["This is the damage caused by a Rank SS+ Hunter. Absolutely astonishing! According to the latest research, this lightning really did come from the sky! It's natural lightning that's been perfectly controlled!"]
["Truly insane! Everyone knows natural lightning is nearly impossible to control! Even other Rank SS+ Hunters would surely struggle to do something similar!"]
["Yeah... that's..."]
"The same news again? Aren't they tired of talking about this over and over?"
Several pedestrians stopped in front of an electronics store display window.
Television screens showed reporters and renowned Hunters discussing the phenomenon that had lately become a topic of conversation everywhere.
"No wonder they keep talking about it. Who would've guessed the aftermath of that battle could be this devastating?" a man replied with a bored tone, though his eyes were full of wonder.
A month had already passed since the emergence of the mysterious Rank SS+ Hunter with six Talents.
Rather than fading, the sensation had only grown, spreading like fire through dry forest.
How could it not? Everyone had witnessed it themselves.
A sword technique so lethal it left a dimensional crack in the sky. An insane phenomenon only a handful of people could ever achieve.
On top of that, several mountains hundreds of meters tall had crumbled in an instant, creating a sight both terrifying and beautiful.
An explosion of bluish-purple light split the sky, illuminating the horizon like dawn in the middle of the night.
Though other Rank SS+ Hunters might be capable of similar destruction, none could do it with a single, effortless motion like that.
But her power wasn't what drew the most attention.
"She's truly beautiful..." they whispered without realizing it, as if under a spell.
The emergence of Raiden Shogun hadn't just caught the attention of various Kingdoms and Guilds; it had also captivated thousands of men across the continent.
Not without reason. Her allure went beyond the ordinary definition of "beautiful."
Thanks to advanced satellite technology, the world had managed to capture images of the moment 'Raiden Shogun' drew the sword "Musou Isshin" directly from her chest.
A blinding bluish-purple light had briefly blanked out the cameras, before her figure became clearly visible, standing tall amid the destruction.
Even though blood stained her body, flowing from battle wounds, her beauty remained entirely untarnished. If anything, that blood only seemed to heighten the captivating, mysterious aura around her.
No one knew who had first shared the image, but by now her face was recognized worldwide.
Long purple hair shimmering like the finest silk, falling freely down to her waist. A pair of deep purple eyes gleaming like rare Amethyst gems, radiating a calm that coexisted with the vigilance of an apex predator.
A purple kimono paired with dark purple stockings that perfectly outlined the curves of her body, creating a combination that drew gasps of admiration.
The beauty mark on her face, uniquely shaped, added an extraordinary touch, a magnetic pull that captivated every soul who saw it, like a succubus's spell.
Beautiful, yet unreachable.
Enchanting, yet cold as ice.
Captivating, yet deadly.
She was a Lightning Goddess who couldn't be looked at directly, like a lightning bolt itself, beautiful yet dangerous to approach.
Within just days, her presence had triggered a wave unlike anything seen before.
Famous celebrities saw their popularity fade, and even the names of other Rank SS+ Hunters were now left far behind.
Her popularity rivaled that of a Rank SSS Hunter...
"I heard the Young Master of the Falcon Family is completely infatuated with her," murmured a middle-aged woman.
"Ah, that..." her friend nodded slowly, her expression showing disbelief.
Another piece of news making the rounds was that, after the incident ended, the Young Master of the Falcon Family had openly used his noble status to search for the mysterious woman's whereabouts.
This was truly unexpected.
How could a Young Master known for being extremely shy and rarely interacting with any woman suddenly be willing to leverage his background just to win a woman over?
"The nobility really do whatever they want, huh?" one man remarked, his tone slightly sarcastic.
"True, but I think it's understandable. If I were in the same position, I might act the same way."
The image of Raiden Ei had left such a deep impression, too perfect to forget.
Even the "old foxes," a term for wealthy elderly men who remained single because they'd never found a woman strong enough to catch their interest, were now captivated by her presence.
For teenagers going through puberty, Raiden Ei's figure had become an object of wild fantasy, an illusion they would never be able to reach.
