-----
Over the last few years, I had guided my family toward collecting several of the treasures I sought—at least those within their reach. Anything too dangerous was simply out of the question, so I abandoned those plans.
My father obtained the Goblin Ring, which he used constantly to move with blinding speed. He even let me borrow it from time to time, promising I could inherit it once I came of age.
When I turned four, we drew close to the Fang Mountains. Inside the Glacial Caves, my brother and sister found exactly what I had described: the Winged Boots. They granted short bursts of flight, powerful leaps, superior evasion, and unmatched maneuverability across any terrain. They had to slay the Abominable Yeti guarding them, but with Scaly—the wyvern my brother had tamed—fully recovered and breathing flames beside him, the battle proved far less difficult than it could have been.
Around age five, we secured the Fireball Necklace from the Abandoned Magician's House, a ruin teeming with zombies and homunculi. My brother and father ventured there, diverging from our usual nomadic route. Using raw strength and their tamed monsters, they carved through the creatures on the first floor, descended underground, shattered the magician's skeleton to dust, and claimed the necklace capable of unleashing powerful fireball spells.
The Elixir Potion came from a Gnome Cave beneath the Mossy Forest—a precious vial we reserved for a true emergency. It could heal someone from the brink of death, no matter how severe the injury.
The Mana Diamond was retrieved from the second Fang Mountain we approached. My father slipped into a hidden cave and brought it back. This extraordinary Mana Core constantly exuded rich Mana Liquid, making it an invaluable ingredient for potions and a vital asset that now supplied the entire clan with energy.
My mother claimed the Holy Scepter from the Ruinous Temple, not far from that same mountain. She led a large group of her female friends, all fellow mothers. After massacring the zombies and their priest, they seized the scepter, which granted its wielder the power to cast Healing Light, Holy Barrier, and Exorcising Flash.
The only major item still missing was the Dragon Slayer, a sealed legendary weapon buried deep within the Smoldering Volcano Dungeon. That place was far too dangerous to ask of my family, so I added it to my personal list.
With these treasures, the clan had grown dramatically stronger. The Mana Diamond in particular allowed everyone to train Mana Skills without interruption, and I had benefited greatly from it over the years.
I still could not see skills or levels, but my Mana Manipulation had surely reached a very high level. At ten years old, I could now wield it freely. I had only recently begun practicing Mana Reinforcement and Mana Aura, and I was not yet fully proficient.
Still, my parents insisted I would grow much faster once the Awakening Ceremony arrived. And so the day had come.
It was a bright, peaceful afternoon like any other. The sky stretched clear and blue, soft white clouds drifted lazily, the sun shone warmly overhead, and the grasslands rippled gently in the breeze.
This time, however, the entire clan had gathered around a green Divine Stone—an ancestral relic said to awaken hidden potential in those with talent. This was not in the game; it felt like something added from a fanfic written by whoever shaped this world.
The children my age lined up to touch the stone and draw on its energies. There were about a dozen of us. I stood at the end with my friends.
"Hey Brunhild! I heard that in ancient times our ancestors didn't even need to touch the stone," Sigrid said. "But over time we've lost so much of our original power and affinity with magic or spirits. Crazy, right?"
She had grown tremendously in the last ten years—we all had—but she was shaping up to be stunning. Tall and slender, her long white hair gleamed silky and bright beneath the sunlight, and her big sapphire-blue eyes always sparkled with life.
"I guess so," I replied, crossing my arms. "But isn't that a bad thing? It means we've grown weaker as a race over generations. I wonder if we'll go extinct someday."
"D-Don't say that!" Sigrid panicked, her mouth falling open. "That won't happen! We'll prosper together, right, bestie?" She threw her arms around me in a sudden, tight hug. She had always been very affectionate. Most people here were; they were wild folk with few of the inhibitions Earth humans carried.
"Haha, well, we can try our best," I said, smiling back at her.
She had grown on me over the years. I truly cared for her as a friend. Still, all we ever did was play. I was already itching for real adventure.
"What do you think you'll get from the Awakening Ceremony?" she asked, her long lashes almost hypnotic.
"Hm, I haven't thought that far ahead, honestly," I admitted.
I couldn't exactly tell her I had received a rusty cube and stolen a soul orb from a God of Reincarnation, could I? I wondered if either would play a role in my awakening. For now, I expected something ordinary—a tattoo, perhaps, or a spirit root.
Weapon talents sometimes manifested as well, but anything would do. I was already planning my build. I had never played a character from this clan in the game—they were just cannon fodder, not even playable—but there had to be some hidden merit to it.
