“Don’t move!” The figure in the door orders. When she steps into the light, I almost jerk back in shock. “You have no idea how long I spent doing your stitches!”

“You…you’re!” I have no idea how to react to this strange person. Though she could definitely be called pretty or attractive, her unusual appearance startles me. It’s like looking at a ghost. Yin was pale, but this girl is far beyond that. Her skin is translucent, almost sickly looking. As if she hasn’t seen the sun…ever. Her features are very proportionate, but the most eye-catching thing is just that.

Her eyes.

They’re like gemstones.

When the lantern shines on her irises, the light is broken up into a kaleidoscope of fractured colors. As she looks me over, the colors shift and dance in a bizarre display. Her hair is a deep shade of violet which seems to blend into the shadows when the light isn’t directly on it. I don’t know what to make of her.

“Well, your voice is working, at least.” The girl steps deeper into the room, and I notice that underneath her white dress, she doesn’t leave a shadow. What the heck? Is she a Drowned Soul? But that doesn’t make sense. “You’ve been sleeping for two weeks. How do you feel?” Her kind words further assure me that she is very much sentient. No Drowned Soul possesses the ability to hold a conversation like this. However…that only makes me more wary. Keeping an eye on the dagger on her hip, I meet my first Underworld person. Two weeks? I’ve been out that long?

“What are you?” I answer her question with another question. She gives an amused look and strides over to a tray beside the lamp. On it, I see rolls of gauze and various surgical implements. “I’ve never seen anyone like you before.”

“Hmph, that’s rude!” Her ready-smile convinces me that she’s just joking. Watching her uncork a jug of water and pour it into a kettle, I realize she’s making tea. “First time in the Underworld, huh?”

“You know about the surface?” My throat rasps, but it’s significantly better than since leaving the void prism. While I was asleep, my body must have healed. “Hold on a minute, how did I even get here? I was by the…”

“I carried your butt. And it was quite heavy so you’re welcome!” The violet-haired girl sighs and her rainbow eyes swirl beautifully as she swings around and brings over two cups and the kettle. Setting it down on a desk beside me, she pulls a seat over from the corner and sits. Then she unscrews the top of the lamp and puts the kettle on top. “You’re lucky, you know. If I hadn’t found you, I feel like you probably would have died before the System healed you. The Underworld isn’t a very good place to take a nap in the open.”

“I’d imagine so.” I say dryly as she waits for the water to boil. “Do you get visitors like me…often?” My confusion makes her laugh gently. It sounds like someone pleasantly tapping glass. Very melodic, but not quite completely human.

“From time to time. This is Meteos City after all. Lately we’ve been getting quite a few like you. It’s upsetting the Succession.” Her ridiculously pale hands take the kettle off the flame and drop packets of some herb inside. A delicious if very pungent smell soon begins to fill the room. “Meteos connects to a lot of different places. The System is unpredictable. You just had the good luck of being in the right place at the right time. Not everyone gets to visit the Underworld…while they’re alive anyway.”

“Huh.” Not entirely sure what to make of this, I accept the cup of tea she holds out to me. While I’m minorly worried of some unnatural poison even the System won’t be able to cure, I figure this girl probably wouldn’t have bothered to heal me if she was planning on killing me. “So…what do you want?”

“What…do I want?” She seems surprised for the first time. “What do you mean, what do I want?”

“I mean, what do you want with me?” I ask her and she gives me a disbelieving stare. “Why bother to heal me?”

“Um, because you were, hurt?” The girl appears to be almost insulted by the insinuation. “Jeez, who pissed in your rice? No one actually because I made it. But seriously, what kind of question is that? We’re not goblins down here!”

“Oh…sorry.” I mutter, a little embarrassed. Can I really believe what she says? There are some other races and settlements which the System connects to Earth that aren’t hostile, but it’s hard to believe that the freaking Underworld would have nice people. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you, exactly?”

“Not a goblin…” She says with a deadpan stare. After a few seconds, she cracks up laughing and sips her tea. “Just kidding, kidding, okay! Sheesh, I heard you guys don’t know much, but I’ve never had a good conversation with one of your kind. My people are known as the Nehilim. We’re one of the twelve clans of the Underworld. You can call me Delphie. What’s your name?”

