What kind of edgy name is that?' The Deity's voice held a pissed tone.
'My inspiration came from the journey we had trying to save my sister. It's out of respect for my efforts and the memories I gained, both good and bad.'
'Thus, the best you could come up with was Corpse Digger?' she mocked. 'That sounds so lame! Imagine a faction member saying "I'm a member of the Corpse Diggers." Like are we being serious?'
Cole frowned. 'I'm not changing it.'
'Fine!'
Cole's head was blessed with peace. 'Finally, she stopped talking.'
'The Indulger factions all have stupid names; one more won't kill them.' Cole headed toward the residential area to buy some sweets.
MEANWHILE...
Atasa sat with crossed legs and folded arms, his face disturbed. Salone sat beside him, folding his palms as he drifted into thought.
"Is this true?" Atasa asked the bald man pacing before him. "Answer me, Cobalt."
Cobalt licked his collage of teeth. "From what I heard, at least. I can't authenticate anything right now."
"Hmm..." Atasa's level-headed facade played well.
They weren't the only ones panicked by the fast-spreading rumors.
"What do you mean by that?" Antadisma shrieked.
"Yup, that's what I heard. Word seems to be circulating fast." Snider pressed his lips together with a serious expression.
Both of them were dumbfounded.
"Have you heard?"
"The accomplice behind the Deep Eader's disappearance made his move about a week ago."
"Some people from Sant Flores told me he freed a sealed deity and killed some of the citizens."
"It's crazy to think someone who was barely a threat before was strong enough to repel the effects of the Guiding Tree. I'm more curious than I am amazed."
"He's already begun his rampage; we can't let this go any further."
"How did someone who appeared from nowhere free a generationally sealed deity?"
"Do you think it was... The Ascendant Gothel?"
"I hope not, or he's released that terror back onto the earth."
"I doubt that. The history books state Sant Flora killed Gothel. It's possibly just some entrapped spirit or something. These stories are probably just overhyped."
"I've seen him before; he wasn't that impressive. I fail to believe he could perform such feats."
"The people of Sant Flores now consider him a deity of his own or something. A being sent to deliver them from their future suffering."
"If even a slither of this is true, then we can't take any risks nor chances."
"The purge must be hastened."
Such were the gossip, stories, and discussions about Cole that set the Indulger world into a frenzy.
In Null Centura...
A crystal orb with two pointed arrows held by a ring vibrated on a wooden table. Five people gathered around it with peeled eyes and even deeper concentration.
"It's been 5 months," a man in a white uniform and tall top hat broke the silence.
Among them were Mark and Noelle, who had distressed expressions visible on their faces.
The bottom half of the orb was a sandy brown, while the top half was liquid blue; in between, the two arrows pointing differently shook as if struggling to turn.
"Should we call it a day?" a blonde man with the same uniform suggested.
"Perhaps," Mark slightly agreed.
Sssssssssss.
A low whistling grabbed everyone's attention.
The bottom arrow rose while the top arrow fell, struggling to turn as the orb shook briskly. The wide ring separating top from bottom spun like a wheel as the whistling intensified.
TIK.
The arrow flipped, and the orb turned purple. Everyone standing in the room was speechless, a few looking as though they were on the verge of going mad.
The object was called the Ark Omen.
An ancient artifact crafted by the True Deities. Its mechanics weren't overly complex despite being crafted by literal gods. The arrows were held in place by the magnetic ring attached inside the orb's glass; its job was also to divide the two parts.
It had never actually been used before. Regardless, it was placed at the top of a table where it was only accessible to a select few, though for centuries the Ark Omen was practically useless.
Except for 5 "False Months" ago, when the Ark Omen started rattling for the first time in centuries. To say it was the artifact's first time being active wouldn't be an exaggeration. But that wasn't good news in the slightest; in fact, the device being dormant was one of True Earth's biggest joys.
What does the artifact do, exactly?
According to ancient texts and chronicles from the period of Eaden, research theories, and potential analysis, it was concluded the Ark Omen was an artifact created to measure anomalous alterations in time, space, causality, and reality. Simply put, it was a device for monitoring reality manipulation.
From currently deciphered ancient chronicles, the artifact was stated to flip once reality was altered; the amount of time was dependent on how much was altered and its probable consequence.
"It struggled to flip within the span of 5 months," Mark uttered in a low tone. "Was a True Deity responsible?"
"That's not possible," Noelle cut in. "Ancient chronicles stated all True Beings no longer exist in the realm of concept; they have no business with our reality, nor would they gain anything from toying with it."
Even powerful deities could only affect reality to a certain limit; as long as that 'extent' didn't have any conceptual, metaphysical, or existential consequences, the Ark Omen would not react.
The only logical conclusion was that nothing within the concept of reason was behind it. And everything in False Earth and True Earth fell under the firmer parts of this concept.
"Then what could it be?"
The question itself was a lurking ambiance, creeping into their hearts, invading their minds, strangling their necks, and crushing their bones.
For all they knew, it was possible that despite the layers of seclusion techniques, spells, and artifacts in the room, somewhere beyond the edge of reality—above the construct of limitations where "macrocosm" was not an adequate term—they were being viewed like entertainment through a lens.
The ignorant Cole, however, sat with his sister, enjoying the moment's gifts of bliss.