/----/
With a pounding heart, I descended the hill I had previously climbed to explore this place using the drone. With each step on the hard ground, the shadow of the worship altar and totems seen from the drone images still haunted my mind. I never imagined that I would find remnants of civilization in a place like this.
"I never expected to find something like this here," I muttered, my soft voice slipping through the gentle breeze sweeping the hill.
My steps quickened as my eagerness to get a closer look at what the drone had discovered grew. My mind drifted to the past, trying to imagine the lives of the people who once inhabited this place. This fantasy world brought new surprises every day, and I had to be ready to accept them all.
After walking along the hillside for half an hour, I finally arrived at the location where my drone had been. With a curious heart, I observed it closely, trying to understand the significance of this surprising find.
"This—"
With a sense of wonder filling my heart, I observed the remnants of civilization in this forest. The sturdy totems gave off a strong impression, and for some reason, I felt warmth emanating from them, as if conveying stories from the past.
My steps slowed as I approached the altar in the midst of the ancient ruins. Carefully, I examined every detail around me, trying to grasp the meaning behind this old structure.
On the floor of the altar lay a series of ancient words forming a circle, gracefully surrounding the altar. I pondered for a moment, trying to read and understand the meaning of each letter carved neatly.
"Two fascinating discoveries," I murmured to myself, reaching out to touch the rough surface of the ruined floor. "These words are so mysterious, as if holding secrets yet to be revealed."
My eyes turned to the towering totems. The faces carved into the wood gazed toward the sky, as if staring from the past with meaningful looks. "Is this a representation of the deity worshipped by the ancient civilization?"
With cautious steps, I climbed onto the highest altar, trying to delve deeper into the meaning of everything I encountered. My thoughts drifted to the magical uniform always present in my inventory, holding extraordinary powers that might help uncover the mysteries of this place. Without hesitation, I took out the uniform and put it on.
In an instant, the atmosphere around me changed drastically after I put on the uniform. The air felt tense, and the surroundings seemed to shimmer with unusual light. My heart raced, sensing a presence that was intangible yet powerful.
"What is happening here?" I muttered in confusion, my eyes taking in every corner of the now mysteriously charged altar.
Meanwhile, a sense of alertness crept over me, warning that something unexpected was about to happen. And indeed, just as I suspected, it happened.
Among the towering totems, the largest one stood out. White smoke began to emerge from the totem, forming a humanoid figure hovering in the air. The figure appeared abstract, making it difficult to determine whether it was male or female.
"At last, someone I've been waiting for is here—"
The echoing voice in my head startled me. Its meaning was hard to grasp, but the presence of the figure made me feel wary.
/----/
There was no fear in Takeru's gaze as he faced the true form of the totem. With determination, he adjusted his posture and stood tall facing the figure that might be a deity.
"With all due respect, forgive my rashness, Sir. What do you mean?" Takeru spoke politely, showing the appropriate demeanor in such a situation.
"Hohoho~... An interesting wanderer," came the reply with a soft chuckle. "Alright, without further ado, I'll speak seriously."
Takeru felt his heartbeat quicken as he heard the unfamiliar voice. He remained standing tall, but his anxiety began to creep in. His eyes watched every movement of the ethereal figure before him, trying to read the intentions behind its gentle laughter. Despite trying to contain his tension, Takeru couldn't shake off the unease creeping inside him.
The reason Takeru could restrain himself like this was because the figure in front of him exuded an aura so strong, something unreachable by ordinary humans. Roughly calculating, Takeru could conclude that the figure before him was a deity worshipped by the ancient civilization of this place.
"Indeed, the right thought," it spoke with a thin melodic voice.
Takeru was taken aback, almost losing his balance. A feeling of unease began to seep into his mind, realizing that this creature might be able to read his thoughts.
"It's a bit rough, but I understand..."
Takeru was sure that if he chose the wrong words or thought of something bad, he wouldn't be able to escape this place. "W-Well, but what makes you approach me, a lowly one like myself?" Knowing its identity already, Takeru tried to humble himself before the figure, even if it meant demeaning himself. He realized that being arrogant was not a wise choice at this moment.
"Well~... That's something you shouldn't know for now. Alright~ let me explain. I am the origin of both destruction and peace. In the past, I had a name, but now nothing remains but the title that never fades. I am the god of destruction and peace," it said with a tone that grew increasingly surprising.
'God of destruction and peace?' Takeru thought, digesting the information carefully.
"Yeah~... I haven't received divinity from mortal beings for a long time. Maybe you don't know, but this is similar to the worship conducted by humans," it explained.
Takeru nodded, understanding the analogy. Just like in his world, people with beliefs would visit sacred places to seek blessings from the deity they worshipped. From what he saw, the god before him seemed to have been alone for a long time.
"However, destruction is something that every civilization will inevitably experience, and peace can be achieved by a civilization after experiencing destruction. It's such a shame that gods like me have been forgotten so easily," the god continued with a tone of sadness.
Takeru pondered for a moment, digesting the god's words carefully. Then, he realized the profound implications of what the god said.
"So, you think, god of destruction and peace, your actual role is to help civilizations go through the cycle of destruction and peace?" Takeru asked, trying to understand more deeply.