Chapter 107: Blessing of ISHTARA.

As Seraphina’s eyes opened, the world that greeted her was… completely and utterly different.

Reality itself felt lighter as if colors were sharper, sounds were clearer and every breath was filled with a sense of freedom.

Her entire being seemed to unravel and reform all at the same time as if the universe had finally decided to free her from some binding.

She felt… liberated and unchained as if she could do absolutely anything if she simply willed it.

She didn’t know what to call the sensation but whatever it was… it was absolutely intoxicating and euphoric.

[Flaw: Duality of Soul Is Activated]

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◈ Flaw: Duality of Soul

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◈ Description: You are the reflection that has two distinct fragments in one vessel, each whispering in a different tone. Your essence is not divided but your personality is.

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◈ Effects:

✦ Two distinct fragments of the soul exist within you, one Lumin and one Umbra, both being the part of your own being.

✦ Emotional or spiritual imbalance can cause one fragment to temporarily take dominance, altering demeanor, voice, appearance or even abilities.

✦ Lumen’s Curse: In Your Lumen form, you blame yourself for every loss and you are terrified of being useless.

✦ Umbra’s Rage: In your Umbra form, you are impulsive, destructive and emotionally reckless.

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[Second Personality: Umbra Activated.]

Seraphina blinked.

What is happening?

The thought barely had time to form before the change began.

Her breathing became rough.

Her skin prickled, shivering with energy that wasn’t hers or maybe it always had been.

Her body shifted.

The faint platinum of her hair darkened until the edges became like ink.

Her once soft glow eyes glowed with an otherworldly brilliance that didn’t belong to the Seraphina from before.

A small smile appeared on her lips before it grew and grew.

“Hehehehehehe…”

A giggle echoed out from her as she stared at the glowing system window.

Then another laugh followed.

Freedom had never felt so good.

She saw the boy, Rael, locked in battle with the shadowy abomination and unlike before, she didn’t feel a shred of fear within her. If anything… she felt thrilled.

Excitement coursed through her veins with every heartbeat thumping with strength that didn’t belong to the timid girl she once was.

Knowledge of new skills and her new Nexus, flooded her mind but she didn’t care… Because for the first time in forever… she wasn’t a burden.

Just then, she saw the abomination lunging forward with its spear aiming straight for Rael’s heart.

Seraphina didn’t think as her body moved. Her feet dug into the earth, dust exploding beneath her as she kicked off. Gravity bent as the world blurred and for a moment, it felt like she was flying.

With a streak of motion and a burst of raw speed, she lunged straight for the kill.

Then came the strike.

A burst of raw speed without any fancy stance or technique, just pure and unfiltered power.

Her leg shot upward toward the abomination’s head, fast enough to tear the air itself.

The creature barely managed to react with its arm rising up in a desperate guard but the impact still hit like a meteor.

Crack.

The force sent the abomination hurling backward as it smashed into the far wall with a thunderous crash.

Stone shattered and dust surged outward in a wave as the entire cave trembled under the impact.

For a moment, there was only silence as Seraphina stood amid the storm she had created.

Then her gaze locked onto the boy, the one who had once looked at her like she was nothing but a burden.

Her grin stretched wider, mirroring the smirk tugging at the boy’s own lips.

It was as if two predators recognized something familiar in each other.

“Hehe…” she giggled, resting a hand on her hip. “Pretty boy, stay back and let this big sis handle tough things.”

“… or you will get hurt.”

The cave fell silent except the faint sound of the abomination struggling to get up.

—

[Rael’s POV]

What the fuck?

No, seriously, what the actual fuck?

It hadn’t even been that long since I had seen the Goddess of Death herself.

Not that long since I stood in the damn abode of the Heavenly Principles.

Not that long since I—oh yeah—killed a Dragon King.

You would think that would be enough divine nonsense for at least some time, right?

I sure thought so but apparently, the universe took that as a challenge.

Because here I was, watching her. The same pathetic mess who, not too long ago, had tried to seduce me for her own survival. Which, by the way, was completely valid and you know, probably unconscious.

I mean, I had seen it firsthand. She didn’t mean to seduce anyone, she just wanted to keep me close. It’s just that… in practice… It kinda looked like seduction.

