Chapter 25: The God Who Smiled
Darkness.
There was no sky.
No ground.
No wind.
No sound.
Vee slowly opened his eyes.
"...Where..."
His voice echoed endlessly.
He looked around.
An endless white void stretched in every direction.
"...Am I dead?"
"No."
A calm voice answered.
It wasn't loud.
Yet it carried an authority that seemed woven into existence itself.
Vee turned.
Several meters away stood a man dressed in robes of emerald and white.
Long green hair flowed gently despite the absence of wind.
His eyes glowed like ancient forests after rainfall.
Flowers bloomed beneath every step he took.
The air itself seemed to come alive around him.
Birdsong echoed from nowhere.
Life followed him.
Vee instinctively knew...
This wasn't a human.
The man smiled warmly.
"Tell me..."
"Do you know who I am?"
Vee scratched the back of his head.
"...Um..."
"...Yeah."
The man waited patiently.
"You're..."
"...the God of Life?"
For a moment...
Silence filled the void.
Then the man laughed.
A genuine, pleasant laugh.
"Hahaha..."
"Most mortals either fall to their knees..."
"...or spend several minutes trying to guess."
"You answered immediately."
Vee shrugged.
"The System kind of spoiled it."
The God of Life blinked.
"...Fair enough."
His smile widened.
"I like you."
Vee smiled back.
"I get that a lot."
The god chuckled again.
"You have courage."
"You stood before certain death..."
"...yet your heart never abandoned hope."
He took another step forward.
"And because of that..."
"I wish to offer you something."
An emerald light gathered in his palm.
It expanded into a magnificent crystal covered in ancient runes.
"My Legacy."
The moment those words left his mouth...
The entire void trembled.
Vee's eyes widened.
"The Legacy..."
"...of a God?"
The God of Life nodded.
"It contains a fraction of my authority."
"It will allow its bearer to walk the path of life itself."
"Healing."
"Creation."
"Vitality."
"Growth."
"One day..."
"...it could even allow you to command life."
Vee stared silently.
The offer was unbelievable.
Any person in existence would fall to their knees and accept without hesitation.
But...
The God of Life suddenly frowned.
"Hm?"
He looked directly at Vee.
Then...
His smile slowly disappeared.
"...Interesting."
The emerald crystal dimmed.
The god raised a hand.
Ancient symbols surrounded Vee's body.
He seemed to be examining something hidden deep within his soul.
Several seconds passed.
Finally...
The God sighed.
"So..."
"...that's why."
Vee blinked.
"Why what?"
The God's gaze became unusually serious.
"You already possess a Legacy."
Vee frowned.
"I do?"
"You simply haven't awakened it yet."
The void trembled once more.
The God of Life looked directly into Vee's violet eyes.
"The Legacy..."
"...of the Death God."
Silence.
Vee's mind went completely blank.
"...Come again?"
"The Death God."
"The oldest Legacy."
"The one every god believed had vanished."
The God of Life looked almost... amused.
"No wonder I was drawn to you."
Vee swallowed hard.
"So..."
"...does that mean I can't inherit yours?"
The God of Life smiled apologetically.
"Unfortunately..."
"No."
"A mortal soul cannot safely bear two complete Divine Legacies."
He looked at Vee with curiosity.
"But..."
"I can help awaken the one sleeping within you."
Vee remained silent.
His heart pounded.
The Death God.
The name alone sent chills through him.
"I should warn you," the God of Life said quietly.
"The path of Death is not evil..."
"But it is lonely."
"Most who see your power will fear it before they understand it."
He extended a hand toward Vee.
"So tell me, Vee Ashford..."
"Do you still wish to walk that path?"
The emerald light around them began to swirl violently.
Far away...
A second presence stirred.
Ancient.
Cold.
Silent.
Something...
—or someone—
had heard its name spoken.
Chapter 12: Three Paths
The endless void trembled.
A cold wind swept across the white expanse.
The emerald light surrounding the God of Life flickered.
Then...
Darkness seeped into the void.
It spread like ink across white paper.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Vee instinctively turned.
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Calm.
Deliberate.
From the darkness emerged another figure.
Unlike the God of Life, whose presence made flowers bloom...
This being left nothing behind.
No light.
No shadow.
Only silence.
He wore a long black robe embroidered with silver runes.
