"Log 5," the voice said. The audio quality shifted—this was another recording.
"I need a way to guide the future. The enemy isn't Earth God, as every human seems to think. If anything, he's more of an ally than the Sun God."
"No. The real threat is something else. Something even the gods fear."
"I've calculated the probability of defeating it with our current power. Even if the Dwellers of the Depths ally with humanity, we have no chance."
"I intend to descend into the Depths soon. I need to have a chat with Earth God…"
"But for that… I'll need a way to navigate the treacherous path to Ithaka."
The voice sighed.
"Guess there's no delaying it any further. I had a lot to ask her anyway."
The scene shifted—still no images, only sound—but it was clearly recorded somewhere else.
"You'll need to stop, sir," a male voice said. It wasn't the same as at the start of the recording. "What are you… wait, stop!"
An altercation broke out, the scuffle echoing. Boots scraped across a marble floor, followed by the clanging of armored knights moving.
"Sorry ladies, I don't do autographs," the first voice mocked.
The struggle continued—boots skidding, bodies hitting the ground, a roar of rage—until a soft, melodious female voice cut through the fray.
"What are you doing here, [Forgotten King]?" she asked, irritation in her tone.
"Ah, Lady Atria. I've come to request an audience with you," the Forgotten King replied.
Atria sighed.
"Of course you have. A lunatic like you wouldn't send a letter beforehand—that would have been far too proper," she said with clear displeasure. "Come in, then…"
"But Queen Atria—" a guard began.
"There's no stopping that madman. Better to get this over with before he makes it into a bigger deal than it should be," the goddess said dismissively.
"Who do you take me for, Lady Atria? I'm not that much of a creep, am I?" the Forgotten King asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yes, you are," she replied flatly.
The Forgotten King snickered. Elion imagined a grin spreading across his face.
The guards mumbled something the recording didn't catch before letting him go.
Footsteps echoed through what sounded like a grand hall, then stopped. The Forgotten King dropped heavily onto something—a chair, maybe the floor. With only sound, Elion couldn't be sure.
After a pause, Atria spoke.
"So, to what do I owe the visit?" she asked, barely hiding the venom in her voice. "If it's about the war or Yarhim, you know I can do nothing. And even if I could, I wouldn't."
"Oh, don't worry. I'm no longer interested in such things," the Forgotten King mused. "I need your help for two simple matters."
Silence prompted him to continue.
"First, I'd like a guide to the city of Ithaka. You're the only one who can promise me safe passage there."
"What do you want with that cursed city?" she asked. "I doubt you can convince Myrrhiel to stop the war."
"I'm not going there for Myrrhiel," the King replied. "No, my goal is Earth God himself."
Atria fell into stunned silence.
"You want to negotiate with Earth God? Have you finally lost the last remaining shred of your sanity?"
"Why does everyone think I'm not sane?" the Forgotten King said with mock outrage. "If anything, I'm the only sane one in this nonsensical war!"
"You? Sane?" The goddess scoffed. "Sure. Make me laugh."
The voice drew closer to whatever was recording.
"And why would I help you?" she asked, her tone now threatening.
"For old time's sake," he said innocently.
"Those aren't times I want to remember."
"Come on! I'm the one who helped you attain godhood. And we shared a lot back then. Maybe more than I should've…" the Forgotten King said.
"Enough. I've tried to forget those times. I don't need you reminding me."
"What are you climbing onto your high horse for? I was the victim in our relationship back then."
"You? The victim? Don't make me laugh, [Forgotten King]."
"Whatever…" The King sighed. "The other thing I came here to ask might sweeten the deal."
"There is no deal," Atria said sternly.
"There will be," the Forgotten King replied smugly. "This doesn't just concern you—it concerns the entire concept of gods."
The goddess fell into a tense silence, prompting him to continue.
"You know full well there's no way to keep it sealed forever. Even if every living being allied together, against such an opponent, numbers mean nothing. Only individual power can change the outcome."
"What are you suggesting?"
Elion could almost picture the Forgotten King smirking.
"Humans have the greatest potential of all. They were molded to be vessels of divine concepts after all. We've already found a way to fully unlock a soul for a while now, granting almost limitless potential."
"Almost limitless isn't enough against what we're fighting," Atria said.
"Leave that part to me. As much as you hate me, you know I'm reliable in matters like this. You wouldn't be here otherwise."
"What would you have me do?"
"You hold the concept of Guidance and Direction. We need you to guide the next generations of unlocked souls through the process of ascending."
"I don't want more of you running around. One is already too many."
"There won't be more of me. Ascension isn't what made me who I am. Really, to be as handsome and clever as me, you'd have to eat a lot of spinach and forget that wine you like so much for simple, pure water."
"What?" Atria sounded baffled by the joke.
"Nothing," the Forgotten King said. "You can see it—this war will end in ruin. Either Yarhim or Earth God will die. And if either falls, their concepts will wreak havoc on humanity."
The goddess said nothing.
"All I'm saying is, I'm working on a way to make sure the remnants of humanity can fight what's coming."
Atria was silent for a long while. It was clear she was considering it.
"You're asking me to betray Sun God…" she muttered.
"Not betray him. I'm asking you to help me create something that will save humanity—and the very concept of gods. You know as well as I do that if the divine seal breaks, it's over for the mortal realm," the Forgotten King said. "Earth God is proof of that. Even a fragment of his power can push all seven gods to the brink."
The goddess seemed to hesitate for a long moment.
"Alright… as much as I hate to admit it, you're right," she said.
"I knew I could count on you!"
"Don't push it." The goddess grumbled. "I'll help you—but just for this. After that, I never want to see you again."
"I knew we'd reach an agreement."
…
Elion's eyes opened slowly.
What did I just witness?
His hand was still attached to the device, small steel tendrils latched into his skin. Suddenly, his ears rang. His body turned cold. His hands trembled.
Wha—Agh!
His soul felt as if it were being stretched and torn apart. It wasn't as painful as his "fun torture vacation" with Miss Shadow, but it felt utterly wrong—like something that should never be harmed was being violated.
He dropped to his knees, the wire connecting the computer to the device snapping, but the pain didn't stop.
Elion crawled, slamming the device against the ground in a desperate attempt to tear it off—but to no avail. He gritted his teeth, feeling pain coil through every fiber of his being.
That's going to kill me!
The realization made him shudder. But there was nothing to do except endure and hope to survive.
What felt like an eternity—or no time at all—passed before the device released him, clattering to the ground.
A voice, the Voice of God, whispered in his head:
[You have claimed an affinity.]
[Affinity: Forgotten King.]
What the hell is that?!