"You hold the key jack anderson, make me proud." Hades words echoed throughout the dark space with authority. Many thoughts crossed through Jack's head, flying fast in the space. None of this felt real to him in the slightest, yet here he was.
Soon an opening could be seen at the end of this vast empty space, with jack's body passing through. His eyes widened in shock as this was really not Agathe or harum city, but an entirely different place.
'Where am I?' He wondered getting up scanning the area. He could see he was transported to a vast land, with rocky plains without green pastures. Instead replaced with charred black floors, that got too hot once you stood in a particular position for long.
"Talk of frying pan to fire." Jack rolled his eyes. He'd thought the air in Agathe was bad, but this was much worse. The air was thin, giving him work to breathe properly by exerting his lungs.
'What's that smell?' Jack wondered, his nostrils assaulted by a foreign smell. It smelled like lavender mixed with a strange ionic toxic scent.
"I would've probably been dead by now if I wasn't an undead." Jack joked, as this wasn't an environment a normal human being could survive. It was harsh for him and he was an undead, not to mention a weak human.
'What happened to the sun?' Looking up, he couldn't see a sun present in the gloomy dark clouds. Which made him wonder how this place was lit enough to see.
[As an undead hosts vision has been advanced.] the system voice sounded in his head to which he nodded.
"So, any thoughts were we are?"He asked gazing around for any signs of life.
[Negative. My records are oblivious to hades tactics.] The system responded in it's usual monotone voice.
'Well that's helpful.' Jack shrugged with a frown.
"Somehow.. he just manages to make me hate him each time we meat." Jack wasn't a huge fan of the paranormal activities. Hell! He didn't believe like any human few days ago. But now he was dragged against his will, by a delusional god of the underworld?
'My life just keeps getting better and better.' Shaking his head he let out a weak sigh. His mind still pondering on hades words, but he chose to make use of the present. And focus on the past later.
[My scanner indicates a small town just some few meters east.] the system said to which jack nodded. Walking his stomach grumbled in uproar, as it hadn't been fed in some days.
'System how long can I really last without food?' Jack inwardly asked to kill time, but also to get an answer to the question that'd been on his mind.
[Well that depends on the host. Most undeads usually last days or weeks depending on their state. Usually, they feed on flesh which provides a substantial burst of nutrient than normal food, so they don't require to feed for a while.] The system calmly spoke to which jack listened, trying his best to gain as much information as he could about his class.
[But in your case.. I'd say you have about an hour, before your body shuts down from lack of food] the system warned making jack gulp a bit.
'Why does it feel like you're constantly trying to kill me?' A crazed smile was plastered on jack's face.
[Negative! The end of host is also the end of me which wouldn't be beneficial to any of us.] The system stated in an annoyed tone.
Bickering for a while, it took close to an hour before jack reached the small town.
It was comprised of small hut like houses, with several ones made from bricks and grass.
'Which species live here?' Jack wondered, amazed at the poor architecture of the houses. Agathe was the lowest in basically everything. Building, food, transportation you name it. But it wasn't anything compared to this place.
[My senses are picking up a mix of fox people, orcs, goblins, and cyclops. There are also some hybrids between some species.] The system informed jack.
"I can't believe it.. this feels just like a fantasy novel." Jack smiled. It still felt strange to him, like it was too good to be true. Just some days ago it was just stories and myths, but now he was about living it.
Entering the small town he could see it with his two eyes. Some few humanoid fox men and women with brown fur, and a single tail sticking out their back. And surprisingly they were putting on clothes, made from sacks and a strange type of material.
"Shakur par das mun." An orc grinned in a mocking tone staring at jack. It was short for an orc about 5ft8, with hideous grey skin and some blisters on one side of it's neck.
Shrugging jack ignored the awkward stares directed at him. He was used to it, and he wasn't intimidated at all by their aura's.
[Take a right turn, there should be a local canteen in front. You can get a decent meal there.]
Nodding jack reached a two way junction, taking the right turn as instructed by his system. There were several buildings here, but it wasn't the one his system specified. Walking some more minutes he finally reached the end of this path, as there was a single brick building in front.
