"It has been a difficult few centuries but life goes on as you have seen. The world keeps turning and we have to deal with everything that has happened." Balance replied and I sat down next to him.

"So...what do you need my assistance with now?" I asked and he gave me a tired smile.

"I know I have asked..." I snarled and threw myself at him my talons glowing and poised to strike at the Primordial.

"I did everything you asked, everything! What did I get in return?" I snarled before suddenly I was thrown free of the Primordial.

I rolled to my feet as Balance conjured another ball of energy before letting it dissipate. "I am sorry for your loss Jacob, I can't even imagine what it is like to lose everything as you have. Yet without your efforts, this world would not exist as it is." the Primordial responded.

"AND I LOST EVERYTHING!" I snarled as I launched myself at him again but a shield sprung up and I bounced off of it.

"I KNOW!' Balance roared back before collapsing into himself. 'I am sorry Jacob if I could turn back the clock and get you back there, I would. I can't though. Time flows one way, you can slow it down or speed it up, but you cannot reverse it. I am trying to help you out now, let me do that. Please!" I strode over too him.

"Send me to Chaos, let me kill her and all is forgiven," I told him and he shook his head.

"It's beyond what I can do Jacob. Adam and Eve imprisoned her and I have no idea where she is. Yes, I know she can go to certain places outside the Mortal Plane, but she can never return to this Plane." Balance replied and I wanted to hit him but I rained in the impulse.

I sneered at the Primordial, "What does the great and powerful Balance want of me now? Build another Empire of Night? Forge new Legions? Conquer as much of the world as I can again?' I asked him. 'I am trying to hold onto my identity here. Trying to figure out what I am as a god. I can't save anyone, hell I might not even save myself." I told the Primordial. Balance gave me a tired smile as a notification popped up.

>>

Quest Alert: Upon this Rock

Description: With the Egyptian Pantheon abandoning the Arakon continent, dozens of temples and tens of thousands of worshipers have been abandoned. Travel to the city of Elessall far to the northeast and claim the temple there as your own. With it under your control, a new power can rise and you can take control of your future and destiny

Quest Class: Divine, Personal

Quest Difficulty: Hard

Success: Claim Ra's Fallen Temple as your own

Failure: Do not claim Ra's Fallen Temple or die

Rewards: Unknown

Accept? Yes or No

>>

I looked at Balance like he was an idiot, and he was. "Are you stupid, this is a city, not a damned village or town, but a city. The locals there won't just let me walk in a claim control of the temple, even if its a fallen deity. Hell as soon as they realize I am the Blood God, they will likely reach for ropes and weapons to string me up and gut me!" I told him and Balance chuckled in response.

"It's not like that, after the wars the city was depopulated and the few survivors have no strong leadership or gods that they worship. So both would be welcomed within their ranks if you can convince them to let you " Balance replied and I frowned as I considered the proposal.

"The Empire of Night is gone, there is no way to resurrect it even if I wanted too. So why that place?" I asked the Primordial causing him to frown. He wasn't used to me questioning his advice, just blindly accepting it.

"With that stone you scavenged from your old Control Room, you can create a new Faction, you can help stabilize the Wild Lands and create your religion how you see fit, not how the zealots want to use your imagination to create their own followings." Balance replied and I considered his response and reasoning. While Balance and I might still be allies, the days of me following his instructions blindly were over.

"Was that so hard to do?' I asked him and the Primordial looked away, but anger played across his face, but I accepted the Quest though, much to his surprise. 'I am no longer a soldier that will just do as you say. You want my help, ask. You need me to do something explain and I will decide the if and how I will do it." I told the Primordial.

Anger flashed across his face, but the Primordial was more constrained by rules then I was at this moment in time. "Very well, good luck Jacob. You will need it!" Balance replied before disappearing as if he was a ghost. Asshole I thought as I pulled up the Pyromancer information and Skill Tree.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Class: Sorcerer

Specialization: Pyromancer

Description: Sorcerers are capable of controlling powerful forces and unleashing these forces upon their enemies. Pyromancer's specilize in harnessing the destructive energies of Fire to burn and destroy their enemies. Few can match their potential, be weary for Fire can burn you too.

Skill Levels are as follows...Initiate, Novice, Adept, Journeyman, Specialist, Master, Grandmaster

Advantages...

Effect 1: +5% Mana Regeneration, +1% Mana Regeneration per 4 Character Levels (Current= %)

Effect 2: +5% Critical Hit Chance, +1% Critical Hit Chance per 5 Character Levels (Current= %)

Effect 3: +1 Intelligence and Wisdom Attributes per Light Armor piece worn (Current= )

Disadvantages...

Effect 1: +10% vulnrability to Ice/Water damage

Effect 2: All active Skills require Spirit

Effect 3: Medium armor increases cast times by 50%.

Restrictions...

Effect 1: Cannot wear Heavy Armor

Note...

Damage is computed by Intelligence Attribute.

