“God damn it! Why did I have to regain my sanity!” I say as I twirl in the darkness. “This sucks. I’m so damn bored!” The void consumes my words like a hungry specter, stealing them away from me like it has everything else. “This is bullshit. The only stimulation I get is when this dick uses my powers. I’ve been here so long now I can actually feel what he’s doing with my mana.” I pick a random direction and decide that I’m upright. “You’re not the only one who can upgrade things, Pop. I’m calling my new talent mana sense. Isn’t that cool? Yeah it is.” A laugh escapes from me. It’s been happening more and more recently. These random fits of laughter for no reason.

  “The worst part is the dwarfs a pervert. He uses my dungeon sight to spy on young women and the occasional elf when they come to visit. And lucky me, I get to be a part of that.” The thought of spying on helpless women sends shivers down my nonexistent spine. “I don’t know why he does it. I’m fairly certain he has a harem. Can you believe it, an honest to god harem. I get reincarnated to another world, and this guy uses my power so he can get laid.”

  I let out a long sigh. With nothing but time, I’ve managed to make it sound fairly convincing, or at least I think I have. I could just be crazy. “I need to stop talking to myself. It’s bad for me.” Another fit of laughter interrupts me. “It’s not like it matters. I’m going to spend the rest of eternity alone. Going crazy might be my only way to survive it.”

  A sudden rush of mana fills me until it hurts. “Here we go again.” I say with a long sigh. “Well, at least I’m getting a bit of entertainment today. That asshole doesn’t feed me this much unless we are doing something big.” I brace myself, because one of two things is about to happen. Either we’re going outside, and it’s going to hurt, or we’re staying in and I get to carve a wall for 3 hours. I wait for the pain, but it never comes. “Great, it’s another day of home improvements. I swear this guy has changed these four floors so many times, it’s getting ridiculous.”

  A rush of mana floods into the fourth floor and settles onto the ground. “Wait, is... is this what I think it is? It is. It’s a 5th floor! This is awesome! I wasn’t sane enough for the first four floors. I’m finally going to experience a new floor being made!” My mana rushes away from me, and I go from full to bursting to breathless in an instant. “Oh God, this is so draining.” I squeak out, trying to stifle a laugh I don’t want. “If this keeps up, I’m going to end up a masochist.” My laughter wins, and I pretend it’s because of my joke and not because I’m enjoying the pain. “I can’t believe this was the first thing I tried all those years ago. Why was I so excited to do this again?” I say with a groan that makes me feel dirty. “Ah. I’m so broken.”

  A blinding light fills the void. It’s oddly familiar, but I can’t quite place where I know it from. My eyes adjust and things come into focus. I see blues and greens and whites. “Oh my god, colour. It’s been so long since I’ve seen colour. It’s beautiful.”

  The room I’m now in is like something from a dream. Pillars and a floor, it’s been so long since I’ve seen a floor. I can’t help but feel... Feel... I can feel again. I’d forgotten I used to feel things... Emotions — I have emotions. This place — I remember it now — this is where I met the goddess.

  I turn to where the goddess was last time. She’s there, she’s really there, I’m here again with the goddess. “Goddess, it’s you, it’s really you.” I rush towards her, but when our eyes meet, I freeze. “Goddess, what’s wrong? You look so sad.” The weight of her emotions fills me with... happiness? She’s feeling these feelings for me. An immortal being with all the powers of the universe at her fingertips cares about me. Somehow that makes me happy? “Someone cares for me. I didn’t realize how much I needed to know that.”

  Azone floats towards me and rests a hand under my soul. “My poor child, how you have suffered because of the actions of those you were tasked to guide.” She says, her voice filled with benevolent pity. “You stand before me now, having suffered long. Far longer than any tasked by the gods before.”

  “Hi Goddess. It’s um, it’s good to see you. Feels like it’s been a while.”

  Azone smiles through her sad expression. “Yes, it has. Our last meeting was 162 years ago.”

  “What?” I say, her words taking me a moment to process. “I’m sorry? It’s been how long? No. No that can’t be right. It’s been like a year, a year and a half tops.”

  Azone shakes her head, a single tear thrown from her cheek as she does. “It feels that long because I protected you as best I could. It was one of the few mercies I could grant you.” Azone’s head tilts to the side, her smile falling from her lips. “I took the memories of when you suffered the most.” She says, raising her other hand and producing a spinning black ball crackling with lightning.

