Chapter 673 - Primordial

Class.

Zeke hadn’t really considered that word for quite some time.  However, now that Oberon had mentioned it, he couldn’t deny that he was more than a little curious about what might be in store.  After all, he’d been through so much since taking the Arcane Colossus class.  He’d upgraded most of his skills, some more than once.  And he’d gone through the impossible gauntlet of hell’s nine circles.  Finally, he had tapped into the divine, transforming his very core into something that produced more than just mana. 

In short, he was exceptional, and he hoped his class would reflect that. 

First, he wanted some answers, though.

“A hundred years,” he muttered.  “You say my friends are alive?  Are they well?  Where are they?”

“I was there when they ascended,” Oberon answered.  “They live under the umbrella of my protection.  I cannot say more than that before you officially ascend to the Ethereal Realm.  I hope you understand.”

Zeke nodded. 

Then, he asked, “What will this class evolution entail?  You said everything would change.  What does that mean?”

“It means that you may lose skills.  You may gain some.  Others will merge.  I can’t predict how the class will manifest, only that it represents an even greater change than when you initially chose your class,” Oberon explained.  “What’s more, you will join the pantheon of the Eternal Realm, though as a lesser god.”

“What does that mean?”

“There are seven of us.  Some, you’ve met.  I’m one of them.  Then there is Shar Maelaine.  Oda and Eta.  Mak’tar.  Then Artol and Vis.  We are all masters of divine energy, and we rule our domains.  For the most part, we live in harmony.  A step below us are the lesser gods, most of whom owe their allegiance to one of us.  Demigods blow that.  And then, regular people.  You will enter the Ethereal Realm as a lesser god, but I would be incredibly surprised if you don’t reach our ranks within a few years.

“The other thing you should understand is that the Ethereal Realm is not like the other realms,” he said.  “It is made up of multiple worlds, each connected but separate.  You will exit on Mak’tar’s world, though he will likely welcome you with open arms.  Any demon who manages the descent through the pit is treated well because they usually end up as lesser gods.  Once he feels your power, he will do anything possible to keep you within the fold.  I stress you not to allow this.  His realm is beautiful and, on the surface, it seems utopian.  It is not.  Look beneath the façade, and you will see that it is just as horrifying as the hell you already know.  You only need to make it to my temple, and we will facilitate your passage to my world.”

“And what separates you from the others?”

“I have supported you since the very beginning, Zeke.  I’ve helped you and –”

“You’ve helped me because you want to take advantage of me,” Zeke interrupted.  “I don’t blame you.  It seems like that’s the name of the game.  But I want assurances that you’re not going to treat me as some disposable asset.  And I need guarantees of my friends’ well-being.”

“Zeke…”

“No matter what happens, they need to stay safe.  Even if I choose another…god to follow.”

“I won’t do that.”

“You know what I can do, Oberon.  You’ve seen what I am.  And I’m sure you can guess how I will react if you hurt them.”

“I think you misunderstand this situation,” Oberon said.

“I think I see it just fine.”

“You really don’t.  In here, you’re protected.  I can’t hurt you.  I wouldn’t even want to.  But out there?  You will be vulnerable.  Certainly, you have the power of a lesser god.  You may very well have the most potential of anyone I’ve ever seen.  However, to me, you are still a gnat.  You do not threaten me,” the dwarf said, a glint of violence in his voice.  “I will not stand for it.  Not even from you.”

“Dangerous words.”

“Why are you picking a fight with me?  I have done nothing but help you.”

Zeke was about to respond, but then he realized that Oberon was right.  No matter the reasoning, he wouldn’t have been alive if it wasn’t for the dwarven god.  Certainly, he wouldn’t have harnessed the level of power he’d found.  It was time to trust someone. 

He sighed.

“I’m sorry,” Zeke admitted.  “I’ve been through…a lot.  I guess I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with…everything.  I know you’ve helped me, and I am grateful.  I’m just not myself right now.”

“It’s okay,” Oberon said.  “No one would have been able to endure what you went through without significant consequences.  It will take time for you to recover.  Hopefully, I can help with that.”

“Yeah.”

Thought Zeke wasn’t certain if that was even possible.  If his soul had been visible, it would have been a pitifully mangled thing, and he suspected his mind wasn’t much better off.  The only thing that seemed healthy was his body, and that was only because [Hand of Divinity] had repaired any damage he’d suffered along the way.

“Is there anything else I should know before I choose my class evolution?” Zeke asked, taking a seat.  It felt good, actually sitting in a chair instead of on the bare ground.  He’d almost forgotten that.

“You will receive three choices, each one based on your previous decisions.  One will almost assuredly be a straight upgrade to your Arcane Colossus class, while the other two will send you in different directions,” Oberon explained.  “Beyond that, only the Creator knows what you might see.”

“What is it?” Zeke asked.

“What?”

“The Creator,” he elaborated.  “What is it?”

“No one knows. It preceded us, and it will be there long after we’re gone,” Oberon answered. 

“You’re a god.  You’re immortal.”

“There’s a difference between immortal and eternal.  I can…no, I will die.  It is only a matter of when.  I hope to make a difference before I go.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.”

“I met the Creator,” Zeke revealed.  “It –”

“You what?”

