Michael doesn't know how much time passes like this, simply existing in the abyss waiting for something to happen... After a while, even with the sheer apathy forcing his soul into subservience, he makes the first move.
"Wha-" before he can even really start talking the being's eyes flash, their future completed conversation crashing its way into Michael's memories.
Everything he wanted to ask had already been revealed, the conversation itself was not one of words, but telepathically sent concepts that roughly explained the being's goals and overall existence.
This, was the Dead God. Its history was vast and complicated, but it rather easily boiled down to a few simple-to-understand events.
Long, long ago is the universe where 'Dota 2' supposedly took place, lived a mortal husband and wife. They had recently gotten married but it hadn't gone as either had wished... The Lord of their land at the time subscribed to the 'Right of First Night', allowing him to bed the wife despite the husband's wishes to the contrary.
So horrified and enraged by the event, when his wife fell pregnant with his son he refused to acknowledge the boy. Once it was born, the man flattened its head against a wall and carried it to the top of a nearby mountain that overlooked a seemingly bottomless pit.
The husband dropped the dead baby, ignorant of the fact that the baby lived on, and was well aware of the things happening around it... The baby had possessed the destiny of a great hero, and was fated to become one of the most powerful people in existence, makings its soul so strong that it resisted death, even as fate itself broke.
The babe fell into the abyss, and fell, and fell, until its mangled body splattered against a glowing green stone... Fate, unaccepting of the future hero's death, forced it to live, causing the body to drain the green stone dry, and causing green fiery to consume everything.
It spread far and wide in the catacombs under the surface of the world, creating a place called 'The Nether Reaches', which housed constantly burning corrupted green flames, which stole beings and breathed its own facsimile of life into them...
The baby grew, the flames eternally burning its flesh but unable to kill it. It wished for death but hoped better days would come. Eventually, the baby, now-turned man, clambered out of the abyss and tried to live on the surface, not knowing the language or anything about the customs of any country.
This proved to be his downfall, his immortality was soon discovered, and the man became the lab experiment of every country that got its hands on him. Countries conquered countries, each swapping ownership of the man, and unfortunately, one day they'd prodded too hard.
The man let out a scream that encapsulated the entirety of his wretched existence, accidentally imbuing the concept of Nihilism into his voice. So seductive it was, the very dead raised to bring about the end of existence.
The man, a blank canvas of hate and utter despair, didn't luxuriate in his newfound power, instead, deciding to put an absolute end to things. To free not only himself from existence, but every other being.
He developed his 'Nihilosophy' further, bringing his mastery of it up so far that even a whisper of it could turn a city's worth of corpses to life and to his service. Even gods weren't saved from this, his wretched magic weakening them enough for his undead armies to destroy them... Then he absorbed their divinities into himself after corrupting them to his cause.
Villages fell first, then Cities, then Nations, then Continents... Then, the world. After consuming after being on the planet, gods included, he turned his attention to the strongest beings in existence... The Ancients.
The Ancients themselves were corruptive influences too, the Radiant exuding Order and Intelligence, brainwashing and turning any creature that came into its vicinity into vessels that embodied these.
The Dire was similar, except it used Chaos and Strength.
There was also a third Ancient which was far weaker than the others, but it spent all of its power to try and control its brothers to stop the from destroying reality in their conflict.
The Dead God first devoured the third ancient. Then the other two, corrupting the concepts they ruled and adding to his own of Death and ultimate Nihilism.
Devouring the rest of reality was not difficult... But after that, there was nothing... Just the abyss.
In his efforts to bring about the end, he'd become too powerful for his existence to ever be extinguished...
So the Dead God spent countless years waiting in the abyss... Until it eventually thought of something else. Other realities.
Due to him devouring the entirety of his own reality, he was intricately linked with the abyss he'd created, completely unable to leave it, or exert any power upon other realities. So, he shrank the totality of everything into a single book, one that would join with a weak being in another universe and slowly gift them his Nihilosophy.
This, is how Michael acquired the book. And why he was in his current state, the Dead God's Nihilosophy changing his mentality to match it, so he would carry on the being's goal towards the end of all.
Michael wasn't linked to any reality, and his experience with Void Mages had allowed him to move to any reality he wished... He had become what the Dead God sought, a vehicle to gift his power to those he himself couldn't reach.
Michael blinks as he processes the conversation, his face contorting into a slight frown as he gives his first reaction since Megumin and Saya's fight. He didn't need to ask why he'd been chosen as the Dead God had already answered... He hadn't, the target was random and only required the victim to be weak...
It didn't matter if the holder wouldn't die from battle, old age would eventually take them, again and again, and again, allowing Nihilosophy to take hold after however long it took.
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...
