...
3rd Pov
The Gods love the lower world because of the sheer amusement it provides them. They witness miracles again and again, what they thought would be impossible becomes possible. I mean how can a falnaless child slay off monsters as ten times as strong as himself? How with a mere blessing of a spirit one can fight off one of the calamities that almost enters the realm of Gods. The soul of mortals wasn't made by Gods, they are made by the world, thus every soul itself is a world unknown to the gods.
To see what has been unknown, nothing excites Gods more than that, and now Goddess Aurora, a mere Intermediate deity, just one of the many virgin goddesses under the Goddess Artemis' protection. She witnessed something that perhaps the primordials or god kings have never witnessed, she witnessed a mortal break the limits of falna set by the Gods! The falna system itself was very versatile, created and designed by the combined might of several High-class deities.
Despite its noble origin it didn't grant mortals anything but the ability to realize their potential and go beyond it, though 'Going beyond it', was tougher than becoming an average Level 5. Something that very much she had just witnessed now! No God has witnessed a mortal surpassing the set limit of falna, yet she has! She has a child that broke through his limits! At first, she was beyond joyful, though it turned into extreme worry once she realized her child is going to do something stupid again. " Goddess, I guess I will need to fight a monster way beyond for my level to improve myself", he said.
" No! I always supported you Ember, but not this time! K-Knowing that I might lose you- I will never let something like that happen! Ember I will never let you get that hurt again!", Aurora said, logically being a Goddess she should encourage her child, a God's curiosity must push her child further to see, how much he will shine, perhaps if it was any other of her child, she would have yielded, but for Ember, she held something special, something that she couldn't deny yet not bring herself to say about it to him.
" Yes, Goddess I know that is foolish, but please hear my entire plan!", he reasoned and yet she still didn't yield, after a lot of persuasion and hearing his plan, she finally yielded, though she felt bitter about it. " You will get hurt", she said in a downcast voice, and Ember said," Goddess we both know, being an adventurer without getting hurt on the path is impossible."
" Yes, I know", she grumbled, Ember could see the special care she held for him, and he had suspicions, but again he was dealing with a Goddess, so he decided to let things play out on their own. Ember's plan was pretty simple, he would find a Level 2 monster and make it stronger, then slay it alone while in the presence of the rest of the familia.
His relationship with Aurora familia had soured slightly since the Goddess has lashed out last time at them for him. But his relationship with Jason and Edward is solid, and perhaps only the presence of Edward will be needed. A single Level 2 after all can do more than what a group of Level 1 can. Begrudgingly she accepted, she had lived countless Millena, and knew he wasn't a caged bird, and without risks he can't grow.
Though the thought of him dying haunted her, and unknown to Ember she had made a decision. " Ember, do you remember our promise?", she asked him, and Ember nodded," The one we made after that ordeal two years ago right? I promised you Goddess that I won't die", he said, and Aurora said pointing his finger at him," Now there is an addition, if you were to die, I will give you divine judgement for breaking the promise, even if I have to return to Heavens!", she said.
He gasped and then said with a sigh," Now I am troubled, it makes me fearful what you might do, and make sure to not break the promise", he replied, and she grinned. " Indeed! So better keep your promise!", Aurora said. After that Ember started working hard to find Level 2 monsters, and slayed several of them, however his parameters didn't increase though he reached to a conclusion.
...
Ember's Pov
I start deducing what monster will be best for me to surpass my limits, and I came to a conclusion. Minotaur, a Bull-like monster that ravages anything on its path. Killing it has the highest chances of surpassing my parameters in strength and agility. Strength wasn't my forte, however at base level I was stronger than 90% of the species in this world, whereas speed was totally my ground.
Elves were lightweight and nimble, so agility was on my side. Thus, I decided to make minotaur my opponent, however it was easier to be said than to be done, since finding Level 2 monsters in the forests were a rarity, unless a beast horde one usually never finds a Level 2, showing how rare it is to find them.
I hoped I will find one quick, however things never go on my way, do they? It took me five months to find a group of Minotaur. I first divided them into groups and killed a lone one myself, it was far easier than I expected, so I increased the danger and fought two at once, and finally three at once killing them. After slaying them, I knew my plan was doable, since I was able to kill three minotaurs myself all alone, I should have no problem slaying a single stronger one.
Finally, it was the last minotaur that I performed my experiment on. I wasn't Ottar who can beat martial arts into a minotaur, instead I fed it Magic stones and watched from far as it devoured them, slowly but surely, its skin colour became darker, at some point it resembled to Asterius, I even fed several magic stones of Level 2's and a portion of the only Level 3 magic stone I had.