The Green Plains' First War would only be the beginning. The plains were vast, and so was the world of Genesis Saga. I had even considered traveling to another continent one day, the one that held the Grand Labyrinth and the Tower of Gods.
Both were colossal trials granted by the God of Labyrinths and the Gods of Challenge in this world called Terrarium, designed to let humanity ascend to higher dimensions—something treated as pure myth around here. No one had dared cross to another continent.
But I knew the truth because I had played the game.
"I'll probably get the most basic things imaginable," I shrugged.
"Aw, don't say that!" Sigrid sighed. "I bet you'll get something strong. I want to go on an adventure so badly! Let's go somewhere together once we awaken!"
"I was planning on it," I nodded. "What about you two?"
We turned to the twins behind me—Ulf and Kara—who looked visibly nervous, endlessly worrying whether they would awaken anything at all.
"Are you guys nervous?" Sigrid asked. "Come on, don't be! You're going to get something strong, I bet!"
"You're way too positive, Sigrid…" Ulf sighed. "But what if we get nothing? We'll become the clan's laughingstock. They won't invest any resources in us…"
"Hmm…" Kara murmured, lost in thought. "I just hope I get anything…"
They had grown taller and more mature, no longer the impulsive children they once were. But someone had clearly planted the fear that they might awaken nothing. With my Mana Senses alone, I could tell they possessed strong Elemental Affinity with both Fire and Nature.
"You'll be fine," I said, smiling at them. "Don't worry, seriously."
"Uugh, really?" Ulf asked doubtfully.
"Well… if you say so…" Kara sighed.
I patted their shoulders reassuringly and handed them some goblin jerky. "Here, eat this if you're nervous."
They stared at it in disgust. "Why would we eat this disgusting thing?!"
"Hahaha! It's not disgusting—it's cheap and easy to store," I laughed. "It's got a kind of umami flavor, don't you think?"
"What the hell is umami?" Ulf asked.
"Some weird word she uses sometimes…" Kara muttered. "Ignore her… she's a weirdo sometimes."
"Ouch! Why would you say that?! It hurts my heart… Wow, maybe I won't let you pet Fenrir ever again," I sighed dramatically. Fenrir sat right beside me; whenever I glanced at him, his tail wagged happily.
After all these years, he had become a full-fledged adult wolf—an experienced one. As a Magical Beast, he had grown immense, especially after I fed him Mana Liquid from the Mana Diamond every day. He hadn't evolved yet because he needed a Wolf Grass Leaf, which I still hadn't found. Once he did, he would grow even larger. The thought of charging across a battlefield atop a massive wolf never stopped feeling exhilarating.
"Olaf! Step forward!"
A tall young man with long white hair and green eyes stepped up. He was gentle and shy, the quietest boy our age. When he touched the stone, his body erupted in a bright, mystical glow.
A red bat tattoo appeared on his right arm, while roots of red, blue, and green light pulsed around him.
"Amazing!"
"Did you see that?"
"The boy has a Triple Elemental Spiritual Root?!"
The crowd buzzed with shock as young Olaf looked around in complete confusion.
"Congratulations, Olaf!" the chief—my grandfather, though I had only learned that a year ago for some inexplicable reason—declared. "You awakened a Triple Elemental Spiritual Root of Fire, Water, and Wind, plus a Bat Spirit Tattoo. Not bad at all! You have a bright future as a Magic Swordsman."
"Oooh!" Olaf beamed. "Nice! Mom! Dad!" He ran joyfully to his family, who enveloped him in tight hugs, celebrating their son's promising path as a clan warrior.
Eventually, they called my friend. Sigrid stepped forward with calm confidence and touched the stone. Just as I expected, two red tattoos formed—one around her neck, one across her stomach—shaped like a mountain lioness and a wolf.
A white-and-blue Spiritual Root glowed around her body. My grandfather nodded with a proud smile. "Amazing, Sigrid! A Dual Spirit Beast Tattoo is very rare! And above all, you obtained an Ice and Water Spiritual Root."
"No way! Yaaaay!" She jumped in celebration as her parents rushed over.
Next, it was my turn.
"Brunhild! Step forward, my granddaughter," the chief called. "You've gained quite a reputation lately. Your tactics and foresight have proven true time and again. I look forward to what you awaken."
"Thank you, grandfather," I said with a confident smile. "Let's see!"
I touched the stone boldly. A surge of energy rushed into me, my aura flaring a deeper red for a moment, my eyes gleaming.
