[Note: They are named based on their authority and strength.]
The Goddess of Fortune and Fate—Aurelia
The Goddess of Light—Solana.
The Goddess of Night—Lunara
The God of Flame—Velkan
The God of Earth—Gravitas
The God of Air—Zephyros
The Goddess of Water—Aqualis.
Arthur looked around, noticing all seven deities gathered in one place for the first time.
He had met a few of them in his past life, where they discussed the Demon Lord and his plans. Arthur knew he couldn't rely on anyone else for such crucial information, so he had to deliver it directly.
Even the deities' apostles couldn't be trusted. Those apostles would have lost their faith in the deities if they knew that the Gods were working with evil worshippers.
"That's not how you should speak to them, Clarsen," the Goddess of Fortune said, her voice carrying a soft sigh.
Naturally, these powerful beings didn't like being called failures, especially not by a mortal.
"I mean, you all failed to kill the Demon Lord the first time, and then it all fell to me." Arthur shrugged, his gaze cold. If only they'd done their jobs right, perhaps things wouldn't have escalated to this point.
Velkan's voice cut through the air, sharp and venomous. "He had the support of the evil goddess. The same woman who blessed you."
The weight of his words was clear—these beings carried a deep, ancient grudge against Tiamuth for her betrayal long ago. The bitterness in the air was thick, almost tangible.
Arthur didn't rise to the bait. He could have said something that would surely sting, something that would dig into their pride, but instead, he remained silent, crossing his arms as his eyes swept over the group. Let them feel the sting of their own failures.
"Are you here to seek a blessing, believer?" the God of Earth asked, his voice unexpectedly soft, soothing like the rustle of leaves in a quiet forest. It seemed not all of them were wrapped in arrogance and pride.
"He's already blessed by Tiamuth, isn't he?" Lunara asked, her voice laced with amusement as a mischievous smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.
Her posture betrayed her curiosity; it was clear she found Tiamuth's involvement in this matter intriguing, perhaps even entertaining.
"Yes, but he would need the assistance of others if we want him to be of any use to our apostles," Zephyros chimed in, his tone matter-of-fact.
From his words, it was clear they cared more about helping their apostles than relying on Arthur to do the work himself. Well, that wasn't Arthur's problem. He wasn't in the business of babysitting. His task was simple: eradicate the Demon Lord, and once that filth was gone, his job would be done.
"I don't find it necessary to bless him," Solana stated bluntly. Her tone left no room for ambiguity. It was clear where her priorities lay: her hatred for Tiamuth far outweighed any concern for the world's safety.
Arthur's eyes hardened the coldness of his gaze locking onto the Goddess of Light. Her words stung, but he didn't flinch. He wasn't here for their approval, not anymore.
Then, the room seemed to shift as a voice filled with power broke the tension.
"You all should be more thankful for what he has done." The Goddess of Fate, the eldest of them all, spoke her words like a sharp rebuke. Her aura flared, a palpable force that made the air tremble.
"If he hadn't stopped the essence of Chaos, all our believers would have been wiped out, and he would have risen through the ranks to challenge us. He sacrificed everything—his friends, his lover—just to rid the world of that danger. And now you treat him like he's just another mortal? I am... deeply disappointed in you all."
Her words rang out like thunder, and the other deities fell silent, their gazes dropping in shame as they felt the weight of her reprimand. Even Lunara and Velkan, who had been eager to mock, were now unnervingly still, their eyes cast down.
Aurelia turned toward Arthur, her expression soft yet commanding. "Name it. Whoever you wish to be blessed by, speak their name, and I will make them bless you."
No one in the room challenged her claim. The silence that followed was telling—it revealed her unquestioned authority over the others.
However, Arthur's reply was firm and resolute. "I don't need any of you. I've already said that I'm fine with Tiamuth."
He wasn't about to be bound by these deities or made into their puppet. Despite Aurelia's seemingly kind and caring demeanor, she was still a Goddess—someone who could see the threads of fate. Could this kindness be a façade to tie him to the heavens? He couldn't trust any of them.
Aurelia nodded, her expression unreadable. "If that's what you wish, then we will leave you to your decision."
Just as they began to turn away, Arthur suddenly called out. "Ah, wait." His thoughts briefly flashed to the smile of his family, and a new idea took root. "Is there any way I can get a fake blessing mark of the Water Goddess on me?"
The meek Goddess, who had been silent up until now, gasped in surprise. "E-Eh?"
The Goddess of Night, who had been watching the exchange with an amused glint in her eyes, tilted her head. "Why would you want a fake mark?" Her movements were effortlessly graceful, and even the slightest gesture oozed with charm. But Arthur, having been in contact with a transcendent beauty (Tiamuth) before, wasn't swayed by her allure.
Arthur didn't hesitate in his response. "I'll be using Water Spirits mostly, and without a blessing, it could raise suspicion. So just grant me the mark... or is that too much to ask?"
Aurelia's voice rang out, sharp and decisive. "Absolutely not!" Her eyes turned toward Aqualis, the blue-haired goddess, who visibly flinched under her elder sister's gaze.
Reluctantly, Aqualis approached Arthur, her steps hesitant but determined. "Which Tier?" she asked quietly.
Arthur paused, considering the options. "Second would be hefty enough," he replied after a brief moment of thought.
There were three tiers of blessings, each corresponding to different levels of power. The higher the tier, the greater the spells one could command. With the second tier, Arthur would gain enough power to blend in without drawing attention, and that was all he needed for his plans.
Aqualis waved her hand and soon, the scene before his eyes began to fade.
Just as his consciousness was about to be detached from the realm, he heard Aurelia voicing,
"The fate of the world is in your hand, believer. Just for the last time, be our savior."
A sigh escaped his lips. To this date, he couldn't believe that the deities were dependent on a mortal like him.
His vision cleared and he found face to face with his family members.
His mother covered her mouth, her eyes shimmering with tears
His brother had his mouth parted agape and his eyes holding untamed happiness.
And his father...he just ruffled his hair and said, "Congratulations, Art. You have taken the first step towards greatness."
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A/N:- I hope you all enjoyed the story. Drop a comment and PS.