"Wouldn't mind if I do."
The man in the cyberpunk jacket stepped forward, boots clicking against the polished stone. Neon-blue circuitry pulsed along his sleeves like living veins. His movements were effortless, confident—someone who'd never been told no in his life.
Adrian Vale. Even the name sounded expensive.
Before he could reach the altar—
"Out of my way."
The shove wasn't subtle.
A guy in a ratty hoodie and scuffed sneakers pushed past him, grinning like he'd already won the lottery. He didn't belong here. Everything about him screamed "average"—messy hair, unremarkable face, nothing extraordinary.
But his confidence? That filled the entire room.
"I'll go first," he announced, voice loud and unapologetic. "Come on. I've been waiting my whole life for this. Truck-kun finally came through."
A few priests exchanged confused glances.
He slapped his palm against the crystal.
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
His grin faltered. Fingers twitched against the smooth surface.
Come on, come on, come on…
Then the crystal flared. Golden light spread through its core like liquid fire, symbols rising and rotating before settling into a crisp panel above the altar.
---
[NAME: KANZAKI RYU]
[SPECIES: HUMAN]
[RANK: B]
[LEVEL: 15]
[CLASS: RADIANT VANGUARD]
Skills:
• Hero's Momentum — Strength increases after each kill
• Bravery Amplification — Fear and mental debuffs reduced by 70%
• Golden Appeal — Natural charisma dramatically increased
Goddess' Blessing:
FATED HAREM AUTHORITY — Women are instinctively drawn to him. Emotional and physical attraction passively amplified.
---
Murmurs rippled through the temple.
"Level fifteen at summoning…"
"B-Rank isn't bad at all."
"That blessing though…"
Kanzaki scratched the back of his head, trying—and failing—to look humble.
"B-Rank, huh? I mean, I was hoping for A, but…" His eyes lingered on the blessing. "...yeah. I can work with this."
Several younger priests found the ceiling suddenly fascinating.
The elder stepped forward, hands folded in his sleeves. Expression neutral.
"A B-Rank Radiant Vanguard," he said slowly. "Respectable. A-Ranks are uncommon among summoned heroes. You are… within expectations."
Kanzaki heard: You're amazing and special.
What the elder meant: You're adequate.
---
Before anyone could react, Adrian shoved past.
"My turn."
He didn't ask. He simply reached for the crystal. The moment his palm touched it, the glow shifted violently. Emerald light exploded through its core, forcing several priests to stumble backward. The air itself hummed with raw energy.
The panel that appeared was twice the size of Kanzaki's.
---
[NAME: ADRIAN VALE]
[SPECIES: AUGMENTED HUMAN]
[RANK: SS]
[LEVEL: 30]
[CLASS: ARC-TECH EXECUTOR]
Skills:
• Overclocked Cognition — Thought processing speed increased 500%
• Tech Assimilation — Instant comprehension of any technology
• Energy Conversion Field — All damage taken converts to usable energy
• Quantum Strike — Attacks bypass physical defenses
Goddess' Blessing:
SYSTEM SYNCHRONIZATION (PERFECT) — Maximum compatibility with world systems. Growth rate multiplied. Skill acquisition accelerated.
---
Dead silence.
Not awkward silence. Stunned silence.
"SS-Rank…"
"At summoning?!"
"Level thirty… that's impossible!"
Adrian pulled his hand away, glancing at the panel with mild interest.
"As expected," he said flatly. "Anything lower would've been insulting."
Nobody laughed.
Priests who had barely noticed him before now couldn't look away. Even the elder's composure wavered—just slightly.
Kanzaki's smile froze.
What the fuck?
---
The dark-skinned woman stepped forward.
Natasha Rowland didn't smile. Didn't hesitate. Her posture screamed military—back straight, eyes scanning, every sense alert. She looked like someone who'd killed before. Multiple times. Without losing sleep.
Her palm touched the crystal. Purple light blazed through its core.
---
[NAME: NATASHA ROWLAND]
[SPECIES: HUMAN]
[RANK: S]
[LEVEL: 78]
[CLASS: WAR HUNTRESS]
Skills:
• Predator Instinct — Enemy weaknesses highlighted automatically
• Battle Adaptation — Combat efficiency increases the longer a fight continues
• Vital Strike — Critical hit chance doubled against wounded targets
• Iron Will — Complete immunity to fear and mind control
Goddess' Blessing:
SURVIVOR'S GRACE — Fatal damage negated once per battle. Cooldown: 24 hours.
---
Several priests nodded approvingly.
"A frontline specialist."
"Level seventy-eight… a veteran."
"Dangerous. Very dangerous."
Natasha said nothing. She stepped back, observing silently.
---
Lin Xue moved next.
She flowed like water—silent, graceful, every step deliberate. Her jade-and-white robes trailed behind her like mist. When she touched the crystal, it responded gently, glowing soft green rather than flaring.
---
[NAME: LIN XUE]
[SPECIES: HUMAN]
[RANK: S]
[LEVEL: 59]
[CLASS: SPIRIT-BOUND CULTIVATOR]
Skills:
• Heaven-Grade Qi Circulation — Cultivation speed tripled
• Spirit Sense — Detect all entities within 500 meters
• Flowing Blade Art — Sword techniques scale with spiritual energy
• Celestial Body — Physical stats enhanced by cultivation level
Goddess' Blessing:
HARMONIZED GROWTH — No cultivation bottlenecks. Breakthrough guaranteed with sufficient energy.
