...
{3rd Pov}
Months passed by in the blink of an eye, seasons shifted seamlessly, and after several moons of relentless training and relentless effort, Ember finally reached the peak of his parameters—the pinnacle of what was realistically achievable without any extraordinary ability to break through the known limits.
Level 1
Strength: S918 → S999
Endurance: A899 → S999
Dexterity: A837 → S999
Agility: S967 → S999
Magic: S999 → S999
Skills:
Decipher: Enables the user to uncover the truth, understand complex theorems, and analyze the workings of the world through logic, prediction, and calculated deduction.
Orc Slayer: Grants a twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.
Eagle's Eye: Sharpened vision, allowing enhanced perception over long distances or in difficult conditions.
Magic:
Cremation (Chant): "O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
N/A
N/A
Ember had acquired one additional skill along the way, and now every single one of his parameters had reached the absolute maximum of S999. Achieving this level of perfection had required immense dedication, countless hours of training, and sacrifices that few could even imagine.
Yet, having attained this unprecedented strength, he found himself in a rare state of uncertainty and dilemma.
"So… my Magic hasn't increased any further?" he muttered aloud, staring intently at the neatly recorded parameters written on a piece of parchment.
"Ember," Aurora said, her voice warm with admiration and encouragement, "I'm afraid they won't increase any further. The limit of known falna is S999, after all. The fact that you've reached S999 across all parameters is already an unsurpassable feat in the eyes of ordinary mortals. And you managed this in just two and a half years!"
Aurora, being a Goddess, understood the limits of mortal potential better than anyone else.
She knew the significance of his achievement.
All mortals had limits—boundaries imposed by both body and soul.
But the existence of falna, along with divine blessings, allowed a mortal to elevate their body and soul beyond natural constraints, bringing them closer to a state resembling divinity itself.
What lay beyond that, however, remained unknown.
If someone truly achieved the state of divinity, would they become a fictional demi-god, a being of immense power yet still mortal?
Or would they ascend fully into Godhood?
The answer to that question was a mystery even the Gods themselves could not resolve.
It was an unknown, a concept so enigmatic that even the immortal beings who had existed since the dawn of the Universe could not definitively answer it.
For the Gods, mystery was their fuel, the driving force behind all curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.
To encounter something beyond understanding was the rarest of experiences, and to unveil it, a momentous achievement.
Even for Aurora, who had witnessed countless mortals grow and reach extraordinary heights, Ember's accomplishment—attaining S999 in every single parameter—exceeded her ability to comprehend.
It was beyond anything she had anticipated, a feat that stretched the limits of thought itself, a testament to human potential elevated by divine favor.
She knew the chances of achieving such a feat were astronomically low—even within her own familia, reaching such perfection was nearly impossible.
Yet here it was! She had witnessed something that perhaps that even the legendary Zeus and Hera familias had never seen: a flawless S999 parameter sheet, and for her own child, no less!
The sight filled her with immense pride and a secretive smugness.
If it weren't for the necessity of keeping it under wraps, she would have already boasted about Ember's achievement to the entire world without hesitation.
But Ember himself was far from satisfied.
He wasn't content merely to reach the maximum parameters; he wanted to surpass S999, to break through the barrier that had long defined the limits of mortals.
Only by achieving that could he truly become extraordinarily powerful. He sought a level of strength that others could scarcely imagine attaining.
If he intended to stand among the likes of Zald, Bell, and Alfia, he needed the ability to permanently exceed the limits of his own level, to attain a power that went beyond the ordinary.
Despite his determination, he was uncertain about how to proceed.
Magic had been the first of his stats to reach S999, and now he was updating his parameters for the third time since then, yet his magic stubbornly refused to increase even slightly.
He had poured every ounce of effort and will into becoming stronger, his desire to break through limits burning hotter than ever, and the thought of becoming stronger had driven him to near obsession.
To this end, he often went solo hunting outside the village, pushing himself until his mind and body were utterly exhausted.
He had performed such dangerous acts with the occasional help of Jason, for becoming unconscious in the midst of a monster-infested forest was far from safe.
Even with assistance, he fought until his hands went numb, his body screamed in protest, and even Jason, who was strong in his own right, struggled just to keep up.
For two full days straight, Ember had battled relentlessly, testing his endurance, skill, and willpower against increasingly stronger foes, never once stopping until every fiber of his body had been pushed to its limit.
What even pushed him this far?
Just because he wanted an adventure?
Although Ember said so, to himself.
But he knew even this was abnormal, however the flame to get stronger only burned stronger than him.
He needed to slay Black Dragon.
Ember froze as he thought of the sudden desire 'Why do I even want to kill the Black Dragon so badly?'
Just then Aurora pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Ember~ How about you level up? You already have that sweet High-Rank Excelia stored, more than enough to level you up and still have some left over!" Aurora said, wrapping her arms around him from behind and gently patting his hair.
