Second Earth, an M classed world, was a marvel to behold. It was here that all technological advancements were made, and with its primary population growing, so too did its ambitions, desires, and avarice. For the world itself was three fifths dominated by the race called Humanity, and desired all of the world under its control. Therefore, it sent out a kind of distress call within the Pantheon, but it was more of a call to arms than anything else, as the residence desired cannon fodder against the true residents of the world.

The Beastfolk.

Yes. Upon these sorts of worlds were they plentiful. That is, until more Humans appeared, and desired these noble and nomadic creatures for various tasks. The most prominent was the fact that the females could not be impregnated by other species, nor could their males release during such exercises with the female Humans. Therefore, the primary tasks for such creatures was to serve as pleasure slaves for those who could afford them.

No. I will not speak of what this means, only that it is a degrading occupation for those who do not desire such a thing, and has been outlawed throughout my worlds.

In any case, these Beastfolk were also sent to perform other jobs and chores under the ruling factions of Humans. One was to work within the dangerous mines of iron, coal, and copper, whilst another was to clean the sewage system by hand. Though, the latter of the two was far more dangerous, as all manner of diseases and wastes were found below. Not to mention the death rate was in the hundreds every month. Therefore, the need for more slaves was a must to these Humans, and from there, a desire to conquer more land the tribal nations roamed freely upon.

Which was what I had found whilst searching through the various worlds, as it was a call to arms for those who desire fortune and fame whilst battling cunning foes of such prowess. Though, as we later found out, they were nothing more than spear and bow wielders that wore very little.

However, there was also another "Call to Arms" within the M class world. One that was hidden by those who did not actively search for it. For it was a desperate plea for help by the Beastfolk's own Oracle, one that beseeched their Gods for assistance in repelling the Human threat.

Of course, I took such a request, and as we journeyed towards the room in which we would be transported to the designated area upon Second Earth, we noted over one hundred Humans had gathered together. Each of these wore either similar styled armours, or strange and unique ones that marked them as strong by the others. Yes. A few did try to speak with us, but were either stopped by their fellows, or brushed off by one amongst our number. For we were not there to socialise, but to find a place upon this world for Rojaahn's beacon.

"My Lord God," Brutus whispered softly as we continued onwards towards the room which was crowded with only the four of us and the one who would transport us to the world below, "those Humans-"

"Are none of our concern, Brutus," I held up my left hand to stop his speech from progressing further, "We have a job to attend to, and if they step forward to block our persons-"

"We'll cut them to pieces," grinned Amira as she hefted her scythe from one shoulder to the next.

"Quite right, Amira," was my reply as my right hand reached out and pat her head several times, of which elicited a slight giggle as she stuck her tongue out at the other two. Of course, I allowed such antics to continue between them, unless it impeded something which required our immediate attention at that time.

In this case, the pair who did not receive my attention sulked somewhat, whereas the Fox-woman's tails swayed quickly as the one who would send us off shuffled in. Of which was a small Gnome of eighty and three centimetres in height which wore something akin to a robe the colour of dung. Perhaps if I had the sense of smell, the air around the creature would be the same as the colour. For above its round head were four flies buzzing around in a circular motion.

It did not, however, speak allowed to any of us, and we did not hold a desire to speak with it. For they remembered the Gnome which brought the Humans to my person, as well as it was it who allowed such Humans to harm my person, though I could not remember it. Which simply meant that if it were to approach us, there was a high chance the creature's life would have ended, leaving us bereft of the chance to journey forward.

Or would it?

">," I intoned, pointing my staff towards the little Gnome, and watched as its body stiffed, its colour changing from a dirty pink into a pale grey, then it crumpled to the ground. All of which occurred just as the floor beneath our feet began to shine with a white light, but faded away into nothingness once such a thing fell to the ground.

Upon seeing this, I moved quickly over to the creature, and gripped its head whilst intoning another spell which would allow my person to obtain all knowledge from itself. Of which, as I had hoped for, would allow us to transfer ourselves anywhere without the need for a third party system.

However, just as I began to speak the intonement, the Gnome stirred in my grasp. Of which should not be at all possible, as my spells were of a Celestial quality, and there were only a few who could resist such a thing so strongly. Therefore, I became startled, enough to drop the wretched thing as it shook its dirtied head and turned towards my person with a look of confused smugness.

"Now why did you have to go and do something like that?" it asked in a melodious, but harsh tone. One that did not have any indications within to allow us to know of its gender.

"Silence, thing," my voice rumbled as I pointed my staff at it once more, conjuring up burning vines which wrapped themselves around the little thing before my person. Of which startled my mind further, as it appeared to be rather bored with my spells. Noting this, my eyes flared a deep crimson, as the entirety of my Human guise formed pulsating cracks of violet light all throughout the illusory body and robe.

This caught the attention of that which was before our eyes, albeit about a metre above the ground, and hummed a, "Hmm?" as its eyes blinked a few times.

However, no more noise came from the Gnome, of which had willingly become trapped in my snare, as an endarkened claw full of shadows erupted from a gaping hole where my right side used to be. This then gripped its head between thumb and middle claw, as the primary digit slowly sank into the centre of its forehead. All the while, the mouth of it was propped open, screaming an unearthly and silent scream whilst the eyes within their sockets shook from side to side in rapid succession, threatening to leap out at any given moment.

For as this was occurring, I was extracting everything from the little Gnome who so willingly entered my range. Of which was mostly assuredly regretting such a decision, as it spelt its doom. This was due to the fact that after I had absorbed all of its knowledge, and extracted my claw from its mind, did the body of the Gnome become of petrified stone. One that, upon forming my illusory body once more, was crushed and broken by the burning vines which held it. This was to keep it from ever being granted life once more inside the body.

Upon finishing such a task, I turned with a grin to my servants, each gulping quite audibly, despite the fact that the trio did not have the means to do so.

"Fa- my Lord God," Brutus caught himself from speaking that which was forbidden whilst in public, and bowed low just as my gaze became stern upon his person.

"Yes, my Lich?" My own voice was of strained anger, as I was doing my best to keep the Madness at bay. Of which also held a desire to know what was upon the mind upon he who was, and still is, my right hand in all things.

"What was that thing?" His left hand pointed towards the dust of that which was a Gnome.

To which I shrugged whilst speaking in a nonchalant manner, "That was something called a Soul Puppet, and was a direct servant of the God of Portals within Azzarath."

"But, my Lord," Sisstra's voice hissed as it echoed inside her armour, "Wouldn't such an action cause this God to harm you and us?"

"No," my head shook from side to side in a slow manner, "It's a Neutral God, which means it won't do anything beyond what is necessary, and all that is thusly is to create portals to ferry beings in between the many worlds connected to the Hub World. So come along you three." My voice turned light as I dug into the memories of the Gnome, pulling out that which was necessary to perform the ritual which would allow us to be transferred into the land known as Second Earth.