Colin was stunned, to say the least. He’d just stepped on a magic circle that, according to Nox, should have teleported the two of them out of the dungeon. He felt Nox join him on the circle and felt the weirdest sensation of cold before a feeling of blackness and numbness overtook him.

It only lasted a moment before he appeared here. On the moon. Standing across from a hermaphrodite looking person, with short blonde hair, naturally tanned skin, and wearing a robe that hid most of their body’s proportions. The being’s blank face seemed devoid of emotion or life as it had moments ago, declared that it was God, big G.

“I’m-” Colin said, standing back up from the crouch he’d dropped into moments before. There was a presence about the being across from him that made the claim seem possible. It was almost as if he were looking at a mountain that was being held over his head. It could come down at any time and squash him without warning. He coughed into his hand and gathered his courage. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“That is alright, DevilWalker. I ninety-nine point nine nine nine nine nine nine nine percent of the time have no reason to talk to Outworlders or even the residents of the world below us. However, you have done something that garnered my attention by becoming the Antagonist.”

Colin’s heart started beating faster, “you’re not going to smite me, are you? I only just became the Antagonist, that’s so unfair.”

The hermaphrodite waved their hand dismissively, “no, I am not going to smite you or strike you down, or anything of the sort. Unfortunately, what I am here to tell you is significantly worse.”

Colin involuntarily cocked his head in confusion. “What is it?” he asked hesitantly. This was only a game after all, what could possibly be worse than dying?

“I am here to tell you that this is much more than a game, DevilWalker. There are things in this world more real than any Outworlder could possibly imagine, and this is the truth. I imagine that it would surprise you how much truth this created world is made from,” the being before Colin stated.

“For example, I am more than just a creation for and of this world, DevilWalker. I have a much higher purpose that you just became a part of fulfilling. It is with a contrite heart that I tell you, that since you have chosen the role of Antagonist, you have lost your ability to leave this world. You are now trapped in a reality not your own under the power that is your true name, Colin Drummand,” it said with finality.

A pain suddenly wracked Colin’s body. It was instant and perfectly timed with the beating of his heart. There it started and flowed through every part of his body, expanding with every pulse. He could feel it burn across his skin, rip through his muscles, writhe through his veins, and grind across his bones. All this without causing any real damage to his body and no prompt windows appearing to define the experience.

“What are you doing to me?!” Colin practically screamed as he held in his howls of agony.

“Binding your heart, mind, and soul to this world,” it said, seemingly without a care. “It can be jarring to remove these things from your body. It should only last a moment or two longer as the world assimilates these things.”

He wanted to talk more. He needed to know what in the world was going on here. There was no way anything it just said could be the truth as he understood it. This all had to be part of the game and only some bid to immerse him more into the story that he’d joined by becoming the Antagonist.

When the pain receded, something about Colin felt different. It was something that he hadn’t noticed before, but every sensation he’d experienced since joining the game now seemed distant. This made sense considering his body wasn’t here, but on his couch back home. Something like holding hands with someone getting an electric shock and getting a lesser version himself.

Now, he somehow felt… here. It was hard to tell since he wasn’t feeling any intense sensation like pain or happiness, but his senses seemed sharper now. Before the pain, there had been a slight chill in the air and a very neutral smell accompanying it.

Now, the space around him was positively freezing, the smell musty like slightly wet dust, and the hollow void somehow echoed around him.

The hermaphrodite before him just stared and observed Colin, who had ended up on the floor and in the fetal position.

Easing out of his little ball on the floor, Colin looked up at the personage with eyes wide and full of panic. “What have you done?”

“I told you already. You’re bound to this world now. Heart, mind, and soul, Colin Drummand. You cannot log-out anymore,” it said, doing air parenthesis at the word log-out.

In a panic, Colin called up his status screen and looked for the log-out option that he’d used before. His heartbeat raced as he looked and looked and looked over his menus, trying to find the missing button. When none was evident where it should have been, or anywhere else, Colin looked up at the entity before him with horror.

