Chapter 3: Godess Of Blackmail
[Save us]
The void fell silent.
Even though he had no heart, Noah could've sworn his heart was beating like crazy.
Him? Save the world?
Ridiculous.dddd laugh.
This had to be a dream. A delusion born from his loneliness.
He was probably going insane - floating here for too long, trapped with his own thoughts.
Yes. That had to be it. His mind was going crazy.
[???: I assure you, this is not a joke, Noah]
The voice cut through his denial, calm and solemn - the kind of voice that didn't need to prove its truth.
It knew what he was thinking. It felt what he was feeling.
'You're asking me to save a world, he scoffed, ' which, by the way, I have no connection to - and the enemy is some good killing psychopath? Something not even the supposed chosen one of yours could handle, despite being spoiled rotten?
He would've turned away if he could.
[???: I know it's hard to swallow, but please - ]
'No, YOU listen!' He snapped, his voice echoing in the endless void. 'I'm just a normal guy from Earth. My biggest problem before dying was deciding what I would eat for lunch! And now you expect me to fight a god? Forget it. Take someone else. I'll rot here instead.
Silence followed.
A silence so tense you could cut through it.
Then-
[???: ...Alright. If that is what you wish, then I'll leave you.]
Relief. For a brief moment, he actually felt relieved.
But the voice wasn't done.
[???: Then I hope you can live with the knowledge that Ryan's Death could have been prevented]
And just like that, his relief was shattered.
Ryan's death?
What did she mean- could've been prevented?
Anger erupted through his soul like wildfire.
'HOW DARE YOU-! You're supposed to be a damn goddess, and you blackmail me by threatening me with someone's life?'
[???: Why would I ever lower myself to kill a mortal who has nothing to do with this?]
A sigh. A sound so faint, yet full of disappointment.
[???: Tell me, Noah... if you were that fallen god- after you destroyed the world the gods cherished, after you massacred the gods- what would you do next?]
The question lingered, vast as the void itself.
[???: What would you do in a universe full of other worlds?]
Noah froze.
Truly froze.
Because he knew the answer before he said it.
If he were that god- mad, broken, driven by pure destruction, he wouldn't stop.
He couldn't.
'...He'd destroy the rest,' Noah said quietly, almost like a whisper.
And if he could've seen her face, he would've caught a faint melancholy smile curling on her unseen lips.
[???: Indeed. And in doing so, he would've annihilated countless lives- including Ryan's]
Her voice softened, laced with sorrow.
[???: Now, tell me, my dear Noah. If you had the chance to stop it, the opportunity to hinder it before it happens.... would you take it?]
It was cruel.
Unfair, even.
Because she asked him as if he had a choice in this - when she already knew what he would choose.
He thought of Ryan - the only one who stayed, the only one who spoke to him when everyone else left. The sole person who didn't mind his horrendously rude personality.
Ryan, who smiled even when Noah didn't deserve it.
Some might say that he already paid his debt by saving him from the crash, but to Noah, that was nothing. If he could go back in time to the crash, he would've done it again every time.
And now knowing his friend was fated to die by some psychopathic god, he couldn't allow that.
He sighed - tired, bitter, but determined.
'...But how can I do it?' he murmured. 'I'm not the chosen hero that your divine friends chose. I've got no blessing, no experience, nothing.'
So he made his decision. He couldn't let Ryan die - No, he wouldn't let it happen.
[???: You needn't worry, my dear Noah. The body you'll inhabit already carries a gift - and I'll bless you with the highest power I can give]
'Gifts?' he asked cautiously.
[???: In the world you'll transfer to, every soul is born with a Talent - a gift tied to their essence. Some can summon fire, others can control plants, or bend the wind to their will. These Talents awaken as one grows... They are ranked from F to SSS. The stronger the talent, the rarer it becomes]
Noah was silent for a moment.
He hated to admit it, but the idea stirred a childlike excitement in him.
Powers. Abilities. A second-year syndrome's dream comes true. Not that he had it though...
Maybe it wouldn't be that bad...
'So... what kind of power will I get?' he asked, trying not to sound too excited.
[???: ...I don't know]
Everything froze.
Even the void seemed to blink in confusion.
'...What do you mean you don't know?'
[???: You'll be reborn in a random body - one that's just recently died. Your age, your gender, your power, all left to chance. I cannot control it]
His excitement crumbled.
So... he might get some useless ability, like making 'water taste slightly less salty?'
Fantastic. And he might even turn into a girl.
Even better.
But he tried staying optimistic.
He still had a blessing, didn't he?
Except...
[???: My blessing won't help you in combat.]
Her voice came small - almost embarrassed. He could've sworn she was blushing.
Noah's mind blanked for a second.
'So let me get this straight,' he said slowly, disbelief dripping from every word. You're sending me into some unknown world to fight a god? with a random body, possibly the worst power ever, and a blessing that's useless in a fight!?'
'And if that's not it, I might even turn into a damn girl!'
[???...I-]
'I swear to GOD, give me something I can actually use, goddammit!'
A sigh echoed throughout the void - long, weary, and full of something that almost sounded like guilt.
[???: Fine. But I cannot gift something offensive in nature. If I overdo it, the others will notice - and erase you instantly. Still... I can give you this.]
The void began to tremble gently; it was almost like someone was rocking it back and forth. And from nowhere emerged a sphere of azure light - small, trembling, and impossibly bright.
It floated before him, pulsing like a heartbeat.
[???: This is the best I can gift you without altering those in the divine realm]
It floated closer.
When it touched his soul, cold tore through him - a frost that bit deeper than any pain could.
He felt his thoughts slow down, his consciousness unweaving itself. The sensation of time vanished completely.
And before his mind was lost forever.
It changed - Warmth.
A gentle, encompassing warmth that filled his soul, like something lost returning home.
It nestled deep inside him - perfectly, like it had always belonged with him.
He gasped softly, and a feeling of awe rose amidst the confusion.
'that was-'
But before he could finish, the void shook violently.
Cracks spidered outwards, each one leaking a blinding light.
[???: The void has been found. I have to send you away]
Her voice trembled - not with fear, but with regret.
[???: I'm sorry, Noah]
'Wait-what?! Hold on-!'
But a strong force appeared, already dragging him down, an invisible current pulling him through the collapsing void.
'WAIT! I'M NOT READY-'
His voice echoed throughout the void one last time, swallowed by the breaking dark.
And then, silence.
Only the goddess remained.
She gazed upon the place he disappeared to, her voice soft- almost a whisper against the breaking world.
[???: I'm sorry, Noah. You're the only one who can fix this]
Her tone wavered- carrying sorrow, guilt... and something more enduring.
Hope.
She took one last look at the place, before disappearing too, her voice leaving one last message before the void dissolved completely.
[???: Good luck, Noah]