[ "This is the destruction caused by an SS+ Rank Hunter. Truly amazing! According to recent research, this lightning actually came from the sky! It's natural lightning that can be perfectly controlled!" ]
[ "Absolutely insane! Everyone knows natural lightning is almost impossible to control! Even other SS+ Rank Hunters would struggle to do the same!" ]
[ "Yes... that's..."]
"The same news again? Aren't they tired of discussing this over and over?"
Several pedestrians stopped in front of an electronics store window. Television screens showed reporters and famous Hunters discussing the phenomenon that had recently become the talk of the entire region.
"It's only natural they keep discussing it. Who would have thought the impact of her battle could be so devastating?" replied a man with an awestruck gaze.
A month had passed since the appearance of the mysterious Hunter with SS+ Rank who possessed six Talents. Rather than subsiding, the sensation caused by her appearance had intensified, spreading like wildfire through dry forest.
How could it not? Everyone had witnessed with their own eyes—a swordsmanship so deadly it left dimensional cracks in the sky. A phenomenon previously existing only in legends and myths.
Moreover, several mountains hundreds of meters tall had been reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye, creating a scene both terrifying and beautiful simultaneously. A bluish-purple light explosion splitting the sky, illuminating the horizon like dawn in midnight.
While other SS+ Rank Hunters might be capable of causing similar destruction, none could do it with a single move, as effortlessly as a breath.
Yet what drew the most attention wasn't her power.
"She's truly mesmerizing..." they whispered unconsciously, as if enchanted by a spell.
The appearance of Lux—or Raiden Ei—not only attracted the attention of various Kingdoms and Guilds but also hypnotized thousands of men across the continent.
Not without reason. Her charm transcended the usual definition of 'beautiful.'
Thanks to advanced satellite technology, the world had captured the moment when Lux drew the sword "Musou Isshin" directly from her chest. The bluish-purple light blinded cameras momentarily, before her figure became clearly visible, standing tall amidst the destruction.
Although blood adorned her body, flowing from battle wounds, her beauty remained completely unblemished. On the contrary, the blood seemed to add to her mysterious, captivating aura.
No one knows who first spread her image, but now her face had become an icon recognized worldwide.
Long purple hair that shimmered like the finest silk, falling freely to her waist. A pair of dark purple eyes that gleamed like rare Amethyst gems, radiating both calmness and the alertness of an apex predator. A purple kimono with dark purple stockings that perfectly accentuated her body's curves, creating a perfect combination that invited admiration.
The uniquely shaped birthmark on her face provided the final touch, a charm that captivated every soul that saw it—like a succubus spell from ancient legends.
Beautiful yet unreachable.
Enchanting yet cold as ice.
Captivating yet deadly.
She was the Lightning Goddess who couldn't be gazed at directly—like lightning that strikes, beautiful yet dangerous to approach.
Within days, her charm triggered an unprecedented wave of hysteria. Famous celebrities saw their popularity fade, and even other SS+ Rank Hunters had to swallow the bitter reality that their names now lagged far behind.
Her popularity equaled that of SSS Rank Hunters—a class considered living legends.
"I heard the Young Master from the Falcon Family is obsessed with her," murmured a middle-aged woman.
"Ah, that..." her friend nodded slowly, her expression showing disbelief.
Another shocking news that sparked conversation: after returning from an adventure aimed at gaining experience, the Young Master of the Falcon Family—a noble family with extensive influence in the Western Kingdom—openly used his noble status to search for the mysterious woman's whereabouts.
This was truly unexpected. How could a Young Master known for being extremely shy and rarely interacting with any woman suddenly fall to his knees before a Hunter who wouldn't even glance his way?
"The nobles always do whatever they want, don't they?" remarked a man with a slightly cynical tone.
"Indeed, but I think it's understandable. If I were in the same position, I might act similarly."
The image of Raiden Ei was so deeply etched in memory, too perfect to forget. Even the 'old foxes'—a term for wealthy elderly bachelors who never found women strong enough to attract their attention—were now captivated by her presence.
