Chapter 16 - In the wake

"... When is he gonna wake up? I have been waiting for hours, you know. You said he did wake up after this 'Restructuring'. Why is he still asleep? He snores louder than a shadow mare horse, and mind you they..."

"COULD YOU JUST SHUT UP FOR A SINGLE SECOND!?" I shout as I reluctantly wake up rubbing my eyes which itched.

"Oh! Finally! HAHAHA! You actually woke up. I thought..."

"SHUT UP! YOU... you... who are you?", I ask to... this guy with a dissipating anger. He was tall and fair. He didn't look old, maybe in his teen... Like me. But there is this one singular and peculiar thing. He had heads... Focus on the 's'... 5 heads.

"Call me... I don't know... Whatever you prefer. But I am what you would know as 'God of Façades'. Nice to meet ya.", says he. He continues without letting me talk,"I know what you are gonna ask, so a brief introduction of me to you and the 'others'. I am the God of façades. Trickery, scamming, deception, pretence and all that. And I am here to invest in you as you are destined to 'grow' more. And it is really exciting to watch you, instead of just doing nothing, and being bored in this never ending life as a 'God'. Keep. Us. Entertained... Seems like my time has run out... Well, see ya later!" and with that.

[HE DISAPPEARED...] HYM says, affirming my statement. "What was he?" I have heard of him. God of façades. An eccentric minor god. But why is he here? Invest? Others?

[HOST RECEIVES BLESSING FROM GOD OF FAÇADE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO... <> OR <>]. Without hesitation, I say, "<>". I did not need to think twice. Though a minor god, he was as powerful as a major one. He once destroyed a universe according to some books I read at the library in that temple, church or whatever. He is a minor god only because he did not want to become a major one. A crazy man indeed, but his blessing would surely prove to be useful, later.

"Now with that out of the way...". I quickly start my self inspection. "First skin... Softer but still tougher than that of humans. Hair... Soft like humans, if not better. Mouth... Teeth... Sharp. Tongue... Human like. I have become... Higher Aether. HYM!"

[REQUEST RECEIVED... TELEPORTING {OUTSIDE}...], and with a whoosh, "Goodbye... Dungeon"

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I was teleported to the lush and green overworld. It had been over 2 months. Though for me, it felt like a four-day venture, even considering that I was asleep evolving 90% of the time in that dungeon, time passed slowly there for me. I guess being in a dull cave does mess up your perception of time. But for now I did like to mention the elephant in the room.

"I AM NAKED!" I exclaim.

[INDEED. HOST DOES APPEAR TO BE NAKED... DID THE HOST ALREADY FORGOTTEN WHAT JUST HAPPENED EARLIER? ALBEIT 50 DAYS AGO?]

HYM was right. It seems my clothes were torn and destroyed during my 'Altercation' with Loathe. *Bzzt*. Even saying its name sends a shiver down my spine. Well, what was over, is over. No thinking about it now. But I still will need to get some clothes.

I make small talks with HYM as I stroll around the wilderness surrounding the entrance of the dungeon. Seems like this was a major evolution. As you might have noticed... Or maybe you didn't. HYM seems to have gotten a much better vocabulary now. He seems to also have a tone. This makes me feel better, sort of... I guess. What should I say? It's like speaking with a companion now rather than a machine. As I continue to monologue in my own mind, which most probably is also being heard by HYM. My line of thought suddenly gets interrupted.

[CAUTION... BE ADVISED... 9 HUMANOID HOSTILES FOUND IN THE VICINITY.]