And it brings us to here." Tet, you must know what you are doing is extremely risky", said Sir Edward and pausing for a bit he continued," I am here, I have slayed a group of five minotaurs alone myself. But I fear it might be very quick for me to react", he looked at me as if looking at madman. I sighed and said," I have hit a limit Sir Edward, and to break through it, this must be done."
He sighed knowing well it was impossible to refuse me. It was his last warning as I ran towards the direction where minotaur was. He followed me and soon, we reached it. " Moarrrrr!", the minotaur roared as he looked at me, the moment he locked eyes with mine, I felt a chill deep inside my spine. My superhuman senses warned me of the danger, it was far less that of the beetle, but engaging in close combat with it was life threatening.
" What the heck is that minotaur?!", Sir Edward said as he got on defensive, yeah, he must have felt it. The overwhelming might of a Predator, one that can destroy everything on its path. I grinned, looking at the monstrosity in front of me. It was my work, me who created it. The minotaur charged at me, at a very rapid speed.
' Here it comes! ', I focused on the monster, twisting my body, I evaded its charge and swung my sword ripping through it's hide and creating an almost inch deep wound on its torso. The Minotaur crashed against a tree, finally stopping, however the tree snapped, and it fell down. The Minotaur roared almost numbing my senses and ran in a different direction breaking through the trunks of several trees as if breaking twigs.
Then it turned and dashed towards me, I readied myself, and evaded, this time twisting my body downward to avoid it's arm. I slashed cleaving through it's arm this time, however barely. It stopped after a while and I regained my balance, both of us looked at each other. It suddenly grabbed the trunk of a tree with its arms, and my eyes narrowed as it uprooted it.
" Moarrrrr!!!!!", The Minotaur roared, as it grabbed the entire tree and swung towards me,' You got to be kidding me ', I thought as I jumped avoiding the attack, the tree that it swung broke through several other trees and made them go flying, albeit barely. However, it showed its inhumane strength which without a doubt managed to frighten me and made my blood pumping more.
" Come here! You fricking bull!", I laughed, and it charged at me and suddenly stopped before me, leaving no time to evade, and punched with its full strength. I quickly swung my sword, " Ghukk!", I felt my entire hand trembling as my sword met its attack head on, the ground below me cracked, and I could feel small fractures forming at my arm.
It punched again, this time I evaded nimbly, and swung my sword cleaving through its arm, making blood spray all over. " Roarrghhhhhh!", It let out a bone chilling roar, and swung its body, I tried to move back but with sheer speed, it threw me back, making me crash against a tree. Blood spurted out of my mouth as I felt air being pushed out of my lungs.
The minotaur charged at me enraged, I knew if it hits me now, I will be left immobile if not straight up die, a part of me felt regret on creating such a monstrosity, but-' This fucking bull! ', I thought as I quickly flipped my body jumping back, as the bull crashed on the tree breaking it. I jumped avoiding its path and then seeing Minotaurs' back I pulled my sword and charged forward wanting to stab it.
*Splurrt*
The blood spurted out from its chest, not wanting for my sword to be stuck, I twisted it and tried to slash through it when it turned around soundly saving himself, however I managed to cut its entire left arm and a portion of it's chest off, making it bleed heavily. The monster shrugged, and I was thrown away on the ground, several meters away, thankfully my grip on the sword remained strong.
I quickly stood up, I was bleeding from my head, and had several injuries throughout my body. My mind felt hazy, the minotaur glared at me and prepared for another charged, ' Should I call Edward? ', a thought came in my mind, however I couldn't sense him near, The minotaur let out another roar and I licked the blood falling on my lips, a grin forming on my face.
' This measly bull! How dare he tarnish me? A High-Elf? ', a thought suddenly came inside me, as if being an instinct to hate anything ugly as the minotaur. The thought of it leaving myself in this state made me angrier, the bull charged, and I felt a sudden rush out of strength, as if all my limits were broken. I swung my sword,
*Swoosh*
The air was pierced and the minotaur stopped in front of me, an almost invisible twirl of air behind it hit a tree far away forming a deep slash mark. The minotaur's body was divided from right of left, it's upper and lower halves got separated and suddenly turned into black particles leaving behind only a magic stone.
"*Huff* *Huff*", all my strength vanished as I almost fell on the ground," T-Tithonus are you okay?", Sir Edward suddenly appeared beside me and I nodded, before my consciousness faded.
...
