Goddess Reborn: An Isekai LitRPG — The Mirror World Progression Saga

After Zadkiel screamed in deific rage and offense for a while, he slumped to his hands and knees on the cold stone below him and added some wallowing for good measure. His teeth were clenched, his face bared in a grimace. The pain from the soul wound didn’t help anything, either.

All our careful planning and the Sleeper was awake. You swore up and down, you paced back and forth like a madman, and practically read me a book explaining how he was, Glae — you fucking idiot! You were wrong about the most important fact to face this world in generations and now everything is ruined!

He knew he was being a bit dramatic, but he had no idea what was in store for his future after getting his ass handed to him. His jackass Traeshan mentor was like a wet noodle himself during the fight, even having to pull a last-ditch defense against the Entropy Seed… things were just not looking good for their chances anymore.

There were plenty of current frustrations on top of it. His realm was entirely blocked from him and he was a prisoner in another deity’s realm. A deity he’d felt slap him instead of coming full force because she had wanted him to have the choice. That element was big for why he’d waived resistance in the first place.

He was sure she could’ve hit him harder than she did and not even bother with choice. That indicated mercy and a desire for cooperation. It meant a bargaining table. A chance.

How is she that fucking powerful so quickly?! She was a mouse in the caves. Or she was playing at one. Damn minxy tricksters! Even if I got the full truth, I could never believe it. Just like with Glae. Argh, I hate you so much, you fuck! Why couldn’t the hot one find me first?! I could’ve been seduced down this path…

It took him a minute to realize the final humiliation. He sat back on his boots and looked down at his hands. Small and blue — the rare natural blue with the pinkish undertones. Long, clawed, scarred fingers with dark red tattoos. His old family ring.

My old self. My old image, haunting me in this place. I don’t even have my face. It has stolen even that.

He shot up onto his feet and went for the bars, grabbing and shaking them. It was fairly pointless… he was under absolute restrictions, and an aura around the bars showed them to be mere show. The iron will of an advanced spiritual realm restricted him, not steel bars. A goddess’s will over a domain that was locked up tight in or out.

In that pathetic, squeaky voice he despised so much, he cried, “Give me image freedom at least, damn you! Isn’t that something you of all beings should respect?! This is not my body!”

But there was no answer. She ‘wasn’t home’ yet. That or he was being ignored. But it hadn’t been long… she might’ve run into trouble.

He scoffed and hung on the bars miserably. “Wouldn’t that be the way of things? It would be just my luck to have her die to that Sage with me trapped here. I hope she’s not stupid enough to tangle with him, too.”

She was dumb enough to save my ass. Goddess of… Fate. Hmm. Perhaps we’re fated to be together. Now that is something to pass the time…

For a while, he daydreamed about her professing her love to him as she freed him and proceeded to show him her beautiful realm full of things girls loved. Flowers and horses and clothes and such.

She modeled many dresses to see which he liked. And she bashfully complemented his restored, handsome form and stature… confiding how much she secretly liked rippling muscles and masculine dominance. Fancied his great size. And then he grabbed her and kissed her with a growl, where she soon trembled and melted in his arms…

Time passed. Between daydreaming, screaming that he needed to get out, screaming for someone to come to him, and wallowing in self-pity, he lost track of just how long he waited in his spartan cell sequestered in the dark. Perhaps hours. He began to suspect it was intentional. A power play to show who was in control.

He would wait as long as she felt like it was the unspoken indication.

What, she’s angry with me? I did nothing! Well, there was that dead servant she mentioned. I couldn’t tell how seriously she took it. Bah! It doesn’t matter. She wants something from me so there will be a deal. Hmm. I wonder if I can get her bed on the table. Or more? That is pretty much priceless for all the teasing of my co-

He was interrupted in his thoughts by the sound of an opening door, and then light, which made him shoot up toward the bars. Slow, slow footsteps down from a mostly hidden staircase.

Zadkiel called out. “Hey! Greenleaf, Puck — whoever you are — look, you need to let me back to my realm! There are things to do, adjustments to make. Much to salvage! I can’t even access-”

He trailed off as he saw the figure come down, a globe of light shining brightly over her head. An incredible Naugite beauty of luxurious blue skin with a face and figure to make men cry — Zadkiel could have right then, himself. She was demonkin perfection.

She was clad in a scintillatingly revealing dress, half like adventuring gear and half dress, with bare legs peeking through her skirts. Her eyes were glowing violet and her hair a glorious mane of jet black. Jewelry draped over her fit for royalty, glittering decoratively like the wrapping of a prize. Her skin was somehow naturally blue despite the richness of the color and lack of the telltale undertones — but it was a Realm, after all, not Calrenazzod.

