When Basil Bohen woke up, his world had changed.
The day started like the one where civilization first ended: with a black Bombay cat kneading his back and howling for breakfast.
Yeah yeah, gim a second, Basil grumbled as he rose out of bed. Plato imdiately bolted out of the room and towards the kitchen. So things never change.
After rubbing his tired eyelids, Basil strode out of the bedroom and moved on to the well-stocked kitchen. It felt like a lifeti ago since he last walked the rooms of Rens house. The Trimurti had rebuilt it from scratch, down to the very last brick. Basil could almost sll the nostalgia in the air.
He had grown weary of it.
Basil prepared breakfast behind his counter, the dim morning light falling through his window. A peaceful erald aurora glowed in the sky. It shed well with the greenery outside and soothed Basils heart.
There. Basil gave his cat a bowl of food. Be ready, our visitors will arrive at noon.
His cat nodded without a word and then quickly buried his nose into the food. Basil couldnt suppress a smile.
After taking a shower and stocking the last of his belongings into his inventoryexcept for his RenaultBasil patiently waited for his visitors to arrive. He sat on the threshold, sipping his coffee cup to the tune of birds signing across the marshes. He had almost forgotten how much he enjoyed the Barthes simple, natural beauty. He would miss it dearly.
A familiar black rcedes drove along the path leading to the house and stopped quietly by. The driver, a petite woman still wearing her gendar uniform, stepped down first. Her new boyfriend followed after her alongside his little daughter. He was an unassuming man with short red hair and glasses. His eyes darted around at the greenery, which he was clearly unused to.
It felt so strange to see Benjamin missing his horns and wings.
Welco to your new ho, Officer Elissalde. Basil warmly shook the drivers hand. Are these your companion and stepdaughter?
They arrived straight from Paris, Neria replied with a kind smile. She put a hand on the child following her. Co on Celia, say hello to Mr. Bohen.
Hello, the little girl said shyly. She looked so much like her father, with inquisitive eyes and short black hair. What level are you, Mister?
Celia! Neria scolded her. Thats not sothing you ask of strangers!
I do admit I am curious too. Benjamin examined Basil quietly, his eyes sharp as an eagles. I possess a Perk that allows to see soones classes and levels, but it says yours is too high to analyze. This is the first ti such thing has happened to .
Lets just say Ive gone through a lot of adventures in the past few months, Basil replied evasively. Im not a social person, so my cat and I had plenty of ti to do Quests.
Celias eyes lit up when he ntioned Plato. The Bombay cat erged from the house as if on cue, much to the childs delight. Hes so beautiful, she whispered before quickly scratching his ears. Plato, never one to miss an opportunity to be spoiled, let her touch him. Whats his na?
Plato, Basil answered, smirking. Hes quite the glutton, but he kept safe in troubled tis.
Plato glared at him in silence while basking in Celias adoration.
The last few months have been strange for us all, Neria said. Im still not used to the System, nor the fact a dungeon sprang up so close to Dax of all places.
Benjamin nodded sharply. Its been over six months since the System appeared, and we still understand little of it.
If only he knew he helped design it once, Basil mused. Neria told you ca here to study the Barthes dungeon?
The French head of the European Dungeon Managent Agency, General Leblanc, personally assigned to monitor this place. Benjamin smiled at his girlfriend. Though I suspect he mostly transferred there so that I might settle with Neria.
Thankfully, I knew a few friends in Bordeaux who have the Generals ear, Neria replied coyly. Your sale offer ca in the nick of ti, Mr. Bohen. It felt like fate at work.
Is that so? Basil mused. Well, youll find no closer place to the dungeon than this one.
What can you tell us of it? Benjamin asked, suddenly tense. He probably worried for his childs safety. Should we expect to raise a fence?
Basil shook his head. Most critters here are completely harmless, and the goblins are good neighbors so long as you respect their personal space. Theyll even let you explore the dungeons depths if you ask nicely.
Basil would never have expected to get along with the little bastards, but most monsters turned out to be quite friendly when not born with the instinctive urge to kill Players.