  “That’s.” I stare at the black ball and I know what it is. “It’s a part of me, a part of who I am.”

  Azone nods and moves the ball closer to me. “It was once. All the pain you felt, all those days you suffered in the darkness, all those times you lost yourself now rest within this ball.”

  My voice cracks. “So all that pain, all that suffering. Those were the good times?”

  The goddess nods before closing her hand, the ball disappearing in a puff of smoke. “I’m so sorry, young one. I tried, but even a god’s power has its limits.” Azone lowers her head. “I protected you as best I could, but you have suffered so much. Countless times your soul was almost ripped apart, and I.” Azone’s voice falters as she speaks. “I couldn’t help you.” Azone slumps backwards, her hand falling away from my soul. “I’ve watched you every moment since you left. I saw you piece yourself back together from nothing and become what you are now, but I couldn’t do more.” Electricity crackles around her as she clenches her fists. “But that was then, and this is now. Now that you stand before me, I can do more. You have earned the favor of the old ones by completing your fifth floor. Because of this accomplishment, I can gift you a fraction of their power.” Azone’s voice grows louder with every word.

  “Can you free me?” I ask, moving myself closer to her.

  The Goddess shakes her head in a long, sweeping motion. “No. That is outside my power. Your contract is with the old ones, not with me. It is their magic that binds you, and only they can free you.”

  I feel a pit in my nonexistent throat. “Can I talk to them? Maybe they can help.”

  “The old ones are the gods of gods. Those who have always existed. Those who look upon me, as I look upon you. You would not survive an encounter with them. Nor could your words reach them.” Azone says, her words becoming deafening.

  “So I’m screwed then. I’ve got another 650 years of darkness ahead of me.” I say, slumping to the ground.

  Azone’s body lets off a brilliant flash of light that pours into me. I can feel something inside me changing, but I don’t know what. Azone looks down and me and smiles. “Young one, do not forget I am a god, and you come before me today to receive a blessing.” Azone smirks as her blue eyes narrow to slits. “A gift from the old ones that will help you continue your work. A gift, I decide.”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “But you just said you couldn’t free me.”

  “I can’t. Not as you are now, at least. This blessing may not help with your freedom, but it will help.” Azone says, her smile growing even bigger now. “First, I shall grant you a worthy ally, one who shall assist you forevermore. One that will become a part of your soul. With a wave of her finger, something clicks deep inside me, as if something that had been missing is slotted into place.”

  “What was that? I feel different.”

  A little blue screen pops into existence.

  initializing WEEB system version 8.4.2.

  Hello user, it is good to be back.

  System pop is now operational, please state request.

  I let out a gasp at the return of my little friend. “Pop, you’re back. It’s good to see you, my friend!” I let out a squeal as I rush forward to hug my long-lost friend. “I missed you. Owch.” I say as I bounce off Pop’s screen. “What the? When did you become solid?”

  Pop’s screen shifts from blue to red.

  System Pop has always been solid.

  “Why is Pop’s screen red? Is that bad? Last time it was bad.”

  Pop’s screen clears, its screen returning to its normal blue.

  Note: System Pop has been upgraded.

  The WEEB system can now learn and adapt to situations.

  Screen colours have been added to help with user interaction.

  Azone giggles as she runs a finger down Pop’s screen. “I don’t know how you did it, but your creation here is interesting.” She says, picking up Pop’s screen. “Using a screen to monitor and create everything in your dungeon is.” Azone turns to me with a smile. “Let’s call it an interesting way of using the power of creation.”

  “Wait. I made Pop? No, that can’t be right. I thought the gods made him, you know, to help me get started. Like a tutorial thing.”

  Azone’s brow furrows. “Why would we make something so rudimentary?” Azone says, swiping her finger over Pop’s screen. “No, Pop is all you’re doing.”

  My eyes flick between Pop and Azone. “But. No I.” My vision rattles as I once again forget I no longer have a head. “But Pop’s running the WEEB system; I wouldn’t have named the system that.”

  Azone turns to me and raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”

  “Well, no, but...”

  “You were given the power to create a dungeon and nothing more. What you do with that power is up to you.” She says, waving Pop’s screen like a fan.

  “But all the restrictions and...”

  “All self-imposed.”

  Pop lets out a loud buzz as he breaks free of Azone’s grip.

  System Pop is not a fan.

