"EXECELLENT. NOW WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE NEXT AND FINAL SESSION."
"THE BLESSINGS."
The Angel spoke, and Nate was visibly happy as its words reached him. A bright excitement filled his expression, his emotions impossible to hide. For him, this was the moment he had been waiting for, the time had finally come to make his dream a reality. The weight of those words settled in his heart, and with it came a quiet sense of fulfillment and anticipation.
The Angel then briefly flickered with a brilliant glow. The sudden flare of light drew Nate's full attention as the radiance gathered in front of him. Moments later, what remained was a giant orb of light suspended in the air. The orb shone steadily, its presence overwhelming yet serene. Simply looking at it evoked an ethereal feeling, as if the light itself carried something beyond the ordinary, filling the space with a calm, otherworldly energy.
"WELL THEN CHILD, MAKE YOUR PICK."
Nate nodded slowly as he began thinking about the wishes he wanted to make. 'The angel said that I'll be given three wishes, or in its words, blessings. What should they be?' His thoughts turned careful and deliberate. 'Knowing the universe of Danmachi, having excessive powers like reality bending and things like that would be far more trouble than they're worth. The gods would eliminate me before I ever got the chance to properly grow into them. At that point, I might as well just be a god with a familia of my own.'
He paused at that line of thinking. 'Wait… do I actually want to?' Nate considered the prospect seriously as an image of himself as the god of his own familia taking shape in his mind. He weighed the authority, the responsibility, and what it would mean for his experience in that world. After a moment, he shook the idea off. 'Nah. I wouldn't even get the chance to enjoy real fighting action.'
His thoughts drifted again, circling back to the dangers of possessing god-like power that could disrupt the balance of the world he was about to enter. He imagined how such power would draw attention, the wrong kind, and how quickly things could spiral out of control.
'Still… using Danmachi-style skills alone wouldn't really do it,' he reasoned. ,They're a bit simple in for my taste. They're functionality are a bit simple in how they performed. Well, Bell's abilities being the obvious exception. And honestly, I want something more than just utility. I want a power-up… a transformation. Something that looks cool while making me an absolute powerhouse. A form that feels overwhelming, like a walking force of nature.,
Nate continued to ponder the dilemma, his mind running through possibilities and outcomes. The tension between practicality and desire weighed on him as he tried to find the right balance. Then, suddenly, a realization sparked within his thoughts.
'Wait… a transformation? Something that looks cool and makes me feel like a force of nature?' The idea began to connect in his mind, pieces falling into place as he followed the thread of inspiration he had just uncovered. His focus sharpened, curiosity and excitement mixing as he explored what that concept could truly become.
'OF COURSE, IT MAKES SENSE!' Nate thought in full realization, as if a sudden revelation had descended upon him. The clarity of it struck hard and fast. 'I did make my appearance look like him. It would only make sense if I were to have his powers too!'
The logic felt undeniable the more he thought about it. A grin slowly formed on Nate's face as excitement bubbled within him at the idea of his first wish. The decision felt natural, almost inevitable. Without wasting another second, he prepared to voice it.
"Okay, I think I know what will be my first blessing," Nate said, directing his words toward the Angel, who listened intently without interruption.
"VERY WELL, CHILD. WISH AWAY."
Nate smiled, his thoughts clear and steady as he spoke without hesitation. "I would like to have Thomas Andre's powers."
Silence followed the declaration. It stretched for just a moment, heavy but not uncomfortable. Then the Angel spoke again.
"HMM, I SEE. MAY I ASK WHY, CHILD? IS IT BECAUSE YOU MADE YOUR NEW LIFE APPEARANCE TO BE AS SUCH?"
"Well…" Nate paused, genuinely considering the reasoning behind his own desire. "Yes, that too. Another reason is that I like strength in general. Thomas's powers align with what I want. The thought of just fisting my way through my enemies… it feels satisfying just imagining it."
He answered with full confidence, the conviction in his voice unmistakable. Yet, as the words left his mouth, a familiar thought surfaced.
'Seems like your strength fetish is rubbing off on me, Dad,' he mused internally, faint amusement colouring the realization.
