The roar still expanded through the layers of the atmosphere—a soundless thunder that seemed to have no end.
The air, torn apart by the pressure of the strike, left behind a fleeting void—an unnatural silence that not even the gods fully understood.
Then the earth trembled.Distant coastlines began to bend, and the ocean—split in two—convulsed in chaotic waves.Mountains wept fragments of themselves, plains rose and sank as if they were breathing,and deep within the planet's heart… something awakened.
From the roots of the world—from a point so remote it had no direction—a pulse emerged.It radiated every kind of energy, one made of pure will.And with that pulse, the earth responded.
The depths began to stir,and the sand of the ocean floor was pushed aside by something immeasurable.From the oldest abysses, roots the size of mountain ranges rose with solemn slowness.They were living masses, intertwined,filled with primordial light and liquid shadows that slithered across their bark.Their movements were not violent, but deliberate—hands repairing the cracks between worlds.
One stretched beneath the divided sea, holding it upas if the entire ocean were a bowl on the verge of shattering.Another wrapped itself around an entire chain of mountainsto keep them from collapsing over the valleys.A third—barely visible—pierced the sky,anchoring the split clouds and forcing the return of atmospheric balance,restoring the barrier that guarded the world.
Each root moved according to a law that belonged to neither time nor space—the Law of Primordial Balance,the principle that sustains the order of the worldwhenever a force dares to surpass it.
The air began to vibrate again.For an instant, the horizon curved inward,as though the world itself inhaled deeply before exhaling once.The oceans began to close, the clouds drew together,and the silence filled with a low murmur—a grave echo resonating from the very core of the earth.
In that instant, every living creature—from mortals to gods—felt a familiar pressure, almost maternal.It was not anger.It was warning.A reminder that the world has limits—and a consciousness vast enough to restore its own order.
When the last root ceased its motion, the sky returned to form.The fractures in the air sealed shut,the sea returned to its bed,and the shattered temple dissolved into dust,carried away by the wind.
Only then did the world breathe in peace once more.
And somewhere beyond all territories,within a realm above all realms,something immense—beyond scale, beyond sight—returned to its slumber.
***
Kingdom of Lichstein – Nulam Forest
Within the secret realm of the Nymphs, Aphrodite's Royal Palace
Night pressed on. Both goddesses were sitting on the bed, laughing softly as they talked. They had been speaking nonstop for days, pouring out everything they hadn't been able to share for ten long years.
At one point, Lilith asked with playful mischief:
Lilith: —"So… seriously, sister. Another mortal?"
Aphrodite lowered her head, but when she answered, her voice burned with intensity.
Aphrodite: —"You don't understand. His attitude. His gaze. He looked like him… only stronger. More alive. More shameless."
Lilith raised an eyebrow, intrigued once again.
Lilith: —"And who else did you tell, besides me?"
The goddess of love smiled. She already knew where this was going.
Aphrodite: —"I told Freya. Hecate. Isis. The others as well. I even tried to reach Oneuli through my divine mirror, but she's still tied up on the battlefield."
Lilith's expression hardened instantly.
Without hesitation, she snapped at her younger sister:
Lilith: —"Forget it. He's not coming back. Stop wasting your eternity waiting for someone who won't return. And don't revive the others' hopes either—they've already moved on.Besides… what did you say his name was?"
Aphrodite: —"He said his name was Sam Raymond. A human slave."
The goddess of pleasure clasped her hands together and focused her existential power, pushing deeper and deeper until she accessed the golden system of the gods. She slowed her breathing.
There were billions of Sam Raymonds—on the continent of Aurotia alone.
Meanwhile, Aphrodite searched around the room for her divine mirror.
Then it happened.
A tremor.A disturbance rippling across the barrier that protected the world itself.
Lilith froze. Her search stopped instantly as she focused on the source of the shock.
Her eyes widened.
The city of Ataxia.
She saw it clearly—the complete destruction of Athena's temple.
Without wasting a second, she turned to Aphrodite.
Lilith: —"Do what I did. Look at Ataxia. Now."
Aphrodite complied.
And then—
****
Gregorian Empire — Province of Ataxia
Coastal City of Ataxia
At that exact moment, countless golden screens bearing different names appeared in front of me.
Everyone present saw it—the absurd, overwhelming amount of divine attention I had drawn.
Even the system acknowledged it.
A blue screen flashed.
[Ding!]
[System Message: You have attracted the attention of multiple mythical beings. As a special reward for being the first to uncover this phenomenon, you are granted one wish. State your desire, and it shall be fulfilled.]
—"Make the basic skill Transcendental Eyes a passive ability."
[System Message: Processing wish…Wish granted. You will never receive another wish.]