3rd Pov
Limit off, a state where an adventurer is infused with excess falna for a short period of time, increasing his or her strength. This state is so rare that 95% of the adventurers never experience it even once during their life. Ember on the brink of being killed, experienced this, his noble origin of being a High-Elf, and his intense emotions reacted elevating his strength to Level 2.
However the strain made him unconscious, and Edward grabbed him, he looked at the destruction around him, and finally at the leftover magic stone of the minotaur. " What was that monstrosity? ", he muttered, fear evident in his eyes. He then looked at Ember and said," How was he able to fight and kill it?", his voice filled with shock and disbelief.
Ember thought that Edward will save him if things go south, but with that Minotaur's appearance he himself was shaken. He was stronger than Ember for sure and had more experience but even fighting that minotaur he couldn't say he will come alive; one wrong step and he will just die. There will be no second chances.
Infact he was thinking of running away, however knowing well how enraged her Goddess will be and unable to leave his comrade to his death, he was looking for a moment to strike the Minotaur and run away with Ember, he wasn't going to fight that thing. Yet, Ember under his very eyes slayed that monster, a word unconsciously came to his lips," A hero ", as he looked at Ember.
Only a hero could slay that monster while being a Level 1 and that hero was in front of him. He took a deep breath and quickly administered treatment, giving unconscious Ember High-potion which he drank unconsciously and most of his injuries healed instantly. Edward sighed in relief and took him back to village, the memories of the battle continued flashing in his minds.
...
Ember Pov
I opened my eyes and as I got up, I was hugged by a familiar person. " Goddess, I am fine", I said and she gave a 'hum', this time she didn't reprimanded me, which I am very grateful for. I recalled the fight with minotaur and how Sir Edward quickly came to my aid,' He was to intervene I think ', I thought when my eyes fell on the third person.
" Edward?", I said a bit surprised, and he nodded giving me a gentle smile," I came to see you, now that you are fine, I will leave", he said and I quickly said," I thank you, for your help", he looked at me awkwardly and said," I didn't help you during the fight", and I chuckled," Well I slayed it myself, but you were about to intervene in the end right?"
"Yes", he said, though his expression a bit complicated? " Anyway, I am leaving Goddess", he said to Aurora who nodded, and he left, after hugging me for a bit she separated and said," You killed a freaking Minotaur! Congratulations", I grinned and said," Yup, in close combat nonetheless, I am so eager to see the changes in my status."
She frowned and said," But for now rest! I will bring you the soup, after a while we will check it okay?", I nodded, not denying her. Though I was excited, I knew my limits. It would be also rude of me to do so.
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3rd Pov
" A hero huh?", Edward muttered recalling Ember's fight and the stories he has heard till now, a person who makes impossibility a possibility, who bring hope in midst of despair, who impressed the Gods with their deeds. He never thought he will see one, a member of his own familia nonetheless!
' And I was so helpless ', he sighed, he didn't tell the Goddess how freaking strong the minotaur was, he just told it was stronger than average minotaur. He didn't know Ember had made that minotaur stronger by feeding magic stones, even Aurora didn't know that Ember fed that thing several Level 2 monsters' magic stones and even a Level 3 monster's magic stone.
Edward was already in his forties and perhaps he won't be alive to witness the future acts of Ember, but he will be the only one, who had witnessed the first step of Ember, becoming a being that defied common sense.
...
" Hmmm, Let's see!", said Aurora as she excitedly updated his status and was shocked by the result," Hahaha!", she erupted in laughter seeing such a mind-blowing scene, she quickly copied his status on a paper and handed it to Ember who too laughed," Hahaha! This is what I was looking for!", he said with joy.
[Level 1
Strength: S999--->SS1011
Endurance: SS1003--->SS1023
Dexterity: SS1001--->SS1009
Agility: S999--->SS1005
Magic: SS1009--->SS1009
Skills:
Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction and guess.
Limit Breaker: Helps the user break through the limits of his parameters and abilities.
Double Croissance: The rate of growth of falna and acquisition of all abilities is doubled.
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]
All of his parameters had broken through the limit but that wasn't the only joy, he had acquired two new skills, first one which like Bell's Liaris Freese let him surpass the set limit of Falna permanently. Bell didn't know about his abilities and wasn't able to use it to its full potential, however Ember will. Secondly, he got a growth booster, which doubled the rate of falna.
Compared to bell's seven to nine times faster growth it seemed lackluster; however he could feel it, these abilities were a total game changer for him and perhaps surpassed the abilities of the three cheaters. He had just become the fourth and the first cheater of this world, the path of becoming overpowered as heck was visible now.
To be continued...
(A/N: Please check out my new fics, The Demon God in Marvel and Re Zero: The Great Sage!)