2025-02-23 19:09:16Eila's fingers snapped, and four scrolls appeared before Rico, each one floating and slowly unfurling, their text glowing with divine light.
A system chime echoed in his mind, mirroring the options displayed on the scrolls.
Ting!
[Main Quest Generated]
[Description: Choose Your Destiny][Option 1: Archangel Michael's Crusade]
Trait: The Holy OneDescription: Holy magic is enhanced, and the wielder gains the ability to summon one of Archangel Michael's swords. Weaker opponents perish in its presence, while equal beings are greatly weakened and stronger beings are slightly diminished.---
[Option 2: Halls of Valhalla]
Trait: Warrior of OdinDescription: Favored by the god Odin, any wielder who takes up arms in battle will never lose the will to fight. All stats increase by 1.5x during combat, making them a formidable warrior with Viking resilience.---
[Option 3: Mount Olympus]
Trait: Favor of the GodsDescription: Blessed by the gods of Olympus, the wielder receives a random blessing from one of the deities, greatly increasing wisdom and intelligence. Each blessing is unique and may reveal additional insights or gifts from the divine.---
[Option 4: Enlightenment of Buddha]
Trait: Wukong's LegacyDescription: The wielder embarks on a century-long path of enlightenment, gradually acquiring the wisdom and strength of Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, upon completion of their journey.---
"Remember, choose wisely," Eila's voice resonated in the chamber, her tone both encouraging and mysterious.
Rico took a breath, his mind racing.
Each option felt monumental, offering paths he hadn't thought possible.
Yet it was surreal—he had barely explored Oroa, and Luna was nowhere to be found.
Everything was moving so fast.
He pondered the options: Valhalla… like the halls of Vikings?
But isn't it opposite to the Heaven of the Righteous?
And Mount Olympus, I thought that was only a myth… and Wukong, could that be the same as Sun Wukong?
Eila's voice suddenly rang in his mind, breaking his concentration.
"Are you still with us? Choose, Tiyaga!" The unexpected sternness startled him.
"Huh—Mount Olympus," he blurted out, still a bit flustered.
"So be it," Eila replied, snapping her fingers.
The scroll marked Mount Olympus glowed with a radiant light, the text on it forming a seal.
It rolled itself up, shimmered, then launched forward, dissolving directly into Rico's forehead.
A powerful surge of energy shot through him, and he instinctively brought a hand to his forehead.
"Did I… choose?" he murmured in surprise, as his form began shimmering with light.
"I hope we meet again, Tiyaga," Eila said with a gentle smile as he began to vanish.
One of the overseers looked on with curiosity. "So he's chosen. I wonder…"
May you grow to be a mighty warrior, Tiyaga, Eila thought as she teleported away, leaving the council room empty.
---
Rico's eyes shot open, only to find himself falling from the sky, screaming as wind whipped past him.
"Aaaaah!"
Rico's scream echoed as he found himself hurtling through the sky, plummeting toward a vast landscape below.
A sprawling world with cities scattered across verdant plains, with Mount Olympus rising high in the distance, its peak crowned in clouds.
Temples and ancient Greek structures dotted the terrain, their marble pillars gleaming under the sun's light.
"What's happening?!" Rico shouted, feeling the weightless drop as he plummeted toward a lake below.
The landscape, much like Earth but also unfamiliar, seemed to welcome him as he hurtled closer to the ground.
Ting!
[Main Quest Completed]
[Trait Generated: Favor of the Gods][Blessing Acquired: Blessing of Ares][Stats and Attributes Window Unlocked][Wisdom of the Worlds Inherited]---
A warm glow surrounded Rico as he neared the lake.
[Wisdom integrating with Tiyaga] appeared in his vision, but his thoughts were too scattered to focus.
He splashed into the water, the cold shock snapping him back to reality.
Rico surfaced, gasping for air as he noticed people around him—fishermen, merchants, and villagers—all staring with wide eyes.
It felt almost like Earth, the ordinary yet vibrant lives surrounding him familiar in an oddly comforting way.
Ting!
[Wisdom Integration Complete]As Rico emerged from the water, he suddenly understood the world around him, his mind flooded with knowledge about Mount Olympus, its lands, and its people.
But before he could fully process it, he found himself surrounded by guards, each holding a spear aimed directly at him.
"Out of the water, stranger!" one guard shouted.
"Huh?" Rico muttered, raising his hands slowly as he waded to shore.
Rico waded to the edge, climbing out carefully. "Huh… What is this place?" he murmured.
