All I found in the corridors around where I had woken up were more wolves, usually alone rather than in packs. I killed a few more, leveling up as I went, but strangely my sword, rusted and chipped as it was, didn't show any signs of further wear. Perks of being a monster? I wondered, remembering how skeletons always seemed to be wandering around with gear on the verge of breaking.
It's strange, though… I looked around at the corridors I had been passing through. This doesn't seem anything like the place in the dungeon I died in, and yet the monsters are all beginner-friendly, like we're in a starter area…I wonder if I somehow came back to life somewhere else…
I continued my search through the dungeon looking for any hints of individuality in the identical stone corridors, and eventually I came across a small shrine-like area. There was a small statue of a goddess behind an offering plate lined with the remains of burned-out candles. I wonder what goddess this is…I stooped down to the ground to brush away the dust from the altar. Strange that they'd have an altar like this in a dungeon. I tried to brush away the dust from the inscription, though the task was difficult without any flesh on my hands. Instead I had to scrunch up some of the ragged cloth that I wore as clothing to be able to read what was written there.
Melphinoe, goddess of death, I uncovered finally. This! She's the one who brought me back to life! I scratched my head looking at the altar, wondering what I should do. I had never been a religious type, and the idea of revering a god made me slightly uncomfortable, but she had brought me back to life, I figured I should show some gratitude.
I got down on my knees in front of the altar, and put my hands together like I had seen the Japanese do. I started by trying to speak, but all that came out was a low growl. Did I sound like that when I was shouting out skill names? I had been in the middle of battle, so I hadn't payed any attention. I quickly decided instead to pray in my thoughts. Melphinoe, goddess of death, I thank you for bringing me back from the dead. I pray that you will continue to bless me on my journey. Ehhh…well, that seems good enough. I started getting up from my knees when the statue began to glow dimly like a dark fire had begun to burn all around it. I stared at it mesmerized, before the world began swirling around me, and I found myself in a black, starry void.
What? Where am I? My thoughts rang out in the void like spoken words, before ripples spread from the void underneath my feet like water. I turned to see the form of the goddess I had just prayed to, only now she was glowing like starlight and reclined on a sofa, one hand on her chin as she looked at me with an air of amusement.
"So you've come at last? Hero from another world?" Her words chimed like bells, exquisitely beautiful, and yet overwhelming my senses in a chaotic and confusing manner. But as the ripples of the void calmed, her voice seemed to come into focus, granting me a reprieve from its effects.
"Goddess!" I bowed my head, hoping that was the correct course of action. "F-Forgive me, if I've been too long."
"It's no matter. Perhaps I am only a little jealous that my brethren got to see their toys sooner than I could, though of course you couldn't help that, could you?"
"What do you mean?" I found myself asking without thinking.
"Well, you couldn't see my name in that…Mm, What do you call it? System," she put a finger to her lips as if savoring the word, "that Draugner made you all. My brethren don't like to acknowledge my existence after all. Honestly, if anything, your untimely death actually came sooner than I thought it would. You sure you're not valuing your life a little too lightly, little hero?"
"N-no, of course I'm. Or, well…It was a terrible mistake, on my part. I'll do my best to be more careful from here on out."
"Really?" the goddess played with some of the thin, shining cloth that draped her form. "Not going to go throw your life away again because you know you're undead now? You should know that even the undead have consequences for dying. After all, you should've noticed, right? That your power doesn't follow you after death?"
The level reset! I took a breath. So that's why I had gone back to level one after I died! I hadn't really questioned it too much, because I was just glad to be alive again, but now that I thought about it that made sense.
"I'll do my best, goddess," I bowed my head again. "Oh and, um, if I may, could I ask where I am currently?"
"You're in my divine dungeon in Alspred in the Lost Continent. Think of it as an incubator of sorts. After all, you're not the only undead servant I have in my employ. Pass the seven levels of the trials, and you should become strong enough to stand again in the light of day."
Alspred…I took a breath. I had no idea where that was, I hadn't even heard of the Lost Continent. I must be pretty far from that kingdom we all got summoned into…
"Godess," I began, a thought suddenly striking me. "Is my mission still to help fight the Demon King?"
"No, no," the goddess waved her hand, amused. "That was what the other gods summoned you all for. No, you were more like…scrap to them, an extra they didn't really have much use for, though I was more than happy to acquire you."
"Oh," my voice fell, as I realized the truth. They hadn't even wanted me enough to keep me… "Then what exactly do you expect from me?"
"You? Hmm… amusement, I suppose? Honestly you're free to do as you like, as long as you don't let those fools get their hands on you. Pass the trials, go out into the world then…find your own reason for living. If you really want some tasks, I suppose I could give them to you, but I'm far more interested in seeing what you make of this world, living among humans as a monster with a soul from another world. What will you make of it? What will you do in response to it? I find myself quite eager to see the results. As well as," she smirked, "what you make of my other surprise."
"Your…other surprise?"
"Yes, yes," the goddess smiled, changing the topic unashamedly, "speaking of which, as you're still quite unused to the combat of this world, and I'm eager to see your progress, I've decided to bestow upon you a companion to help you as you make your way through the trials."
"A companion?"
"Yes, she should be around here somewhere," she waved a finger in the air. "Rufi! You can come out now."