"IS THAT SO? IF THAT IS THE CASE, MAGIC IS ALSO A FORM OF STRENGTH. SWORDSMANSHIP, ARCHERY, AND MANY OTHER PATHS ARE ALSO FORMS OF STRENGTH."
The Angel's tone remained neutral, but the question was clear. It sought to understand his reasoning, not challenge it.
"While all of that sounds good," Nate replied calmly, reaffirming his stance, "I prefer raw, brute strength. Sure, it might sound like the choice of a muscle brain… but there's nothing wrong with wanting to be physically strong."
His voice held no doubt. The choice was deliberate, not impulsive.
Another brief silence settled over the void. Then the Angel spoke once more, addressing the floating boy with quiet finality.
"IT IS YOUR WISH. YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT. I AM ONLY THE ASSIGNED GRANTER OF YOUR WISH."
A pause followed before the Angel continued.
"DO NOTE THAT THE TRANSFORMATION OF SAID INDIVIDUAL, THOMAS ANDRE, AND THE POWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TRANSFORMATION CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED WHEN YOU REACH LEVEL THREE. THIS IS TO ENSURE YOU DO NOT DISRUPT THE BALANCE OF ORARIO TOO EARLY."
"Very well, I accept," Nate said, agreeing to the conditions despite a faint sense of disappointment tugging at him.
'It's a bit disappointing that I can't be a total powerhouse right off the bat,' he admitted to himself. 'But it's understandable.'
The Angel flickered once more. A brilliant light burst outward, briefly illuminating the empty void in a blinding flash.
"WELL THEN, CHILD. ONTO YOUR NEXT BLESSING," the angel said as it flickered with a brief burst of bright light once more, causing a second giant orb of light to appear before him. The glow radiated outward, illuminating the surrounding void in a steady brilliance.
'Okay… what'll be my next wish?' Nate wondered. 'I already got what I wanted, but it can only be accessed at level three.' His thoughts drifted as he considered possible ideas for his second wish. He pondered the mechanics of the world he was about to be sent to, carefully reviewing what he understood about its limits. Then, the concept of skills and stats surfaced clearly in his mind.
'Knowing that stats can only go up to 999 at each level, I need something that would let me surpass that limit,' he concluded internally. With his decision made, he lifted his gaze toward the angel.
"I want a skill that would allow me to surpass the maximum stats a falna can hold within each level," Nate said firmly. "A powerful one that functions similarly to Bell's Liaris Freese."
Silence fell between them once again. The stillness lingered, stretching into the familiar quiet Nate had begun to expect. It had become a recurring moment in their exchanges, yet he had already grown accustomed to the angel's habit of pausing before responding.
"A GOOD IDEA. HAVING SUCH A BRUTE BUILD, IT WOULD BE NONSENSICAL NOT TO HAVE A SKILL LIKE THAT," the angel affirmed. "HOWEVER, YOUR SKILL WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS BELL'S [LIARIS FREESE] IN TERMS OF STAT DISTRIBUTION. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU ARE SENT TO THAT WORLD."
Nate nodded at the angel's words, accepting the condition without hesitation.
After speaking, the angel shone once more in a brief flash of brightness. The orb of light glimmered intensely, its radiance spreading across the void as it illuminated the emptiness for several passing moments.
"AT LAST," The angel spoke, its voice carrying a sense of finality that marked the end of this wishing session. "YOUR FINAL BLESSING CHILD. YOUR LAST BLESSING THAT WOULD ASSURE YOUR JOURNEY ON YOUR NEXT LIFE."
The angel shone with a momentary brilliance, a gentle burst of light that illuminated the surrounding void. From that radiance, an orb appeared once more, hovering quietly in the air. It was the final orb. The last wish.
"....."
Nate floated in silence, motionless within the empty expanse. He neither spoke nor moved, his thoughts seemingly distant. He did not immediately think or plan for his final wish. Instead, he remained suspended in quiet contemplation, as if something deep within his mind was troubling him.
The Angel, seemingly confused by Nate's inaction, decided to break him out of his stupor. Its presence remained fixed on the young man as it spoke.
