It's time to explain

Stepping inside, Uni was met with a surprisingly cozy room, with a mix of modern and rustic furnishings. A large, comfortable bed occupied one corner, adorned with plush pillows and a blanket. The walls had paintings and intricate tapestries, creating an ambiance that felt both fancy and comforting.

Pandora glanced around the room with a smile, "This was a last minute arrangement, so for now you're gonna deal with this small and empty room, Sorry." Hearing her words, Uni couldn't help but drop his jaw.

"SMALL??? EMPTY? This is the biggest room I've ever seen in my life!! Is that a KITCHEN??? INSIDE THE ROOM??? You could probably fit my entire orphanage in here... Please, Pandora please don't apologize for anything. Thank you, It's perfect."

Orion chimed in, "You're welcome, Uni. Consider this place your haven while you're here." Instantly Uni ran towards the wide bed and leaped, sinking into its comfort. Feeling the softness of the bed, Uni almost wanted to cry, as he's been laying on a bed made of rock for his whole life, with no blankets or pillows and constant back pains. So to have something like this is unreal.

'I lied earlier when I said I could die and I'd be satisfied.... there's no way I could've died without experiencing this softness. I never want to leave.' However, this reality quickly shifted when Orion and Pandora pulled up two chairs and took seats right across from Uni's bed. Orion's eyes gleamed with seriousness as he spoke, wasting no time with small talk. "Uni, I'll be straightforward with you. Since you've spent your entire life at the orphanage, your knowledge of the world is severely lacking. We're here to fill in those gaps and explain the basics in the simplest way possible."

Sitting up promptly, Uni cast a slightly nervous expression at both of them, curious about what they meant by "explaining the basics."

'What do they mean by basics? What are they referring to?' Uni took a deep breath, observing Orion as he turned to Pandora before continuing, "Let's start with Cryptid Creatures, or CCs for short. These beings appeared on this planet after the monumental war against the Seki. They arrived slowly, seemingly at random... Are you following me so far?"

With a puzzled look, Uni responded, "I'm trying to, but what exactly are the Seki? I know we had a war with them thousands of years ago, but I don't have much information about them."

Pandora smiled reassuringly, chiming in, "That's completely understandable. We don't have all the answers. The Seki vanished after the war, leaving behind mysteries. Some say they were completely destroyed after the war, while others believe they're lingering somewhere, gathering forces to try and reconquer the planet... but it's all speculation."

With an understanding nod from Uni, Orion continued . "Okay, so it's not just that the CCs were appearing randomly. If you're within a certain radius of them, they can trap you inside a sphere of gray smoke. Once inside, you can't leave unless you manage to defeat the CC or CCs within. However, if you see someone else trapped inside while you're outside, you can enter as well. Just be cautious if you choose to do so."

As the revelation sank in, Uni released a small gasp, realizing, 'So, that explains the strange gray smoke I saw while we were leaving.'

Pandora picked up from where Orion left off, saying, "Now that you have a basic understanding of CCs, let's talk about their grading system or hierarchy. We use this system to identify how powerful a CC is. There are seven ranks: Beast, Leviathan, Hydra, Phoenix, and Demon. Each rank signifies increasing strength. There's more to learn, but we don't want to overload you with information all at once."

Taking a deep breath, Uni asked, "...Is there more to it?" After exchanging a quick glance with each other, Orion replied, "Actually, yes. There's more to know about Mortal Gods and what that term means. You might have heard of Mortal Gods before, and now we'll delve deeper into their nature."

As Uni leaned in, eager to learn about Mortal Gods, Orion began to explain, "Mortal Gods are a category of individuals who possess a rare connection with the Gods or deities of any kind. They're humans, like you and me, but they have the ability to form contracts with these Otherworldly beings, forging a bond that grants them incredible powers. These contracts can elevate their strength to levels surpassing even the highest-ranked CCs."

Pandora chimed in, adding, "Each Mortal God's power and abilities are tied to the specific God or deity they've formed a contract with. The stronger the God, the greater the potential of the Mortal God. But just because one's God is weak, doesn't mean the Mortal god is also weak, it all depends on how you use your powers to grow stronger."

Uni's curiosity piqued, and a hint of excitement filled his voice as they asked, "How does someone become a Mortal God? Is it something anyone can achieve?"

Orion and Pandora exchanged another glance before Orion replied, "Becoming a Mortal God comes with a lot of steps in some cases, but in other cases, not so much... Let me explain. When someone becomes a Mortal God, It usually comes with much physical and mental training, because if you don't, the God powers could destroy you from the inside out."

With frightful gaze, Uni quickly recalled the time when that strange translucent tablet told him he began a Mortal God, However, he obviously hadn't received any prior training, leaving him feeling quite nervous.

That's when Orion continued, "After all the rigorous training you have to undergo, you must create the Entry Point. Essentially, the Entry Point is what enables communication with the Gods. To make one, you first surround yourself with your own blood, forming a circle. Then you sit down and clasp your hands together as if you're going to pray, and just stay in that position."

"Just sit there?" Uni's confusion showed in his gaze. "What do you mean?"

Glancing at Uni, Orion sighed for a moment before explaining, "Please relax, and I'll clarify. After you put your hands together and sit down, you must remain in that position until you are welcomed into the land of the Gods. In most cases, you get accepted just before you pass out from lack of food or dehydration. However, it's not always a guaranteed acceptance even after all your efforts, and in those cases... unfortunately, some die."

Uni shivered at the intensity of becoming a Mortal God. 'It's really just a 50/50 chance, either you get in or you die...'

With a comforting gaze, Pandora chimed in, "Well, in most cases, people don't die, so it's okay. But once you enter the land of the Gods, there's only a limited amount of time you have. During that time, you must find a God or any holy being around and attempt to make a connection with them. To match with someone, you simply ask, and if they decline, you continue asking until someone accepts you. However, if you run out of time before getting accepted, there's no second chance. It's a one-and-done situation, and then you're kicked out, leaving empty-handed."

On the bed, Uni had a lot running through his head. 'The more they explain, the less that message makes sense... "Welcome to the Mortal Gods"... The only thing that seems similar to "Going to the land of Gods" is when I was in that strange cloud place, but other than that, nothing...'

As he pondered, a flicker of recognition sparked in his memory. "Wait, didn't you mention earlier that in certain cases, it doesn't take as many steps to become a Mortal God? What exactly do you mean?" he inquired.

With a composed demeanor, Orion gazed at Uni and responded, "Indeed, in those instances, it's all about hereditary factors. It means that you could potentially ascend to the status of a Mortal God just because your parents or ancestors established significant connections in the past...."