Chapter 4 4: Zell Delacroix | Blessed By Fate!
"Ahem!"
A woman spoke inside the room. Zell sat on his chair, leaning back and balanced on its edge. Her voice caused him to lose his balance, slamming his head on the solid white floor. He rolled on the ground in pain, holding the back of his head.
"Ah! I'm dying. I already died, but now I am dead again."
Zell spread out his arms, breathing deeply. He searched for the source of the pretty voice.
"…" 𝐟𝘳𝑒𝗲𝘸e𝒃𝘯𝒐𝐯e𝚕.c𝒐𝒎
"Excuse me, are you lord Zell Delacroix? My name is Veronica, your support angel, here to support your second life. Could you please put your clothes on? I don't wish to look at your male sexual organs before breakfast."
Moments later, Zell jumped up wearing his clothes. This woman came out of nowhere! She entered his paradise like a sneak thief. He felt embarrassed. He believed that once men entered their rooms, they became a safe zone to enjoy lewd things.
—|Zell: 'Damn, who is this woman? Coming out of nowhere and watching me naked! I should charge her a fee.'
His heart calmed down, speaking to himself. Veronica might be someone who helped him revive. He couldn't be sure and once again sat in his seat.
"Hello, it's me, Zell. Could you give me any information? Suddenly revived here, it leaves me quite lost. Do I have some glorious task? Or am I free to enjoy my second life?"
He felt she either ignored him or wished to check correctly. Her professionalism made him quite happy.
Five minutes passed. The woman finally responded.
"Ahem, apologies for my delay. The goddess had a task for you. She even left a message."
He noticed Veronica spoke stiffly. Zell looked up like some existence manifested above him. All he saw was a faint feminine figure coated in bright light. The eight wings on her back remind him of the game's lore.
"It's been a long time, Zell. I am glad to see you are doing fine." — Her voice was ethereal, filled with beauty no mortal creature could possess. His ears felt divine bliss in his human body, enduring a euphoric tide of pleasure.
—|Zell: 'Don't stutter! Be cool!'
"A-aah, I d-don't recall meeting your holiness. Please forgive me if I have forgotten!"
—|Zell: 'One job man! God damn it!'
"Fufu! Sorry, I forgot that before the awakening. The event your people called the fusion, people, cannot withstand my pressure. Here, let me change for you!"
A few moments later, her brilliant light flashed and transformed into a beautiful, frilly white robe filled with golden butterflies. This was likely because she sealed her power to reveal herself. Zell couldn't be sure, though.
Her left eye was light blue, glistening like a pretty gemstone, while her right eye was golden and filled with a powerful shine that seemed to penetrate his very soul. Despite all the gold bangles and anklets adorned with blue gems, Zell loved how pretty her fluffy wings were.
—|Zell: 'She's so beautiful! Rika may be the only woman equal to her.'
Suddenly, her arms spread out, and the radiance faded, long glossy blue hair with two drill-like bangs floated around her body.
She descended towards the ground, and they stood facing each other. He noticed her nails were also azure blue, like the gems which filled her dress and star necklace between her huge breasts.
Zell felt intoxicated. This wasn't his feelings, but the woman's charm was still far beyond a mortal's limit. Her pink lips smacked together before she frowned and gave a regretful look.
"It seems my time here is too limited. I have many questions for you. Please forgive me, Zell; you did so much for this world and me. Yet my mere presence will drive you crazy with lust, madness and fear." — Once again, her voice seemed to resonate within his mind.
However, this time he bit his lips till they bled. Thick, sticky blood with a sweet scent dripped down his chin and dropped onto the pure white floor.
His scarlet blood forever stained the room with his proof of existence. She gasped. He forced himself to stare into her eyes, despite the stabbing pain that permeated them.
—|???: 'How long has it been since someone stared into my eyes? Without losing their soul and life?'
"Astra, my name. Please call me Astra. Zell, I just wanted to thank you for saving my sister and this world's future."
"My task for you is simple."
Zell felt his mind crack. He refused to become weak-willed or submissive! This woman was beautiful, but he would surpass her.
He swore never to allow another person to force him to feel this way. She mentioned a task as his body shuddered. Blood now seeped from his skin that cracked.