For teenagers going through puberty, Raiden Ei's figure became an object of wild fantasy, an illusion they would never reach.
"With all this commotion, it's not surprising that even the Imperial Family in the capital has begun to show interest..."
***
A handsome young man walked calmly through the magnificent palace corridor. Behind him, several servants followed obediently, maintaining perfect distance—not too close to disturb, yet not too far to appear inattentive.
His steps halted before an intricately carved mahogany door. This was his father's office, the Emperor ruling an Empire stretching from the eastern seas to the western mountains.
The door opened silently. Inside, a man was reading various documents piled high on his desk.
Emperor Elvius Lightsun had golden blonde hair and a pair of eyes with glowing red pupils—a characteristic feature of the royal family that symbolized their power. Despite being married with a dozen concubines, his appearance was still like that of a young man in his early twenties—one of the advantages of the pure royal blood flowing through his veins.
"You've finally arrived," said the Emperor without shifting his gaze from the document in his hand, his tone flat yet authoritative.
The young man bowed respectfully, "I apologize for my tardiness, Father." He straightened his posture again, "Is there something important you wish to convey?"
"Since you've just completed your closed training, read this." Emperor Elvius handed over a document with a red velvet cover—a color indicating highly confidential information.
The young man received it with both hands, opening and reading it carefully. Slowly, his calm expression changed, his eyebrows furrowing deeply.
"...Is this information accurate, Father?" he asked, his voice slightly trembling—a very rare sign from a prince trained to hide his emotions.
"Yes," the Emperor nodded and rubbed the bridge of his nose, a rare gesture showing his concern. "Although difficult to believe, that's the reality."
The document contained complete information about Raiden Shogun. From her suspected identity, Rank, to the list of Talents she possessed. It also included an in-depth analysis of her astonishing battle a month ago, complete with diagrams and calculations of the attack power.
What troubled the prince most was...
"This woman... How could she truly have no identity?" The corner of his mouth twitched. It was very illogical for someone with such tremendous power to appear out of nowhere, without background, without history.
"Our intelligence unit has confirmed it repeatedly," answered the Emperor. "She truly has no official identity or powerful protector behind her. Thanks to this lack of affiliation, many nobles are now racing to acquire her. Even prominent Guilds and the Hunter Association itself have deployed substantial resources to search for her."
"Then... what does it have to do with me, Father?" asked the prince in a careful tone. Indeed, the discovery of a Hunter with six innate Talents was startling, but such matter shouldn't be important enough to draw full attention from the Imperial Family.
After all, their dynasty essentially consisted of beings who had transcended the limits of ordinary humans—elders who had lived for decades or even thousands of years.
Additionally, the Empire already had ten Commanders whose power equaled SS+ and SSS Rank Hunters—the highest ranks recognized by the world.
"...Does Father want me to invite her to join our Empire?" guessed the prince.
"Partially correct," the Emperor nodded slowly. "Although her appearance isn't too concerning for our family, for the Dukes and Emperors from other kingdoms, this woman's existence represents a golden opportunity that cannot be missed."
Not all noble Dukes and neighboring kingdoms had SS Rank or higher Hunters. So when information about such a powerful unaffiliated Hunter spread, they naturally raced to attract her to their side—by any means necessary.
As Emperor, Elvius couldn't let that happen. God knows what chaos might ensue if such a deadly Hunter fell into the wrong hands.
Rather than allowing such power to be misused by others, better to recruit her as one of the kingdom's Commanders to strengthen the defense fleet.
"And also..." The Emperor looked at his son with meaningful eyes, "If I recall correctly, you don't have a fiancée yet, right? How about making her your future Empress? Besides her extraordinary power, her unrivaled charm is what makes many princes and young nobles infatuated with her. I hear even the eldest son of the Falcon Family is quite obsessed with her."
Hearing that, the prince remained silent for a moment. Indeed, the woman in the image attached to the document was truly enchanting—perhaps the most beautiful he had ever seen in his two hundred years of life. However...