"With all this uproar, it's no surprise even the Imperial Family in the capital has started showing interest..."
***
A handsome young man walked calmly down the grand palace corridor.
Behind him, several servants followed obediently, maintaining a perfect distance. Not too close to be intrusive, but not too far to seem inattentive.
His steps stopped in front of an intricately carved mahogany door.
That was his father's study, the emperor who ruled over an empire stretching from the eastern seas to the western mountains.
The door opened without a sound.
Inside, a man sat reading through a tall stack of documents piled on his desk.
Emperor Elvius Lightsun had golden blond hair and a pair of eyes with glowing red pupils, distinctive features of the royal family that served as a symbol of their power.
Though already married with over a dozen concubines, his appearance still resembled a young man in his early twenties, one of the perks of the pure royal blood flowing through his veins.
"You've finally arrived," the Emperor said without looking up from the document in his hand, his tone flat yet commanding.
The young man bowed respectfully, "My apologies for the delay, Father." He straightened up. "Is there something important you wish to tell me?"
"Since you've just completed your closed-door training, read this."
Emperor Elvius handed over a document bound in red velvet.
The young man took it with both hands, opening it and reading through its contents carefully.
Slowly, his calm expression shifted, his brow furrowing deeply.
"...Is this information accurate, Father?" he asked, his voice slightly off, a rare occurrence for a prince trained to conceal his emotions.
"Yes," the Emperor nodded, pinching the bridge of his nose. "As hard as it is to believe, that's the reality."
The document contained complete information about 'Raiden Shogun.'
Everything from her identity, Rank, to the list of Talents she possessed. Including an in-depth analysis of her astonishing battle a month ago, complete with diagrams and calculations of her attack power.
What troubled the prince's mind the most wasโ
"This woman... how is it possible she truly has no identity at all?" The corner of his mouth twitched.
It made no sense for someone with power that devastating to simply appear out of nowhere... no background, no history.
"Our intelligence unit has confirmed it repeatedly," the Emperor answered. "She genuinely has no official identity or powerful backer behind her. Precisely because of that lack of affiliation, many nobles are currently scrambling to secure her. Even prominent Guilds and the Hunter Association itself have already mobilized significant resources to find her."
"So... what does this have to do with me, Father?" the prince asked cautiously.
Indeed, the discovery of a Hunter with six innate Talents was astonishing, but it shouldn't have been significant enough to warrant the full attention of the imperial family.
After all, their empire was fundamentally made up of beings who had already surpassed the limits of ordinary humans, elders who had lived for decades, even centuries.
On top of that, their empire already had several commanders equivalent to Rank S, or even SSS, the highest rank recognized in the world.
So there could only be one reason...
"...Do you wish for me to invite her to join our empire, Father?" the prince guessed.
"Partially correct," the Emperor nodded slowly. "Although her emergence isn't particularly disruptive for our family, for the Dukes and kings of other kingdoms, this woman's existence represents a golden opportunity too good to pass up."
Not every noble Duke or neighboring kingdom had a Rank SS Hunter or higher.
So when word spread about a Hunter that powerful with no affiliation, they were naturally scrambling to pull her to their side by any means necessary.
As Emperor, Elvius couldn't allow that to happen. Who knew what kind of chaos would follow if a Hunter that strong fell into the wrong hands.
Rather than letting a power like that be misused by others, it would be far better to recruit her as one of the empire's commanders to strengthen their defense forces.
"And also..." the Emperor gave his son a meaningful look, "As far as I know, you don't have a fiancรฉe yet, correct? What if you made her your candidate for Empress? Beyond her extraordinary strength, it's her unrivaled charm that's driven so many young princes and nobles wild over her. I hear even the eldest son of the Falcon Family is utterly obsessed with her."
Hearing that, the prince fell silent for a moment.
Indeed, the woman in the attached image was truly captivating, perhaps the most beautiful he'd seen in his two hundred years of life, but...
"She's still not quite compelling enough for me, Father. At the very least, she'd need to be as strong as a Rank SSS Hunter, or equal to the elders of our family."
