The simple, empty room, suddenly transformed into an endless universe filled with stars and distant galaxies.
It seemed like KiRA was suddenly transferred somewhere else but that was not the case, the world around him had simply changed to accommodate an entity that otherwise should not reside within the tangible mortal world.
{ "Do you understand what you're doing, child." }
A voice so gentle and caring that its warmth would make you forget all your worries in an instant filled KiRA's heart.
'It's the same feeling… worse, in fact.'
He did not like whenever this happened. It wasn't an effect of any skills, the higher beings of the tower could exert a kind of special presence that would influence any being with less authority than their own.
[2:01]
As a low-level human with no authority within the tower whatsoever, he was merely a sheep before the experienced butcher present all around him right now.
{ "It must certainly be a mistake. Yes…" }
This voice he was hearing right now, this unique voice that made him feel weirdly calm was as disgusting as ever.
Still, he could not show it outright, nor could he do anything foolish right now. He knew what he needed to do.
"Haaa."
So, calming himself first, he sat down on the chair that had appeared before him.
{ "Child, you must already know about the Gods, right? I don't know if you already have anyone you follow, however, things will change for your world now." }
-Ooooooooooong!
Right after he sat down, a figure materialized on the chair before him.
{ "Accept me, child. Becoming a saint will provide you with great powers beyond what you could ever imagine." }
Whatever words rang in his ears, they produced even more serenity and warmth inside of him. Of all the higher beings of the tower, this one was especially repulsive to him.
He did not want to hear any more of her crap, so he looked before him, at the unprecedented figure, and shook his head negatively.
"Great lady of the Southern Star." He spoke, his voice filled with confidence and sorrow. "Mother of Tri-horn Gatekeepers, The Master of Starlit Palace."
[1:32]
Illuminated by a divine radiance, materialized as a humanoid figure, with looks that humans cannot put into words– possessing eyes as radiant and pure as the distant stars, a body as graceful as a newborn divine beast, with features that could only be praised with grand adjectives– even the look of shock on the goddess seemed like the unexpected sound of the first raindrops.
"There is no master that I follow currently, however, the Order of Ezlyn does not resonate with my greedy ideals, oh great higher being."
KiRA knew things about these higher beings that not even those closest to them knew about.
His goal wasn't to become a saint of some goddess, but something far beyond that.
{ "Oh… I see." }
The voice that had been gentle and warm was still gentle and warm despite the clear hostility within it.
{ "So you know about us, huh?" }
He had not been feeling any pressure, his body could move as he wanted, however the revelation of a fraction of his knowledge brought back the divine pressure pressing down on him.
{ "You must be one of those
The goddess' voice seemed so angry now that anyone hearing it would shake in fear, yet the warmth and calmness that it brought remained the same.
[0:45]
Had it been anyone in his place right now, even those who had reached higher floors of the tower, they would be in a psychological crisis right now.
Just the fact that he was maintaining his sanity was enough to earn any other god's attention.
Still…
{ "You do not want to become my saint? That is fine, young child. You are free to do as you desire." }
-Oooooooooong!
{ "How about I propose another option that you cannot refuse?" }
A figure identical to KiRA appeared right beside The goddess, a figure that possessed the same features, the same clothes, and even the same artifacts as he did.
It was strange how identical they looked, but the eyes that this figure had were golden, like the goddess, and not Red like real KiRA.
{ "Take this puppet with you. Let it be the one to accept the position of the saint. You can make it do anything you want. You can even-." }
"I… I refuse!" The pressure coming from the goddess was so great that KiRA could barely utter his denial.
[0:30]
{ "Oh? Then, how about…" }
The goddess suggested all kinds of ideas like taking a token of her will and handing it to someone that he found right for the role.
Choosing from a selection of divine beasts for himself that would help him on his journey.
Getting the chance to learn whatever he wanted from a [Master] from a higher floor.
Having any weapon containing her will.
And options that did not seem as Pure or Good as the rest.
She even suggested he become her carrier in exchange for having a portion of her authority without the restriction of becoming her saint– something that was crazier than actually becoming the saint.
"I…Haaa… I refuse…"
[0:05]
It took him everything he had to utter those last few words.
His head and hands were on the table, his body almost lifeless, his face as pale as a dead.
He was still breathing, he was still alive, he was also almost unharmed, but he was not in any condition to do anything else.
A last few words, that's all he had left in him. Thankfully, their time for the meeting was also nearing its end.
[0:03]
{ "Hmm? Ah… seems like our time together is about to end. I'm not done though." }
The goddess' face was still smiling, however, those words seemed to contain so much hostility and hate that not even the falsely induced gentleness could contain it anymore.
{ "Alright…" }
-Oooooooooooooooong!
A radiant light spread out from the goddess and covered the entire place around them including the endless above and below.
[0:04]
Then, KiRA saw the timer before his eyes going backward.
[0:05]
[0:09]
[0:15]
[0:21]
{ "That should be enough." }
The body of the goddess as well as the warmth in her voice had noticeably gone down.
{ "Should we start once again then?" }
KiRA knew she had used her divine powers to manipulate the world so that the effects of Causality were reversed in a way– an act that was considered taboo, something the system could not recognize readily.
[0:18]
{ "I only want your betterment, child. With me, you will be much better. You will be much stronger. And you will be much purer." }
Rays of light were now gathering around her stretched-out palm placed before KiRA's head.
If she could not have what she wanted with words or bargains, then there was no other choice left.
[0:12]
KiRA would have to accept her on his own. Something she would make possible.
"System… request…"
Something KiRA did not want.
"Code… three… three…. three."
He used his last bit of strength and spoke up some words.
{ "...!?" }
Some words that the goddess did not expect him to know.
[Ding!]
It wasn't something mortals should be aware of in the first place.
[Request received.]
It wasn't something he should be capable of either…
But, it was too late to think about those things.
[Initiating investigation of specified area for Causality Defiance…]
She had made a mistake.
[Ding!]
[System Disobedience found!]
And she was going to be punished for it.