Outside the guild, the morning sun shone brightly over the bustling streets. Adventurers chatted as they passed by, and merchants prepared their stands.
"Oh, uh, yes… that's me," Riko replied, blinking in confusion.
Kimura's grin widened. "Oh, that's great. Riko, would you mind accompanying me for a drink?" he asked politely, his hands folded behind his back in a composed manner.
"A drink?" Riko tilted his head. "Uh… sure, I guess." He nodded hesitantly. "But… what for?"
Kimura chuckled softly, his voice smooth yet hard to read. "It's about your mana scaling. There's something you need to know," he explained. "But of course, if you'd rather not come, I won't force you."
Riko rose from his bed and trailed after Kimura, still unsure why the guild master wanted to speak to him alone. He leaned slightly toward Daigon and whispered, "Hey, Daigon, could you come with me?"
Before Daigon could respond, Kimura interrupted with a polite smile. "That won't be necessary. After all, this is something meant for you and you alone," he said gently, though there was a faint firmness beneath his tone.
Riko glanced back at Daigon, hesitant. "Oh… okay," he replied, giving a small nod.
What could be so important that even Daigon isn't allowed to come? He thought, questioning himself as they prepared to leave.
Daigon crossed his little arms with a smirk. "You know, it might be something good for you. Now go," he whispered.
Riko let out a small breath through his nose. He does have a point… But why would the head of the guild want to talk to me alone?
"Alright then," Riko said, trying to sound casual. "Save me some food downstairs, okay? And make sure to tell the rest that I'll be coming downstairs later."
Daigon shrugged. "Sure, I guess."
Riko smirked, giving him a thumbs-up. "Thanks."
Meanwhile, somewhere far beyond where reality or even time could reach—
The Sacred Palace.
Divine light poured through the endless hall, cascading like waterfalls of gold and white. At the center, upon a throne carved from celestial stone, sat a familiar figure…
Ritumara.
His posture was relaxed, one hand resting against his cheek as his long, silky white hair flowed like a serene river. Golden and white armor adorned his body, radiating a serene yet radiant glow. Through the slits of his ornate helmet, hollow in the inside, two glowing white eye gazed forward—calm, unwavering.
"Hmm…" His voice echoed softly, "It seems your brother, Daigon, has told the mortal everything about us. Riko—or perhaps I should call him by his true name, Takahiro—has become aware of our existence."
He tilted his head slightly, the light around him pulsing faintly.
"What do you think of this… Taisken?" he asked, calm and relaxed.
From the depths of the sacred palace, a figure emerged from the shadows.
His hair, golden mess on top, yet spiked long in the back, reaching down to his shoulders. Two neat braids hung by each ear, swaying gently as he took a step forward. His eyes—baggy and weary, yet sharp—opened fully, revealing pupils shaped like brilliant stars.
His purple lips parted.
"Father," he began, his voice calm but edged with curiosity, "may I ask… what part of this mortal interests you so much?"
Ritumara let out a soft, measured sigh.
"Taisken, why do you ask," he replied, his glowing gaze sharpening, "as if you don't already know the answer?"
In the next instant, Taisken was already at his father's side. His arms crossed firmly.
"Father, the answer you gave me wasn't enough for me to understand," he said, pressing further. "Why did you bestow upon that mortal the Eye of Ashton?"
Ritumara remained unfazed by his son's demanding tone. "Taisken," he said with the same serene tone, "when will you stop asking me that? What troubles you so deeply that you keep questioning my decisions? Tell me—when will you finally bond with mortals?"
Taisken gritted his sharp teeth, his expression twisting with disgust. "Father, you know very well how I feel. Mortals are filthy, weak, and fragile. Their lives hold no meaning to me whatsoever. To my eyes, it's as if they don't even exist."
Ritumara rose slowly from his throne, the divine light around him growing softer. He placed a hand on Taisken's shoulder, his gaze calm yet unwavering.
"Taisken," he said gently, "I will wait patiently for eternity… until the day comes that you bond with at least one mortal."