I put in a good word with the local tribe for your arrival, Basil said. Theyre fond of jerky, so I suggest introducing yourselves by inviting them to a feast for introductions. Once you do, youll beco part of the tribe in all but na.
Goblins? Celia asked, suddenly interested. Do they ride flying pigs? Ive heard they do that.
No, but they train horned rabbits, Basil replied with amusent. I keep a few in my backyard, if you want to pet one.
Celia imdiately lost interest in Plato, much to his annoyance. Can I go, Father?
I have no objection, her father replied calmly. Mr. Bohen can give us a tour of the house in the anti.
It would be my pleasure, Basil replied before inviting them inside. This way please.
The visit was short and to the point. While it pleased Basil to see Neria and Benjamin happy, their presence in the house left him unsettled.
It had been nearly four weeks since the Trimurti recreated the world, and Basil mostly spent them putting his affairs in order and checking on his old acquaintances.
As it turned out, these reincarnated people were strangers to him. They wore the sa face as the people he once knew, but retained neither their mories nor history. They kept similar mannerisms, enough to make Basil uneasy in their presence, but there were subtle differences in their behavior that betrayed the illusion. Sion led an adventurer guild in Bulgaria, one that earned fa for teaming up with dragons rather than killing them; General Leblanc managed the new agency in charge of dealing with System-related phenona; Benjamin t Neria years before the System appeared while on vacation and recently decided to move in with her.
As the Trimurti said, theyd all earned a new chance at a happy life, freed from their bitter past.
A pity Basil no longer fit in it. As far as Neria knew, they had only t a few weeks ago when she approached him about potentially buying his house.
Their battle-forged friendship now only existed in his mories.
I rember you saying you expected a fourth person? Basil asked as he showed Benjamin and Neria the guest room. He briefly peeked through the window to check on Celia, finding her playing with his horned rabbits under Platos watch. Will they be arriving soon?
Celias Tunisian penpal will spend the sumr with us, but she wont arrive before the months end, Benjamin replied with a groan. Her cat Misha has more levels than all of us combined.
At this rate, cats will reach level 30 before humans do, Neria said. The highest level recorded so far is 27.
Basil wondered how they would react if he revealed his true level. Level progression in the new Trimurti System was painfully slow, especially since experience gains had been divorced from the act of murder. Fighting provided experience, but the System saw no difference between a sports competition and a fight to the death. It rewarded increasing skills, not the act of shedding blood.
As a result, many people leveled up without ever eting a monster. Musicians gained experience playing their craft; gardeners raised happy vegetables that could talk to them; alchemists beca better at brewing dicine with each life saved. The idea that one could slaughter their way to godhood was relegated to the most condemned of conspiracy theories.
Neither had the appearance of dungeons caused society to collapse. Since they no longer felt the urge to kill for levels, many monsters were more than willing to coexist peacefully with humankind; while the army and police could handle those that remained hostile. Dungeon coresthe strange runestones that replaced Neurotowerswere an energy resource waiting to be exploited, as oil and uranium before them.
The appearance of dungeons was no longer a tragedy, but a change. Much like the industrial revolution altered the course of history, the System had beco sothing to seize rather than to suffer through. Europe, the USA, China all power blocks across the world not only survived its appearance, but studied how they could benefit from it.
So things wont change though, Basil thought. He had heard many officials discuss the Systems potential for warfare, how it would change the worlds power balance, and how crafter-made AI might one day take over the world. Even without Dis, fear and greed endure.
But Basil kept faith. He knew things would eventually improve. After all, mankind had bounced back from its own utter annihilation. The human spirit could overco even its darker nature, given ti.
Im quite surprised youre selling this house at all, Benjamin noted after completing the tour. The rune-powered generator in the basent particularly impressed him. You could earn three tis more than your current price.
Its not a question of money, Basil replied. This house belonged to a dear friend of mine. I wanted the new owners to treat it with the respect it deserves.