Despite how far Michael had been converted, he didn't actually agree with the Dead God's vision... It'd been shown in his original universe, once reality had ended, he would be left alone to exist. Like some twisted reverse Nihilism.
The Dead God had ended all of existence seeking the end, only to be the only one left existing. And this was the fate that awaited Michael should he do as the Dead God wished.
Michael communicated this, but the Dead God didn't stir at all. As if uncaring that its goal would ultimately be pointless. It may free every other being from 'existence' but that fate was denied to itself.
His argument doesn't sway the being, it'd lived too long knowing this to care anymore. Indeed, Michael felt that it was using itself like a sacrificial lamb at this point... It was a terrible existence, and the chance of that becoming his own fate made something rise from within Michael...
'Unable, Longing, Peace, Impossible.' he thrusts such notions towards the Dead God. He couldn't 'want' to feel emotion again, but if that was the path away from the Dead God's fate then he'd try for it...
'Longing, Destructive. Peace, Unnatural. Existence, Pain.' the being dully returns, each concept causing the abyss around them to fluctuate with meaning.
'Emotion, Purpose. Death, Impossible. Life, Inevitable. Life, Existence, Purpose, Longing.'
'Life, Pain.'
'Life, Longing. Pleasure, Purpose, Emotion, Fundamental.'
'Fate, Determined. Purpose, Futile.'
'Death, Impossible, Fate, Changed.'
'Fate, Eternity.'
'Fate, Life.'
'Life, Pain. Existence, Pain. Existence, Pain.'
'Existence, Pain. Numb, Emotion, Ambition, Pleasure.'
'Existence, PAIN.'
'Existence, Pleasure.'
'Pleasure, Temporary.'
'Life, Temporary, Death, Impossible. Temporary, Permanence, Pleasure, Attained.'
'Loss, Pain.'
'Gain, Pleasure.'
'Infinity, Loss.'
'Infinity, Gain. Experience, Purpose, Life, Pleasure.'
...
'Inevitable.'
'Inevitable, Indifferent?'
'Apathetic, Inevitable.'
'Apathetic, Rescind.'
'Apathetic, Inevitable.'
'Inevitable, Fate, Rescind.'
...
'Acquiescence.'
With that, Michael feels an influx of power wash over him, his 'Victory' in the conceptual argument with the Dead God pushing the being into action.
Bubbling up from his core was... Emotions. The first being a rictus of pain from the memories of his uncountable deaths at Clavicus Vile's hand that made his mind go blank as he struggled to stop himself from begging the Dead God to return his gift.
After that ordeal was over, next was guilt. Guilt towards the apathetic thoughts he'd been considering during his stay in the Spire, particularly the thought of rectifying the 'mistake' of his sister's survival.
Then, his guilt at not freeing Charlotte yet despite that being the main reason for his Martling in the first place.
After that is the emotions coming through the many links Clavicus Vile had previously forged among his worshippers. While none were on the level of 'cultists' due to Michael killing most of them, there were hundreds of thousands of reluctant worshippers, mostly in Elsweyr due to his control over their reproductive systems.
He could see them even now... Hopeful mothers praying, not to Clavicus Vile, but to him for the safe birth of their children... He granted it, for now. His acknowledgement alone being enough to begin the process.
After all the negative emotions are dealt with, he's struck by Love, Lust, Happiness, and Contentment towards his friends and family at their efforts to bring him back around... He knew if he found Tiffania in a similar state he'd be devastated... Probably going in a rampage to destroy whoever had inflicted it upon her.
He smiles lightly to himself, luxuriating in the stew of emotion that was washing over him. He couldn't ever imagine returning to such a lifeless, apathetic state. It'd be like dying but only in spirit.
Michael looks towards the Dead God, he felt only one emotion towards the being. Not hate, not disgust, not even dislike...
'Pity.' he communicates to the being, 'Emotion, Pleasure, Purpose.'
'Inevitable.' it replies, sending Michael's mind out of the book and leaving him floating in the Void of Oblivion.
He checks his status, despite his mental exhaustion, to see just what changes had occurred, besides to obvious return of most of his emotions... At least, from what he could tell.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name : Michael Tahlin
Title : Mikhail Tahlin Vile, Daedric Lord of Promises
Rank : God
Concepts : [Deals], [Pacts], [Power], [Bargains], [Moon], [Khajiit], [Gratification], [Death]
Stats :
Strength : 1000
Agility : 1000
Intelligence : 1000 > 800
Bloodline : God : Subspecies, [Daedra] - [Draconic]
Familiar : Darth, Soul Devourer
Abilities :
[Dead God] (10000) : Allows user to Respawn when killed, suppresses emotions based on the number of deaths, makes dead things more receptive to user. Grants more powers and abilities the more deaths the user experiences.
