We were met by the king, his malevolent grin sending a chill down my spine. His eyes curved upward, brimming with expectation, as his gaze pierced deep into our souls, saturating the air with an atmosphere of malice. I faced him, resolute and breathless, waiting for his command to speak, longing for the moment when we could finally breathe freely. Yet, it seemed one of our party, ever too self-important, spoke out of turn.
"Oi, Your Majesty," Rebecca blurted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Can you explain how I had the least contribution in this quest?" she challenged, her voice dripping with the kind of arrogance that dared him to disagree. The king's gaze turned icy, a muscle twitching in his jaw as if he were envisioning her head mounted on a stake, a testament to her foolishness. The silent fury that enveloped us was palpable, a bloodlust tightening around our throats. Still, Rebecca stood her ground, a defiant glare in her eyes as if daring the king to challenge her misplaced confidence. Seething with rage yet bound by the rules of this realm, he finally began to speak.
"Rebecca Harris," he said, his voice steady, "I know not what the fates have decreed. I know not what you believe you have accomplished. Any answer I give will merely reflect my professional and personal reasoning. Is that satisfactory to you?" His unexpected politeness was disconcerting; it felt as if he was placing Rebecca on a precarious pedestal, a foundation destined to crumble. He relished this moment, deriving pleasure from her impending downfall. This was the king revealing his true nature.
After a deliberate pause, he continued, "It's actually somewhat humorous, your hubris. You claim you do not deserve this lowly position, yet all your actions point to it. From the beginning, you believed this quest was designed for you, yet you never questioned whether that was truly the case. Your arrogance will be your undoing. It prevented you from accepting guidance from others and listening to allies when victory was within your grasp. Your failure to acknowledge your comrades' concerns, which led them to the right conclusion, speaks volumes. So, tell me honestly: do you truly believe you deserve the top position? Perhaps the loss of stats will teach you a valuable lesson. You will be the only one left unrewarded. I hope you learn today."
The king's gaze turned towards Rebecca, as if she were nothing more than a bothersome fly. Rage flickered across her face as she scanned the room, her envy and anger palpable, even directed at her own sister. Yet, the worst part was the clear dismissal of his words.
The deities are interested in this conversation.
"Rebecca Harris," he continued, his tone shifting to a more personal note, "that was my professional opinion. Now I shall share my personal thoughts, so heed my words. You are vermin, the lowest of the low. Your mere presence irritates me. The fact that you are even in this temple is a stain on my Lady's image. How dare you stand here, in Her holy grounds? I wish nothing but the worst upon you. You are fortunate that the system permits me to allocate punishments only for the first two floors; you will still be rewarded on the others. But heed this: the system is far cruller than I. You will answer to me before you assess what has befallen you. Do you understand?"
As he finished his tirade, disgust painted his face, the silence around us thickening until it was shattered by the cawing of a crow. "This is absolute bullshit, and you know it!" I recognized the look on Rebecca's face, embarrassment turned to aggression. "You? Punish me? How dare you! Need I remind you that you're here due to your Lady? I will not have this disgrace attached to my name. Perhaps it's your Lady who made the mistake." In that moment, she sealed her fate.
A certain deity relinquishes potential patronage
"You dare?… YOU DARE BESMIRCH LADY ATHENA'S NAME!" he spat, his voice a low growl, each word dripping with venom that pierced the silence like a blade. "Her grace is beyond description, her presence unmatched. Yet you have the audacity to question her very dominion? Do you wish to share the fate of those who've crossed me before? Enough. Olympus, since I cannot punish her, I implore your assistance. Use your almighty power to punish her!"
The Greek pantheon has heard the plea.
Olympus is voting.
…
Voting has concluded.
10 for.
1 against
1 abstained.
The system has decided the punishment.
Enacting now.
Without warning, a horrendous screech erupted from my left. Rebecca writhed in agony, her pain visceral and horrifying. I watched as her arm contorted, her shirt ripping apart, revealing the gruesome reality beneath. Muscles twisted, tearing from tendons with a sickening sound, a crack that sent shockwaves through her body, robbing her of her ability to scream. She collapsed, bones protruding grotesquely from her flesh. But the worst part, the utter lack of blood, was inhumane, surreal, and unfathomable. I blinked, momentarily dazed, and when I opened my eyes, it was gone. The arm had vanished, as if it had never existed, and a message appeared to notify us of the dire situation.
Rebecca Harris has offended those who are dearly loved by the system. She has offended the great council of one of the most powerful pantheons. As per their request, we decided to remove her right arm painfully, as a right handed archer she will now be unable to shoot unless she ascends to mortal aspirant. In order to maintain balance we will give F ranked throwing knives so she is still able to embody the spirit of an archer.
An Olympian Goddess wishes to relay a message.
Permission granted.
Displaying now:
"A maiden who does not know how to accept her shortcomings is not worthy of becoming one of my huntresses, a shame, I had high hopes for this one. I enjoyed this particular punishment, despite losing a new archer. My brother also is jumping with joy from this."
Lady Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, Wild Animals, The Moon, Nature, Chastity, Childbirth, Fertility, Health, Archery, Virginity, Sacred Groves and Springs, Protector of the Innocent, and Agriculture.
