The Divine Dragon.

The only true god left in this damaged world.

There were others, once, but that was ages ago, a time long lost to history. A great reset had occurred 100,000 years ago, wiping away all traces of divinity and civilization beyond that point.

Now, to the many races of this world, he was Alpha and Omega, the first and last god. And as the singular god governing the world, would his corresponding duty and authority not be all-encompassing as well?

This, indeed, was the case. For it was said that all life coming into being, all of creation, born lesser or greater, from the smallest insect to the mightiest beast, must first have his blessing before they can be brought into this world. His dominion over life was absolute.

Then, when their grace ends and their time runs out, after their inevitable death, their souls do not float away or assimilate into the ether. No. They sink down. Down into the depths far below the surface, and into his domain.

Curiously, despite the monolithic nature of the world’s religions, wars fought in the name of the dragon are commonplace. While this may lead an onlooker to believe that it was yet another example of selfish mortals fighting for their own interests while disguised as upholding some lofty ideal, to a certain extent these disputes had merit.

There was not much information about the deity. No one had a clear picture of what the god truly was.

Around the world, people disagreed on what the dragon even looked like, his image difficult to find after being stricken from monuments and reliefs shortly after his divine investiture.

The only concrete information most had about this elusive deity was that he is in fact a dragon, though now even this simple truth was a point of contention. Needless to say, that the dragon’s touch was felt around the world was the only thing in agreement. No one would say that the one they worshiped was not this deity, only that others had the wrong picture.

Records dating back to the period before the deity’s ascension are few and far between. To say nothing of the Great Calamity, even the most prosperous and enlightened of civilizations would eventually crumble and decay over time. 100,000 years was more than enough to bury most empires several feet under the earth, especially in a world as war-torn as this one.

Even harder still would be for individuals who have seen the event personally to have survived to this day.

Some of the most ancient among the dragons might have lived through that tragedy, but they are insular and hardly seen, if not sealed or insane.

For ones seeking the truth regarding their god, they would tangentially understand that something terrible occurred way back then and that their god’s ascension was deeply connected to it. To not be content with the story of the Calamity told from the perspective of their god was to commit heresy. And to commit heresy was to become the enemy of every large-scale institution in the world.

Just this bit of understanding would lead to most not daring to dig too deeply. Those with a sense of self-preservation have the foresight to not touch the taboos of the strongest being they know and give up after getting a glimpse of the truth. Even if those that continue do discover something worth the trouble, they have a tendency of being stricken with madness or just disappearing outright.

However, this would not be done by the dragon himself.

So long as the majority of people venerate him, conflict or not, heresy or not, there was not much movement from this deity.

Due to this, while its influence was felt across every social stratum, most people are more beholden to the kings and emperors that govern the land than to the dragon. When everyone venerates the same god, how was it possible for that god to show favoritism towards any one party?

As such, these people are routinely sent off to die in wars of the faith, fighting over disagreements in dogma they will never be able to understand. Most will believe that their cause was righteous, if only because of how proficient those on high have become in spinning rousing speeches over the years.

This willingness to see his followers slaughter each other had led some dissidents to claim that all this conflict has the handwriting of the deity himself and that the regular slaughter served some evil purpose unbeknownst to the world. Following this train of thought would oftentimes lead to heresy, questioning why the dragon even held so much power in the first place.

They would be in the minority, however.

To that end, if that were the case they would be playing right into the dragon’s claws, as their blasphemy has sparked innumerable wars in the name of world peace.

Despite these small ripples from heretics and warring empires, the world has been mostly stable. Nothing too big has happened for millennia.

However, recently, as of the last century or so, a particular sect has seen meteoric growth. Spearheaded by the [Blessed] Ishyara, they claim that the dragon was no dragon at all. Rather, the deity was a manifestation of the will of the world, the consciousness of the world itself, and its descent consequent ascension was done to bring balance and guidance to the people in the wake of the Calamity.

