Chapter 47: Powers and Restrictions from Otherworldly Gods
“What’s the price?”
Leona, despite her simple mind, wasn’t one to take advantage of a situation. If these two goddesses, possibly from another world, claimed there was a price for using their powers, she needed to know what it was.
“Our power will be transferred to you, Master, in a specific form, when you need it.”
“But we must abide by the rules governing the interaction between worlds. We cannot disrupt the balance of power.”
“Therefore, when you receive our power, Master, you must pay an equal price. Otherwise, the world’s balance will be disrupted, and all existing rules and order will be affected, leading to chaos.”
“The local deities will then intervene, attacking you, Master, and expelling us. We will no longer be able to remain in this world.”
“Our divine authority is over light and darkness.”
“Therefore, we can grant you, Master, the power to control light and shadow.”
“But as a price, when you manipulate darkness, light will inflict serious harm upon you.”
“Conversely, when you command light, shadows will significantly weaken your power.”
“After manipulating darkness, you will temporarily lose your emotions. Repeated use will result in the loss of certain emotions.”
“After commanding light, you will temporarily lose your memories. Repeated use will result in the loss of certain memories.”
“The longer you use our power, the more severe the consequences. Temporary might become permanent.”
“But we will warn you before it’s too late.”
The two goddesses patiently explained the price of their power. Leona listened, her brow furrowed in thought.
To maintain the balance of this world and avoid being expelled by the local deities, their power came with severe restrictions. And even after relinquishing their power, she would have to pay a price.
For ordinary people, temporarily losing emotions or memories might not seem like a big deal, but these were things Leona cherished.
Without emotions, how could she feel the warmth and affection of her trusted companions? Would she do something she would regret later?
Without memories, how could she recall the happy moments, the experiences that shaped her, that brought her joy?
Leona might enjoy spending money, but she wasn’t materialistic. If she were, her status as the world’s strongest warrior, a princess of the Empire, would have allowed her to indulge in any extravagance. She could rob, demand tribute, do as she pleased. What she truly craved was something most people took for granted: love and connection.
What was the point of her existence without emotions and memories? She would rather return to her cold grave.
“Master, do you need our power?”
“If you agree, we will teach you the language to command us.”
Leona hesitated. “Since your power comes with such a heavy price, show me what it can do.”
“Of course, Master.”
“We will show you the experiences of mortals who once wielded our power—our Champions.”
The two goddesses obeyed without question, their respect for Leona unwavering, despite her mortal status.
Their current state resembled the consequences of excessive power usage—emotionless, their memories fragmented. Leona suspected they had been more vibrant before, their forced journey between worlds somehow damaging them. Unless they were deceiving her. But she couldn’t fathom their motive for doing so. Abyss had told her that the Nine Gods of Hai-Teweru valued balance above all else. They wouldn’t be welcoming towards these foreign deities. The best way for these two wandering goddesses to survive in this world was to serve Leona and Abyss.
Their forms faded, and the surrounding stars brightened. Leona didn’t feel herself moving, but when she regained her focus, she found herself observing a vibrant planet from a unique perspective.
She could see everything on this lush planet, unobstructed, the concepts of “distance” and “perspective” irrelevant. The planet was teeming with inhabitants, their faces resembling those of the two goddesses. Like Hai-Teweru, this planet had developed a thriving civilization, its technology even more advanced. Towering structures, hundreds of meters tall, dominated the landscape. Cities bustled with activity, neon lights illuminating the night, commerce flourishing. Monarchies had been abolished, and the world was ruled by powerful corporations, their leaders wealthy, intelligent, but also cunning and ruthless.
The two goddesses guided her attention to two young women.
“The fair-skinned girl is the Champion of Darkness.”
“The dark-skinned girl is the Champion of Light.”
“They were our only two followers in Bystine. They received our divine pronouncements directly, ensuring the world’s balance wasn’t disrupted by the ever-growing desires of mortals.”
“They performed their duties admirably, but they couldn’t stop the Lord of Bullying’s invasion. We were bound by the Creator God’s restrictions, unable to intervene directly. We witnessed their sacrifices, but they couldn’t turn the tide.”
As the goddesses spoke, the two girls’ stories unfolded before Leona’s eyes. They were both born into poverty, their hearts filled with a yearning for justice. Through a series of events, they had caught the attention of the goddesses, proving their worth and receiving powers to change the world. The Champion of Darkness operated at night, the Champion of Light during the day. They channeled divine power through prayer, hunting down criminals, thwarting evil schemes, dismantling corrupt organizations.
The Champion of Darkness, a wraithlike figure, moved through the shadows, emerging from any darkened corner, phasing through walls, reaching her targets with ease. Any attack directed at her was reflected back at the attacker by the power of darkness. She used her divine power to break her enemies’ minds, driving them mad, rendering them incapable of causing further harm.
The Champion of Light, a radiant being, walked boldly under the sun, her form transforming into a beam of light, traveling to any place illuminated by sunlight or artificial light. She was immune to all attacks. Even if her enemies tried to weaken her by reducing the light, she was always one step ahead. Her holy radiance forced even the most hardened criminals to repent, spending the rest of their lives seeking redemption.
As Leona watched these two heroines, a monstrous figure appeared in the distance.
It was a colossal creature, its body composed of countless teeth. People prostrated themselves before it, sacrificing living beings, burning them in giant furnaces. With each sacrifice, the monster grew larger…
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