"She's still not that interesting to me, Father. At the very least, she should be as strong as an SSS Rank Hunter or equivalent to our family elders."
"You're too picky," Emperor Elvius shook his head, unable to hide his disappointment. "It's very difficult to find a woman of such quality, especially one still free from bonds."
"Is that all Father wished to convey?" asked the prince, clearly wanting to end the uncomfortable conversation.
"No, there's one more thing." The Emperor produced a crystal orb that emitted a dim light. "We detected an anomaly in the 'Life Forest'. According to the initial investigation, there's a very powerful foreign energy gathering in that forest. This energy isn't directly dangerous, but..."
He pressed a small symbol on the orb, and immediately a holographic projection appeared in the air. The image wasn't very clear, but sufficient to display a giant black ball floating in the sky, with several large wings covering part of its form.
The entity appeared to be sleeping, waiting for something.
"This..." The prince narrowed his eyes, his instincts honed over centuries reacting strongly. Somehow, he could sense a great threat from the projection, something pure and dangerous.
"Exactly," the Emperor nodded and massaged the bridge of his nose, a rare gesture showing his concern. "This unknown energy suddenly formed the manifestation you see. And more worryingly—for reasons we don't yet understand—ordinary people cannot see it."
"...What do you mean, Father?"
"Literally," explained Emperor Elvius, his voice becoming lower. "This entity has specific characteristics that make it invisible to ordinary eyes. Only those with high-level spiritual abilities can detect its presence. Could you investigate it further?"
Looking at the projection once more, the prince remained silent for several moments, weighing the risks and his responsibilities. Finally, with a calm yet firm voice, he answered:
"...I will do it, Father."
***
Amidst the city's crowd, a girl stood with a calm expression, her gaze fixed on the strange phenomenon in the sky—a giant winged black ball floating silently, invisible to ordinary human eyes.
The girl had long blonde hair partially tied in a ponytail on the right side of her head, falling gracefully on her small shoulders. Her pink-red eyes sparkled like rare gems, radiating intelligence and calmness that didn't match her seemingly young age.
She wore a clean white uniform with gold accents in several parts, while her hands held a small pink bag adorned with star and moon-shaped key chains. Her golden earrings looked exotic—shimmering like pearls with colors that gradually changed over time, indicating these were no ordinary jewelry.
With all these characteristics, she undoubtedly fell into the category of rare beauty. Strangely, however, no one glanced in her direction—as if her very existence wasn't detected by human senses.
People passed by without noticing her presence as if she were merely empty air.
In reality, that was indeed the case.
Except for a few individuals with special abilities, no one could see or feel her presence.
After all, she was no longer an ordinary human thanks to her special nature.
A question crossed her mind as her pink-red eyes continued to observe the mysterious entity in the sky.
'I have one question for you, System... Why are the Character Templates I get always female?'
Though her face remained calm, inside her heart surged an unbridled frustration.
[Ding! Character Templates are obtained randomly. System cannot control the selection process, but Host need not worry. Host will get at least one male Character Template in the future]
'And when exactly will that happen?'
[System cannot provide exact information regarding that matter]
"..."
Lux felt deep annoyance, but also realized her helplessness in this situation. Her gaze returned to the 'Angel' floating in the sky, and she couldn't suppress a heavy sigh.
'How could my situation become this complicated?'
***
A few days earlier...
In a simple yet neat room, a boy about 14 years old was carefully treating wounds on his hands and forehead. His nimble and trained finger movements showed this wasn't the first time he had treated himself.
His snow-white hair contrasted with his pale skin. His right eye radiated a stunning sapphire blue color—clear and deep like a bottomless ocean. However, his left eye was hidden behind a black eye patch, concealing something called "Mystic Eyes"—too dangerous and conspicuous to be shown.
This boy was Lux, who had just released the Raiden Ei—or Raiden Shogun—Character Template he had been using.
