Chapter 9: Perseverance!

It was evident that there was an awkward atmosphere.

"Umm… If it's alright? I haven't eaten anything since yesterday.."

The old man glanced at Cedric one more time, he opened the cash register and counted the money.

"Here get yourself some food, and don't be late for tomorrow."

"T-Thank you so much!"

Holding the money in his hands, Cedric was beyond grateful. He decided to change his opinion of this old man.

"Now go away, shoo, I have to listen to this drama.."

"Right, once again thank you!"

Cedric left the store with 200 dollars in his hands. He carefully thought about it, but what kind of store would pay its employee 200 dollars? But Cedric decided to not pay any heed to that question, cause as of right now he have money to buy food!

Cedric made a quick stop at the convenience store and purchased several items. Even though he had spent some money, he still had 50 dollars remaining. He remembered a time when he only had 10 dollars to his name, so he felt confident in his ability to get by.

Cedric glanced at his watch and saw that it was already 1 pm. Without delay, he hastened his pace and headed straight home.

Unbeknownst to Cedric a small budding romance has developed between his creations without his knowledge.

As soon as he came home, Cedric put the groceries on the sofa and immediately entered the systems room.

[Danger!]

[One of the creation's health is at a critical level!]

[Dux is in danger!]

"Wait what?"

As soon as Cedric focused his attention, he noticed Dux. The sky was dim, indicating that it was still nighttime in their realm. Dux had visible scars and was suffering from uncontrolled bleeding in his stomach.

"How did this happen?"

Dux was cornered on a huge boulder. His stomach kept on bleeding. Dux was having a hard time breathing. Slowly he could feel his body numbing, he couldn't move his feet or his hands.

"Eeeeee.."

Rumble.

The ground began to shake.

Dux's breathing became unstable...

"It's near.."

"Hehehehehehehe.."

With its wide smile, showing its huge and sharp teeth. The 10 feet tall, green-skinned monster holding a tree. It had a humanoid body but with a disfigured face. It was an ogre...

All Dux could feel looking at the huge creature in front of him was fear. His hands though numb began to shake, and his eyes staring at the monster in front of him could see his near death.

"Hehehehehe"

The monster kept on smiling and laughing.

'What do I do?'

Dux was facing a dilemma and was struggling to come up with a solution. His mind was blank and fear had taken over, making it difficult for him to think clearly.

'Am I going to die here?…"

Dux's mind was consumed by thoughts of death.

It's a fear shared by all.

[Mission 4!]

[Description: Dux is in danger! An ogre appeared! Dux's health is in a critical state! Save Dux!]

[Time Limit: 10 minutes!]

'There isn't a positive effect not a negative effect? Is this the new feature?'

'I can use the Game Storyline skill to enter a body, but who's body? Dux's health is at a critical state I can't use his body, the others are at their homes asleep. If I enter one of their bodies, then it will be too late. Dux would already be dead before I arrive... Then I can only enter the body of the Ogre..'

"Use Game Storyline skill on the ogre!"

[Cannot Enter]

"What? Why can't I?"

[Please choose another..]

"Damn it!"

Cedric was in a state of panic. He frantically scanned the map for any signs of life, including animals. However, he soon realized that there were no other creatures in the vicinity. They must have sensed a predator and fled the area.

Cedric was helpless as he watched Dux struggle. Dux's labored breathing was evident on the screen, and his complexion was ghostly pale.

Dux, sensing his imminent death, knew that his goddess and creator were watching over him. With his last breath, Dux decided to offer a final prayer.

"My goddess, Lux…"

"I offer…you my body, and soul…"

"Please save me a place…there in your heavenly palace…"

"My creator…save me…a place…"

He slowly took deep breaths, and his eyes appeared lifeless.

"There…."

"In…your..heavenly.."

"P…Palace…."

"S…a..ve....."

"M.....e..."

"...."

[Mission 4 Failed]

[Dux has died…]

"How did this even happen?…"

[The system cannot fully take care of two races at the same time]

"Then why did you encourage me to create another race if you couldn't take care of them at the same time while I was gone?…"

[.…]

[The beastmen race has lost one companion…]

....

"Huff, huff.."

Lenta rose in the middle of the night. Strangely her cheeks were wet.

"I'm crying?…"

"L-Lenta! Get up!"

Celer barged inside the hut and began to pull Lenta with urgency.

"W-What's going on?"

"It's urgent. Dux is not in his hut!"

"Wait What?"

Callidus and Fortis were outside Dux's hut.

"Well, he couldn't have gone far. We should search for him.."

"Callidus what's going on?"

Callidus turned around noticing the worried expression on Lenta's face.

