In the Immortal realm, a heated debate erupted into a cacophony of whispers. The tension in the grand hall was palpable as celestial beings argued, their voices echoing through the vast space.
“Akidia, the Goddess of Sloth,” declared a figure who appeared to be the most dominant
among them. “You have been accused of being responsible for the calamity that has befallen Yunatea. For this, you must answer and use your divine powers to repair the damage you have caused. Descend to Yunatea and solve this issue in your name.”
In order for Akidia to use her divine powers to undo the damage, she must relinquish her position as a deity.
A hushed silence settled as Akidia lifted her gaze. After a moment’s pause, she spoke in a softened tone, “Can we not find it in our hearts to forgive my beloved champion? Give him a chance to prove himself worthy of solving this problem and restoring peace once again.”
The crowd around them erupted in laughter, the sound harsh and mocking.
“Look at her naivety. She actually believes her champion can do anything about this!” one scoffed.
“I think she’s sleeping too much and dreaming when she wakes up,” sneered another.
“We don’t need to ask her permission; this is heaven’s decision. We must act immediately before things get worse,” a third voice urged.
“What a ridiculous proposal. Do you think we’ll listen to you, Akidia?” another spat.
Despite the ridicule, Akidia smiled calmly, maintaining a serene expression. “I believe in my beloved champion. Let him work on it, okay? Let’s give it, say… one year?”
Her words, though simple, resounded with an air of conviction that was strangely comforting despite the mocking chorus.
***
Gaia, the Mythic grade spirit and Nature Goddess, fixed her gentle and curious gaze upon Broken.
“Do you have a mission in this world?” she inquired.
Broken was silent for a few moments. Then, with a heavy sigh, he replied, “I guess so…” “There’s another world outside this one, where I live with misery as my constant companion. I mean, I actually come from that world, to here, Yunatea.”
Gaia tilted her head slightly, intrigued by his explanation.
“I was blessed with the chance to live a second life in this world. Despite my limitations, I was forever annoyed by the things I couldn’t do. That is, until a divine being graced me with her blessing and showed me the purpose of what I could do,” he continued.
Gaia tilted her head slowly, still paying close attention to every word he spoke.
“Do you love this world? What do you want to do with the blessing you got?”
“I want nothing more than to become the greatest I can be and do something that I desire.” “No matter the consequences?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because I want to honor what she has given me. This is a privilege I have never had before, and I want to see how far this blessing can take me.”
She searched his gaze, trying to understand the depths of his conviction. “Therefore, you don’t care about other people? Does this make you a bad person as well?”
“Good or bad, those terms have no relevance to my life,” he replied coldly. “All I’m concerned about is protecting those I care for, ensuring they are safe. And ensuring that people who stand in my way, stay out of my way.”
“What a dismal future you face then,” she said quietly, her face becoming serene. “You’ll surely encounter obstacles on your path.”
“Then I shall smash them into oblivion!” he declared.
Gaia let out a small laugh, bringing her hand up to her lips to cover her amusement.
“I’m certain the darkness in your heart has something fascinating planned for its adversaries,” Gaia continued. “Perhaps, if you’re willing, we could form an alliance? I am curious about the future path you will take.”
[Queen Gaia felt a deepening interest in the catalyst of her creation. Delaying her mission for a while seemed like a minor inconvenience compared to the potential knowledge she could gain. Her curiosity about your personality grew, and her affinity with you increased to 52%.] “A contract between us then?” he declared.
Goldrich couldn’t believe his eyes as he observed the scene, yet he reveled in the unfolding chaos.
“I’ve seen too many illegal things today, khi khi khi,” he said with a laugh. “We can’t hear what they’re saying, but surely we can guess what they might be discussing, right? And I’m curious about the outcome.”
Charmelyn replied thoughtfully, “Do you think he would mind? Shall I apologize on your behalf?”
“That’s completely up to you,” he replied nonchalantly. “But it really is a shame that I have to leave so soon! It’d be great if I had the same skill as yours to stay a little longer here.”
“Don’t give me that look – you know this skill only lets me stand here motionless,” she chuckled lightly.
“In any case, it’s time for me to depart,” Goldrich announced, his body slowly fading from view. “I’ve been entertained enough by what has happened so far. Please let us know if another urgent situation arises. At least some of us are still alive.” he said, his voice trailing off.
Charmelyn watched as Goldrich slowly disappeared from sight, leaving her alone.
“Do I need to stay, or should I go?” she pondered.
Queen Gaia held something out proudly in her hand, the object glinting like a golden beacon.
It was a ring.
“What is that ring?” Broken thought to himself, his mind still preoccupied. As he faced the figure in front of him, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly a spirit or the Nature Goddess herself. Did she possess a level like other deities, or was it just a title?
“I’m curious why you refer to yourself as a Nature Goddess when you haven’t ascended to the realm of deities yet, have you?” he inquired.
A flicker of surprise crossed Gaia’s face momentarily before she let out a low, chuckle. “Your candor is admirable and certainly stimulating. Did you know that even deities originate from
a mortal world such as ours?”
“No, I didn’t,” he shook his head.
“Then this also means either me or you can ascend to the deities’ realm, too,” she said. “Are you interested in that?”
“Ascend to be a deity? I think that’s an interesting concept that could be part of my journey
ahead.”
Gaia paused for a moment, as her gentle gaze rested on Broken. “There are certain consequences that come with contracting with me. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Please tell me what the consequence is.”
“I cannot complete the contract with you in my current form. I need to limit some of my powers to balance with yours. That way, we can both be secure under this agreement,” she
said solemnly.
“One more thing!” she added firmly.
“Please, let me know.”
“I need you to supply me with a lot of Monster Soul Stones, so I can regain my power quickly.
Only then can you fully utilize my abilities.”
“Consider it done,” he responded.