An Alternate World

The dripping sound of water was the first thing Trent heard as he appeared in the Alternate. He glanced behind him, seeing nothing—not even the bright blue light that had sent him there.

He took a look around the landscape, which was much darker than the Paradox world he knew. There wasn't a single bright hue in sight, and the sky was completely veiled in black. Instead of feeling concerned for his safety and well-being, Trent was imagining how good this Alternate would be as a gaming map. "System? What the heck is this place? Why am I here?"

[You have triggered the second piece that provides a gateway for creatures of the Alternate into the Paradox]

Trent looked behind him. "Why can't I see this gateway?"

[Any entity from the Paradox crossing over to the Alternate would have to survive the Dungeon and slay all Bosses of each Dungeon level]

[This was a ritual performed in the very early days of the Paradox when Mana Channelling was rampant]

[However, with the arrival of Aetherians, these gateways were closed]

Trent sighed and whistled for Claw, but it seemed his bird wasn't part of the ritual. "Who are those indigenes that attacked us? Gen said they're Rebels."

[Ah. Rebels are indeed a pestering unit within the Paradox demography, deeply obsessed with fostering the goddess' will and wishes. Their relentless pursuit of what they believe to be divine mandates often leads to significant upheaval and unrest. Their actions, seen as noble by just a few, frequently result in chaos and conflict, disrupting the delicate balance of the Paradox world]

'Hmm,' Trent thought. 'So, these Rebels know about the goddess as well. And from this explanation, they seem to be one of the causes of The Turmoil.' He began to wonder if they knew he was sent by her, and if they did, why attack him if they were supposedly fostering the goddess' will?

They must have known that by triggering the piece, he would open this gateway, allowing creatures to enter the Paradox and further disrupt the world. Wouldn't that bring more chaos? Trent scoffed out loud. 'These bastards are doing the opposite of what the goddess wants.'

"About this Alternate, are there indigenes here as well?" Trent asked, taking a step forward. Soon enough, he was walking into the vicinity of the Dungeon.

[It is unlikely]

[The Alternate is a vast expanse of interconnected Dungeons, each isolated from the others in such a way that entries from the Paradox world wouldn't encounter each other unless they entered through the same gate. The design of the Alternate ensures that each dungeon experience is unique and solitary unless specifically intended to be shared]

[When one entity perishes within a dungeon, a corresponding gate opens, bridging the Alternate and the Paradox, allowing access back to the original world or facilitating further adventures within the intricate maze of the Alternate]

'Oh, I see.' Trent looked around as the ground began to tremble and shift. A thick, dark mist started to rise from the earth, curling and weaving like thick ribbons that slowly encroached upon him. The ribbons joined together, forming shadowy veils that obscured his vision and blurred the surroundings.

There was a profound moment of silence, and Trent could feel the environment shifting, though he couldn't see anything. Suddenly, a soft resonating hum filled the air, and in an instant, he appeared in a completely different area. The little light that crept in was red, and Trent was certain it was blood. The light seeped into the shadows, spreading out like a network of arteries, defining the walls and indicating how far he was from them.

The ground of the forging Dungeon was thick with a substance that looked disturbingly like fresh blood, crafted into cultural markings, with the scent of iron heavy in the air. An ambient, resonating hum, that sounded like a faulty microphone, filled the space. Trent patiently waited for the Dungeon to finalize its shape.

"Level One! Dungeon! [Cardinal Across Shadows!]" a deep, authoritative, villainous, celestial voice suddenly proclaimed out of nowhere.

The Dungeon was immense, its vastness intimidating. When Trent took a step forward, he found himself stepping on blood markings that resembled the Illuminati symbol, his footsteps resonating throughout the space.

Suddenly, the shadows around him parted, revealing figures that had been standing there all along. 'What the heck are you guys?' Trent thought, scanning the hundreds of humanoid, disgusting figures with no definite appearance—distorted shadows with blood oozing from what seemed to be their mouths.

Far away from where he stood on the Illuminati sign, there was what appeared to be a throne, and seated upon it was a creature. 'A female orc?' Trent asked himself, squinting to get a better look.

Each dungeon in the Alternate had its Boss, and these Bosses were mostly extinct or special races of the Paradox—banished, fled, or fallen entities.

Trent couldn't help but notice the orc's striking appearance, despite her being a formidable Dungeon Boss. She was nearly naked, her body incredibly alluring for a creature, let alone a Boss. Her strong, muscular thighs were spread apart, and the sheath covering her pussy was barely more than a slim piece of fabric. The thought of bedding this creature flashed through Trent's mind, and he gulped involuntarily. /img./

Trent gulped as the Boss stood up from her throne with authority, Trent estimated her height to be around 6'3". Thin clothing barely covered her ample breasts, with her nipples piercing the fabric ferociously. Her figure was perfect, with exposed muscles that somehow failed to hide her feminine features. Her hips were so wide they surpassed the width of her shoulders. Bulging veins, filled with blood, coursed through her body at regular intervals, adding to her intimidating yet strangely seductive presence.

"May I know your name?" Trent asked, realizing he couldn't [read] the Boss

The orc stomped her staff on the ground, commanding the creatures around her to advance toward Trent. "You will know me, aspirant!" she proclaimed.

Trent glanced at the incoming creatures, assessing them. They seemed appropriate for the Lv. 1 phase of a Dungeon. He wondered if he was the only one drawn into the gateway and considered that if he were, he would have to defeat this Dungeon to prevent the Alternate's gateway from opening further, granting this Boss entry into the Paradox.