“A Naugite,” Zadkiel said in wonder, his mouth still hanging open. “Could it be? How? You are fae! Is this another guise? It’s… irresistible.”

The woman laughed at him as she approached and stopped short of the bars. “You mistake me, Zadkiel. This is my natural form but I am not a goddess, not quite. I am her lover, Azure.”

Zadkiel’s eyes wanted to bug out. He grinned. Her lover is a woman! I could have both of them! The goddess has an attraction toward men, I’m certain of it. That’s one fucking thing she cannot hide from me. I could be the meat between their bread!

Knowing he could not keep the lascivious grin off his face, he just embraced it. “How intriguing. Looking for an experienced playmate? Perhaps that’s why I’ve been saved and squirreled away?”

Azure rolled her eyes and gave him a wan look. “I see tales of your obsessions are not exaggerated. It must be frustrating not to have someone to fight or fuck within grabbing range.”

“It is. Would you do me the honors, then?”

“No. Are you sure you could even handle it in that form?”

Zadkiel had to literally look down at himself before realizing he was still in his natural, small form. He scowled balefully, feeling sick to his stomach. “Damn you both… give me my body back!”

“I certainly don’t have the power. You should ask the goddess politely, by the way.” Azure suddenly cocked her head. “Is it so bad, Demon King? You’re rather adorable, after all.”

He bared his teeth at her briefly in a snarl, then just glowered.

It didn’t help. Azure grinned in pleasure at his expression. “Awww! I could pat your head, you cute little war god! May I pat your head?”

“No!” Zadkiel exclaimed. But then he blinked and sighed. “Yes.” He was not capable of turning down a point of connection with such a babe.

“You won’t bite my hand?”

“No promises.”

Laughing, Azure walked over and reached her hand both between the bars and through a sort of containment field. A hand with jingling bracelets touched the top of his head and rubbed over his hair. He closed his eyes and breathed in her intoxicating scents. Perfume and feminine lotion, bath soap, something unique underneath it all…

Hnnng… I love her… what a queen… let me have her…

Finally, Azure withdrew her hand and chuckled. “See, it’s not so bad outside of our brutal lands, hmm? That natural blue skin. The aura and promise of a warlock. What land were you from?”

He opened his eyes and looked up at her. She was tall. It was… odd to be looking up again when standing at full height.

Prying for information? Softening me up? Likely. He wasn’t too worried, however. Showing a bit of weakness — vulnerability — had its uses. Old tricks. And besides, he was dealing with women of soft hearts. It was the way to go.

I’m still getting out of this accursed skin the moment they give me the option. Only sex will barter it out again! For that, it is whatever women of this caliber want.

“Kalfaust,” Zadkiel answered simply.

Azure’s expression changed from amused to sober. “Kalfaust. But they kill those of the spellblood there.”

“They did before I crushed the old ways under my boot, yes. They did in my youth. My mother did not do as prescribed. I was hidden — painted — and raised. Eventually, I was found out, but by then what made it obvious was also my self-defense. Unfortunately, I could not adequately defend my mother back then.”

Azure’s face held genuine sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Zadkiel studied her. Guilt in her eyes? Why? She’s an interesting one. “Her sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Tragedy is a catalyst for change. Miracles, even. My life was a sequence of them.”

“Was?”

“Is — if you and your paramour will let me back to it. Every minute costs, you know.”

Another voice suddenly rang out — an ominous, feminine one from everywhere at once. “Your rescue cost, too, Zadkiel. How will you repay me? Repay my realm?”

From a coalescence of many ribbons of resplendent light, a goddess appeared in a flash next to Azure — had probably been there from the beginning, unseen and unheard. She was entirely covered in plate armor from head to toe, glittering with light as if coated in pixie dust. Only the glow of her eyes was uncovered from within a visor gap — green as ever.

And a lie, I bet, just like Glae. Will she ever show me her real self? Zadkiel eyed her up and down, wondering if the heroic, yet feminine and busty form was real, at least. Ooh, I bet she has abs…

The armored goddess pointed a warning finger. “And so help me, if you give a lascivious answer I will time you out another entire day.”

Smiling, Zadkiel held his hands up in surrender. “You know me so well, Puck. Or should I call you something else, Goddess of Fate?”

The goddess didn’t answer, instead crossing her arms and waiting.

Zadkiel shrugged. “I will gladly recompense you in some fashion. Multiple fashions. I’m under your power entirely… I know that. But time ticks for both of us. We should resolve this as quickly as possible and get on with our lives, hmm? You can’t keep me here forever.”

The goddess uncrossed her arms and strolled right up to the bars, looming over him with the full power and charisma of her divine aura as it enveloped him. “That’s where you’re wrong, Zadkiel. Fate has you here. Fate can keep you here forever.”