However, there was a problem that made him wince in pain.
"System, are you sure you didn't forget an important explanation?" he asked with a skeptical tone. "Why are the wounds I received while using the Raiden Ei Template still on my original body?"
Indeed, the wounds he was now treating weren't the result of his battles as himself. These were wounds he received while in Raiden Ei's form.
[Releasing a Character Template does not remove wounds that have been received]
[Those wounds remain and are transferred to the Host's original body, regardless of the appearance used]
"I see..." Lux frowned, thinking about the implications of this information. "Will these wounds heal naturally?"
[Yes]
"That's good news," Lux sighed. He was very reluctant to have to use the Raiden Ei Template again just to heal his wounds...
Fortunately, he didn't need to do that.
***
Currently, Lux had just finished his dinner—a simple plate of pasta he cooked himself.
Although his identity as an Assassin might surprise some people, his cooking skills were actually quite admirable.
There was one quite amusing thing. Initially, Lux intended to cook using the Raiden Ei Template, thinking that the goddess's abilities must far surpass his own. However, he discovered a very shocking fact...
Raiden Ei—or Raiden Shogun—turned out to have absolutely no cooking talent.
Meaning, even with the basic skills Lux possessed as 'Lux Frost,' he still couldn't produce decent food when using that Template!
He had been very careful lighting the stove, choosing the highest quality ingredients, and following recipes meticulously. Yet the results were still terrible—no more than a plate of smoking black chaos that couldn't even be called food.
It was as if Raiden Ei and Raiden Shogun had been cursed to forever be unable to cook!
Realizing this fact, Lux shook his head in disbelief.
I mean, who could imagine? An adult woman—let alone a goddess—who couldn't even perform a basic task like cooking?!
And he discovered it! Even more surprisingly, this was the Electro Archon who reportedly had the power to split an island in two!
Currently, Lux felt sorry for the real Raiden Ei. After all, what man would want to marry a woman who couldn't cook? How had she survived all this time?
Well, except for materialistic men who were only enchanted by her external beauty...
Setting aside that domestic issue, Lux began examining the Character Template data from Raiden Ei in his mental system.
...
<<[ Character Template: Raiden Ei, Raiden Shogun ]>>
- [ Progress: 90.7% ] -
- [ Title: Beelzebub, Electro Archon, Raiden no Inazuma Tono, God of Eternity, The Almighty Shogun, Narukami Ogosho, Master of the Euthymic Plane, Hunter Rank SS+ ] -
- [ Origin: Genshin Impact ] -
- [ Species: God (Soul), Puppet (Physically) ] -
- [ Affiliation: Neutral (?), Inazuma (?) ] -
- [ Weapon: Musou Isshin, Engulfing Lightning ] -
...
'...Truly surprising.'
Seeing Raiden Ei's progress nearly reaching 100%, Lux blinked in astonishment.
Could fighting life-threatening battles increase Character Template progress this quickly? Although it wasn't really a life-or-death battle, since Raiden Ei still had an ace card she hadn't played—a power never used before. If that 'power' were released, even SS Rank Hunters would fall in an instant.
However, that 'power' could only be activated when she was truly cornered, or if her sword technique wasn't enough to defeat the opponent...
[No. The reason for her rapid progress is Raiden Ei's achievements that have astounded the world and attracted extraordinary attention from the wider community]
"Really?" Hearing that explanation, Lux raised his eyebrows curiously. "In that case, show me the amount of Achievement Points accumulated so far."
[Ding! Starting calculation...]
[Ding! Host's current total is 70,000,000 Achievement Points!]
[Host's Achievement Points continue to increase as your achievements spread exponentially across the continent]
"..."
Seeing the fantastic number of points, Lux was speechless. Somehow, he began to feel that his identity as the Frost Assassin, which had so far felt very miserable and meaningless.
As the 'Frost Assassin,' he needed more than three years to collect one million points. Yet here—just by being a beautiful adult woman—he had managed to collect tens of millions of points in a matter of weeks...