She had grown increasingly fond of him ever since he first arrived, and that fondness had only strengthened over time, growing into something deeper and more maternal(Ayooooo XD).
"No! Goddess, I still believe there exists a parameter beyond S999! If I reach that, only then can I become the strongest in this world. Until I achieve that, I want you not to level me up," Ember said firmly, breaking free from her embrace.
"But Ember! I—I really think the limit of every level is S999! Theoretically, if someone were to reach Level 10 or higher with S999 in every parameter, they would already be as strong as a lower deity!" Aurora protested, worry lacing her voice.
Usually, she would never speak of such speculative thoughts. No other god would, after all. Gods understood that it was merely conjecture, and sharing such ideas with mortals, especially children, often complicated their lives and caused more trouble than benefit.
But seeing her child so determined, so unwavering in his dream, she couldn't help herself.
She had to try to persuade him.
She didn't want him to suffer unnecessarily.
Ember gave her a gentle, reassuring smile.
"Thank you, Goddess, for your kind words, but I will not give up!" he said firmly.
Despite her efforts, she failed to convince him.
After updating his status, he immediately set off to hunt monsters.
Aurora didn't find him the next day and quickly realized he had left alone to pursue his dangerous endeavor.
She waited for him to return, pacing anxiously, but as evening fell and Ember still hadn't come back, her worry intensified.
"Where is he?! Just where could he be?!" she muttered, walking back and forth in a frenzy, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of him.
She had already alerted the other members of her familia to search for him, but time dragged on without any news.
"Your Highness," Edward called as he approached her, and Aurora immediately turned with a glimmer of hope, but upon seeing that Ember was not among the others who had followed, that hope quickly evaporated.
Her heart sank, and despair threatened to overwhelm her.
"Uh—Goddess—" Edward began, but immediately stopped as Aurora shot him a fierce, piercing look.
"What is it?!" she demanded sharply.
Edward swallowed nervously and replied, "It is already midnight, and most of the adventurers are exhausted… It wouldn't be wise to venture deep into the forest at this hour."
His words carried reason; after all, one unlucky encounter in the darkness could easily wipe out their entire party.
That was the harsh reality of adventuring.
But Aurora seethed with anger at his cautiousness, interpreting it as nothing more than an excuse.
'Here Ember might be in mortal danger at this very moment, and they…' she thought, her anger rising further.
"That wasn't a request! Edward Morales! That is the command of your Goddess!" she bellowed, causing a few people nearby to gasp in shock.
Until now, their goddess had rarely given them direct commands, especially regarding life-and-death matters.
Most of the time, she had been more of a whimsical, elder-sister figure to them, indulgent and playful rather than authoritative.
"I—I understand," Edward stammered, and without further hesitation, they set off again to search for Ember.
This time, they did not return until the afternoon of the next day.
Aurora's heart leapt with hope at first, only to have it dashed as Edward shook his head, his expression grim.
"We lost his trace at some point," he reported, his voice heavy with frustration.
"We encountered a multitude of Level 2 monsters along the way. Thankfully, no one was killed, but due to the circumstances, we had to return."
To Aurora, the world seemed to come to a standstill at his words.
Dark, dreadful thoughts flooded her mind—images of Ember lying helpless on the forest floor, crying out her name, or worse, his bloodied body being torn apart by monsters.
"E-Edward! Please, go back! Please search for him!" she cried, her voice shaking with desperation.
Edward, however, was fatigued. Despite being a Level 2 adventurer, the sheer number and strength of the monsters had exhausted him.
Each encounter with the Level 2 threats in the forest had drained his stamina, leaving him unable to continue the search for Ember at that time.
"Goddess, we can't," Edward replied, much to her horror. Aurora gritted her teeth, frustration boiling over.
"Fine! If you won't search for him, I will! I will save him myself!" she shouted, attempting to rush toward the forest.
Before she could take a step, Edward's hand shot out and firmly grabbed her wrist.
"Goddess! What are you saying? Cool your head down!" he ordered.
She struggled violently against his grip, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not move him an inch.
Her strength was that of a mortal, after all.
Level 1 adventurers were already superhuman compared to her current mortal-level form, and Edward, a Level 2, was far stronger. Realizing they would not let her go, her anger flared uncontrollably.
"Mortal! You dare to stop me?" she roared, and in an instant, her brown hair shifted to a blazing cherry-blonde, her divine energy erupting outward in a tangible pressure.
Edward's grip shattered under the force, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Not only him, but everyone nearby was knocked to their knees, gasping under the immense pressure.
In that moment, all who witnessed it understood—they were seeing the true form of their Goddess.
Aurora struggled to restrain herself from unleashing her full Arcanum in order to locate Ember, knowing that if she did, she would be forcibly returned to Heaven with no second chance.
