Will You Become a God in the Destroyed World? (2)
The ancient tome propped up next to the monitor, the Book of Ruin. Where the hell did Grandfather get this thing? He's already gone, so no asking now. But does this book know? If things kept going like they were, I was definitely gonna starve to death. This book got me out there. What an insane artifact. So many questions burning in my head.
The monitor was pitch black. No text at all. But I could tell the Book of Ruin was in some kind of 'connected' standby mode. A transparent, weird thread-like thing linked it to the screen.
One thing at a time.
"You there?"
What?
See? It's there.
"Uh... I've got a ton of questions. How do we even talk? Can you answer me?"
When ruin arrives and its owner appears, I awaken.
"...That means you're mine? Uh... what if someone else tries to take you?"
Already bound. Do you wish to transfer me? Then die.
"............"
This fucker's savage as hell. What a prick way to talk. But yeah, as long as I don't die, the Book of Ruin is mine for sure. If I die? ...Just don't die, problem solved.
"One more thing. Next to me, those statues? Miniatures? Three left. I just made the mage—"
Nephheka.
"Yeah. Nephheka. Some kinda mage, right? Anyway, what else can I pick? Do I have to make them up myself or something?"
Nephheka, Nephkent, Nephmes, Nephaquet. These are the heroes you will command in the ruined world. Great figures who built the Nile civilization.
"...They were real people? So they're not alive now, but... whoa, are they somehow alive inside these miniatures? Nah, couldn't be."
They entrusted their powers to me. So that one day, when humanity faces ruin, you can use them to rebuild civilization.
"Whoa..." And that power ended up in my hands? Fucking awesome, Grandfather. I miss you, shit.
"Haa..." A wave of nostalgia hit me; I sighed it away. Half a year since the funeral, and it still hurts.
"Nephkent, Nephmes, Nephaquet. What powers do they have? What kinda heroes are they?"
What hero will you become?
Take up the Hero Statue.
...No explanations? Fine, whatever.
"From the top then. Nephkent." As I picked up the statue and spoke, the monitor responded right away.
Your second hero is determined: Nephkent.
A hefty marble statue. The figure wore a thick cloak, its head roughly carved off from the top, shedding stone dust. Spear and shield in hand, no armor on the body, a bow slung on the back, quiver at the waist. On the opposite hip, a long curved sword tied to the thigh with leather straps. Lower body draped in long cloth. A warrior helmet shaped like a dog's head covering the face. It swung the spear, leaped from my knee, rolled once on the floor, and stood up. Pretty imposing. As it walked, it grew bigger, just like before. It turned back to look at me. Our eyes met. The statue's eyes glowed white.
Here... yeah. Gotta say it. The monitor's flashing too.
"...𓐍 𓇲 𓂋."
Definitely said Kepher. Eyes opened. I could see myself lounging in the chair. It looked down at me. My body—ripped with muscle. Left arm.
...Holy shit. MP's only 1? Spear in hand. Curved sword at waist, bow on back. Ah, this guy's an archer warrior too. Melee capable, unlike the mage. This'll be fun. Check the right arm too.
Anubis's Arrow
𓄿 𓃣 𓂡—that's how I read it. Or Unerring Arrow. Dogs track scents like crazy, right? If the arrow's like that, it's unerring. ...Guided missile arrow, basically. This is gonna be a blast! So exciting! Wanna try it!
"I'm heading out!" Felt like a kid hyped for playtime!
Burst out the front door. Still a few zombies in the hallway. Probably damn near 500 in the apartment parking lot. Not a total crush, spaced out some, but straight-on? Looks like a shitton.
Hunt 'em all! Fuck yeah!
Thrust the spear at the nearest zombie. Holy crap. Stance went full battle mode automatically! Front legs half-bent, back straight, shield arm balancing, spear dead-on into the zombie's gut! Squelch! stabbed, and the gut turned beige, crumbled to sand, pouring out. Zombie staggered. Side's gone, duh. Fun, fun! Lost balance, slammed the wall, flopped sideways. Wound spread, whole body sand-piled down.
This is too damn easy and fun!
Acquired 1 coin.
Cool as shit? Clear the zombies here... Huh? Tattoo on shield arm changed.
...Wasn't it 22? Wait, killing one zombie costs 1 HP? Kinda sucks... Nah. Two statues left, right? So!
Speared every zombie in the hall with Nephkent, nabbed 4 more coins. Then bolted to the elevator, skewered the 11 clustered there. Squish squish squish! Stab and they all sand-crumble. Sand piles everywhere, whatever. Fun!
