Rebirth: Over the Horizon

"The games have concluded." The Goddess of War bellows. "Let us judge your results."

"No need to be so loud about it." Edurmon, now in the form of a shower of pink sparks, whirls around the room.

"Hmmph." Palindera scoffs but does quiet down a little. "At least these mortals had the bravery to attempt the challenge presented."

"I suppose that counts for something. Not much, but something. As to the actual results…"

"- you were all incredible!" Edurmon interrupts, now bobbing up and down in a sparkling display, not unlike fireworks. 

"Golden laurels in every event! I could not be more proud. You are all the true champions of these games."

"Bah." Palindera waves a hand dismissively. "They merely performed as they were ordered. That is the least that can be expected of a soldier."

"Oh, come on, Pally. You have to admit that was impressive." Edurmon goads the Goddess of War.

"… Perhaps. Slightly." Palindera grudgingly concedes. "But they will need to improve further."

"Well, we should reward them with a blessing, then," Edurmon notes, turning a rich shade of orange.

"Very well." Palindera agrees. "But only one." 

She leans over Adam, he was surprised at first but, still maintains his composure.

"Well, mortal? What do you desire as your reward?"

"I want the strength of the greatest warriors." 

"Hmm. Perhaps you are wiser than I thought." Palindera grudgingly offers him another morsel of praise. 

"Very well." She grabs Adam's forearm. Her touch burns, but the pain passes as soon as she releases him. 

There was a drawing mark imprinted on his forearm it was a sword dripping in blood. 

"My mark shall give you the strength of the greatest warriors." 

Palindera declares. 

[You have received the stigma of the evil goddess of war, Palindera]

[» Due to the stigma, your STR and AGI will be enhanced by 80%.

»No CD]

[Stigma's effect will take place when your HP reduces below 30%]

"You will need this power for the trials that await you." The Goddess of War warns. 

"Steel yourself. The most difficult tasks are still ahead."

Palindera and Edurmon vanish in another flash of golden light. 

'Anyway, my mission is to kill them, right?' Adam thought...'Will this stigma even in effect after Hecate kills them?' 

Just as he was thinking about the 'stigma', bright white rays descends before him and blinds his vision. 

Before Adam can recover, he was sucked into a strange white portal that formed above his head. 

---- 

"Ugh...! Where is this?" 

Adam awakens and finds himself, in a strange place. 

The light in the surroundings was dim and red, his vision was also hazy and insubstantial. 

The air smells of salt, dust, and decay. Adam also feels very weightless. 

He slowly lifts his hand before his face, "What...what...the heck is this!?" 

His face was ugly, and the most horrible thing was he can see straight through his hand like he is transparent. 

After a while, his vision clears and he regains his sight again. 

Adam slowly stood upon a rocky plateau in the middle of a cracked, desolate landscape. 

Actually, 'stand' doesn't seem to be the right word. 

He feels as if his body is floating, his feet hovering above the surface of the ground.

Then, he peers into one of the massive fissures crossing the landscape.

 Far beneath, Adam spots a river of brackish, greywater. 

He observes the river more accurately to find any clue, but at the next moment a feeling of creeping dread quickly spreads all over his body.

After a few moments, it was clear that the liquid isn't water at all. 

The river is a collection of tightly packed humanoid forms, translucent shades like himself swept ahead by a strong current.

"Ding-" 

[You have arrived at the realm of Hadrene: Beta Underworld.] 

A whirl of pitch-black shadows forms before him and someone floats out the black portal.

It was no other than Hadrene, goddess of death, judgement and justice.

Her eyeless sockets seem to stare right at him, as she floats closer and closer towards Adam. 

"Welcome to my realm. Welcome to the Beta underworld." Hadrene says as she stretches her arms wide. 

Without waiting for his response, Hadrene continues. 

"I have summoned you here to face my trial."

 "Once you and your fellow Chosen have completed this trial, you shall be returned to the land of the living and your mortal forms shall be restored."

The Goddess of Death continues. 

"These are the Plains of Judgment, the place where the souls of the deceased come to have their deeds weighed and their final fates determined." 

"For ages, this sacred task has been the duty of myself and my Judges, those souls I have selected for their wisdom, judgment, and unwavering commitment to justice."

 "This will be the first day in centuries where I have given my Judges a rest."

Hadrene points at his face, extending a skeletal finger.

 "In this place, you and your fellow Chosen shall judge the souls of the departed." 

"I have selected three souls, which are waiting to receive your judgment." 

"Your task is to judge them wisely, fairly, and justly, and determine an appropriate eternal fate for each of them."

The wraith withdraws her hand. 

"I shall answer any questions you have before the trial begins. Then I shall provide you with your tools, and the judgments shall commence!" 

Without a hint of hesitation, Adam responds to her with a question, "What tools will I be given for this trial?"

After all, which gamer didn't like items. 

"I shall give you the two tools given to all of my Judges: a pouch of salts taken from the residue of the river of souls, and a mirror of quicksilver refined from the mountains beneath the world." 

Hadrene answers. 

"If you wish to ask questions of the souls you are to judge, use the salt to draw a circle around them. Within such a circle, they can only speak the truth."

"The mirror serves a similar purpose." 

"If you have questions about any event in the soul's life, ask and look into the mirror." 

"You will see the past exactly as it happened."

"Do you have any further questions before we begin?" 

"I have no further questions. I am ready to commence Hadrene's trial." 

After sa Lvhying this, Adam pretends to bow towards Hadrene.

"Very well. We will begin now." 

Hadrene snaps her skeletal fingers, and a soul manifests in front of him.