Wisdom increases Mana Pool and Mana Regeneration

Pyromancer Skill Tree Fire's Spirit (Initiate) Fireball (Initiate) Binding Flames (Unlocked) Fire's Heart (Unlocked) Ignition (Unlocked) Cloud of Ash (Unlocked) Fire Shield (Locked, Requires Level 20) Humidity (Locked, Requires Level 15) Searing Halo (Locked, Requires Level 15) Fire Blast (Locked, Requires Level 15) Fire Weapon (Locked, Requires Level 30) Spirit of the Phoenix (Locked, Requires Level 25) Fire Incarnate (Locked, Requires Level 30) Leaching Fire (Locked, Requires Level 25) Fire Storm (Locked, Requires Level 25) Fire Guardian (Locked, Requires Level 40) Wall of Flame (Locked, Requires Level 35) Globe of Flame (Locked, Requires Level 50)

While I was only Level thirteen, I had only access to the most basic Skill currently. As I increased in Levels my skills would develop becoming stronger and more powerful. For now, though, I only had access to the most basic Skill within the Pyromancer Skill Tree. Many things had changed over the last thousand years, most importantly were the Attribute Changes. Agility and Dexterity had been combined, while the Constitution Attribute had been changed to augment Stamina only while Vitality now boosted Health.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Attributes...

Vitality: +10 Health per Point, Health Regeneration= (Vitality X 0.25) per Second

Constitution: +10 Stamina per Point, Carry Capacity= 10 pounds per Point, Stamina Regeneraion= (Constitution X 0.25) per Second

Strength: 'Warrior' Types Attack Strength= (Strength X 1.5)

Dexterity: Increases Attack/Movement Speed, small precise movement control, 'Rogue' Types Attack Strength and Ranged Attack Strength= (Dexterity X 1.5)

Intelligence: Increase Magical Resistances= (Intelligence X 0.1), 'Mage' Types Spell Strengh= (Intelligence X 1.5)

Wisdom: +10 Mana per Point, Mana Regeneration= (Wisdom X 0.25) per Second

So man little things had changed over the years I was still catching up. The second most important thing after the change in the Attributes was that I only had one Class but I could Specialize within, that was it. While there were dozens of General Skill Trees I could access for various Skills I had unlocked, Class Skills were the real power each individual unlocked.

My physical damage was calculated as a Rogue, so I pulled up my Character Sheet. I knew I was at the low end of the totem pole, in comparison to all the other gods and goddesses. My equipment was far from the best and both my Character and Divinity Levels were laughable, so survival was paramount currently. I dumped ten Attribute Points into Vitality, Constitution, Strength, and Dexterity, and fifty into Intelligence and forty into Wisdom before going back to the Pyromancer Skill Tree.

I had twelve Skill Points to invest, I dropped two into Fire's Spirit, Fireball, Cloud of Ash, and Ignition, and one Skill Point into Binding Flames and Fire's Heart. It gave me a round set of Skills and a chance to survive a fight. With a thought, I pulled up my Character Sheet and reviewed my changed information as I heard footsteps move closer too me.

Name Jacob Longstrider Vitality 131 Health/Regeneration 1,310/ 32.58 per Second Base Armor 90 Race/Sex Minor-Lesser God, Vampire/Male Constitution 120 Stamina/Regeneration 1,200/ 31.5 per Second Poison Resistance --- Alignement Dark Strength 110 Mana/Regeneration 1,960/ 55.37 per Second Plague Resistance --- Character Level 13 Dexterity 110 Ether/Regeneration 1,000/ 1 per Second Light/Holy Resistance 19.5% Experience to Next Level 4,780/9,000 Intelligence 195 Life/Nature Resistance 19.5% Divinity Level 1 Wisdom 196 Shadow Resistance 19.5% Experience to Next Level 500/5,000 Luck 10 Attack Strength 165 Death Resistance 19.5% Class/Specialization Sorcerer/Pyromancer Weight Capacity 1,200 Ranged Attack Strength 165 Fire Resistance 39.5% Unassigned Atribute Points 0 Spell Strength 292.5 Water/Ice Resistance 14.5% Unassigned Skill Points 2 Base Melee Damage 50 Critical Hit Chance 5% Earth Resistance 24.5% Unassigned Divinity Points 3 Base Ranged Damage -- Critical Hit Damage 100% Air/Lightining Resistance 24.5%

While I doubted I could put up much of a fight against any god or goddess, any mortal would be surprised by my current strength. "Hey, are you coming?" Lia asked as she stopped nearby.

I shook my head, "No, I have to head somewhere else. No offense, your father doesn't seem like the best man or ruler, so I am going to avoid any complications with your people and give them a wide berth." I told her as I got to my feet and moved to retrieve my traveling pack.

"Sounds like a good enough excuse to join you. Where are we going?" Lia asked and I stopped to study her.

"You realize it might be years or even never before I come back this way. Are you prepared for that?' I asked her and she gave me a firm nod in agreement. 'Very well, let's go." I told her as I brought up my map and started walking.