NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Reason for Punishment
(A Short While Ago)
The divine hall remained silent, bathed in golden luminescence. The gods stood still, their gazes fixed upon Eterna, the Goddess of Life and Death, as she remained kneeling before Zar, her head slightly bowed.
A celestial wind carried the faint echoes of shifting realities, yet within this vast and powerful chamber, all that mattered was Zar's next words.
But instead of speaking, he remained quiet, his golden eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.
Eterna, despite her immense power, felt an inexplicable weight pressing upon her, as if the fabric of her existence was waiting for judgment.
The gods held their breath.
And then—
"System."
A voice that only he and it could hear.
A Conversation Within his concious.
[Hmm?]
Zar sighed inwardly.
"You know… I don't really like this kind of speech. The whole 'dominating and imposing' way of talking. It makes me sound like a completely different person."
Silence.
Zar waited, but the system remained uncharacteristically quiet.
He frowned.
"So, can you restrict my divine authority from flexing unnecessarily?"
The pause stretched for longer than necessary.
[…Alright.]
Zar blinked.
"Huh?"
The system's tone remained neutral.
[But only after you complete this mission.]
Before Zar could retort, a glowing interface appeared before him, shimmering with golden energy.
His eyes skimmed over the details.
[Mission Assigned: Eterna must bring the Demon Goddess back and mend her relationship with her.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • ]
However, just beneath the description, a portion of the text remained blurred.
Zar frowned.
"Huh? System, is there a problem with my eyes, or is this just you being annoying? Why is the description hidden?"
The system's voice suddenly shifted into a business-like tone.
[System: Let me introduce you to a new function—]
Another notification flashed before Zar's eyes.
—
[Authority Level: Too Low.]
—
Zar froze.
His gaze darkened.
And then realization hit him.
"Oh… oh, shit."
His mood soured instantly, a mix of frustration and amusement twisting within him.
[Relax, don't worry. The rest of the mission details will be revealed once you complete the first part.]
Zar exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples.
"Fine, fine. I was already thinking of this punishment anyway."
—
At last, Zar's gaze returned to Eterna.
A soft hum of divine power resonated in the air as he finally spoke.
"Your punishment is simple. You will bring the Demon Goddess here and mend your relationship with her."
Eterna lowered her head further, her expression unreadable.
But deep within her soul, she felt relief.
She nodded gracefully, her tone steady.
"I understand, Supreme One. I will not fail you."
With a final bow, her divine energy surged, and in a blink, she disappeared.
—
The moment Eterna left, Zar turned toward Aetherion, the God of Time and Space.
"I'm going to take a walk outside until she returns."
Aetherion bowed immediately.
"As you will, Master."
Zar nodded slightly and strode toward the grand celestial doors.
As he walked, his presence alone distorted the very fabric of reality.
Each step echoed with silent power, the divine air shifting as if the universe itself acknowledged his movement.
But to Zar himself—it was just an ordinary walk.
Yet, to the gods who watched, it was anything but ordinary.
Vaelora, the Goddess of Fate, found herself momentarily breathless.
(How… how can even his casual movements feel so sacred?)
Ignis, the God of War, clenched his fists.
(This is our Master… the Supreme One.)
And then—
Just as Zar reached the celestial gates, he turned back, his gaze sweeping across the divine assembly.
But when he spoke—
His voice was different.
"Oh, right. After the Game of Gods, you all can resume the celebration for my arrival."
The shift in tone was startling.
His voice, once regal and overwhelming, was now… casual.
"Oh, and don't forget to wear good clothes."
Silence.
Aetherion's mind blanked.
Vaelora's hands trembled slightly.
Even the battle-hardened Ignis nearly coughed.
For the first time—the Supreme One sounded normal.
For the first time—they saw a glimpse of him beyond his godhood.
It was both terrifying and… strangely comforting.
And then, without another word, Zar stepped out.
—
As Zar stepped into the vast divine courtyard, his gaze instinctively drifted toward a colossal structure in the distance.
The Wall of Dominion.
He stopped.
Memories resurfaced.
And then, out of nowhere—
He burst into laughter.
[See? I told you it was funny.]
Zar smirked, shaking his head.
"Yeah, yeah. I still remember how I got slammed into that thing."
[And don't forget, even I was wondering how you managed to damage it.]
Zar's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? So you actually figured it out?"
The system's voice turned mysterious.
[Oh, that? Yeah, I know the reason.]
Zar raised an eyebrow.
"Then tell me."
[ …Nah.]
Zar clicked his tongue, deciding to ignore it.
Instead, his thoughts drifted to a more pressing matter.
"By the way, when are we continuing my training? And when will you unseal my realm?"
His golden eyes flickered with determination.
"In two months, I'll have to leave this multiverse for the Nexus Academy entrance exam."
The system's response was immediate.
[ Don't worry. I will make sure you're ready for that.]
Zar exhaled, satisfied.
But then—
[But while you're here… why don't you see how Eterna is handling the Demon Goddess?]
Zar paused.
Something about the system's wording caught his attention.
For a brief moment, his sharp mind processed the implications.
But then, he dismissed it.
A shimmering golden interface materialized before him.
—
[Live Broadcast: Eterna's Journey to the Demon Goddess]
—
Zar's expression remained neutral, but deep inside, a spark of curiosity ignited.
He was about to start watching when—
The system, within the depths of its own consciousness, simply thought to itself.
—
(…At least he's finally starting to catch the meaning behind my words.)
As Zar focused on the unfolding scene, the system smiled.
------
AUTH HERE,
CONFESSION TIME... I'M LOVING THE SONG I'M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW! WHICH HELP ME IN WRITING AND THAT GOT ME THINKING... FROM NOW ON, I'LL BE PAIRING GOOD SCENES WITH SONG SUGGESTION TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE VIVID AND IMMERSIVE FOR YOU!"