Chapter 8 - God's Return

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500th Year of the Siverra Calendar

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The grand temple was nestled in the heart of the city, its pristine white walls gleaming under the scorching sun. From afar, it looked like a celestial fortress, towering over the surrounding buildings. As one approached the temple, the sounds of chanting priests became more and more distinct, their voices echoing through the streets.

Inside the temple, a vast sea of white-robed priests knelt in prayer. The temple was alive with the flickering of candles and the scent of burning incense. The air was thick with a sense of reverence and awe. The glow emanating from the temple was almost otherworldly, as if it was infused with the divine presence.

Suddenly, a great cry erupted from the priests, their voices rising in unison. "Our god is amongst us once more! We have not been forsaken, we are unworthy!" they chanted, tears streaming down their faces.

Outside the temple, the kingdoms of the world had received the news of the divine's return, and all wars came to an immediate halt. It was as if the whole world had taken a collective breath, waiting to see what would happen next. The divine's return had shaken the foundations of society, instilling a sense of hope and fear in equal measure.

The mere thought of angering this god sent shivers down the spines of even the most ruthless kings and generals. Everyone knew that if they made a wrong move, it could lead to their utter destruction. At the same time, the promise of the divine's favor was too great to ignore. For those who managed to earn the god's favor, the rewards were beyond their wildest dreams.

In the days that followed, the temple became a hub of activity, with countless people flocking to offer their prayers and seek the divine's blessing. The glow of the temple grew brighter and brighter, its light spreading far and wide, a beacon of hope for all who saw it. The world had been changed forever, and nobody knew what the future held, but everyone could feel that something extraordinary was unfolding before their eyes.

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Siverra POV

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The skeleton materialized in a small, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the musty smell of old parchment and mildew. Dusty books and scrolls were scattered all over the room, and the only source of light came from a flickering candle on a rickety wooden desk. The skeleton, dressed in his tattered robes, stood tall and regal in the midst of this cluttered environment.

He closed his empty eye sockets, and took a deep breath, letting his senses expand beyond the physical world. He could feel the vibrations of the kingdom, the sound of footsteps echoing in the halls, the pulse of magic emanating from every corner. He focused on the energy of the Crocoplants, feeling their presence in the nearby forest.

Without hesitation, he teleported himself to the heart of the forest. He emerged in a clearing, surrounded by towering trees and lush greenery. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting a warm glow on the ground. And there they were, the Crocoplants, a strange hybrid of crocodile and plant. They stood about six feet tall, with large, serrated teeth and sharp, spiky leaves.

The skeleton approached them cautiously, trying to appear non-threatening. He held out his hand, and the Crocoplants sniffed at it curiously. He could feel their primitive minds, filled with a hunger for sunlight and water. But there was something else there too, an intelligence waiting to be awakened.

"I have a proposal for you," the skeleton said, speaking directly into their minds. "I want to create an empire of your kind in my world. I will provide you with everything you need to thrive and evolve, and in return, you will become my loyal army."

The Crocoplants seemed to consider his offer, their eyes flickering with an unknown emotion. The skeleton continued, "I will train you in combat and strategy, and together, we will conquer new lands and achieve greatness. But first, I need your cooperation. I will have you bred and trained, and in time, you will be able to communicate with me and create a civilization."

The Crocoplants hissed and growled, their voices a jumble of animalistic noises. But the skeleton could sense their agreement, and he smiled to himself. He had found his future army.

The skeleton then teleported to the King's Room in the Kingdom Romantica. "King.. King!" it telepathically called out to the King.

The King looked up from his desk, surrounded by piles of parchment and scrolls, to see the skeleton before him. The room was dimly lit by flickering candles, casting shadows across the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of musty old books and the faint aroma of lavender.

The King was a scrawny man, with sunken eyes and bony fingers. He didn't look intimidating at all, and it was clear that he was struggling to keep his kingdom afloat. The kingdom had slowly fallen into despair due to their wrongful accusation of a blasphemous princess that was executed when there was an arranged marriage contract.

"Yes, your holiness!" the King shouted, bowing down to the skeleton as he felt its immense presence that could crush him like a bug.

"King.. I have plans for your kingdom.. You must complete this quest and I will assist your kingdom." The skeleton spoke telepathically to the King, causing his eyes to well up with tears.

"Anything you need, I will do!" the King exclaimed, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Good.. you are to attempt to capture and domesticate a breed of monster. The description will appear in your head.. You are to then do anything to increase its intelligence throughout the generations." The skeleton gave the King his task.

"Yes, my god!" the King screamed out, his voice echoing off the walls.

"Good.. Here, take this." An unknown odd-looking sword appeared in the skeleton's hand, as well as many sacks of gold.

The King understood the value of the gold and immediately stowed it away in his treasury. As for the sword, he knew that it must hold some sort of secret power, so he kept it hidden.

"I knew the sword must have secrets," the King thought to himself.

The King knew that he had been given a great responsibility, and he was determined to succeed at all costs.

'Good, now everything will be done without me lifting a finger. I can just focus on the real world for a while until they are done evolving my little Crocoplants. They seem pretty strong, eating anything in sight. An alliance would be useful..'