AS THE Sola System's First Child, Navi was privy to information about the System that the world leaders would kill for.
One of the secrets that the Sola System shared with her was about the Constellations.
You can say that Constellations are like lesser System Gods. So, if Sola-nim is this world's "mother," then the Constellations are like our godparents.
Hunters like Won Yiwon were being sponsored by these Constellations.
But Navi didn't have that privilege.
As Sola-nim's First Child, I wasn't allowed to have a Constellation since that would seem unfair to the other Hunters in this world. After all, I already have the privilege of having to talk to the Sola System directly.
Anyway, the Sola System had mentioned Fallen Constellations to her before.
But Navi didn't expect she'd meet one in this lifetime.
"You must be the strongest Hunter in this world."
Pfft.
Navi could finally look at the Fallen Constellation without risking going blind or breaking her neck from looking up.
The enemy had taken the form of a human that was at least 2 meters tall.
Thank goodness I was able to "catch" the Fallen Constellation with my Terrarium.
When Navi broke her Golden Glass Jar, the airfield had turned into a greenhouse where almost everything was covered in gold.
Those weren't real gold, though.
That's just the color of my Mana.
"Only a Transcendent could contain a Constellation— albeit being a fallen one— in their Territory."
'Territory.'
That was basically what Navi's Terrarium Skill was all about: creating 'territories' favorable to her as a Hunter— wherever she was. Changing a dungeon or an area into a terrain of her choice was her signature skill.
It was her pride as the Fortress Goddess.
Her Terrarium was more than a shelter— it was a fortress sturdy enough to protect everyone inside it. During her prime, she could use her Terrarium to attack monsters even without lifting a finger.
That's how I gained the title 'Fortress Goddess.'
But, these days, she could only use her Terrarium in two ways.
Either she'd use it as a shield…
… or catch monsters and Calamities like this one.
"I know that my Terrarium is an amazing skill, but I'm not the strongest Hunter in this world," Navi said, observing the enemy in front of her. "Not anymore, at least."
"Uh-huh."
Hmm?
The Fallen Constellation talked like a human.
I mean, he talked like a modern human from this world just now?
Moreover, this being had the shell of a handsome man.
In fact, the Fallen Constellation looked like he came out of a romance fantasy novel with a medieval setting.
He'd be a saint, if this were a rofan novel.
It was because the Fallen Constellation had long silver hair, gold eyes. And he was clad in an all-white outfit, giving him holy vibes.
He looks pretty angelic, too.
"If you're no longer the strongest Hunter in this world, then I assume you're not needed here anymore."
Aigoo.
That struck a nerve.
But hearing that made Navi realize that this Fallen Constellation really wanted her dead.
Let's retreat for now.
Navi stepped away from the Fallen Constellation, her back hitting the portal that appeared like a gap in the air— swallowing her up, causing her to disappear from her spot.
In just the blink of an eye, she found herself inside the body of the biggest tree in that golden ecosystem. It was like a cabin there. That tree was actually the heart of the greenhouse, aka her safe zone.
This place keeps me concealed from the enemies.
She needed to hide because she needed to buy time.
"Sola-nim, I'll use that Wish Card now," Navi said in a serious tone. She also sounded rushed because she knew the Fallen Constellation would find her soon. "The one I received as a reward from you when I killed the First Calamity."
[Ahn Navi.]
Aigoo.
The Status Window didn't come with an audio feature, but Navi could hear the Sola System's scolding tone.
It's funny how a System God acts more like a mother to me than my own Eomma.
"I won't go down without a fight," Navi said firmly. "Even if I can't kill that Fallen Constellation, I should at least weaken it for Won Yiwon and the others to finish the job. I may have been reduced to what I am today, but I still have more experience than them when it comes to dealing with celestial beings."
[You and your god complex.]
Pfft.
The Sola System was really pissed, huh?
"Sola-nim, it's not like I'm suicidal. I don't have a god complex either," Navi said. Surprisingly, she was calm even though she was aware that she could die at any moment. But maybe she shouldn't have been surprised. "My purpose in life is not to save the world— but to protect Won Yiwon."
[A Transcendent's obsession is truly one of the most terrifying things in the world.]
Damn right, so…
"Please grant me my wish, Sola-nim— bring me back to my prime."
Yes, that was the Wish Card that Navi received from the Sola System after she killed the First Calamity.
Just once, within one hour.
Sola-nim promised to give me the body and strength that I had when I became a Transcendent during my prime.
It was the only way to kill a celestial being.
Navi could only hope that an hour would be enough to bring down the Fallen Constellation.
[You're breaking my heart, child.]
Heh.
Navi could only smile in response.
But even though the Sola System expressed its reluctance, it still activated the Wish Card.
Hence, she felt the quick change in her body.
