Astraea asked, "What's wrong, my child? You seem tired."
Iska nodded knowingly. "Yeah, Akira, you're usually the liveliest of us."
Concerned gazes turned toward him.
"Are you hurt?" Kaguya asked, pressing a hand to his cheek.
"Injured?!" The others panicked.
"No, no! Just a little tired!" Akira raised both hands in defense, quickly explaining, "It's from helping someone with a toxin-filled body, like Kaguya-nee."
Only then did the tension ease. The girls let out relieved sighs, Akira was too precious.
"Well, I'm taking the first bath." Alise declared, marching forward.
"Our captain really has no sense of timing..." Lyra groaned, dragging her feet toward the mansion.
Alise grinned, suddenly turning to Astraea. "Astraea-sama, let's bathe together. I want the goddess and hot spring combo tonight."
"!?"
Ryuu, Kaguya, Lyra, and the rest turned to gape.
Akira and Astraea only laughed softly.
Akira muttered, "Ah, Alise, an unstoppable force of nature."
This was the unchanging rhythm of life in the Astraea Familia. Not just today, it would always be this way.
Once the excitement died down, Akira approached Astraea quietly and whispered, "Astraea-sama, could you help me update my falna later?"
With a fond smile, Astraea replied, "Of course."
In Astraea's room.
Astraea pricked her finger with a fine needle, letting a drop of divine blood appear.
"Let's begin."
Her finger traced across Akira's bare back, unlocking his falna. The sacred characters glowed.
Akira
Level: 2
Strength: SSS 1443 → SSS 1999
Durability: SSS 1413 → SSS 1999
Dexterity: SSS 1421 → SSS 1999
Agility: SSS 1432 → SSS 1999
Magic: SSS 1981 → SSS 1999X
[Development Ability]
- Mystery I → F
Astraea stared at the runes glowing on Akira's back.
"All stats are at SSS1999 but... your magic." She leaned closer, narrowing her eyes. "This '1999X' is something even I don't understand."
Her fingers brushed the symbol for magic.
"What changed?" Akira asked.
She handed him the parchment with his updated status. Akira studied the odd suffix behind his magic stat.
"What does this 'X' mean?"
"I'm not sure." Astraea admitted. "It could mean your magic has evolved beyond the scale... into an unknown realm."
"Unknown realm?" Akira echoed.
"Yes." She said softly. "It may be linked to your skill, your magic may no longer be quantifiable."
"So 'X' stands for... infinity?"
"Or simply the unknown." Astraea replied thoughtfully. "But either way, this is good news. Are you ready to rank up?"
Akira nodded. "I think it's time. I've hit my limits in the current level."
"Then let's see what new development abilities are available."
Astraea waved her fingers, and several glowing words shimmered into view.
"Mage, Treatment, Spirit Healing... you have options."
Akira thought deeply before choosing. "Please select Treatment for me."
Perhaps choosing this developmental ability would allow him to make up for his inability to treat others.
For example, developing blood magic into a blood healing technique.
Astraea tilted her head. "Why treatment?"
Akira recalled his earlier battle with Zald and how he had detoxified him.
He said, "I plan to treat Alfia tomorrow and I want to make up for my weakness. I have the power to destroy, but not enough power to save. If I can heal, I can help everyone when it truly matters."
Astraea gazed at him with warmth and pride, gently placing her hand on his head.
In this world, power often corrupts even the noblest of people. But Akira was different.
In a world where strength often corrupted and power could so easily lead astray, he stood firm like an immovable beacon. In every decision he made, every battle he waged, he held fast to the ideals of kindness and justice that burned quietly, but resolutely, within his heart.
He never once used his strength to bully the weak. Instead, without hesitation or expectation of reward, he extended his hand to those in need, over and over again.
Like a solitary star piercing through the black curtain of night, Akira used his actions, not words, to define what true justice really meant.
And perhaps, it was precisely that unshakable will that made Astraea all the more convinced that she had chosen correctly.
A light chuckle escaped her lips as she whispered, "I understand."
With a graceful motion, her slender fingers drew the final stroke across the parchment. And in that moment, the last piece of the divine ritual clicked into place.
