Darwin's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his weapon. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."
Ashton's brow furrowed. "Don't be reckless, Darwin. We are about to meet the being who granted us these very powers. To show disrespect would be utter foolishness."
"He's right," Oscar added, his gaze thoughtful.
Mia stepped forward, her eyes steady. "Don't worry, I'll keep him in line."
While the others voiced their apprehension, Nicole, Link, Noah, and Mike approached Hazel, their expressions earnest. "Thank you, Hazel," Nicole began, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Without your guidance, we would never have reached this level. You have helped us immeasurably, far more than we have been able to repay you."
"There's no need for such sentiments," Hazel replied, his tone gruff, masking a flicker of warmth.
"Your strength now will serve a purpose later."
Alexa interjected gently, "Just let them, Hazel. They're expressing their gratitude."
"I suppose," Hazel conceded, though a hint of awkwardness remained. "I still don't see the necessity…"
The abrupt chime of the System cut him off.
[You will be transported in five seconds.]
Before they could react, the world around them dissolved.
They materialized in a colossal hall, the sheer scale of it breathtaking. It teemed with people, and a palpable wave of power washed over them. Half the assembly radiated the unmistakable aura of Sovereigns.
Suddenly, a crimson notification blazed into existence:
[You stand before the god of this realm.]
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Heads craned, searching for the divine presence. Those with heightened senses could feel it – a weight, a pressure that defied description.
Then, he was there. Not on the ground, but high above them, suspended in the air before descending with an unnerving fluidity. His appearance was a visceral shock, a grotesque parody of humanoid form. Half a head, devoid of eye and nose, yet a gaping maw filled with jagged fangs dominated the remaining features. His body pulsed with shifting, unnatural colors, and his fingers ended in wickedly sharp claws. A tattered piece of cloth was his only garment, doing little to soften the disturbing spectacle.
Then, a voice echoed through the hall, resonating with an alien authority. "Welcome. Refer to me as Glitch. This is my realm, my domain. I know you harbor countless questions, and in time, some will be answered. But first, you must understand your purpose. You will fight for me, against the people of other gods who contest my existence. You will not face the gods themselves, but their chosen, just as you are mine. These adversaries may be monstrous or human. Some gods have claimed regions of your planet as their own, as I have. However, I was delayed in guiding your growth. The gods' council imprisoned me, hindering your development and allowing my rivals' followers to become far stronger. This system I gifted you, this accelerated evolution, was a desperate measure. The orchestrated apocalypse, the surge of monsters… I ask for your forgiveness."
Glitch's pronouncements were cut short by a voice of raw defiance from the crowd. "How dare you manipulate our lives, drag us into your conflicts simply because you possess greater power?"
In a blink, Glitch was in two places simultaneously. One towering figure remained before the assembled masses, while an identical copy materialized directly in front of the defiant man. The Glitch facing the man spoke, his voice a low, menacing growl. "I despise disrespect." A snap of his grotesque fingers, and the man dissolved into a spray of crimson mist, barely recognizable fragments of flesh clinging to the air.
A collective gasp of terror swept through the hall. Glitch's voice boomed, laced with lethal menace.
"Silence! Unless you crave oblivion." An oppressive quiet descended.
"Good. I abhor unnecessary noise." The two Glitches merged back into one.
"You question my imprisonment? Understand this: I have slain thousands of other gods. I am the most feared among them. Now, know this: your battles will primarily be fought in groups – your entire collective against another god's domain. Failure means annihilation for all of you. Victory grants you dominion over the defeated region. That is all. You will now be returned to your world. I have restored your lands, your infrastructure, your technology. When the time for battle arrives, you will be summoned again. Participation is your choice, but if those who represent you fall, your entire realm will perish. Good luck."
The chilling pronouncements ceased, and the world dissolved once more. They reappeared in their familiar surroundings, yet subtly altered. The devastation was gone. Buildings stood pristine, technology hummed with renewed life. However, scattered across the landscape were ominous rifts, swirling vortexes that pulsed with raw energy, gateways to unknown dangers and the promise of further power.
"How are you doing?" The voice came from a phone in Hazel's hand.
"I'm good, thanks for asking. And thank you for always checking up on me, Alexa," Hazel replied, a genuine smile on his face.
"No need to thank me," Alexa responded, her voice softening, almost as if she were blushing.
Hazel found himself in a luxurious room, surrounded by opulent furnishings and expansive views. This unexpected comfort was a result of a surprising discovery he'd made since returning from the "forbidden god's" call: he now owned a significant amount of property and wealth. It was confusing, almost unbelievable, but after some investigation, it seemed that many people who had played a crucial role in the apocalypse had returned to riches. It was a strange reward for surviving the end of the world, although it seems another is on its way, but there is a difference in difficulty this time and apocalypse style
"We'll talk later," Hazel said to Alexa, already feeling a hint of the day's events brewing.
l display.