We will, Neria reassured him kindly. I promise you that your faith in us isnt misplaced. We will take good care of this house.
Basil smiled. I know.
How so? Benjamin asked with a frown. I appreciate the trust youve shown us, but you seem awfully confident.
Call it a gut feeling. But I assure you that I didnt make the decision lightly. Basil had seen these two at their best and worst; they would treat Rens legacy with respect. Im about to move sowhere far away, and I dont think Ill ever co back. This place carries mories dear to , and I wanted to entrust it to good people.
mories Nerias eyes wandered to the window and the brilliant aurora in the sky. Ive heard soone tell once that once a friend departs, all we have left are mories. It is through them that we maintain an eternal bond with the dead.
Basils smile faded away slightly. Yes, he replied to this forr friend, who returned from the dead, thats a nice way to say it. An eternal bond.
Afterward, Basil gave the couple a rundown on how to raise his poultry and rabbitsthough he had the feeling little Celia would do much of it herselfgave them the key, and departed the house. He drove away in his Renault with Plato occupying the seat next to him.
Basil gave the house one last glance on the way out, one without bitterness nor sorrow. He had already said goodbye to its first incarnation in another lifeti, after watching it burn away. Rens ho would enjoy a second life too, with a new guard kind enough to see it prosper. He hoped Neria and Benjamin could make happy mories of their own there.
Plato? Basil asked as they drove through the marsh.
What? his best friend answered.
How long do you intend to sulk?
Until the end of ti. The cat dropped the illusion he had clad himself in and revealed his true self: an adorable Rakshasa kitten, whose eyes were brimming with sadness and frustration. I was a smilodon, Basil! A sabertoothy tigergod of the hunt! This is unjust!
Artemis divine essence had to go back ho at so point, Basil pointed out. He was mourning his lost halberd, and had yet to choose another Soulbound Weapon to replace it with. Without Dis to keep them bound to Earth, the old gods of Olympus vanished after the Trimurti recreated Earth. Youre still the most powerful feline on the planet.
So strong, in fact, that he had to disguise himself as a normal cat so as not to spook the locals.
But Bugsy kept his wings! Why couldnt I keep my fangs? Plato started grooming himself to destress. No amount of saliva can lick away my suffering!
Your appearance doesnt matter to , Plato. Basil gently scratched his friend behind the ears. Youll always be a tiger king to .
It took much rubbing, but his gentle hand eventually won over Plato. Mmm your flattery does soothe my pain a bit. Please do it again, for the rest of your life.
Ill think about it, Basil mused.
The world may have changed, but their friendship had not.
We should find another god to take the essence from, Plato suggested, the sa way a child would suggest buying candy from a store. We must salvage this situation, Basil. For my sake. I deserve to beco a smilodon.
Yes, so things never changed.
The Renault trailed along the riverbank, before stopping next to an empty church. A graveyard on a mound oversaw the water below under the radiant sunlight. Bugsy was busy decorating the tombstones with a tasteful arrangent of flowers; each morial welcod its own unique combination of roses, tulips, sunflowers, and other colorful combinations. The wind blew their delicious sll all over the marsh, attracting fist-sized bees and phantom dragonflies.
Welco, Boss, Plato. Bugsy had lost his star-tail alongside Apollos essence, but miraculously kept his wings of fire. His loss of divine power hadnt diminished his enthusiasm in the slightest. How did the sale go?
Pretty good. Basil stored the Renault inside his inventory after he and Plato set foot outside it. This car was no replacent for Steve, but it would prove useful in the journey to co. Are you sure you dont want to say goodbye to the house before we leave?
Why, Boss? Bugsy pointed at a spot on his body, which Basil assud housed the heart. It will always be safe here.
You know, must you keep calling Basil Boss? Plato said joyfully. Flattery gets to his head.
Thats rich coming from you, Basil replied with a smirk. But hes not wrong, Bugsy. Youve saved my life and Earth along with it. We should make you the new boss.
Nah, Ill keep calling you Boss, Basil. Bugsy chuckled to himself. Im your friend and your subordinate both.