“Met the Creator.  It gave me the option of skipping the Eternal Realm altogether,” Zeke said.  “It wanted me to join the battle against the enemy – whoever that is – straightaway.  Is that uncommon?”

Oberon went silent.  What’s more, his bark-like skin had taken on a pale cast. 

“Oberon.”

He looked up and blinked.  “What?”

“You’re freaking me out, man.”

“Ezekiel – I need you to swear to something.  Do not reveal this to anyone.  Not your friends.  Not your family.  You will take this information to your grave.  You shouldn’t have even told me,” Oberon ordered, the urgency in his voice rising with every word.  “Say it.  Swear it.  I need you to promise, Zeke.”

“I…I promise,” he said.  “I won’t tell anyone.  Now, do you want to tell me why it’s such a big deal?”

“Do you know how many times I’ve met the Creator?”

Zeke shook his head.

“None.  I have lived for eons.  I have been a god for most of that.  I have sent countless people to the next realm to fight in that war.  And I have not heard from the Creator a single time.  No one has.  It does not speak to us.”

“It spoke to me.”

“And that is something you should never speak of again.  If you do, you will draw an even larger target on your back.  Swear to me, Ezekiel.”

“I already told you I won’t.  Did I make the wrong choice?”

“Yes.”

“It said I could get stronger here than there.  It said that I’d probably die in battle long before I had a chance to reach my potential.”

“That is true.”

“Then why –”

“Because you do not refuse the Creator.  It is a being well beyond the scope of our imagining.  It is more than you or I will ever be.  We call ourselves gods, but next to that, we are no better than the people you left behind on Earth.  The gap is too wide to fathom.”

Zeke frowned.  He’d felt the creature’s immense power, but it hadn’t felt quite as strong as what Oberon claimed.  Certainly, it was far above him, but he felt that the gap was much narrower than the dwarf described.  Perhaps Zeke was just too ignorant to understand the scope of his own weakness.

“Make your choice.  We do not have infinite time in here.”

Zeke nodded, pushing thoughts of the Creator out of his mind.  Instead, he focused on the notifications begging for his attention.  The first was a simple message telling him that he had achieved the requirements to evolve his class.  He acknowledged it, then moved to the next, which informed him that he had three choices, just as Oberon predicted.  The first was:

{Celestial Knight} (D) – A lesser god dedicated to a chosen patron.  You are the sword and shield for their will.  The {Celestial Knight} is capable of wielding all affinities in service of their patron, and they specialize as a vanguard.  First Skill: [Celestial Charge]. 

“Wait,” Zeke said.  “This isn’t right.  Where are the attribute bonuses?”

“It doesn’t work like that.  Not anymore,” Oberon stated.  “What grade are your choices?”

“It says D on the first one,” Zeke answered.  “I’m not sure about the others yet.”

“Divine.  Not unexpected, but still a relief.  It is a powerful class, and it ensures that you will enter as a lesser god,” Oberon said with a slight smile that cut through his beard of grass and leaves.

Zeke didn’t doubt that, but he expected that any class he was offered would qualify for that label.  After everything he’d been through, his options had better be strong.  Still, he didn’t much care for the description.  He didn’t want to serve anyone.  Not even a god.  So, he moved on to the next choice:

{Divine Berserker} (D) – A being of pure rage and indomitability.  You have proven yourself to have the will of a god.  The {Divine Berserker} grows stronger the longer a fight goes on.  No amount of damage will stop it.  First Skill: [Divine Rage]

That certainly sounded better than serving a god, and as was the case with the {Celestial Knight}, the {Divine Berserker} sounded incredibly powerful.  Still, he’d lost control himself mid-battle often enough that he didn’t relish the notion of leaning on that as his primary characteristic. 

After telling Oberon that the grade was once again divine, Zeke moved on to the third option:

{Primordial} (P) – You are a nascent being that will transcend godhood.  You answer to no one.  You are above them all.  Consider no other class, for you need no other options.  First Skill [Primordial Titan]. 

Zeke read, then re-read the description.  It gave no real indication as to what form the class would take, save for the first kill seeming like it would be an upgrade to [Titan].  Beyond that, it felt as if the Framework – or perhaps the Creator itself – was speaking directly to him. 

That was a deviation from the norm, though one that left Zeke feeling far less uncomfortable than he probably should have been.  What’s more, when he read that description, he felt a sense of rightness that banished any doubts. 

Still, he considered asking Oberon what the P stood for.  However, it only took a few seconds for him to reconsider that notion.  Oberon was his ally, but no matter how much Zeke wanted to, he couldn’t bring himself to trust the dwarf entirely.  Instead, when Oberon asked, Zeke lied.

“Celestial Titan,” he said.  “Also divine.”

“That is the direct upgrade to {Arcane Titan}, I’m certain.”

“I think so too.”

After pretending to think about it for a few moments, Zeke announced his intention to choose the last option.  Oberon seemed to support that, and Zeke made his decision.  The second he did, he felt his world explode as a sun erupted at his core. 

He blacked out after only an instant, but he managed to see enough to know that Oberon had been completely obliterated by the surge of divine energy.  And then, everything went black as unconsciousness overcame Zeke’s mind.