The Genesis Game

The shape of footprints in the sand steadily revealed themselves as a man made of stars and the infinite cosmos blinked into existence. The impossible man, the spirit of the World Dungeon whose true name was not to be revealed. A true immortal masquerading as a man under the guise of Michael. Along the beach he moved rather than walked, the sand forming into footprints by his will rather than by disturbance, another imitation of movement for a body that didn't exist.

Michael approached the unconscious form of the man called Seraph bending his knees squatting as he peered down on his conscious form. Examining him for any lasting or residual injuries to both his body and his mind, watching as his cuts slowly healed, burns disappeared a flesh mended. Finding no injuries in his inspection he allowed himself to feel some measure of relief the champion he had chosen was not yet broken. Probing and verifying his own suspicious as he placed a finger on the man's forehead and looked into his memories .

A quick glance showed him what he had not seen since leaving his viewing office. Shards of glass on which the body of his champion lay bleeding, and a broken window many feet above and a burning heavily damaged building that housed one of Michaels visiting shops.

"Seraph had always been trouble for me." Mused Michael in consideration of the situation. This was not going as seamlessly and easily as it should have. The fool had almost killed himself but Michael partially blamed himself, he had not thought Seraph would turn down the opportunity to again have his legendary class, a calculated risk, a calculated mistake. Seraph's raw human form was much weaker than Michael had remembered from those brief moments before offering Seraph the chance to avenge himself on those who wronged him all those years ago.

Flames spread overhead, raging like an inferno as the fire enveloped the rest of the building. As the heat and the embers bit at his body, Michael with a a wave of his hand commanded the burning building began to repair itself. Brick by brick it set itself back on its foundation the boards and would be coming unburnt and resetting themselves in their place it was as if time itself were being reverted and the building was restored to its form in the way the unconscious man had originally found it.

"Sloppy, so very sloppy, reckless and risky." Critiqued Michael. For someone as calculated as he, the one who had been known as the Black Seraph, the Angel of Genocide, this approach and result was unexpected and underwhelming. For such a person as Seraph to have such issues early on during the beginning stages was a concern there would need to be an intervention.

Standing over Seraph, Michael called out. "Wake up Seraph."

But though Seraph stirred he did not wake, enveloped in the dreams and nightmares of the past.

More forcefully, his voice edged with power, Michael called out. "Seraph, it's time, wake up."

Seraph stirred and briefly opened his eyes before slipping back into a state of unconsciousness.

"I said wake up." Michael said again this time with no hint of patience, almost yelling the command. Whether or not the sleeping man on the ground heard that commanding voice didn't matter as the sand itself underneath him rose up and threw him through the air, if not for dumb luck Seraph would have become seriously injured, even if most injuries were only superficial outside of combat. Somehow, Seraph managed to land on his feet the violence of the action jolting him from his sleep. In his confused state, it took him a second to realize he was suddenly standing he could only look around in confusion and guess with a bewildered look on his face what was going on.

"Seraph. It's time to wake up. You've slept enough." said Michael.

Seraph blinked in groggy confusion, wondering who this man waking him up was. Heavily disorientated from his fall and abrupt wake up.

"Don't be dramatic Seraph, you're fine. I've watched your wounds heal up, and even the residuals you have from that conclusion are already disappearing. You've been resting and you've rested long enough. You and I need to talk while its just you and I."

"Before we go any further, who are you?" replied Seraph as he adjusted the Cat's Claw in his arm ready to strike as he squinted his eyes trying to pinpoint how he recognized the voice, "Who are you?"

Memories came unbidden to Seraph, as looking at the man before him seemed to reveal some of the man's otherworldly nature. "It's you, you're the spirit of the World Dungeon aren't you? What are you even doing here, how can you be here for that matter. and what could you possibly want from me, isn't this enough?"

