Chapter 104 - Forest [SEASON 2 FINALE]

|His mental state appears to be elevated, My Goddess. Even if you proceed with your plans for the Demon Lord… it is unlikely Van Hellix will succumb.| Dauz reported, his voice steady as he knelt before her in the grand throne room of Arataxia, beneath the towering arches of her temple.

|It appears as though the battle with that wretch... Caused the [Seed Of Darkness] to evolve further.|

Her fingers dug into the armrest of her throne with a crack—splintering marble and stone beneath her grip.

[I am aware,] she replied through gritted teeth, a slow, measured breath hissing between her lips. Her voice dropped lower, colder. [You were right, Dauz. Kota was useless—worthless. His battle did nothing but fuel Van Hellix's growth.]

A silence hung in the throne room, heavy and expectant. Then, her gaze shifted—cold, calculating—toward the sealed figure of Magus suspended before her.

[Desperate times…] she whispered, her voice carrying a twisted edge, [call for desperate measures.]

|My Goddess?| Dauz tilted his head, uncertainty flickering in his tone.

[Leave us.]

|...As you command.| He bowed low, retreating from the chamber. The doors closed behind him with a heavy thud.

The Goddess rose slowly, her steps echoing across the vast chamber. She circled Magus like a predator stalking prey, her expression unreadable—eyes glowing with a dangerous light.

[Your friend,] she began, her voice dripping with mock pity, [is proving to be difficult.]

Her gaze lingered on him, appraising, cold.

[It is unfortunate, truly. Having to classify him… as an existential threat to Arataxia.]

Magus's eyes widened in silent disbelief, his body sealed, unable to protest or resist as she approached.

[That is why…] She raised a hand, and his suspended form lowered gently—onto her bed.

Magus struggled within his bindings, but it was futile.

[We shall create an offspring.] Her voice softened, a chilling juxtaposition to the madness building behind her eyes. [An offspring of Goddess and Heroic blood—born with one sole purpose.]

Her gaze bore into him, predatory and unrelenting.

[Stopping Van Hellix.]

Magus's silent horror spoke louder than words, but the Goddess leaned closer, her tone laced with cruel reassurance.

[Worry not, my hero,] she whispered. [I do not expect stellar performance—] her hand ghosted his face, [not right now.]

[What matters… are results.]

Her expression twisted as she lowered herself onto him, her voice descending into a desperate, frenzied whisper.

[Our child… An Ascended Seraphim.]

Magus's panic surged, his eyes widening with silent terror. But the Goddess's voice only grew darker, her tone teetering between composed and frenzied.

[The elders of Arataxia would descend into hysteria if they knew about this…] She paused, [But those ancient fossils do not rule Arataxia.]

Her voice climbed, venomous and unrelenting.

[I do. They wield no power like mine—] her hand clenched into a fist, trembling with rage, [only I have that strength. Only I know what is best.]

She exhaled sharply, her expression softening into something far more dangerous—a smile devoid of warmth, of sanity as she moved relentlessly on top of him.

[And if that child fails…]

Her eyes burned as her voice dipped to a whisper, chilling and final.

[We'll simply make another.]

[We will make another.]

[And another.]

[And another… and another… and another…]

Her fingers trembled as her nails dug into his sealed form. Her breathing grew erratic, and her face twisted with hatred—an unrelenting fire that burned with Van Hellix's image.

[No one—] she snarled, [no one will ever lord over me. No one will ever defeat me. No one will ever take my place as ruler.]

Her voice rose to a crescendo as she spat out his name like poison.

[Not that meatshield of yours!]

Her teeth ground audibly as her fury erupted.

[Van Hellix… I will never lose to someone like you!!!]

---- ELSEWHERE.... ----

"Hrrn..." Van let out a groan as he awoke, the early noon breeze brushing softly against his helmet and armor. He lay sprawled on the soft grass of the forest floor, near the campfire he and Ami had set up beside the gently flowing river—right at the eye of the forest, under the warm sun.

There was no chatter, no lingering scent of people. Even the faint charcoal aroma of the campfire had long since dissipated.

The only sounds were the birds, their songs louder than ever, harmonizing with the rustling leaves and the rhythmic gush of the river.

'…Damn,' Van thought as he took it all in. For once, he went out of his way to remove his helmet—now spotless, pristine—and laid it carefully beside him on the grass. He stared up at the clear sky, limbs sprawled as he inhaled deeply.

'I forget sometimes how perfect this world can be when it wants.'

He allowed himself to bask in the tranquility, his breaths steady and deep. And then—

"…And a big part of it is thanks to you, Van."

A familiar voice broke through the silence, soft and clear. It startled him—not with fear, but with something gentler, something warmer.