“You-” Colin said, trailing off.

It nodded, “there is no going back for you, DevilWalker.”

Panic turned to cold rage as he worked his way to his feet and glared at the God of Rosengard, “send me home, now.”

It shook its head, and Colin bared his teeth while getting the words out, “what’s the point of doing this to me?”

“Simple, I need you to win the game,” it said.

“You want me to- win the game? What’s the point of the game?!” Colin exploded.

“What’s a game when it’s not a game, but something else?” It said vaguely but ultimately moved on before Colin could say anything else. “There is a shortlist of things I need to tell you before I send you back to Rosengard.”

“First, you don’t need to worry about your body. It’s still alive, walking around, and perfectly safe in case you worry about it later. Next, when you get back to Rosengard, no time will have passed. I’ve bent the time streams so that no one will miss you. Lastly, to win the game, you’ll need to follow your class. One way or another, if you follow your role as Antagonist to its conclusion, you will be able to leave. In other words, grow more power, gain allies, defeat the hero, and get your revenge.”

“There is a second option, but admittedly the first option is easier. Somewhere in Rosengard, there is a door without knobs or hinges but four different locks. If you find the door, and figure out what unlocks it, all you need to do is go through,” it instructed.

Colin was seething at the being in front of him. If it wasn’t for the looming metaphorical mountain over his head, Colin would have struck out at the God before him. Even with that mountain, he wanted to throw at least one right hook into their face.

Restraining himself since acting in any way against it would be futile, Colin let out one deep breath. Saying the only thing he really wanted to speak to the almighty entity before him. “I have someone waiting for me back home, and you are keeping me from going home to see her again. I hope you realize that if I get the chance, I will kill you,” Colin said, cold truth pouring from his lips.

The hermaphroditic God smiled for the first time in their whole conversation as it raised its right hand. It configured its hand, getting ready to snap its fingers, “I really hope you get strong enough, DevilWalker. I’d love to see you try.”

It snapped its fingers, and white covered Colin’s vision.

When sight returned, Colin was outside the entrance of the dungeon with Sergeant Cathy Prior staring at him both wide-eyed and smiling. Her and a prompt that Colin had been expecting since he accepted the class.

Quest: The Demons Favor 1. Objective: Inside the Church of Anaheim in the city BriarThorn, an agent of the infernal has been captured and locked away in a spiritual ward that prevents his escape and all possible release from Hell’s forces. Release the Agent known as Sparhak and escort him to the Brass Balls Inn and Tavern to return your first favor. Reward: One returned favor, other unknown rewards. Time limit: None or until they erase the Agent.

“Yeah! I just won 2 CCs,” she said, pumping her armored fist.

Breathing getting faster as he stared ahead of him, Colin dismissed the quest and opened up his menus and looked again for the log-out button. Nostrils flared as he looked behind him, but finding no Goblin behind him.

“Nox, you there?” Colin asked, remaining as calm as possible.

“In the shadows, literally,” Nox said, chuckling at his own joke.

“I need to kill something, know anything?” Colin asked, snarling.

Nox paused for a moment, contemplating Colin’s sudden change in attitude. Nothing should have occurred over the few seconds since Colin and he teleported out of the Cathedral in the dungeon. Maybe this woman was the perpetrator? Was she somehow just so obnoxious that Colin immediately needed to vent?

“Maybe. It depends on whether or not it’s been completely cleared out or not. It’s been a long time since I’ve, well, been alive.” The Goblin stated with an audible smile.

“How close?” Colin asked his shadow.

“Willows Cross?”

“Yes.”

“Roughly two miles, north-north-west,” it responded. “It’s a hidden cave filled with-” Nox started with Colin interrupting him.

“Can you get us there fast?” Colin asked.

“DevilWalker, who are you talking to?” Sergeant Prior asked, looking around. “The Captain wanted me to take you to see him if you succeeded or survived. Come on, you can kill something later.”

“I can,” Nox responded.

“Close?”

“Yes, I can do that.” Nox responded simply. “Shall I?”