Funny, a familiar voice said from behind the Bohens. Hagen told the sa once.
It didnt surprise Basil that Walter Tye could sneak up on a level ninety-six party without being detected. The dragonknight looked over his shoulder to find his favorite shopkeeper standing behind him, his arms crossed with a thoughtful look on his face.
These gods of yours could have done more to reward you, he said with a snort. Though I will admit raising eight billion souls from the dead is quite the laudable feat. Not to ntion rebuilding an entire reality from scratch.
Could you have done it, oh arrogant necromancer? Plato asked mirthfully.
Walter Tye frowned in annoyance, but he was proud enough not to lie. I admit such display of power is beyond at least for now. I am convinced mortals can surpass the gods given enough ti.
We know they can beco gods at least, Basil replied. The implications of Walter Tyes presence worried him a bit. If youre here, I assu there is no Level Barrier to keep you out of Earth?
There is a barrier, but I figured out a way around it. I am an archmage after all. Walter smiled thinly. Dont fret, Basil. Your world has powerful defenders, who will make sure no wandering terror threatens it.
Such as you? Plato asked with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Did you mistake for an ungrateful wretch, young feline? Walter shrugged. Your lot saved my world and many others from disaster. Should you find yourself in need of shelter, you will always find sanctuary with . I assu many share this sentint across the cosmos.
Basil nodded in thankfulness. After shouldering the weight of a world on his shoulders, it felt good to have friends willing to help share the burden. With the likes of Vainqueur and Walter watching over the newborn Earth from afar, no new Maleking would ever despoil it again.
As for Dis, its complete destruction ant that Maxwells kind would not return to sow tragedies across the cosmos. The Systems touched by the abomination purged it in the wake of the Trimurtis return to power. Blackcinders, Wyrde, the Maleking, the Horsen all of these villains did not return from the dead either, their souls having beco the mortar of the reborn Earth.
Much like its victims, nothing remained of Dis legacy but mories. And that was for the best.
Although remnants of both the Apocalypse Force and the Unity remain afoot. Walters smile turned into a scowl. I doubt theyll amount to much with their leadership decapitated, but even the smallest weeds can overrun a garden if left unattended.
Well go after them, Bugsy replied with a sharp, decisive nod. Ronald and the rest of our Guild are waiting for us in Outremonde to begin the hunt.
Well wipe out these factions and ensure they wont make a coback, Basil confird. Well nip the Malekings would-be heirs in the bud.
And what will you do afterward? Walter asked, an eyebrow raised. Settle in your girlfriends howorld?
Never! Plato snarled. I shall not stand a world where barbarians eat my kind for breakfast!
Well keep visiting Vasis family on holidays, but weve decided to build a ho sowhere else, Basil said as he prayed for the dead. The multiverse is a vast place. There has to be a world that satisfies us all.
A dozen tombstones were erected in the yard. One belonged to Ren; and another, to Basils mother Aleksandra. Her presence there surprised Basil; he assud this new reality followed a different history than the one it overwrote. Celia being alive in this reality, although her original self had perished long before the System appeared, only confird it to him. Perhaps Aleksandra had enjoyed a better relationship with her son and ca to live with him before passing on from natural causes.
He wasnt too interested in learning more. This new world was as foreign to Basil as Outremonde. He simply no longer fit in.
It didnt bother Basil much. His team was his ho. He could settle in the very depths of Hell, so long as he had them by his side. The knowledge his human friends would live happy lives soothed his heart.
Other tombstones contained no corpses, yet honored the dead nonetheless. Basil prayed before each of them, with Plato, Bugsy, and Walter watching in solemn silence. The words engraved on the stony surface would remain for future generations.
Shellgirl2022-2023She always gave joy for free.Rosemarine Eglantine de la Barthe2022-2023She ate the moon and spat out the sun.Steve Roadwonders2022-2023A Bohen until the very end.