"You're too picky," Emperor Elvius shook his head, unable to hide his disappointment.
"It's extremely difficult to find a woman of this caliber, especially one still free of any attachments."
"Is that all you wanted to tell me, Father?" the prince asked, clearly wanting to end a conversation that made him uncomfortable.
"No, there's one more thing." The Emperor produced a crystal orb glowing with a dim light. "We've detected an anomaly in the 'Life Forest.' According to preliminary investigation, an extremely powerful foreign energy is gathering in that forest. This energy isn't immediately dangerous, but..."
He pressed a small symbol on the orb, and instantly a holographic projection appeared in the air.
The image wasn't entirely clear, but it was enough to show a giant black sphere floating in the sky, with several large wings enveloping part of its form.
The entity appeared to be sleeping, waiting for something.
"This is..."
The prince narrowed his eyes, his instincts, honed over centuries, reacting sharply.
For some reason, he could sense an immense threat from that projection, something pure and dangerous.
"Exactly right," the Emperor nodded. "This unknown energy suddenly formed the manifestation you're seeing. And what's more concerning, for reasons we don't yet understand, ordinary people cannot see it at all."
"...What do you mean, Father?"
"Literally," Emperor Elvius explained, his voice growing lower. "This entity has a special characteristic that makes it invisible to ordinary eyes. Only those with high-level spiritual ability can detect its presence. Can you investigate this further?"
Staring at the projection once more, the prince fell silent for a moment, weighing the risk and the responsibility.
Finally, with a calm but firm voice, he answered:
"...I will carry it out, Father."
***
Amid the bustling city, a girl stood with a calm expression, her gaze fixed on a strange phenomenon in the sky, a giant winged black sphere floating silently, invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.
The girl had long blond hair, partially tied in a ponytail on the right side of her head, falling gracefully over her small shoulders.
Her pink eyes gleamed like rare gems, radiating an intelligence and calm that didn't match her seemingly young age.
She wore a clean white uniform with golden accents in several places, her hand gripping a small pink bag decorated with several star- and moon-shaped keychains.
Her golden earrings looked exotic, shimmering like pearls whose color gradually shifted over time, marking them as no ordinary jewelry.
With all these features, there was no doubt she belonged to a category of rare beauty.
But strangely... not a single person glanced her way, as if her very existence were undetectable to human senses.
People passed by her without noticing her presence at all, as if she were nothing but empty air.
In reality, that was exactly the case.
Except for a few individuals with special abilities, no one could see or sense her presence.
After all, thanks to her unique nature, she was no longer an ordinary human.
A question crossed her mind as her pink eyes continued observing the mysterious entity in the sky.
'I have one question for you, System... why is every Template Character I get always female?'
Though her expression remained calm, inside her heart churned with an unstoppable sense of injustice.
[Ding! Template Character obtained randomly. The System cannot control the selection process, but the Host need not worry. The Host will obtain at least one male Template Character in the future]
'And when exactly will that be?'
[The System cannot provide precise information regarding that matter]
"..."
Lux fell silent, also acknowledging her helplessness in this situation.
Her gaze returned to the "Angel" floating in the sky, and she couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.
'How did my situation become this complicated?'
***
A few days earlier...
In a simple yet tidy room, a boy of about fourteen was carefully tending to the wounds on his hand and forehead.
His nimble, practiced finger movements made it clear this wasn't the first time he'd treated himself.
His snow-white hair contrasted with his pale skin. His right eye radiated a stunning sapphire blue, clear and deep like a bottomless ocean, while his left eye remained hidden behind a black eyepatch, concealing something called "Mystic Eyes," too dangerous and conspicuous to be shown.
This boy was Lux, who had just released the Raiden Ei, or Raiden Shogun, Template Character he'd been using.
But there was a problem that made him frown in pain.
"System, are you sure you're not forgetting an important explanation?" he asked skeptically.
"Why are the wounds I received while using the Raiden Ei Template still present on my original body?"
Indeed, the wounds he was now tending to weren't results of a battle he'd fought as himself. These were wounds he'd sustained while in Raiden Ei's form.
