The interior of the house was humble compared to the finely fitted stone of its walls on the outside. The rooms were sparsely furnished, but there was at least no shortage of comfortable chairs to seat a small group of individuals. It left plenty of space for him to decorate, but it wasn't as if he would have spent much time on such things, even if it was in abundance. The bare necessities were enough for him.

The first floor consisted of a living room with two connected couches of a darkened gray hue and a short love seat situated in a corner for the master of the house to sit in. It had a perfect view of the other party as well as a view of the front door. A wide window on the slanted ceiling displayed the night sky and acted as a source for light during the day. An intricately designed rug covered the center of the wood floor with sewn patterns portraying the many elements attributed to the monsters and Players of the world.

What he found most curious was the lamp sitting on an end table. Ray stared underneath the lamp's shade and saw that there was something akin to a light bulb attached to its top. Its surface glittered even though it appeared to be turned off. A thin length of metal spiraled around to the lamp's base. He wondered how it functioned. Perhaps some form of electricity?

It was something to inquire about another day. There were more pressing questions weighing on his mind.

He decided to hold off on touring the rest of the house in favor of getting straight to business.

Leilan and Verche gave the room a once-over and took a seat at one of the couches across from him. Verche leaned against the arm of the chair while Leilan sat with her hands clasped, the long pole weapon propped against the neighboring wall. They waited patiently for Ray to initiate the conversation.

“Okay,” Ray said. “The people of my world won't hear a word we say here.”

Supposedly, he thought. If Emily Tanner was wrong, then he might run into trouble sooner than expected if the information was delicate. But he couldn't just sit and wait forever to confirm it. He needed a solid foundation for what was really going on in this world. Otherwise, he'd be stumbling around aimlessly with a blind means of decision-making.

He turned to them and fell back in the love seat. It wasn't until he settled himself that he realized just how exhausted he really was. The journey from Millshore, the battle at Mercury Lake and then the immediate trek to the city through the muddied forest would've worn any normal person out.

Ray addressed Leilan first, “In the dungeon - the way you reacted to seeing Verche - I started to think something wasn't right.” His fingers clawed at his thighs as he recalled the last bit. “And when you thought he had died, that confirmed my suspicions.”

Leilan made no comment on this observation.

“I guess you could say I thought everything was way too real right from the start.”

Ray recalled his fight alongside the tamadra in the Departure Tower. The tamadra had responded to all of his speech and actions just like any other living, breathing individual would in his world. It had even read his emotions without him uttering a word. The tamadra had given him a reassuring pat on the head during his moments of distress. It showed fear when the ogre appeared. It expressed joy when he fought alongside it.

His thoughts always strayed to the dirt in his hands. The gritty, yet soft feeling as it poured from his grasp. He stared down at his hand and observed the light brown smudges of soil. He pulled a glove off and examined the roughness of his skin from the extended use of his weapon.

“This world...it's far too real,” he whispered.

He looked up and saw Verche and Leilan sharing an uncertain glance.

“You acted like you knew him,” Ray said as he composed himself. “More than knew him. He's more like a comrade. A friend. What is really going on in this world? Do you know why I'm really here?”

Verche moved to speak, but Leilan held up a hand and shook her head somberly. Verche nodded his assent and eased back against the arm of the chair and allowed her to take the floor.

Leilan took a deep breath. She let it out slowly before she spoke, “Very well, Ray. But please keep an open mind. You Players see our world as just a game, right?”

Ray nodded. “That's what it was supposed to be. I'm sure many still see it this way. But after everything so far, I'm not so sure anymore.”

Leilan stared at him for a long time as she pondered his words. Even without any explanation, Ray was still a believer. He was already convinced that the world he had entered was alive.

“Seems like I made the right choice.” She allowed herself a small smile.

She began her story.

Pirugan Continent

Sanctuary

Three years earlier...

Leilan stared down into the darkness below as the ocean churned against the wall of jagged stone that was the most western edge of the Sacred Mt. Bakkes. Two of the moons were reflected in the waters while the third sat away, snug behind a blanket of grey clouds covering half the sky.

Leilan's eyes trailed the cracks snaking along the wall, a result of the cannons fired from the pirate ships that attacked a short time earlier.

The first distressful thought that had occurred to Leilan and her monster comrades was that Satan's monsters of the Legion had decided to test the defenses of Sanctuary with an assault from the sea. This was disconcerting, since they had thought the enemy ignorant of how far Sanctuary extended from the inland.

