"So, you shall."
As soon as Metus finished speaking those words, my body felt like it had been set on fire.
My blood felt like it had been switched out with molten lava, only adding to the pain.
I fell to the ground, using one knee to stop myself from kneeling over.
"Your body will have to get used to my power. For someone so below me, it will be a horrible experience, but you will learn to appreciate this." Metus said with a slight chuckle.
I looked up at Metus only to see the mouths that lay on their skin all smiling with delight.
My breath came in ragged gasps as I struggled to breathe.
Even if I were to gain the powers Metus said I would, the pain made me feel like taking back my words.
After a short while, the pain dulled, becoming a mild, uncomfortable sensation in the background.
"What have you done?" I asked.
"Only what you have wished for. To gain a small snippet of my powers." Metus answered.
"Though this power will come at a price. I'm not such a benevolent god that I'd give it to you for free," Metus mouths, stopping smiling.
The air around us became more tense.
"I've seen countless 'gods' become betrayed by their own kin and those whom they have blessed.
As such, we will make a soul pact. One that will ensure no harm will come upon me from your actions or intent to do so," Metus said.
I could tell that Metus was worried, probably already thinking about how I may betray him.
"But, couldn't you just take away what you have given them? It seems like an easy job for a god such as yourself."
It did make sense as to why Metus could be able to do so. His powers, his control over them.
"Those gods who have been betrayed thought the same. After mortals are blessed with godly power, their gods control over it slowly slips away as the mortal gets stronger, the blessing becoming the own power of the mortal," Metus said.
Oh, so that was why he was worried. Though that's some food for thought.
This could be due to the soul as it hungrily claims ownership of the blessing it has received.
Though, I haven't even looked into spiritual concepts, such as the soul so much less the regular ones such as magic or aura.
A crimson page of parchment paper formed in front of Metus.
It was full of words written in an ancient language I had no idea how to read. Even looking at it gave me a headache.
It slowly floated down towards me as I felt the sheer power of it effecting now just my body, but something more deeper.
"All you must do is repeat this, 'I hereby announce," Metus started.
"I hereby announce."
" ', that I as Thorn, "
"That I as Thorn, "
" ', will follow the clauses of the pact, "
"Will follow the clauses of the pact, "
" 'lest my soul be destroyed.' "
"Lest my soul be destroyed."
The paper dispersed into light as it entered my body.
I could feel a tightening sensation around deep inside my body. It felt like chains had been wrapped around my core, preventing it from escaping.
"The pact has been completed," Metus said.
There were probably other clauses beside the no harm thing that I couldn't read.
Stupid gods and their stupid tricks.
"Oh, Metus. I would like to ask, are you a woman or a guy?" I asked slightly curious.
[A/N: I'm also tired of saying Metus 40 times.]
"I have no assigned gender though, most of my forms come female in appearance. Would you like it if I switched to something less... eldritch looking?" Metus responded, their mouths smirking as it said that.
"Yes, I would like it," I responded.
"Haha, alright then, Thorn."
Metus's original body started to reform again. The facial features shifting quickly into more feminine features.
Her body also underwent a transformation as her body slowly shifted to have more plump features like a slight rise at her chest and more narrow hips.
The mouths on her body started to sink into her skin while the tentacles that make her face gave way to a more human face.
Black luscious hair came down from stop her head and dropped down to her back.
Her unnaturally colored skin became more peach colored, resembling those of humans.
Black robes materialized around her body, covering her body with a slit coming down the side of her leg.
Unlike the other fan-fics I've read, she seemed pretty modest in comparison.
There wasn't any sexual exaggeration of her breasts or ass but rather looked like a very pretty woman who you'd pass by on the streets.
Metus repositioned herself on the seat, crossing one leg over the other.
"Were you expecting something more?" Metus voice had changed again. Instead of the ancient tone her last form had token on, this one was very feminine.
"I wasn't expecting that," I said avoiding the question.