[Host should not misunderstand. Achievement Points that Host earned as Frost Assassin were relatively few because the System wasn't fully active at that time. Now, Host can get far more Achievement Points even when using the Frost Assassin identity]
[Nevertheless, the points gained will still be lower compared to when Host uses a Character Template]
"That's fine..." Lux felt slightly relieved. At least this meant he didn't always have to use a female form if he wanted to collect Achievement Points.
[Ding! Template Progress
[Two options are currently available to Host]
[First option: Can summon the real Raiden Ei/Shogun without any memories. To control her actions, Host must control her mentally. Any injury received by Raiden Ei/Shogun will be transferred to Host's body!]
[Second option: Can determine a new Character Template randomly. The chance of getting a Character Template with equal or higher power is very high!]
"..."
Reading the offered options, Lux remained silent and frowned deeply. After thinking for several moments, he finally asked: "If I choose the second option... will the first option no longer appear in the future?"
[Not so. After Raiden Ei/Shogun's progress reaches 100%, Host can still summon the real Raiden Ei, but with some potential complications]
"Complications?"
[Such as 'Raiden Ei/Shogun's' combat power possibly being weaker than the Template version, the possibility of having complete memories that could trigger rebellion against the Host, and various other risks]
Hearing that explanation, Lux fell silent for a moment, digesting the information he received. "Then what if I ignore the second option now?"
[Then the quality of the next Character Template cannot be guaranteed. Host potentially could get a Template as strong as 'Raiden Ei' or conversely, a very weak Character Template]
"..."
Truthfully, both options were like magnets. Summoning Raiden Ei meant having an unrivaled ace card—a figure as innocent as a blank canvas, easily molded without resistance. Like having a living doll with the power of a god.
Moreover, the scenario of a meeting between Raiden Ei and "Frost Assassin" would surely create a sensation that would shake the world, creating shockwaves that would astound all parties. The flood of Achievement Points was already visible in his mind's eye.
True, controlling Raiden Ei would require him to split his mental focus into two different entities. But for Lux—such a small sacrifice wasn't worth the results. Isn't every benefit always requiring risk?
But the second option... Its temptation was equally intoxicating. A stronger Template meant more formidable power, broader possibilities, and nearly limitless potential.
'A mind-boggling choice,' Lux sighed inwardly, his eyes narrowing while his fingers tapped lightly.
He thought long and hard, but in the end...
"I choose the second one."
His logic was undeniable. Though Raiden Ei's charm was extraordinary, powerful Templates were rare treasures. From the countless fictional characters—anime, manga, games, films, and light novels—the majority were just ordinary humans without special powers.
Slice of life characters without supernatural abilities were numerous, far exceeding the number of fantasy characters with magical powers. The second option offered a guarantee that couldn't be ignored.
Besides, releasing the chance to summon Raiden Ei now didn't mean closing the door forever. When her progress reached 100%, that opportunity would open again.
The rebellion issue? If it happened, "Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" would be the final solution.
[Ding! Beginning to Determine a new Character Template...]
[Ding! Host has successfully obtained the Character Template 'Takamiya Mayuri' from 'Date a Live World'!]
[Does Host want to Install Template 'Takamiya Mayuri' now?]
"... A female character again?" Lux fell silent, at a loss for words. The name 'Date A Live' sounded foreign to his ears—fiction he had never encountered.
But the System guaranteed the popularity of this fiction, so the power of characters within it must be no joke, right?
His hand raised, ready to install the new Template, but suddenly froze in mid-air.
"No, maybe another day..." he muttered softly.
Being a woman again? He felt somewhat reluctant. No matter how strong the power offered, there was a certain comfort in his original form and true power.
"Perhaps... I should go to sleep soon."
***
Four days later...
"This is a suitable place."
Lux's figure landed smoothly among the dense trees, disguised as the Frost Assassin. The 'Life Forest' stretched around him—a green paradise known for the Dryad Race that guarded the life energy in every corner.
