Prologue: The Man's / Goddess' Ending

The Man's End

-3rd POV-

In the land of Terra, where science thrives and the hustle of modern life echoes, stood a man in his early twenties with a tall, lean build, black hair, brown eyes.

He walked through the crowd as he showed his distinctive never-changing smile.

His smile was gentle as a feather, yet harbored depths unseen to the casual observer. His smile is warm as a sun, but inside...

'Hey look! he's so handsome'

'He's a genius, I bet he already got a girlfriend'

'Sigh, I wish I could just be like him'

huush...

huush..

huush.

...

"He is a prodigy", they said.

"He is an example", they said

"He is the Son of God", they said

It's all true, He is a genius from birth through this day. 

He can do Professor Level Physics at the age of 13, He is the inventor of AI, He is a master of martial arts. Achievement and Gold medals and trophies were too many to be counted. 

Everyone adores him.

Born in a prestigious family, He was raised by his family with a silver spoon. He was taught by his parents about every subject they could find, be it Politics, Science, Biology, Physics, etc. They expect him to master it, and He mastered it in a sort of period of time.

After His success in study, He was hugged and kissed by his parents for it. 

'We got a genius son!' they thought.

He was loved... or so he thought.

'If I study even harder, I can get more love from them, right?', He thought naively back then when he was homeschooled by His parents.

For years, He thought that what he got was love, but 'why do I feel so empty?'. But His gentle smile is beautiful as always as it never diminishes from his face.

When it was time for him to start middle school, he got his parents' permission to go to a public middle school by His request. He easily got in by his background and achievement.

There, he got many acquaintances, be it boys and girls. He heard many stories from them, sometimes it's sad, sometimes it's happy, Sometimes they talk about their childhood friend, or partner, or parents.

But one thing he realized was why his heart was always so empty. What he got from his parents was not Love, but Pride.

'Do my parents love me?'

'If I stop being a genius, will they still be proud of me?'

His curiosity haunted him for days, but that didn't change his daily lifestyle as he still woke up in the morning, studied in school, talked to acquaintances, and slept at nighttime.

When entering the final exam period, He got 1st rank on every subject. He was happy that he got it, he thought that his friend would get closer to him like how his parents praised him when he successfully learned all high school subjects when he was just 6 years old.

Yet, what he got was veiled envy, admiration, animosity. On top of that, slowly he was isolated. He was isolated not because he was hated, but by his perfection. His perfect smile, grade, background become the object of envy by others.

He, who just wanted a normal life, once again failed due inexperience in life. He, who was young, can't understand why they distance themselves from him. 

But slowly, he understood why he was isolated, it was because of his perfection. His perfection manifested their awareness of their imperfection.

He was sad, but not too much, as they were only his acquaintances for a year, unlike his parents who were with him for a lifetime. 

In 8th grade of middle school, his curiosity got the better of him. His grades that were always on top of the school were intentionally dropped by him by a third as he wanted to know,

Will his parents still be with him?,

Will his parents still be proud of him as always?

Unfortunately, he was disappointed by his parents' reaction. He was scolded as he cannot maintain his perfection.

In the end, his immature brain chose the path of no-return for his parents well-being and his own future, which is keeping his perfection in every aspect of life. Meanwhile, keeping his mask of joy all the time without revealing his inner emotion.

He thought, maybe someday he can find someone who can see through his mask, someone who accepts him for who he is, someone who can be my support, someone who can accept his complaints, someone who can accept his imperfection.

Yet, he was disappointed once again as he grew to an adult he never found that specific person.

He was tired, he was bored, but what can he do, as his perfect persona had been integrated into his life as it became a habit.

Until one day…

-1st POV-

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Hmm… It looks like I'll head straight home, I have a lot of tasks to complete from my job."

"Yeah, yeah sure, pretty boy! See you."

As I watched my 'friend' on the other side of the college building, I went to the parking lot where I parked my motorcycle. There I wore my helmet, then went right out the university building.

My mind wandered as I rode my motorcycle to my house.

As I grow up, I find myself losing more of myself due to the perfect persona I've formed since childhood. And there's nobody who truly understands me.

Until I found various novels which kept me from being sane as usually the characters in the story possess their own storyline, where they will experience downfall as a result of some troubles, but will subsequently rise again with the aid of their companions or their own will, which I've got none of that.

I envy those protagonist novels where they get the perfect relationship with his companion as the story goes on while they have a rather flawed character. I despise my perfection as that hinders me from being a protagonist of my own story.

As my mind wandered while I rode my motorcycle, I didn't notice the red light at the intersection ahead of me. I was startled by the honk of a bus that came close to me at a fast speed.

Crash!

