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3rd Pov
Months passed by in a blink of eyes, seasons changed and after several moons Ember finally got the peak parameters, the pinnacle of what is actually achievable without any specific ability to break through the limits.
[Level 1
Strength: S918--->S999
Endurance: A899--->S999
Dexterity: A837--->S999
Agility: S967--->S999
Magic: S999--->S999
Skills:
Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction and guess.
Orc Slayer: Grants twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.
Eagle's eye: Enhances the vision.
Magic:
1) Cremation (Chant): " O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
2) N/A
3) N/A]
Ember got one more skill, and all of his parameters have hit S999, it took a lot of time, a lot of effort to each where he is now. But now he had achieved this level of strength he found himself in a dilemma. " So, the Magic didn't increase any further? ", he said as he stared at his parameters, written on a piece of paper.
" Ember, I guess they won't increase any further. The limit of known falna is S999 after all. The fact you were able to reach S999 in all parameters is already an unsurmountable feat for others. You did this in two years and half!", said Aurora cheering him up. She was a Goddess; she knew this better than anything.
All mortals have limits, their body and soul limits them, however the presence of falna, and their divine blessing helps them to elevate their body and soul to a higher level, to ascend closer to the divinity itself. Although it is not known what will happen if someone achieves the state of divinity? Will they become the fictional Demi-God? Or they will ascend to Godhood? Even the fact whether it was possible was something they didn't knew.
It was totally unknown, no matter what the Gods think unless achieved it will be a mystery and mystery is a very strong words for the Gods. For them who are Immortal and lived since the birth of Universe, mystery and unveiling it was their only drive. Such were Gods. The fact that Ember reached S999 in all parameters was already something beyond the thinking of Aurora.
She knew the chances of achieving it... her own familia member was abysmally low. Yet here it was! She witnessed something that perhaps only Zeus and Hera familias had ever witnessed. A perfect S999 parameter sheet, of her own child nonetheless! It filled her with glee and made her feel smug, if not for the fact she needed to keep it secret, she would have already bragged this to the entire world.
But Ember wasn't satisfied, he wanted his parameters to break through the S999! Only then he can get extremely strong. He needs to achieve that someone else can hardly ever hope to achieve. If he wants to enter the rank of likes of Zald, Bell and Alfia, then the ability to surpass the strength of his own level, permanently is needed.
However, he didn't know what to do, his magic was the first stat to hit S999 and it is third time he is updating his parameters after that, yet his magic parameter refuses to budge even a bit. He has given his best so far, he would kill with the thought of getting stronger, desire of breaking through his limits burned within him.
He would go solo hunting from the village, and hunt till his mind is completely drained, he did such a dangerous act with the help of Jason, after all becoming unconscious in the middle of the monster infested forest is dangerous. But he had fought till his hand became numb, even Jason was tired just following him. For two days straight he had fought!
" Ember~ How about you level up? You already have that sweet sweet High-rank excelia stored, enough to level you and still have some left!", said Aurora as she hugged him from behind and patted his hair softly. She had been growing fond of him, ever since he showed up, and that fondness is only increasing.
" No! Goddess I still believe there exists a parameter beyond S999! If I reach that, then only I can become the strongest in this world, so until I achieve that. I want you not to level me up", Ember said breaking from her hug." But Ember! I-I think that the limit of every level is just S999, theoretically if one is to reach Level 10 or higher with S999 in every parameter, he or she will be as strong as a lower deity!", she said.
Usually, she would never speak of such thoughts, no other god will, after all Gods knew it was just a speculation and telling children will only end up things worse. You complicate their life even a bit, it becomes a mess. However seeing her child's blind dream, she couldn't help but persuade him. She didn't want him to suffer.
Ember gave her a gentle smile," Thank you Goddess for your kind words, but I will not give up!", he said and in the end she failed to persuade him. After updating his status, he quickly went to hunt monsters, Aurora didn't find him next day and realized he had left for hunting. She waited him to return, but that evening he didn't return.
" Where is he?! Just where?", Aurora muttered as she walked to and fro in a frenzy manner as she waited for him. She had already alerted the rest of her familia to look for him." Goddess", Edward came in front of her, and she looked at him with hope, however seeing Ember not alongside other members behind him, she despaired.
" Goddess we were unable to find Sir Ber, however we found his traces, I think he might have ventured far into the forest", Edward said wanting to ease her. " Far into the forest? Is he- Definitely! He is going to hunt until he is utterly exhausted", she muttered out loud, and then looked at her familia," Go and search for him", she said.
" Uh- Goddess-", Edward stopped as Aurora gave him a fierce look and asked," What is it?!", Edward quickly replied," It is already midnight, and most of the adventurers are tired... It won't be wise to venture far into the forest this late", his words made sense. After all just a unlucky encounter is enough to kill off their entire familia, that's how things work.