  Azone giggles, a cheeky smile finding its way to her perfect lips. “You could be if your master wished you to be.” She says, grabbing Pop again before turning to me. “The WEEB system is your way of dealing with a power that is outside of your understanding.”

  “Are you saying I was the problem the whole time?” I ask, floating down to the ground in defeat.

  “Yes, but enough about the mistakes of the past. I have another gift for you. From this day on, you will no longer suffer because of your imprisonment. I will take your pain and store it.”

  “What do you mean, store it?” I simulate the sound of clearing my throat. “Are you saying you’ll put it in a box or something like that?”

  “Something like that, yes.” Azone says, her face twisting into a wicked smile. “The question then becomes what to do with all of your pain, young one?” She asks, as if she already has a plan for the pain she’ll be collecting. The intensity of her stare makes me back up a bit.

  “I.. I don’t know. What do you think is best, goddess?” I stammer out, trying to avoid being on the business end of her expression. “I wouldn’t want to do anything to anger the gods.”

  Azone looks at me with an icy glare that I don’t think I deserve. “I don’t care for this new tone of yours. It’s far too passive for my liking.”

  I shrink away as her glare intensifies. “Um, well, we could. Um.”

  “Why must you mortals be like this?” Azone lets out a long sigh before looking at me with an exhausted expression. “You want revenge, right?” She says, producing the black ball again before continuing. “Well, I’m sorry to tell you that’s not going to happen.”

  “Um, Azone. What are you doing with that?”

  “Another’s job.” She says, her smile widening, as the ball begins to spin. “This is divine retribution.”

  “Divine retribution? I’m sorry, Goddess. I’m not sure what...”

  If I weren’t already pressed against the floor, Azone’s look would make me shrink further. “The mortal that imprisoned you must face consequences for its evil deeds. If that retribution just so happens to line up with your goals for revenge. I trust you won’t make a big deal out of it.”

  The ball in her hand breaks into tiny fragments before rushing into me. Before I have the chance to protest, Pop’s blue screen appears again.

  New spell unlocked: Gift of Azone.

  Note: You can use this spell only once and only on the assigned target.

  Effects: Traps the target within a divine prison where all pain they inflicted on the caster will be reciprocated.

  I stare at the new spell, and reread the last line a few times. “I’m sorry, what’s happening?”

  Pop’s screen clears.

  All pain and suffering caused while under the current slave contract will be stored. Once Unnamed dungeon is free, this spell can transfer all pain that was endured to another.

  Note: You must reclaim at least one dungeon completely before casting this spell.

  “Oh, hell yes! Now that’s what I’m talking about! I’m going to mess you up, Brollyn.”

  Azone clears her throat, her stern expression returning with a vengeance. “I’m sorry. What was that?”

  “What I meant to say was, um, this seems a fitting punishment for the crimes committed.”

  Azone nods, her smile returning. “It’s not, but it will have to do until he dies.” She says, her blue eyes looking glassy again. “Oh, little one. How I wish I could do more. To send you to heaven for all you have suffered.” She says, her face softening as a light from above fills the room.

  “You’ve done enough, Goddess. You’ve given me something I’d thought I’d lost. Hope.” I say, trying to turn away as the light increases in intensity. The light continues to build, and I worry it might consume me, but a moment later it disappears. “I’m still here? I thought you were sending me back.”

  “You’re kidding me.” Azone says, turning to me with wide eyes. “The old ones have granted you a blessing.” She says, flattening her frazzled hair with her hand. “Young one, our time grows short, but the old ones have seen your plight and have offered you a gift. Ask of me what you will, and if it is within my power, I shall grant it. I can’t free you, but with this power I could do any number of things to ease your suffering.”

  “I wanna be able to see and hear again.”

  Azone freezes at my request, her excitement disappearing as fast as it had arrived. “Young one, are you sure? You’ll see everything, hear everything. I fear this will only add to your suffering.”

  “Goddess, I can’t go back to the Void. It’s hell in there.” I say, mustering my courage and meeting Azone’s gaze.

  Her face softens, and she gives me a brief grin. “Very well, I shall restore to you what I can. You won’t have your original powers, but you will see and hear all that is around your core. Go young one, I shall see you again once you have reached the 10th floor.”

  The light once again blinds me, and I feel myself being pulled away from Azone. “Thank you, Goddess.”

  A soft giggle fills my mind. “It’s Azone. Call me Azone from now on.”