The rain hit hard and fast, soaking Malone as he sprinted down the muddy slope of the large Hill where the Cathedral of Fort-Georgia resides.
The cold water clung to his skin, soaking the silky fabric to his skin, and mixing with the ash falling from the sky, and his own sweat.
Thunder rolled somewhere distant.
And the large fire still burned around him, but with this rain, like a miracle from the heavens.
The flames started to slowly cease.
And the state of the world around him barely registered.
Right now, Malone was focused on one thing, where to go next.
Seven locations came to mind.
All of them offered solid early-game advantages. Resources, loot, and special quest that would lead to greater advantages.
But they were also high-level zones.
And thanks to the difficulty spike from picking the secret Sinner class, walking into any of them could be a death sentence.
So he slowed his pace, thinking it through.
For that reason he can began to ponder.
He knew the geometry like he knows the back of it hand.
The Twin Sisters: Esther and Caldra makes up the non-daemon landscape of the world.
Were humans and non-human nation resides.
They two sister continents were the opposing forces of the Daemon kind that plague this world.
Then there was Hell, also known as the Dark Continent.
Home of the Daemons.
And the territories of the Seven Sins
But on the twin continent's itself.
Humanity barely clung on.
Out of the eight races that inhabits it.
Human possess only three territories left to their name, Mavis, Pitris, and Georgia where he was currently at.
Which is the starting location of the player.
These three countries makes up the entirety of the human kingdom of Asauron, which is the weakest domain among the ten great races.
Fort Georgia, also know as the Holy Court holding the For Georgia Cathedral was an important location.
It had stood for centuries, not just as a fortress, but as a holy site, and a place of Divine Power.
A Cathedral, this being one of six was an ancient structures tied to Free Throne itslef.
Blood maidens, were the only one capable of coming in direct contact with the throne.
As such was seen as emissary of the Worlds Will.
Back in the beginning, every race had the right to call down a Wonder.
As Wonder cannot exist with the summoning spell of a Blood Maiden to take over the Hollow Vessel.
Elves.
Giants.
Wyrmkin.
But all that changed when the Seven Sins, the old Gods of the World settle for World Domination instead.
In the past, many races could procreate and had twins, which was needed to summon a Wonder.
Now for some unknown reasons only humans could summon them.
Or rather only Asauron Royal Family.
Which led the other races without a Wonder. A chosen hero of their own, a world Savior.
Hence the importance of...
Maria Halia Asauron: the Blood Maiden, and Ren Hal Asauron: the Hollow Vessel.
Born of Queen Mavis herself.
The last Human monarch and the oldest Human to date.
But as head programmer of this game. Malone knew how manipulative the queen was.
And how she would abuse the fact that he is the last of the pure born Demi-Gods to increase her political power.
Because Humans were the only race capable of Summoning a Wonder.
It has sour the relationship between Humanity and the other non-human races.
As such humans were left at the Mercy of the Daemons who now want the human dead, alongside the Royal family.
Leaving this world without a Hero.
But Malone know just how tricky the queen is, for the 607 years she had led the human nation.
She avoided death, time and time again, mostly because she is a Envy User.
And one of the powers she has stolen over the years is a unique ego magic that gave her the power of immortality.
Basically if everyone remember, or know who she is, even if one person remains. Queen Mavis cannot die.
That magic has evolved to the point she can share damage with her subject's at random.
And if that fails, she can regenerate on her own, she also eternally youthful because of it.
Even total existence erasure type weapons cannot kill her. The only way to kill her, is with Crest of Ruin, posses by the Sin of Wrath Bavora.
But being as power hungry as she is, she constantly call upon the Wonders to use them for their power in battle.
All of which died early due to the Seven Sins not letting them have the time to grow.
And since a new Wonder cannot be summon unless a new pair of twins were born.
She would kill her own children and try again. When they reach the appropriate age.
For this reason in the Original Game.
They call her the The Last Queen of Man, or the Blood Matron Queen Mavis.
"Hmph. I refuse to trigger the Lust Ending. Queen Mavis being the bitch she is, has cursed her bloodline. If I told her my true name...Malone Mercedes, she could enslave me with it."
"Name magic. A power she stole from the Egoist, Harshan. Harshan's Ego magic can manipulate a person's true name, given to them by birth, and control their every will."
"Seducing him, she took that power, and took his true name, and command him to kill himself right after."
"That is just how vicious she is, blasted woman."
"Then, and again. In the Greed Ending I was working on, she is one of the final endgame bosses. That bitch is actually fucking strong. To be honest I personally put her on the same level as Daemons Demi-God."
"But enough of that, I think I am far enough. I didn't went back the main part, because that were two Daemonic General would be waiting for the Wonder. It basically a tutorial fight."
"And to be honest I want nothing to do with it."
But as he said that, he finally landed right where he wanted to reach.
Taking a sharp left.
The trees started to thin.
"Yeah it hould be just around here."
The path was narrowed as he climbed up and down, the grass thinning even more beneath his boots.
Till eventually, he slowed down, and then stopped.
And before him, an old statue stood, with an stone carved altar stood before him.
It showcase a blindfolded woman, with a sexy and voluptuous figure, cloaked with a great pair of wings folded behind her back and curling horns crowning her head.
"A Statue of the Mother... Hehehe, can't leave this place empty handed without getting my hands on a divine enchantment of the new Gods."
With that Malone approach it, then a notification appear before him.
[Notice. You have discovered a Divine Altar. It holds a single Blessing from the New God: The Great Mother Larona. Place a sword-type weapon or shield-type weapon upon the altar to enchant your chosen equipment]
"Sayyy less... Hehehe."