“Please,” Colin stated, shadows starting to move around him.

“What in the-” Sergeant Prior exclaimed as tendrils of wispy darkness coming from his own shadow.

It happened almost immediately. The tendrils of darkness wrapped around Colin and blocked his vision. When it receded, he smiled at the forest around him.

“DevilWalker, I hope you don’t think that I will act as your carriage service whenever you want. I obliged because it’s obvious that you’re agitated,” Nox said, walking from behind Colin. “I’d love to say that I don’t care, but, unfortunately, I do. At least a little. What’s wrong?”

Colin’s lip curled into a snarl and did his best to hold in the anger. “Where’s this cave?”

Nox sighed, “just over there. The area looks a lot different than when I was last here, but it should be over there,” the Goblin pointed past several old trees and shrubs.

Colin drew his new Mythic Xiphos and started walking where Nox had indicated. It took a moment and a little more help from Nox, but they did find the entrance. It was little more than a hole that Colin would have to crouch through to enter.

Nox stayed a few feet behind him, silent as the shadows that he seemed to control. Fifteen paces in and ninety-degree turn to the left, the cave ceiling rose several feet, making the trek easier for him. Nox gave Colin a salve that, when applied under the eyes, allowed him to see in the dark with clarity.

“This place was a favorite for solo adventurers to gain a few levels early on. It appears that at least one or two people have been through here recently. Maybe today, hard to tell since they’re trampled by the smaller feet of the hordes here,” Nox said from behind him.

Curiosity finally piqued, Colin stopped and looked at Nox. “what’s in this cave?

“Them,” Nox said, pointing behind Colin toward a hole in the wall.

The creature was smaller than Nox at maybe three feet tall, was covered entirely in gray fur, sharp fangs, and was definitely a humanoid rat. It was on all four, back arched, and snarling at Colin with eyes that were a bit on the human side.

“Lesser Ratlings,” Nox said, gesturing at the small rat-like creature. “That ones just a sentry, I’d suggest you kill it before more come.”

The Ratling Sentry stood up from it’s hole and reared back it’s head in readiness. A second later, the Ratling pounced, and Colin raised the Xiphos up into the path of the flying Ratling. It slid onto the blade down to the hilt with a wet slurp but survived long enough to attempt to claw and bite at Colin’s arm. It had some moderate success.

You have been clawed by a Lesser Ratling Sentry for 4 points of damage. You now have 174 out of 178 health remaining.

“Ow, you motherfucker!” Colin snarled, swinging his weapon and throwing the Ratling against the wall. It impacted the earthen wall with a pitiful squeak, and Colin rushed forward as it tried to get up. Without a second thought, Colin slashed at the creature’s neck and decapitated a foe for the first time in the game.

Congratulations! You have defeated a Lesser Ratling Sentry! You have gained 10 Experience points! You have gained 10 EXP and now have 777 /4050 EXP towards level 8.

Taking a deep breath, Colin reveled in the experience for the killing of the creature. It did seem to satiate a little of the rage he felt inside him.

Without waiting, Colin continued to walk down the tunnel, tightening and relaxing his grip on the Mythic Xiphos as he walked.

The next Ratling that appeared was taken care of with one swing. With a cry of, “Aligned Strike!” Colin swung into the Ratling with a blade that ignited into amethyst flame. The blade sunk into the Ratling’s spine, and it died without making a sound.

Congratulations! You have defeated a Lesser Ratling Sentry! You have gained 10 Experience points! You have gained 10 EXP and now have 787 /4050 EXP towards level 8 Congratulations! You have gained a new skill: Short Blades, Level 1! You’ve gained some skill in the use of bladed weapons of a particular size. +1% weapon damage with short blades, +1% attack speed, +1% reaction time.

Letting out an annoyed huff, Colin jumped into his menus. He went into the options and found the prompts information choices. The four choices for prompts were detailed, casual, minimal, and custom. Colin already knew what detailed prompts were since it was already set for it, so he selected casual.

