Saved by the Orb
Mike channeled mana to enhance his willpower and concentrated intensely to use every scrap of his mental processing in order to find a solution to his current dilemma.
[Let's see. To review, I am trapped inside a collapsing realm. I have no idea what will happen to me after the fact, but I suspect that standing inside a world that's on the verge of imploding can't be good for my health. I need to escape, but that presents its own problems.]
He scanned his surroundings again, hoping against hope to find something that he could use to get out of this situation. Unfortunately, nothing stood out to him. It was possible that some of the arcane runes carved into the floor of the realm could help, but he lacked the skill to make sense of them, and he certainly didn't have the time to research them.
As he watched, another ripple passed through the realm, stronger than any of the previous ones. In its wake, he saw glowing cracks taking shape in the very fabric of reality. Clearly, he didn't have long to get out.
[I'm no expert, but I think those are openings into interdimensional space. Based on what I've been told about it, I doubt I'd survive long, even if I didn't get mobbed by Invaders the second I entered it.]
Idly, he scooped up the broken orb, suspecting that if he managed to survive the next few minutes, it would prove valuable. On the off chance that it could assist him despite its damaged state, he used Appraise.
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Dungeon Core
Divine Item (Tier 5, Rank 1)
Created by [REDACTED] to be the foundation of an individual dungeon realm. When placed within a dungeon control pedestal, this crystal will manage and power all functions of a dungeon autonomously. This includes the creation of dungeon-specific monsters, treasure, and traps.
Note: This item is currently broken, rendering it non-functional and reducing it's rank from 5 to 1.
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Mike blinked. The results were about what he expected, but he was a little surprised to see how high rank the item was, even given it's broken condition. He could only imagine the amount of power still stored within. Not to mention its status as a 'Divine' item.
[No wonder Audra wanted to eat it. It doesn't really help me at this moment, though.] He thought before storing it.
Another ripple passed through the realm, causing the cracks to grow bigger. In one of the larger ones, he thought he saw something that looked like an eye pass by in a blur.
Feeling the time crunch, he considered trying to use Space Magic to propel him back in the direction of Ea. He'd yet to develop the ability to travel between realms, so it would be an act of desperation to even attempt it. More than likely, he would simply jump into interdimensional space under his own initiative.
"Crap…" He muttered while looking down at Audra. The little dragon was curled up within his pocket shivering with obvious fear. A large part of his hesitation was because of her. Between his resistances, regeneration, and inbuilt resilience he might be able to survive a brief stint in the space between dimensions, but he doubted that she could do the same.
"This is your fault, you know." He grumbled bitterly, knowing that she wouldn't really understand him. "If you hadn't tried to eat that orb it wouldn't have ended up cracked…" He sighed. "Of course, knowing my luck, things would have still ended up this way."
He glanced in the direction of the pedestal again as another ripple passed through the realm. The resulting distortion caused the stone-like structure to crack and disintegrate as if to accentuate the hopelessness of his situation.
"I wish that orb could do something for me, like create an interdimensional portal or teleport me. That should be…" He trailed off as a distant memory snagged at the edge of his consciousness.
For some reason, the idea of a cracked orb involved in dimensional travel was familiar. With a start, he recalled the item he'd confiscated from Wendel's airship.
Feeling a surge of hope, he quickly pulled out his extradimensional sack and began rummaging through its contents. With a victorious cry, his hand closed on his intended target. Withdrawing it, he quickly used Appraise to remind himself of its functions.
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Orb of Translocation (Cracked)
Magic Item (Tier 4, Rank 2)
One of the legendary orbs said to date back to the Second Age. Created by the High Elves through a method now lost, these orbs formed the keystones of their interdimensional portals. Although meant to be one small part of a larger device, they can be used individually to momentarily translocate two points in space. The effective range is determined by the amount of mana given to the orb as part of its activation. It is possible to travel to other realms with a sufficient amount of mana.
Note: This particular item is damaged, lowering its Rank from 5 to 2. Due to the damage, the destination cannot be set and will instead be randomized.
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"Aha! This is it! I feel like it's been years since I've even thought about this thing, but I'm glad I held onto it."
His celebrations were interrupted by yet another reality quake, this time accompanied by a horrendous shrieking that seemed to emanate from everywhere at once. He was clearly out of time.
[Not sure where I'm going to end up, but it can't be worse than here.] He thought while pouring mana into the orb. It began to glow with a blue aura that quickly expanded to surround him, filling the air with a low pitched hum. The field rotated and spun faster and faster. which in turn caused the noise to increase in intensity.
For a brief moment, he was witness to the realm cracking open like an eggshell, and a wave of amorphous horrors with hungry maws pouring in, and then he was gone.
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Blinking, Mike looked around. He was standing in a long, empty corridor with vaulted ceilings that seemed to extend into infinity. The air was strangely heavy, and as he exhaled the breath he'd been holding, the sound echoed oddly.
While he was thankful that he'd managed to avoid becoming a snack for Invaders, it was clear that he hadn't made it back to Ea just yet.