"The goddess gave me a sudden task, so I woke up. Normally before the sun rose, Dux would be training beside his hut. But when I woke up, he wasn't training, it was strange so I decided to check if he was alright…And I found that there wasn't anyone inside.."

"H-Have you checked the lake?"

"Yeah I did, I even checked with Fortis the usual hunting ground... He wasn't there.."

"I-I had a dream…"

"Dream? What kind of dream is it Lenta?"

The three individuals looked over at Lenta's frightened expression.

"It was scary…It has this huge monster…and it…"

"It what?"

"W-What was the task given to you by the goddess?"

"Well, it was to check for you.."

"His.. dead…."

"Who are you talking about?"

"His dead….."

"H-His dea…ad….."

[Would you like to give a task to Callidus?]

"Yes…."

Callidus and the rest of the group began to console Lenta, who was crying. However, the goddess then assigned a task to Callidus, leaving him devastated. It was a straightforward task but Callidus now knew the possibility of one of his companions has lost its light.

"Fortis follow me… Celer take care of Lenta…"

"Where are we going Callidus? Lenta is crying we should coax her first?"

"Just...follow me.."

As they sprinted through the forest, they couldn't help but notice the shattered trees and the massive footprint imprinted on the ground. The sight left them feeling apprehensive.

As the two of them reached their destination. On a huge rock, red blood was smeared all over.

"This…"

"It's a piece of Dux's boar skin cape…"

"D-Don't tell me?…"

"His dead…The goddess gave me a task to retrieve the only thing that remains of him…"

"N-No!..That can't be true!"

"We have to accept that…... His gone…."

As the two with heavy hearts ran back to their home. Sorrows, cries, and pleas resonated in their small camp. One of their friends…And lover died…

Cedric watched all of this with anger. It wasn't because of the system but due to himself.

"Put the mermaid race inside the inventory, and…focus solely on the Beastmen tribe.."

The system automatically put the mermaid race inside the inventory.

Whilst Cedric watched the Beastmen grieve for their loss.

"What kind of god am I?…"

[Affinity with all of the creations dropped -20 in their affinities]

[Mission 5]

[Description: Many dangers are coming. Powerful monsters are everywhere and rampaging. Protect the Beastmen and its future generations.]

[Time Limit: None]

[Mission 6]

[Description: The next generation is about to come...Lenta is carrying a child inside her womb…Protect the next generation and ensure Lenta and the baby's health]

[Time Limit: None]

As Cedric watched the ceremony, he felt overwhelming anguish. He had lost one of his creations because of his incompetence. After the ceremony had ended, Cedric continued to gaze at the spot on the ground where his friends had buried the sole remaining reminder of their departed comrade.

"Hah, not only that... Lenta.."

During his absence, a blossoming romance developed between them. Cedric felt remorseful since not only was Lenta in the early stages of her pregnancy, but she had also lost her partner and companion.

[A hidden mission has been triggered!]

[Description: The revival of a beast… Death always scares the living...This was the case for one of the Beastmen… Due to his unyielding nature, the perseverance trait had unlocked a hidden feature!]

[Hidden Mission 1]

[Description: The trait perseverance not only helps those alive but also those who have died. Dux's trait has been activated, and half of his health has been replenished. Save him inside the stomach of the ogre before his existence truly disappears!]

"His alive?"

"Y-Yes!!"

"Alright, I'll leave the other beasts alone. First, let's save Dux.."

Cedric began to search for the ogre on the map.

Cedric couldn't think critically at that time since he was shocked to see an existence of an ogre. But it seems like the life button he used to bring creatures and trees to life also created an existence other than animals. It created monsters as well to balance the world.

Cedric kept on moving the planet to find the ogre, and after a few minutes, he found it!

The ogre was a massive creature that could move quickly on foot.

"Enter Dux!"

[Cannot enter]

"What again? First the ogre now Dux?"

Cedric while keeping an eye on the ogre tried to find a suitable body to enter. He pressed many animals and even monsters but it was the same answer, he couldn't enter its body.

….

Dux who had awoken inside the stomach of the ogre was perplexed. He glanced at his hands and feet, they weren't torn and what was strange of all he was alive?...

"Have you heard my prayers goddess?"

"Goddess is this you giving me a second chance?"

"Thank you so much... I will not waste this chance I am given!"

Dux glanced at his surroundings, there was slimy green water with him. He continued to look for a way out and found bones of animals inside the stomach with him.

"I have to get out…"

Dux attempted to punch the stomach, but it remained immovable. Additionally, he sensed a sensation of warmth emanating from within the stomach.

"I have to get out!.."

Dux tried to search in the water if there are any weapons… It was gross but for his survival, Dux was willing to touch even the dirtiest parts.