Chapter 23: Meeting Amaterasu Again?

Chapter 23: Meeting Amaterasu Again?

(A/N: Some people misunderstood Natsu as evil in the previous chapter. I don't intend to make Natsu evil. He's a neutral and selfish person. He won't harm innocent people willingly. Sorry for the misunderstanding, I'm a beginner writer so it may be my inability to explain appropriately. I hope this clarifies your misunderstanding. Sayonara!)

After leaving the village, Natsu went to a nearby town and booked a room for the night in an inn. He laid down on the bed and quickly fell asleep due to fatigue.

But his consciousness suddenly got pulled by a mysterious force. He appeared in front of a breathtakingly beautiful middle-aged woman with pitch-black eyes and black hair. She had porcelain white skin colour with a curvaceous body and rosy lips. A warm smile appeared on her face when Natsu appeared in front of her.

Natsu was wary due to this unexpected situation and asked with a suspicious tone. "Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"

The lady, in return, smiled and answered his question in a warm tone. "I'm the goddess of Sun, Amaterasu. I've brought you here to make you my champion."

"Why do you want me to be your champion? There must be a lot of options for you to choose from." Said Natsu with narrowed eyes. He felt somewhat familiar with the lady in front of her but can't remember ever meeting her, which confused him.

"Well… you see for a god/goddess to choose someone as their champion, that person needs to comprehend some part of the divinity of the said god/goddess. Since you have named your flames with my name, you unintentionally comprehended the small part of my divinity. That's why your black flames are so lethal compared to your other attacks." Answered Amaterasu with a graceful smile. Natsu was captivated by her smile but regained his composure shortly after.

He was shocked hearing this. He never thought naming his dark flame into her name would make him unintentionally comprehend her divinity. He always wondered why his dark flame was so overpowered. Finally, he got the answer to it.

"Okay, I understand that I'm qualified to be your champion, but why did you specifically choose me? There must be some other people who met the requirement before me." Natsu asked with pursed lips. He wants to gain more information from her.

"Yes, there were many people qualified to be my champion, but they were all um… you know… arrogant and evil. I am one of the powerful goddesses in the multiverse, so few people can qualify to comprehend my power. There used to be some who comprehended my divinity, but sadly all of them turned out to be an assh*le or outright evil. You're the only one who's relatively normal. And there is also a hidden reason which I can't tell you." Replied Amaterasu with a heavy sigh remembering certain crimson-eyed clan.

Natsu listened to her seriously and could only wryly smile after hearing this. He didn't know what reason could have made her choose him but choose not to question her. There was a more important question to be asked.

"So, what are the benefits of being your champion. And what do I need to do after being your champion? There is no free lunch in this world, after all." Said Natsu frowning. He doesn't want to regret his current choice in the future.

"You don't need to be so cautious. You will get a lot of benefit from being my champion. First of all, it will help you improve your flame-related skills excessively. You will also obtain a small part of my divinity which will make you a demi-god yourself, increasing your physical and magical potential tremendously. And at last but not least, your soul will be branded by my divine mark, which will protect your soul from any soul attacks. Nobody will be able to harm your soul unless that person is stronger than me." Answered Amaterasu holding her head high. Natsu was surprised by listening to this and internally debated whether to accept it or not.

Amaterasu continued her explanation without giving him any chance to reply.

"And no, I don't need anything in return. Just promise me not to misuse your powers to harm innocents, that's all I require. You're too weak to be of any use to me anyway." Said Amaterasu with a smirk in the end.

Natsu was surprised by hearing such a generous offer. He nodded and promised never to use his power to harm innocents.

"That's good. Now kneel in front of me, and I'll start the process to turn you into my champion." Said Amaterasu happily. She was glad to have her champion. She was tired of fellow goddesses flaunting their champion's achievements proudly. Now, she can also boast her own champion's performances in front of them.

Natsu approached her and kneeled in front of her. Amaterasu put her hands on top of his head.

"I, The Goddess of Sun, Amaterasu, herby announce you Natsu Dragneel as my champion. May you rise above all and make my name proud all over the multiverse," announced Amaterasu with a powerful voice. Then, golden flames transferred from her palm toward Natsu. Natsu was bathed in the golden glow. The fire started burning his body.

He didn't feel any pain even when his body was burning. He was feeling comfortable feeling all over his body like he was finally free from the constraint of his mortal body.

After a minute, the flames gradually diminished and integrated inside his body. He felt even more powerful than before. Even though his magic capacity didn't increase by much, his physical capacity increased tremendously. His strength, endurance, and reflexes improved significantly.

He can imagine the vast untapped potential inside his body. He can't wait to train and bring out those potentials making him a lot stronger than before.

"There, it is done. Now, you're my champion. I've detected some sealed demonic power inside you in the process. You better unseal it and integrate it; otherwise, you will never be stronger. I've done what I had to do. If you want something to ask me, then do it now, this is your only chance." Said Amaterasu taking her hands off Natsu's head.

"Why do I feel familiar with you? Have we ever met before?" asked Natsu curiously. He can't shake the familiar feeling he's getting from her.

"Maybe, maybe not. That's for you to remember. Now it's time for you to return to your body." Said Amaterasu giggling. Then a portal appeared beneath his feet and sucked him inside it, denying any chance for him to reply.

'Hehe. He's so dumb. It's fun messing with him.' Thought Amaterasu inwardly chuckling.

'But it's strange for him to meet me again so soon. I don't believe it is a coincidence. What are you planning to do with him, sister Fate? I hope you don't go overboard with your antics.' Thought Amaterasu in worry, then disappearing from the place.