Explaining to a god that you thought they would turn into a busty jade beauty based off stories you've read wasn't exactly a pleasing thought.
"Whenever we see each other again, and we will, I would rather you not go into mortal heat. It's utterly... disgusting," she explained.
I could see where she was coming from. Since she will be meeting me more often now, I'd rather not have horniness cloud my thoughts whenever she's around.
"I understand," I muttered with a nod.
"Good. Now onto other topics. You won't be able to do anything on Ulmuna. That planet is done for, the last surviving Yalta only delaying the inevitable.
I'll give you the power to travel to other worlds but, you'll need to become my apostle. A portion of the fear you make will become mine and you'll need to spread my name across all the worlds you go to."
Metus had an interesting proposition. I would instantly accept but I needed to calm down and think about what the hell I'm accepting.
Being apostle basically means becoming a missionary for the religion that focuses around Metus. For all its worth, it didn't seem like a bad deal in the long run.
I'd be able to travel to worlds I didn't even think were able to exist was very enticing. All I had to do was spread the good word of Metus.
Why would Metus need me to do this though? As someone who rules several multiverses like she said, it seemed like she was in need of people in her religion.
My theory is that she's a powerful god who's power is slowly diminishing. I'm sure that theory has lots of loop holes in it but I'll get to those later.
"I accept your offer, though I'd like to ask questions about this world traveling ability," I answered with confidence.
"Ask away if you must. But I'd rather you keep this questioning short since it looks like I have some other matters to attend to," Metus said adding a sense of urgency to our otherwise relaxed conversation.
"Is there a limit to where I can travel to?" I asked.
"Of course. This ability will rely on your strength to open portals to other worlds. Only worlds that are weaker or are slightly stronger than you. As well, you'll have access to the world's in my multiversal cluster which is a lot, but not infinite," she responded.
The answer was satisfactory to what I was asking, but it also brought out a lot more questions that were answered.
"Will I be able to bring anyone along with me to these worlds?" I asked again.
"Same as the last question. This will be proportional to your strength. Each person who travels through will take more fear energy as the forces keeping the world in balance seek to keep the anomalies out. As of right now, I'd say you have to power to bring one or two Yalta at most," Metus responded.
So no large-scale armies coming through one portal until I'm strong enough. That's good to know. Luckily, I'm a one-man army myself with the powers I have now.
"This is your last question,n Thorn. Ask quickly before I send you off on your way," Metus hurried me.
I blanked out for a bit before my last question came to mind, "Can I pick which world I can go to?"
"You won't be able to pick which world you'll go to whenever you enter a new one. However, you can return to whichever one you like after you've entered it," Metus responded.
"Now that's done with. I'll officially make you become my apostle and send you off to go on your little journey," she added on.
I suddenly felt a warm sensation fill my body. My body felt fuzzy and drowsy, as if it was getting hooked on this good feeling.
My whole being felt a deeper connection to Metus. I felt a nagging sensation in my mind that wanted to worship Metus with all the drive in my soul, but I resisted.
The same dark crack that took me from the hall of corpses opened up again.
I looked back at Metus for one last time, but she was gone.
I took in everything that happened in the few moments I was here. It all still felt surreal, like a dream that I would wake up from when I walked through the crack.
But I knew it wasn't a dream at all. This was all real, and I was willing to take advantage of whatever I had gotten to make myself better.
Whether it takes the deaths of hundreds or following Metus, I would do it.
I walked through the rift thinking about how I would proceed when I got back to Ulmuna.
======================
Hey guys, PimpGandalf here. Just wanted to update you guys on why I've been gone for a few days. School has been killing me with tests and I just haven't found the time in my day to write at all. But now that I've finally got done with these test, I'll be able to consistently upload chapters now.
I'll post a 2.5k word chapter like I did for chapter 2 by Saturday or Sunday. Also, we'll be going to our first world so hooray for that. Criticism and suggestions for worlds would be appreciated.
[Word Count: 1689]