand.

"Thank you, dear. You really are a treasure," Rose said, accepting one with a warm smile. She paused, eyes flicking down to the cup for a brief moment. When she looked back up, her eyes gleamed with mischief. Did she know? Corel wondered. Rose took a sip of the tea and smiled.

"Delicious, isn't it? I do love this blend. Drink up, Corel. We have dances to discuss." Corel smiled and took a long sip of her tea. Victory! __ Daisy huffed as she returned to Shanshara's room. The moment she stepped inside, her senses prickled. A strange scent lingered in the air, subtle, unfamiliar. She closed the door softly, eyes narrowing. Something wasn't right. She looked to her Shanshara and the invader. The two sat close together on the edge of the bed, giggling like children. Daisy's scowl deepened.

"What is going on?" she asked, stepping forward. She sniffed again. There it was… that faint trace of something she didn't recognize.

"Daisy, come sit with us," Rose said, patting the space beside her.

"Drink with us! Corel was just telling me the most hilarious story." Rose's arm draped casually around Corel, who offered Daisy an innocent, saccharine smile. Daisy paused. That smile… She knew that smile. It was the same mischievous expression she'd seen on Rose countless times in her younger, more rebellious days. There was no mistaking it. Corel had done something.

She moved to protest, but before she could speak, Rose shoved a teacup into her hands and then directly into her mouth, pouring the warm liquid down her throat. Daisy sputtered in shock as the tea filled her.

"Rose! I can drink for myself! What are you…" She stopped. Her eyes widened as her vision blurred. A faint, shimmering wisp appeared just over Rose's shoulder. There was something in the tea… and just like that, Daisy knew she'd been infected. Panic surged as she tried to activate a cleansing skill… but she stopped short. Her eyes snapped to Corel.

"You… What did you put in that tea?" Daisy growled, though her voice wavered. The room tilted strangely. Her focus slipped. Corel was laughing now, carefree and victorious.

"I told you she'd like it. Let's get more into her, Princess. It will help her loosen up."

"Good idea! Drink this, Daisy," Rose said brightly, summoning the cup into her hands. Once again, the tea was pressed to Daisy's lips, and she swallowed automatically. Why did she think about resisting? The tea was divine. She felt amazing… floaty and free. So what if the room swam with strange wisps and tilted like a boat in high tide? It was all fine. More than fine. Daisy's protest melted into delighted laughter as she threw her arms around Rose.

__ Corel tumbled into a wardrobe overflowing with dresses and suits.

"Haha, Corel, you can barely walk! That's so funny!" Rose's voice was a song of laughter as she plopped herself into Daisy's lap.

"Daisy, I do love you so much! Kiss me!" The two long-eared Vries Mortifi kissed and clung to one another, giggling like schoolgirls. Corel cackled uncontrollably as she flopped onto the floor, her body wracked with laughter. This was the best day since arriving here! She crawled toward the bed, wrapping her arms around Daisy from behind.

"Let's wrestle! First to win gets to give the loser a punishment!"

"Yes!" Rose shouted, already lunging into the fray. The trio collapsed into a heap of giggles and tangled limbs, laughing and shrieking as the wrestling match began. __ Alkaios Terravignion strode through the palace with purpose. He was heading straight for Rose's quarters. Troubling reports from the maids had reached his ear… something odd was going on, and he needed to check if the whispers were true. An explosion rocked the hallway ahead.

Alkaios broke into a sprint, arriving at Rose's Chamber just in time to find the door hanging off one hinge. He paused at the threshold, blinking in disbelief. Inside, three nearly naked figures were engaged in what could only be described as magical chaos, lightning crackled, jets of water blasted, and arcs of wild mana sizzled through the air. Laughter echoed off the gilded walls as the trio hurled skills at each other with reckless abandon. Alkaios groaned, slapped a hand to his face, and closed his eyes.

With a wave, he restored the door to perfect condition. He reached for the handle, but…

"Alk, come join us!" Rose called brightly from within.

"No, thank you, sister," he said as he slammed the door shut. With a swift pivot, he turned and walked away, deciding firmly that whatever madness was unfolding in that room, he wanted none of it. He will clean up the fallout tomorrow. __ Joe ran. The pressure of the darkness surged around him, pressing hard against the shrinking bubble of Nature's Paradise. He staggered, barely keeping his footing. Every breath was ragged. Every step a struggle. His head throbbed.

An hour earlier, he'd felt something in the distance, a faint calling, like a beacon, and the gnome on his back had begun to yell in frantic excitement.

"Run, run! The darkness comes! Run!" That was when the real pressure had begun, and Joe had pushed forward with everything he had. Now, he was barely standing. His mana was gone. His limbs were heavy. He had no mana-coating to protect or aid him. Only raw strength and sheer willpower remained. The bubble flickered, contracting closer to him with every second. He stumbled. He fell. And then he crawled, dragging himself forward through the endless sand, inch by agonizing inch.

"Soon, the darkness takes us, and all shall be black and gone!" the gnome sang cheerily from Joe's back. Joe wanted to yell at the maddening little creature, but he had no strength to waste. He kept crawling. Then stumbled to his feet. Then crawled again. So close… he was so close. The pressure increased, crushing, suffocating. He dropped to his knees. Blood spilt from his mouth. The protective bubble shrank, no longer large enough for him to even stand.

