Chapter 3 - Divine Champion

"Ah, you're finally awake," Akidia giggled. "I woke up earlier, but after seeing that you were sleeping so soundly, I decided to sleep again."

Broken furrowed his brow, realizing the Goddess Akidia had indeed woken up once before. But he hadn't been asleep!

Unsure of how to properly address a deity, he hesitated. 

"Good day, Goddess Akidia. It is a great honor for me to meet you here."

"Hello, Broken. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Akidia smiled. "You're quite adorable," she added, extending her hand from where she sat on the ground. "But I could use a little assistance getting onto that boulder over there."

Without hesitation, Broken stood up and approached Akidia. He took her hand carefully in his own.

It was a sensation that couldn't be described with mere words. This game felt so real; all the five senses were being truly engaged. As he felt the softness of the deity's hand, a sense of comfort and warmth washed over him just by being near her.

"Please, come closer," Akidia invited, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

Broken tried to support her and wrapped his left arm around her waist to help her stand. In that moment, he felt the gentle touch and the sweet fragrance enveloping his senses.

"Oahhh…," Akidia yawned, covering her mouth with her left hand. 

"Sorry," she said and smiled. "I've been so tired lately because of all the things I've been doing. It's been draining my energy and mind."

"I actually spent a good amount of time choosing the perfect gift for our first meeting," she revealed with a giggle.

"So… she had been preparing for this meeting with me?" he pondered.

He gently guided the tired goddess and then carefully helped her sit on a nearby boulder, making sure that she wouldn't fall again after he released her.

"Are you okay here, Goddess?"

"Yes, thanks, sweetheart," she replied warmly.

[[Someone very fortunate has felt the touch of the great and worshiped goddess Akidia, known for her majesty and beauty. It was an unforgettable experience to feel the gentle touch of a goddess, a moment everyone dreams of, but he is the one who had the chance to experience it.]]

Broken was surprised to see the global announcement again, clearly describing his experience to all the players of Immortal Legacy.

[[He felt overwhelmed by joy, and if he couldn't contain himself, he might have jumped with joy over this extraordinary experience. He might carry this memory until his death.]]

"That's too much! I'm not like that," Broken mumbled.

Akidia giggled, noticing his sudden expression shift. "Is something bothering you?"

"A global notification, Goddess."

"Yes, I saw it too," she said, smiling.

So, the deity could see global notifications as well? Just how do they perceive the game, while every NPC in the game believes they have their own lives in this world?

"We will talk a lot next time about your curiosity. I love that curiosity, but I'm sure you want to see the reward you've earned first, don't you?" 

[You received the title "He Who Savored the Fragrant Touch of the Goddess" in recognition of your remarkable achievement of being the first player ever to experience the delicate caress of a goddess.]

[Title Effect: Luck Stat +20, Charisma Stat +50]

[New Luck Stat has been Unlocked]

[New Charisma Stat has been Unlocked]

Broken once again stood stunned in silence, shocked at the incredible title he had just received. He had unlocked two special stats immediately after gaining the title. 

Luck was a stat that not everyone possessed, it influenced the rate of success in all aspects of the game. Similarly, Charisma would make it easier for anyone to communicate and form relationships with many NPCs in the game.

He gazed up at Akidia, "Thank you so much for your blessings, Goddess Akidia."

"So you're happy?" she said, giggling. "You're so adorable! As a deity, I love hearing praises. So,feel free if you want to thank me even more," she said, smiling.

She then yawned delicately, covering her mouth with her palm. 

"Ah... The preparations have left me quite tired. But let me get straight to the point and share with you the reason for my visit."

This was only the beginning, yet the reward she had granted him was already so significant.

"Are you familiar with the concept of the Divine Champion?" Akidia inquired.

"The Divine Champion…" Broken repeated softly.

These were the individuals who stood at the pinnacle of power within the game, each bearing the mark of divine favor, chosen by the deities themselves to wield extraordinary abilities and command respect as the most formidable among the players.

"Yes, Goddess Akidia," he answered. "I've heard of the Divine Champions of this realm—those blessed by the deities, endowed with unique powers."

Akidia's laughter filled the air once again as she listened to Broken's earnest words.

"Yes, exactly," she began. "You see, each deity is permitted to choose up to five Champions from among the players. However..."

Her chuckles briefly interrupted her speech. "This might just be my very first venture into choosing a Champion who isn't a native of Yunatea. But I've been watching you for quite a while, and I'm convinced—you're the perfect choice to be my very first Champion from among the players."

The natives of Yunatea referred to players as "players," just as the players introduced themselves. 

Even though every entity in Yunatea seemed to possess its own consciousness, they regarded players as beings who could enter and leave their world at will. 

What was even more terrifying was the fact that the players were considered strange entities because they could never be killed permanently; since when they died, they would always rise again.

Hearing Goddess Akidia mention the Divine Champion, Broken automatically began to harbor hopes of receiving the same blessing, something he had never even dared to dream of before. 

The title of Divine Champion was a blessing that granted players privileges, allowing them to compete with the wealthy who poured their fortunes into the game or even compete at the highest levels within the game.

"Thank you, Goddess Akidia. I'm so happy to hear this news, I can hardly believe all this."

"Yeah, congratulations," Akidia responded. "But my time is limited. There are many things I must do, especially since I still haven't had enough rest. So, let's proceed quickly. All you need to do is accept my blessing. And remember, should you ever seek guidance, I will always be there to provide answers. As my Champion, your prayers will reach me directly."

As Akidia spoke, she gently levitated off the ground, her white robes dancing gracefully in the ethereal breeze, a sight of divine elegance.

Watching her ascend, Broken marveled at the spectacular sight before him. A question tugged at his thoughts—why would Akidia need his assistance to stand if she had the ability to fly?

As Akidia descended gracefully, she reached out to gently caress his cheek with both hands. The softness of her touch and the delicate fragrance that surrounded her captivated him. With her face now mere inches from his, Broken found himself utterly mesmerized by her extraordinary beauty.

"Broken," she spoke, her voice as soothing as a gentle stream, her smile radiating warmth and kindness.

"Accept this blessing from me. From this moment forth, you will act as my extension in this world. Remember, to be the strongest, hard work isn't always necessary... Please, be my proudest Divine Champion. Next time, I will meet you again when you are ready for greater things. Congratulations, and accept my blessings..."

Broken nodded slowly, captivated by the beauty of Goddess Akidia and the softness of her voice. She then flew away slowly, and the next moment notifications started to appear before his eyes.

[The Goddess of Sloth, Akidia, has chosen you as her Divine Champion.]

[You are now the Champion of Sloth.]

[As the Champion of Sloth, you will continuously gather experience even without actively leveling up. However, you will not gain experience from killing monsters.]

[Your leveling progress may be slower than that of other players, but you will level up passively, allowing you to use your time for relaxation.]

"Huh?!" His initial wonder turned to shock as he processed the notifications that unfurled before him.

He tried to look up at Akidia for clarification, only to find that the goddess had mysteriously vanished from sight.

"Wait, what about my level?"