[Releasing a Template Character does not remove wounds already received]
[Those wounds remain and are transferred to the Host's original body, independent of the appearance being used]
"I see..." Lux frowned, considering the implications of this information. "Will these wounds heal naturally?"
[Yes]
"That's good news," Lux exhaled.
Fortunately, he wouldn't need to do something like return to the template form just to heal his wounds...
At the moment, Lux had just finished his dinner, a simple plate of pasta he'd cooked himself.
Although his identity as an Assassin might surprise most people, his cooking skills were actually something he took quite a bit of pride in.
There was one thing rather amusing. Initially, Lux had intended to cook using the Raiden Ei Template, thinking a goddess's ability must surely surpass his own by far. But he discovered a very surprising fact.
Raiden Ei, or Raiden Shogun, turned out to have absolutely no talent for cooking whatsoever.
In other words, even with the basic skills Lux possessed as "Lux Frost," he still couldn't produce a decent dish while using that Template...
He had been extremely careful lighting the stove, choosing the highest quality ingredients, and following the recipe meticulously, yet the result was still horrific, nothing more than a plate of smoking black chaos that couldn't even be called food.
As if Raiden Ei and Raiden Shogun had been eternally cursed with an inability to cook.
Realizing this fact, Lux shook his head in disbelief.
I mean, who could have imagined it? A grown woman, let alone a goddess, who couldn't even manage a basic task like cooking?
And here he'd found it. What was even more baffling, this was the Electro Archon, rumored to possess the power to split an island in two.
At that moment, Lux felt a pang of pity for the real Raiden Ei.
After all, what man would want to marry a woman who couldn't cook? How had she managed to survive all this time?
Well, aside from materialistic men who were merely captivated by her outer beauty.
But personally, Lux would never consider marrying a woman like that.
No matter how unrivaled her beauty, he had no interest in becoming a sugar daddy who'd have to order takeout every single day.
Better to marry a simple, humble servant who could cook well than a beautiful goddess who couldn't even boil water without scorching the pot.
Setting that matter aside, Lux began reviewing the Raiden Ei Template Character data in his mental system.
...
โฆ [๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข / ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง] โฆ
- [๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐๐.๐%]
- [๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐: ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ณ๐๐๐ฎ๐, ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐จ๐ง, ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ, ๐๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง, ๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ, ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ข๐]
- [๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง: ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ]
- [๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ: ๐๐จ๐ (๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ), ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ญ (๐๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ)]
- [๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ (?), ๐๐ง๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ (?)]
- [๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง: ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ]
...
...truly surprising.
Seeing Raiden Ei's progress nearly reach 100%, Lux blinked.
Could fighting battles that risked his life increase a Template Character's progress this quickly?
Though it hadn't truly been a life-or-death battle, since Raiden Ei still had an unplayed trump card, a power that had never been used.
If that "power" were unleashed, even a Rank SS Hunter would fall in an instant.
But that "power" could only be activated when she was truly cornered, or when her swordsmanship alone wasn't enough to defeat an opponent.
[No. The reason for the rapid progress increase is because Raiden Ei's feat has shocked the world and drawn extraordinary attention from the general public]
"Is that so?" Hearing that explanation, Lux raised an eyebrow with curiosity. "In that case, show me the total points accumulated so far."
[Ding! Beginning calculation...]
[Ding! The Host's current total is 70,000,000 Achievement Points!]
[Achievement Points continue to increase as your feat spreads exponentially across the continent]
"..."
Seeing that staggering number of points, Lux fell utterly speechless.
For some reason, he began to feel that his identity as Frost Assassin had, all this time, felt so pitiful and meaningless.
As "Frost Assassin," it had taken him over three years to accumulate one million points.
But here, simply by becoming a beautiful adult woman, he'd managed to accumulate tens of millions of points within a matter of weeks.
[The Host should not misunderstand. The Achievement Points the Host earned as Frost Assassin were relatively few because the System was not yet fully active at that time. Now, the Host can earn far more Achievement Points even while using the Frost Assassin identity]
[Even so, point acquisition will still be lower compared to when the Host uses a Template Character]
"That's fine..." Lux didn't dwell on it too much.
