“Greetings, Traveler. You have taken your first step into Glynn’s World.
“You will not regret coming here. Our verdant world is considered a jewel amongst the habitable realms on this side of the Astral Plane. Our lush, picturesque landscapes, enticing local cuisine, and cutting-edge magic systems make for an adventure you'll never forget. I assure you, every corner of the realm is brimming with treasures that must be seen to be believed, and there are secrets to this land that explorers like you have yet to find. Even I, a Glynn Sister, wouldn't even know where they are.
“Now, I am aware that Glynn's World is experiencing a Category 2 Corruption in the northeast quadrant of the world, but there's no need to be alarmed. The situation is under control. From the Sea of Souls, we sisters have summoned mighty heroes to defend the realm and root out this evil! Behold one of my warriors, a strong and mighty dwarf who is- oh shit!”
The goddess Marine Glynn slapped her crystal ball off its pedestal into a pillar, shattering it instantly. Her recording lost, she had to summon a new ball.
“Dammit, Dige! What are you doing!?” she cried, peering back into the scene. It was horrendous. Somewhere in the mountains, a dwarf was eating a dead possum whole, his jaws dislocated like a python to consume it whole. If Marine didn't know what she was looking at, she could've sworn she was staring down an ogre. “You’re supposed to be adventuring! Why won’t you answer my calls!?”
A laugh echoed across the boundless room. Heels clacked against the elegant marble flooring.“That’s what you get for fishing in the wrong pond,” said Elbeth Glynn. “How about you show off some of my champions? They’re far more respectable than that trash you reeled in.”
“Never! My champions are good enough, thank you, so you can shove it!”
“Champions?” said Rani Glynn in a low, deadpan voice. “You mean champion, as in singular.”
“Two! I have two champions!”
“A horse doesn’t count.”
"It does, too!"
"Well, I have twenty-four champions, and El has thirty. I think we have a sizeable roster for you to choose from, part-timer."
Marine, being the youngest sister, stamped her foot and pouted, which only had her elders laugh like a pair of sadists. It wasn’t fair. Those two took the easy route.
"It is quite fortunate we found all of them at once," Elbeth said. "What did the others call them again?"
"Japanese Otaku," Rani answered. The goddess had brought sandwiches for the shift change. "Specifically, young Japanese men aged 15-20 from the Tokyo or Osaka area, with an interest in niche hobbies. I can't believe it had to be that specific."
"I think the age could skew a bit higher."
"But it's your fault you didn't pick the right stream to pull 'em, Marine. The others told us how to handle this, and you blew 'em off."
Marine was beet red. "I wanted to try something different! You two were just trying to be lame and trendy!"
“Hey, trendy is popular, and popular is quality! Look, sister, that dwarf hasn’t even left the starting town.” Elbeth pointed at the orb. “He’s actually going backwards into that mountain. So stupid. If you don't stop him, he'll never participate in the game.”
“He’ll figure it out,” Marine sniveled. “He’s a strong dwarf.”
“He’s a stubborn dwarf, and stubborn dwarves make for bad heroes.”
Elbeth pulled her cheek as if they were still little celestial beings. They’ve known each other since time immemorial, since the first rock was placed in the spot where Glynn’s world began. The three knew everything about each other, but as sisters, they were destined to fight. That’s why the wager was made. Who could summon the mightiest champion? If they could de-corrupt their world and return it to pristine condition, their power in the Astral Plane would rise dramatically, and with Glynn’s World’s rise, one sister would get a promotion.
Of the three, Elbeth was positive her champions would win. Like the sun she controlled, the orange sister would reign over the green and blue sisters, and Glynn’s World would become a lot more elegant. It was inevitable, or so she imagined it to be. Getting her way was also an inevitability. “Speaking of good heroes, I have one calling me now.” Rani made a phone gesture with her fingers and walked off with her meal in tow. “What’s happening, my big man? Hey, great timing. There’s somewhere I want you to go.”
Eventually, the older sister relented and patted Marine on the shoulder. “You cry too often, sister. A goddess doesn’t think with her emotions. It’ll only lead to bad governance.”
And with that, Marine was left alone to toil with her crystal ball, discouraged and without a meal. Through the ball, she could see everything in the realm, or at least she used to. The darkness was expanding faster than expected. Every day the corrupting influence stood unchecked, its borders grew further and further, choking the land with a black void. If Glynn’s World died, so would the sisters. The whole realm counted on their goddesses to protect them, and she had sent them a single worthwhile champion. Her face was flush with emotion.
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