I Became the Goddess of a New World

The Warrior was a very unique class.

Unlike the distinctive skills of other classes.

The Warrior’s skills were solely passive skills.

Three first awakening skills.

Parrying, Sword Defense, Indomitable Will.

Two second awakening skills.

Weapon Mastery, Tenacious Vitality.

On top of that, various enlightenment skills were also all passive skills, but.

There existed just one active skill.

Berserker.

A typical high-risk high-reward skill.

Its cooldown was exceptionally long, making it a skill used only in truly desperate situations.

After all, the most significant role of a Warrior was the protection of the party.

To put it in terms of soccer, it was like a goalkeeper coming out of the goal to attack.

“He’s really going all out.”

I couldn’t help but admire the sight of Pagu recklessly dashing and slicing through the roots of the World Tree spreading out in every direction.

I had no choice but to be in awe.

Pagu.

He had chosen the advanced warrior class during his second awakening.

Unlike the “Formal Knight” and “Professional Mercenary” that branched off with sub-classes.

The Great Warrior, inheriting the warrior lineage, could wield the only active skill, Berserker, most efficiently.

The Great Warrior’s exclusive skill, Weapon Mastery.

A skill that allowed him to handle any weapon freely without the need for practice.

When he first used the halberd, a weapon combining an axe and spear.

It could have simply been used for stabbing or slicing.

Thanks to Weapon Mastery, however, Pagu employed the halberd in a much more versatile manner.

Not just using the blade at the end of the long shaft.

He struck down the nearby roots of the World Tree with the shaft part.

Or he would slam the halberd down onto the roots moving like hooks.

No matter how much it was due to the effect of Weapon Mastery.

Pagu’s natural combat sense was astonishing even to me.

“He even recognized the halberd’s weaknesses right away.”

Halberds, by nature, were weak against close-range attacks.

If one controlled the distance well, they could compensate for this weakness.

But people can’t always produce the best results.

Naturally, having a backup plan for failure was the safer route.

Pagu’s response plan was a wrist shield.

The wrist shield absorbed less shock and had a narrower defensive range compared to standard shields.

But it allowed quick responses even while wielding a halberd.

Above all, Pagu was known to be a parry genius, as suggested by his nickname.

“But that’s it.”

I turned my gaze to the party’s rear.

Twisted by a sudden ambush, Sweet had met death without even a scream.

The presence of a Mage was crucial enough to change the tide of battle.

Of course, within the context of a game, it wasn’t that overbalanced.

But it was safe to say that the reasons Pagu could run wild while raising the Berserker were thanks to Sweet.

With Chain Lightning, he single-handedly took on half of the roots of the World Tree.

Naturally, Sweet’s retirement was bound to be fatal.

Next, Suzuka, whose sanctuary had also expired, retired as well.

In her final moments, Suzuka healed and blessed the two survivors with a glimmer of hope.

Now that the light illuminating the Twisted Elderheim had faded away.

Even Pagu, who had been fiercely resisting with red mirages scattering everywhere.

Ultimately kneeled before the overwhelming strength of the Twisted World Tree.

Now only the party leader, Master Kim, remained.

“The remaining health is at 7%.”

One might think it was manageable to clear at this health level.

But unfortunately, the Twisted World Tree had one last pattern remaining.

A final desperate pattern that would trigger when health dropped below 5%.

The chances of overcoming it alone were close to zero.

“The important thing is the unyielding spirit.”

I hoped he wouldn’t be discouraged by this failure.

And upon the next try, come back stronger than before.

I wished to see him tackle the Twisted World Tree gloriously.

Could my inner thoughts have been conveyed?

From Master Kim, an unusual aura emerged…

“Wait a moment.”

The atmosphere was ominous.

As if something was about to happen.

The death of my mischievous younger brother, who used to be so lively.

The youngest, who had left behind his last hope just before death.

The eldest brother, who had been a solid backbone for the party, met his end.

And now the party leader stood alone after sending off all his comrades.

It was clear to anyone.

This was an awakening cliché.

“Could it be… no way.”

No matter how great Master Kim was.

Even if he were a supremely talented individual enlightened in reality.

Overcoming the final desperate attack pattern that demanded extreme focus and physicality alone was impossible.

“You’re serious.”

But Master Kim’s eyes revealed his sincerity.

I could feel his determination to clear this attempt no matter what.

“It’s entertaining.”

They say heroes appear in times of chaos.

Cold-headed and warm-hearted.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Master Kim calmly unraveling the desperate attack pattern.

From a developer’s perspective, I secretly hoped Master Kim would fail.

Seeing him succeed alone was less pleasing than witnessing a group success.

I didn’t want the final chapter I had painstakingly crafted to end so soon.

Yet as a fellow user, I couldn’t help but cheer for Master Kim.

“Just hold on a bit longer.”

He was about to reach the checkpoint.

If he could endure until then, there was indeed a possibility.

The chance to be the first to clear the raid of the Twisted World Tree.

***

What happens if one dies during a raid?

“Master, you’re fighting like you’ve met the most formidable of enemies.”

In the spectator room of the Twisted World Tree raid.

The deceased could watch the raid from the perspective of those who remained alive.

“There’s no other choice. Sometimes, I even mistake this place for reality.”

“Indeed. I’ve surpassed the level of mere delusion.”

At Sweet’s words, Suzuka let out a small laugh.

“Recently, I’ve been in here longer than in reality. Thanks to Akare.”

