The third chapter is in progress. It should be uploaded relatively soon... maybe.


Jacob groaned as he felt the cold floor beneath him. Couldn't he learn to open portals at ground level, he thought as he opened his eyes. He looked around and found himself on a stone floor carved into bricks. It was quiet in the large hallway he found himself in. A hallway full of large statues that are only lit by the small torches on the wall. There wasn't a single threat in this hallway and everything was peaceful... until he turned around.

"SHIT!" he screamed as he scrambled away from the large stone head that sat 3 feet from him.

All of the statues in this hall were in perfect condition and not a single crack could be found on the old statues... except for one. Standing in from of Jacob was a cracked head but had no face. Instead of a face, this statue had a grate like an old furnace. He knew this face well. He heard the stories of the fallen hero but never dreamt that he would face it. Behind the severed head remained the pile of rubble that used to be the statue and on the pedestal was a plaque:

Sir Automatronicus

VIII

"He had such promise."

This new voice startled Jacob as he grabbed his trident and found its middle point at the throat of an old man in white robes. His eyes widened as he quickly moved his trident away from his mentor's throat. Standing in front of him was an old man with long, white hair leading towards an equally long beard.

"Sir Automatronicus was a wonderful hero before he turned on the Source," the age in his voice was evident. He may have looked around 80 but his real age was almost as old as Time himself. "I trained him to do good but his paranoia got the better of him."

Jacob stared at the fallen statue. This wasn't the first time he heard this story and knew it wouldn't be the last. The Time Master wandered back to a circular chamber where a large, circular table sat surrounded by 13 stone thrones. He took his seat at a throne marked as I.

"Come sit with me, Jacob."

Jacob walked over to the table and sat at the throne marked as XIII but noticed another throne that wasn't there before. Normally, Jacob would sit to the right of his mentor but now a new throne sat between them. This one was obviously newer and was marked as XIV.

"Are you expecting another guest?" Jacob laughed as he asked this. He was only the hero for a short time and was troubled by the fact that the Time Master was already preparing for the next hero.

The hero is not just a single person labeled as a hero. The hero is the person who is responsible for protecting the dimensions from threats that could cause the dimensions to fall. The hero is chosen by the Source and mentored by the first hero who started it all. The Time Master started this system to always have a way to protect the dimensions and ensure that the dimensions will always survive and the inhabitants of these dimensions will live a peaceful life. Jacob is the 13 hero and is responsible for dealing with the current threat to the dimensions.

The Time Master looked at Jacob with a warm smile that comforted and scared Jacob. "One day someone will replace you as the hero and that's just how the system works. It never hurts to be early. Have I ever told you the story of the elements?"

"You've told me this story each century. I already know the story." Jacob put his head on the table, expecting the old man to take the hint and not tell the story.

"Long ago," Jacob began to beat his head on the table. "the first 3 elements were Light, Dark, and Time. Light and Dark understood the unbalance they caused in the universe and wanted to resolve this problem-"

"So they created more elements to balance the universe, 11 light and 1 dark," Jacob finished, annoyed with hearing this story again.

"But you do not know the real story," This caught Jacob's attention as he looked up at the old man. "There were not just 12 elements. Light created 12 elements and Dark created 12 elements. These elements were beyond the Source's control as they were not created by him and held no control over them. To resolve this problem, the Source ordered the Celestials to choose an element to rule over. When 12 of the Celestials revolted against the Source for his unjust rule, the Source sealed the 12 elementals in an abandoned dimension and scattered the 12 Celestials across the dimensions but not before turning them to stone."

"How many Celestials are there?" Jacob asked, curious about this revelation. He only heard about the 12 Celestials on Starhenge.

"24, but counting Light, Dark, and Time, that makes 27."

"Why are you telling me this now? How is this information supposed to help me?"

"Your father has been wreaking havoc throughout the dimensions and your recent failure at stopping his forces confirms that he's growing stronger. It won't be long before he decides to take the first dimension and then the Source. You will need the help of the forgotten Celestials to stop him." The Time Master's tone remained calm as if he expected this conversation and knew how it would go.

Jacob sat back in his throne as he thought about his recent mission. "It's amazing that you remain calm under the worst circumstances."

The Time Master sighed. "I've seen all of time, Jacob. Nothing surprises me anymore. It's all thanks to that cursed staff," he gestured to the white staff that rested against the side of his chair. It was pure white. The bottom came to a single point while the top curled around a large emerald that measured a foot in length. The top of the staff curled around it like the roots of a tree, unwilling to release its treasure. The emerald glowed a dull green but brightened when the Time Master grabbed it.

"This staff has shown me what is to come but I can't share these details for it will disrupt the River of Time and that is not a force I wish to mess with." The Time Master set the staff back on the ground and it returned to emitting a dull light. "I believe you should go to the 4th dimension before Zeus finds out you haven't arrived."

Jacob sighed when remembering the Greek king. "Zeus is a fool. I'm only taking orders from him until the Source wakes up. Then, I return to fighting for him and not some senile god. The old fool told me to 'blend in', as if I didn't already know that."

The first hero smiled. "You let me handle your form. I will make sure you blend in just fine. I know who can help you find Attmoz's guitar. Find the boy in the tower. He will aid you in your search and will be a valuable ally in the future."

Jacob stood up and returned to the hallway where he left his weapon. He reached out to grab it but it flew down the hall and into the Time Master's hand.

"You won't be needing this for the mission," he said with a smile. "Dogs don't carry weapons."

"What-" was all Jacob could say before he fell into the portal that opened below him and carried him to the 4 dimension.

Jacob groaned as he opened his eyes and was met with sunlight. Before he stood, he noticed that he no longer had a human form. Looking at his new form, he came to the conclusion that he was a chocolate Labrador pup, but most importantly, he was no longer a he.

She looked around at the alley she found herself in and walked to the open end of it. She was in a small city overlooking a bay and in the distance a tall tower could be seen on a hill. A large bridge connected the two parts of the bay and ships passed under it peacefully. In fact, everything about this dimension seemed peaceful. There were no wars, no creeping darkness, demons didn't rise from the shadows, and the Overlord was nowhere to be seen.

She smiled at this peace. This mission couldn't be easier, she thought as she looked across the water. Nothing could ruin her incredible luck.

"Beautiful place, right?" A voice called from behind that made Jacob groan. She knew this voice well, too well. He always found her no matter where she went in the dimensions.

"What do you want, Cipher?"