He then dismissed the menus and carefully slid the Mythic Xiphos over the palm of his free hand.

You have taken 3 three points of damage from yourself and have 175 health remaining.

“Hmm,” Colin mused. This was better, but he wanted a little less to think about or read in a dangerous situation. So Colin set it to minimal and repeated.

You have taken 3 points of damage and have 172 remaining.

Better, so Colin left it there. He’d have to wait and see how it reacted when he leveled up a skill. He hoped it wouldn’t be as somewhat abstract as the percentiles he’d been seeing had been. Honestly, he’d left it alone for this long because he had other things on his mind.

You know, like getting his class.

Now he had no time for these things. So Colin looked further down the tunnel and continued walking.

About thirty more paces down the tunnel, scurrying and scratching reached Colin’s ears along with a guttural squeaking of several of the Ratlings. The tones all sounded different, so maybe there were male and female Ratlings up ahead? Or were these just the different tones of prepubescent youths?

Not that it mattered.

Colin activated Kinetic Vigor and sprinted down the tunnel towards the sounds. The Ratlings had turned to face towards him where the sound of footsteps caught their attention. Within the first few seconds, Colin cut diagonally across the closest and grabbed it by the neck before it attempted anything. He threw the injured one into the next closest and thrust the shortsword into both at the same time.

He placed a boot on the corpses held onto the sword and shoved both off as one of the others, apparently there were six of them, sprung at him.

With Kinetic Vigor active, he did indeed feel a little faster, so he managed to easily step back. Two of the other three were holding small stone knives in their paws with the third holding a rock. It threw the rock at Colin while the others squealed as they charged with their knives raised.

You have taken 1 point of damage and have 177 remaining.

The rock impacted Colin in the shoulder, hurting for only a moment but allowing the other two the ability to close the distance. They leaped in unison and grabbed onto each of his arms, dropping the raised knives into his arms.

You have taken 6 points of damage and have 171 remaining. You have taken 8 points of damage and have 163 remaining.

“Gah,” Colin yelled into the face of the one holding onto his sword arm. “That hurt you fucker!” he told it as he leaped into the wall, putting the body of that Ratling between him and the earthwork. The Ratling died with a bony crunch, freeing his arm from its hold so Colin could attack the other. With a single swipe, he cut through its neck to its spine and threw it off of his arm.

The last two were looking at Colin with both rage and fear in their eyes. The one that threw the rock dropped the second that it had picked up and took a single step away from Colin. The other ran between the rock-throwing Ratling and their ambusher and hissed at him menacingly.

The rock-throwing Ratling scurried off, and the defending one stayed in place hissing warningly at Colin.

With some contempt, Colin pulled one of his SImple Steel Daggers free from its sheath and threw it at the Ratling. The creature squeaked its last as the blade sunk in with a wet thunk and the corpse tumbling away. He quickly drew his other dagger to throw at the fleeing Ratling only to be greeted by an empty tunnel as it had rounded the next bend already.

You have defeated five Lesser Ratling Scouts and have gained 60 EXP. You now have 847/ 4050 left until level 8.

“Well shit,” Colin cursed as he walked over to the corpse that held his dagger.

“How are you feeling? Calmer, I hope?” Nox asked, his stride relaxed.

Colin took in a deep breath through his nose and let it out through his mouth. This physical exertion did indeed help his mental state go from enraged to simmering anger. He planted his foot on the dead Ratling’s corpse and pulled his dagger free from it. “Yeah, I’m a little better now.”

“So, what happened?” Nox asked, gesturing to all of Colin with a hand. “You were fine when we left the dungeon, then suddenly, we appeared, and you were pissed.”

Cleaning his blades off on his old shirt that he’d kept in his bag since he’d gotten the one he was wearing from Solis. “Have you heard of a being called, The One God Above All Others?”

Nox hesitated. He looked at Colin with a wary expression, “why?”

“That asshole snatched me up just after we left the dungeon. It told me that it needed me to stay in the world to help with its goals, so guess what?” Colin asked, his voice rising to an angered pitch. “He fucking trapped me here!” he snarled. “I’m an Outworlder who can’t go back to my world! I have a wife!”

