Sato extended his hand towards the heavens, a conduit for his power. As if responding to his command, the dark mist that had surrounded the giant statues began to recede, swirling back towards him with an almost obedient grace.
Closing his palm, Sato encapsulated the mist within his grasp, its ethereal essence melding with his own. The atmosphere quivered with anticipation, as if the very fabric of reality recognized the weakening of the magical seal.
<<The magic seal has weakened, making it possible to break the main seal with brute force,>> Aril's voice echoed in Sato's mind, its tone laced with a sense of accomplishment.
"Good," Sato murmured to himself, a spark of satisfaction glimmering in his eyes. "This is actually easier than I expected."
Floating gracefully through the air, Sato moved closer to the statue on his left, his gaze fixed upon it with unwavering determination.
<<This statue houses the embodiment of the Goddess of Chaos, Afrina,>> Aril's voice resonated in Sato's mind, imparting crucial information.
Sato's gaze fixated upon the towering statue before him, its eyes emanating a subtle yet mesmerizing crimson glow. His brow furrowed in contemplation as he absorbed the revelation. "Come to think of it, why do I bear the same title as her? Chaos, I mean."
<<Titles are bestowed by the world to align with an individual's innate personality and traits, irrespective of their race,>>
Understanding dawning upon him, Sato nodded in acknowledgment. "I see. Well, dwelling on that won't serve me now. Let's focus on the task at hand."
Resolute in his purpose, Sato moved closer to the colossal statue, the wind blowing against his face as he got closer. The gaze of the Goddess of Chaos bore into his very being, an unspoken connection formed between them.
Sato stood motionless for a fleeting moment, his presence commanding and his determination unwavering. Then, in a burst of raw power, he clenched his fist tightly, his muscles coiling with tension.
With an impassioned yell, he launched his punch towards the colossal head of the statue, his own insignificance in comparison to the target magnified exponentially.
The impact of Sato's strike shattered the stony facade, fragments of the head scattering in all directions. A faint, ethereal red glow emanated from the broken remains, casting an otherworldly hue upon the surroundings.
And from the midst of the shattered stone emerged a figure—a woman adorned in ancient attire, her slumbering form evoking a sense of both fragility and enigmatic power.
With an air of melancholy, the woman hugged herself, her delicate frame enveloped in an aura of solitude. Her emerald-green hair cascaded around her, entwined with the currents of ethereal energy that danced in the air.
With a swift and graceful movement, Sato propelled himself towards the descending figure of the slumbering goddess. Like a guardian spirit, he caught her delicate form in his arms, cradling her with utmost care and reverence. Descending gently, he alighted upon the soft bed of grass below, the verdant blades yielding beneath his feet.
Lowering the goddess to the ground, Sato arranged her ethereal form in a regal manner, her presence reminiscent of a revered princess slumbering in a realm untouched by time.
The earth seemed to embrace her, offering solace and tranquility, while a gentle breeze caressed her sleeping form, whispering secrets only the wind could hear.
Sato remained in a reverent position, his gaze transfixed upon the slumbering form of the Goddess of Chaos. A whispered question escaped his lips, barely audible amidst the ethereal stillness surrounding them. "So, she's a goddess?" he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of awe and curiosity.
With utmost care, Sato extended his hand towards the goddess's serene face, a gentle intention to brush away a strand of hair or unveil the mysteries hidden within her visage. But the moment his skin made contact with hers, a surge of energy coursed through him, like a torrent of memories cascading through his mind.
In an instant, a vivid and elaborate flashback consumed Sato's consciousness. He witnessed himself, as if viewing a long-forgotten tapestry of events, diligently tending to the goddess who now stood before him. The images revealed an unspoken connection, a bond forged in the depths of time itself.
Startled by the sudden influx of memories, Sato attempted to withdraw his hand, his expression tinged with surprise. However, before he could retreat, the goddess's eyes fluttered open, revealing orbs brimming with ancient knowledge and flickers of uncertainty.
Reacting swiftly, the goddess leaped up from the ground, creating a distance between herself and Sato. Her movements were swift and decisive, driven by a mixture of caution and an inherent instinct to protect herself. The air crackled with tension, a palpable reminder of the delicate balance between trust and apprehension.