---
Approval rippled through the temple.
"A cultivator from a high realm…"
"S-Rank with guaranteed breakthroughs? She'll reach SS in months."
"The goddess truly blessed us today."
Four panels. Four powerful heroes.
SS-Rank.
S-Rank.
S-Rank.
B-Rank.
The priests' relief was palpable. This could actually work.
"...Next."
---
All eyes turned to Rinka.
She stepped forward slowly, deliberate. Nobody moved to help. The burn scars on her face caught the candlelight, making the damaged flesh even more glaring. Whispers followed her like flies.
"What's wrong with her face?"
"Is she even supposed to be here?"
"She looks like a monster…"
She placed her hand on the crystal.
Blue. It stayed blue.
One second. Two seconds. Three.
The glow flickered. Then dimmed.
A small red panel appeared, glitching at the edges like corrupted data.
---
[NAME: RINKA KUROTSUKI]
[SPECIES: HUMAN (?)]
[RANK: F]
[LEVEL: 1]
[CLASS: BURDENED VESSEL]
Skills:
• Pain Resistance (Minor) — Slightly reduced pain sensation
Goddess' Blessing:
NONE
[STATUS: UNWANTED VARIABLE]
[WARNING: ANOMALY DETECTED]
---
Silence.
Then—
"...An F-Rank?"
"No blessing?"
"What the hell is 'Burdened Vessel' supposed to mean?"
"She only has one skill? And it's a minor?"
Kanzaki burst into laughter.
"Holy shit!" He didn't even try to hide it. "She's literally useless! Level one! One skill! No blessing!" He wiped a tear from his eye. "Man, I thought I got screwed with B-Rank, but this? This is just sad."
Adrian glanced at the panel with cold disinterest. "Dead weight."
Lin Xue looked away, pity flickering across her features.
Natasha just stared. Calculating. Filing information away.
The elder priest cleared his throat loudly.
"The... the Goddess' will is absolute," he said stiffly. "Even if we do not understand her reasons."
He turned away from Rinka like she'd already ceased to exist.
---
The Royal Palace
---
The palace was obscene.
Ceilings so high they disappeared into shadow. Pillars wrapped in gold leaf. Crystal chandeliers the size of carriages. Stained glass windows depicting ancient battles, holy saints, and the goddess herself—faceless, radiant, untouchable.
Everything gleamed.
Everything screamed wealth.
The throne room alone could have fit Rinka's entire neighborhood from her old world. Red carpet stretched from the entrance to a massive golden throne, where a man in his fifties sat watching them approach.
King Aldric IV.
Broad shoulders. Sharp eyes. Silver hair swept back from a weathered face. He looked like a man who'd fought wars and won them—not through strategy, but through sheer stubborn refusal to die.
He rose as the heroes approached.
"Welcome," he said, voice booming through the hall. "Saviors of our world. Champions chosen by the Goddess herself."
He descended the steps slowly, greeting each hero personally.
Adrian got respect. A firm handshake. Questions about his technology.
Natasha got acknowledgment. A warrior recognizing another warrior.
Lin Xue got curiosity. Interest in her cultivation methods.
Kanzaki got... enthusiasm.
"A Radiant Vanguard!" the King said warmly. "We haven't had one of those in decades. Your blessing is particularly... unique."
Kanzaki grinned. "Yeah, I'm pretty excited to test it out."
Several female servants suddenly found reasons to be closer to him.
Then the King's gaze drifted.
Toward Rinka.
His smile faltered.
He glanced at the elder priest.
The priest shook his head slightly.
"...I see," the King said quietly. His eyes lingered on her ruined face for just a moment before sliding away. "Very well."
He didn't greet her.
Didn't acknowledge her.
Just... moved on.
---
"Allow me to introduce my daughters."
Two women descended from the raised platform behind the throne.
The first was Princess Amelia.
Tall. Mature. Dangerous.
Her dress was barely a dress—deep crimson silk that clung to every curve, neckline plunging so low it was practically an invitation. Long blonde hair cascaded over bare shoulders. Her smile was practiced, predatory, the kind of smile that had ruined lesser men.
She was beautiful.
And she knew it.
The second was Princess Emily.
Shorter but no less stunning. Pink dress with strategic cutouts that showed just enough skin. Silver hair tied in twin tails. Big blue eyes that sparkled with mischief and entitlement.
She looked innocent.
She absolutely wasn't.
Both of their gazes locked onto Kanzaki instantly.
"Oh?" Amelia purred, gliding forward. Her arm slipped through his like she owned him. "You're the one with that blessing, aren't you?"
Kanzaki's brain short-circuited. "I—uh—yeah—"
Emily appeared on his other side, pressing close. "I like confident men," she giggled. "Especially heroes."
"We should... get to know each other better," Amelia murmured, lips brushing his ear. "Privately."
Kanzaki looked like he'd died and gone to heaven.
Adrian's jaw tightened. His fist clenched at his side.
"...Should've picked the seduction skill," he muttered under his breath.
---
The King clapped his hands.
"Tonight, a grand feast will be held in your honor! You will be given the finest chambers in the palace, access to our treasury, and anything else you require."