In her transcendence state, the curse that the Fallen Goddess of Vanity had bestowed upon her would automatically be lifted.
As a result, her body developed the way it should have, if not for the curse.
In just the blink of an eye, the Navi with the body of a sixteen-year-old petite girl was gone.
All the new information regarding her physique had been updated in her Status Window.
[Hunter's Name: Ahn Navi
Title: Sola's First Child, Fortress Goddess, God Slayer
Age: 19 (20 in a few hours)
Height: 173cm
Hair color: Platinum Blonde
Eye color: Silver Blue]
Oh, wow.
I got taller!
It wasn't strange for high-ranking Hunters to have a sudden change of hair and/or eye color, and it all depended on the color of their Mana.
My Mana is gold during my prime, and it became silver during my "demotion."
That would probably explain her new hair and eye color.
And, yes, she can finally see her face again.
The Status Window floating in front of her had turned into a mirror.
"I knew it," Navi said while touching her face. "I'm really beautiful."
The only thing she would complain about her new appearance was her golden body suit outfit. To be precise, that bodysuit wasn't made of fabric— it was actually made of her Mana that hugged her body pretty well, emphasizing her hourglass shape.
I feel sexy.
"Are you done admiring your Transcendent form, child?"
Navi gasped when she heard the familiar voice behind her, at the same time the mirror changed back to its Status Window form.
[The Fallen Constellation is here!]
Unfortunately, the warning came a little too late.
When Navi tried to use a skill to fight the Fallen Constellation, she realized that she couldn't move.
Her feet were stuck in what seemed like quicksand.
But, ironically, the 'quicksand' only seemed to be keeping her from where she stood instead of swallowing her up.
"I was waiting for you to turn into that form."
Aigoo.
Navi was a bit surprised when the Fallen Constellation suddenly appeared in front of her when he was just behind her a moment ago.
But she couldn't care less about that being.
After all, she was more worried about the message flashing on her Status Window.
[My child, where are you?]
"Sola-nim, I'm here," Navi said, confused and a bit nervous. "You can't see me?"
She could tell that they were still inside her Terrarium.
Then she realized that the 'quicksand' wasn't really made of sand— it was made of Mana that was so different from what she was used to.
The Fallen Constellation was also standing on the 'quicksand.'
Ah.
That was it.
The 'quicksand' was this bastard's Territory.
"Child, I won't kill you."
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
"I won't kill you, but I'll make it so you'd stop existing in this world," the Fallen Calamity said, putting his hand on top of Navi's head. "I'm sending you to another planet, child."
"What the hell are you saying, you devil saint?"
Unfortunately, those unsavory words were Navi's last infamous words.
On earth, that is.
A tragic news article greeted the world 13 hours after the Second Calamity arrived:
On January 1st of the Year XXXX, Hunter Ahn Navi was declared dead.
The late Fortress Goddess' Golden Terrarium lasted for twelve hours, protecting not only the one hundred fifty thousand passengers in Incheon National Airport at the time— but also the entire world.
Again.
For the second time, Ahn Navi faced a Calamity alone and succeeded in saving humanity.
Unfortunately, this time, the Fortress Goddess had to sacrifice her life.
When the Golden Terrarium collapsed, the Calamity— in its human form— came out and confirmed Hunter Ahn Navi's death before turning into dust.
Also, that day, Hunter Won Yiwon snapped and went on a Rampage.
***
CHIRP. CHIRP. CHIIIRP.
Ouch.
Navi was woken up by a loud chirping.
Birds…?
It must be birds because she felt some prickling on her skin.
Like, there were little animals pecking on her cheeks and hands.
Are they trying to eat me?
What if those birds were actually vultures that had mistaken her for a corpse?!
Navi immediately opened her eyes and got up abruptly.
Huh?
Crowtits?
She wasn't being vulgar.
Asian long-tailed tits[1] were a type of bird known to Koreans as 'crowtits.'
These birds are famous for their "singing" which consists of a shrill, rattling trill that gets repeated over and over again.
But Koreans were fond of those birds.
Why? Simple.
They're round, fluffy, and super cute.
And, now, there were five long-tailed tits in front of Navi.
They look like cotton balls…
Except that the birds had colorful tails and beaks.
The one who looked like it was about to cry had a blue tail and beak.
The pretty one with a "mole" under its left eye had a yellow tail and beak.
The smallest one had a pink tail and beak.
The roundest one had a red tail and beak.
And the biggest one had a black tail and beak.
Navi wanted to gush over the cute birds, but she was shocked when her Status Window popped up in front of her.
[Miss Earthling, welcome to Planet Astralume-023.]
What?!
Navi gasped out loud. "I'm not on Earth anymore?!"
***
Please ADD
[1] Check comment section for the image. :)