Craig stayed on the bed, his wives were fast asleep already.
Both resting their heads on his chest as they dozed off into the never ending night.
Craig exhaled a deep sigh.
"Pandora"
He called out.
Just then the glowing virtual panel appeared right before his eyes. His lips curled up into a knowing grin.
[Yes? Do you have any question?]
Pandora asked.
"Well yes. Since we were traveling to the Sendaya City, I was too busy to be focused on the rewards"
"And besides there are still a few things that I'm curious about"
"I'm not the only being from the modern world who was transported into this realm right?" Craig asked.
[Yes, that's definitely correct….]
[Ten years ago, the Underworld became overcrowded with billions of souls. Dead souls were forced into the game as players]
[They're known as Otherworlders and you're one of them. The only difference between you and the rest is you have a designated role to play]
[You're bounded by Fate while they're not]
Pandora explained.
Craig exhaled a sigh.
"I'm aware of that, I'm still curious….if this is a storyline. Then what exactly is the story about?" Craig asked.
[Warning Alert…..!!!]
"Warning alert? Huh?"
Craig's brows furrowed.
[You're crossing the boundaries of your predetermined knowledge. You're not permitted to the information]
[Please refrain from being curious]
Pandora warned.
"Hmmm….!!"
Craig stayed mute for a few minutes, loads of thought flooded his mind as he watched everything.
"The Pandora System is a mystery on his own. Not that I'm curious to know what it is, if it allows me to live my normal life"
"I'll just stick with its rules"
Craig muttered. He gently lifted his head.
"Pandora"
Craig called out.
[Yes? What is it?]
The system questioned.
"I know the special mission isn't completed but can i know the rewards I received after completing two tasks?"
Craig asked.
[Sure...]
[Unveiling Player's data in 5….4….3….2….1…..0]
[Rewards: 75 Fate points and 1 Fate's Ticket]
"Huh? Only?" Craig asked.
His eyebrows furrowed. Squinting his eyes as he read the content displayed on the virtual screen floating before his eyes.
"What's Fate Ticket?" He asked.
[You're the Champion of Fate. With a ticket, you will be granted entry into the Fate's Archive]
Pandora explained.
"Fate's Archive? What's that?" Craig asked.
[Fate's Archive is the collection of treasures gathered by Fate for millennials and across countless universes]
"All stored in the timeless archive created by Mother Fate]
"You're only permitted to choose a single treasure. Be it an Authority or a weapon]
[Once you have selected a treasure, you will be returned to your world]
"Oh? So it's just like a lottery? A lucky spin or something?" Craig asked.
[Yes. Something like that….]
[Do you want to use your Fate's Ticket?]
[Yes] [No]
"Well I'm curious to know what treasure I'll be able to get my hands on so yes"
Craig clicked the Yes button.
Immediately the Yes button was clicked.
Craig's eyes blurred. His heart skipped a beat.
"What's going on here?"
Craig's voice distorted as he suddenly lost his voice, he collasped on his bed. Driven into a state of unconsciousness.
He lost all his senses...his body went cold, not even his heart was active.
Cassie was the first to notice it, using her beast senses…
She detected the change in the body of her husband. Gently opening her eyes….
She was stunned to see Craig lying down completely lifeless.
She screamed out. Her screams woke Ramposa up from her sleep.
Ramposa jolted out of the bed, she quickly rushed to check on her husband's pulse but there was no sign of life.
With loads of thoughts flooding her mind.
While Cassie was busy pushing Craig to be woken from his slumber, Ramposa detected intruders.
The entirety of the hotel was surrounded by assasins.
She clenched her fist, her eyes flickered. Unveiling the violet hue.
Her gaze darkened.
"Cassie. I don't know what's happening to the master but protect his body with your life"
Ramposa instructed.
"Ofcourse I will but where are you going?" Cassie asked.
Ramposa gritted her teeths.
"We've got ourselves some intruders. I'm sure they're here for our husband, if they're responsible for what's happening to him"
"We need to make sure they reverse it" Ramposa declared.
"Under no circumstances shall you leave the master's body"
Ramposa growled.
Her claws crept out of her fingers as she walked towards the curtains. Ramposa may be the mother of ants.
But she's an insectiod whose strength is beyond understanding.
She gently rolled the curtains sideways, staring down from the window. She could see men in black cloaks hiding.
A lopsided grin escaped her lips.
