I get knocked against the wall.
"Wait, what?!"
She scoffs.
"Don't you dare talk to me with that filthy mouth of yours."
I sigh.
"Usato, we have to get serious..."
I start creating an axe to toss to Usato, but—
WHAM!
I get tossed to the wall, the wind completely knocked out of me.
'No way... I'm gonna die already, huh?'
The last thing I see is Usato hiding behind some vase, before ultimately I black out.
'That coward...'
***Dreamscape?**
I'm standing in a grass field full of lush flora and multiple giant towers, seemingly reaching the heavens.
'The hell...?'
I try to move, but my body feels anchored to the ground, unable to even move my eyes.
'So, uhm... What is this place?'
The system window dings in front of me
[Welcome to the 'Garden Of The Gods']
[Objective: Misc.]
[Reward(s): Vary.
[Note: Try your best to blend in with the rest!]
'Yo, what...?'
'THAT'S SO VAGUE!'
Suddenly I hear a voice from behind me, unable to determine if it's from a male or female.
"Seems like you're in quite the predicament. Would you like some help, little one?"
'Who's that...?'
My mind is racing with possibilities, before I come to the conclusion...
'Wait, is this heaven?'
The voice from behind me speaks again.
"Can't you, hear me, boy?— oh, right. Must be new...."
The voice goes from one with little to no respect, to one of straight condescendence.
'What the hell? I'm scared, man.'
"This is basically where you'd go to get stronger. But someone of your... calibur isn't supposed to be here. Unless..."
I try to move again, to try to at least look at the person.
'I have to see—'
"Turn around, and I snap your neck."
I immediately stop trying
'Oh! Great to know...'
"You must've been invited by him..."
They let out a long sigh and continue from where they were before.
"This is the garden where you can absorb Mana just from being here. Those towers are normally marked or owned by some god, so do try to not get in their way."
They start walking away and saying one last thing, "The towers are for upgrading specific stats or skills, by the way."
'Oh, so I'm getting mana from just standing here. I wonder how much...'
I open my status window.
'Everything checks ou— never mind. I grew two hundred levels...! Isn't that just peachy?'
I try to sigh, but to no avail of course.
'In any case, I should probably distribute these attribute points according to how I want to play... But this isn't some game. I have to actually think about this...'
I'm already making a speed build.
[Mana: 200,000.]
[Speed: 910.]
[Strength: 550]
[Agility: 500]
[Defense:500]
[Vitality: 500]
[Wisdom: 250]
'I'll save the rest for later. But... how do I get out?'
'I wanna go back.'
Darkness.
***
I wake up, tied to some bed with five people pointing pointing bows at me, one of which is the elf from earlier.
"Woah, calm down..."
She snorts.
"Calm down? How about telling us why you thought it was a good idea to sneak into the Emperor's castle?"
I swallow hard.
"So, would you believe me if I told you it wasn't of my own volition, or...?"
"So you were sent to invade the castle?"
"Well, yes... but no..."
She steps closer.
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm doing something for ****"
They suddenly cover their ears in pain, moaning and groaning. Almost as if it's being sensored or something...
'Can I not say anything about Amo? Interesting...'
'What about...?'
"********** ('Garden Of The Gods')"
They cover their ears again.
'So nothing directly linked to the area, I'm guessing...'
"What's with this witchery...?" She finally asks.
"proves I know more about anything than you'd ever even dream of."
I sit up, easily breaking the restraints, even though they were just twine.
"Follow my orders from now on, and I'll spare you once we reach the end of this."
They all nod, surprisingly... They seem happy?
"Thank you, we knew our ruler would return!" Someone shouts.
'Oh? So I'm guessing the ruler was absent probably... And now they think I'm the reincarnation of him? I don't know, just guessing here.'
"First. Introductions. You may refer to me as, "Sir Atlas" if you must address me at all. Your turn."
One specifically determined elf stands and introduces himself.
"I am Caelion. My specialty is the bow and arrow, sir."
I clap.
"See? That's how you do it, Caelion."
He bows and kneels again.
Who's next?
The elf from earlier when I first came into the castle stands.
"Sir Atlas, my name is Aeloria. I am extremely well-versed in all categories, you might find me useful to you."
I clap again.
"Great job, Ria."
"Is that a nickname...?"
"And, what about it?"
She smiles softly, so faint that I barely even noticed.
"Thank you, Sir Atlas..."
'What the hell? She's so cute...'
"Yeah, yeah. No problem. On with introductions."
***
I finish the other three introductions with no problem at all.
"First order of business. Find the humans in this castle known as Usato, and one named Rin Takanaka. Once you find them give them a sign with the code word "Creator" and ask them to follow you back. They shouldn't struggle then."
They bow and spread out, leaving me alone in the room.
"Great. Now, I'm lost."
I wander for a while, until eventually I stumble across a throne, which I obviously sit on.
One of the elves reports to me almost as soon as I sit down.
"What is it?", I ask.
"The human named Rin is causing quite the problem. We don't know how to handle it without harming her."
I let out a deep sigh.
"Try to lead her here, let her see my face."
The elf bows, "Yes sir!".
'Rin... We need to have a chat. I wonder where she's been or what she's doing. I wonder if she thinks I'm dead or something.'
A loud crash echoes through the corridors as and elf flies through the door.
"Oof!"
I look at him. "You uh... okay, there?"
He gives a thumbs up, but points outside the door.
I hear another voice, Rin's?
"Where is your leader?"