They were relieved when they saw the pirates chasing a merchant ship. The lower walls of the mountains just happened to be in the line of fire. Leilan regretted not being able to help the innocent merchant ship, but compromising the location of Sanctuary on the coast was far too risky if there were any unwanted observers.

The recent battles against the Legion had turned in their favor. The Guardian monsters now felt that the eastern half of the continent was secure. Most of the major towns and cities had recovered from earlier attacks, despite the agreement that no god monsters would involve humans in their affairs.

Sarkast had displayed its generous might and pushed back a massive force of dark mystic knights a few days earlier. The humans in that area had proven their resourcefulness and skill in combat with little casualties. With the trails and passes of the Bakke Mountains secure, Leilan felt that they could finally take the fight to the Legion on their own turf. It wouldn't be long before they mounted an assault on Satan's castle.

But despite all the good news, sleep eluded Leilan.

There was something that continued to wear at her mind, driving at her like a dull icepick.

Over the past few months, the Guardian monsters had been meeting with a human that was not of their world. He arrived out of nowhere outside of Sanctuary with his arms raised non-threateningly and a silly grin splayed over his face. The monsters on guard duty had been completely taken aback by his sudden appearance. A mere human had located Sanctuary. Not only that, but they couldn't even detect his presence.

The man had explained that he was something called the Creator, the one who had formed the Pirugan continent. His bold claim incited reasonable skepticism from the god monsters. They threw him in chains, gagged him in case he held some strange word magic and questioned him incessantly in areas with magical barriers. No less than five god monsters were present to observe the interrogations. Leilan had been one of them on more than a few occasions. Curiosity spurred her to attend even when a sufficient number of monsters were available and willing.

A man had appeared seemingly out of thin air and basically claimed the status of a true god. His answers were thoroughly confusing, and his mannerism fully calm and unexpected for someone in his position.

The real questioning commenced when Metatron returned to Sanctuary.

It was then that he finally introduced himself by name as Shinji Takamura.

During the following months, he proved to be a competent ally in the war against the Legion by providing valuable information concerning their movements and knowledge of the land itself. Leilan and the others were finally convinced he was the Creator he claimed to be when he explained the birth of the world and its development. He also had knowledge beyond any human she had ever met. He told stories of technological advances in his world. They had gadgets called cellphones, computers, vehicles that ran on fuel, flying machines called planes. One of Leilan's comrades, Cao Cao, had inquired about the military presence and weapons of his world. The humans of the other world had heavily armored vehicles known as tanks and ranged weapons called guns. He said that some of these guns could fire a small projectile hundreds of yards in the span of a mere second.

Then he showed them the proof with the database that was attached to his wrist. It contained all of the information they could possibly want to know. He said that it was even possible to retain this information through a process called downloading, which was achieved from a place of near-infinite knowledge called the internet.

Needless to say, the god monsters were still thoroughly baffled.

This relationship had continued for nearly a year. Takamura observed the monsters, learned from them and even befriended them. However, he never shared how the technological advances in his world actually worked beyond their basic functions and uses.

Leilan couldn't quite explain her own relationship with the aberrant human. She liked to consider him as a friend, but the mystery surrounding him and his extended absences made her wonder about his true intentions. Everything had worked in their favor for the time being, but she wondered about an obvious long-term goal. Why did a human with near-godlike status feel the need to personally interact with the world he supposedly created? Yes, she had to admit, she was still not entirely convinced that he truly created this world. Did he have a hand in it? Perhaps. Maybe he could take credit for some meddling. And it was still a concern as to whether this meddling was beneficial in the long run.

But Takamura had now been absent for nearly a month. This was his longest absence by far. Leilan couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The problems of a human from another world should not have concerned someone in her own delicate position, but she had become fond of the human. He was a pleasant individual to converse with. He certainly was no warrior, but he made up for it with his wit and knowledge.

A pity...

As Leilan was about to shift her thoughts to more current issues, she detected a sign of movement from further along the path to her side that winded down towards the ocean. She readied her polearm that had previously rested at her side and took cover behind an outcropping of rock. Judging from the soft padding of footfalls, she ascertained that there couldn't have been more than three individuals of average size based on the possibility of movements being in sync.

There was only one.