"WHAT IS THERE TO BE A MATTER CHILD? IS THERE ANY TROUBLE ON THINKING ABOUT YOUR THIRD AND FINAL WISH?"
Nate stirred, breaking free from his disturbed thoughts. His expression steadied as he spoke his mind.
"My third and final wish would be to have my family members and those I am close with to live easy and happy lives for themselves."
The Angel, though meant not to concern itself with what believers wished for, found itself confused by Nate's seemingly selfless desire. There was a brief pause before it responded.
"CHILD, ARE YOU CERTAIN? THIS IS A WISH THAT CAN DETERMINE YOUR SAFETY AND SUCCESS IN YOUR NEXT LIFE. WHY WOULD YOU ASK FOR SUCH A SELFLESS WISH THAT DOES NOT BENIFITED YOU?"
The young man contemplated the angel's words. His gaze lowered slightly as he reflected, then lifted again with quiet determination.
"Yes, it's stupid of me to not take the chance to increase my survivability in my next world—"
Nate drew in a steady breath, preparing himself to explain his reasoning.
"—However, without the help of the people in my short life, I would have never been able to achieve the one thing I may not be able to have if circumstances wasn't in my favour.
And that is, a peaceful life."
Nate exclaimed with pride, his voice firm and sincere. Every word he spoke carried the weight of honesty, born from gratitude and truth.
"So that is why, I would want to use this chance and help them in return for all the support they've given to me."
The Angel stood silent, watching him as it processed his words. The void felt still, as if even the light itself paused in acknowledgment of his sincerity.
Then the Angel spoke again.
"VERY WELL CHILD. IT IS YOUR PICK, YOUR CHOICE. I AM HERE ONLY TO GRANT YOUR WISH. HOWEVER, THAT WAS VERY NOBLE OF YOU. TRULY."
With that, the Angel shone once more. A brief yet brilliant light radiated outward as the final orb illuminated the empty void. Its glow lingered for a moment before slowly dissipating into nothingness, signalling the completion of the wish.
"WITH THAT CONCLUDES YOUR REWARDS FOR YOUR NEXT LIFE. THIS LOWLY SERVANT WOULD WISH YOU THE BEST ON YOUR ENDEVOURS," the angel said, signifying the end of the wishing session.
"Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity," Nate said as he bowed in gratitude. Even within the emptiness of the void, his gesture carried weight and sincerity, acknowledging the gifts he had received.
The Angel sent forth a flash of light toward the young man. The light entered his body instantly, merging with his form. Beneath Nate, a radiant circle began to form, glowing brighter by the second. It signified the beginning of Nate's reincarnation into the world of Danmachi as light slowly enveloped his soul.
However, before Nate was transported, the Angel spoke once more.
"CHILD, MAY I ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION?"
The young man nodded toward the angel.
"Sure."
"WHAT WILL BE YOUR NEW NAME?"
Nate pondered briefly. A name surfaced in his mind at just the right moment, clear and certain.
"Aurelius," he said. "That will be my new name."
As Nate finished speaking, the light surrounding him intensified until it fully engulfed his form. Moments later, he vanished from the empty void, leaving only the Angel behind in the silent expanse.
======================================
Angels POV
"....."
"....AURELIUS....."
"AYE, MOST FITTING 'TIS TO HIS NATURE, AS THOUGH THE STARS THEMSELVES HAD SHAPED IT SO."
Verily, mine body dost shine, and lo, at his desire, twin orbs of light do forthwith appear, yet not as before. Nay, this time they gleam with the splendour of majestic gold.
Then did the orbs of light blaze forth in brilliant fire, Only to fade anon, as though they burst, A moment's glory, like a star undone in thund'rous death.
"AS HIS MAJESTY DID FORETELL UPON THY LAST NOBLE DEED, THESE TWAIN BLESSINGS SHALL BE HIS FINAL, MOST GRACIOUS FAVOUR."
Verily, Once more doth my luster blaze, and unto the Maker of all I raise my prayer, beseeching a safe passage for the righteous soul.
"MAY THY PATH HENCEFORTH BE MOST WONDROUS FAIR, GOOD NATE.
NAY.....
....AURELIUS."