—|Astra: 'Such powerful will you want to face me no matter the cost? Thank you, Zell, for your stubborn will and that fragile but hopeful desire. How far can you go? Allow me to watch your life until my fated end! I alone will watch you grow and reach my heights! This goddess blesses you, in the name of Astra, Goddess of Fate!'
Suddenly, all his wounds were restored when he looked up. The sensation of charm and madness faded, now replaced with a sense of rivalry and desire to surpass her. Zell could not see, but a small golden ring with the words "Astra ar Teleh manat Sadrial, Zell Petras!" written on it replaced his limbal ring.
The loose translation was: "Zell, Blessed by the Goddess of Fate, Astra."
He could feel this was thanks to her benevolence and gave her a respectful bow. He didn't know that he was the only person to receive her blessing, despite her endless time as the Goddess of Fate.
"Zell, you don't need to treat me as a goddess. I am your goal to surpass, right? Would you like to make me your wife? Fufu! The day you can defeat me and save my sister once again. I will give you my everything. How is that?"
It dawned on Zell. This woman could read his mind, and suddenly, a sense of embarrassment filled his body. He wouldn't blush like a child, instead shaking his head at his loss.
"Ah, I accept. You cannot go back on that promise. I will surpass you and save your cute sister again. I assume it was that little girl, right? She survived. That's all that matters."
Astra stopped speaking for a moment; her eyes were a little stunned. For all her life, she met countless humans, some called kings, warriors, heroes, and emperors. Yet inside their hearts were dirty and insidious thoughts.
This boy was honest, admitted his faults and indeed was happy for a girl that doesn't even exist in this world yet. He knows in his heart that the world is gone. Still, Astra took these feelings and stored them close to her heart.
—|Astra: 'This boy is dangerous. My little sister may get charmed by him. Well, let's see how he performs. Fufu! His thoughts are on my breasts. Should I shake them to tease him? Oh! He noticed my eyes… Hahaha! He caught me, oh no!'
Zell shook his head. Dealing with women was hard. When they could read your mind, it was even worse. He waved his hand in surrender at the pretty goddess, that was far more humane than the humans he met during the end.
"Goddess Astra, please tell me. What is the task you wish for me to complete?"
Astra placed a finger on her lips and pondered. Her hips swayed to catch his attention, and her lips curved into a catlike smile. Zell covered his face with his palm and kept his hands closed. Still, those perfect curves appeared in his mind.
Then her words sounded. Words that would decide his future fate.
"I wish for you to live your life with the utmost happiness. My only desire is for you to smile in these last few moments. Please forgive me. I cannot bring you back to a safe world without war. That power is beyond me, beyond any of the gods."
Not trying to tease him, Astra placed her hands underneath her towering breasts and leaned forward with a faint bow. He wouldn't tell her to stop like a hypocrite. Instead, Zell felt gratitude towards her. That girl could have escaped alone, yet she still thanked him sincerely.
"Is that all? If so, I promise to do my best to live my second chance with no regrets!"
Zell gave a sneaky grin and ruffled the back of his hair, unsure how to continue. Astra chuckled again, a hearty laugh that caused her body to shake.
"Hahaha!"
"Delightful, not a single lie. Then please, accept my two last gifts. Your beloved Rika will meet you soon after you are reborn. Second, I have borrowed the power of various gods and goddesses to create a unique system for you, who fought with his cute beasts against the fierce demon hordes."
"Infera, Goddess of 'Beasts and great harvest,' wished to thank you. All your efforts to protect even the most powerless of your pets. We saw everything you did! Oh, kind and benevolent Beastmaster!"
Her words gave him a sense of great pride. He couldn't say the dark thoughts, horrible memories, were gone.
"I cannot promise to be a nice man. My actions may seem evil, villainous or wrong to you. I need to put my happiness first."
"Zell, why would I ask you to sacrifice more? Have you not already sacrificed your life for the world? Then, please do what you'd like. Good or evil doesn't matter to me. Please live as you desire, I Astrea. Goddess of Fate will support you, even if the entire world turns against you!"
"Ah!?"
Astrea exclaimed as her body broke into small pieces of white light and floated above. Her eyes filled with disappointment. She got the last laugh and blew him a kiss.
"I'll await your efforts to reach me, my little erotic champion!"
—|Zell: 'Ah, don't worry. I will do my best. My future woman!'