Yes—there it is! This is it! I have the power!
…
"Eh?"
But then the energy receded back into the stone. My body gave… absolutely nothing.
"…"
"…"
"…"
The entire clan exchanged bewildered glances, then stared at me in confusion. My grandfather's eyebrows twitched. "Hang on, there must have been a mistake. Try again, Brunhild."
I touched it once more. Nothing.
Well, damn.
I had hoped for at least something.
But nothing at all? Was this some curse from the old man before reincarnation? Santa Claus's revenge for stealing his magic orb of whimsy?
Ah, what a pain. Now everyone was looking at me like I was a freak. So that's how it ends, huh? Do I get cast out of the clan or something?
"D-Do it again…" my grandfather urged.
"Grandpa, let's face it—I don't have talent," I sighed. "It took me ten years just to learn Mana Manipulation properly."
"…But," he muttered in disbelief. "T-This has to be some kind of curse! How can our most brilliant child be talentless?!"
I had more or less figured it out long ago—when learning took forever, when I felt no elemental affinity inside me at all.
I was what some would call a fraud. A bum. Empty.
But I had accepted it years ago and moved past caring about talent.
I had gathered relics for exactly this reason. With my knowledge, I knew paths to even greater strength.
"Nah, it's not a curse!" I said brightly. "I just don't have talent. That's all. So let's move on—next kid!" I walked away as the clan stared in stunned silence. "What?"
They seemed shocked I had taken it so calmly. Even my friends looked at me with disbelief. I suppose talent truly meant everything to these people, just as it did to humans on Earth.
"It's fine if you don't want to be my friends anymore. I wouldn't blame you," I sighed, heading off.
"W-Wait… Brunhild…!" Sigrid's voice called after me, but her parents placed firm hands on her shoulders.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Don't follow her."
"She's an Empty One… Those die too fast. Don't get attached, dear."
"…B-But she's my friend…!" Sigrid cried.
I smiled bitterly and kept walking home with Fenrir.
Empty One, huh? Guess it means I'm hollow. Nothing inside.
"Well, at least I've got you, friend."
"Rawr!"
Fenrir let out an adorable growl and licked my hand as I ruffled his thick fur. I slipped behind a large tent, gazed at the horizon, and watched the sun slowly sink behind the mountains.
I closed my eyes and smiled faintly, feeling the cool breeze on my face.
"Huh?"
Then I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks.
"Why?"
I wiped them away roughly and stared down at the grasslands.
Empty One…
The ones who die quickly.
"Fucking bullshit."
Sighing, I leaned against Fenrir's warm, fluffy side in silence. Exhaustion pulled at me. I closed my eyes and drifted off, sleeping on his fur.
♢♢♢♢
"Hm?"
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the village. I stood in pitch-black darkness, a sea of flowing gold beneath my feet. I looked around in confusion.
"A dream?"
At first I thought it was just a strange dream, but it felt far deeper—something profound stirring inside me.
I didn't know exactly what it was, but I knew it mattered.
"Weird…"
As I stepped forward, glowing footprints appeared behind me. The farther I walked, the more light spread from my steps, slowly illuminating the void.
And in that growing light, I saw someone—or something—crying in the darkness.
"Are you okay?"
"Uuuh… It hurts…"
It was a small creature, pale red, shaped vaguely like a fairy. But it was made of rusty red metal, and its wings were crumbling apart.
"It hurts so much… make it stop…"
She clung to my stomach, sobbing against me. I tried to push her away gently, but when that failed, I simply let her hold on.
"What hurts?" I asked.
She looked up, revealing deep red eyes filled with sorrow.
"Everything."
"I am a faulty creation."
"I shouldn't be here to begin with…"
"Why didn't my master kill me?"
Realization hit like lightning. I knew her. Though we had never spoken, I recognized her now. She was the Cube—the rusty piece of metal the God had tossed at me like garbage.
So she was alive, a spirit of sorts? I wondered what she could do besides weep endlessly. Time to cheer her up.
"Come on now, it's not completely over. There are many things we can do together," I said. "Why not come with me?"
"E-Even if I'm faulty?" she asked. "Can I really… be of any use to you?"
I smiled and took her tiny hands. "Of course. Let's ascend together and then punch your creator in the face! How's that?!"
Her eyes widened. A faint, pained smile curved her lips. "O-Okay!"
FLAAASH!
She burst into brilliant red light, enveloping my entire body in an instant.
Amid the crimson radiance, I caught sight of a glowing golden orb hovering just out of reach, almost shyly.