'Stop your outburst, Aurora,' a commanding voice echoed in her mind.
It was the voice of the Primordial who oversaw all of Genkai.
At that moment, the intrusion of the voice only fueled her anger further.
'Ouranos! You shall not restrict me!', she thought furiously, replying mentally to the voice.
The reply came immediately, calm but imbued with unyielding authority: If you do not stop, I will be forced to send you back to Tenkai.
Aurora gritted her teeth, feeling an overwhelming presence envelop the skies above her.
It was invisible but undeniable, a pervasive authority that pressed against everything in the area.
The only power the Primordial could wield outside the dungeon without incurring its own wrath—the Authority of Order.
"Goddess!" shouted Jason, and as Aurora's gaze fell on the man beside her, battered and injured, her divinity slowly receded along with her anger.
Her face dropped in shame, realizing she had displayed such an unseemly spectacle in front of everyone.
"I-I apologize for my behavior," she said quietly, the weight of her actions pressing on her.
She truly was a kind Goddess; unlike many other Gods who would never take responsibility for their actions—even toward the children of their own familia—she felt genuine remorse.
Most Gods regarded their children as nothing more than pawns, expendable pieces in a larger game, but she was different.
The villagers and her familia members slowly stood up, breathing in relief, while other onlookers watched from a safe distance, still wary of the display they had just witnessed.
Aurora felt ashamed, yet beneath the embarrassment, worry for Ember still churned in her heart.
"Um, Goddess, my daughter probably forgot something to show you," said Martha, gently guiding Maria, who had been hiding behind her. Maria approached with a hesitant, scared look and carefully handed over a letter.
"That night I met Sir Ber, and he gave me this letter," she explained softly.
Aurora quickly snatched the letter and began reading it.
As she realized that Ember had mentioned he might return in two or three days, a flash of anger crossed her face.
"You brat!!!" she yelled, her frustration breaking out again.
Maria screamed in response and tried to run, but the Goddess gave chase.
Martha handed Aurora a belt, and Maria's face twisted with a mix of betrayal and horror.
That day, the anguished cries of Maria echoed throughout the village as their Goddess enacted Divine Judgment, striking her until her backside was bright red.
From that day forward, everyone—including Martha—swore to never anger their Goddess again.
Once Aurora had read the letter completely, her fury subsided, and she could only facepalm at her own erratic behavior.
'Ember must have written a letter for me! Why didn't I think of that earlier?', she thought, feeling deeply ashamed of her overreaction.
Despite the intensity of her actions, she knew she couldn't be entirely blamed; her concern for Ember had simply overwhelmed her judgment.
In the end, Ember returned at the break of dawn on the third day, exhausted and battered, and Aurora, who had been preparing to enact her Divine punishment on him, immediately abandoned the idea the moment she saw his bloodied and unconscious form. "Ember!" she cried out in panic, her voice filled with genuine fear. Jason, who was carrying him carefully on his back, said, "Goddess, Namien found him. He became unconscious as soon as he met him."
"He is so injured! Jason, hurry! Bring out the potions and bandages! We need to treat him immediately!" Aurora shouted. Jason and the others quickly administered the necessary treatment, carefully tending to each of his wounds. Thankfully, despite his battered appearance, Ember was only severely exhausted and had no critical injuries. Aurora patiently remained at his side, her eyes never leaving him, as she waited for him to regain consciousness.
When Ember finally woke, he looked around groggily, still disoriented from the ordeal. Aurora immediately reprimanded him, her concern evident in her voice. "You idiot! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" she exclaimed, then gently hugged him, careful not to aggravate his injuries.
"I-I… forgive me," Ember murmured after a moment of silence, recalling that he had entrusted Maria with the letter, hoping she would deliver it to Aurora. He knew, however, that vanishing for three whole days, even with a note, must have caused her immense worry.
Aurora had every intention of continuing her scolding, but upon seeing his weakened state, she chose to let it go for the moment. "Fine. Just don't do something like that without a plan, and certainly don't vanish without informing me in advance again," she warned firmly. Ember nodded, though a sudden thought crossed his mind. "But I gave the note to Maria?" he said, looking confused. Aurora smiled wryly and shook her head. "My poor Ember, never trust that useless girl again," she said gently but firmly.
That day, Aurora officially revoked Maria's status of responsibility and deemed her utterly useless, abolishing her cultivation and reputation to trash.
Maria, of course, protested dramatically, but there was no changing Aurora's mind.
To be continued...
(Maria: Why always me?! Why? Uwwuuuuu.
Author: ...
Author: Sorry, but no wall-breaking, get back into the story!
Maria: No, no! No—
Author: Sigh Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Just thinking about how much I have to edit chapters now gives me a headache—maybe I'll tackle it another day! I'll inform you all once I do.)