Sato, still on his knees, maintained a respectful posture, his eyes locked onto the goddess. Though taken aback by her sudden reaction, he remained composed, aware of the significance of the encounter.
Upright on her feet, the goddess emanated an air of regality, her magnificent hair billowing around her as if guided by an unseen force.
Her voice, resonant with a blend of curiosity and newfound realization, echoed through the surroundings. "This must be where I was sealed... Interesting... that would mean..." Her words trailed off, her gaze shifting towards Sato, who had risen from his kneeling position.
Suddenly, without warning, the goddess unleashed a burst of incredible speed, her movements accompanied by a resounding sonic boom that reverberated through the air.
In an astonishing display of agility, she closed the gap between herself and Sato in the blink of an eye, unleashing a ferocious punch with staggering power.
Sato, his reflexes honed from countless battles, swiftly brought his arms up in a defensive stance. Though he managed to intercept the incoming blow, the sheer force behind the goddess's attack propelled him backward.
His feet scraped against the ground, struggling to maintain purchase as his arms strained against the tremendous impact. The X-shaped formation of his arms bore witness to the strength required to withstand the assault.
As Sato slid back, his determination remained unyielding, his eyes fixed upon the goddess before him.
Sato's focus shifted to the wisps of steam rising from his arms, a testament to the tremendous force he had absorbed. A wry smile played upon his lips as he mused, "Yep, she's a Goddess alright."
<<I have no doubt you would emerge victorious in a direct confrontation. However, if your intention is to forge an alliance with her, I suggest pursuing an alternative approach.>>
Meanwhile, the goddess raised her head, her gaze fixed upon her clenched fist. A perplexed expression adorned her features as she voiced her thoughts, "That's strange... It should have been enough to defeat you. Could it be that the seal has weakened me?"
Summoning her attention back to Sato, the goddess Afrina called out to him, her voice laced with urgency, "Hey, human! How long have I been sealed here?!"
Sato lowered his arms, his posture unwavering as he met the goddess's gaze. "Approximately 700 years," he replied, his voice tinged with a mix of certainty and reverence.
"Ehhhh, really?" Afrina's voice carried a hint of disbelief, her bewilderment palpable. In an instant, she flickered, her form blurring in a display of supernatural speed, positioning herself directly above Sato. With lightning-swift precision, she launched a powerful kick towards him.
Anticipating her attack, Sato swiftly dissipated into a cloud of ephemeral dust, evading the trajectory of her strike. The particles dispersed into the air before reforming, coalescing into his solid form a safe distance away from the goddess.
The air crackled with an electric energy, a testament to the volatile nature of their encounter. It became increasingly clear to Sato that his path to gaining Afrina's trust would require a delicate balance of strategy and understanding, as the Goddess of Chaos proved to be a formidable and unpredictable force.
In an outburst of frustration, the goddess bellowed, her finger jabbing towards Sato with unbridled aggression. "Oi! Cease your evasive maneuvers and allow me to strike you!"
Undeterred by her tirade, Sato skillfully sidestepped her lunging attack once more, his movements fluid and precise.
"This is hardly an expression of gratitude towards the one who liberated you from your imprisonment," Sato retorted as he gracefully touched down on the solid ground.
A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Afrina's lips as she considered his words. "True... but my disdain for humans runs deep, so it matters not," She declared, propelling herself forward once again with incredible speed, poised to launch another assault upon Sato.
Their dance of conflict and defiance continued, a symphony of blurring movements and calculated evasions.
Sato's agile movements allowed him to elude yet another of Afrina's relentless assaults. With a firm resolve, he called out to the enraged goddess, his voice filled with a commanding calmness. "This futile struggle will lead us nowhere. You need to listen to me... I am not even human".
Afrina's retort was laced with skepticism and disdain. "Silence! I see no crystalline markings upon your forehead to denote you as a demon, nor any discernible traits of a beast to label you as a demi-human. You are undoubtedly human!"
As Afrina lunged forward once more, her punch aimed squarely at Sato, he swiftly seized her outstretched hand, their faces now intimately close. In that moment of intense proximity, Sato softly uttered words that resonated with power and significance. "I am not human... I am the Successor."