A bright light.
That was the first thought that pierced through the fog of my consciousness as my mind sluggishly began piecing itself together.
The overwhelming radiance in front of was almost blinding, yet I couldn't look away.
My thoughts, still sluggish from the aftermath of whatever had just happened, struggled to process what I was seeing.
There was a figure before undeniably human in shape, but everything about her felt far removed from the mortal plane.
She was luminous, her very presence casting a warm, golden glow that seed to push back the lingering darkness within .
The sheer beauty of her existence left breathless, and yet, my mind faltered to define her as simply a person.
No, she was sothing far greater than that.
Her voice broke through the haze like a lody I had never heard yet sohow knew by heart.
[It's a pleasure to finally et you, Riley Hell.]
The way she said my na, soft yet deliberate, carried a weight that seed to anchor in this surreal mont.
Her smile was radiant, a smile that felt like the gentle embrace of a loving parent.
It was warm, surreal, and impossibly comforting-like the kind of welco you didn't realize you had been longing for until it was given.
[Hmm? Even though I've toned down my divinity as much as I could, I suppose being in my direct presence still overwhelms you,] she remarked, her voice tinged with mild amusent yet gentle enough to soothe the tension. [We only have a short ti together, so I'm going to help you focus. Please forgive my rudeness in advance.]
Her hand continued to pat my head with a comforting rhythm, lulling into a strange mix of calm and bewildernt.
My mind was still foggy, caught between disbelief and awe, when she closed her eyes.
A radiant golden light began to pulse from her form, growing brighter with each passing mont.
-Flash!
The light exploded outward in a burst of brilliance, forcing to close my eyes instinctively. The energy it radiated was imnse, a force that seed to ripple through my entire being.
When the brightness subsided, I slowly opened my eyes, only to find myself instinctively pulling away from the soft warmth of her lap.
"Y-You..." I stamred, my body moving on its own as I scrambled to put distance between
us.
Before stood the sa ethereal woman, her presence still otherworldly, but sothing had drastically changed.
The overwhelming light that had cloaked her before was gone, replaced by a form I recognized imdiately.
Her sharp blue eyes, cascading black hair, and commanding yet graceful features-everything about her appearance now mirrored that of my mother.
My mother, whose very existence stirred a sowhat visceral hatred within ....
[Fufufu- It seems this was the right choice] she said, her lodic voice now tinged with an unmistakable familiarity.
I froze, my mind racing to process the sight in front of .
Even though the golden sparkles that shimred faintly around her betrayed the truth of her identity, the uncanny replication of my mother's form was enough to send a chill down my spine.
"Taking that form isn't funny, you know..." I muttered, trying to steady my voice.
Seeing Helena's face-my mother's face-so close, especially with such an uncharacteristic look of warmth and care, nearly gave a heart attack. It was a stark contrast to the stern and distant woman I rembered.
Her lips curved into a soft smile as she tilted her head slightly, her deanor radiating an almost playful elegance.
[Ufufu~ This seems to be the only way for us to have a proper conversation, young Riley. Once again, please forgive my rudeness,] she said, bowing slightly in apology.
The sight of her bowing-a being of such undeniable power and divinity—was so jarring that my hands instinctively shot up, palms facing forward, as though to stop her.
Sothing deep within , perhaps even my soul, scread that soone like her shouldn't be doing sothing like this.
"Please don't bow your head," I said hurriedly, the words tumbling out before I could even think. "I didn't an it in a harmful way. I was just... surprised. Dear goddess..."
Her eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise flashing across her otherwise serene expression.
Clearly, she hadn't expected to identify her so quickly.
Not that it was difficult-everything about her, from the radiant aura to the ethereal beauty that felt almost otherworldly, pointed to one conclusion.
And then there was the fact that she resembled the goddess depicted in the ga during the harem ending—a figure I'd only ever seen once before.
[Goddess, huh?] she said, her tone tinged with amusent. (I could just be a caring angel, you know-]
I narrowed my eyes slightly, my suspicion unwavering. "An angel wouldn't radiate such an overwhelming level of divinity, dear goddess..."
Her soft laughter filled the space, warm and lodic. [Ufufu~ That's true.]
Even her chuckle seed to resonate with sothing deep within , sending shivers down
my spine.
