"What...?" I gasped, jolting awake in a strange place.
Beneath me stretched a gray, lifeless plain, drowning in thick, unmoving mist. As I rose to my feet, an endless, suffocating void unfolded before my eyes.
Shapes stirred around me distorted, yet vaguely human. They moved slowly, shuffling as though wading through water. Their murmurs merged into a low, droning hum that sent a chill down my spine. One of them brushed past me... then another, and another.
"The Underworld," I whispered, staring in disbelief at my hands. They were translucent woven from fog and shadow.
So I was dead. But then why could I still think? Why did I feel like I didn't belong here?
I followed the aimless souls. They led me to a riverbank, where a small, weathered dock swayed gently on the water. There, a grim vessel waited in silence. I noticed not all souls were permitted to board. Some hit an invisible wall and remained behind, doomed to wander. Others stepped on without resistance.
I'm not ready to die. I must return.
But guarding the way back was a shadow Cerberus. There was no way around it, no slipping past unnoticed. Yet no other path remained.
*Caw*
A raven darted past, brushing my face like a fleeting shadow. It circled once, wings beckoning, and flew along the bank. Soon I saw it land on the prow of an old boat one already occupied.
I knew him at once.
A figure cloaked in decay, time-eaten robes draped over bones. Empty sockets stared from beneath a hood. In one hand he held a lantern; in the other, an oar.
Charon.
"So... we meet at last," he said, fixing me with that lifeless, soul-piercing gaze.
The lantern flared with a gentle glow. In the water's reflection, twisted faces flinched and cowered from the light.
"So it was you who sent the raven," I asked.
"Indeed." He nodded at the empty space beside him. "Come. Sit."
"There's no way back from here," I said, unmoving. "But here here I still have a chance. I won't submit. I won't go quietly into the realm of the dead."
"And how do you plan to escape?" Charon asked calmly. His voice was distant, detached yet within it, a faint trace of mockery. "You are surrounded by endless void. Even if you find a path, Cerberus waits. You cannot cross the Styx to reach another exit. For you, all ends here."
"I've seen souls return," I replied. "So there must be a way."
Charon tilted his head. "Perhaps. But those who return... are never the same. They come back twisted. Changed. To return is no gift it is a curse. Since then, Hades has tightened his grip. No soul passes without his will."
He rose from the boat, his steps hollow against the rotting wood of the pier. Then he reached out his hand to me.
"I know the way. And you can return."
"Why?" I asked, staring into the empty sockets of his skull. "Why would you bring me back to life?"
"Self-interest," he answered plainly. "The Underworld is caught in an endless cycle. I was created to do one thing ferry souls across the river. But it's all unraveling. Soon it will turn to dust, and with it, my purpose. I want to preserve the realm of the dead. The cycle of life and death must go on no matter what. And you... you can help me."
Once again, he extended his hand.
"What makes you think the Underworld is in danger?" I asked.
"The prophecy still holds," Charon replied. "A man will rise with crimson markings. He will destroy all gods. When they fall, so too shall the realms. Even death will die."
"And in this new Underworld... you hope to rule?" I scoffed.
"I am more suited for it than anyone else," he said without emotion.
"No." He might be telling the truth but I didn't trust him. Maybe he had drawn me here on purpose. I wouldn't make any pacts with him. Ever.
A spear materialized in my hand its weight suddenly real, its shaft firm in my grip. In one swift motion, I struck the lantern from his hand and caught it mid-air.
This light will guide me.
Charon didn't move. He only watched.
"You're making a mistake," he said quietly.
I turned toward the mist and followed the faint pull of instinct toward where, I felt, a path must lie.
"We will meet again," came his whisper from the gloom, "much sooner than you think."
The lantern in my hand flared with a soft blue flame. It would be my compass my guardian flame against wandering souls, a star in the night of the Underworld. I swept it side to side. The fire burned brighter in one direction.
I walked.
My mind was chaos. And yet, some part of me clung to reason hoping that the fragments of who I once was might help me now. I opened them.
*
Name:Damocles
Age: Unknown
Strength: ?
Agility: ?
Endurance: ?
Intellect: 19
Charisma: 15
Defense: ?
Talents:
Son of Sparta – +1 to base attributes (innate strength)
Spartan – +3 to all attributes (warrior's nature)
Mortal's Will - [Hidden Effect].You were born a human one of the weakest among all races. Yet through perseverance and the fire of your spirit, you have surpassed mortal limits. As long as the flame in your heart burns, you are unstoppable.
Evasion: 21% – chance to dodge a lethal blow (survival instinct)
David – +10% to all stats vs stronger enemies
Rock's Resolve – +3 Defense, reduces bleeding (unyielding spirit)
Fleeting Shadow – +20% Stealth (shadowborn)
Cunning of Hellas – skilled in deceit and manipulation
Child of the Forest – navigation, stealth, and survival in nature
Born of War – +2 to all combat skills (battle is your essence)
Abilities: ?
Debuff:
Death – complete loss of buffs and abilities upon dying.
Equipment / Artifacts:
Charon's Lantern – +5 Intellect, mind protection, reveals path (light of the deadlands)
*
There were no familiar weapons here, just ones I had little control over. No abilities that I remembered, and almost nothing that could help me. All I had was faith in the path and my own abilities.
The lantern glowed brighter. With cold determination, I moved forward.
Author's Note
Do you like the redesigned system better this way? I can revert to the previous version if you'd prefer.
I'll be releasing 2 more chapters on Patreon in an hour. I looked into the withdrawal process, and it's a real hassle for the country I live in.I searched for other platforms and found Ko-fi. It seems similar, but apparently simpler and there are no fees either.Are there any other options?