Chapter 4:Heaven Denies The Strong

Chapter 4: Heaven Denies The Strong

At first, three stood.

"Look at this punk's nerve."

"I know, who the hell does he think he is? He's literally a merc."

"Challenging celestials in heaven? Hohoho this young'un sure is spry."

And then the voice of reason spoke.

"Now now, this is not how we conduct ourselves." His voice cut through their bickering, like a hot knife in butter. "No matter who it is or their standards, we all know how we test people like this."

"..."

"He shall be blessed." He decided finally.

"What?!"

"Absurd?!"

"Are you not overstepping your authority a little too much here?!"

"Silence."

And there was.

"The decision came not from me but…him." The holder of reason sneered, "Do you dare question his choice?"

The three had no choice but to back down after that. After all, he was a person they could not defy. Brave warriors, strong fighters, lunatic worshippers. All were welcome, so long as they proved their worth. Their annoyance at Shinji's words was nothing but petty rage that stemmed from being directly challenged.

"We know of this child's strife," the voice of reason boomed, silencing all those who stood in protest. "Let it be known, Shinji Kyokotsu, we have witnessed your actions. We have deemed you worthy and shall test you! Let the rites of a 'warrior's ascension' begin!"

Silence ensued.

The murky orb of flames was deflected by heaven's gigantic doors. A soul denied of its rise sent down away from where it came. Yet it was not abandoned by the divine. It left bearing a test.

He who had lost one had now reclaimed another.

From the very figures, he had called out to.

An eternal promise.

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He felt his senses shift. Though he tried, his eyes instinctively shut as if the outside world was too bright for him to look out for.

"He's here!"

"Oh finally, the poor lass has been in labour for quite a while now."

"It's a baby boy!"

A sensory overload, his ears throbbed like never before, and he wasn't even able to control himself as he…

"Uwaaa!"

His shrill cry sounded infantile, and his lungs felt a lot smaller than they used to be but for some reason, he couldn't hold back the tears.

It felt nearly unbearable as if something so crucial had been taken away from him.

But what was it? He couldn't pinpoint it, but he knew he had lost something significant. He struggled to figure out the inexplicable emptiness he felt.

"Oh oh I'm sorry there boy," a woman's voice cut through his pain, "here I know just the thing that'll help ya out."

He felt something move him, but he still couldn't open his eyes, the lights being too bright for his eyes. With a jolt he felt someone grab him…and hold him to their chest.

'Soft.'

His cries ceased.

"Don't worry my little baby…mommy is here." A delicate voice told him.

'Baby? Me?'

He felt that was surely wrong, but it was quickly adding up. Someone was certainly cradling him judging by the supporting arm around the back of his head.

'Did I get taken to a world where giants exist and I look like a baby to them?'

"Why is he not opening his eyes?"

"The baby has just come out of yer hole woman. It's normal to be sensitive to light when coming out of a dark cave!" The previous voice replied.

"W-Well, I suppose that's normal."

"Although it seems yer husband was quite excited to heh, explore the dark cave."

"M-Martha!"

"Sorry, lass," she chuckled. "Just give the boy a bit of time. He'll open his pwetty wittle eyes. What colour do ya think it is? Green like yers? Or blue like that big oaf."

'What the hell is going on?'

"Uwaa," he said.

"See? Little brat is ready to play with ya already."

"Uuuu."

"Aw, isn't he just the cutest?" The closer voice asked, adoration clear in her voice.

"Yes yes, he's a cutie patootie woohoo now stay still I need to heal you." Martha's voice ordered, before muttering something incomprehensible and then speaking louder, "[Heal]!"

His eyes adjusted to the lighting just in time to see the green glow of the spell. The emerald glow felt foreign and yet refreshing.

A surge of vitality. It was as if he could feel the blood coursing through his veins.

"Uwau!"

'What the hell was that?'

"Oh, it seems that he likes magic."

"Oh look he's opened his eyes," The woman close to him seemed to pause, "Martha look at his eyes."

"Oh? Yup, Jade like I thought it would be. Congrats Noelle, this one got yer eyes."

"It's so bright an-Aw, he just scrunched his face! He's soooo cuuuute!"

"Bah, I don't know where ya get that energy from. Yer acting as if you didn't spend the last few hours screaming yer lungs out!"

Noelle, the woman holding him huffed out a breath, "Mothers are known to be superpowered."

"Stop the bullsh*t!" Martha hissed, "My eardrums are still hurtin' and ya act like some boss monster when all ya can do is shoot some water out yer hands!"

His eyes wandered to the woman speaking, a heavy-set woman if he could say so himself. Chestnut-coloured hair reached her shoulders, with sunken eyes and wrinkles placed unevenly on her face. He'd estimate she was around fourty or so. She seemed to wear an apron over an orange dress…but it was coated in red?

'What the hell? Where am I?'

"He's so quiet now."

Now the woman holding him spoke, Noelle. Her golden locks hung just barely over his face, but she swept them away from touching him.

"Uwa!"

'Who are you?'

"Hello there little one," she smiled. Her youthful appearance suggested she was a young woman. "I'm your mom."

…

"Uuuu…"

'Mom? I don't have a mom.'

"Hm-hm, but you see dear, I am." Noelle smiled, her fir-coloured eyes glowing as she whispered to him in wondrous delight. "See I gave birth to you."

"Uuuu."

'That must be a lie.'

"But it's not dearie," Noelle shook her head. "You are my own flesh and blood…well at least half. Your father is away for now."

"...Uuuu."

'Okay, a father too now.'

"Yup yup, a wonderful man if I say so myself." She smiled, "So can you call me Mommy?"

"Uuuh."

'No way.'

"Yes, way." She insisted.

"Okay stop," Martha interrupted the two, drawing both of their attention. "I don't know if yer messing with me or not but stop whatever it is you are doing."

"But Martha, his eyes look so intelligent!"

The woman in white appeared to roll her eyes at this. "Yeah yeah, that's what every mother says. Get over it, now you just gave birth and you," she pointed at Shinji, "just came out of the womb. I'm sorry yer Ma' is crazy enough to think you can say 'mommy' already but it's yer issue to deal with. Either way, you both need sleep!"

"But-"

"Did I hear some defiance?" Martha glowered, her eyes flickering brightly. "Shut yer a*s up and sleep. Let me put him in his crib, talk to him later."

Noelle seemed very hesitant as if she was having her favourite toy taken away from her, but she relented in the end.

Whoever Martha was, she clearly had a significant influence on his "mother". But at this moment, he internally thanked Martha since it gave him a lot of time to think about his…supposed birth.

'How in the Wuxian galaxy wars did I get turned into a baby? Is it possible to return to the general? I need to communicate with these people somehow.'

"Uwau uwah uuu."

"Yes I get you, boy, you like to talk."

'No the point is I can't speak!'

"Oh yeah," Martha said, holding him in her arms, turning to Noelle, "What is the name of this brat?"

Noelle smiled amorously before replying, "Leon. Leon Fitzwill."