"When will you understand the true purpose of your existence?" Ritumara spoke, his voice calm yet echoing.
"Tch…" Taisken clicked his tongue, his jaw tightening as anger simmered inside him.
"I created you and your brothers not to look down upon mortals, but to bond with them. To guide them. Hatred is the flaw that taints your divinity, Taisken. If you truly believe gods stand above mortals, then show it—not through pride or arrogance, but through compassion and love, as a true god should."
What is it with you and mortals? You know yourself that these mortals hate your exact existence… he thought bitterly. They break our laws, defile the divine order, and yet you allow them to roam freely, committing vile acts.
Ritumara finally turned, his voice becoming firmer. "Taisken, I have a favor to ask of you."
The air in the palace shifted.
"I want you to erase an entire multiverse from existence," Ritumara continued, his tone now cold and absolute. "They have broken two of the Divine Laws. Serve them judgment, as it will be justified under my order."
Taisken's purple lips slowly curled into a grin. His starry pupils gleamed.
"I'll gladly take this opportunity," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation, "to deliver justice on your behalf, Father."
Taisken vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but a faint ripple in space.
Ritumara stood alone in the grand hall, his arms folded calmly behind his back. His glowing gaze softened slightly.
"Just when am I going to get this child to understand…" he murmured with a quiet sigh.
Meanwhile—
In the silent void of space, where light and sound held no dominion, Taisken hovered, arms crossed. Below him stretched an entire universe, its stars glimmering like scattered dust.
"Hmph…" He smirked faintly, the corners of his lips curling. "I suppose a little entertainment wouldn't hurt. Perhaps I'll visit this universe first before erasing the entire multiverse from existence."
His sharp eyes narrowed, glints of curiosity hiding beneath the cold exterior. "I have a feeling someone here has… impressive power for a mortal."
But the smirk faded just as quickly as it had come. He let out a long, irritated sigh.
"Just what the hell are you doing here… Zaigon?" he asked, closing his eyes in sheer annoyance.
A relaxed voice echoed from behind, appearing out of thin air.
"Dammit, you're no fun at all."
Taisken turned slightly to see Zaigon drifting casually through the void, both hands lazily resting behind his head. His long braided hair floated weightlessly, and his plain grey hoodie and pants made him look more like a mortal teenager than a god.
"You know, Taisken," Zaigon said, grinning as he approached, "Father is right about you. You really do have a problem with mortals. What'd they ever do to you to make you hate them this much?"
Taisken slowly turned his full gaze toward him. His star-shaped pupils gleamed ominously in the darkness.
"Did I ask for your opinion…?" he said coldly, his voice like a blade cutting through still air.
Zaigon's body stiffened. A bead of sweat slid down his cheek as he raised his hands defensively.
"Whoa, hey—don't look at me like that!" he protested. "And besides, aren't you supposed to, y'know, erase this reality already? You know Father gets pretty disappointed when you slack off."
He casually pulled a juice box from nowhere and stabbed the straw in with a pop, sipping it nonchalantly.
Taisken's glare softened into a cold, confident smirk.
"I don't think a little duel would hurt," he muttered, his tone laced with amusement. "After all… their fate is sealed."
Before Zaigon could even react, Taisken's figure blurred and vanished—
BOOM!!
A violent shockwave erupted in his wake, tearing through the empty void. The sudden burst sent stars quivering in their distant positions, and Zaigon was left floating helplessly as the gust slammed into him.
The shockwave struck his juice box like a bullet—
PSHT!
Juice sprayed out in every direction, splattering across Zaigon's face. His once laid-back expression froze… then slowly twisted into utter irritation.
He wiped the sticky liquid from his cheek, juice dripping off his face.
"…Really?" Zaigon muttered flatly, his voice deadpan with disbelief.
Taisken emerged high above the futuristic cityscape, arms crossed as strong winds whipped through his golden hair and flowing garments. Neon lights flickered below like stars trapped on the ground.
"Hmph… you're exactly here, I can feel it…" he muttered, his sharp eyes narrowing as if sensing someone's presence.