"Hey, what's that orb over there?" I asked.
"Oh, that's the Divine Soul Orb—it manages souls sent to reincarnation and the afterlife…" she explained. "It's an incredibly powerful relic capable of many extraordinary things. Wait—why do you have this, Master?"
"Hahahahaha! So that's it?!" I burst into wild laughter. "Oh my god! That bastard must be seething with rage right now!"
The light swallowed me completely.
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was this:
[Initializing [War Goddess System]]
[Success.]
[You have successfully bonded with the [War Goddess System]. Please complete various tasks to receive amazing rewards.]
[You have unlocked the Inventory, Status, and Skill Systems.]
[You have received a Novice Package: [Strength Potion (C Rank)] x1, [Random Skill Ticket (C Rank)] x1, [Health Potion (C Rank)] x3, [Mana Potion (C Rank)] x3]
"Oooh?! Here it is! My golden finger has finally arrived, ladies and gentlemen!"
I celebrated in the dead of night. Fenrir woke up and stared at me in confusion. Grinning, I opened the game-like inventory floating before me, retrieved the items, and immediately drank the Strength Potion. It burned like liquid fire down my throat. Yuck. But moments later, my body flared with scorching heat and surging power.
Next, I used the skill ticket. It vanished, spinning into a roulette wheel of possibilities until it stopped.
[You have drunk the [Strength Potion (C Rank)]]
[You gained +20 Strength.]
[You have used the [Random Skill Ticket (C Rank)]]
[You acquired the Skill: [Weapon Talent: Axe – Tier 1: Lv1/10]]
"Nice!"
I felt noticeably stronger. With a single thought, mana gathered in my hands, forming the faint outline of an ethereal red axe.
"I can shape my own Mana Aura into an axe? I had no idea the skill could do that…"
As I marveled at the discovery, another notification appeared.
[You have received your first quest as a War Goddess]:
[Hunt a Tier 1 Magic Beast: 0/1]
Congratulations on finally awakening the War Goddess System. Your path toward Ascension has begun on the Green Plains. To forge yourself into the perfect War Goddess, you must start from the beginning. Go hunt a ferocious critter!
[Reward]: +10 Strength and the Talent: [War Spirit Physique (C Rank)]
"Wow, simple enough. Let's do it!" Fresh inspiration surged through me. Before leaving, I asked, "Is there a Status screen? Some way to quantify my growth, System?"
[Yes, Master. Right here.]
-----
[System Owner]: [Brunhild Skadi]
[Titles]: [Red Fang's Young Seer]
[Level]: [1/10]
[Elemental Spirit Root]: [None]
[Spirit Beast Tattoo]: [None]
[Talents]: [None]
[Traits]: [None]
[Vitality]: [220]
[Mana]: [530]
[Strength]: [90]
[Endurance]: [80]
[Spirit]: [50]
[Resistance]: [70]
[Agility]: [90]
[Luck]: [10]
[Charm]: [100]
[Bonded Familiars]:
[Adult Gray Wolf: Fenrir – Tier 1: Rank 10]
[Skills]:
[Mana Manipulation – Tier 1: Level 9/10]
[Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 1/10]
[Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Weapon Talent: Axe – Tier 1: Level 1/10]
-----
"Well, this is fascinating…" I mused, studying the screen. "It looks exactly like a player character status, except it includes roots and tattoos. Talents and Traits are more familiar to me. A skill with 'talent' in the name might help awaken a true talent if I level it enough." I paused. "But damn, everything is listed as None… and my stats are pretty low. Every player character usually starts with at least 100 in everything."
[Don't worry, Master. I am sure you can grow stronger… And as you do, I might be able to heal myself over time… I hope so.]
"So you need me to hunt some beasts? Bet." I nodded, gazing toward the horizon. "There's a small forest nearby. I wonder if my parents are looking for me? Well, it doesn't matter."
I slipped into the armory, grabbed a rusty axe no one would miss, and darted into the forest with Fenrir at my side. He was already a powerful Tier 1 beast at Rank 10—more than enough protection.
As I walked, staring at my status, I noticed the strange lettering at the top.
"Hey System, what's wrong with the status? There are some weird typos up there."
[Umm… There were some errors during initialization. I had to fix them quickly, and it ended up like this. Sorry.]
"Huh, it's fine. I can't really complain—what I received is already incredible. You literally gave me back all the hope I had lost," I said sincerely.
[Oh, Master… thank you. All these years I've been isolated from the world. It seems only when you reached ten years of age were you finally able to sense me within your soul.]