At the very least, this meant he wouldn't always have to use a female form just to accumulate Achievement Points.
[Ding! Raiden Ei/Shogun Template Progress has reached 90%!]
[Two options are now available to the Host]
[First option: Ability to summon the real Raiden Ei/Shogun without any memories. To control her actions, the Host must control her mentally]
[Second option: Ability to determine a new random Template Character. The chance of obtaining a Template Character with equal or greater power is extremely high!]
"..."
Reading the options offered, Lux fell silent, his brow furrowing deeply. After thinking it over for a while, he finally asked:
"If I choose the second option... will the first option no longer appear in the future?"
[Not necessarily. Once Raiden Ei/Shogun's progress reaches 100%, the Host can still summon the real Raiden Ei, but with several potential issues]
"Issues?"
[Such as the combat strength of 'Raiden Ei/Shogun' potentially being weaker than the Template version, uncontrolled power, wounds received potentially being transferred to the Host's body, or other risks]
Hearing that explanation, Lux fell silent for a moment, processing the information he'd received. "Then what if I ignore the second option for now?"
[Then the quality of the next Template Character cannot be guaranteed. The Host risks obtaining a Template as powerful as 'Raiden Ei,' or conversely, an extremely weak Template Character]
"..."
Honestly, both options were like magnets.
Summoning Raiden Ei meant having an unmatched trump card, a figure as blank as an empty canvas, easily shaped without resistance. Like having a living doll with a god's power.
Besides, a scenario where Raiden Ei and "Frost Assassin" met would surely create a sensation that would shake the world, generating a shockwave that would stun everyone. The Achievement Points flowing in were already vivid in his mind.
True, controlling Raiden Ei would require splitting his mental focus into two separate entities. But for Lux, a sacrifice that small wasn't nearly comparable to the payoff.
Wasn't every advantage always bound to come with some risk?
But the second option... its temptation was no less intoxicating. A stronger Template meant more devastating power, wider possibilities, nearly limitless potential.
A truly mind-bending choice...
Lux's eyes narrowed as his fingers tapped slowly.
He thought about it for a long while, but in the end...
"I'll choose the second one."
The logic was undeniable. Though Raiden Ei's charm was extraordinary, a powerful Template was a treasure that rarely appeared.
From the endless ocean of fictional characters, anime, manga, games, movies, and light novels, the majority were just ordinary humans without any special power.
Slice-of-life characters without supernatural abilities were vastly more numerous, far outweighing fantasy characters with magical powers. The second option offered a guarantee that couldn't be ignored.
Besides, giving up the chance to summon Raiden Ei now didn't mean closing that door forever. Once her progress reached 100%, that opportunity would open up again.
If the risk of getting something weak came to pass? "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" would serve as his final solution.
[Ding! Beginning determination of the new Template Character...]
[Ding! The Host has successfully obtained the Template Character ใTakamiya Mayuriใ from the 'Date A Live World'!]
[Would the Host like to Install Template ใTakamiya Mayuriใ now?]
"...Another female character?" Lux fell silent, at a loss for words.
The name "Date A Live" sounded unfamiliar to him, a piece of fiction he'd never touched before.
But the System guaranteed the fiction's popularity, so the character's power inside it surely wasn't anything to scoff at, right?
His hand rose, ready to install the new Template, but suddenly froze in midair.
"No, maybe some other day..." he murmured quietly.
Becoming a woman again? He felt a bit reluctant.
No matter how powerful the strength on offer, there was a certain comfort in his original form and true power.
"Maybe... I should get some sleep."
***
Four days later...
"This spot should work."
Lux's figure landed smoothly among the lush trees, disguised as Frost Assassin.
The Life Forest stretched out around him, a green paradise known for the Dryad race that guarded the life energy in every corner.
Legend had it that Life Forest was directly blessed by the Goddess of Life, making it a natural gem that captivated both eye and soul.
Its beauty drew visitors from every corner, with one simple condition, respect the beauty and the forest's inhabitants.
The journey from Lux's home city to this forest had taken a full two days. Not a short distance, but two important goals had driven him to make the long trip.