He slowly raised one hand toward the bustling crowd beneath him. A crimson spark ignited at his palm—
BZZT…
The spark grew into a massive, swirling sphere of red energy, crackling violently like contained lightning.
Without hesitation, Taisken extended his fingers.
FWOOM!
A colossal beam of destructive energy shot downward, engulfing the city blocks below in a blinding flash.
BOOM!!!
The ground erupted. Buildings shattered like glass, and shockwaves tore through the streets, sending cars and debris flying. People screamed in panic as chaos exploded around them.
Hovering above the devastation, Taisken let out a low, amused chuckle.
"I guess this'll get his attention," he said casually, one hand still behind his back as if what he'd just done was nothing more than flicking away a bug.
Suddenly, the world froze. Time itself seemed to pause—the screams, the chaos, even the crumbling buildings, all suspended as if nothing had ever happened.
Taisken's eyes narrowed, a grin spreading across his face.
"Time manipulation? Interesting…" he murmured, turning slowly toward the figure that had appeared behind him.
A man stepped forward, his brown jacket rustling as he squared his shoulders. Long hair framed his serious, determined face.
"What do you think you're doing to my people?" he demanded, voice steady.
Taisken chuckled, a low, maniacal sound that made the air feel heavier.
"Ohoh! Aren't you serious! What I did was to catch your attention after all," he said, tilting his head. "And it seems… You can interfere with time and reality itself. Impressive, for a mere mortal like you."
The man's eyes widened. "I haven't even used my other abilities yet! How—how the hell do you know that?!" he shouted, panic and awe mixing in his voice.
Taisken then appeared next to him, leaned in slightly to his ear. His voice was barely more than a whisper, yet it resonated with unnerving authority:
"Because… I am a god."
The words hung in the frozen air, chilling the mortal to his very core.
The man reflexively swung his leg, aiming a kick at Taisken—but the god moved with effortless grace, stepping aside, both arms casually behind his back.
"Oh? Aggressive, are we…?" Taisken mused, a faint smile curling his lips. "Very well. I'll play along." His gaze locked onto the man, cold and unyielding.
The man lunged forward, unleashing a barrage of attacks that tore through the air, each blow shaking the ground beneath them. Yet Taisken stood still—hands calmly tucked behind his back—as he effortlessly tilted his head, sidestepped, and weaved through every strike without breaking a sweat.
"You can't land a hit? How sad…" Taisken mocked, his smirk sharp enough to slice through pride itself.
The man growled in frustration, veins pulsing. "YOU SHUT UP!!" He shouted as he leapt back, snapping his fingers.
Suddenly, the entire landscape distorted. The sky cracked like shattered glass, and the horizon folded in on itself as if reality were being rewritten. The world twisted into spirals. Yet in the middle of it all, Taisken remained perfectly still—completely unaffected. His eyes narrowed with disappointment.
"Really? You know, mortal…" his voice rumbled, echoing like thunder, "Reality manipulation cannot affect me. As a matter of fact—"
He leaned in closer. The entire warped world around them froze.
"—I'm offended you even had the nerve to USE THAT."
His aura exploded outward in a blinding flash of divine fury. A storm of pure destruction energy radiated from his body, shredding the twisted reality the man created.
The man's eyes widened in terror as he backed away. "I-I'll erase you! I'll ERASE YOU FROM EXISTENCE!—" He snapped his fingers again, desperate.
But in that instant, Taisken vanished.
The next moment—
BOOM!
Taisken appeared right in front of him, fist cocked back, his voice low and dangerous.
"You got on my nerves… and now I'm impatient."
The man barely had time to blink before Taisken unleashed a flurry of blows—each strike faster than light, each punch creating shockwaves that tore through the atmosphere. The ground caved in, air pressure exploded, and the man's screams were drowned in the roaring divine storm, and blood spattered everywhere.
Finally, Taisken slammed his knee into the man's gut, then slammed him down to the ground with immense speed. The mortal crashed into the ground, coughing blood, body barely holding together.
