(Mael's POV)
"A-Ahhh!!!" I shouted in pain as I felt rushing water hit the entirety of my face, "W-What the.....!!!"
I don't remember anything after being tossed into some sort of vortex. I felt an incredible pressure swirling into a single point, and all of a sudden, there was nothing. I could say what I saw, but that would be a funny joke, since I was blind.
I was told that crossing a breach would either be painless or the most excruciating pain that I could feel, but I guess that I drew the lottery in that matter. Because the next thing I knew, I was flailing my body around, what felt like some sort of body of running water.
I didn't know how much time had passed or what happened after being crossed, but all I knew is that I had landed underwater and was trying my best in getting free, out of pure instinct.
"G-Guuhh!!" I said as the water got into my mouth, "F-Fuck....!!!"
Suddenly, I saw light entering my vision and without warning, everything was bright. This caused me to squint as I hit a rock, still being pushed hard by the waters.
"W-Wait.....w-what?!" I coughed as I grabbed ahold of something, closing my eyes hard as I felt the water hit my face, "N-No fucking way.....what...?!"
I opened my eyes, seeing nothing but water rushing towards me, a bright light shining from above. I tried my best not to slip, but my entire body began to shake in anxiety as my stomach sunk immediately. I couldn't believe what I was experiencing; something I didn't think would happen in a million years.
"I...I can see....?!' I exclaimed as the current of the water suddenly pushed me up the rock where I was, "That's....that's impossible.....!!"
It was impossible, it's been years since I suffered the injury that permanently blinded me. My eyes were lost, destroyed, as my face was forever scarred. It was one of the worst things that had happened to me, second to my sisters becoming ill after we were orphaned.
I squinted, adjusting my vision as I saw the rapids hitting my leg as I was leaning on the rock, holding onto it with everything I had.
I panted, "W-What is this...?" I said, still finding it impossible to be able to see, "Is this....is this an effect of Crossing? I....I am not dead, right? I'm in the Distorted Godlands, right?! It all worked, I hope it did.....!!"
I looked around, seeing that I was in the middle of a river, the current was violently pushing through. I was dead in the middle, a few dozen meters away from the riverbank, which was a small strip of land before a slope that headed up to a dense forest. I saw a waterfall before me, around 60 feet high, the waters falling hard on a sloped surface, causing the rapids to flow down hard.
I wiped my face, coughing slightly, "O-Okay...." I said, "Calm down, Mael.....you have to get to land...You made it....you're safe....."
I landed in water, in the middle of a river. It could have been worse, truthfully. I could have ended up falling in the middle of the air, plummeting to my death. Or this river could have been filled with crocodiles that would have ripped me apart.
That second part could definitely be a possibility.
I panted, "Alright...." I said, "Okay.....if this is.....if this is the Godlands.....and I am no longer blind....then, everything is good.....okay...."
I tried to push myself on the rock when I saw a strange interface appear in my line of sight.
[Welcome To The Distorted Godlands]
"Huh?" I said, confused by this, "Wait.....is this....?"
The small interface then switched to a large vertical screen that was dark blue in color, surrounded by glowing runes that swirled about. I felt a strange sensation filling my body as this happened, as if I was reacting to the screen.
"A System...." I said, "I got one?"
The System Screen changed, showing what looked like a character sheet.
[Black Sun System Start]
- Name: Mael
- Age: 20
- Height: 6'2
- Weight: 210lbs
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Black Sclera, Pure White Irises
- System Type: Lustful Dragon Lord (Sex System)
- Conversion Trait: Obsidian Dragon (Corrupted Azure Dragon)
- Specialized Tools: Katanas, Flintlock Firearms
I blinked, "What?" I said, "My hair's black? My eyes....wait, a Sex System?!"
The System immediately switched pages:
[Current Task: Swim Up The Waterfall]
- You Are But A Helpless Carp.
- Swim Up The Waterfall and Leap To The Top, Ascending To Your Destiny.
[Rewards: Sealed Obsidian Dragon Form]
"You got to be fucking kidding me...." I said, looking at the waterfall, "That is suicide."
I had to think this through.
I had a System, the most sought-after power that Crossing to the Godlands offers. Everyone and their mother says that having a System, regardless of the type, gives someone a massive advantage in the Distorted Godlands. It could give you a task, and it would allow you to either get points or immediately unlock abilities, no matter what.