Perhaps they were alive out there, in a reincarnated form. Basil hoped so. The Trimurti told him that death was not quite the end, and he had faced enough undead to give their word credence.
Well et them again soday, Boss, Bugsy said with certainty. I can feel it in my gut.
We will, Plato confird. Do you rember when we t Ren again, Basil?
I do, he replied. One day, we will all end up in the sa place again.
It is only a matter of years before this worlds humans develop portal magic of their own, Walter pointed out. I wonder if so will figure out how much you sacrificed for their sake.
Basil shrugged. I dont care if they do.
Basil never wanted to beco an Overgod nor to be worshiped as a hero; he only wanted to get the job done and then live the rest of his life in peace. He had achieved half of this goal and would work hard to complete the other.
Well, I do. Plato licked his fur. They owe us a statue or two.
Oh, Little Nessia said her people intend to build us one! Bugsy chirped happily. I cant wait to see her again!
Plato was imdiately interested. Perhaps we should settle in the Sunsea. Ive heard the weather is nice, and they worship winged cats.
Little Nessia should never have ntioned that sphinx demigoddess in Platos presence. It sowed the seed of future disasters.
Youre also welco to visit my world when you wish it to, Walter said. I have big plans, and adventurers of your caliber would help make them a reality.
Platos head perked up in interest. Do you have more gods to hunt?
Not quite, Walter replied, much to the felines disappointnt. But Ive told you that I wandered the multiverse looking for a way to save my world from entropy. The way you brought your own back from the brink only strengthened my resolve.
Visiting Walters world wasnt high among the teams priorities, but Basil guessed they could give it a shot. He wouldnt turn down people in need. We could stop there after the Sunsea, he said, Im sure Vasi would enjoy reading through your magical library.
Where is she by the way? Walter asked with a frown. Already in Outremonde?
Basil raised an eyebrow in surprise. Shouldnt you read our minds to find out?
I cant do that anymore. Walter chuckled darkly. Youre only three levels behind , Basil. I would need to break down your minds door, and even then Im not sure I would succeed.
Good to know, Basil replied, quite pleased. He didnt like having anyone inside his head. Im still four levels away from completing Technomancer.
Basil wondered what would happen if he were to reach level 100 now. Would he ascend to godhood? Or would he ascend to another world with greater dangers and adventures to offer, as Victor Dalton once suggested to him long ago?
I wouldnt worry too much, Walter said with a smirk. At your current power, it might be years before you gain a level, let alone four.
I thought you couldnt read minds anymore?
I cant, Basil, but you remain an open book. The necromancer looked to his left, right as a rift in space opened. A familiar fairy stepped through it. Vasi, here you are.
Walter, have you co to escort us? Vasi rejoined her boyfriend and kissed him on the lip. She alone hadnt changed in the slightest, as no divine essence from Earth powered her. Sorry to have kept you waiting.
I would wait forever for you, Basil joked. His girlfriend answered with a short laugh. But I do wonder, what took you so long?
I went to check on Sion in Bucharest and got sidetracked, Vasi replied. The Swords of Saint-George are doing great, by the way.
Good for them. It pleased Basil to know his holand would be in the hands of great and capable adventurers. I should tell Bulgaria goodbye next.
I was about to suggest we make a stop in Shun. Vasi grinned ear to ear. You wont believe what awaits us there.
Oh? Basil couldnt suppress his curiosity. Lead the way then.
Are you coming with us, Mr. Tye? Bugsy asked.
I will take my leave, Walter replied calmly. I have the feeling we will et again soon.
Vasi put her hands on her waist. So long as it doesnt involve B&C gas.
Walters smirk widened further. I was about to suggest Monster Poker.
Whatever the ga, I will take you on with all my might, Basil boasted.
Vasi rolled her eyes. Thats what Im afraid of.
I shall await your challenge then, Basil. Walter saluted them with a short reverence; a small gesture that, coming from soone so proud and powerful, ant a great deal indeed. We shall et again, my friends.
He vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving the Bohens alone.
I dont know if it's just , Vasi said with a coy smile. But he sounds nicer than before.
