Author's Note: You can use Webnovel's read-aloud feature to dive deeper into the story. I've gone through and cleaned every chapter so you can enjoy a smooth, immersive experience. Welcome to the world of myriad fantasies.
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Modret found himself in a strange world with stars of all colors that sparkled like gems on a velvet sky.
He gasped in shock, his eyes wide as he tried to take in everything around him. He was stunned by how strange everything was.
There was a huge figure in front of him that looked like it took up the whole room. It changed shape and pulsed with a strange light.
"What… What the hell is that?. Modret muttered, watching in stunned disbelief as the enormous figure began to shrink. Its form condensed rapidly until it took on the appearance of a middle-aged man.
"Is that the being that killed me?" Modret wondered, staring at the man in silence, his thoughts whirling with confusion.
The figure now resembled a man in his early forties. He had well-groomed black beards, and a hint of amusement played across his face as he quietly glanced at Modret.
His blue robes flowed and sparkled with starlight. They billowed gently, as though stirred by breeze.
The robes made him appear ethereal, like an immortal entity from the heavens—divine and far off from the mundane world, albeit clad in a human shape.
'Perhaps he truly is a deity, especially since he holds power over life and death,' Modret thought grimly.
A strange wave of nausea swept over him just from standing in the god's presence, and his body trembled slightly as if rejecting the overwhelming aura.
"Do not gaze directly at a god," the man said, his voice calm and composed. It was low and resonant, echoing not just in the air but deep within Modret's mind.
"If I were not suppressing my divine aura, you would have been reduced to ashes long ago."
Instinctively, Modret lowered his head. His pupils dilated with shock.
"A god?" he whispered, raising his head just enough to glimpse the being's chin, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Yes, I am a god. But you may call me Noctis," the man said with a faint smile.
Modret's mind whirled. Was he genuinely standing before a divine entity?
Yet as he recalled the series of events that had led him here, he could no longer deny it.
It seemed all too real, and more importantly, this so-called god… needed something from him.
"You are correct, human. I need your help," Noctis said flatly, his expression unchanged. "But you are far too weak right now."
Modret felt his throat tighten. It made sense.
He was just a mortal, after all—an ordinary human dragged into the affairs of gods.
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly before asking, "What would I be helping you with?"
Noctis fell silent for a few moments, as if contemplating his words. Then he finally spoke.
"The game you played previously—Celestial Descent—was an invention of my own. It was not just a game, but a simulation of the final war among the gods.
"The ending, as you know, was the death of all divine beings. Naturally, it is impossible to complete it because it reflects a reality where every god perishes… but…"
His voice faded into silence as he reached the final words.
Modret's eyes widened, and his heart pounded with disbelief.
To think the game he played merely to prove it was not unbeatable was actually designed by the gods themselves.
It was baffling.
"Come to think of it, the game always did feel too lifelike, too bizarre to be manmade," Modret reflected, his thoughts spinning swiftly.
Noctis could hear every thought, but chose not to interrupt him. He remained quiet, waiting patiently for Modret's response.
"So… the help you need… is to save the gods?" Modret asked at last, after regaining his composure.
Noctis seemed as though he was about to answer, but then frowned slightly and fell into silence.
"Not necessarily. That is something we will discuss when you have gained enough strength."
Realizing the god was unwilling to elaborate further, Modret narrowed his eyes.
Though his head remained low, a tiny grin pulled at the corners of his mouth.
"Since you refuse to answer that, can I at least know what kind of danger the gods are facing?"
"You are quite an amusing human," Noctis said with a soft chuckle . "But of course not. You are still mortal. Knowing divine secrets would only bring about your immediate and inevitable death."
Modret rolled his eyes. The mysteries were already starting to mount.
It seemed he would soon be thrust into battle against unknown enemies capable of killing gods.
"How thrilling," he muttered under his breath with a sigh.
"Can I know anything at all?" he asked again, his tone tinged with mild frustration.
"No," Noctis replied. "The reason I brought you here is to offer you an opportunity.Since you are going to aid me, it is only reasonable that I help you in return—before the time comes."
"Help me? In what way?" Modret asked.His voice conveyed a touch of interest, reverberating through the shimmering universe.
Noctis smiled again and gently waved his hand. Instantly, thousands of colorful lights burst into existence, illuminating the whole space with holy beauty.
"You may choose seven treasures from here. These are the treasures I accumulated during my lifetime of cultivation."
Modret's eyes widened once more. His breath seized in his throat, and his heart thudded heavily in his chest.
The limitless clusters of blazing orbs filled up the space surrounding him, their brilliance reflecting in his black eyes as small suns.
He was astonished by the overwhelming majesty before him.
Treasures accumulated by a god through eons of cultivation? It was beyond comprehension.
But then, a shadow of doubt crept into his heart.
Could it really be this simple?
If these treasures could not save the gods, what could he possibly do with them? What good would they be in his hands?
His confidence wavered.
"What happens if I choose to reject your offer?" Modret asked, lifting his gaze slightly toward the god, then quickly lowering it again.
Noctis's eyes darkened, and a cold chill entered his voice.
"Like any other human, you would be reincarnated without memories of your previous life. However, there is a high chance that you would return as a pig or a worm."
Modret's lips twitched slightly.
That was definitely a threat. Subtle, yet recognizable.
"Damn it," he cursed internally. It seemed he had no real choice in the matter.
Besides…
'I have not enjoyed this life nearly enough. At the very least, I should experience the company of a beautiful woman before heading to the afterlife.'
He sighed, exasperated, then pointed toward one of the glowing lights hovering near him.
Noctis followed his gesture, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So you have chosen your first treasure," he said. "Interesting. To think that your first pick would be the Cosmic Shadow System… how unfortunate."
Modret's lips twitched again.
As if things could not get any worse.