Taisken calmly walked over, grabbed the man by the chin, and lifted his head to face him.
"Finished yet?" he asked coldly, his voice void of mercy.
The man could barely speak. His consciousness was slipping—his reality-shaping power flickering away like a dying flame.
"ARASEI!"
The strike hit directly in the man's abdomen. The overwhelming shockwave alone destroyed the entire planet. The force of the punch sent the mortal screaming through space, finally stopping at the Milky Way itself.
Blood spewed from his mouth, his cries echoing faintly as Taisken's figure remained calm, almost casual, amidst the destruction.
Taisken appeared before him in an instant, lifting the man's chin with a single finger. His piercing gaze locked onto the mortals.
"My, my… I'm impressed you survived that blow," Taisken said, his tone almost casual. "And I didn't even use the slightest fraction of my power. Such a shame to see you so worn out."
Without another word, Taisken ascended into the air. Arms crossed, perfectly still, he floated like a statue.
"Know this, mortal scum… this is your end," he declared.
Then he descended, arms still crossed, unfazed, his presence radiating an oppressive calm. Beneath his feet, a crimson light blossomed, shimmering like countless dancing fireflies.
The mortal gasped, barely able to breathe, eyes slightly widening. "Huh…?"
"Be honored to witness this," Taisken's voice echoed across the cosmos. "For I am the absolute deity…" his voice echoed.
"Tokana…"
The light around him exploded into brilliance, radiating so intensely that time itself seemed to slow. The sheer pressure of his presence pressed upon reality, and the mortal could only scream as he imploded beneath the weight of Taisken's divine aura.
In the distance, the multiverse itself shimmered and fractured under the immensity of his power, exploding into nothingness as though it had never existed.
Taisken stood amidst the remnants of the shattered multiverse, both arms raised high in absolute triumph. His laughter tore through the void, echoing across countless dimensions.
"AHAHA! THERE IS NOTHING AS BRILLIANT AS JUSTICE BEING SERVED!" he shouted, his voice carrying a manic joy. "THIS VIEW… THESE FIREWORKS… IT IS BEAUTIFUL!"
The sparkling fragments of the multiverse shimmered like fireworks around him, each burst reflecting his overwhelming power. Taisken's grin widened as he looked upward, intoxicated by the sight of absolute destruction.
"TRULY… THIS IS THE GLORY OF BEING THE ABSOLUTE DEITY!" he roared, arms outstretched, as if embracing the entire cosmos in his mad revelry.
His laugh echoed, smiling manically as he watched the fragments of the multiverse shimmer.
Meanwhile, back at the guild.
Riko followed Kimura into a quiet office tucked behind the main hall. The scent of polished wood and old parchment filled the room. Kimura moved with practiced ease, walking straight to his desk and dropping into the large chair behind it. He leaned back, spinning a fountain pen between his fingers like someone about to make a big reveal.
"Take a seat," Kimura said casually. "So, Riko… do you know why I brought you here?"
Riko hesitated, scanning the unfamiliar office. Bookshelves lined the walls, each shelf stacked with dusty tomes and strange magical trinkets. He slowly sat down.
"Well, uh, no," he admitted.
Kimura set the pen down with a soft click. "Hmph. Alright then. The reason is simple—" He reached down and placed a compact machine on the desk. "—it's because of the mana scaling machine."
Riko's eyes widened instantly. His heart skipped a beat.
I knew it! I knew that's the reason why my rank was so low! Aha—yes!
Before he could even finish celebrating in his head, Kimura cleared his throat, his expression turning serious.
"Ever since we scaled your mana level," he began, "we discovered something strange. Your mana level is… well, it's too low for the machine to even estimate what rank you belong to."
Riko froze. His mind went blank.
"Eh…?"
Riko abruptly shot up from his seat, eyes blazing.
"WHAT?! There has to be something wrong with that machine! It can't be true—I just killed two elite Red Ogres all by myself!" he shouted, refusing to accept Kimura's words.