Squish squish squish! Circling the apartment stabbing zombies, HP hit 0.
HP reached limit.
Dissipating.
Body crumbled. Damn, that was fun. Bit disappointing, but not bad.
Eyes snapped open in the chair.
"Stabbed like crazy, no getting winded, pure fucking bliss. Awesome. Next one! Next! Out to kill more zombies! Shit, this is goddamn fun."
What hero will you become?
Oh yeah. Set the mage and warrior statues by the mouse. Damn, cool. Staff mage is slick, warrior too. Not your typical medieval fantasy look, but maybe that's cooler.
Picked up another statue, set it on my knee. Knee's piled with stone dust, fuck. Clean later.
"What was it? Which one's left?"
Nephmes and Nephaquet remain.
"In order then. What's Nephmes fight with? Nephmes first."
Your third hero is determined: Nephmes.
"Good. Kepher."
Stone dust poured. Same look as me, but upper body bare, just cloth around waist. Hammer in hand.
"Oh, fights with a hammer? Lightning or something?" Watched expectantly as it dropped to the floor and walked, growing to size. Nephmes turned to me. Eyes glowed white. Then I was Nephmes.
First check. Left arm.
...Kinda lame? No HP or whatever. Right arm first.
Eye of Complement
𓄿 𓈖 𓉐—that's what it meant to me.
...Eye of Complement? "What the hell is this? Eyes? No clue. How do you fight with it?" Leaned on my shoulder in the chair, peered at monitor.
Nephmes is a civilization builder.
...Builder. ...Ah.
"Not a fighter?"
No.
Oh. Kinda deflating. Crafting character, huh. Still...
"Eye of Complement." Beam shot from my eyes. Scanned everything in sight wide and radial. Saw it. Wall shapes, window frame joints, strong spots, weak spots. Weakest in my place? Windows. Ground floor. Miracle no zombies broke in. 'Cause I stayed dead quiet, sure.
Nearest: kitchen window. Approached, hammered it. No idea why. Felt like I had to.
Thwack! Hammer crumbled to sand, gathered, formed sand-reinforced frame around window. Whoa! MP down 1.
5 coins consumed.
Insane. Coins as... materials for maintenance. Got it! Now 49 coins. Good. Big windows first.
Balcony, hammered.
20 coins consumed.
Ugh... Bigger size, more coins. 29 left. Bedroom next.
10 coins consumed.
Bedroom window's big. Triple-pane monster. Whoa, down to 19 coins.
MP reached limit.
Dissipating.
Body scattered. Big windows sorted. Left: tiny bathroom one, small storage closet window. Too small for people anyway. Just in case, reinforce later.
"Good. Last one? Oh, Nephaquet." Set statue on knee.
"Kepher."
Your fourth hero is determined: Nephaquet.
Tons of dust on my knee. Leaped down, staff in hand—but different shape. Blunt curved end, like old folks' walking stick.
Grew big, turned to me. I was Nephaquet.
Check first. Left arm.
Hm. Same stats as builder. Right arm.
Essence of Life
𓄿 𓈗 𓏋—that's how I got it.
"Essence of Life." Staff glowed, formed a sandy hologram in front—translucent, not quite real. Illusion? Holo? Shape: fountain sink? Waist-high, stone-carved spout just like a drinking fountain. Material sand/stone only.
Shook staff; holo moved. Place it, I guess. Wandered house with it. Bedroom? Nah, sand mess. Living room... meh. Bathroom? Too cramped. This thing's bulkier than it looks. Wall by bathroom door then. Decent space. Aimed, placed.
"...How to deploy?"
Deploying Essence of Life.
Sand swirled from nowhere, solidified exactly like holo into stone. Done in under a minute.
MP reached limit.
Dissipating.
Crumpled. Whoa, uses all 3 MP at once?
Sat up in chair. Dust poured off knee, pants messy. Later. New Essence of Life by bathroom. Cool! I made it! Stone spout had a plug. Easy-grip, thin. Pulled it. Pops out. Weighty but lightish. Nothing happened.
"...What?" Back to monitor.
"How's it work?"
10 coins for water, one day.
...Coins too. "Not in hero mode now?"
Declare coin use to activate.
No hesitation, grabbed Essence of Life. Waist-high, had to bend.
"Using coins."
Faint water sound. Spout flowed steady.
"Whoa! Fuck yeah!" Gulped straight from it. Sweet. Sweet water! Tap cut off! Survived on stored tap water! Fresh!
Gulped, stood. Water pooled in the basin. Plugged it. Stopped. Clunkier than faucet, but fine.
"Haha!" Over the moon!