I was fully aware I could've asked to leave this place—or even restore the system interface.
But I wasn't about to leave Melissa alone with that mob.
Besides, Transcendental Eyes let me see her clearly—and a lot more. It was practical.
The golden messages were getting on my nerves, so I addressed them directly:
—"I'm not in the mood for you."
['The Mistress of Pleasure': Watches you with interest.]
['Love and Tenderness': Is stunned by your actions.]
['Beauty of Harmony': Observes you with intrigue.]
['One of the Rulers of the Underworld': Sees potential in you.]
They just kept coming.
I snapped.
I threw another punch toward the sea and shouted:
—"You'll pay dearly for what you did to my friend—I swear it on myself!"
['The Lord of Lightning': Feels intense hostility toward you.]
['The Master of the Seas': Laughs at your words.]
—"Quincy, can you block these bastards?"
[All you had to do was ask, Master.Done. You will no longer be disturbed.]
—"Thanks. Now locate the Gorgon cave."
[Acknowledged, Master.]
[Location found.]
I felt Melissa's gaze on me—fixed, searching, impossible to read.
She finally asked quietly:
Melissa: —"Who are you?"
—"I'm your friend."
She blushed and lowered her eyes.
Then another notification popped up.
And I thought—
Oh, for fuck's sake… what now?!
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Melissa's Favorability social stat has reached its maximum.It has now evolved into the stat: Love.]
—"Cough—cough—WHAT?! Love?!"
[Ding!]
[System Notification: As the first to unlock this hidden social stat, you are granted the achievement 'Eternal Love'.]
I was irritated. Shocked. Genuinely offended.
All I could think was:
What the hell are you dumping on me now?!
Achievement Acquired: Eternal Love
(EX Rank)
Charm increased by 100%
Luck increased by 500%
Permanent Effect: Any woman or female being who reaches the Love stat with you—even if it drops back to Favorability—will inevitably rise to Love again.
[System Note: This achievement is irreversible and can never be obtained by anyone else.]
After reading all that, I groaned internally.
Damn it, system—stop giving me rewards that'll only cause problems!
Melissa: —"Is something wrong, Sam?"
—"No. I'm just stressed, pissed off, and exhausted.It's been a long day… shall we go?"
Melissa: —"I told you—I trust you."
—"Good. We're heading to Lichstein."
Melissa: —"L–Lichstein?! What about Nana?"
—"I'll ask a friend to handle everything."
Melissa: —"…Alright."
Thanks to Quincy, I learned the Gorgon cave was located in the mountains north of Atris.
Honestly, I had no idea how the original script would explain how Medusa ended up that far away.
But Quincy had a theory.
Since there was no data on Melissa, he analyzed her emotional state and filled in the gaps.
Most likely, she had originally thrown herself into the sea, intending to die.
Carried by currents for months.Every creature that tried to kill her turned to stone.
Eventually, she reached the shores of Lichstein.After wandering for months, she found refuge in a mountain cave.
And it was there—most likely—where she would eventually meet the other two Gorgons: Stheno and Euryale.
The difference?
They were immortal.
Daughters of Phorcys and Ceto—creatures of Greek myth.
And possibly… the key to restoring Melissa's appearance.
[Basic Skill 'Infinite Speed' activated.]
Holding Melissa tightly, I ran.
To reach Atris faster, I cut straight across the great sea ahead of us.
I ran over the water itself.
Towering waves. A raging storm.
I saw it all—but felt nothing.
Infinite Speed made it irrelevant.
It was the fastest route.
We reached the shores of Lichstein.
Moments later, with my absurd speed, I crossed the mountains and finally found the Gorgon cave marked on Quincy's map.
—"Quincy, reduce my Charm completely. Set everything to 50%." (The idea of my Charm around beings that ugly is terrifying.)
[Understood, Master.]
[Full adjustment complete.]
[Basic Skill 'Infinite Speed' deactivated.]
Normally, according to movies, anime, and common sense, carrying someone at inhuman speed would leave them completely wrecked—hair destroyed, body shattered.
That didn't apply to Melissa.
All the snakes on her head were passed out cold.
She just looked… confused.
The moment was surreal.
By any physical law, the G-forces alone should've turned her into mist.
Instead, she was perfectly fine.
She simply asked:
Melissa: —"How did we get here?"
—"Running."
Melissa: —"That doesn't make sense—we were just—wait… where are we?"
—"A mountainous region near Atris. Kingdom of Lichstein."
Melissa: —"How is that… possible?"
—"Common sense doesn't apply to me. You'll get used to it."
Melissa: —"You keep surprising me."
—"This is still nothing.Shall we go in?"
Melissa: —"…I'm with you."