Nox took that in for a moment, “did it say why?”

“Yeah,” Colin told him. “Said I have to fulfill my role as Antagonist or find some door and open all the locks to go home. Some bullshit.”

The Goblin hummed to himself as he tapped his chin. After a moment, the Goblin started talking in teaching tones. “The One God Above All Others is an unproven myth to anyone who tries to research it. From what little I know, people have tried to summon, call upon, gain the favor of, and draw upon this supposed being only to all fail. Maybe someone in this era has had better results, but I doubt it. The few who’ve claimed to have met it say similar things.”

Impatient, Colin snapped out, “what?!

“That the God Above All Others works with plans and roles that have been defined by their titles. It is said that this being is the one that created the system that defines all our powers. My Dusk Alchemyst class and your Antagonist class are just two examples. The only thing I can think to say, and I know it’s not helpful, is that you might want to fulfill it. Especially if you want to go home.”

Colin ground his teeth together, “what about this door. Do you have any ideas what it could be?”

The Goblin shook its head, “I’m sorry but no. There are several myths and legends about doors and locks, but nothing that I put any real stock in.”

Letting out a low growl, Colin turned away from Nox and looked at his MP amount.

Back to full, excellent.

Sounds of skittering claws and angry squeaks echoed towards him from farther down the tunnel.

Drawing the Mythic Xiphos, Colin looked behind him at Nox. A scowl crossed his face, “do you have any suggestions for fulfilling my role?” he said, adding air quotes around the last three words.

The smile on his Goblin companions face could even be heard in his voice. “Kidnap some royalty, destroy some villages, slaughter Outworlders, create abominations, steal priceless relics, do anything that even sounds evil. If your role is the Antagonist, then you need to act like one.”

That idea didn’t repulse him like he knew it should have. Actually, the idea lined up with the sort of things he wanted to do to the world that the so-called God created. He wanted to wreak havoc, sow some chaos, and butcher some asshole players. Yeah, that sounded fun.

But that wasn’t all. He found himself wanting to explore the world and discover its secrets. This seemed like a world where the mythical lore and magical experiments could prove actually crucial to his work. Not like back home where knowing which plant symbolizes fertility in Greek mythology. Not to mention if this place was anything like worlds like Lord of the Rings, then there would be some fantastic sights to see.

The sounds of Ratlings ahead of them getting louder made him smile a little despite himself. He was looking forward to burning off some more steam, given that when he looked again, he still couldn’t find the log-out option.

So as a dozen more Ratlings rounded the bend, all armed with stone knives and a few shoddy spears, all Colin could do was smile viciously at them.

Drawing both his Mythic Xiphos and Heavy dagger respectfully, Colin approached the coming Mischief of Ratlings. With the first swing, both blades whistled through the air as Colin sliced and diced his way through them all.

You have killed 8 Lesser Ratling Scouts and 6 Lesser Ratling Warriors, gaining 186 EXP. You now have 1033/4050 remaining until level 8.

After five minutes of hacking, slashing, and general brutality, Colin walked into the end of the tunnel. It was a large cavern maybe fifty meters across and around a hundred fifty meters long with small packed dirt hovels lining the area. At the end of the cavern, stood a Ratling that was noticeably taller than every other in the cave.

Its thick fur was muddy brown, and eyes looked red with Colin’s dark vision. Its needle-like teeth were jagged, misplaced, and discolored within its maw. It wielded a heavy-looking wooden club in its paw that it was holding towards him menacingly. Around it, four more normal-sized Ratlings stood on all fours and hissed at Colin while trying to intimidate him. While the big one stayed silent as it glared.

Seconds passed, and the big one let out a single hissing bark, initiating the fray.

The smaller Ratling obeyed instantly, sprinting towards their foe with animalistic fury. While Colin approached, walking calmly with both his Xiphos and Heavy Dagger still held in each hand. At the last seconds before the rat creatures would be on top of him, Colin activated Kinetic Vigor and started the killing. The first two died within the first few seconds while airborne and aiming towards his face.