Totally understandable misunderstanding.

Still, seeing her now, all power, grin and with unhinged glory, yeah… this was a little above my pay grade.

I mean, really, who in their right mind would’ve expected this?

This absolute nutcase, the same girl who proudly called herself my “big sis” not five minutes ago was being blessed by ISHTARA.

ISHTARA—The Celestial Duality.

One of the oldest, strongest and most terrifying goddesses to ever exist, the kind even other divines pretended not to see in a crowded hall just to avoid eye contact.

And that same cosmic powerhouse was now blessing Seraphina.

Seraphina, the former walking disaster. The “help me, I’m fragile” type.

What the actual fuck?

This was something straight out of syllabus. In the original novel, Seraphina wasn’t some divine prodigy.

Hell, she was an extra.

An extra even more useless than me.

At least I had a role, tragic backstory and the noble job of turning my father and grandfather into villains.

But Seraphina, yeah, she had nothing.

No hidden potential.

No plot armor.

No divine favor waiting in the wings.

Her death scene was so bland it could’ve been skipped entirely and the story wouldn’t have changed one bit.

And the worst part was that no one even cared. Except maybe Viola, bless her naïve little heart, who cried for, what, a day or two at most.

Then the world just… moved on.

That was Seraphina’s story.

Disposable and forgettable.

But now, this was anything but disposable.

ISHTARA was a fierce and strong goddess and her blessing Seraphina meant… she had a good future.

So, why didn’t she bless Seraphina in the novel?

Could it be that my glorious self somehow caught the attention of the goddess, shifting her favor? That my very existence was so magnificent it rewrote the script?

Yeah, probably.

…Or maybe not because that

damn trickster did say to not trust the novel blindly.

Still, that sudden split in Seraphina’s personality, that manic spark, had ISHTARA written all over it.

In the old myths, ISHTARA was the Goddess of Duality, the one who walked the line between mercy and madness.

She had two different forms.

Lumen and Umbral.

Her Lumen form represents her calm and tragic grace. This is the form who smiles softly even when she’s bleeding inside. The one everyone calls “saint,” but no one really knows.

While her Umbral form represents her raw emotion, rebellion and the truth. This form is everything Lumen represses like pain, fury, longing and jealousy. She’s not evil, instead she is honest.

I knew so much about her because she was supposed to be one of the key players in future divine war… but I hadn’t expected her to act soon.

From the looks of it, Seraphina was currently in her Umbral form… in short her unhinged form. The side that doesn’t forgive, doesn’t restrain… only feels.

And as for why I was so sure ISHTARA was the one who blessed Seraphina, well, that was easy.

Because I literally saw ISHTARA’s name flashing above her head in golden light. Kinda hard to miss, honestly.

It was one of the effects of the monocle I was wearing, yeah, this thing wasn’t just for fashion, mind you. It had a few handy tricks up its shiny little sleeve.

One of them was an Appraisal function and not the cheap kind that only works on low-level monsters or magical trinkets. No, this one could read divine signatures.

Let me see which god had their claws in who, blessings, apostles and the whole damn pantheon resume.

So yeah.

No need to guess.

ISHTARA’s golden stamp was right there, hovering over Seraphina’s head like some cosmic VIP badge.

The whole damn thing was surprising but right now, with an abomination that was literally getting stronger by the second while I was burning through mana, yeah, this was definitely a good thing.

At least, it would be, as long as the girl didn’t suddenly decide to kill me too.

Because the Umbral form was unrestrained. No logic or limits. Just raw emotion wrapped in divine chaos.

Exactly the kind of “ally” I needed when I was already hanging on by a thread.

My lips curled into a grin or at least, I thought they did. Hard to tell when the damn thing had been plastered on my face most of the time.

The air still crackled with leftover divine energy and dust swirling like a curtain call.

“Things are getting interesting, huh?”

I muttered it more to the universe than anyone else.

Because honestly… I could feel it.

The story was just starting to lose its mind and honestly, I could feel my blood pumping with excitement.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this messed-up world… It’s that following the script is boring as hell than breaking it.

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