Van turned his head toward the voice, his movements unhurried. Across the small river, where the sunlight danced on the water's surface, he saw them.

A crowd stood there—hundreds, maybe thousands. Lined up in quiet rows.

Van didn't know their names. Not truly. But he recognized them all the same.

At the front stood Unicus.

But this wasn't the Unicus Van had fought. There was no anger, no malice. Only a peaceful warmth radiating from his smile. He stood hand in hand with a priestess, a ring gleaming on her finger that matched his own.

"Really," Unicus added, his voice gentle, sincere. "Thank you."

Van blinked, his thoughts slow to process the moment. He didn't fully grasp the meaning of it all, the weight of the words. But it didn't matter.

Because in that instant, he simply felt compelled to say:

"…Don't mention it."

Unicus nodded, his smile never fading. One by one, the crowd behind him bowed their heads in quiet gratitude.

Then, they turned.

Together, they began walking away, their figures slowly dissolving into soft, glittering light. It rose like fireflies into the air, vanishing into the sunlight that streamed through the canopy.

Van watched until the last light faded.

And the forest was silent once more.

"..." He looked to the sky again, letting the quiet settle over him. The trust his party had shown, the worry in Ami's eyes... Alicia's somewhat-playful acceptance yesterday.

"…Come out, Guardian of Wind," Van called softly, his voice carried on the breeze.

She appeared beside him, her figure half-turned as if reluctant to face him.

[You are still alive. I am relieved,] she said, though her tone was distant, her words laced with the usual edge of contempt. [What is it that you need, Master?]

Van didn't rise. He stayed where he was, his back against the grass, his gaze still on the sky.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier today."

The Guardian stiffened, a barely audible gasp catching in her throat.

"I was in a bad place," Van admitted quietly. "Not that it excuses anything."

His words hung in the gentle air.

"It was insensitive," he continued, "rude… and undeserved. You've done more for me than I acknowledged—cleaning my place, showing me around when you didn't have to; and I paid you back with an insult and insensitive remarks about you and your past."

The Guardian's hair shifted in the breeze as she turned away.

"…You don't need to say anything," Van said, breaking the stillness. "I just wanted to apologize. The rest is up to you."

The Guardian flinched as if caught off guard, her head half-turning toward him. Her mouth opened slightly, but the words never came.

Before she could find them, her form wavered. She lingered for a moment longer, her figure outlined against the shifting light of the forest. And then, she was gone—fading back into the spirit world.

Van let out a quiet breath, staring at the sky as the leaves whispered overhead.

The forest was silent again, but it felt… lighter somehow.

'I could sleep here all day,' he thought, a small, fleeting temptation. But he shook it off, rising slowly to his feet. His movements were unhurried, as though savoring the calm, yet his gaze was resolute as it turned toward the distant Capital.

A memory flickered across his mind.

'I promised Ami I'd meet her back at the tavern.' His steps began to carry him forward, the soft grass brushing against his boots.

'And Anne…' he thought, the faintest shadow of hesitation crossing his face. 'I promised I'd spend time with her.' He dismissed the creeping notion that it might be easier if they didn't meet.

'I need to apologize to Marcy,' Van continued, his jaw tightening faintly. 'For what I said. And I need to set things straight with Amoria.'

The wind stirred the branches above, sunlight filtering through as he walked.

'And lastly…'

His pace didn't falter, even as his thoughts deepened.

'I need to tell them everything.' His grip on his sword tightened slightly as he steadied himself.

'I won't run anymore.'

He paused, leaving his helmet behind on the soft grass.

'Right… and the day after tomorrow, the Academy starts,' Van thought as he walked, his mind drifting. 'I hope my stats didn't change too much…'

"Status Window," he murmured, the familiar screen materializing before him.

Name: Van Hellix

Age: 17 (42)

Sex: Male

Race: Unknown

Level: 500 (MAX LEVEL)

STATS:

VIG (Vigor): 999 (+99,999)

STR (Strength): 999 (+99,999)

RES (Resistance): 999 (+99,999)

DEX (Dexterity): 999

PER (Perception): 999

Mana: 10 (+400)

INT (Intelligence): 10 (+100)

Holy: [INACCESSIBLE]

Arcane: 0 (+50)

Van frowned, scanning the numbers. 'Of course.' A resigned sigh escaped him.

'Arcane jumped from 25 to 50, Mana from 200 to 400, and INT from 50 to 100…' He tilted his head slightly. 'Guess my Seed of Darkness passive developed?'

But then his eyes caught something—another line of text flickering just below his stats.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You qualify for an Ascension!]

Van blinked, his breath catching. 'Ascension?'

The words shimmered, growing brighter.

[You are on the verge of becoming a God!]

Van's breath stilled. The words burned into his vision.

'A God…?'