First, a Guild mission to eliminate a nobleman in a nearby city. Second, testing his new Template Character.
Initially, he'd planned to test it in a field near the city. But the System had suddenly suggested a different location, warning of potential issues during the activation process.
Given that his city was still recovering from the battle he'd fought as "Raiden Ei," Lux hadn't argued.
After confirming the surrounding area was clear of any living creatures, Lux took a deep breath and began installing his new Template.
A prickle of curiosity nagged at him.
How powerful was this Template, that the System had suggested he find such a remote location?
If this Template was as strong as Raiden Ei, all the better...
But what happened next was beyond anything he could have predicted.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข! ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข! ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข!
'...Huh?'
Lux's eyes went wide as his heartbeat turned wild and erratic.
His hand clutched his chest, his body shaking violently until both knees automatically slammed into the ground.
"W-what the..."
His trembling fingers touched his face.
A strange sensation surged through him, as if six different feelings were colliding within him all at once.
"What is this feeling..."
Trying to stay calm, Lux analyzed the storm of emotions overwhelming him.
Though it was a mix from six different sources, the essence was the same.
Love.
Pure and profound.
Huh? Love?!
Since when had he fallen in love? With whom?!
This was a false feeling! Not his own!
His head throbbed intensely, on the very edge of consciousness.
His resistance weakened as a flood of unfamiliar memories washed over his mind.
A clear blue sky stretched above.
A beautiful girl smiled gently at a young man whose face was blurred, unidentifiable. Several other figures floated around them, girls whose faces were also obscured.
The girl in the young man's embrace wore an elegant, open black gown. Her golden blond hair shimmered under the sunlight, her pink eyes radiating a gentle warmth. Black gloves and golden boots completed her appearance.
The most striking feature was a pair of angel wings on her back, along with a smaller pair near her ears.
Her appearance was like that of a heavenly angel, spreading a charm that entranced anyone who gazed upon her.
Her smile radiated a pure love that soothed the soul, yet it also carried a deep sorrow, as if she were reluctant to part.
Her body began to glow softly as she whispered to the young man holding her in desperation:
"Because I met you... I am no longer an existence born only to disappear... thank you..."
"MAYURI...!!!"
***
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.....!!!!
Lux's body suddenly erupted with a tremendous foreign energy. His gaze and mind went blank as his body and eyes transformed.
His heterochromatic eyes shifted into a matching pair of pink irises. The body of a handsome boy transformed into the figure of a petite girl standing 154 cm tall.
An open black gown formed, covering her body. A pair of beautiful angel wings emerged on her back.
All the energy spread out, completing the transformation.
[Ding! Ding! Emergency warning! The original character consciousness of 'Mayuri' is attempting to take over the Host's body!]
[DING! DING! DING! ALERT!!]
[Initiating consciousness suppression...]
Lux's โ or "Mayuri's" โ blank expression suddenly shifted.
"๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.....!!"
A roar not of this human world shook the entire forest.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐...!!!
Energy, no, more precisely, reiryoku, exploded in every direction, obliterating anything in its path.
In the sky, a giant winged black sphere the size of a whale appeared.
Terrifying reiryoku gathered around it, ready to annihilate all existence.
The power gathered was capable of leveling dozens of major cities in an instant!
Howeverโ
[Consciousness restoration...]
๐ฟ๐๐!
The blank eyes of "the two of them" widened. The raging, wild aura instantly calmed.
The elements of ice, fire, wind, sound, sword, and lightning, dancing wildly, vanished in an instant, before they could destroy anything.
The giant black sphere in the sky slowly settled, its wings folding to cover itself, entering rest mode.
The 'girl' fell to her knees, her hand reaching out weakly. Her beautiful Astral Dress gradually faded.
Her gaze remained fixed on the sky, unaware that several inhabitants of Life Forest were watching her, utterly captivated.
Her presence left them stunned because... they had never before seen a Spirit's aura so pure and sacred.
A few seconds later, the 'girl' collapsed, unconscious.
๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฌ... ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ฌ...