If I perform this task, I obtain the Sealed form of an Obsidian Dragon? Which is the corrupted version of the Azure Dragon...a mythical Eastern Dragon that could be considered a god. What does it mean? Sealed Form? What are the benefits of having the Sealed form? Are there like bonus effects?
There was one way of finding out.
I had no choice but to do it. There's no going back now. I am in the Distorted Godlands, I have to push forward with whatever is in front of me. And right now, a waterfall is before me. And I have to conquer it in order to begin whatever type of journey this is.
I let out an exhale, "Okay....." I said with a serious expression, "Let's do this...."
I slid back into the waters, feeling the powerful current hit me right on the chest, nearly sweeping me away. I tensed up my whole body in an attempt to resist the currently, holding onto the rock next to me as I swung my legs. The depth of the river must be several feet more than I thought because I was hitting nothing but water.
I took in a deep breath and pushed myself forward, trying to swim against the current.
I had no idea if I was that good of a swimmer or if it was the System giving me a slight physical boost, but I felt myself swimming against the current, even if I was barely progressing a little. I felt the water hit my face as I tried my best, swimming, being able to gain a few feet of distance.
From what I had checked before, the waterfall was around 40 feet away, and I felt like I was dying already as I had swam around 4 feet. This was going to be a difficult thing to do, and I already hate it.
"Shiiiit....." I said as I kept fighting against the current, "I.....won't lose...."
*****************
I am no damn fish that can't swim against a current. I don't have the body for it, and I nearly exhausted myself, swimming 40 feet against the rapids of this river.
I'll tell you what I do have, limbs. And these limbs could be used to climb, given I don't fall down like a fucking idiot.
"Arrghhh...." I said as the waters hit me hard on my head, nearly causing me to slip, "Shit...."
I was halfway up the waterfall, climbing on the rocks as I pushed past the powerful pressure of the water that fell. This was, without a doubt, the dumbest fucking thing I had ever thought of doing, but there was something else allowing me to push forth.
I kept going, however, completely confident because I was already halfways up. For whatever reason, the Godlands gave me a System, and its first task was for me to climb this stupid waterfall, so I shall do it.
Every foot I climbed up, my arms and legs kept going numb, the water hitting my head and back hard. With every foot I climbed up, I momentarily paused to gather air, gasping as I leaned my head away.
I didn't stop, I kept climbing up, the top coming closer and closer.
Every time that my body wanted to give out, I simply remembered Rose's face, knowing that she would be disappointed if I died climbing a stupid waterfall.
"Arrghh...." I groaned in pain as I kept going, the waters hitting my entire body, "This.....is stupid....."
My entire body felt like it was being ripped apart, it was very painful. But it didn't matter, I kept going. Every single foot that I climbed up, it gave me more energy to keep going. It was very surreal, very unbelievable. I never knew that I was capable of it, no matter how foolish I thought of it.
I still kept going, ignoring these thoughts, and I simply kept climbing.
As if time didn't exist, I was already at the top, feeling my entire body going limp from exhaustion. I saw a single branch popping out from the top of the waterfall's cliff, right at the very top. It was around two feet away from me, all I had to do is climb up and reach for it.
It looked very sturdy too, I needed to grab ahold of it.
I pulled myself up, groaning loudly in pain as I reached for the branch. I gripped it tightly and used all of my strength to pull myself up towards the top.
Without wasting another moment, I climbed the branch, hearing it crack slightly and managed to pull myself up to the top of the waterfall.
I was on my knees, feeling my body slipping on the bottom of the river, which was rather shallow here for some reason. The waters were hitting my chest and neck, still posing a danger.
"Shit...." I said before spotting something
It was a large rock that was around four feet away, standing strong through the current. It looked rather sturdy enough for me to jump on and rest.
I gulped and stood up, feeling the waters hit me.
Then, without thinking, I launched myself toward the rock, "Ahhh!!!" I let out a yell and hit the rock hard, "Oh fuck!!"
My entire body throbbed in pain as I lay face down, feeling a massive weight being lifted off my body.
"Ahh...." I said as I rolled onto my back, hearing the sounds of the waters flow past me
Then, the interface appeared in my line of sight.
[Task Completed]
"The Helpless Carp Leaps Courageously and Becomes The Vicious Dragon That Kazuha Needs"
[Rewards: Sealed Obsidian Dragon Form]
I blinked, "Huh?" I said, "What was that message?"
"What's a Kazuha?"