It wasn't fear, exactly-it was sothing far more profound, as though my very essence recognized her presence as sothing sacred and undeniable.
'So, this is what it feels like to be in the actual presence of a god?'
-Clap!
The sound of her hands coming together was sharp, yet it carried a soothing authority that snapped back to attention.
I looked at her directly, though the sight of her wearing my mother's face still sent a jolt of unease through .
Oddly enough, it also served as a strange anchor, helping focus.
Her true form, on the other hand, was so overwhelmingly divine that my mind struggled to comprehend it—a blur of radiant light and majesty beyond human understanding.
[Looks like there's no need for to introduce myself, hm? Well then, let's get right to the
main focus, shall we?]
As her words echoed around , the world shifted and warped.
Golden sparks danced in the air like fireflies, the space around us twisting and reshaping
itself.
When the shimring light finally settled, I found myself in an entirely different
environnt.
Gone was the soft, cloud-filled room that felt like the embodint of comfort.
Now, I stood amidst an endless expanse of pure white and sky blue, a place that seed to
stretch infinitely in all directions.
The "ground" beneath my feet felt soft yet firm, like solidified air.
Clouds surrounded us, glowing with a radiant golden light that seed to pulse gently, as if
the entire realm were alive and breathing.
It felt like I was standing in the heavens themselves, the air imbued with an indescribable
purity.
[Riley Hell,] she began, her voice echoing in this ethereal expanse, [as per my promise-and
as per the rules of the last relic I granted humanity—I shall now bestow your rewards. And,
as
a little bonus...]
She gave a playful wink, her expression shifting into sothing that felt almost mischievous, a stark contrast to the divine gravity of her presence.
[...a touch of my blessing as well~]
The mont the words left her lips, a sudden warmth blood inside .
It was as though a spark had been lit in the very core of my being, spreading outward in waves that made my body tingle and my mind buzz.
Surprisingly, no system ssage appeared-no usual chi or text to explain what had just
happened.
Despite the lack of notification, it was undeniable that sothing profound had taken place.
Before I even realized it, there was already a sword in my right hand.
The weight of it felt perfect, balanced, as though it had been made specifically for .
Its blade shimred with a faint, stormy glow, a swirling mix of silver and azure. Just the
sight and feel of it were enough to confirm what it was.
"Tempest Sword..."
The na slipped from my lips almost instinctively, and a flood of emotions surged through
. I had almost forgotten that this legendary-ranked weapon was supposed to be part of the
trial's rewards.
The goddess smiled warmly at my reaction, her golden gaze filled with sothing akin to
pride.
[Once you return, many things will change for you, young Riley,] she said softly. [For the better, I truly hope. The blessings I've given you are not just gifts but tools to help you move forward into the future you seek.]
She stepped closer, the shimring glow around her dimming slightly as she extended her arms. Before I could fully process what was happening, she embraced gently.
[This ti, you can win...]
Her words, though comforting, carried an undertone of mystery.
Much like the other versions of myself, she kept speaking in cryptic phrases-"this ti" and
"win."
Was she aware of what the other versions of had done?
Or was she sohow connected to them?
The question lingered in my mind, but her intentions were clear.
She wanted to succeed.
She wanted to reach the happy ending I had always sought-not just for myself, but for
everyone.
The embrace was warm, enveloping in a sense of safety I hadn't felt in years.
Even though her form resembled my mother, which should have made the mont deeply uncomfortable, there was sothing about her presence that made it bearable-almost
soothing.
[Before we have our small talk, and before you go...] she said, patting my head gently.
Her touch was so calming that I felt my eyelids grow heavy, a deep relaxation threatening to
pull into sleep.
[Tell , young Riley. What is it that you wish?]
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a divine authority that made it clear she wasn't rely asking
out of politeness.
Wish?
Ah, that's right. In the ga, the goddess was supposed to grant you a wish-a single desire
that could shape your path forward.
But weren't those wishes usually tied to the rewards, blessings, and gifts already given during
the trial?
Whatever the case, this was different.
This was a rare mont where I could ask for what I truly wanted.
I tightened my grip on the Tempest Sword, my mind racing.
Despite everything, the answer was clear.
"I wish-"
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