[Lich Lord] : User is able to summon his Spirits for however long he wishes. If user's summons are killed they will be unsummonable for a duration depending on how badly they were vanquished.
[Divine Soul] : Soul is massively enhanced, making it incredibly resistant against attacks of all kinds. This includes any change too, making it difficult for a being possessing a Divine soul to alter itself.
[Apathy of All] (Rank 1) > (Rank 0.2) : Significantly dulls user's emotions.
[Nihilism] (Rank 0.009) > (Rank 0.001) : Nihilosophy.
[Conceptual Might] : User can manipulate concepts that he has affinities with, abilities coming from this will depend on user's aptitude, experience, and determination.
[Gift-Blood of Auroth] : The Life-Blood of Auroth the Winter Wyvern inhabits the user granting them the abilities she possessed. Massively increased Ice Affinity, increased Strength and Durability, improved Eye-sight, Ice Breath Attack, and the Will of Auroth.
[Omniversal Language Comprehension] : User can speak, read, and write any language they come across without issue. This does not affect mastery of [Divine Words].
[Divine Words] (Rank 1) : User can speak the language of the universe, allowing them to alter reality with every word. Different universes may have differing languages.
[Grandmaster Mana Manipulation] : Allows user more control over his magic, spells, and some abilities. Mana efficiency and control of power is increased.
[Dead One] : Pain, be it physical, mental, or even conceptual will not affect user if they do not wish it.
[Expert basic Swordsmanship(Two handed swords/One handed swords)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling swords.
Expert basic Dagger techniques(Single edge, curved, straight, double edge.)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling daggers.
[Apathy of Life] : Death and violence empower the user while in the vicinity of it. User will never be affected by the act of death or violence itself.
Divine Runes :
[Gandalfr] : Enables user to utilise any weapon at two ranks above their current proficiency while granting them the knowledge necessary to use them. While wielding a weapon, temporarily gain +100% in all stats. > Gives User complete mastery with any weapon regardless of origin or familiarity.
[Vanntalfdir] : Enables user to walk on liquids as if they were solid surfaces, can be activated at will but continuously drains mana to function. > User can walk upon any liquid without negative effects regardless of what it might be.
[Wynningbaldr] : Allows user to detect break-points and use mana to exploit them. > User can now detect lines of death within beings and objects, should any line be cut the thing struck will instantly break apart and die.
Affinities :
[Conceptual Death Affinity], [Supreme Water Affinity], [Supreme Fire Affinity], [Supreme Space Affinity], [Supreme Darkness Affinity], [Supreme Ice Affinity],
Spirits :
Commoner Tier :
Shadow Shaman : Lvl MAX
Slark : Lvl MAX
Riki : Lvl MAX
Hero Tier :
Anti-Mage : Lvl MAX
Lina : Lvl MAX
Winter Wyvern : Lvl MAX
Legend Tier :
Rubick : Lvl MAX
Silencer : Lvl MAX
Kunkka : Lvl MAX
Demigod Tier :
Shadow Fiend : Lvl MAX
Spectre : Lvl MAX
Free slot
God Tier :
Free slot
Free slot
Magic :
Tamrielic
School of Aghanim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He breathes a sigh of relief at the limiting of [Apathy of All] and [Nihilism]... He didn't know why they remained, but he could guess that his conversation with the Dead God had 'enlightened' him to the inevitability of his fate.
Yes... He knew that one day he would end up like the Dead God. Whether it be in ten thousand years, a million years, or if he was lucky, at the end of all universes, all of existence.
A depressing thought that he pushed down with thoughts of his friends and family... Speaking of which, with a thought he grasps Charlotte's soul from within himself, bringing it to the surface and severing the deal that gave him ownership of it, allowing it to return to its rightful owner.
Charlotte was now free, but there were still some things he should probably deal with before returning. Specifically, the Free Slots he now had access to, he needed to pick one Demigod tier Hero, and two God-Tier Heroes.
He wanted to get it over with now before the Aedra and Daedra started hounding him. He might've become a god, but that didn't mean other gods couldn't challenge him. Clavicus Vile himself wasn't all that strong compared to Sheogorath or Mehrunes Dagon... So it was best to be prepared.
First, he chooses Medusa had his Demigod Spirit. The other potential option was Abbadon, but he felt that a permanent magical shield was better than the ability to temporarily turn all damage taken into healing.
Then, he looked at the list of God-Tier heroes he had access to.
God Tier :
Arc Warden
Bane
Doom
Earth Spirit
Earth Shaker
Elder Titan
Ember Spirit
Leshrac
Mars
Morphling
Outworld Destroyer
Phoenix
Razor
Storm Spirit
Void Spirit
Weaver
Zeus
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