Welcome to Cosmos System Switchboard

'Their level regressed that much?' Hades thought. They have not taken the men under the spell as devotees of the unknown god but to reduce the devotion to the lowest level. But all is not lost, if this momentary blindness can be lifted,

"It's not surprising that she is not within our database." Yubis scratched his chin which interrupted the other gods as they contemplated the report. He needs more information, but he believes that the current information is enough to avert the crisis that Takehiko might be facing. Now he needs to create an opportunity to keep Takehiko from harm. He was about to suggest using a meeting room as a command center since the issue escalated into a larger scenario when his phone rang. All of the gods looked at him. He glanced at his phone and got information that it is an unknown number. "Excuse me I have to take this." Yubis apologized to everyone.

Hades nodded and said, "Let's use the meeting room. Mely, my daughter, please prepare everything."

"Yes father." Melinoe bowed and immediately prepared the conference room for this meeting.

Yubis stepped away for a moment as the other gods replied. "Hello? Yubis, the god of knowledge speaking."

"Hel… Yubi…ma ca… yo… hear m…" The other line replied.

"Who is this? The line has a lot of interference.'' Yubis asked. The line was too staticy that he can make up only a few words. It was weird because in Tartarus, they always maintained a good signal. This was the first time that he encountered something annoying.

"Thi…s …. Ryuji… I... he… yo… fine… my… end... " The other line replied.

"The line is so bad right now." Yubis commented. There were lots of static.

"I….na as…k ab…t Vr…ta-sa…. Q…est?" Ryuji asked. but before Yubis can reply, "W…at div…ne com…cation?"

"<Divine Communication>?" Yubis was surprised. <Divine Communication> was a basic skillset of gods to communicate with other gods over a long distance. Yubis did not use it because of the smartphone that is connected to the divine realm. However, it was used a long time ago in the Divine Realm so often before they started using technologies like emails, computers, and smartphones. This is to facilitate communication between several gods. It was was also a signature skill of Cosmos gods.

"Y..es it… s…s it w….s unlocked." Ryuji replied but Yubis could not figure out what he is saying only some words. But the last word confirms something for Yubis. If it was unlocked, this suspected demigod might actually be affiliated with Cosmos before. As for his back story on how he became Takeda Ryuji, they may need to dig that up further.

"unlocked? Don't answer that, I will call you right back. The line is really bad." Yubis replied and immediately hung up before the other line could respond. He was unsure earlier because of Horus' valid points but based on Hades, a supreme being interested in this guy can actually turn the tide. He is not being recalled back for some reason within the rules that were imposed in Zariya. Moreover, having <Divine Communication> means he had allied with Cosmos before. He immediately ran back to everyone.

***

While Tartarus' gods were trying to think of a plan to save his little brother from harm, Ryuji and his party were fixing things right after eating an early dinner. The sun was about to set but they decided to eat one of the tuskers that were caught earlier. He also imparted <Status> skill to the wolves so they can review themselves with the skills that they have. He would check it later because he needs to do something else at the moment which was how to contact the loli goddess. He only has a rough guess of the area that he was in and has observed his surroundings in order to get back to his cave. He should really map the area soon because the second part of the goddess of dreams sounded like they needed to leave the cave for several days or probably longer. He sighed at this prospect. He knew he would leave at some point to search for his brother but not that soon. He felt lacking as he had not refined his skills.

Ryuji believed in gods at this point, but he never thought of worshipping them. When his brother died, he cursed at them back with his previous life. It was something normal when a loved one passed away asking why it happened. Most humans would beg some answers, some even wail for a sign that would never come. Ryuji had experienced this twice, when his parents passed away and when his brother passed away. It is something a grieving person would do. It was ridiculous to a point that he would deny the existence and then bargain for a miracle. But as time passed, he had no choice to accept it. He thought of traditions of visiting the temple, asking for a good fortune for the year. It was only a habit at that point because at the back of his mind he never believed in them after he lost his family. Something that he treasured so much was already dead.

This continued until Ryuji died. When he was greeted by gods upon his death, his stance changed for a bit. While it looked transactional as they explained what they needed him for, for the first time in his life or one could say death that he started believing in gods. He believed that they had powers that he could never imagine, he believed that they exist. It is a good thing that his brother was reborn after hearing from Yubis. But he felt awkward initiating contact with them. After all, he had cursed and questioned if they existed before. 'How the heck to contact them?' Ryuji thought. This is why he was reluctant to take Vreta's quest. The loli goddess did not provide him information where to head next which is another thing that he was wary of. This is because of his experiences from games and stories. Usually that old sage or the god will ask something to retrieve then does give a riddle where to deliver it.

Ryuji and his team would need to gather some supplies because they would need to leave the cave soon. But before that he needs to contact Tartarus. If they are gods, then one thing that he can do to initiate contact with him. He may have done it as a habit in the past since he had not been sincere in praying to gods. What was the use of praying after being orphaned and left alone with despair and grief? But after his death which confirms that gods exist, it would not hurt for Ryuji to try.

Ryuji began closing his eyes. He filled himself with thoughts. 'Who should I pray to?' Ryuji asked himself. All this time, he encountered several gods, Bishamonten, Michizane, Morticia, Yubis, Hades, Sefie, Charon and Vreta. Though the most interactions for the past few weeks would be Yubis. If it was solely based on this, Yubis would be the person that he can interact with. He began concentrating his thoughts. If he needs to search the whole universe and the realms within it for Yubis he would do it. At the same time concentrating his thoughts, a feeling welled up within him. 'Is this my mana? Wait I am not going to use magic! Why it should be swelling to burst out.' Ryuji thought of himself. When he opened his eyes, he was shining with a white light.

Then a voice resounded. [Connecting… please wait.]

Ryuji was startled with the voice. It sounded like an automated prompter, similar to the ones when you call an organization before speaking with a live person, but it is not the same prompt when he is learning skills.

[Welcome to the Cosmos System Switchboard. if you know your party's extension, please say their name. Otherwise, please say 'Operator'.]

Ryuji's world view with the gods at that point decreased. To be exact, his worldview has cracked. 'Do gods have a direct line?' He thought. Anyway, he needs to say to this Interactive Voice Response the party that he is trying to reach out but before he can say anything.

[I'm sorry, we did not hear a response. If you know your party's extension, please say their name. Otherwise, please say 'Operator'.]

"Please connect me to Yubis…" Ryuji replied. He was bummed out that the response needed to be quick.

[I'm sorry, we did not hear a response. If you know your party's extension, please say their name. Otherwise, please say 'Operator'.]

'Maybe I need to say the name instead of a sentence.' Ryuji thought. This time he mustered his thoughts and said, "Yubis!"

After that he heard a familiar sound. To be precise it's a ringing sound as if contacting using a telephone line. Ryuji was in shock and cannot think of anything right now and his view with the gods has changed again. To think that they even have a telephone system, they should be receiving a large volume of calls.

"Hello? Yubis, the god of knowledge speaking." The other line picked up.