That Ishyara quickly became the most powerful [Blessed] shortly after her Delve gave credence to her claims, and subsequent journeys down by the faithful cemented it.

The major churches themselves often debate whether to amend their sacred texts after their own sponsored Delves returned their god’s stance on the matter, though these massive institutions are slow to change and even a century was not enough to shift directions. There were simply too many things to consider when one’s reach spread across multiple continents.

However, most on the inside already recognize this as truth, as the Delve itself was a time-honored tradition, a test of faith and will, and the telltale signs of the [Blessed] after they succeed are impossible to fake. Indeed, that the [Blessed] are the spokespeople of the god, living on the surface among the people to spread his good word would not be a wrong interpretation.

And, in a world as cutthroat as this one, the closer they were to their god the stronger they are, making Ishyara’s lightning-fast rise something to pay attention to.

At one point, she too was just a humble adventurer, only possessing a modicum of power supplemented by a whole lot of zeal and tenacity. That almost anyone could rise to stand side by side with the ranks of the [Blessed] gave hope to many a downtrodden individual. Though whether they stayed independent after the fact remained to be seen.

The churches and states might be seen as corrupt and unscrupulous, but most would never question the dragon himself. As such, the dragon was not something that most people saw as an oppressor. He was a way forward, a way out.

Therefore, throughout the world, it was commonplace to hear stories telling of daring adventurers embarking on epic quests to find the deity. Everyone knows at least some variant of it, whether told by the local bard or someone who claims to have attempted it and returned. This behavior was encouraged by both the deity and churches alike. The god himself has a keen interest in meeting those strong in soul, those with unbreakable conviction in their hearts.

These tales tell of people enduring the suffocating darkness of the underground, navigating through the meandering and claustrophobic caves, and fighting against unforgiving waves of monsters and guardians that block their way on their journey down into Purgatory. Always left out of these stories, though, was how they found the Delve’s entrance.

It always seemed to mystically appear in front of those that had a chance at success, but the exact conditions were never quite pinned down. It was known that after its appearance, brave and foolhardy alike seemed to just have a calling, drawing them into the caverns below. This call would not go unanswered, as these devoted followers would come in droves, no doubt emboldened by the successes narrated to them from a young age.

Regardless, it was an account told around the world. Even though the players and obstacles differed every time, they always followed a similar pattern. With time, each little corner of the world had something similar. A legend of an individual or group of supplicants finding a path downward, feeling a certain calling deep within, and going forth in a bid to have their wish granted.

Though knowing that they will meet eventually, even the faithful know that the circumstances around such a meeting are markedly different. The living, at least, had the right to bargain. Once dead, one forfeits their ability to make a change in the world, regardless of their strength or connections made when they were alive.

The goals of these brave souls range from complex to simple, though they always led back to one thing - to petition this omnipotent being for a boon. Whether in a mad bid for power, a rare chance at communion with a higher being, or a desperate attempt to bring a loved one back to the realm of the living, their answer would await them, down below.

Fortunately for them, their destination was clear for all to see.

Entering, it was a path without forks or winding passages.

It was a path where natural laws are ignored, space was shrunk, and every direction, even backward, led straight down.

It was a path of no return unless the destination was reached.

It was a path leading straight to the heart of an unfathomable being.

Some will succeed, and return with their god’s blessing. They would then establish a church in his name, and preach their interpretation of the encounter. That was mostly in the distant past, however.

Nowadays, with the power so concentrated and politicking commonplace, most will simply join an existing sect and add their encounter to their expansive archives, preaching their understanding from within.

However, in spite of these differences, all of these petitioners will still find their way to Purgatory. Though, many will not enter in the way they intended. Most will find themselves ill-suited for the journey and try to quit part-way, but they will soon come to realize that this was a one-way trip.

