Unlocking Potential

[Congratulations, you have unlocked a new skill {Back to Square One}]

"Huh? I unlocked a skill. Let me check my status."

[Name: Gong

Level: 1

Class: N/A

HP: 100

MP: 0

Physical ATK: 25

Magic ATK: 15

Physical DEF: 15

Magic DEF: 10

STR: 10

VIT: 10

AGI: 10

DEX: 10

INT: 10

WIS: 10

LUK: 10

Skills:

Back to Square One: resets your character to Level 1, lets you keep stats and skills, cooldown 30 days]

"Hmm, a weird skill."

"You seem to know now what happened to you young Gong."

"I gained something, is it the effect of me puking black goo?"

"I just unlocked one of your soul's potential by removing blockages from your mind and body. It is interesting to know that your soul longs for the source. It keeps coming back to the most basic forms."

"Is that why my skill allows me to do a reset from time to time?"

"Yes."

"I see. It's useless."

"Hahahaha! Everything has its use young Gong. You just have to find the right time."

"If you say so."

"Alright, so do you want to begin your training?"

"Nothing to do but train."

"Let's go out."

Bathala and Gong went out of the hut and walked a bit far, reaching a flat area that was still near the top of the mountain. Bathala looked at Gong and winked. He then snapped his fingers and a translucent dome went out to cover their surroundings.

"This is a dimension of no space and time. I will leave you here for 10,000 years and only 1 day will have passed the outside world. I believe you will find some use in your skill if I train you this way."

"Hahaha. Don't joke around old man! There is no such thing as a dimension of no space and time. I doubt that exists even in this world."

"Don't be afraid, young Gong. You won't be all alone for those 10,000 years. From time to time I will summon beasts to test your skill. By the way, what would you prefer as a companion? A cat or a dog?"

Gong was dumbfounded, but he kept playing and tried to gain something from Bathala.

"Hehe. Can I choose something else? I've always wanted a pet turtle."

"Hmm. I can grant that. Alright, you'll get a turtle."

Bathala snapped again and a low rumbling came from the ground near Gong. It cracked and then a turtle about the size of a small car came out. Gong was surprised at the size of the turtle, it was gray-colored and looked like a baby turtle despite its size. He was expecting a small turtle so that he could carry it around in his pocket but what he got was an enormous creature!

"This is a baby realm devourer. Their kind devotes themselves to a master if they're bound to it at a young age. Consider this a gift. You're about to experience something humans can only dream of. Living for 10,000 years is no joke."

"Haha haha! 10,000 years, that's just fine by me."

"Most beings that I've trained like this either die trying, lose their minds, or simply quit because of the difficulty of the challenge. The successful ones, who can only be counted by one hand, have become legendary figures and have moved on to higher realms."

"I see, well then, I will know what I'm made of in this dimension huh?"

"Good luck, young Gong. Remember to name your turtle to bind him to you."

"I'll name him Garfunkel. Hehehehe. Come here Garfunkel!"

The turtle responded to Gong's call. It made a weird wailing sound. Despite its large size, it looked pretty cute.

"Alright young Gong, I'll have to tend to my stew. I'll be leaving you here for now. I hope you enjoy the experience. Don't worry, I'll know if anything disastrous happens to you and I'll come to the rescue if needed, but please, I hope you try your best. For your own good."

"Noted, old man."

Bathala glowed brightly and disappeared in an instant.

"Wow, that's some flashy exit. Now, time to check this dimension thing."

Gong tried logging out, but then a system message appeared. [Special Area: Dimension of No Space and Time. You are not allowed to log out unless the event has been finished or forcibly stopped. Duration: 10,000 years. Timer: 9,999 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds.]

"WHAAAAAAAT THE F----------!!!!!!! Is this for real? There must be some glitch in this goddamned game!" Gong felt sweat build up on his forehead. He didn't expect this turn of events. What kind of game even forces you to stay in it for 10,000 years?

"Let's calm down, there must be an explanation for this. 10,000 years might just be a figure of speech. Like the time must be accelerated in a game right? I don't believe they'd even have a feature like this in a game, they could get sued."

He looked again at the system notification. [Timer: 9,999 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 55 minutes, 42 seconds.]

"Ohh my gooooooood. I'm doomed."

---

Gilgamesh relished being an orc. He feels that it's the best race to pursue his dream of roleplaying his favorite mythological character. He hopes to find people who can join him in his little misadventure as soon as possible.

While looking around Viku, the winter island, he found the settlement of orcs to be pretty straightforward. Huts where one can rest, and small buildings made of clay to accommodate the more systematic things like shops, inns, and taverns. He didn't pay the surroundings much mind but he looked for orcs who looked like players, and he knew exactly what he was looking for. Orcs who looked around with a foolish or curious looks on their faces.

With his sharp eyes, he found lots of potential members of his crew. But one orc caught his interest. It was a smallish male orc who entered the herb and potions shop. Gilgamesh followed the other orc behind and watched as he asked the shopkeeper if there was any open position available.

Gilgamesh shouted: "Stop right there! Hey mister, disregard what this person says! He's a friend of mine and he's a little bit confused sometimes. Thank you for your time, we won't be bothering you anymore, goodbye!"

"Wha- what's happening? Who? Huh?"

"See? He's even confused right now"

Gilgamesh pulled the other orc towards the door and they both left the premises.

"What a bunch of odd kids." The shopkeeper thought.

"Hey man! I don't even know you!" The other orc protested.

"What's your name, friend?" Gilgamesh asked.

"Oh, uhh, Shun."

"No, from now on you'll be called Enkidu. Call me Gilgamesh."

"What? Huh?"

"We'll go on an epic adventure. This time around the fates will smile upon me."

"Uhhhh, what are you talking about?"

"Do you not know the epic of Gilgamesh by any chance, Enkidu?"

"I've read about it briefly in school but why are you talking about it?"

"Because I am Gilgamesh."

"You're Gilgamesh? And that makes me your sidekick, Enkidu?"

"Now you're getting it."

"Uhh, no. I'll pass."

"You can't say no. The heavens have ordained this."

"This is just a game bruh."

"Hahahahahaha! I for one know that this is not merely a game, we will have to create the best story to win!"

"By cosplaying? What about my own goals?"

"Who says we're cosplaying? We're rewriting the legends! This will be an epic like no other!"

"I feel like I have no choice in this. Ugh."

"Enkidu, you will have the best time with me! I will find you a good girl, I know that's what you want!"

"Whaaat! Hahaha, no thanks."

"What? So you want a man? As long as it's not me because I only consider you a comrade, I can accept you."

"NOOOO! What is wrong with you?"

"Hahahaha. Then tell me what your dream is in this world."

"I want to be a really good orc healer."

"I, Gilgamesh, swear that when I become the greatest warrior this world has ever known, you, Enkidu, will be the greatest healer and we will form the greatest crew!"

"Those are pretty big words."

"Our dreams should be as big as the universe itself, or else we'll be swallowed by fate! Set your sights high! We will conquer this world!"

---

"So I guess I'm really stuck here for 10,000 years. What to do?"

Gong looked around the dimension. He started walking with Garfunkel. It was mostly all white and silent, but as they continued walking, some sceneries are starting to appear. A small building appeared in front of them and there was a small machine positioned in the center of the building. Upon closer inspection, Gong found out that it was like a vending machine with a screen in front of it. Strangely enough, the weird-looking symbols in it were readable to Gong and it says to press the green button.

He saw the green button on the right side of the machine, there was another red button on the left side of the machine. On the bottom part was an opening for something to come out.

He felt that all of these seemed suspicious.