Figures emerged magically from the tree trunks. Their bodies resembled women, with plant-like features, leaves and twigs, merging seamlessly with their skin.
The Dryads, guardians of the forest.
Seeing the 'beautiful Spirit' lying there, they wanted to help.
A golden light suddenly shone near the girl. The Dryads froze, then knelt in deep reverence upon recognizing the figure who had appeared.
"๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ..."
An adult woman of a beauty beyond words. A warm smile never left her radiant face.
Her brown hair trailed down, touching the ground, her emerald eyes radiating an eternal warmth. Her presence channeled life energy into every plant around her, creating a deeper sense of peace.
One of the highest existences in this world, the Goddess of Life.
Her power surpassed even a Rank SSS Hunter. Beyond Tier 10 (peak), falling into the Transcendent Tier category, capable of annihilating the world in an instant, should she wish to.
But true to her name, she instead protected life.
"[How beautiful you are, my dear... you're truly pure...]"
The Goddess of Life smiled gently, gazing at the 'beautiful Spirit' before her. A type of Spirit she had never encountered before.
This Spirit hadn't been born from another Spirit's womb, or from any living creature at all. She had been born purely from human emotion, which made her existence invisible to ordinary eyes.
But the Goddess of Life could see her clearly, just as the Dryads, who weren't "ordinary" beings either, could. Yet the Goddess's smile carried a hint of sorrow.
"[Such a good child... yet you've suffered so deeply...]"
Her gentle fingers stroked the Spirit's face. She could sense an extraordinary mental instability, something deeply traumatic must have happened. Otherwise, why would the destruction around this place be so severe?
"[How terrifying... I never knew a power like this could exist...]"
The Goddess of Life gazed at the giant winged black sphere in the sky. Its presence radiated a deeply concerning aura.
To ordinary beings, including the Dryads, that sphere was invisible. If they could see it, they would surely have fled in sheer terror.
The Goddess of Life realized that black sphere was a manifestation of this beautiful Spirit's power. Destroying it would be the same as killing this Spirit, something she had no wish to do.
This Spirit was far too innocent and pure. Untouched by any sin. A rare miracle. Despite having gone through something terrible, she hadn't drowned in darkness.
The Goddess of Life resolved to preserve this purity.
Every being carries sin, including herself.
But here, before her, lay an existence without a single blemish, a beauty beyond measure.
The Goddess of Life had no wish to see a being like this tainted. She would do anything to help and protect her.
"[I have granted many living beings Divine Protection, but for you specifically, I will grant a Divine Protection unlike anything anyone else possesses]"
Though always gentle and warm toward all beings, for this Spirit, the Goddess of Life gave even more. She would watch over her as if she were her own child.
With great affection, she kissed the Spirit's forehead.
Feeling the softness of her skin, the Goddess of Life paused. Her scent was so unique, capable of driving any man wild with desire.
Fortunately, this Spirit was invisible to most people, or the Goddess wouldn't have been able to remain calm imagining how many savage men would chase after this "child" of hers.
A leaf-shaped symbol formed on the Spirit's forehead before slowly fading away.
"[It may not be much, but this will help you control your power]"
The Goddess of Life understood that although that black sphere was this Spirit's power, she wasn't yet able to control it. The sphere reacted to her feelings, moving in accordance with her emotions.
This Divine Protection would also allow the Goddess to sense this Spirit's presence and feelings from afar.
Should her emotions become unstable, the Goddess of Life could immediately arrive to take control of the situation.
"[My time is up, take good care of yourself, my dear... I will move you to the nearest city...]"
The bodies of the Goddess of Life and the Spirit began to glow. Before vanishing, the Goddess restored all the damage that had occurred throughout the forest.
"[Please, don't speak of this girl's existence to anyone else...]" she gently asked the Dryads.
The Dryads nodded quickly, without the slightest hesitation.
What a joke it would be, how could they possibly dare refuse a request from the very goddess who had blessed their forest?!
"[Until we meet again...]"
In an instant, the Goddess of Life and the Spirit vanished, leaving behind a forest now filled with life energy even stronger than before.