A human with matted brown hair and rounded spectacles appeared from around the bend of the stone stairs just below her position. She relaxed her weapon upon seeing the familiar human but then readied herself once again as she saw him limp up the next flight of stairs. A growing mass of red clung to the tunic underneath an exposed portion of his chainmail. He fell to one knee and clutched his side as the sudden motion forced more blood from the wound, like squeezing ketchup out of a plastic bottle.

Leilan abandoned all caution and rushed down the stairs to support him.

“Hang on, Takamura,” she whispered reassuringly. She lifted an arm over her shoulder.

Takamura nodded weakly and allowed her to guide him the rest of the way up the stairs. They passed through the stone archway that led to the central area of Sanctuary.

The fluorescence of the magically-infused stone buildings guided them through a second archway, this one made of the rainbow magic stones that had once pulsed with magical energy, but which now served as a catalyst for magical transfer for the buildings since their own power had gone dormant.

Leilan entered the open space where the god monsters met for discussion and debate. Only one other monster sat in the open area with his fit propped lazily on the edge of the long stone table. Upon seeing her, he dropped his precious spear and rushed to assist Leilan in resting Takmura on the table.

“Thank you, Odin,” Leilan said.

Odin removed the green hat from his head as he examined Takamura's wound. “What happened?”

Leilan shook her head. “I don't know. He was like this when I found him at the southern stairs.”

Takamura made a struggled gasp for air and grabbed Leilan's arm in a firm grip that was not suited to a man in his condition. There was now the faint trace of blood crawling down his chin and neck. His eyes were wild with fear and desperation.

“Where is Metatron?” he gasped.

Leilan didn't even need to ask. Odin was already on the move out of the council room to seek her out. She turned back to Takamura whose breathing was steady but still drawn out and rasping like a tipped over vacuum. His pale complexion confirmed the blood loss.

After minutes that seemed to drag on for hours, Odin reappeared with Metatron at his side. Pandora had also decided to tag along when she heard the news of Takamura's arrival.

Odin ripped the reddened cloth from Takamura's side to reveal the gaping wound that had finally stopped spurting the injured human's life blood. The skin around the severed area beat a nasty purple with pulsing veins crawling out the sides.

Metatron whispered something inaudible under her breath and placed her hands over the wound. There was an immediate change as the pulsing purple around the wound began to lighten until it assumed a more lukewarm violet. Some of the skin began to stitch itself to halt the seeping blood.

After about a minute, Metatron removed her hands to observe her work and nodded with some satisfaction. “I can't completely dispel the pain,” she said. “But at least the bleeding has stopped. You should be fine with some rest.”

Takamura shook his head as he rose to a seated position. He grimaced as the pain spiked from the movement, but he spoke through it nonetheless.

“No, there's no time. You need to listen to me.” He lifted his arm and activated the database on his wrist. The holographic screen appeared and he pressed a symbol with a purpose that was foreign to the monsters. One of the three slots on the underside of the database slid open and a small circular, metallic chip popped out. He held it out to Metatron.

Metatron stared at the chip. “What is this?” she asked.

“It is-the world,” Takamura forced the words out through the still-lingering pain.

“What are you talking about?”

Takamura stared at each of the monsters in turn. The desperation grew in his voice to something all too palpable that instilled a quiet fear in the monsters.

He took a few more deep breaths before he gave his explanation. “There is much-you need to know.” He urged her to take the chip, which she did with a bit of hesitation.

“That chip,” he started. “That chip holds the beginning of a world. I discovered it after many years of research.”

The words caught in Metatron's throat at the realization that she was practically holding the first foundations of a universe in the palm of her hand.

“So, this chip contains how our world started?” Odin asked.

Takmura shook his head. “Not exactly. With a bit of tampering, I was only able to shape it to my desires.”

Leilan struggled to control the anger in her voice at his declaration. “Are you saying you manipulated us? You didn't actually make this world?”

Takamura went into a coughing fit. The monsters noticed that a new wound was opening randomly on his chest.

“W-what the hell...” Odin took a step back as the skin peeled and blood seeped forth.

Metatron stared at the wound gravely. “What is happening to you? This isn't...” She stared at the chip in her hand. “You aren't of this world. Are these wounds something from yours?”

“Th-they found out,” Takamura said as he regained his composure. “The code-it didn't make worlds. Not at first. It-it accesses and manipulates them, yes. I didn't know. I'm sorry-it took so long-to realize.”

The god monsters shared an uneasy look.

“Wait, you said you were a Creator,” Pandora said. Her fingers grabbed at the front of her black dress.