"State your name and your purpose in Helikon," the guard demanded, his stance rigid and his gaze stern.
Rico hesitated, his thoughts catching up with the strange series of events.
"Uh… I'm Tiyaga, from the Heaven of the Righteous...," he replied, uncertain of what they'd make of his answer.
The guard studied him before signaling to the others.
"Come with us." The other guards lowered their spears, forming an escort around him as they led him forward.
Rico walked with the guards through the bustling streets of Helikon, watching the lives around him.
As he activated [Gauge], he noticed something new—a faint shimmer above each guard that displayed their names, though their ranks remained hidden.
From his recently acquired knowledge, he understood that Helikon was a territory under Ares's domain on the continent of Pyrenis, one of the twelve massive landmasses governed by the Olympian gods.
The streets were filled with humanoid beings going about their lives.
The structures around them, crafted from ivory and marble, radiated an ancient yet timeless energy.
Statues of Ares, symbols of courage, and grand banners marked Helikon as a capital city—a place of pride and martial prowess.
It struck Rico just how vast this realm under Mount Olympus was, each of the twelve continents a realm unto itself with unique customs and beings.
After some time, the guards led Rico to a towering structure at the heart of Helikon, The Citadel of Valor, where the overseer of Helikon resided.
The citadel's facade was formidable, adorned with shields and spears embedded into its walls as an emblem of Helikon's martial spirit.
Entering through the grand archway, Rico found himself in a hall that resembled a blend between a king's throne room and an official's study.
The guard beside him nodded, motioning for him to go inside. Rico tilted his head in confusion.
"Huh?" Rico murmured, looking at the guard.
"Mmmh," the guard nodded again, a bit more firmly, indicating the door.
"Huh?" Rico repeated, still not catching on.
"Get inside, Tiyaga," the guard finally muttered, clearly frustrated.
"Oh! Right. Thank you, Mr. Demetrius," Rico replied, recalling the name from his [Gauge] skill.
The guard raised an eyebrow, caught off guard.
How did he know my name? I'm sure I didn't tell him, Demetrius wondered, but Rico was already stepping inside.
The room was grand yet functional. Light streamed in from a large arched window, illuminating walls lined with books, scrolls, and maps of Pyrenis.
At the far end, a tall figure sat in a high-backed chair resembling a throne, carved from dark stone and embedded with symbols of Ares.
Armor and weaponry, glinting under the sunlight, adorned the figure's side.
The overseer's gaze was sharp but welcoming, his posture conveying both authority and attentiveness.
He wore a flowing red mantle over gleaming bronze armor, marking him as a warrior of high rank—a governor, or something akin to a king in Helikon.
The overseer inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment.
"A new warrior. Greetings, Tiyaga."
Rico's eyes widened as he took in the overseer's presence.
The overseer's aura radiated strength, but there was also a calm control, a discipline honed from countless battles.
This wasn't just a leader—he was the ultimate authority in Helikon, someone entrusted by Ares himself to govern the capital city and welcome new inhabitants.
"Thank you… sir," Rico stammered, slightly overwhelmed by the overseer's presence.
The overseer rose from his seat, his gaze appraising.
"I am Thalor, the steward of Helikon under Lord Ares."
"One of my roles here is to welcome and assess new souls who find themselves in this realm."
Rico straightened up, feeling both the weight of Thalor's gaze and the intensity of his words.
Helikon was no ordinary place, and he sensed that his journey here was only beginning.
Thalor gestured to a nearby chair.
"Take a seat, Tiyaga. Tell me—what is your purpose here?"
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Rico stuttered, feeling the weight of Thalor's intimidating presence as he walked to the chair.It felt like sitting before a king, and he instinctively respected the authority the overseer held."I can tell you come from the Heaven of the Righteous Faithful, Tiyaga," Thalor said, his voice steady and commanding."It is rare to find beings from there coming here. Most end up living as ordinary, while those who ascend join Archangel Michael's crusade." Rico listened intently, aware of the significance of his arrival."But I was surprised when you fell here and exhibit the energy from the Heaven of Righteous…" Thalor continued, pausing to study him."And I can sense that you have the blessing of our lord Ares.""So, Tiyaga, I will ask again: What is your purpose here?" Thalor's question hung in the air, and Rico felt the pressure mounting. "Huh?" Rico thought, deep in reflection.It dawned on him that he didn't have a purpose for being in Helikon; it all felt like a whirlwind of emoti
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