Pag frowned, his mind scrambling. Where in the digital world of Ludere Online was he supposed to find chlorine? His scientific mind understood the concept, but translating that knowledge into the game's mechanics presented a new challenge. Unlike crafting materials or quest items, chlorine wasn’t something you typically stumbled upon during your adventures.

  "I… I don't understand," he stammered, his gaze darting between the imposing figures of the three Kellin. "Chlorine… it's not… I don't know how to… How do I get it into the game?"

  Dedisco, sensing Pag’s confusion, let out a low chuckle that echoed through the chamber. "A simple obstacle, mage," he said, his voice laced with an amused condescension. "You possess a unique connection to this world, a synchronicity that allows you to… transcend the boundaries between realities. You have already demonstrated this ability."

  “Think, mage,” Dedisco commanded, his voice laced with impatience. “You claim knowledge of this… chlorine. Surely you possess some understanding of its origins, its… properties.”

  Pag wrung his hands, the pressure mounting. “It’s… it’s an element,” he stammered. “A chemical. It’s used in… in water purification, in… in pools.” His mind grasped at straws, trying to translate real-world knowledge into the logic of the game.

  “Pools?” Nakruer echoed, their voice laced with a hint of amusement. “Are these… ‘pools’ places of power in your world? Do they hold a connection to the flow of mana?”

  Pag shook his head, frustration mounting. “No, they’re… recreational. Places to… to swim, to relax.” He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. How could he explain the mundane concept of a swimming pool to these godlike beings who wielded magic and commanded the forces of nature?

  “Swim?” Dedisco’s voice dripped with disdain. “Why would one engage in such a frivolous activity? Is there not enough excitement in your world to satisfy your… base desires?”

  “It’s… it’s for… exercise,” Pag stammered, desperately searching for a way to bridge the chasm of understanding. “To stay healthy, to… to enjoy oneself.” He mentally kicked himself. ‘Enjoy oneself’? What a feeble explanation.

  “Health?” Nakruer interjected, their multiple eyes blinking in unison. “But you possess magic, the ability to heal wounds, to ward off disease. Why would you require such… primitive methods?”

  Pag sighed, defeated. He glanced at Textos, hoping the god of knowledge might offer some assistance, but Textos remained silent, his expression thoughtful, as if pondering a complex puzzle. “It’s… complicated,” Pag finally admitted. “Chlorine… it’s not something we find naturally. It’s… manufactured. Created through… chemical processes.”

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  “Chemical processes?” Dedisco snorted. “Are you suggesting that this… chlorine is a product of alchemy? A concoction brewed by mortal hands?”

  Pag shook his head, his frustration mounting. “No, not alchemy. It’s… science. A different kind of… knowledge. A different way of… understanding the world.”

  The gods exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of confusion and skepticism. They were beings of immense power, accustomed to wielding magic and manipulating the forces of nature. The idea of a world governed by something as mundane as science seemed alien, incomprehensible.

  Pag's mind flashed back to the moment he had inadvertently logged into Ludere Online while submerged in the sensory deprivation pool at the Alluring Realms facility. Could it be that simple? Could he somehow bring chlorine into the game by physically interacting with it in the real world?

  "You are suggesting… I use the synchronicity… to…?" Pag trailed off, the idea forming in his mind, but the implications, the sheer audacity of the concept, left him speechless.

  Dedisco, a glint of mischief in his eyes, nodded, confirming Pag's suspicions. "Indeed, mage," he said, his voice laced with a hint of challenge. "Find a source of chlorine in your world, a pool you said? Submerge yourself within it. And attempt to access the game."

  He paused, his gaze piercing, as if gauging Pag's reaction. "The chlorine, if our theory is correct, should… prevent you from logging in, allowing us to conduct our experiment. If chlorine is not the issue then we can try the same with another element"

  Pag's mind reeled. The idea of intentionally logging into Ludere Online while submerged in a pool of chlorinated water seemed reckless, bordering on insane. What if it backfired or didn't work? What if it triggered another system disruption, a catastrophic backlash? But what choice did he have? The fate of his quest, perhaps even the fate of two worlds, hung in the balance.

  "A pool…" he muttered, the word echoing through the chamber. His mind raced through the possibilities, searching for a suitable location. Then, a sudden memory surfaced, a recollection of a conversation he had overheard at the Alluring Realms facility.

  "The sensory deprivation pool," he blurted out, the realization dawning on him. "The one they used for the first synchronicity test…he could use it. Toss in a few pool chlorine tablets, and test the theory. Though if it works I may have to deal with people yelling about anti-pool propaganda.”

  “I can’t log out,” Pag stated flatly, glancing at the icon of Dedisco’s power pulsing steadily on his character sheet. The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the precarious situation they found themselves in. The system instability, the cryptic error messages… it was all too much to process.

  Textos, his ethereal form shimmering with an otherworldly light, nodded gravely. “One of the developers is aware of the issue and is attempting to rectify it,” he explained, his voice resonating with a calm authority. “However,” he continued, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his tone, “he is uncertain how long it will take to resolve the problem”.

  Pag’s heart sank. Trapped in a digital world that seemed to be unraveling at the seams, cut off from communication with his friends, at the mercy of a god whose motives remained shrouded in mystery… it was a nightmare scenario.

  “For the time being,” Textos suggested, his gaze meeting Pag’s, “it would be best if you returned to Kyrbane, or to Dedisco’s reliquary”.