“Hei.”

“Well, nice to make your acquaintance, Hei! I’m sorry it had to be under such circumstances, but I’m sure you’ll be on your feet soon!” She finishes her tea and rises to stand. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay any longer. There’s something I need to attend to, so I’ll have to leave you here. See you in a bit! When I get back, you can tell me what happened to you. And why you have that eye…I have to admit, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

“You think my eyes are weird?” I reach up and tug at the makeshift eyepatch over my left eye. The strange girl snorts and points at a mirror in the corner before walking outside. Her violet hair flounces as she shuts the door.

“I took a peek under the patch. Sorry, couldn’t resist! Okay, talk to you later!”

When Delphie is gone, I’m left alone to my thoughts.

Nehilim? Fallen angels? I’ve never encountered that species before. Despite the differences, they’re incredibly similar to humans. The System sure is strange. Also, she mentioned that there are others like me down here? I suppose it’s entirely possible that I’m not the only one who found this place. But what was it doing attached to the bottom of a newbie dungeon? And what was with those mutants? I wonder if people were here in my last life?

A billion questions circulate through my mind, but answers are hand to tease out from the mess. Stretching, I test my body. It hurts to move, but in a good way. I can tell that my body is mending itself well. Getting out of the bed is a surprisingly difficult task, but once the blood begins to flow, I gain confidence. The System didn’t let me down. Even broken bones are nothing with enough points in Stamina! Speaking of which, it seems the Nehilim are aware of the System as well. Does that mean they can level? I spent all my time killing the enemies in front of me in my past life rather than asking too many questions. But if there are nonhostile creatures, would they have more answers?

Slowly, I go to the mirror and examine myself closely. My frame has grown incredibly skinny from my time in the Void Prism. However, I feel rested after two weeks in bed. As soon as I see my reflection though, I see what Delphie meant about my eyes. Even the one which isn’t behind an eyepatch seems almost like its glowing. After a few seconds, I calm down and my head clears as the blood comes rushing back in. My right eye soon seems almost normal, though if one were to look closely, they might be able to catch a strange spark jumping around behind the brown iris. That just leaves…

Reaching under the eyepatch, I sneak a peak at my left eye. The sight makes me jump a little. Jeez. So, it really happened. What the hell did the System give me? It’s like staring into a black hole. Immediately after removing the World Tree’s leaf from my face, the world transforms into squiggly black and white lines and I can see the weak fires of life burning inside of me. Hastily, I replace the eyepatch, grabbing the mirror for balance as I grow dizzy. Damn, I hate this thing!

Resolving not to do that again for a while, I resume stretching and getting reaccustomed to my body.

*Pop*

One of my shoulders clicks and I groan as all the tension rushes out of me. The longer I stand, the more my strength returns. It seems a period of actual rest and care has done me good. Unlike in the Void Prism, my body is actually healing. Gently, I take the sling off and free my arm. Nothing terrible happens. Now the only question is what to do next. I don’t know what my next move is…

Eventually, I can’t stand being inside this dark room anymore. Being caged inside isn’t really my thing these days. Walking around the room, I search for my coat and cleaver. I find the coat under the cot, but my weapon is mysteriously missing. So, she’s not a complete fool, huh? A wry grin threatens to pull my lips up. I was beginning to think this girl was really the trusting type. Awkwardly tugging on my coat over the various bandages, I feel more human once I’m dressed. There’s just something about being clothed that gives a man confidence. Striding slowly but purposefully to the door, I tug on the knob, halfway expecting it to be locked. However, after a jiggle, it opens with a soft click. Cold air streams inside and a black corridor is revealed.

*Swoosh*

The lamp flickers behind me, but I leave it behind. Relying Basic Tracking to guide me, I step into the hallway. Stealthily, I ease the door closed and begin exploring. What is this place? Delphie said that I’m in a city in the Underworld called Meteos? Then is this an apartment of some sort? Or maybe a clinic? I assumed she was a doctor or healer of some sort. But this place is weird. It definitely doesn’t feel like a place for people to recover.

