As my body finished receiving the divine blessings granted by the gods and goddesses of this realm, I felt an imnse surge of energy flood every corner of my being. A tidal wave of power washed over —warm, radiant, and overwhelming. My limbs felt lighter, my heartbeat steady, and my soul... sharper, brighter.
Once I had fully processed the blessings, I slowly opened my eyes with anticipation.
This is it. I’ve done it. The Trial of Blessings must be over.
I was ready—ready to move on to the final trial. Ready to complete my main quest. Ready to beco a true hero of the Braveheart Kingdom.
But... sothing felt off.
As my vision cleared, I realized—I was still standing in the Spire of the Forgotten Goddess.
I looked around. The gods and goddesses who had blessed were still there... but instead of joy or celebration on their faces, I saw confusion.
"...Huh? You’re still here?" Flareth muttered, puzzled as he inspected from all sides. "That’s strange. The trial should be over..."
"This doesn’t make sense," Zarion added, rubbing his chin. "He’s already received eight divine blessings. That should’ve completed the Trial of Blessings."
"What... exactly is happening?" Aqualia asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Solis, the Sun God, looked up at the sky, his expression serious. "There’s only one explanation. This may be... the will of the Almighty One."
"That’s impossible," Terra replied, frowning. "The Almighty One rarely interferes directly like this."
"But it’s not entirely unthinkable," Zephyria chid in. "He is the Child of Fate, after all."
Gaia nodded slowly. "Indeed... perhaps this is not an error, but a ssage. A deeper aning lies within this mont. We must consider it carefully."
While the divine beings exchanged uncertain glances, one goddess stood completely still—Miranda, the Goddess of Protection. Her eyes widened, and it was as if a sudden realization had struck her.
"No... it can’t be... could it really be happening again?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
We all turned toward her. "What is it, Miranda?" I asked.
She hesitated for a mont, then finally spoke. "This... has happened before. A long ti ago. There was once another hero who received multiple blessings like you. His na was... Hiro von Blackmore."
The na echoed like thunder.
Shock rippled through the room. I gasped. Hiro von Blackmore?!
He was the legendary hero—the man who had sealed the Demon King in the past alongside the other chosen heroes. He was also... my ancestor.
The gods seed equally stunned. None of them had rembered bestowing multiple blessings upon Hiro. "Why didn’t you tell us this before?" Solis demanded.
Miranda looked guilty. "Because Hiro asked to keep it a secret. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had received more than one blessing. I don’t know why, but I rember how sad he looked... especially after receiving the second blessing."
"What was the second blessing?" I asked, heart pounding.
She took a deep breath. "After he received my blessing, he too remained trapped in the Spire of the Forgotten Goddess. The trial didn’t end for him either. Then... sothing strange happened."
Her voice grew heavy with emotion.
"Shadows suddenly poured from his body. A large, monstrous darkness enveloped him. I tried to help, but I couldn’t stop it. He was completely consud. I thought I lost him... but eventually, he erged—alive, but changed."
Miranda paused.
"When I examined him afterward... I discovered that he had received a forbidden blessing—The Blessing of the God of Darkness."
At the ntion of that na, Solis stord forward, eyes blazing. "WHAT?! The God of Darkness... my brother?! Are you telling he’s still out there sowhere?!"
"I... I don’t know," Miranda answered honestly. "Hiro never told the full story. All he said was that he received the Blessing of Darkness, and begged to keep it hidden. He was terrified, and said sothing terrible would happen if the truth ca out."
She looked at now. Her voice grew steadier.
"Before Hiro disappeared from Cosmoria, he told this: When the Child of Fate appears, the truth will be revealed. I believe now, without a doubt, that he was talking about you, Naoki."
The weight of her words pressed down on like a mountain. The room fell into a stunned silence. Even Solis, filled with fury just monts ago, seed shaken.
"Then... my brother truly might still exist in this world..." he muttered, his tone a mix of sorrow and confusion.
Miranda nodded. "It’s possible. And I believe that for you to complete this trial, Naoki von Blackmore... you must obtain the Blessing of the God of Darkness."
A chill ran down my spine. I had no idea how to obtain such a forbidden blessing... or what price it might demand. But I knew one thing for sure—this trial was far from over.
Just as we began to process this revelation, a sudden notification appeared in front of :
[!!!WARNING!!!]
[The power of the Goddess of Benevolence is weakening!]
[Outer God’s power is attempting to breach into Cosmoria!]
[Sothing terrible is about to happen—prepare yourself!]
My eyes widened in panic. I imdiately turned to Miranda and shouted,"Miranda! Strengthen Cosmoria’s barrier—NOW!"
"Naoki, what do you an—UGH!!"Miranda suddenly staggered, as if struck by so invisible force.
With the reflexes of a goddess, she raised her hand high and shouted,"[Divine Protection Magic: World Barrier!!!]"