Kimura raised a hand, a calm gesture for silence. "Yes, Riko. I believe you. Truly." His voice carried a rare hint of sincerity. "Look… your father sent me this letter in advance, letting me know you'd be coming to the guild."
He handed the letter over to Riko.
Riko unfolded it and read aloud:
"Dear Kimura, my son will be coming over to the guild in the next few days. Please take note that my son is very strong and very handsome."
Riko froze for a moment before an awkward smirk spread across his face. Yep… that's Ruther alright.
Riko continued reading the letter aloud, eyes widening as a bead of sweat slid down his temple.
"And also, my son has been improving on his combat and magic abilities significantly. He literally surpassed me in just a few years—it's as if he's someone else entirely. Take note that his abilities will exceed your expectations."
Riko blinked, trying to process the praise.
Kimura leaned back in his chair, a hand resting on his chin, then straightened and picked up a bottle of wine. "See, I also had another witness—Hikari told me about it. She mentioned your mana spiking exponentially during the fight with the two ogres. Especially… your survival against one of the elite soldiers under the Generals."
Riko's mind immediately flickered to that moment. Ah… Vinar Silverrine… that's his name.
Kimura tilted the bottle slightly. "Want some?"
Riko hesitated, then nodded. "Oh, uh… sure."
Kimura poured the wine into two glasses, the deep red liquid swirling as it settled. He set one in front of Riko. "Then I realized… the scaling device wasn't accurately measuring your true potential. So, to prove that you are indeed the person described in this letter, I'm going to arrange a duel."
Riko's eyes narrowed. A duel?
"Between you and my loyal right-hand student, Haley Greyfor," Kimurab said, putting down the bottle of wine.
Oh, so I'm facing your student? I guess he must be her master.
Kimura then handed Riko a glass of wine. Riko accepted it, eyeing the crimson liquid before bringing it to his lips. The smooth taste surprised him.
Oh… this wine's actually not half bad, he thought, tilting the glass slightly to watch the way the light shimmered through it.
Kimura raised his own glass, his grin sharpening like a blade hidden behind a gentleman's smile. "So, Riko. Are you in?"
Riko's expression hardened with determination. He leaned back slightly, a confident smirk curling at the edge of his mouth. "Heh… yeah, I'm in."
Their glasses tapped with a clear, satisfying clink—a sound that sealed more than just a casual agreement. For Riko, it was the spark of a new challenge. For Kimura, it was the beginning of something he had quietly anticipated.
Riko headed downstairs, where Takashi, Hikari, Miraku, and Daigon were already seated around the table. A tray of steaming meat and rice sat in the center, the aroma filling the room.
"Hey guys, so uh—got something for me to eat?" Riko asked, eager and clearly starving.
Hikari, her mouth full, pointed to a seat beside her. "Sit here! There's plenty of food for all of us," she said with a cheerful smile.
Riko sat down immediately, drooling a little as he picked up his fork. Without hesitation, he started piling meat and rice onto his plate.
Across the table, Takashi reached for a chicken leg—only for Daigon's hand to grab it at the same time. The two froze, glaring at each other.
"Let go of my chicken. I touched it first," Takashi said, voice dead serious.
"No way! This one's mine!" Daigon snapped back, pulling harder.
Their tug-of-war began, forcibly shoving each other.
Meanwhile, Riko calmly continued eating, unfazed by the chaos.
A duel with Hayley Greyfor, huh…? he thought to himself, smirking between bites. She must be powerful if Kimura's the one arranging it. Ohoho… I'm just getting goosebumps thinking about it.
"ARGH!" Takashi suddenly shouted as Daigon bit him right on the arm, and Daigon yanked the chicken leg away.
"HYAA!" Takashi howled, clutching his arm in pain.
Daigon grinned victoriously, holding up the chicken like a trophy. "Ha! Victory is mine!"
Riko just sighed, still eating. "…You guys seriously need therapy."
Hikari turned to Riko, her mouth full. "So, what did he say to you?" she asked, slurping down the rest of her food.
Riko gulped his bite and replied casually, "Oh, nothing too important. But he did arrange a duel for me." He went right back to eating.