"Maybe there was some kind of limiter. Well, whatever—let's hunt. Fenrir, where can you smell something small and frail I can take on?"
Fenrir sniffed the air, ears twitching adorably, then pointed deeper into the forest.
"Something over there? Lead the way."
He was incredibly intelligent. We moved slowly and quietly. I expanded my Mana Aura and activated Mana Reinforcement, ready for any surprises. Extending my aura also sharpened my senses. There was a Mana Senses skill, but it required Tier 2 Mana Manipulation.
"Oh?"
In the distance, I spotted what Fenrir had detected: a Horned Rabbit. Larger than normal rabbits—about the size of small dogs—with sharp horns that could easily impale a child. Dangerous for the young, but not impossible to defeat.
"It might run… Fenrir, circle around and block its escape route," I whispered. He moved swiftly and silently.
I stepped out of the bushes. The rabbit's red eyes locked onto me, flashing with panic. It kicked off the ground and bolted.
"Agh, damn it!"
I boosted my speed with Mana Aura and slipped on the Goblin Ring I had borrowed from my father. My velocity tripled. In a burst of motion, I closed the gap just as Fenrir appeared on the opposite side, growling.
The rabbit realized fighting the wolf was hopeless. It leaped straight at me, horn aimed at my neck.
"Hey!"
With a roar, I swung the axe downward. Red sparks flew as metal clashed against horn. The rabbit recoiled, its horn cracked and broken.
"Come here!"
I leaped several meters in one bound, seized the rabbit with both hands, and pinned it down. It thrashed wildly, biting my fingers and drawing blood.
"Ouch! You little—!"
I raised the axe and brought it down hard, crushing its skull before it could tear into my hand. Sharp pain exploded through my fingers. I groaned.
"Aagh! Ouch, ouch!"
With shaking hands, I pulled out a Health Potion, poured some over the wound, and drank the rest.
"Haaa…"
The pain slowly faded. My hand knitted back together, leaving an ugly scar across my right palm. Well, everyone in the family had scars.
Fenrir trotted over and licked my hand worriedly.
"Don't worry—that potion saved me," I laughed, petting his head. "Now…"
[You have slain a [Horned Rabbit – Tier 1: Rank 3]. You have earned Experience Points.]
[Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 2. Stat Points have been allocated; you gained 1 Free Stat Point.]
"Oh, there are Stat Points too…!"
But the level-up was just a bonus. What mattered was already complete.
[Congratulations, Master. You did it!]
[You have completed the Novice War Goddess Quest: [Hunt a Tier 1 Magic Beast: 1/1]]
[Reward]: +10 Strength and the Talent: [War Spirit Physique (C Rank)]
[Do you wish to accept the rewards?]
[Yes] [No]
"A Physique right away? Nice."
I pressed [Yes] without hesitation.
A colossal figure of red light materialized before me. My eyes widened as a massive hand descended, crushing me under impossible weight and power.
I felt my muscles tear and my bones crack. I collapsed, coughing blood as my slender body began to restructure itself violently.
"Aagh!"
The agony was unbearable. My muscles bulged, bones lengthened and hardened, and my blood boiled in my veins. Searing red runes burned into my skin. The pain made me tremble, then retch violently until I vomited everything in my stomach.
"Aaaaahhh!"
Screaming, I finally blacked out.
♢♢♢♢
"Brunhild!"
"Hey!"
"Hang in there! Brunhild!"
"Huh?"
I opened my eyes slowly. Aching pain throbbed through every inch of my body. My father was carrying me back toward camp, my brother and mother hurrying alongside with pale, worried faces.
"What happened?" I muttered.
"Y-You're awake! Brunhild, you passed out in the forest!" my father exclaimed. "What the hell were you doing?!"
"If Fenrir hadn't howled like crazy, we never would have found you!" Magnus said.
"What if some monster had eaten you?!" my mother snapped, furious.
"I… passed out?" I tried to move and winced as pain flared everywhere. "Aaaahh! It hurts…! My body…! Ouch…!"
"Hang in there—we're taking you to the clan's shaman. They know medicinal magic!" my father said.
The old shaman laid me on a wooden table, placed candles around me, and began a ritual, invoking spirits while my parents watched anxiously.
"Ugh…"
As drowsiness pulled at me again, it happened.
A blazing red giant erupted from my body.
"Aaahh! T-The girl's cursed! A demon has taken over her body!"
"W-What?!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
My parents recoiled. The shaman scattered salt over me and began chanting an exorcism.