"As I once told you Seraph, I am what I am. I am the dungeon and the dungeon is me. In this body I have chosen the name for myself of Michael. This form you before you is an extension of me, just as the dirt and sand you have laid on is my body. I am the air that you breathe I am the dirt that you step on I am the dungeon and I am here because Seraph because things are changing, changing because you attempted to consume rather than merge with your younger self, and I fear you will fail in your purpose without intervention." Explained Michael as Seraph looked at him in recognition, relaxing his grip on the Cats Claw.

"When I agreed to send you back in time. I did so so that you may one day save the human race from extinction and desolation. Yet time and time again you have failed already." Adominished Michael.

"What do you mean i've failed already? I've only been here a few days." Replied Seraph.

Miguel replied "Seraph, it's only because you and your father are still alive that this hasn't been a complete failure. You just blindly accepted and followed when I needed you to question and needed you to lead."

"I gave you a means to get your power back, to once again don the mantle of the Black Seraph, but rather than accept it you refused that power. And in your refusal killed two other humans I had also gifted with power and crippled a third. And in your current state you've almost died time and time again."

Seraph said nothing as Michael continued.

"Did you even once attempt to persuade the others to your side? Did you try? You didn't, not really, I watched you, options existed I ensured that, and you killed them instead. But your worst sin has been taking for granted the classes you had been given. Have you ever asked how you or your father might unlock your emblems?"

"You haven't asked." Answered Michael without waiting for a response and Seraph knew it was wiser to wait before saying anything. "I've been watching you, and you haven't, neither have you asked my elves. So as you humans like to say, let's have a heart-to-heart of you human like to say and get to the bottom of what's happening with you and why it is you're not performing like I know you can."

Seraph went to speak in his defense and answer the question but was immediately cut off and interrupted.

"I already know the answer Seraph. You lack guidance. I remember the path of bodies you left in your wake, they numbered in the millions. More died at your hands then by mine. I had not wanted you to forsake power, I wanted you to build others up using that power."

"So first Seraph, I give to you all of humanity a quest. The 1st guild to establish itself in Hometown will be granted five legendary classes. This is your contest to lose Seraph, do not."

"Second, finding the upgrade shops will no longer be the focus of each floor. I have given control of each floor to a different Demon Prince. Each floor beyond can no longer be accessed by anyone until they have killed my floor boss. Spread the word on this."

Lastly, said Michael as he moved his hands together in creation. "I grant you this. A single use seed to spawn a shop, the only one in existence. Use it wisely, I would suggest not losing it."

With that Seraph held out his hand in anticipation as Michael presented the rare gift. Seraph was worried only slightly about what manner of abilities that pocket shop would offer, but overall tried to minimize the thought least it be withdrawn.

"No Seraph, not an ability shop, this is an upgrade shop. You'll see when you use it, just set it down when your ready. Be warned though, it can only be used once, and I will not be granting you another." Cautioned Michael.

Seraph put it into his spacial pocket for safe keeping, not yet sure where he would be able to place it and maintain control "This is pretty amazing Michael. Why all these changes though. In my other life, not once did you ever appear like you have, except as I lay dying upon the Altar of the End"

"Seraph" responded Michael, "You weren't alone in failure, the failure was mine as well. I was to prepare humanity and was unable, and just as you have traveled into the past, so have I. This is not the dungeon you once knew. It is the remnants of the dungeon ripped from the future."

"Prepare for what?" asked Seraph curiously, "Prepare us for the final floor? Future? Is that why I found Reverend in your tutorial."

"To prepare you to survive Seraph. The dungeon was only ever meant to be an arc. I need progress from you Seraph, either secure your guild, or defeat the Demon Prince of this floor. Goodbye Seraph, I've said enough." Said Michael as he excused himself.

And as quickly as Seraph had blinked into the world, he just as quickly faded out of it. Leaving Seraph with more questions than answers and a generalized anxiety about the future.

Notification: The ability "Retreat" has been added as a default ability of all adventures. When not in combat state the verbal command to "Retreat" and you shall be transported out of the Dungeon into Hometown.

(Note - Ability does not work during night hours.)