With the exception of meals, sleep, and personal business, the Major Corporation Party spent all their time in Akare.

Wasn’t that a bit too much like addiction? It was concerning.

However, if they returned to reality after spending time in Akare.

They would lose the unique sense of omnipotence only felt in virtual reality.

As a result, many experienced a sense of deprivation and loss.

“The comfort of virtual reality is undeniable. As I’ve grown older, my body is slowly not what it used to be. Compared to that, virtual reality feels like heaven.”

Just as Pagu said, virtual reality felt like a paradise for those with physical inconveniences.

Especially for elderly people who had difficulty moving, experiencing virtual reality for the first time often led them to feel like they had regained their youth.

Consequently, virtual reality was a miraculous creation that everyone, regardless of gender or age, could be satisfied with.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“A bet? What kind of bet?”

Sweet pointed at Master Kim, who was in a tough spot on the screen.

“This time, whether Master Kim clears the raid. Or not.”

“Hmm…”

“I’ll believe he clears it!”

While Pagu was pondering, Suzuka jumped in.

“No matter how great Master Kim is, I don’t think he can clear this.”

Sweet, despite her heart wishing for Master Kim’s success.

Her rational mind deemed it almost impossible, so she decided to bet on her reason rather than her heart.

“What about you, Pagu?”

“I… I’ll bet he clears it.”

“Okay. The wager will be 20 mid-level enhancement stones?”

“No, wait a moment.”

Mid-level enhancement stones.

As the name suggests, they were necessary materials for enhancing equipment.

Mid-level enhancement stones were materials that began being used for enhancing level 60 equipment after the second awakening.

Since level 60 and above equipment was still in active use, this made mid-level enhancement stones highly valuable.

“Come on. Can a man say one thing and mean another?”

“Bro, I’m a girl, so it’s okay if I say two things, right?”

“Is that allowed?”

“Hiiing…”

Well, that’s a discussion that only applies to users in a somewhat ambiguous position.

For the Major Corporation Party, 20 mid-level enhancement stones? There wouldn’t be an issue betting that kind of wealth.

“Alright. I got it.”

“Hehehe…”

Having gotten the approval, Sweet chuckled ominously.

Seeing that, Suzuka shook her head in disbelief.

“I hope you get thoroughly schooled.”

Although Suzuka said that.

She herself sensed to some extent.

That this attempt would likely end in failure.

The current Twisted World Tree was inexplicably under the ‘Immortal’ buff.

Whether it was the effect of the Immortal buff or not, the Twisted World Tree’s health wouldn’t drop below 1%.

Sweet was also aware of this fact, thus, she shot an incredibly annoying expression at Suzuka.

“What should we do? Unfortunately, it won’t happen…”

But Sweet’s taunt couldn’t go on.

At the moment when Master Kim had barely any health left.

As the Twisted World Tree was about to strike him with a hit.

A mysterious being appeared and blocked the blow.

With the appearance reminiscent of both a spirit and an elf.

Even someone oblivious could instantly recognize who she was.

“…Celestia?”

***

Spirit Transformation.

One of the forgotten techniques of spirit tamers, becoming one with the contracted spirit.

Celestia had wandered the world for eons.

Having many opportunities to encounter diverse knowledge and experiences, Spirit Transformation was a technique she learned by chance during her long travels.

However, to use Spirit Transformation, a ‘contracted spirit’ was needed.

Thus, Celestia had made a contract with herself.

To become a complete spirit through Spirit Transformation.

Rather than being a half-baked mixture of elf and spirit.

She believed living as a spirit was more valuable.

So Celestia, by contracting with herself, sought to achieve Spirit Transformation.

“I hated my kin as much as I hated myself.”

And so she wanted to change.

But she didn’t.

Her contracted spirit was Celestia herself, and she was a hybrid of elf and spirit.

In the end, Celestia was able to unconsciously realize.

That hating oneself wouldn’t change anything.

“I don’t hate anymore.”

Nothing at all.

Having pushed aside the truth she already knew.

Denying it like a spoiled child.

But now she decided to let go of everything and accept it.

Celestia reached out her hand towards the Twisted World Tree.

“It’s too late now.”

The World Tree and the Spirit King.

The only beings capable of freely communicating with transcendent existences.

Celestia’s presence drove away the twistedness that had ensnared the World Tree.

“I’m home.”

With that statement, Celestia’s hand touched the Twisted World Tree.

At that moment, all movement of the Twisted World Tree came to a halt.

The twisting, the fairies, the Dark Elves, the fallen spirits.

“I don’t know what this is, but…”

Watching the situation calmly, Master Kim stomped the ground.

“I’ll end this in one go.”

Now that the Twisted World Tree had been incapacitated, it was the only chance.

Master Kim unleashed his final strike with all his might.

At long last, the Twisted World Tree’s health hit zero.

Paaah-!

At that moment, light erupted, flooding Master Kim’s vision with whiteness.

[ Achievement Unlocked – Defying the Eons ]

A new achievement was unlocked.

This was undeniable proof that the Twisted World Tree raid had been cleared.

But…

Master Kim’s gaze was fixated beyond the achievement window.

Light blue hair, a black robe.

A mysterious woman exuding an enchanting aura.

Though the outfit’s design differed and she lacked one of the symbols, the laurel crown.

Master Kim could instantly tell her identity.

The Hero, Aurora.

Not the real-world Aurora, but the Aurora of the Akare universe.

Master Kim’s heart began to race wildly upon encountering her.