The blessing of divinity flowed like gentle waves over Akira's back as his status transformed. His stats, previously pushed to their limits, reset from the edge of exhaustion to a perfect I0 and in tandem, he ranked up from Level 2 to Level 3.
A faint light shimmered across the parchment as a new word appeared beneath the development abilities: Treatment.
With the ritual complete, Astraea locked away his status with a soft flutter of the paper, sealing the status with divine authority.
Akira dressed quickly and turned to face her again, his expression thoughtful. As if recalling something from the recesses of memory, his lips curled with a playful grin.
He raised an eyebrow and asked, "By the way, Astraea-sama, do you still remember what you said?"
"Hmm?" Astraea blinked, tilting her head ever so slightly, her expression painted with subtle confusion.
But within her heart, she was already chuckling.
'I might have said a lot of things.' She mused inwardly.
"Did I say something important?" She replied with mock innocence, her voice laced with a teasing undertone that was both charming and disarming.
It seemed that even a goddess wasn't above the occasional act of selective memory but Akira didn't back down.
With a gentle smile and narrowed eyes, he stared directly at her, as if to say, "You're not getting away this time."
Without another word, he stepped forward and placed both hands gently on her soft, bare shoulders.
A slight push.
The next moment, Astraea found herself falling backward onto the bed, her hair scattering like silk across the white sheets. Her plump breasts bounced lightly with the motion, a sight that made Akira momentarily hold his breath. A strange sense of déjà vu and desire stirred within him.
Ever since that moment... this body, this sensation, it was difficult to forget. And tonight, Lyra seemed especially tired. He hadn't planned to disturb her.
Which meant...
Akira's gaze turned toward the goddess before him, eyes deep and shimmering with restrained desire.
He said slowly, his tone smooth, "Astraea-sama, you should still remember, right? You said, 'If you level up, I'll reward you.'"
Astraea blinked again, a strand of hair caught in the corner of her lips. Her expression was equal parts amused and bashful.
"Did I now?" She said, feigning ignorance while a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I remember saying something like... I'd have to see your performance first, didn't I?"
She reached out and gently placed a slender finger beneath his chin. Akira's gaze darkened slightly. He leaned in, feeling the heat between them intensify.
"And?" He murmured, exhaling against her lips, "How was my performance, then?"
Then, without hesitation, he bit down softly on her outstretched fingers. It was a little bold, perhaps even nasty, but the moment he saw those delicate fingers, he just couldn't help himself.
Astraea's eyes widened at the unexpected bite. She trembled slightly, but her lips curled into a smile that showed that she didn't feel any real anger.
"You little rascal." She scolded with a tone as light as a feather, "You're getting too bold."
Her voice carried reproach, but her gaze was filled with fond indulgence.
Akira leaned in even closer, their faces only inches apart. He whispered softly, "My goddess... you can't go back on your word now. I've worked really hard."
Their eyes met and lingered in silence. It was Astraea who looked away first, her cheeks pink and her heart fluttering. She gently pushed against his chest, her expression dazed.
'I really can't avoid it this time, can I?'
'But... this strange anticipation in my heart... why does it feel so dazzling?'
She sighed. "I lose."
She muttered helplessly, "Fine. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Her voice was quiet, reluctant, yet touched with a mischievous glimmer of curiosity.
(End of Chapter)
New Story
Fairy Tail: Multiversal Travel
Ryoma mysteriously transmigrates to the world of Fairy Tail. But unfortunately, he remains a non-mage for seven years, becoming an ordinary person in the guild.
But one day, the dormant dimensional power in his body throws him into the Demon Slayer world. There, his Ice Breathing merges with his magic power, and finally, he gets an effective magic, Ice Magic.
And this was just the beginning. The dimensional power within him erupted from time to time, throwing him into various different worlds again and again.
Ice Magic from Demon Slayer's breathing style, Space-Time magic from Black Clover's Grimoire, Conqueror's Haki, Imperial tools, Zanpakuto...
Each time he returns, only a moment passes in the Fairy Tail world, but he rises with new powers.
With these newfound powers, Ryoma will eventually write the legend of the Dimensional Mage.