Legend has it, Life Forest was blessed directly by the Goddess of Life, making it a natural gem that captivated eyes and souls. Its beauty attracted tourists from various regions, with one simple condition: respect the beauty and inhabitants of the forest.
The journey from Lux's residence city to this forest took two full days. Not a short distance, but two important goals made him undertake the long journey.
First, a mission from the Guild to eliminate a nobleman in the nearest town. Second, to try his new Character Template.
Initially, he intended to test it in a field near the city. However, the System suddenly suggested another place, warning of potential problems during the activation process. Remembering his city was still recovering after the battle as 'Raiden Ei,' Lux didn't argue.
After ensuring the surrounding area was empty of living creatures, Lux took a deep breath and began installing his new Template.
Curiosity tickled him. How strong was this Template? Until the System suggested finding a remote place? If this Template was as strong as Raiden Ei, that would be better...
But what happened next was beyond all his predictions...
Baadom! Baadom! Baadom!
'...Huh?'
Lux's eyes widened as his heartbeat turned wild. His hand clutched his chest, his body shaking violently until both knees automatically hit the ground.
"W-what is..."
His trembling fingers touched his face. A strange sensation invaded—as if six different feelings collided within him simultaneously.
"What is this feeling..."
Trying to stay calm, Lux analyzed the emotional storm that hit him. Though mixed from six different sources, their essence was the same.
Love. Pure and deep.
'Huh? Love?!'
Since when had he fallen in love? With whom?
These were false feelings! Not his own!
His head throbbed tremendously, on the verge of consciousness. His resistance weakened when a flood of foreign memories inundated his mind.
A bright blue sky stretched out. A beautiful girl smiled gently at a young man whose face was blurred, unidentifiable. Several figures floated around them—girls with faces also obscured.
The girl in the young man's embrace wore an elegant open black dress. Her golden blonde hair shimmered under the sunlight, her pink eyes radiating gentleness. Black gloves and golden boots completed her appearance.
Most amazing were the pair of angel wings on her back, plus another smaller pair near her ears.
Her appearance was like a heavenly angel, spreading a charm that mesmerized anyone who looked.
Her smile radiated pure love that calmed the soul, but also contained deep sadness, as if reluctant to part.
Her body began to glow softly as she whispered to the young man who desperately embraced her:
"Because I met you... I am no longer an existence born to disappear... Thank you..."
"MAYURI...!!!"
***
BOOOOOOMMMMM.....!!!!
Lux's body suddenly exploded with foreign, tremendous energy. His gaze and thoughts were empty as his body and eyes transformed.
His heterochromatic eyes changed into a pair of pink irises. The handsome boy's body transformed into a petite girl 154 cm tall.
An open black dress formed covering her body. A pair of beautiful angel wings appeared on her back.
All energy spread, perfecting the transformation of her form.
[Ding! Ding! Emergency warning! The original character consciousness of 'Mayuri' is trying to take over the Host's body!]
[DING! DING! DING! ALERT!!]
[Beginning consciousness suppression...]
Lux's—or 'Mayuri's'—blank expression suddenly changed.
"AAAAAHHHH.....!!"
A roar not from the human world shook the entire forest.
BOOOOM...!!!
Reiryoku energy exploded in all directions, annihilating anything in its path.
In the sky, a giant black winged ball appeared—as large as a whale. Terrifying Reiryoku gathered around it, ready to destroy all existence.
The power gathered was capable of leveling dozens of large cities in an instant!
However—
[Consciousness recovery...]
DEG!
'Their' empty eyes widened. The wild, rampaging aura instantly became calm.
The elements of ice, fire, wind, sound, sword, and lightning that had been dancing vanished in an instant, before they could destroy anything.
The giant black ball in the sky slowly calmed, its wings folding to cover itself, entering rest mode.
'The woman' fell to her knees, her hand weakly outstretched. Her beautiful Astral Dress slowly faded...
