Chapter 207: Age of Forgotten
[Welcome, O Mortal, unto the Age of the Forgotten.]
[A Realm Whose Very Existence Hath Faded from the Memories of Mankind and All Mortal Races, Forgotten by All, Yet Lost to None.]
[Speak, Mortal. What Is Thy Heart’s Desire?]
[Tell Me, Why Hast Thou Come Unto This Forgotten Realm?]
Kaiser looked around as the sudden words appeared in his mind.
"I don’t know. I was dragged here against my will," Kaiser replied, casually examining his surroundings.
[Hm. Thy words bear no trace of falsehood.]
[Most intriguing... It seemeth thou possessest a fortune most extraordinary, one mighty enough to break the chains of thy cage.]
[Thou must be one of the Chosen.]
Kaiser frowned slightly.
’Chosen? And what cage is she talking about?’
"What are you talking about I don’t understand and can you speak normally?" Kaiser said looking around.
The woman voice sounded once again in his mind. Her tone carried a hint of amusement, as though she found his confusion rather entertaining.
[Hehe. As I have said, this place hath been forgotten by all. Once, it was known as the dwelling of the Gods, yet even their existence hath faded from the memories of mortals. All this came to pass when the Outer Beings were imprisoned within their cages.]
The woman’s voice paused briefly before continuing.
[Amongst those cages, the one thou callest the Cosmic System is perhaps the most peculiar. Bestowed upon mortals, it offereth them a seemingly effortless path to power. Yet, in their pursuit of strength, most mortals forget the ancient ways of cultivation and the true paths to power that lie within themselves.]
Her voice grew slightly colder.
[Unlike the power granted by the Cosmic System, which may be stripped away from its bearer at any moment, the strength thou gainest through thine own efforts shall remain thine. Yet mortals have grown so dependent upon this system that they no longer seek the power that was once rightfully theirs.]
Kaiser listened in silence, his expression growing more serious with every word.
’The Cosmic System is a cage? And what does she mean by the Outer Beings?’
Before he could ask, the woman spoke again.
[Thy soul is unlike those of ordinary mortals. Though thou hast been bestowed with such power, thou hast not wholly surrendered thyself to its influence. There is yet a path before thee, one that may lead beyond the confines of this cage.]
Kaiser narrowed his eyes.
[What do you mean by the Cosmic System being a cage?]
A soft, amused laugh echoed in his mind.
[Think upon it, mortal. A cage need not be forged of iron, nor must its bars be visible to the eye. Sometimes, the cruelest prison is one that maketh its captive believe himself free.]
[The Cosmic System granteth thee power, yet it also guideth thy path, shaping thy desires and binding thee to its rules. Thou hast grown accustomed to its gifts, believing them to be the only path to greatness.]
[But tell me, mortal... If the source of thy power may be taken from thee at another’s whim, canst thou truly claim that power as thine own?]
Kaiser felt his head spinning as he listened to the woman’s words. It was even worse when she spoke in an ancient and unfamiliar manner.
’Is this cosmic system really a cage...or is he lying?’ he thought, though he continued listening.
After a moment of silence, Kaiser took a deep breath and asked, "Can you tell me how to break free from this cage?"
’If the Fortune Compass brought me here, it means she is somewhat beneficial to me’ he thought.
For the first time, the woman did not respond immediately.
[That is the very reason thy destiny hath led thee unto this place.]
Her voice echoed through his mind, carrying a strange weight that made Kaiser pay closer attention.
[I can bestow upon thee a power forged from the legacy of the Forgotten Gods. The Remnant Will of this place shall grant thee the strength to break free from thy cage.]
Kaiser frowned.
’The Forgotten Gods? The Remnant Will? Just how many secrets does this place hold?’
He looked around before asking the question that had been bothering him.
"But why? Why would you help me? I’m just a mortal you don’t even know."
He know nothing is granted for free.
A soft laugh echoed through his mind.
[What hath been done can never be undone.]
[One can only look forward... or seek revenge.]
Kaiser narrowed his eyes as he heard the last word.
"Revenge?"
For some reason, the woman’s voice had changed. The amusement that had accompanied her earlier words was gone, replaced by a coldness that seemed to carry the weight of countless years.
Kaiser glanced around the empty grassland, then asked cautiously, "What do you want me to do for you?"
For a brief moment, silence filled his mind.
Then the woman answered.
[Nothing can change what hath already come to pass, mortal.]
[The dead shall not return, and the past shall never be undone.]
[Yet those who brought ruin upon this place still draw breath beneath the heavens.]
Her voice grew colder with every word.
[If the past cannot be changed, then let the future become the instrument of their retribution.]
Kaiser remained silent.
He had no idea what had happened in this forgotten place, nor did he know who had caused its downfall. However, one thing was becoming increasingly clear.
"You want me to kill the ones responsible for the end of the Age of Gods?" he asked.
[That is the price thou must pay for the Remnant Legacy that shall be bestowed upon thee.]
Kaiser nodded slightly before asking another question.
"The Cosmic System... the cage you mentioned earlier. Will I lose it if I accept your legacy?"
A soft laugh echoed through his mind.
[It seemeth thou hast grown rather dependent upon that system, mortal. Fear not. I shall not be so cruel as to strip thee of the power thou hast already acquired.]
[Instead, I shall forge a new system for thee, using the Remnant Legacy and the remaining power of the Gods preserved within this realm.]
Kaiser raised an eyebrow.
"A new system?"
[Indeed. A system born from the legacy of the Forgotten Gods, free from the constraints of the cage that bindeth thee now.]
[Thou shalt retain the power thou hast already gained, whilst gaining access to a path that leadeth beyond the limits imposed upon ordinary mortals.]
Kaiser fell silent for a moment as he considered her words.
A new system built from the power of the Forgotten Gods sounded almost too good to be true. If the woman’s words were genuine, this could be an opportunity far greater than any treasure he had ever found.
However, he was not foolish enough to accept such an offer without understanding what he was getting himself into.
"Will this new system have any conditions or restrictions?" he asked cautiously. "And what exactly will I have to do to obtain this legacy?"
The woman chuckled.
[Thou art more cautious than most mortals. Very well. Ask thy questions, and I shall answer what I can.]