These unfortunate souls will fail on their quest, their fragile, transient bodies finding rest kilometers beneath the surface. The rest of the way continued as a wayward soul, this meeting destined the moment they went underground. Venturing ever downward. Always downward.

Even for those lucky or skilled enough to make it to the end, it was only after an uncomfortable and mind-numbing amount of time passes trudging along those cavernous depths that they may finally pass into Purgatory.

Such an endeavor truly tests the limits of mortal tenacity and endurance, weeding out many who are unworthy. Though the sight at the end, as every [Blessed] would recount, was life-changing. Despite this, to fully describe the majesty of this deity was a feat every storyteller has failed yet.

Every story has its own unique understanding of what the dragon is, capturing but a fragment of the deity’s true brilliance. Though each writer fails to comprehend the true nature of the god, they are able to catch a glimpse into its true nature.

Some say that they could feel the dragon’s suffocating gaze fall upon them as they entered. Unnerved yet determined, they look to their surroundings to ground themselves. All before them was a vast, empty expanse of brown and gray. But, as they looked up expecting to see the ceiling, they would be met with the dragon’s many eyes.

Pushing past Purgatory’s gates, they would meet eyes with the deity, feeling as though their entire being had been seen through in an instant. Those who meet in this way would go on to proclaim that the deity was omniscient, using his great and many eyes to overlook the deceased as they are purified and enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Others will lament that while the entrance of the domain was a blindingly brilliant sheet of cascading white light, the deity’s domain itself was dark, darker than anything they had seen before, leaving them unable to see anything at all, and forcing their meeting to be done blind. Those who meet in this way would go on to proclaim that the deity was omnipresent, convinced that the feeling they had in front of the deity was there even after their meeting, persisting even as they reached the surface.

Perhaps, blind as they were, with their senses cut off, they were able to better experience a facet of the deity others found ineffable.

However, those testimonies would prove to be rather few and far between, reserved for the most devout of believers. Ironically, those of lesser faith would go on to proclaim that they saw the dragon in the flesh.

It was a sight that changed their views. They saw the deity’s vast and winding body extending far past Purgatory. With their own eyes, they would see the deity’s scales, which shined with a resplendent light, compelling them forward. Those who meet in this way would go on to proclaim that the deity was omnipotent.

That the deity had a certain charm compelling people towards him was consistent with all these stories. To the souls of the dead, this was even more pronounced, feeling an irresistible influence compelling them to go toward Purgatory. To these poor souls, it was a warm and inviting light, guiding them to their next life.

This charm was the final and ultimate test of spirit, a test that many would find themselves unprepared for, tired and weary after scaling the obstacles that impeded the path here. Failure to resist this calling, choosing to linger on after meeting the fragment of the dragon, will result in these poor souls missing their chance to leave. And with the path back closed, they can only venture forward, deeper into Purgatory.

Here, lies a vision that will never see the light of day. Here, they are greeted by the recently deceased, a veritable sea of souls, piled en masse right outside the radiant core of the world. Some of the more perceptive individuals might, at this point, get a sinking feeling within their chest, as they realize the sight for what it was. These tortured souls were a portent of what was to come for them as well, and not just because they know that when they die they will inevitably join them. No. They will get an inkling of what awaits them in a few moments.

These fallen souls seek peace, solace in the light. Though peace was what they will find, it was not quite in the way that they would hope, as they are subjected to a less-than-pleasant experience.

Perhaps such a description would be putting things mildly, as framing the feeling of one’s memories, personality, and one’s very existence being comprehensively erased as an unpleasant experience would be an understatement no matter how it was phrased.

From the madding decay into mindlessness to the feeling of pieces of oneself being stripped away piece by piece, even the most apathetic of souls would be desperate for another chance at life. However, for those present, it was far too late for them to be having regrets.

Here, their movement was no longer under their control. They could only wait for their inescapable oblivion.