But Aurora seethed in anger as she heard his words, their EXCUSE. ' Here Ember might die at this rate and they! ', she thought getting even more angrier. " That wasn't a request! Edward Morales! That's the command of your Goddess!", she said, making a few people gasp. Their goddess until the matter of life and death of village had never given them any command, she was more like a silly elder sister to them to most of time.
" I-I see", Edward replied, and they went off to search Ember again, this time they didn't return until the afternoon of the next day. Aurora was filled with hope to see them again, however Edward shook his head much to her dismay. " We lost his trace at some point, and we encountered a multitude of Level 2 monsters, thankfully no one died, but due to circumstance we had to return", he said.
But to Aurora it seemed as if world had come to halt, dreading thoughts filled her mind, helpless figure of Ember lying on the ground crying out her name, or his bloodied corpse being gnawed by monsters. " E-Edward! Please return! Please search for him!", she said, but Edward was tired, indeed he was Level 2, however their search was met with monsters, this time a few Level 2 tiring him out.
" Goddess, we can't", he replied much to her horror. She gritted her teeth," Fine! If you won't search for him! I will! I will save him!", she said trying to run towards the forest only for her wrist to be grabbed by Edward. " Goddess! What are you saying! Cool your head down!", Edward said, she resisted fiercely however, she was unable to budge him a bit.
Her strength was of a mortal after all, Level 1 Adventurers were already Superhuman to her, much less a Level 2 like Edward. Seeing they were not letting her go, her anger flared. " Mortal! You dare to stop me?", her divinity exploded. In a second her brown hair turned into cherry blonde, a pressure hit Edward as his grip broke and he fell on the ground, not only him, but everyone near her fell on their knees. At this moment they saw the true form of their Goddess.
She was barely ristricting herself from unleashing her full Arcanum and searching for Ember, but she knew if she did, she would be sent back to Heaven without any second chance. ' Stop your outburst Aurora ', a voice rung in her mind. It was of the Primordial that oversaw the entire Genkai, but at that moment it only angered her more.
' Ouranos! You shall not restrict me! ', she replied, and the voice came,' If you don't stop, I will be forced to send you back Tenkai ', she gritted her teeth as she felt an authority covering the entire skies above her, it was invisible but permeated through the matter. The only Authority that the Primordial could use outside dungeon, not earning its ire. The Authority of Order!
" Goddess!", shouted Jason, and as her eyes fell on the man next to her, injured. Her divinity faded and so did her anger. Her face hung down in shame, she had shown them such an unsightly sight. " I-I apologize for my behaviour", she replied. She was truly a kind Goddess, usually Gods would take no responsibility for their actions, even towards their own familia children, viewing them nothing more than as pawns.
Everyone stood up, breathing in relief, while the other villagers watched from far. She felt ashamed but she was still worried about Ember. " Um Goddess, my daughter probably forgot something to show", said Martha pulling Maria who was hiding behind her, she walked with scared look and took out a letter. " That night I met sir Ber, and he gave me this letter."
Aurora snatched the letter and read through it, she found Ember had stated he might return in two to three days and anger came on her face. " You brat!!!", Maria screamed hearing her words, and ran as the Goddess chased her, Martha handed Aurora a belt seeing which Maria's face was filled with betrayal and horror, that day the painful cries of Maria ran throughout the village, as their Goddess enacted Divine Judgement, hitting her till her butt became red.
That day everyone swore, even Martha. To never ever anger their Goddess again! After seeing the letter, she was much calmer and couldn't help but facepalm at her erratic behaviour. ' Ember must have written a letter for me! Why didn't I think of that earlier? ', she thought feeling ashamed of her behaviour, she also overreacted but she couldn't be blamed.
In the end Ember returned the third day's dawn, and Aurora who was waiting for to enact her Divine punishment on him, quickly threw the idea away the moment she saw his bloodied and unconscious self. " Ember!", she cried out in panic. Jason who was carrying him on his back said," Goddess, Namien found him, who said, he became unconscious as soon as he met him."
" He is so injured! Jason hurry! Bring out the potions and bandages! We need to treat him up!", said Aurora, and soon they administered treatment to him. Thankfully he was just tired and had no grave injuries. Aurora patiently waited beside him, and the moment Ember woke up he was confused, as the Goddess reprimanded him.
" You idiot! Did you know how worried I was?!", she said as she hugged him gently, careful not to hurt him. " I- Forgive me", Ember said after a bit of silent, he had given the letter to Maria who hopefully handed to Aurora; however, he knew, vanishing for three days even if he told them, must have worried her.
Aurora wanted to complain more, but seeing his condition she let the idea go. " Fine- Just don't do something like that without a plan and without informing me in advance again", she said and Ember nodded, when he suddenly realised," But I gave the note to Maria?", he looked at her in confusion and Aurora smiled wryly and shook her head, " My poor Ember, never trust that trash again."
That day, the cultivation of Maria was abolished by Aurora and she turned into trash.
To be continued...