Chapter Text
The God of Death stood before the anomaly, his scythe caging them and not letting them escape.
“Who is your master?” he whispered with the voice of authority his being represents, the being he is.
The anomaly, a small girl, glitches and smiles with more teeth than a human should, “Ask him yourself.”
He could only widen his eyes as he felt a presence at his back before everything went black.
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Tommy has never thought himself to be anything else but an ordinary boy with an ordinary life.
He was an orphan, his parents had died when he was very young in a house fire, leaving him as the sole survivor. He was also pretty average looking- not that he will admit that, he is the biggest man ever- with his blond hair and blue eyes. His clothes were simple, a white inner robe with a red and gold one on top, brown pants, and leather boots.
He was a simple boy with a simple life.
So, to bring excitement to his simple life in the glorious Antarctic Empire, the biggest and oldest to still stand, he visits the old ruins of the vacation home of the Emperor.
From what he remembers, it used to be the place where the First Emperor, and founder of his home, lived when his successor took over. It was supposed to be continually used every time an emperor retired, but then the First ascended to godhood as the God of Blood, better known as the God of Life. Priests deemed it a holy place, and after some time, a temple was built in the center of the Empire, so the place remained untouched, and abandoned. Deemed too pure for mortal hands to touch.
Now it was his favorite place to explore.
Especially the gardens.
They must have been a sight to behold in their time but there was a wild beauty that surrounds it in the present time that Tommy is obsessed with.
The big bushes covered in flowers hide the pillars that still stand and the big decorative fountains with their dirty water that sometimes house ducks.
Oh, he just loves the view.
But it’s even better when he enters the graveyard.
It is a commemorative one since there aren't any bodies in it, but the mausoleums and big statues are better than the ones in the museums.
They are also original works that despite their time outside without any care, continue to stand beautifully.
His favorites are the ones of the First Emperor…
He had a bias and it shows.
Could you blame him? The dude was a regular slave-turned-soldier who rose above everything and everyone who looked down on him despite the challenges.
He called a revolution and as soon as he was crowned, the first thing he did was abolish slave laws. Orphans were not made into soldiers the moment their parents stopped breathing and the poor had housing options until they could get on their feet again.
The dude was a certified badass. The big man of the big men. He was such a good ruler that current emperors aspire to follow his image.
It also helps that the Big Man is a god now.
A shame his name was lost in time, only his last name was saved since it was used to present him to the masses.
Tommy still remembers his first history lesson that mentioned him. His eyes were glued to the board.
Emperor Netherborn, First of his name, The Chain Breaker and Father of the Empire.
The God of Blood, The God of Life.
Tommy was fascinated and continues to be so.
Today, in his regular visit to the graveyard, he brought a camera. In school, for their last day, his history teacher has asked for the students to make a presentation on their role models.
Tommy chose the Emperor.
So, the camera is to take some pictures of the statues around. Cheaper than buying a ticket for the museum and way cooler too.
If they ask him where he got the pictures from, he’ll just say he stumbled upon them in one of his walks by the outskirts of the city.
Not telling the complete truth since it would spoil his spot.
He raised the camera from time to time to capture the most recognizable ones that showed The Man with his recognizable mask or maskless face.
He must have stopped paying attention to where he was stepping since he just tripped on a small bush and face-planted to the floor, camera flying towards the wall covered in leaves.
He stayed splattered on the stone for a second, releasing air like a balloon with a hole with a big sigh.
How embarrassing.
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“The camera!”
Tommy practically flew onto his feet before frantically looking around where his precious machine flew off to. When he looked towards the wall, relief filled his body when he saw the leather strap peeking from under the mass of leaves that covered the whole wall.
“Thank god.” He said, to which god he was directing that, to whoever listened. He quickly jogged towards it and pushed aside the mess of green to grab the device.
That is when he noticed the hole in the wall.
“What?” He asked himself as he grabbed his camera and rose to his full height.
He just stood there looking at the wall. A hand touched the foliage that covered the stone tentatively first before grabbing a handful and moving it aside.
It was a hidden passage.
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“This is so… poggers.”
Tommy did not hesitate to run full speed into the dark tunnel, singing to himself softly, “Secret tunneeel, secret tunneeel…”
When he arrived on the other side he found himself in a big chamber. Walls covered in carvings, detailing the story of someone, and in the center a small pond with colorful fish swimming around. There were also flowers in hanging vases and a gentle trickle of water falling from each one into the pond.
And in the back was the most amazing thing ever.
A giant stone statue of the First Emperor in all his glory.
He was sculpted with his full regalia. Flowing robes and detailed jewelry. A crown simulating a rising sun sat upon his head and was held up by an intricate hairstyle full of braids, beads, and hoops. It was standing in a battle stance as if the statue was ready to rise and fight any danger nearby. It was covered in leaves and flowers and the pedestal was almost completely covered.
And like every other portrayal of the man, he had his eyes closed in a serene expression.
Tommy just held up his camera and took a picture. He then walked up to it in a trance, never looking away from its face. He stood at the feet of it looking up fascinated.
“Falling on my face was completely worth it.”
A flash of light flickered by the pedestal and directed all his attention towards it.
There was something written on it. He moved the mess of flowers and plants before reading aloud, “Technoblade Netherborn, The God of Life, The God of Blood.”
Tommy just processed that information slowly, “Holy shit.”
“I just discovered the biggest mystery in the Empire. The Emperor’s name.” He began to move the foliage in a way the description could be seen and then stepped back to take a picture.
The flash went off…
And it was then that the statue opened its eyes.
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