The next two ran to both of Colin’s sides, flanking him and guaranteeing that he couldn’t attack them both at the same time. The two made it more complicated when one pounced towards his face, and the other ran at his legs.

Shaking his head, Colin ran towards the one aimed for his legs and punted it back several feet. With his movement, the pouncing Ratling missed his head and landed on the seat of his pants. It was now clawing and biting at the ass of his pants.

It had only just punctured the material and caught flesh when the Heavy Dagger sunk into the Ratling and dropped it to the floor. Then before the other one could come after him, Colin aimed the Heavy Dagger at it and threw.

The Ratling stayed down, and Colin turned to face the taller one. It snarled, but its mouth seemed to curl back into a misshapen smile. It raised its freehand towards Colin, its movements slow and calm with its palm towards the roof. It bent its three-fingered palm back and forth in a very ‘come get me’ sort of way.

Nodding towards the confidant thing, Colin activated Kinetic Vigor and sprinted. Also, activating Aligned strike for the second time today, with the extra speed from Kinetic Vigor, he managed to rush past its guard before it could act. Its arm was drawn back, starting to swing, when Colin had hurried to its chest and thrust his blade into its chest.

When he saw that it was still moving, Colin looked at his rapidly falling mana pool and figured he had enough time. He pulled his blade free, activated Aligned Strike again, and thrust his blade into it again.

The large Ratling growled as the damage took its toll. Its empty hand shoved Colin off its body and within striking range of its club.

You have taken 13 points of damage and have 165 health remaining.

The blow knocked him back several feet and onto his back. Colin looked up from his spot, and from its heavy breathing and hand trying to staunch the blood, it was apparent the large Ratling was on its last leg. With his MP expired, all his magic abilities were out, and with his Mythic Xiphos stuck in its chest, he’d lost his new weapon.

Standing up shakily, Colin Drew his two Simple Steel Daggers and smiled. This was a little closer to the reason he came into the game in the first place. The contest of putting oneself against another being, especially monsters, was exciting. Even if he admitted to himself, these were a bit on the weak side.

Approaching slowly, Colin readied his blades and kept himself ready to move and strike. He was just out of its striking range when it dropped its hand from the open wound on its chest and stepped forward, both hands on its club, as it initiated a perfect baseball swing.

Without thinking about it, Colin stepped into the swing and took the blow in his arms.

You have taken 24 points of damage and have 141 health remaining.

“Ow!” Colin yelled as he thrust the dagger in the opposite arm into one of the Ratling’s own. He pulled the blade free and thrust it into the Ratlings gut.

It’s HP must have run out as the creature froze mid-squeak. It fell to its side, and Colin fell to his ass with a manic smile on his face.

You have defeated a Lesser Brute Ratling and have gained 50 EXP. You now have 1093/ 4050 experience remaining to level 8. You Short Blades skill is now level 2. Your damage, attack speed, and reaction time with short blades has increased by a small margin. Your Kinetic Vigor subskill is now Level 3. All increases done by skill are now marginally larger. Due to the subskill leveling, Kinetic Magic Manipulation has leveled as well is now level 3. Your Aligned Strike is now Level 2. Damage per Alignment Rank has increased from 10 to 12.

“Feel more collected, DevilWalker?” Nox asked, walking up beside him.

“Yeah, I do. Still pissed off but coherent.” Taking a deep breath, Colin looked at the Goblin next to him, “can I count on you to help me?”

The Goblin smiled as he withdrew a small vial of pure red fluid. It wasn’t a cruel, vicious, or casual smile like the Nox usual displayed. This one was understanding and more gentle to the human in front of him. He handed the potion to Colin and nodded, “yes, my friend. I may not have known you long, but I think I have the measure of your character. You have my wit, advice, and my help as it is earned. This one though, is on the house.”

Letting out a huff, Colin smiled at Nox and said to him, “Gee, thanks.”