"You're lying about me dying here, right? Look at me, I survived with only rocks and brawn." I bragged.
"No, you're definitely going to die if you're not clever enough to decipher the nature of this dream and the creations inside it." He responded in a serious tone.
"Even if you beg my help, I won't save you." The orb expressed his uncaring personality.
"Ya I know you won't do that, maybe you just showed up to kill me intently in the first place."
"It's not like that, helping you during your first challenge isn't right. Overcoming trials on your own unleashes hidden
potential and proves your worthiness."
"I understand. Now the truth is crystal clear, what's the next thing that I need to do?"
"Thy righteousness and humility shall spread across this world. I shall anoint thee as one of the saviors of humanity. And I shall be thy master."
"Whom shall guide thee amidst the road full of uncertainties? None shall embolden thee—only thy master."
His archaic words, combined with his warm, polished timbre, echoed in the cave.
"You will be my master, and I will be your apprentice?" I clarified just to make sure I was hearing things right.
"Precisely." Orby replied.
"Skills are called "beliefs" in spiritual dictionary. These beliefs also have a power system, called "Yin yang". The Yin yang system is dissected into two parts—light and dark beliefs. Light-wielders are called Luminari, and the dark-wielders Cimmerian. However, those people, monsters, creatures, or any objects that are somewhere in between, don't possess any power—that's why they are called "Neutrals". Although this information about neutrals is not yet proven to be true, the mainstream or the majority embraced that belief, without any concrete or plausible evidences.
He immediately started lecturing me about powers. A very straightforward ball.
"By the way, you just unlocked your first skill—Nihilism!" His tone changed into a cheerful, optimistic one.
"It may sound cool at first, not until you realized it only works for people, monsters, creatures, or any objects that don't have any beliefs!" The ball's mood shifted from cheerful to a teasing, silly chili!
"At least I have a skill."
"Worry not, I'll give you more skills in a flash!"
I wish I could have his delusional optimism.
"As a savior, you're expected to be in a lot of dangerous, life-threatening situations. You will face many enemies that are more powerful than you—they're the Cimmerian, a group of scumbags who uses their power for pure evil."
"Their power is darkness, isn't it?" I said.
"That's right, and it's the opposite of my power, which is light." He nodded in agreement.
"But, Nihilism, which is my first skill, is not a power of light-wielders nor dark-wielders."
"Ha! Hahahahah! That's the thing! So unthinkable!" The ball holds back his radiant stomach, bursting in laughter.
"You said that if you're located somewhere in between, you will not possess any power."
"As I said, it's not proven."
"You're the evidence—that neutrals could possibly acquire powers!" He resumed.
"Is that so? When will my training start so that I can get more skills or beliefs?"
"How about the cliché "level-up systems"? Do you have that also?" I followed up with a mocking question.
"We don't have that here, but we do have "forms" that are ordered from the most common, which is the weakest, and to the rarest, which is the strongest."
"Every "belief" has a form that must be discovered—you can achieve it through completing missions, ranging from low to higher risks. The higher the risk, the higher the chance you'll get forms ranging from rare to rarest!
"Is it possible that there's an alternative way to get forms besides completing missions?"
"Yeah, only if you could find the hidden or bonus missions lurking around!"
"The concept intrigues me."
"Are you ready for your mission as a savior?"
"I'm ready."
"Are you devoted and dedicated to your duty, as a chosen man of God?"
"Yes."
"If there's something you're curious about, don't hesitate to ask." The luminance of the orb sparked brightly
"I'll teleport you to The Omnipotent for your anointment."
We depart now from the cave ruins, moving to a novel destination—where I will be officially anointed as one of the saviors of this mother Earth
"O my son, in whom I delight—hast thou passed the trial of the cave?" Quoth the Omnipotent.
"Yes, my Lord. Your son, Quo Li, is indeed worthy of your anointment." The orb knelt down, demonstrating humility and respect to The Divine.
"My Lord, The Almighty, I devoted myself to save the mankind from their sufferings, wickedness, and from their trespasses. I shall make them worthy in your eyes again. Knowing my limits as a vulnerable human being, asking for your guidance shall bring success to all that is willed by man." I knelt down too, praising the King of all Kings.
"Thy wisdom hath pleased me. Truly, thou art worthy to be named among the saviors of mankind.
I shall anoint thee with sacred oil, and bless thee with wisdom, might, and unwavering courage.
Let not thy feet stumble into sin, nor thy heart be swayed by transgression or the lusts of the flesh.
May thy intentions be pure as white, and bold as crimson—upholding truth and justice with unwavering hand.
Be ever mindful of thy limits, for thou shalt call upon the strength of thy Lord."
The Omnipotent poured oil upon my head—I can feel its greasy, thick, and heavy viscosity.
The anointment is finished.
"Let's go, to the outside world." The silent orb finally spoke.
"You should wake up my sleeping body."
"Yeah I know."
Everything went white—the bright white color radiates strikingly in my eyes.
"Oh, what a weird dream."
Seeing my surroundings, I saw a familiar figure.
"Bouncy? Why are you here?" I was shocked, totally.
"I'm real, you know. But you're the only one who can see me."
I stand up, looking at the mirror.
"I grow hair?!"
This is absurd. I was bald before I collapsed!
"Check the date." He chuckled.
"April 27 2043."
"Huh?! April 20 2043 is the exact date I collapsed!"
"Unbelievable! So I was dreaming for 7 days?"
"Yes."
I looked at the mirror again, damn I'm so handsome!
A pirate ship's wheel tattoo on my neck (which symbolizes Buddhism according to what I've read). Glancing through my physical features, I also have sharp jawline, thick crimson eyebrows, long crimson eyelashes, styled crimson hair, and six-pack abs.
I'm Quo Li, and this is how I look.
My ass, do I need a formal introduction?