*Tap Tap Tap*

Padding around, I decide to go the direction I heard Delphie’s footsteps leave. Left it is! After a few moments, I find a window cut into the ebony wall. Light is streaming in through the hole, but it isn’t quite moonlight. Instead of the blue or silvery hue you’d expect, instead it appears almost green. Walking over cautiously, I peer around the sill and take a look outside. Immediately, my eyes widen. Hot damn! It really is a city!

The Underworld is an unreal place. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. It really is just unbelievable. After Tiendas, and the cities of mortal men, I’m used to skyscrapers and apartment complexes. Maybe some ghettos and shrines in more adventurous countries. However, this is nothing like the construction before the Calamity. Here, underneath the soil, a whole new world has been birthed. The spires which crawl towards a cavernous “sky” are made of materials which I cannot fathom. Perhaps some form of practical obsidian? They appear almost glassy, but I have no doubt in their strength because this city is built for war. Buttresses, supports, ramparts, it is surrounded on all sides by high walls which would protect from the undead. Smoky fires which burn abnormally high help light the streets, though the multicolored molds and fungi which make up the night sky provide enough ambient light to see by.

These people…they really different!

Wandering the streets and going about their endless night, are numerous different species and races which comprise the city of Meteos. Personally, I spent more time on the frontlines crawling dungeons and hacking my way to Lvl. 100 than exploring. However, maybe I made a mistake. An incredibly diverse plethora of ghoulish creatures live in the Underworld and I begin to realize just what it is exactly I’ve stumbled upon. Some of them look like Delphie, with violet hair and kaleidoscope eyes. Others are freakishly tall and disturbingly slender, like spindly mockeries of humankind. Those ones creep me out the most. They loom over the other denizens of the city and remind me of giant bugs, sitting over the water, waiting for something to pass underneath their fangs. There are even some creatures which look like relatives of trolls or ogres, but all of them live at peace with each other, which I find extremely odd. Generally, I expect creatures of the System to divide themselves amongst racial lines unless there’s a stronger overlord in place forcing them to cooperate. But everyone in this city seems used to this situation. Which begs the question. Is there someone keeping them in line?

Ignoring the menagerie of people below the window, I take a step back and breath deeply. When I’ve recovered a bit, I try to get a sense of the building I’m in, but even after sticking my head out the window, all I can get is that this place is pretty big. Like…rich people big. A posh manor. Definitely larger than most of the dwellings in the city. However, the other nearby buildings are similarly above-average and they’re also bigger than this one, so I don’t know what’s going on. Rich, but not too rich? I can’t tell.

“This is insane.” For a few minutes I just stare outside at the workings of the Underworld. I witness imps selling mystery meat to the tall folk. A couple trolls hustling an ogre out of its System Coins. What appear to be local law enforcement walking around with three-headed hellhounds on a leash. Meteos City has it all. When my heart has stopped pounding and I can breathe again, I finally manage to tear my eyes away from the sights and sounds. Moving back into the shadows, I continue down the dark hallway.

*Tap Tap Tap*

A big door bars the way ahead. Touching my hand to it, I feel this oddly dense stone, like marble compacted to the limit. This might have been made with a System Skill. The vibrations of people speaking from the other side gently thrum through my fingertips. Curious, I press my ear to the cold surface.

“… … …”

“Don’t you think that its about time you did something to pay back the family? The Alekhines would still agree if you just stopped being so goddamn stubborn, Delphie!” A furious voice rages and I wince from behind the door.

“Alexander is a pig! You know that, Taer! Besides, you know if we married into their mess, they’d just absorb us! Don’t just me! You think I don’t know what he promised you if I accepted? You’re disgusting!” Delphie’s response is immediate and so thunderous that I have to take my ear off the door. Damn…I’m glad I didn’t have to worry about family like this.

“So what, if he promised me some things! That’s customary! You’re the skirting tradition here! You give our enemies leeway at the negotiating table with all your bullcrap! And now you bring in a stranger to our house? Maybe you’ve been accepting gifts from someone else because I know there’s no way in hell you spent family money on an outsider! Consider our situation for once, you careless twat!”

“T-Twat? I’m the twat here? Maybe you should marry Alexander you cold, heartless pig! Go and enjoy the mud together for all I care! Screw you, don’t message me anymore! From now on, I don’t have a brother!”

“W-Wait! Do you really think you can just walk out-!”