Chapter 64: Visage

After the mimic was transported by the Golden Light, Oyue and 132-X found themselves in the Grand Hall of Greater Heavens. Oyue stood at the distance while 132-X stood out like a sore thumb on the open. The goddess grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the side.

"W-what are you doing?" Oyue asked.

132-X did not answer, he looked devasted and baffled with what he just saw earlier. For him, the heroic death that was told to him was his pride. He was a proud warrior of his clan who defended his land for his people.

He was made to believe that his blood flowed for the freedom of his citizens, but now, it was all but a dream to him. An illusion they told him to make him obey the gods and do their bidding. But even with that truth slapped against him, there was still doubt in his heart.

Deep down, he wished that what he just saw and experienced was all but a lie. He still couldn't believe it. He still couldn't comprehend what was happening but as much as he wanted to end these flashbacks, he wanted to know Oyue's true intentions.

"Open your eyes, young one!" The High Chancellor's voice echoed across the hall. "Do you know where you are?" The god asked his mimic.

132-X remembered this moment well. His first introduction to the High Council. The gods of the different worlds and dimensions. He remembered how he looked around surprised at the clusters of light that surrounded him. He recalled fully well how he gasped at the sight of them and how he tried to wake himself up, hoping it was just a dream.

When he realized it wasn't, he stared at his grown and calloused hands before asking the gods.

"Where am I? Why am I here?" 132-X said under his breath as he reminisced everything he said, word for word. "Who are you?" His voice synched with his mimic.

He remembered how the High Chancellor smiled at him with fondness. A soft and bright smile that welcomed him into his new life--a life that he would soon come to regret.

"We are the deities of the Greater Heavens. We rule the worlds beyond your realm!" The High Chancellor answered. "Sad to say, you have died."

132-X recalled how he reacted upon hearing it. He remembered kneeling down and shouting Tungkung Langit's name as he cried in joy. He was met by a thunderous laughter from the clusters of light that floated around him.

"I am not your god, young one. Neither are the rest of them." The High Councilor answered. "But you are here because we called you to come to our aide."

The mimic prostrated himself in front of them, "I am but a mere mortal, My Lord. I do not understand what you mean."

"You are our chosen one." 132-X synced his lips with the god's answer. "Rise up, hero!"

"I guess you know the rest from here." Oyue said as she tried to walk-away. "Let us—"

"Let's stay a bit longer," 132-X answered stoically. "I want to hear something."

Oyue knew what it was and patiently waited for that moment.

The deities finally showed themselves to the naive mimic their appearances. After he was told of his role in saving the rest of the worlds, the mimic finally asked.

"My Lords," The mimic called the deities out. "May…I…ask how I-- died?"

132-X remembered how the deities looked at each other, whispering as if hesitating to tell him what happened. He remembered their chattering noises, whispering to one another before the High Chancellor finally intervened and asked all of them to quiet down.

"Fellow deities," the High Chancellor raised his right hand, "It is very ungodly to chatter like that in front of our guest, let alone our chosen one!"

From the distance, 132-X saw how the High Chancellor called out the beautiful, veiled goddess.

"Celenere," 132-X called out under his breath as the goddess descended towards his mimic.

"This is the goddess Celenere," The High Chancellor introduced her. "She is the goddess among scribes and the teller of truth among mortals. She shall tell you what happened."

132-X could see from where he was how his mimic reacted. It was the same way as he did when the goddess descended in front of her. He greeted the goddess with awe and an open jaw. Celenere opened the book she carried and began to read 132-X's story.

"This is what I remembered it to be…" he looked at Oyue, "…how I died."

Oyue sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "If only it wasn't as far from the truth."

After the long and epic tale, the goddess read to his mimic, the High Chancellor slowly descended and asked his mimic again if he wanted to take on the task of being the chosen one. At that point, 132-X realized what would have happened to him if he declined.

"Oyue," He spoke, "What would have happened to me if I declined?" He asked.

Oyue looked at him, "I really don't know." She answered.

After accepting his role, the mimic was asked to stand as the deities gathered around him and presented him with his gifts. 132-X remember the feeling of power rushing through his veins. The jolt of energy that travelled towards his fingertips as his he felt his strength increased.

He saw how the mimic floated in the air as the deities continued to pour their vast amounts of blessing on him. The mimic's eyes glowed as the power overflowed before it slowly settled down inside in him.

"From this day on, we, the High Council shall call you, Arellin Matrious!" The High Chancellor exclaimed. "Use your name with pride and help spread our benevolence through you all throughout the cursed land!"

The hall rumbled as the deities gave their loudest applause to their newly chosen hero.

After giving him some final instructions, the gods send him off to the first world where he overpowered a Demon Lord and freed its citizens of its tyrannical reign.

"That took me, seventeen years before I started the campaign. Two years to end the Demon Lord's reign and another 90 years to establish a royal line of my own and build the kingdom for the people in that world." He remembered fondly.

"Are we going there too?" He asked Oyue.

"That is not the memory we are going to next." She answered.

"Then, are we going to stay here and let me enumerate all the heroics I did at that time?!" He crossed his arms in irritation.

Oyue laid her hand over 132-X shoulders, "In victory you boast. In defeat you blame."

"W-what does that supposed to mean?" 132-X baffled by the goddess' response.

"You'll see." Oyue took his small hand, "Adlaw-on, the next memory we'll be heading to is your fourth reincarnation."

"What?!" 132-X exclaimed in disbelief.