Ramposa dived out from the window and what occured next was absolute bloodshed.
Meanwhile Cassie wrapped her arms around the lifeless body of Craig. With tears flowing down her cheeks.
Her eyes flickered, not hiding the rage in her eyes.
She wrapped herself and her slumbering master with her multicolored tails. The atmosphere radiated with bizzare demonic essence.
"Master….master….master"
"Please come back…!!" She wept.
Her tears materialized into purple diamonds. Anyone who dares come close to her would be ripped to shreds.
****
"Whe….where am I?"
Craig opened his eyes to see himself standing before a floating door. Surrounded by the shimmering whiteness.
He was enveloped in a vast, empty canvas of white.
Devoid of any features and landmarks.
He recalled the time he visited this world before his reincarnation into the
"This feels like yesterday"
He mused, still observing his environment. Just then the mystical door creaked open, his eyes widened in shock.
Stunned to see the middle aged man whom he last met.
"You are…."
Craig felt excitement for a second and the figure cleared his throat. His face beamed with smiles in reciprocation of Craig's excitement.
"It's being awhile Mr. Craig, It seems you still remember who I am"
"I'm deeply honored"
His baritone voice echoed, he respectfully bowed his head before Craig. Gently adjusting the buttons on his suit.
"What's this place? Am I dead again?" Craig asked.
"Not at all. This is a conventional realm created by Fate for reasons such as this"
"Your soul was transported into this domain after accepting to make use of your Fate's ticket"
"And I'm here to guide you to the Fate's Archive"
The Servant explained.
"So I'm still alive right? But after clicking that Yes button. My heart stopped beating and I lost all my senses at that moment"
"Doesn't that mean I'm dead?" Craig asked.
"Well partially. Fate needed to kill you in other to bring you into her Archive, this is the only convenient method"
"You could consider yourself temporarily dead"
The Servant answered.
"Hmph. That wasn't a wise thing to do tho" Craig said with a grin.
The Servant's brows curled up.
"And why is that?" The Servant asked.
Craig giggled.
"Well those babies of mine are madly in love with me. Since I'm connected to them, if I'm temporarily dead"
"They will surely feel it and go crazy. I still have a mission in Sendaya City so I need to have them under control"
Craig said.
He snapped his fingers.
"Let's move on with this, I need to hurry back….Where's the Archive?" Craig asked.
The Servant's couldn't help but grin.
"I'll advise you not to be in a hurry Mr. Craig, There're a few things you must know about the Archive"
"But I guess it's better you experience it first hand!"
The Servant grinned.
His eyes flickered and a key emerged from the chest of Craig. The key radiated in golden light.
Seconds later, they were all sucked into the key.
~~~
"Keukkkkkk"
Craig screamed out, he fell on his knees, struggling to control the pressure. He could hear his bones being crushed.
But the Servant stood unfazed, unaffected by the intense gravitational pressure.
The Servant grinned.
"Where the fuck am I? What in the hell is going on?"
Craig screamed out loud.
The Servant couldn't help but chuckle.
"I told you not to be in a hurry right? You're currently in the Fate's Archive. The system must have explained what the Archive was right?"
The servant asked. He took a step forward.
"This Fate's Archive was built a hundred thousand years ago by Mother Fate, it was built using the corpse of a dead outer god"
"The Mad Titan who was controlled Time itself. Chronos"
"And you'll be the first creature who will be visiting this world. Count yourself lucky"
"Mother favors you" the Servant added.
"Tch" Craig growled.
He struggled to stand up, clenching his fists. He gnashed his teeths.
"Who the hell is Mother Fate?"
Craig questioned.
The Servant glanced at Craig for a second, a lopsided grin appeared on his lips. And with a snap of his fingers.
The gravity itself vanished, Craig could feel his body again.
"Thank you" Craig voiced out. He's seen stretching his muscles.
The Servant exhaled a sigh.
"There's no need to thank me, we're here for a reason aren't we? Let's go!"
He commanded.
They were seen walking across the empty hallway. Their footsteps resounded, echoing from all directions.
The Servant's lips twitched.
"And Mr. Craig, I must warn you. You're a mere sword of Fate, you're entitled to no informations and neither are you permitted to know anything"
"The next time you ask about Mother. You'll surely die!!"
The Servant warned.
Craig could see the animosity in the eyes of the Servant. He knows if any foolish words comes out of his mouth.
That'll be his very end!!