BAM!!
A massive surge of magic exploded from her, forming a colossal barrier that enveloped all of Cosmoria.
The ground trembled violently. The sky-bound spires creaked. The air grew heavy, as if ti itself slowed.
The other gods and goddesses looked around in confusion—but only Miranda seed to understand what was happening.
Then, from beyond the sky of Cosmoria, two colossal lights descended like falling stars, crashing toward the barrier Miranda had cast. The lights pulsed like living hearts, radiating a vile aura that pierced the soul.
Miranda struggled to maintain the spell, her face pale."Everyone... this is bad. They’re too strong. This barrier won’t hold for long!" she cried.
Aqualia stepped forward, eyes locked on the descending lights. "This evil magic... it feels familiar. It can’t be..."
Solis clenched his fists. "No... I recognize this. This magic... it’s the sa as those cursed beings—Unique Monsters. The ones we defeated thousands of years ago... they’re back?!"
The world seed to freeze.
Panic gripped .
Is this... the disaster the system warned about?Is this what it ant? Unique Monsters... as strong as Vaelgorath and Canis?!
I stared at the sky, heart pounding. It felt impossible—but it was real. And this... would be the toughest battle yet.
Suddenly, Miranda scread, "The barrier is going to—!!"
CRAAACK!!
Her voice cut off. Her spell wavered. Cracks began to splinter through the air like breaking glass.
Flareth imdiately took charge. "All angels, battle stations! Prepare for war! Defend Cosmoria!!"
The gods and goddesses sprang into action, summoning their legions of angels. Trumpets of heaven rang out, and divine light bathed the skies of Cosmoria.
This was no drill. This was war.
BAM!!!
The two teors crashed down with devastating force, landing in the center of Cosmoria, right before the Spire of the Forgotten Goddess. The ground shattered beneath them, leaving a burning crater.
Miranda collapsed to her knees, trembling and exhausted. But Solis lifted her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"We haven’t lost yet. We’ll defeat them again. Together," he said.
I looked ahead, where the two massive lights began to take form.
From the smoke and flas erged two towering figures—intimidating, monstrous, and suffocating with dark power.
[Unique Monster: Kraytheon, the One who Conquers the Skyfire – Level 100]
A draconic celestial titan born from dying stars, Kraytheon soars on wings of solar flares and breathes cotfire across the heavens. Its rage incinerates atmospheres, and its roar awakens supernovae.
[Unique Monster: Gor’mundr, the One who Conquers the Earth – Level 100]
Gor’mundr is a giant, with a body made of obsidian, his head adorned with a natural crown of black crystal and ancient tal, his eyes glowing like molten magma. He wears a tattered robe covered in great chains and ancient plate armor, while in his right hand he holds a giant hamr the size of a house that shakes the air with every swing. He rode Kray’theon, heading towards this place.
...
My breath caught in my throat. I could barely believe what I was seeing. But there was no ti for doubt. I was with the gods and goddess now. We had a fighting chance.
"Look, the bastards we defeated thousands of years ago are back! I can’t wait to beat you up again!" Zarion said excitedly.
"HAHAHA that’s right. People call you the disasters? That tickles . Prepare to lose again!" Flareth said as she released her divine flas.
The other gods and goddesses also prepared to fight.
I turned to Miranda. "Miranda, please... release Envi’s seal. Give her back to . I can fight at full strength if I have the system given to by the Goddess of Benevolence!"
Miranda hesitated for a second, then nodded. "I trust you, Naoki."
She opened a dinsional portal and pulled out Envi—still sealed within a barrier and seemingly fast asleep.
I gritted my teeth. Seriously? Asleep... at a ti like this?! this damn system!
As I reached out to awaken him—
WHOOSH!!
A massive black shadow surged up from beneath , swallowing and Envi whole.
"NAOKI!!" Miranda and Solis cried out in unison.
Everything went dark. Sound vanished. Ti froze.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t see. But I knew... this wasn’t an enemy attack. This is the test that Hiro von Blackmore went through to obtain the Bleesing of the Darkness.
Damn it! The timing couldn’t be worse!
I wanted to fight alongside the gods. Not be dragged away now!
But just before the darkness completely devoured , I heard their voices—those of the gods and goddesses watching with calm, confident smiles.
"Leave this to us, Naoki. Go finish your business," Aqualia said softly.
"We’ll be waiting... or maybe, by the ti you’re back, we’ll have already taken them down! HAHAHA!" Flareth roared with laughter.
Solis looked at with steady eyes. "I believe in you, Naoki. Bring back my brother’s power—the Blessing of the Darkness."
Miranda smiled gently. "I will always protect you, Naoki... and this world. We’ll hold the line. Just do your part."
I could only nod as my body was pulled deeper into the abyss. I morized their faces... their voices... their strength—and made it my own resolve.
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