The darkness roared louder, crashing down in thick, relentless waves. But he didn't stop. He clawed his way forward, blind to distance, blind to time. Just moving. Crawling. His arms burned like they were on fire. His legs slipped in the sand. Still, he pushed forward, dragging his broken body across the dunes. Until he couldn't. His limbs gave out. His face hit the sand. There was nothing left. No strength. No mana. No hope.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. The bubble winked out of existence, and the darkness swallowed them whole.

"Well done, lad. I'll take it from here," was the last thing Joe heard as the world went black. Joe opened his eyes. He was alive. A green sky stretched out above him. He didn't move, just stared upward, letting the feeling sink in.

"I'm alive," he mumbled, more in disbelief than celebration. Veda's face appeared before him. Her red eyes locked onto his. Her tongue flicked out and licked his cheek.

"We made it?" he asked as he tried to sit up, surprised when it actually worked. Even more surprising: he was healed. No pain, no wounds, no blood. He quickly checked himself over. His gear was spotless. His sunglasses, which had been cracked and damaged, were flawless once again. Everything was back to how it had been. He let out a long, relieved sigh and looked up at the sky… only it wasn't the sky. A bright green bubble shimmered high above, encasing the area like a dome.

Joe turned his attention to his surroundings. A small hut stood nearby, along with a peaceful pond. One tree leaned over the water, its drooping branches and orange leaves swaying gently like a willow. Beyond that, only endless sand. No sign of the gnome. Veda leapt to his shoulders, still eerily silent. Joe rose to his feet and took a tentative step forward. A flashing at the corner of his vision stopped him. Notifications. He opened them… and his eyes widened. Level 99 in his profession. What?

Had he really used his skills that long? Apparently so. He still had 150 unassigned stat points, which he dumped straight into strength. Then he noticed something else: a new skill. Nature's Embrace(Legendary). But for some reason, the description wouldn't load. His first legendary profession skill. He let out a low whistle and continued. He walked up to the hut and knocked gently on the door. He heard a bit of rattling inside. After a few moments, the door creaked open.

The gnome stood in the doorway, staring up at him.

"Ah, awake? Good, come in and eat." Joe ducked through the small doorway and stepped into a room far larger than the hut's exterior suggested. He blinked in confusion; it was like walking into the TARDIS from Doctor Who. The space stretched out wide, airy and warm. A long table sat at the centre, surrounded by orange chairs that felt like polished wood. The walls were a light, earthy brown, soft on the eyes. Joe made his way to the table and took a seat.

The gnome soon returned, carrying a massive plate piled high with meat and what looked like golden potatoes. The second it was set down, Joe devoured everything; he didn't even pause to question if it was safe to eat the food offered by the gnome. It was incredible, flavorful, juicy, and satisfying in a way that seemed almost magical. When he finished, he leaned back in the chair, exhaling deeply. The gnome waddled back with a goblet and dropped it in front of him.

"Drink!" he bellowed with a chuckle. Joe picked up the goblet. A thick, intoxicating fragrance wafted from it, sweet, rich, and dizzying. Veda shot from behind him and bolted out of the hut in a blur. Joe barely registered her movement. All his attention was fixed on the drink. He took a sip. Bliss. Pure, overwhelming bliss poured through him… until fire erupted from his eyes and a scream tore from his throat. __ Veda sprinted from the hut and made straight for the edge of the green dome.

She dropped to the sand and started digging, frantic and desperate. She dug deep, deeper, until the bubble's magic stopped her progress. She curled into a tight ball and lay still. Why was there a God here? Why, in all the multiverse, was another God interested in Joe? She pressed herself deeper into the sand, trembling.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, just as explosions cracked the air above her. __ Aliosandros, the God of Wine, watched with mild amusement as the High Human swallowed his carefully brewed concoction. A one-of-a-kind potion, created during a particularly inspired and inebriated evening, it granted thirty days of immortality. True immortality. No death, no matter the wound. But pain? That remained. Every nerve, every scream, every agony would still be felt. Limbs would regrow. Organs would knit back together.

But the torment in between? That was the cost. Aliosandros raised his hand and pulled forth a massive warhammer from his inner domain. His form rippled, his gnome disguise discarded in an instant. Towering upwards, he stretched, his divine frame rippling with strength, until he reached ten metres tall.

"This will do nicely," he said with a grin, flexing his muscles as a scream echoed from nearby. He gave the hammer a casual test swing. The hut, walls, furniture and all, ceased to exist, reduced to splinters and dust. Standing amidst the wreckage, he glanced up at the green dome above and expanded it with a flick of his fingers, granting himself ample space. He leapt. When he landed, the entire world seemed to tremble from the impact.

Another swing sent a shockwave of sand and wind crashing against the bubble's inner walls. He inhaled the scent of destruction with a smile and looked around.

"Now, where was that High Human?" There… crawling, one arm already missing, blood in his wake.

"There you are," Aliosandros said with a toothy grin. He lifted his hammer. And swung.