This news was shocking to us all, mostly Rebecca of course, but I couldn't help but grin as I saw her overconfident facade crumble away. The king left and simply told us he couldn't bear to be in the same room as Rebecca. The most surprising of all was Anna. She consoled her sister, but her eyes were void of any empathy. I wonder how long she has been playing this game.
Thankfully the silence lasted long enough for me to check my status.
Name: Hudson Mitchell
Rank: Mortal (F)
Class: Light Warrior
Patron #1: N/A
Patron #2: N/A
Patron #3: N/A
Skills:
Identify Level 1 [A]Low Pain Resistance Level 8 [P]Predatorial Vision Level 9 [A]Chaotic Battle Instinct Level 5 [A]
Before I could revel in my newfound abilities I noticed there was one notification I have yet to read.
New Item.
Grippy Vambraces (F)
Crafted by Creidhne, the Celtic god of metalwork, when he was a kid and kept dropping things in his forge. These vambraces were made for those with beastly instincts,or at least, that's what the myths say. In reality, they were just meant to help him hold onto his tools without burning himself. They give a small boost to grip and strength, like enough to lift a heavy barrel or wrestle a sheep,but don't expect to tear through steel. They've got that weird, sticky feel, probably from all the random animal hides and old forge dust used to make them. Also, they smell faintly of wet fur. Super practical.
"Thank the heavens for this," I muttered, relief washing over me as I wore them. Now, I possess three items to my name. But I needed a sword, a weapon I desperately craved, yet the system persistently denied me. Each prayer for a blade went unanswered, and the sting of that rejection gnawed at my pride. I had come to terms with my identity and glimpsed the path before me, but one truth remained unwavering: I needed a sword.
As I pondered my plight, my colleagues began to read their status updates. Anna, with her characteristic cheer, offered a suggestion to lighten the mood. "Hey Bex, why don't we announce our items? So you don't feel bad." I was taken aback by her tone; it was genuine, but surely she couldn't be that naïve. Did she truly lack the empathy to recognize her sister's potential distress?
Shawn, ever perceptive, spoke up first. "Um, Anna? I hate to say this, but don't you think announcing items might actually upset your sister, especially if she's the lowest among us?" He watched as a smile crept onto Anna's face, oblivious to the tension she was creating.
"I appreciate your concern, Shawn," she replied, resting a hand reassuringly on his arm, "but my intention is to show Bex that catching up isn't as hard as it seems." Her delicate smile lit her fair features, and she gestured toward Rebecca, whose mood was evidently fragile. "Go ahead, Bex. Share your items."
"Arrows and knives " Rebecca murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"A cloak, and gloves" Anna declared confidently.
"I got a chestguard and boots," Shawn added, puffing out his chest with pride.
Their gazes turned to me, expectant and probing. I felt the weight of their scrutiny, a palpable tension in the air as if they were waiting for a cue to a game I didn't want to play. Anna's deceit hung heavy between us; I could see the false bravado in her eyes. Would lying about my own level provide me with temporary safety, or would it merely deepen the rift between us?
For a fleeting moment, doubt crept in. Would it be so terrible to bend the truth, to shield myself from their judgement? But no. I wouldn't compromise my integrity for their comfort. The thought of fabricating a lie twisted in my gut. I'd rather stand alone, swordless and exposed, than kneel before their expectations.
If my honesty painted me as the enemy, then so be it. I would bear that label with pride, for I was no weakling to hide behind deception. The truth was my armour, even if it left me vulnerable. I would forge my own path, one built on the strength of authenticity, no matter how daunting the journey ahead.
Your Potential Patron is proud of your vigilance and pride.
"Pauldrons, boots, and vambraces," I stated, watching as their reactions unfolded. Anna feigned indifference, likely relieved to find herself close to my level. Shawn beamed at me, a glint of excitement in his eyes as if eager for the rivalry I had unwittingly created. Then there was Rebecca, whose contempt was palpable. My victory hurt her pride, and I felt a mischievous urge to stoke that fire, relishing the chaos of the moment.
Your potential patron is proud of both your vigilance and pride.
"See, Rebecca? You have 2 items, I have 3," I said, forcing a playful frown. "Unfortunately, that's what happens when you go against your superiors." My words dripped with intentional malice, but I also wanted to gauge Anna's reaction. If she truly wished to play the role of the caring sister, she would chastise me.
"Hudson, you need to rein it in. Don't tease my sister," Anna responded, her voice firm but then faltering as she continued, "but you do have a point, Bex. It's not wise to challenge a demigod of a king." There it was; she had walked straight into my trap.
Shawn, troubled by my taunt, chimed in, "Hey man, that was a bit rude, not gonna lie."
I seized the opportunity to amplify the tension. "Nah, it's just funny." I let out a laugh, delighting in her misfortune.
Just as Shawn was about to retort, the king reentered the room, his presence a force that dwarfed us all. He looked down upon us as if we were mere vermin, perhaps sharing my sentiment: vermin belong among vermin. He paused over me for a moment, his gaze weighing heavily before he spoke.
"I hope you all grasp the gravity of our situation," he boomed, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. "To think you will need to escape my merciless palace alongside someone who can barely keep their balance... Well, consider yourselves fortunate. No weapons will be allowed on this floor." With a resonant laugh and a single snap of his fingers, we were whisked away once again.