He glanced down at the orb in his hand, wondering if he should try using it again, but hesitated when he noticed that the crack which marred its surface had grown larger. Apparently, using it in its damaged state had done some real harm to the item. If he was lucky, he might be able to get another use or two out of it before it broke completely.
Resignedly, he put it into his storage. Once he'd determined the nature of the realm he'd found himself in, he could reconsider trying to escape again.
He was just in the process of considering which direction to start walking in, when he heard footsteps approaching from a nearby passage. Based on the sound alone, he guessed that the other party was a humanoid of roughly average size moving with a steady, measured pace.
While a part of him wanted to hide in the darkest corner he could find, his gut told him that it would be a waste of time. Trusting his instincts, he chose to simply wait.
After a few long seconds, a tall man with a slender frame came into view. He looked to be in his late forties or early fifties, and had a head full of dark brown hair turning gray at the temples. A neatly trimmed beard framed his calm face, and complemented his refined hairstyle. He was wearing a simple, yet immaculately maintained suit that brought to mind some of the more fanciful representations of butlers Mike had seen in his previous life.
Nevertheless, the man's appearance had all the hallmarks of a member of the highest class, coupled with a strange humility. The two aspects should have been contradictory, but in his case, they seemed complementary instead.
Out of habit, Mike used Appraise.
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SYSTEM REQUEST INVALID
ACCESS RESTRICTED
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[...That's...disconcerting.]
They stared at one another for a few seconds, before the man finally broke the silence. "I apologize for the lack of a proper welcome. Your arrival was earlier than expected. If you'll follow me, I have taken the liberty of preparing refreshments."
"Uhh...thanks?"
"Right this way, please." The man replied with a bow before turning and walking back the way he came. Mike hurried to follow.
"So, do you mind if I ask, where we are currently?"
"I do not mind at all. We are currently located in one of the outer passages of the House of Convergence." He replied simply, waited a few moments, and then continued. "I assume from your lack of response that you are unfamiliar with the name."
"Unfortunately, yes."
"That is understandable. Few besides the gods are aware of it. You can think of it as a sort of meeting place for the Creators, formed at the point where all of their realms converge."
Mike stopped walking in shock, but quickly snapped out of it and hurried after the man. "Ah, I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but does that mean you are one of them?"
The man glanced at him in surprise and after a few seconds burst into hearty laughter. "My apologies, I did not expect that question. You may relax, I am not one of the Creators."
Mike sighed in relief.
The man continued. "I am known as Barth, the Ascended bearing the aspects of Loyal Service, Professionalism, and Order. Additionally, I have been given the title of Custodian of the House of Convergence."
Mike's sigh transformed into a cough. "Hah-hem...um, So that means you are a...god?"
"Indeed."
"...Huh."
"You do not seem all that surprised."
Shrugging, Mike grimaced. "To be honest, I was kind of expecting this outcome. Besides, you are technically the second god that I've met…" He paused for a second, remembering the strange robotic whale thing that had been involved in his reincarnation. "...or third maybe, depending on your definition."
"Still, you are handling yourself better than most mortals. Our presence usually has a rather intense effect upon them."
"I don't know what to tell you. This is all kind of new to me."
"In any event, we have arrived. Please have a seat." Barth announced while opening a door and motioning Mike to enter. Inside was a simple parlor, complete with a pair of couches and a coffee table. On the table was a single cup of rich colored tea and a plate full of small pastries that resembled madeleines.
Although he was a little hesitant to be treated so cordially by an actual god, Mike didn't really want to offend him by refusing his hospitality. So, he took a seat.
"Please, help yourself. My apologies, but the preparations for your departure will take some time, so I would like to request that you remain here until they are complete. Unfortunately, in order to avoid alerting the Creators to your presence, I am unable to provide anything more inspired than a commonly available tea and pastry set. Although they may prove inadequate, I hope that they will serve to temporarily assuage you."
"No, no. That's really alright. I'm already honored that you've done so much as it is."
Mike wanted to ask several questions, but felt that any delay might be insulting. After taking a quick look with Appraise to determine if the tea or pastries were harmful in some fashion, he dug in.
He started with one of the pseudo-madeleines, eating one in a single bite. While he admittedly had high expectations considering its source, he was nevertheless pleasantly surprised by its light and refreshing taste. It managed to find the perfect balance between sweet, sour, and buttery flavors to create a satisfying and energizing snack.
The tea, on the other hand, was rich and soothing. An earthy, roasted flavor served as the base, but was lightened by a layer of floral infusion which was in turn enhanced by a small amount of added sugar to mellow the otherwise harsh undertones. Not only was it delicious, but it was somehow served at the perfect temperature, remaining just on the cusp of being too hot to drink.
"This is really good." He said, honestly stating his opinion. "Might very well be the best tea I've ever had, and the pastries are to die for."
"I'm grateful for your praise." Barth replied humbly with a bow. "Now that you've settled in, I imagine you have several questions. While I may not be able to answer them all for several reasons, I will satisfy your curiosity to the best of my ability."
With a supreme effort of will, Mike put down the third pseudo-madeleine and began asking.