Chapter 89: Chapter 89 - BROKEN

I scrutinized all the cards, pondering for a while before selecting the last one and flipping it face up. I became partially shocked reading the name it showed.

PENETRATE

The name conjured only dirty things in my mind. Because Beyond that, what other thing could it possibly serve?

"Oh my! You have quite the formidable ability there," the goddess remarked.

"Hmm? What is this again?" I inquired as I had no knowledge of it whatsoever.

"I bestowed upon you the gift of one of the many skills here for permanent use."

"But what does this imply? Is it genuinely potent enough to be of any use?"

"Indeed it is, at least from my perspective. This skill can be applied to all of your current and future spells that you may attain."

"Wait... Does that mean?" I was on the cusp of grasping her next words.

"Why don't you check your statistics and tell me," she replied with a unknown smile.

If what she said was true even to a small degree, this skill wasn't just powerful. It was overwhelmingly potent to its very core. If it truly turned out to be as I think it would to, then I was up for a big surprise.

I swiftly summoned the system stats and examined them for any new discrepancies.

[ William's Stats ]

[ Name: William Trust ]

[ Potential: E (In the process of reconstruction) ]

[ Level: ONE (Ready for Advancement) ]

[ Realm: Peak ]

__________________

[ Stats ]

[ HP: 35 ]

[ Mana: 25 ]

[ Mana Regen: 2.98 Per Min ]

[ Strength: 9 ]

[ Agility: 12 ]

[ Constitution: 9 ]

[ Luck: 4 ]

I was puzzled as I looked up at her from the tea table. "Umm, why would you be thanking me too, miss goddess?"

"Well, it's because you had the option to join Baphomet too, but you still chose my side."

"I couldn't just ally with that being. Who knows what havoc it might wreak upon the new world, which is your domain. No matter how potent the spells and skills under its category may be, I couldn't do that to you... nor to me," I explained, feeling a sudden righteous fervor igniting in my otherwise greed-filled heart.

"Yes, but still, it amazes me that you rejected a being capable of granting you many skills and spells of the same power level as the skill you have just acquired."

I know I chose the right side... so why does my heart ache so much right now?

"Haha, yes, I couldn't do that. Even if I knew the extent of power it would have bestowed upon me, I would still have chosen the righteous path," I said, though even I couldn't fully believe my own words.

The goddess sensed the tears I struggled to conceal from her. She shook her head and smiled enigmatically before speaking.

"Yes, yes. That is quite true, isn't it? And who knows, if you achieve even greater feats in the future, more skills of similar caliber might become available to you by some gracious goddess."

"REALLY?" I asked, my eyes sparkling with excitement at the notion of getting even more stronger skills.

"Yes, why not," she said, then added, "I think it's time for you to go now. It's not particularly safe for a body to be separated from its host for too long."

"Oh, okay then, how do I return?"

"You just need to close your eyes for a moment and I will send you back."

"Alright."

"I guess this is where we part ways then," the goddess said, her eyes becoming slightly distant.

"But it's only temporary. You can always summon me, and no matter where I am, I will always respond to you, especially in life-and-death situations... Seriously, you can always summon me when it's a matter of life and death."

"Haha, haha, haha, you're seriously a funny guy."

'...But I wasn't actually joking.'

After she finished laughing, I prepared myself for returning to the real world.

"Alright, are you ready?" the goddess asked.

"Yes," I said, closing my eyes.

"Oh! yes, do remember that while the reconstruction phase is complete, the merging process of the body and soul is still ongoing, so... you're going to experience a lot of pain."

"...Wait, WHAT!" I couldn't open my eyes as she had already transported me while saying those words.

[ The Goddess POV ]

As I watched the young boy being transported to one of my worlds, I couldn't help but smile at the little joke I made at the end. I hope he doesn't take it too seriously.

If only the first guy had been like this boy... That one was too arrogant, thinking he was the chosen one of the gods. And now look where that arrogance has led him.

About Baphomet... She is becoming too audacious, believing she can simply claim the special boy from us. Let's see how far she is willing to go for it.

From now on, I will not merely sit here and watch anymore.