I think he is. Basil chuckled. Even the living dead could warm up to others, I suppose.
I should learn to teleport too, Plato said as he stepped first through the portal. It would work wonders for dramatic exits.
Just turn invisible, Basil replied. He crossed the rift and froze upon facing what awaited him on the other side.
Once a small tropolis amidst broken hills, Shun had changed quite a great deal with the worlds rebirth. The Founders of the Bulgarian State Monunt stood tall over a vast jungle that swallowed houses and buildings alike. A primordial forest had grown in symbiosis with the city, covering concrete towers in protective moss, raising rows of trees along the road, and causing vines stairs to link elevated wooden houses together. Shun had beco a land where nature and civilization intermingled together into a cohesive, peaceful lot.
A field of familiar plants stretched before the Bohens in the middle of what must have been a park. A hundred mouths salivated at their coming, chirping in joy.
Oh, a Mister! A carnivorous plant observed Basil head to toe, her maw many shades of gold, her leaves shining like eralds. Welco, welco!
Who is this Mister? another plant asked. She looked almost identical to the first, albeit younger and not yet fully grown. He is so tall!
Basils heart skipped a beat in his chest as a small horde of tiny monsters no larger than Plato gathered around his team. Small vine legs carried them out of the ground. So wore ribbons, others rosy bow ties.
Basil had to hold back tears when his Monster Insight sent him a notification.
KillaplantsLevel 2 [Plant]
A hundred baby Rosemarines had co to greet the Bohens.
Thats a big bug! one of the Killaplants said upon noticing an astonished Bugsy. When Im grown, Ill beco as fearso as he is!
Mister, can I eat your shoes? One of the plants tugged Basils sleeve, saliva dripping from her mouth. Im hungry!
Basil, unable to resist such beautiful greenery, tossed his shoes to the Killaplants. They promptly caught the treat in midair within their jaws and chewed them whole.
I cant believe it Plato was at a loss for words. Even the unflappable cat knew not how to respond to this strange turn of events. How how is this possible?
This this is the place. Bugsy glanced around, his eyes widening in joy. After Blackcinders destroyed Shun, Rose she sowed the seeds of a forest over the ruins.
Could one of them be Rosemarine reborn? Basil wondered as he observed this beautiful, talking garden. If so, then Shellgirl and the others Are they out there sowhere, waiting for us?
Its what Vishnu said, Vasi whispered. The dead may be gone, but their feelings remain.
The good people left behind lived long after them.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The words echoed in Basils head, both an encouragent and a sermon. He rembered his battle with the Maleking, the warmth that spurred him to carry on the fight, and he finally figured out his answer.
I think I understand now, Basil whispered. Its faith.
Faith? Vasi squinted at him in her confusion. In your God?
This is the answer to the Malekings question. About the source of my strength. Basil had mulled long and hard over this conundrum. Everyone puts his faith in sothing. So believe in themselves, or their skills. Others trust in luck, in magic, in money, or science.
But at their core, all of these beliefs share the sa root, Plato guessed.
Yes, they do. Basil looked up at the sky, where the sun and moon both shone brightly. No fake stars nor circuit marred the heavens beauty. To have faith is to believe that there is sothing out there that can make life better. That you can find happiness.
And that was why Basil first gave a centipede a second chance after they tried to slay him; why he had let Rosemarine, Shellgirl, and Vasi into his life; why he had spared Benjamin in spite of all his cris.
Because Basil thought things would turn out for the better. Because he had faith in the future.
And as he watched the sun illuminate a reborn Shun teeming with life, Basil knew that both this world and his party had many happy days ahead of them.
The Bohens ti on Earth had ended.
But their journey had only just begun.
Link: /fiction/69923/comrce-emperor/chapter/1243154/prologue-the-rchant-hero
I hope you will enjoy this story as much as Tar, if not more; the other, Blood & Fur, will be released a bit later.
Once again, thank you for everything, and see you around!
Best regards,
Voidy.
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