[That's it.] the system stated. Approaching it, the building wasn't in the best of conditions. but still preferably to the one's jack had passed. Not only was it a bit spacious than the rest, but was in better quality too. There were some few dents and holes but it didn't matter.
The door was made out of wood, not just any normal wood but a unique type of foreign wood. Pushing it backwards he proceeded into the building. His eyes immediately befalling on the crowds of fictional beasts, in tales and books. Eating and dinning without a care in the world.
'Nothing weird here.' Forcing a light smile jack proceeded towards the counter in front. There were some orcs and foxes that glanced at him, but quickly averted their gazes.
'Weird.. this wasn't what I expected.' Barging in jack had expected a full staredown. He was new here, as he could tell he might be the only one of his kind in this town. And he was technically intruding their town, so he expected more.
[The host has got to stop using his same human mentality here. I don't expect much from 09 intelligence, but it's still belittling.This is a town comprising of several mythological creatures in stories. As an undead you are technically like them, so there is nothing significant or unique about host.] The system spoke in an uplifting tone.
'Thanks I feel really motivated.' Jack sarcastically retorded.
"Grumble!' He held his grumbling stomach demanding to be fed this instant. Taking an empty seat by the corner, jack wanted to avoid as much attention as possible.
Soon a towering cyclops with orange skin, about 7ft tall wearing a black apron stained with blood approached jack.
"Goram sircl gash." The cyclops spoke in a deep unknown language.
'Why can't I understand him system?' Jack frowned, not understanding what the cyclop said.
[Due to host not having an ability for all languages, I'll be your means of interpretation for now.] The system said relieving jack a bit. He'd thought all creatures like him spoke english, but unfortunately he was terribly wrong.
[She asked what would you like to order stranger?] The system intepreted making Jack's eyes widen a bit.
'It said all that in three words? And wait, it's a she?'
[Yes, can't you tell?]
'Are you kidding me? How in the world can you tell a female cyclops apart from the male?' Jack frowned seeing no difference or female characteristics.
[All female cyclops emit a bad scent of strange blood flow from their cycle.]
'I-i didn't know they did those.' Jack's pupil contradicted at this shocking revelation.
"Goram sircl gash." The cyclops spoke again in a more annoyed tone, snapping jack from his lecture.
"I would like to order some steak with something to drink." Jack politely said. He didn't know what was sold here, as there wasn't a menu. But he ordered the plausible dish they could have here, considering their carnivorous nature.
"Stalki?" The cyclops raised it's only brow in confusion.
"Ehhm yes, steak." Jack awkwardly replied. Nodding the cyclops then left, leaving jack alone for some while. His gaze would occasionally meet with some of the other species present here. But it wasn't anything that spelled danger, instead a more inquisitive stare.
After some few minutes, the female cyclops returned with a wooden tray in her clutch.
"Darum chaka." She said dropping the item on the counter before jack. Turning around and leaving.
"What the-* jack was stunned seeing raw meat with blood stains on it.
[Interesting.. Apparently stalki means lamb meat in cyclops language.]
'I can't possibly eat this.' Jack frowned.
[Why? You're an undead remember? You'll be required to consume flesh soon, so might as well try it] the system retorded in logical tone.
'Fine." Jack shrugged giving in. There was nothing he could do, and he didn't really have a choice. Placing a piece of meat in his mouth he chewed. The ionic taste of blood assaulted his taste buds, accompanied by the tender lamb meat.
'It's not that bad.' Jack thought. It tasted awful for the first time, but after a while it was surprisingly good in his mouth.
"Yum! yum! yum." Like a savage animal, jack shoved piece after piece of meat into his mouth. He'd gotten used to the tender sensation, and exquisite taste of raw lamb meat.
"That was amazing." Jack smiled finishing the meal. Getting up he was about leaving, having finished drowned his hunger. But stopped in his tracks hearing the female cyclops voice.
"Fen dias?" She questioned, her hand stretched out with a frown etched on her face.
'What does she mean system?' Jack asked perplexed.
[Oops.. it might've been excluded from my database they use a currency here.] the system awkwardly chuckled making Jack's face go pale.
"A-are you kidding me!?"