The misty forest and scattered wreckage had disappeared from my line of sight. Hollow, Veyra, and even Delta had all vanished with a blink.

  The sky arched over with an endless, blackened expanse, riddled with fiery white spots. Each individually burning at its own unique size, sometimes streaking across the night sky in a sudden burst. There weren’t any trees or buildings, only a field of glowing white flowers. The majesty of their pristine shine made it difficult to maneuver, afraid that I’d step on them.

  Wait, why would I step on them? Since when did I have legs…? Whoa! I totally have legs again?!!

  Not quite what I remembered them looking like, but neither was the rest of me. It wasn’t the human body from my previous life, nor the golem I had come to know.

  My body was a spectral mass. A miasma of grey energy, mashed together into a human shape. Just without any of the finer details like hair or clothes. I had eyes and hands, but it all seemed kind of…blank. Like an empty canvas used until the real idea came along.

  This is so weird… I don’t even feel like I died. Is that it? Did I die for real this time? All I remember was seeing a weird notification from the system, and that voice.

  {You are not dead}

  The notification came immediately, flooding my mind with the sound of her voice again. The same woman I heard before everything shifted to this. Somehow, it seemed really familiar.

  There it is again, but where is that voice coming from? Oracle, what’s going on here?

  Met with cold silence, I looked around hoping to see something. Anything. I turned back to the screen, and it had vanished, replaced with a new message written with the same dark panel of light the others came on.

  {Have you enjoyed this life I gave you?}

  {You have grown well}

  {You are getting stronger, but not strong enough}

  The disappointment in her voice felt like a solid slap to the face. Just as I prepared my defence, the notifications disappeared with a glitching flash, and the purple haze that surrounded it shifted past me and into the field of flowers.

  “Tell me, Atlas, what is it that you value?”

  I turned around, eyes widened at the woman staring at me. Her long black dress flowed gently under a breeze I hadn’t noticed existed. Twilight hair gently cascaded over her slender, porcelain face. The dull black of her iris’ brought to life by the excitement in her gaze.

  “Are you going to keep me waiting? I might look patient, but I can assure you, I’m not one to wait around forever.” The maturity of her voice led me to believe she was in her late thirties.

  Who is this woman? I didn’t even realise she was standing there. I put my bewilderment on hold and quickly appraised her, hoping to get some kind of clue on the situation. Appraise! Hm…? Why won’t it work?

  “Sigh… This is the problem with mortals. You’re all so slow to respond.” She massaged her temple. “You aren’t able to use your skills in this realm, Atlas.”

  She knows who I am? Wait, then I can’t use telepathy here either! How am I going to talk?

  Her eyes narrowed, “Try opening your mouth.”

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  You can hear my thoughts?! Is this some kind of skill as well?

  Moving the muscles in my jaw, but strangely enough, there was no tension or resistance at all. I didn’t have any muscles or bones in my face.

  “T-this is weird…” The words flowed out almost robotically.

  It was close enough to my voice from when I was still human, but I almost forgot how it sounded. A tinge of something I wasn’t quite sure was sadness or joy, tugged at my chest.

  “Why did you bring me to this place?” I asked her.

  She averted her eyes to the field of flowers, a look of dismay dragging her down.

  “That’s not fair. I asked you a question first, didn’t I? Well, I suppose a proper introduction is necessary to put your mind at ease before we start.” She snapped her fingers, and a series of notification panels appeared around us. The words we spoke, perfectly inscribed along each and every one in perfect unison. “Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?”

  {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?} {Have you enjoyed the system I created for you?}

  “That was you? Wait, you’re the voice I heard before I died in the hospital, aren’t you?!” I practically leapt toward her.

  “You may call me Azrael.”

  “Azrael? As in, an angel?”

  The pale complexion of her cheeks deepened a shade redder. Her expression made it seem like she was uninterested, but her blushing cheeks totally betrayed her. I guess she really cracked under compliments.

  “Your flattery has been noticed. However, I brought you here for more important things. To answer your first question, no, you are not dead. Not completely, at least.”

  That leaves me with more questions than before… What does ‘not completely dead’ mean? Am I alive or not?!

  “That’s a good question.” Azrael extended a finger, as if to say she was impressed. “Secondly, sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not an angel. Let's just say, I used to be something of a big deal. These days, though, all I do is observe.”

  “What kind of things do you observe? I’m assuming I’m one of them?”

  “The world beyond this realm. The world you’ve been living in these last few weeks. Even the world you came from! Occasionally, yes, I observe you too.” Her face pressed close enough to see my own reflection in her eyes. “In fact, I’ve been really enjoying tracking your progress! You’re quite resourceful.”

  I’m sure if I had a face, my jaw would drop. She totally sounded like a god or something. With a job like that, how could she only call herself ‘a big deal’?

  Suddenly, my mind went to what appeared in my status after evolving.

  “Wait a minute…a god? Don’t tell me that title I received after evolving–”

  “Now you’re getting it.” She smiled, holding her hand up to the screen that appeared between us. “Did you think this title meant nothing?”

  {Title: Worshiper of Fallen God}

  “So that’s what that’s for! Are you a god then, Azrael?”

  “Don’t tell me you still haven’t heard of titles in this world? Honestly,” She clasped her head in her hand, shaking it disapprovingly, “Titles act as declarations in this world. Mostly given by powerful entities such as myself, while sometimes they are earned for certain accomplishments.”

  “Even if you say that, I’m still not sure what purpose it serves.”

  “Well, it’s hard to say, since this is the first time this title has ever been created.”

  “Wait, I'm the first?! Are you some kind of new god or something?” I pressed.

  Her face scrunched, “I told you, I’m not a god. I just used to be a big deal, is all. As for what this title will do to you, I think I’ll keep that to myself for now.”

  “What?! What’s the point in that? Come on, you’re messing with me, right?” I tried reaching for her wrist, but she disappeared under my hold.

  “You can’t expect me to let you in on all my secrets, can you? That goes against the rules.”

  My shoulders slumped, “You haven’t told me anything yet… Also, what rules?”

  Azrael approached me with a graceful step that locked me in place, mesmerised by her elegant figure. I felt as though it would be the worst decision of my life to move. A primal instinct took control of my body and held me prisoner behind the gaze of an apex predator.

  “Atlas, I don’t plan to waste any more time, so I’ll cut right to the point. How would you like to strike a deal?”

  ?