Wait—a demon?!
Bright white light bathed my body, but I felt no different. Was the old woman losing her mind?
"It's a resilient creature!" she gasped. "B-But it doesn't seem aggressive… Was it protecting the girl? How strange…! Just what are you, Brunhild?"
"Uh…"
As I glanced away, I noticed my status had updated.
-----
[System Owner]: [Brunhild Skadi]
[Titles]: [Red Fang's Young Seer]
[Level]: [1/10] -> [2/10]
[Elemental Spirit Root]: [None]
[Spirit Beast Tattoo]: [None]
[Talents]: [War Spirit Physique – Tier 1 (C Rank)]
[Traits]: [None]
[Vitality]: [220] -> [830]
[Mana]: [530] -> [1040]
[Strength]: [90] -> [410]
[Endurance]: [80] -> [390]
[Spirit]: [50] -> [360]
[Resistance]: [70] -> [380]
[Agility]: [90] -> [400]
[Luck]: [10] -> [65]
[Charm]: [100] -> [520]
[Bonded Familiars]:
[Adult Gray Wolf: Fenrir – Tier 1: Rank 10]
[War Spirit of Strength: ??? – Tier 1: Rank 0]
[Skills]:
[Mana Manipulation – Tier 1: Level 9/10]
[Mana Aura – Tier 1: Level 1/10]
[Mana Reinforcement – Tier 1: Level 2/10]
[Weapon Talent: Axe – Tier 1: Level 1/10]
-----
I stared in stunned silence, overwhelmed by the sheer power surging through me. So this was the War Goddess System… I wondered what other incredible abilities awaited me.
No wonder my whole body ached—my frame had been forcibly rebuilt in moments. I felt larger, stronger. Sleep tugged at me again, and fierce hunger gnawed at my stomach.
Looking at the status once more, something in the Bonded Familiars section caught my eye.
[War Spirit of Strength: ??? – Tier 1: Rank 0]
Was this what appeared and made the shaman think "demon"? Do War Spirits simply not exist in her understanding? But don't we worship War Gods here?
While my parents argued heatedly with the shaman, I quietly opened my inventory, retrieved a Health Potion, and drank it. Sweet relief flooded my body. The potion tasted like delicious fruit juice.
Slowly, I sat up and stared at myself in amazement. I had aged two or three years in appearance—taller, more muscular, with red hair now reaching my hips and tanned skin. Flexing my arms filled me with pride. The muscles bulged impressively, yet I still looked slender and feminine.
Huhuh, isn't this amazing?
"B-Brunhild? Are you okay?" my mother asked.
"I'm fine now! Well, not completely—I'm starving, and my body still hurts a little," I sighed. "I think I awakened a Physique when I hunted that rabbit and leveled up."
"Y-You hunted a horned rabbit all by yourself?!" my sister exclaimed.
"Did you just age a couple of years?" my brother asked, arms crossed.
"I guess she's not talentless after all!" my father laughed, patting my back.
"Ouch! Dad, be gentle! It still hurts all over…"
"Oh, sorry," he said, kissing my forehead. "Well done! Come here!" He scooped me up again. "Today we celebrate my daughter's awakening!"
"Hey! Wait! That demon is still inside her!" the shaman protested.
"Aw, quit it, old lady—my sister has no such thing," my big sister said dismissively.
Back in our large tent, my mother prepared a feast using the rabbit meat for a hearty stew. My brother crafted the horn into a spear, infusing it with the monster core, and handed it to me.
"This is a Horned Rabbit Spear—one of the first weapons children your age receive. It's tradition to make it from your first kill. Well done, Brunhild. I'm sure the Great Beast Spirit God Fenrir heard your pleas and granted you his blessing."
"Wow… thank you, brother!" I said happily.
My father handed me one of his own well-polished axes. "From tomorrow onward, you'll train under my tutelage. I'll teach you the Red Fang Axe Style!"
"Really?! Thank you, Dad!"
As I ate my stew, smiling warmly while my family laughed and celebrated around me, a new system message appeared.
[You have received your first quest as a War Goddess]:
[Hunt a Tier 1 Magic Beast: 0/1]
Congratulations on finally awakening the War Goddess System. Your path toward Ascension has finally begun on the Green Plains. To forge into the perfect War Goddess, you must start from the beginning, go hunt a ferocious critter!
[Reward]: +10 Strength and the Talent: [War Spirit Physique (C Rank)]
Huh? But haven't I already completed this quest?
[Master, I think there might be a little problem with my systems..]
-----