Her gaze directed to the sky, unaware of several Life Forest inhabitants watching her with fascination—they had never seen such pure and sacred Spirit aura.
A few seconds later, 'the woman' collapsed unconscious.
Srik... Srik...
Figures magically appeared from tree trunks. Their bodies resembled females, with plant characteristics—leaves and branches—merging with their skin.
The Dryads, forest guardians.
Seeing the 'beautiful Spirit' lying there, they wanted to help...
Golden light suddenly shone near 'the woman.' The Dryads were stunned, then knelt with full respect when recognizing the appearing figure.
"Goddess of Life..."
An adult woman with beauty beyond words. A warm smile never left her glowing face.
Her brown hair flowed down to touch the ground, her emerald eyes radiating eternal warmth. Her presence channeled life energy to all plants, creating deeper peace.
One of the highest existences in this world, the Goddess of Life. Her power surpassed SSS Rank Hunters. Above Tier 10 (final), entering the Transcendent Tier category—capable of annihilating the world in an instant if she desired.
But as her name suggested, she instead preserved life...
"[How beautiful you are, Darling... You're truly pure...]"
The Goddess of Life smiled gently looking at the 'beautiful Spirit' before her. A type of Spirit she had never encountered before.
This Spirit wasn't born from the womb of another Spirit or any living creature. She was purely born from human feelings—an existence normally invisible to ordinary people.
But the Goddess of Life could see her clearly, as could the Dryads who weren't 'normal' creatures. But the Goddess's smile contained sadness.
"[Good child... But you suffer so deeply...]"
Her gentle fingers caressed the Spirit's face. She sensed tremendous mental instability—something very traumatic must have happened. Why else would the damage around this place be so severe?
"[Truly terrible... I never knew there was such power...]"
The Goddess of Life looked painfully at the giant winged black ball in the sky. Its existence radiated a worrying aura...
For ordinary creatures, including the Dryads, that ball was invisible. If they could see it, they would have surely run away in fear.
The Goddess of Life realized the black ball was a manifestation of this beautiful Spirit's power. Destroying it would be the same as killing this Spirit—something she didn't want to do.
This Spirit was too innocent and pure. Not yet tainted by any sin. A rare miracle—despite experiencing bad things, she didn't sink into darkness.
The Goddess of Life was determined to maintain this purity.
Every creature has sin, including herself.
But here, before her, lay an existence without stain—beauty beyond value.
The Goddess of Life didn't want a creature like this to be tainted. She would do anything to help and protect her.
"[I have given many Divine Protections to living beings, but especially for you, I will give a Divine Protection that no one else possesses]"
Though always gentle and warm to all creatures, for this Spirit the Goddess of Life gave more. She would protect her like her own child...
With full affection, she kissed the Spirit's forehead.
Feeling the softness of her skin, the Goddess of Life was stunned. Her aroma was so unique, capable of driving any man crazy. Fortunately, this Spirit was invisible to most people, or the Goddess couldn't be at peace imagining how many savage men would chase 'her child.'
A leaf symbol formed on the Spirit's forehead before slowly disappearing.
"[Perhaps not much, but this will help you control your power]"
The Goddess of Life understood that although the black ball was this Spirit's power, she wasn't yet able to control it. The ball reacted to her feelings, moving according to her emotions.
This Divine Protection also allowed the Goddess to sense this Spirit's presence and feelings from afar. If her emotions became unstable, the Goddess of Life could immediately appear to control the situation.
"[My time is up, take good care of yourself, darling... I will move you to the nearest city...]"
The bodies of the Goddess of Life and the Spirit began to glow. Before disappearing, the Goddess restored all damage that had occurred in the forest.
"[Please don't tell anyone about this girl's existence...]" she gently requested of the Dryads.
The Dryads nodded quickly, without the slightest doubt. A request from the Goddess who had blessed their forest was a sacred command that couldn't be questioned.
"[Until we meet again...]"
In an instant, the Goddess of Life and the Spirit vanished, leaving the forest now filled with life energy stronger than before...