"A duel? What for?" Miraku asked, raising a brow, surprised by the sudden news.
"Well, it's to test my power and combat abilities—to determine what rank I truly am," Riko said, setting down his plate and leaning back, both arms resting behind his head.
"Really? Well, Riko, who's your opponent? A woman or a man?" Takashi asked, smirking and leaning forward.
Riko thought for a moment. "Well, uh… her name is Hayley Greyfor."
The entire table froze.
"Hayley?! As in the S-Rank Hayley Greyfor?!" Hikari shouted, abruptly shooting up from her seat.
Riko blinked. "Uh… yeah? That one, I think."
Miraku looked serious now. "Riko, you have no idea who you're facing. They call her the Blessed Child. Rumor has it she was blessed by The Being Above All himself."
Riko's eyes widened. She was blessed by Ritumara?! he thought, stunned.
Daigon stopped chewing mid-bite and just stared, his expression blank but oddly offended.
Takashi, on the other hand, leaned back with a grin. "But dude, she's a HOTTIE! I mean, her melons are so huge I could literally—"
Before he could finish, Hikari's fist slammed into the back of his head.
WHAM!
"CAN YOU STOP WITH YOUR DIRTY LITTLE SHITTY JOKES, YOU PERVERT?!" she yelled, face red with rage.
"ACK!" Takashi cried, clutching the back of his head in pain.
"So when's the duel?" Miraku asked, resting her cheek on her palm, amused.
Riko tapped his chin. "Hmm… I think he said tomorrow—no wait, it's today. Yeah, before sunset."
He stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin before setting his plate down. "So, I'll be getting ready right now."
As he turned to leave, his expression grew focused. I have to be prepared. If she was blessed by Ritumara… then I can't hold back.
A few hours later, Riko and the others arrived at the Great Kartan Arena. The roar of the crowd echoed through the massive coliseum.
Inside a waiting room, Riko paced back and forth, his nerves eating away at him.
AAAH! He didn't tell me a huge crowd of people were going to watch me fight! he thought, panicking.
What if I mess up and embarrass myself?!
He slapped his cheeks lightly. No, no… calm down. I can do this. Yeah… I can.
Sweat ran down his temple as he walked in circles until the door creaked open.
"Heya, got a moment?" Daigon asked, stepping inside.
Riko turned toward him instantly. "Oh, Daigon, perfect timing! I need to ask you something." His tone carried a hint of relief.
"What is it?" Daigon asked, crossing his arms.
"Daigon, is she truly blessed by your father?" Riko asked, his face serious.
Daigon sighed. "Absolutely not. I don't even know why people keep spreading that rumor, but it isn't true. My father doesn't appear—or bless mortals—without a reason."
So she isn't?! Then why the hell did I waste all that time warming up?! Riko thought, deflating a little.
"But, Riko," Daigon continued, his tone suddenly firm, "just because she isn't blessed doesn't mean you should underestimate her. One piece of advice—don't hold back on your opponent."
Riko nodded, taking a deep breath. "Fine… but one more thing." His expression turned serious as his voice dropped into a deadpan tone. "How does my Eye of Ashton actually work?"
Daigon froze. His eyes widened like saucers. "HYAAA! I TOTALLY FORGOT TO TELL YOU HOW IT WORKS!" he screamed, flailing his little arms in panic.
Riko's face went pale. "YOU BASTARD! NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!" he shouted back, nearly losing his mind.
Daigon started sweating bullets. "Riko, listen carefully— you have no choice but to figure it out yourself! The Eye of Ashton isn't easy to control… so, uh… good luck."
Before Riko could say anything else, Daigon turned on his heel and dashed out of the room.
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT MYSELF! Riko screamed internally, gripping his hair in frustration.
A sudden knock echoed through the room. Knock, knock.
"Riko, sir. It's time…" a butler said as he stepped inside, bowing politely.
Riko froze. The color drained from his face as his earlier confidence vanished into thin air.
Yep… I'm totally going to get my ass beat… he thought, dead inside.