I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

A clear sky streched endlessly above me, the sun hanging high.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, gazing up.

There are trees, green trees, reaching the top.

The sun rays greeting me, passing through the leaves, hitting my eyes.

Slowly I stood up.

I wondered, "What is this place?"

This is unbelievable.

The last thing I remember is a large Essence explosion followed by my absorption of it, and now I was here.

I glanced around once more, my fingers ran through the moist soil.

An eerie silence loomed over me, except the melodious chirping of birds.

A dream?

No

This wasn't a dream.

At least, it didn't feel like one.

"Not again..." I muttered under my breath.

The sensation was too real.

Pushing myself up, I dusted off my clothes and took a step forward.

Step. Step.

As I venture deeper in to forest, the dense bushes seemed to close in around me.

The whole area loomed with various animals— butterflies, squirrels, rabbits, and birds.

"Strange..." I pondered.

I had been certain I had escaped that Dream Authority's grasp, yet everything around me carried the same otherworldly essence. If this wasn't a dream, then... where exactly was I?

I kept on walking, thinking along the line.

Constructing a valid theory wasn't that hard, if I just pieced a few things together, then...

Everything came clear to me.

And with that, I started linking a few theories— from the teleportation, to the underground city, and to the authority holders.

Despite the situation I was currently in, I was pretty calm.

Being casted in a Demon Continent— must be terrifying, yet it doesn't affect me much.

However, the thought of putting the people I cared about in a dangerous situation terrifies me.

My thoughts drifted to my parents.

'They must be really worried...'

Knowing my mother, she must be crying right now. Losing her son once again... I won't let that happen again.

A heavy weight settled on my chest, just thinking about them made my heart ache.

Sigh...

I need to hurry and get out of this place.

Step. Step.

Rustle! Rustle!

"Now, how do I get out of thi—"

A faint melody drifted through the air, wavering past the rustling leaves.

"~Laaaa... Laa... Laaaa...Laaaaa..."

I stumbled on my step.

'This melody...?' I thought deeper.

It's familiar.

But something is different, it's way too clear and melodious now.

I kept on waking.

I stopped in front of a large tree, behind it was a majestic crashing waterfall.

The water falling over its edge generated a loud splashing sound.

The melody echoed.

It was soft yet highly clear, even slipping past the loud splashing sound, as if it existed outside the rules of nature itself.

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It was...

Magical—there was no other way to describe it.

Drawn by its call, I walked even further.

My steps were slow and steady, my breathing was calm.

The towering tree before me loomed larger with each step, its massive roots digging deep into the moist soil.

"~Hmm.. hmm. Laaaa... Laaaaa. Laaaa."

Yet, despite the overwhelming noise of the falling water, the melody remained clear.

It was almost hypnotic.

As I neared the tree, my gaze dropped to the ground.

Resting neatly atop a large bay leaf was a set of neatly folded clothes.

I frowned.

'Clothes...?'

That means someone's here.

The melody grew even sweeter.

My gaze lifted, finally falling on the figure beneath the waterfall.

There I saw her.

She stood there, her bare back facing me, glistening under the sunlight.

The sun reflected off her pale white hair, scattering into a soft rainbow around her.

The water trailed down her delicate frame, her hands moving gracefully across her shoulders, and her hips, chasing away the droplets that clung to her pure milk white skin.

"~Hmm.. Hmm. Laaa. Laaaaa.... Hmmm.."

Her voice continued.

It felt divine to my ears.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

In 'her' presence—

I was speechless.

I felt powerless.

It's clear to me.

She was beyond me—someone of a higher plane, someone I wouldn't dare gaze upon.

Hurriedly, I turned away, averting my eyes to the ground.

But just as I did, the melody halted.

And then, she called—

"You're finally here. I was waiting for so long."

My body froze.

Not a single muscle moved.

Splash. Splash. Splash.

Each gentle splash of water sounded sharper as 'she' walk toward me.

Not hold myself any longer, I opened my eyes—the ripples cast, the water parting ways as 'she' rose from it.

Step by step, 'she' fully emerged.

Her bare body laid visible.

Her shoulders.

Her hands.

Her waist.

Her legs.

Her fingers.

Her ocean-blue eyes.

'She' was...

A goddess.

My mind struggled to comprehend what I was seeing.

'Who... is she?'

The answer came quickly, before I could even think.

An instinctive understanding.

It wasn't any kind of knowledge that passed down on me, nor a realization I just stumbled upon.

It was something deeper.

Something valuable.

Something I had always known but... forgotten.

I knew without being told.

I didn't need anybody's confirmation. Not even 'hers'.

The moment I laid my eyes on 'her', it was as if something deep within me recognized her existence.

Maybe because... I was 'hers'.

I couldn't look away.

My breath caught in my throat, my face burned, my mind blanked.

My body moved on its own, without thinking, I dropped to my knees.

Lowering my head, with a soft voice, I greeted 'her'.

"I, Zane Skylark, greet thee—the Almighty, the God among gods, the Creator of this world, the Ruler of the Universe, the One who holds Authority over Authorities..."

My voice was steady, filled with something I couldn't point.

"I, your humble Apostle the holder of Authority Paradox, greet thee... Goddess Ylthea."

"~Hee..hee.."

Laughter, soft, light, and pure, like million bells, rang through the air.

Still bowing, slowly, I lifted my gaze.

'She' was now clothed in a full flowing white robe, her pale white hair cascading freely down her back. 'Her' ocean-blue eyes shimmered with warmth, 'her' red lips curved into a smile so radiant that it melted every doubt, every worry I once had.

For the first time in what felt like eternity, I felt... whole.

Reborn.

Then, 'her' voice echoed.

"Please stand, my dear child."

End of Chapter.

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[A/N]: I will do a mass release soon, before going premium. The Chapters will be locked from ch 42 onwards. And for more character arts join my discord server, and say hello to me.