Master Of None

”With this moment of weakness instead of following whatever quest he ignored it. He fought the very system the world gave him. His failure to rescue the one person he cared about cause 913 to become something else. It was fascinating. I watched intently as I saw cracks appear over the very soul of 913. To go against the world was very frowned upon, to say the least but to try and destroy your own system? Idiotic. 913 shouted and flailed about saying things that there was no point in having the hero system. That the world had played a cruel joke. 913 rambled for almost an hour before turning his blade on himself attempting to destroy the part of him the system resides in. Naturally there was a consequence. I witnessed true darkness and evil envelope him. This rabble that had once been of human blood gave up its very form of existence. The system 913 had broken and cast aside changed. When this evil aura and smoke faded what was left was a man bearing a tail and two horns. Sharp red claws on his hands and a sword permanently dyed in his own blood. The system which bore the name heroic system was now the fallen’s system . The world and the system had cursed him but this did not stop 913. This subject 913 cosmos looked at us, at our very souls and said we were pathetic. He left that moment, we couldn’t even follow his movement. We tried to send the swarm of undead after him but found he had sealed the city. Our army could not leave.” The room trembled as it said these last words.

”These years we’ve had the undead gather our artifacts I’ve sent out talismans that will open the doors that lead here. Placed my experiments in certain areas. My entertainment has been slow. The more time passed the more treasure hunters, adventurers, knowledge sealers came but they never figured out the puzzles and keys I left to get to me. Sometimes I had them killed if they were weak, others I made my undead interrogate for information. 913 cosmos had left and joined the demons, stories of his ruthlessness scarred the humans and elves causing a massive war across the land. The hero wannabe had become a great evil instead. How amusing isn’t it? I know not what happened to 913 now but I do not care. Lately I’ve been more interested in my experiments trying to fuse undead with living monsters to see if they can become a perfect immortal body so I can leave this place.” Immortal king seemed to relax as he’d shared a rudimentary story of how things had reached this state.

This was a terrifying story for the party, they may not have plans to go against the system or the world but knowing there were major consequences would strike fear in to the bravest. They also had the title of hero therefore they worried that they could accidentally go against it and cause the same disaster as Cosmos.

”Sir, if I may ask. What happened to Cosmos after?” Remey was curious and was the first to break from her own thoughts.

”Ah finally another speaks, you look to be a fighter on the front lines. Those knuckles of yours give you away little one. To your question, I would say he’s alive with the demons. His body and system may be cursed and I’m sure he suffers from many things. I doubt the world and system would allow him to escape from it so soon.” An evil laugh escaped immortal king knowing the one who pushed and prodded to this existence was suffering brought it solace.

”Hmm it’s been long since I’ve had guests. I’m interested in all of you and your systems but if I heed that I’ll forget my experiments. There’s been a slight snag combining ancient bones and living flesh. So should I kill you or release you?” The presence in the room became dangerous at this question.

Walker was thinking about what the immortal king was experimenting on and feared for the unlucky creatures that became its subjects. This sparked an idea, they’d fought something that fit the lines of what it was experimenting in. ”Sir if you allow us to live and leave I am inclined to give you a gift. I know you have knowledge of corpse spiders, specifically females. There was a skeletal spider we killed that was very strange you may think interesting.” Walker pulled the skeletal spider from his inventory making sure to keep a leg for proof for the guild in case they needed it. This skeletal spider had skeleton bones as its armor but they didn’t burn when engulfed by the evil consuming flames. It had somehow started to become one with the bones themselves.

Walker placed the skeletal spider in front of the immortal king ” I used a spell that burned and consumed undead on it but it only partially burned it. The bones seem to be part of it now. This didn’t happen to the male corpse spiders. I hope this helps.” Walker stepped back allowing the immortal king to fully grasp the creature.

Immortal king waved a hand and almost like on a string the skeletal spider rose in the air. Black threads seemed to probe the body. ”Hmmm....interesting....young maybe third generation....you said the corpse spiders didn’t show this?” After talking to itself the immortal king posed a question.

”Yes only the skeletal spider.” Walker answers quickly not wanting to take away any focus from the spider.

”Interesting it was from another clutch then. Must have traveled to breed. This is sufficient then. I’ll be keeping this spider. You are wise to use it as collateral. If I’d taken your bodies you’d most likely just be fodder for another undead golem since you destroyed one I made a few years ago.” They were stunned, it was watching them even then! This was worrisome.