“I denied this world's reality. All this time,” Takamura sobbed. “I denied playing God!”

Leilan quelled her anger when she realized what was happening. In reality, it seemed he had actually deceived himself, but it held terrible ramifications for others as well. She rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He did not look up but continued his explanation, “There are people in my world who want it. And they will try to take it from me by any means necessary. Some of my closest friends are already dead because of me.” He rested his head in his hands as the tears he was holding back began to flow freely. “I didn't mean for any of this! I just wanted-”

He stopped himself as the database on his wrist began to let out a series of low beeps. He stared down at it and a tiny light flashed yellow on the screen. He removed his glasses so he could wipe his eyes before continuing. When he removed his wrist, they saw that another wound had opened underneath his eye.

“I've already wasted enough time,” he said. The other two slots underneath the database opened at his bidding and a pair of similar metallic chips appeared. “Hand me your book, Metatron.”

Metatron hesitated a moment before handing her most prized possession to him. He set one of the chips on a page towards the back of the book. With a bit of pressure from his hand, the chip began to infuse itself into the book. Metatron stared in wonder as the outline of the chip and many of her pages began to glow with a soft yellow light. Once the chip was set firmly in place Takamura closed the book.

“What did you do?” Metatron asked without taking her eyes from the tome.

“There are people from my world who will be arriving. They are not people who helped me to create this world. They are called Players. Their sole purpose is to enter this world and test how it functions. The Players will think this is just a game for their own enjoyment. Some of them might not be so ignorant though. The ones who are after the code might send Players. I cannot know for sure though,” Takamura explained as best he could.

Leilan glanced around at her other comrades who were taking in all of this information. Their faces were as still as stone. The ability to change worlds was in one of their hands in some tiny device. The whole idea seemed absolutely insane.

But Leilan recalled the time they spent with him. With his wealth of knowledge and the absurd technology of his world, perhaps it was possible. It explained why he didn't share the knowledge of his world in detail. He explained what they did, but not how they worked. It was all for the sake of maintaining their world as a so-called game.

“Why us?” Leilan prompted him. She couldn't contain herself. Everything was happening so fast and so suddenly.

Takamura glanced at his database again before speaking. The blinking light was now orange. “I don't know who I can trust in the real world to protect something like this,” he answered. His voice was now steeled with ice. “I am sorry that I placed this burden on you, but I don't see any other options right now. I wanted to destroy it, but I don't know the repercussions. They could be detrimental to both our worlds.”

“We can seal it in my box,” Pandora offered. “That's the safest place I can think of.”

“Pandora!" Metatron straightened and gave her a level look. "That box is everything to you! If you were to seal it now you might as well have no power at all.”

Pandora nodded. “I am aware.”

Takamura nodded to her appreciatively and gestured to Metatron's book. “Read what I have left you in the book. Choose your Player partners wisely.”

Leilan stiffened at the word. “Partners?”

The flashing light on Takamura's database now flashed red and a low hum began to emit from the device. He closed his eyes and handed the last chip to Leilan. She stared at it emotionless despite the sadness welling up inside her.

“Keep that one safe,” Takamura said. “One day, I hope you will overcome your differences.”

The blinking light and hum from the database became more insistent. A new laceration opened on his chest and a thin trail of blood leaked from his mouth. He waved at the monsters desperately to keep them away as they moved to assist him. He pressed a button and a final selection appeared that would log him out of the virtual world to rejoin his own. He couldn't stop the stream of tears.

“One more thing,” he choked. “Do not let any fabricated pasts dictate your actions. I have already told you how to discern the truth from the lies. Don't let a false history from my world drown the future you pave for yourself.” He pressed the button and his image began to fade. “Live well, my friends.”

When his form vanished, the shaken god monsters glanced at each other at a loss. Much of their past was a lie. He had told them that once. Fake lives meant to drive them on a specific course against their will. The world they fought for so earnestly was originally meant to be used for mere entertainment. To most of the people in Takamura's world, their lives were just a game to be played at their leisure.

Metatron clenched the chip in her hand and waited for the others to speak what was running through all their minds.

“So we will have to fight with these Players,” Leilan said.

“People we don't even know,” Pandora added as she brought a hand to her chest. “How do we know who is an ally or enemy?”

Odin sat at the edge of the stone table and lowered his hat. “If you have the ability to manipulate worlds, well, I guess you have the power to destroy them too. Right?”

They all hoped whoever was now after the code didn't have such an extreme and dastardly intent.