The tale of the Prince of Anqerise, Vastarael Richinaria, spread like wildfire across the continents of Spheraphase. His name became synonymous with courage and survival that would be spoken of for generations. The image of a thirteen-year-old boy, alone and outmatched, holding off a Minor Deity of flames for hours in a barrier that no mortal could breach, became a legend.
To the people of the continent, Vastarael was no longer just the young prince of Anqerise. He had transcended that role in their eyes. There were whispers in every corner of the continent about the incredible feat he had accomplished.
"A thirteen-year-old boy, against a god…"
It was unfathomable to many. Most Deities, even those with power rivaling the heavens themselves, would have bowed to such a fate. But Vastarael didn't. He fought on to outlast his enemies until the first rays of dawn.
His survival was hailed as an achievement of unparalleled bravery. He had stayed alive inside the unbreakable Tenth Star Barrier for a full nineteen hours, a task that had seemed impossible. Even the most hardened warriors who had seen death and destruction countless times could not comprehend the fortitude it had taken for the young prince to fight off the effects of exhaustion, pain and imminent death.
He had made it and for the people of Spheraphase, that was enough to elevate him in their eyes to a level that few mortals or immortals could reach.
While Vastarael fought for his life, another battle raged behind the walls of the palace. The Deities who had infiltrated the palace were swiftly and decisively dealt with. Opera and Caresse are no strangers to battle. Together, they took on the invaders with a ferocity that only millennia of training and loyalty could produce. It took hours for them to eliminate the threat.
When the dust settled and the battle had ended, it was clear that Vastarael had not come out of this unscathed. The prince was in a state far worse than anyone had anticipated. His body was covered in burn and his internal injuries were deep. His Essence was drained to the point of near-depletion and his physical state was nothing short of catastrophic.
The strain of sustaining the Water Runes, continually renewing his essence with the bodies of the monsters and enduring the god's nuclear attack had left him on the brink of death. He had survived yes, but the cost was high. His body had entered a state of emergency, shutting down as it struggled to heal itself. For a long time, there was no sign of improvement.
In a desperate bid to save his son, the Monarch of Anqerise, Vastarael's father, rushed back from a distant continent. It had taken minutes for him to make the journey but his arrival was nothing short of a miracle. With his presence, the healing process accelerated. He was able to channel his power, restoring Vastarael's body and soul, helping to replenish his Essence in ways the young prince could not manage on his own. Slowly but surely, Vastarael's state improved.
During all of this, Lysameria insisted that Adelasta stay close to him. It was a precaution for Vastarael's recovery. The Reversal Ascension was more than just a link between two individuals. It was something that could accelerate Vastarael's healing process but only if Adelasta remained near him. Lysameria, though she didn't explain fully, knew that without this link, Vastarael's recovery would be significantly slower.
Adelasta, despite her own injuries, obeyed, staying at his side without question. She could feel the strange pull of the Ascension when they were close. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced and though she wanted to question it, she couldn't bring herself to do so. Instead, she watched over him as his body began to heal under the care of his father. She couldn't help but wonder what this all meant, especially after the exchange of words and the core but for now, she had no answers.
It was a full week before Vastarael finally stirred. His body had been through so much that his recovery was slow, even with the help of his parents.
[Welcome back, Veneri. You have been unconscious for a week.]
"Oh. Hey, Phaenora. Did I get any achievements like how those light novel protagonists—"
He paused and looked at the sight before him.
Adelasta sat there, slouched in a chair by his bed. Her head was tilted slightly to the side as she slept, holding a pillow on her hands. Her breathing was steady and almost melodic.
Her long, red hair framed her face in a way that could only be described as breathtaking. Her features looked like they belonged to a goddess, untouched by time or hardship. Despite the harshness that often defined her character, in this moment, she seemed completely vulnerable. Yet, what caught his attention most was the orange core still resting in her hand, glowing faintly even in the dim light of the room.
[Your achievements, are quite extraordinary but perhaps not in the way you anticipated. You survived the unimaginable. You withstood a Minor Deity for hours, pushing the boundaries of your resilience in ways not even I could predict. Adelasta was here for most of your recovery, Veneri. She stayed by your side through it all.]
Vastarael couldn't help but feel a strange warmth in his chest at that. But what drew his attention even more was the way the orange core glowed in her palm. He had given it to her knowing it would grant her strength. The idea that she had accepted it and that it was with her now, made something stir within him.
[You should be careful with that core. It contains a Deity's power.]
"She'll be stronger now, won't she? It wasn't just for me, was it?"
[Yup. The core contains immense power. Its effects on her will be profound. Not only will she gain control over flames but her entire being will shift. Her Destiny will change. What you have given her is not something simple.]
Vastarael took a deep breath, feeling the strain in his body. His muscles were still sore from the battle and though his Essence was returning, it was not at its full strength yet. He reached out and placed his hand gently over hers, feeling the warmth of the core beneath her palm. She didn't stir. His hand slowly moved away from hers and his gaze shifted back to the ceiling. A small sigh escaped his lips.
[She will play a significant role in your future, Veneri. Keep an eye on her. Things are changing.]
"What do you mean?"
[Do you remember your fate?]
"I will die—"
His eyes widened. He almost died. His mother held him the second he collapsed. Only this time, he didn't die.
[Yes, Veneri. You almost died and you escaped fate.]
Vastarael was speechless. He escaped his fate. He did the impossible.
"Wait. Has my fate changed?"
[Do you want to be a Timeless?]
"Timeless?"
[A being whose future is not determined by fate but time. Well, if you're planning on doing that, you managed to survive.]
He was silent.
[I don't know what Adelasta's destiny is but now that she's fully betrothed to you, your destinies will be linked.]
"Wait. My destiny says that I'll always be rewarded after I suffer. Did I get anything?"
[Why don't you look at it yourself? Look at your character profile.]
The second he did, his eyes widened in utter shock.
______
Name: [Vastarael Richinaria]
Alias: [Veneri.]
Age: [13.]
Titles: [Prince of Anqerise], [Heir of Dynasty Richinaria], [Prince of Beauty.]
Species: [Royal Aeterium (Nexus Bloodline)]
Affiliation: [Dynasty Richinaria]
Status: [Essentia Phase Two, 1000/5000]
Pinnacle Tethers: [Omniphage, Sapphire Materialization.]
Base Tethers: [Circlecraft], [Rune Drawing], [Inventory], [Soul and Body Regeneration], [Soul Vision], [Limitless], [Soul Vision], [Memory Implantation and Extraction.]
Major Divinities: [Protection (Locked)], [Love (Locked)], [Justice (Locked)].
Minor Divinities: [Water]
Codex: [Prince of Anqerise]
Artifacts: [None]
Boon: [Ethereal Beauty]
Bane: [Trouble in Paradise]
Destiny: [Suffering Before Reward]
Fate: [Death In The Embrace Of Love.]
______
He noticed something different. First, what was a Codex? Two, why was he known as the Ingenious Prince?
He looked at the description of the Codex. His lips were wide agape.
_____
[A Codex is a story of a feat that makes your Divinities stronger and gives you Enchantments.]
[Codex of the Ingenious Prince, SSS+ Class]
[A Prince trapped in an unbreakable barrier by a false deity of flames. For nineteen hours, he defied fate itself, using ingenuity, strength and strategy to survive. Alongside his companion, he fought monstrous foes, summoned floods that reshaped the city and bought precious time for his mother to eliminate the enemy. Though the enemy was not slain by him, the feat itself became legendary, establishing the Prince of Anqerise as an unparalleled tactician and survivor.]
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"Wait a sec. This is actually cool... hang on. It comes with Enchantments too?!"