His face remained hidden beneath a hood.
Yet the moment he appeared...
Even the God of Life smiled.
"...You finally decided to show yourself."
The newcomer looked toward Vee.
Then spoke.
His voice was deep.
Ancient.
"I've always been here."
Vee swallowed.
"...Death God?"
The hooded figure nodded once.
"I am."
The God of Life folded his arms.
"I had hoped to pass my Legacy to him."
"But your Legacy already occupies his soul."
The Death God remained silent.
Then...
"You may still grant him your blessing."
The God of Life raised an eyebrow.
"You know the consequences."
"He could die."
The Death God's answer came without hesitation.
"Only if you lose control."
The God of Life sighed.
"You always make impossible things sound simple."
"You need only contain the power you give him."
The Death God replied calmly.
"His body will adapt."
Vee listened to two gods discussing his future as though he weren't standing there.
He slowly raised a hand.
"...Um..."
Both gods looked at him.
"So..."
"...I'm not dead?"
The God of Life laughed.
"No."
Vee grinned.
"Great."
The Death God looked at him.
"...You smile often."
Vee shrugged.
"It annoys my enemies."
For the first time...
The corner of the Death God's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
The God of Life noticed.
"...Did you just smile?"
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I did not."
Vee couldn't help smiling wider.
"So even gods argue."
The God of Life chuckled.
"We've known each other for a very long time."
Finally...
He turned serious.
"Very well."
"I shall bless you."
A brilliant emerald light gathered above his palm.
It slowly descended toward Vee.
The moment it touched his chest...
Warmth flooded every corner of his body.
His broken ribs mended.
His torn muscles healed.
His exhausted mana surged back to life.
The blessing didn't stop.
It sank deep into his soul.
The emerald glow intertwined with the dark aura sleeping within him.
For a brief second...
Life and Death existed together in perfect harmony.
The God of Life smiled.
"It is done."
"Use this gift wisely."
The Death God nodded once.
"We shall meet again."
The void shattered like glass.
Everything faded.
---
Outside...
Vee's eyes snapped open.
He gasped sharply.
The underground cave came into focus.
The Crimson Flame Lion lay dead nearby.
Its body had withered into dust.
"...What..."
Before he could finish—
DING!
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Congratulations!
You have received the Blessing of the God of Life.
Effects:
- Passive Regeneration Unlocked.
- Increased Vitality.
- Enhanced Recovery Speed.
- Greater Resistance to Poison and Disease.
Unique Notice:
The Blessing has successfully synchronized with the dormant Legacy of the Death God.
---
Vee stared at the screen.
Then...
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"I actually survived."
Another notification appeared.
---
ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM
Time Remaining: 02:17:42
Objective: Reach the Academy Summit.
---
"...Right."
He picked up his sword.
"No time to waste."
---
Elsewhere...
Aurelia wiped monster blood from her golden spear.
"That makes three."
A voice behind her called out.
"Nice throw."
Aurelia turned.
A girl about her age stepped from behind a tree.
She had jet-black hair that reached her waist.
Her striking black eyes were calm, almost unreadable.
A longsword rested casually across her shoulder.
"You handled that monster well."
Aurelia smiled.
"So did you."
Without another word...
A second monster burst from the bushes.
The two reacted instantly.
The black-haired girl intercepted its claws.
Aurelia's spear flashed like lightning.
The beast collapsed seconds later.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then laughed.
"I suppose introductions are in order."
"I'm Aurelia."
The girl nodded.
"Luna."
The two continued walking together.
The deeper they traveled...
The more monsters they defeated.
An unexpected friendship had begun.
---
Somewhere Else...
Kai walked through the forest alone.
Three monster corpses lay scattered behind him.
He hadn't even drawn a full breath.
Suddenly...
A spear shot toward his head.
WHOOSH!
Kai tilted his head.
The spear missed by less than an inch before embedding itself in a tree.
He looked forward.
A tall young man stepped into the clearing.
He casually pulled another spear from his back.
"So..."
"You're Kai."
Kai's expression remained unreadable.
"I am."
The spear user smiled.
"I've heard you're strong."
Kai slowly reached for his sword.
"I've heard nothing about you."
The young man laughed.
"Good."
"I prefer introductions through combat."
Kai drew his blade.
The forest fell silent.
Another battle...
Was about to begin.