Usurping the Universe

'When did I get a seal placed on my soul or this soul-bound relic? And I didn't even know about it?'

Alex felt her head spin at this discovery. She knew too little to properly weigh these choices, and yet she had to make a decision. 

'Wait...Perhaps..'

"Uhhhh...Deity? Supervisor? Game master? Anyone? I want more details for each choice."

Alex raised her voice in the vast darkness, hoping for some sort of response, but the reality was inconsiderate. No matter how loudly she yelled or how much she tried to negotiate, she faced an empty, mocking silence.

The breathless silence was the only reply Alex received, a firm indication that she was on her own here.

Feeling that this entire thing was hinting for her to choose a certain option, Alex replayed the descriptions over again inwardly. This entire thing felt like an elaborate trap, tempting her to choose a certain option.

Alex fell into silent contemplation as she seriously weighed the three options.

Alex knew that considering the possibility that the deity was lying about anything was an unending rabbit hole. It would lead to questioning everything up till now, meaning Alex would be left with nothing but doubts to work with.

At most, the deity was telling half-truths, or twisting facts to create dangerous illusions for her challengers, leading them right where she wanted them.

'The seal of Fate will help me gather both willing and unwilling servants bound to do my bidding. It could also act as a source of power when those under my control die. However, the price could be disastrous and I don't think I'll be able to enslave stronger parties. What if other people notice my actions and target me for the Seal? I would have to be very careful. And will I be able to choose which portion of their soul comes to me? What if that portion is harmful or something... So many what-ifs. As for whether it is morally right to enslave people, that is conditional.'

Time elapsed as Alex focused on her choices. There was no indication of a time frame for choosing, so she leveraged that fact as she sat cross-legged on what felt like a plume of soft clouds within the expanse of darkness.

'And this, it's just like plot armour.' She paused for a second, correcting her analysis of the armour item.

'Except it will siphon energy from those around me without my permission. I mean main characters tend to intentionally or unintentionally ruin the lives of their enemies and friends equally simply by breathing. I mean come on, why choose your friend's twin as the 20th girl in your harem? Wait... that's unrelated to my current situation...'

Alex shook away all unnecessary thoughts.

'What about when I don't have people around me? Or when their energies aren't enough? And the overemphasis on 'the world' is a fat minus. I need something that will benefit me long term. Who's to say there isn't life outside of whatever this world is?'

Her gaze turned to the enchanting book that had never stopped beckoning for her, an inexplicable force constantly pointed at the enigmatic book. There was no description of the benefits the book could bring and Stemma would only be releasing binds, not really giving her anything except aid.

'I could find someone else to break the binds later, or maybe I could even do it myself. But I doubt anyone could easily break these locks and binds when I didn't even know I had them. But my gut is pointing towards the book... Tsk. I hate overthinking.'

Having decided, Alex stretched forth her hands and clasped the sides of the book. The reaction was immediate. The vibrant glow of the book expanded rapidly and swallowed her figure. Her irises and pupils vanished, leaving behind a white sclera.

Her white hair similarly erupted in blinding light, and Stemma's calm magnetic voice filled the room.

"Sleep."

And like a rag-doll, Alex powerlessly fell as the book turned incorporeal floating into her unconscious body.

°°°

"Your journey in my world shall begin in twenty-four hours."

There were only forty people in the room now. A sombre cloak dampened the entire atmosphere as many had gone to get rewards, only to see their friends gone.

"There are a few things you should note: you and I have no special relationship once you enter the world of Stemma, as you will be like any other native, your only advantage being the gifts I bestowed upon you. With consideration of your rank, you will inhabit different bodies, and you cannot do much in that body for some time unless the owner willingly relinquishes it to you. You will all be able to identify your fellow accomplished challengers and their ranks upon killing them. You can also absorb the gift I gave them."

Although shock was evident on a few faces, not a single sound was made. This new information meant that they could be targeted for their selections. Of course, some had bought this information and were already in the know. 

A few greedy gazes landed on Alex, their imaginations running wild about what it was she might have received. Alex just smirked. The more that tried, the better.

"The first rank is the only exception. You can not take her gift from her."

'What's this old swindler doing?' Alex had felt the deity's gaze on her briefly before she made that statement, but whether it was to help Alex or make the others even more envious of her, Alex did not care.

The swindler was already on her hit list since the moment she lost her brother.

"I will give you no further missions and you are free to live your life as you would like. However, do not be deceived. Strength is the only true freedom."

The challengers felt the deity had left, as quick as she had come, causing them to erupt in conversation. Alex did not have time to discuss alongside her fellow challengers as she was suddenly whisked away from her previous spot, disappearing with no forewarning. 

Not that she minded.

"Is it just me, or do her eyes look different?"

Remarked Dahlia, who had been staring at Alex since she reappeared in the room after the gift selection.

" How do you have time to look at her eyes when there's a fat diamond crown on her head?" Imani wished he could tear that thing off her head and bury it deep under the ground.

" I agree, felt like my eyes were burning."

Damien yelled from a considerable distance away while lying on the bare ground in gym clothes from back on earth.

"It looks like it was designed for a five-year-old."

"Uh guys, shouldn't we be more curious about that guy?" Marie tentatively interrupted their jesting.

She pointed at Niel, who rested slightly on the wall at the far end of the ridiculously large room.

Dahlia and the rest had wondered where Niel appeared from, seizing second place and bearing the same last name as Alex.

Multiple eyes in the room turned to the resting, cold-faced Niel, sizing him up from a distance.

°°°

' I feel different.'

She had undergone a change she could not quite put into words. The quick transition in sceneries never left her enough time to digest what was going on.

After choosing the relic, she was swarmed by a mix of energies, one slightly familiar and comforting bursting from within her and one warm but foreign moving purposefully within her.

The one from within grew with each passing second as the other one weaved itself expertly inside her. Like a pattern, layers upon layers of a strange symbol formed from the unfamiliar energy building within her, forming loops then knots, curves and shapes, complex and fascinating.

Then, after an unknown amount of time, each layer shattered, and the thin string of mystical energy holding it together burst, engulfing Alex in a torrent of warm, sweet sensations.

Aside from that, she could remember little of what else had occurred.

The relic, Eternal Codex: Reign, physically absent but still present within her, had nestled itself lightly in a corner of her mind. She needed a a catalyst to stimulate a response from the currently dormant relic.

What that catalyst would be, remained unknown.