As I crashed on the road, my mind went blank and my eyes glued to the bus. The bus which crashed onto me didn't stop as the bus didn't have enough distance to break and stop.

Eventually, The bus crushed my chest with its weight, causing me to struggle for breath.

I don't know why, but my mind suddenly went active because of the pain the crash got me. Maybe I know that I would die because I want my remaining time in the world to be as precious as it could be. Or maybe I was just glad that soon I will leave this world. But that is not what I want to think about, what I want to think is…

'Ah, I bled and it's red, I guess I'm a human after all. hahaha'

But…

'Will my parents miss me when I leave this world?'

'Will my 'friends' attend my funeral?'

'Will I be remembered by them?'

'God! Is it my fault for being so perfect that I have to sacrifice my emotions for my perfection?!'

'God! Is there really no love for me in this world?!'

'Oh God. If you are out there. Please, let them know that I love them. Bless them and give them Your grace as they don't know what they sin.'

'I'm sorry God for my impudence and curses.'

'Ah, is this death...?'

'If there is another life, I wish I can get genuine love that I can give my life to protect.'

'...'

On my deathbed, I questioned, yelled, cursed, and requested the God out there as they are my last pillar of support to maintain my bottom line in this world.

As my consciousness slipped away right through my body, I somewhat heard something like …'Voice of the World'?

...

<Confirmed. Skill [Heat Resistance] acquired>

<Confirmed. Skill [Cold Resistance] acquired>

<Confirmed. Attempting to integrate Skill [Heat Resistance] and [Cold Resistance]. Success. [Thermal Fluctuation acquired>

<Confirmed. Skill [Pain Resistance] acquired>

<Confirmed. Origin Skill [Information King Akashic Records] Failed>

<$#%$#@. Higher Being intervened with [World Skill: Voice of the World]>

<Confirmed. Strengthen the soul of individual [William]. Success>

<Confirmed. Body doesn't match the strength of soul. Creating body to adapt with soul>

<Confirmed. Origin Skill [Information King Akashic Records] acquired>

<Confirmed. Higher Being left a message for Individual [William] :"have fun with your new life my son, I hope you can find whatever are looking for.">

 ....

Goddess' End

-3rd POV-

Her name is Scáthach. She was a female warrior-queen from Celtic Mythology. She is the queen and the gatekeeper of the foreign territory called the 'Land of Shadows'.

She is a prodigy in both spearmanship and Rune magecraft. She possesses a power immense enough to obtain control over and close the gate of the 'Land of Shadows', which is overflowing with countless ghosts, to ward off the dead.

She was a human, a goddess and an immortal.

She will not grow old.

She will not die. 

For ages She guarded the 'Land of Shadows'. She used her favorite spear to ward off its intruder. She slaughtered her enemies.

Different from other heroes and legends where they got to be incarnated by becoming a 'Servant', she doesn't have that privilege as She is the bearer of the title 'God Killer'. 

She was sealed in the 'Land of Shadows' for years to come.

She's got tired of it.

She wanted to die.

She craves peace.

Yet, she can't as she is an immortal who cannot die.

She accepts disciples who enter the Land of Shadows for one purpose in hope that her disciples will be strong enough to kill her. She wants death as a person.

Unfortunately, It's rather disappointing that no one has truly surpassed her. She despaired as she feels that her sole purpose to die as a person will not be fulfilled.

Until..

-1st POV-

Pierce!

"Hah.. weak."

As I pierce the ghost with my spear 'Gae Bolg', it vanished into ashes. 

I began to think of one of my favorite disciple, Cú Chulainn. Cú Chulainn is a genius in spearmanship, but truly, the more you expect something, the more disappointed you are.

I thought he was the one who would grant me peace. I almost fell for he is the one who would give me death, but…

He left me.

How disappointed I am with him.

How sad I am to be bound in this cursed land for ages. 

"So tired." Murmur coming from my mouth as I walk to my castle.

…

'Do you want to die?'

"Who?!"

I stopped my step when I heard that. My eyes scanned through the entire room as I spotted no one. After a moment of silence, The Unknown starts to speak again.

'Do you want to die?'

Taking a deep breath, I mustered my courage to reply to The Unknown.

"Yes."

Right after I reply, my vision goes black out and peace wash all over my spirit. But  The Unknown Being talked to my slipping consciousness once again.

'Granted, for you who truly wish for peaceful death but cannot. But remember this Scáthach of the Land of Shadows, I will reincarnate you to a peaceful family with your memory  and power sealed until the age of 5. If you once again truly wish for death, ask your dearest as he may grant your wish but if not, may your new life be your precious one.'

'Wha…'

The moment I wanted to ask something, I felt a force pulling away my soul.