Perhaps, once born into a world like this, freedom was never on the table, to begin with. Their fates were not theirs to write from the moment they crossed the threshold from the Starry River, their fate of becoming one with the World Core foredoomed from the moment they reincarnated in this world.

Seeing such a sight, while perhaps not understanding what exactly was going on, like the souls of the deceased, these faithful petitioners will quickly understand that their god was not the kind sort. They may regret not leaving sooner, but remorse alone will not allow them to get out, as in here, they will have seen something they should not have seen - the true body of the dragon.

For the audience granted prior was merely with deity’s fleshly body - vast and awe-inspiring and filled to the brim with divine might as it might be, it paled in comparison to the truth. It was nothing more than a vestige of its pre-ascension state, a puppet, and nothing more. A profoundly powerful puppet, but a puppet nonetheless.

The husk wrapped the entirety of Purgatory, and under the deity’s careful control, fused with it. Through this connection, it would not be wrong to say that he was the domain and the domain was him, though it would also not be entirely correct, either.

For how could a mere domain compare to a dragon god’s greed and ambition?

With the choice between a world and a realm, the choice was obvious. With such a selection before him, the path ahead was clear.

Purgatory.

Godhood.

All practice, and all tentative steps taken to prepare him for the true test.

With those experiments showing such promising results, the deity’s control reached far past Purgatory. However, it was only recently that this began in earnest. The first step ended with the molding of his fleshly body’s wings.

Jutting out from Purgatory in all directions were three sets of wings, each a sheet of ascending white light, stretching into the rock above. There, they formed an uncountable number of imperceptibly small veins running all over the world.

Thus, his form now penetrated every inch of the world, drawing upon its essence. His heart was now the world’s heart, each beat in sync with the very breath of the world until they could not be perceived as separate entities.

The deity was in a unique situation brought about by a truly unique opportunity, and with ambitions that reached the sky, he dug into the earth, becoming what he was now.

Where gods would generally be assimilated by the world, becoming something akin to natural laws over time, losing individuality and consciousness, this dragon was able to do the same in reverse, assimilating the world unto it instead.

However, this was no easy feat.

His corporeal body, the one that those ambitious mortals sought an audience from, became nothing more than a tether and a chain, for both him and the world.

Mortals enter, seeing such a sight, and can see only a god enveloping Purgatory.

Their understanding can only go so far, after all. However, their misunderstanding was canonized into scripture, all of which was helpful for the dragon. They mistook his body’s position to be a barrier, a barrier that ensured no wayward soul ever had a chance to escape once they entered.

Through their fanciful tales, they wrote their god into a vital part of the world’s functions, which would then become a sentiment repeated in the hearts of every believer. This faith, repeated over millennia, and taught to generation after generation, acted as a seal of approval in a world lacking proper consciousness - in a world where the will of the people was the will of heaven. Now, over the years, this temporary measure was also replaced. The will of heaven was now the will of God, and his sole will was the world’s will, at least, in part.

Yet despite this dragon’s immense power and control, he was currently the most agitated being in the world. Not even eroding the residual consciousness of the world, his singular obsession for the past hundred thousand years could distract him from his worries right now.

Status

Name: Parasmus Luce d’Chthondaria

Titl∎∎: Expand?

Age: 120,173

Total Level: 2005

Ma∎∎: 985,988

Attr∎butes:

Exp∎∎d?

Race: Divine Dragon (Proto-World Will[∎∎])

Skills: Expand?

Domain: Light, Souls, Corruption(Incomplete[∎∎])

Main Class: Shini∎∎ G∎∎rdian of Purg∎∎ory[∎∎]

Skills: Expand?

Subclass 1: Soul-Mana Alchemist

Skills: Expand?

Subclass 2: Burning Light Archmage

Skills: Expand?

Subclass 3: Mana-Soul Alchemist

Skills: Expand?

General Skills:

Expand?

Condition: Contract[∎∎], Blessing, Champion[∎∎], ∎∎∎∎[13.07%], Marked