The Goddess's face lit up with an otherworldly excitement. "Then it's time we discuss your role—and the power that comes with it," she said, rising gracefully. The cosmos itself seemed to shimmer with her movements.
But Asron's voice cut through her enthusiasm like a blade. "Not yet."
The warmth drained from her expression, replaced by a brief flicker of tension. "What else is there?" she asked, her tone quieter now, the edge unmistakable.
Asron didn't flinch. "I'll do what you ask. I'll kill him. But I won't become your puppet." His voice was cold, every word firm. "I decide how it ends. I decide when. No interference."
A heavy silence followed. The stars around them dimmed as the air grew thick with unspoken threats. Then—the goddess laughed. Not with joy, but with amusement edged in danger.
"I expected you to bargain for power, for immortality... but boundaries?" She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "Fine. Do it your way. But remember—free will doesn't mean freedom from consequences. You may live however you want... assuming you still want life by the time this is over."
Asron stood, his gaze steely. "Just keep your end of the deal."
The goddess gave a slow, knowing smile. "Very well."
She snapped her fingers. A lattice of glowing runes appeared in the void, spinning in a spiral around them.
"In that world, everyone is born with one role, and one skill," she began, her voice once again calm, instructive. "But the Hero... the Hero is different. He was born with two roles. Four skills. Powers that warp the laws of the world."
Asron's eyes narrowed. "You mean he's stronger than me?"
Her expression sobered. "I don't know. His abilities are hidden even from me. It's as if fate itself cloaks him. All I know is—whatever he becomes, he was never meant to be stopped by a god."
Asron said nothing. But his jaw clenched.
She waved her hand, and the glowing runes expanded into vast constellations. Symbols appeared—glowing and pulsing with arcane light.
"Skills are ranked from D to S," she said, her voice echoing across the void. "S-rank... the rarest of them all. Pure, unfiltered potential. Power capable of shaping—or shattering—entire worlds."
As she spoke, the floating runes shimmered with intensity, the letter S glowing like a burning brand in the air.
"But even the strongest skill is meaningless without a Role to anchor it," she continued, raising her hand. Six glowing sigils appeared, orbiting around Asron like celestial bodies. "There are six Roles: Warrior, Mage, Assassin, Healer, Summoner... and one more."
She hesitated, her tone shifting, solemn and cold.
"Hero."
The word rang like a verdict, and for a moment, the void itself seemed to tremble.
"Only one can ever bear the title of Hero," she said softly. "The chosen one. The destined one. The one who will either save this world... or bring about its ruin."
Asron's voice was a low growl. "So he's the only one who can carry that power."
"Yes." The goddess stepped forward. "You must choose something else. Your role will shape how you fight... and if you survive."
Asron studied the options. Mage—commanding elemental fury. Assassin—unseen death in a blink. Summoner—control of otherworldly monsters. Each promised immense power. Each was a weapon.
But then his eyes landed on one—the most basic, the most human: Warrior.
The goddess raised an eyebrow. "Warrior?" she asked, surprise creeping into her voice. "It enhances your body, your strength, your skill—but it lacks the grand power of the others. You could command the skies as a Mage... and you choose to bleed with a sword in your hand?"
Asron's lips curled into a slow, grim smile. "Because I want him to see me when I kill him. No spells, no shadows, no borrowed beasts. Just me. My will. My strength." His voice hardened. "Let the world know it was a man who stopped him, not fate."
The Goddess was momentarily stunned by his choice, but then a smile curled on her lips—one of approval, not mockery.
"I see... a true fighter's spirit," she murmured, her voice laced with intrigue. "Very well, Warrior it is."
With a graceful wave of her hand, the title etched itself into Asron's soul. Power surged through him like a tidal wave—his muscles tensed, his instincts sharpened, and every fiber of his being aligned for one purpose: combat. He didn't just feel stronger. He felt ready.
But the Goddess wasn't finished.
She raised her hand again, and the storm of swirling skills responded—spinning faster, pulsing with celestial light, each one calling out to him. "Now, choose two skills," she said, her voice ringing with divine authority. "They will define your strengths, and shape the path you carve through this world."
Asron's eyes scanned the skills. So many choices—each a promise of power, a potential edge. But he wasn't searching for flair or glory. He wanted efficiency. He wanted certainty.
"I choose Instant Recovery... and Instant Hit."
The cosmic winds stilled. Even the Goddess seemed caught off guard.
"Instant Recovery?" she echoed, surprised. "A rare skill... one that heals your wounds nearly as fast as they're dealt. You'll be a nightmare to kill." She paused, then smiled wider. "And Instant Hit... a ruthless choice. Every strike you land will be a critical one. No wasted motion. No second chances for your enemy."
She stepped forward, her tone suddenly more serious. "With those skills, you're not a warrior. You're a storm given form—unyielding, unstoppable. But understand this, Asron... the Hero is not an ordinary foe. His power is woven into the fate of the world itself."
Asron turned to her, the glow of the cosmos reflecting in his eyes. His voice was calm, but beneath it simmered iron resolve.
"I'm not here to play by fate's rules. I'll carve my own path—even if I have to break the world doing it."
He turned his back on her, shoulders squared, his presence heavy like a drawn blade.
"No more games. No more gods. No more schemes. Just me... my strength... and the Hero standing in my way."
The Goddess watched him with a gaze that slowly softened—not with pity, but with a rare flicker of hope. A whisper escaped her lips, carried away by the stardust winds:
"Perhaps... you really are the one who can change everything."