Chapter 65

*Gasp!* 

Opening her eyes, Elise woke up feeling something that was both familiar and yet distant at the same time, it had descended somewhere in this region. 

After that, she quickly took a look at her surroundings and let her acute perception of mana scan what she just noticed. 

However, five minutes later and still with no results, Elise began to frown in thought as she tried to stand up although it was in a groggy manner. Next, she conjured a ball of water that was floating in the air and splashed some drops on her face to keep her awake and to drive away the sleepiness inside her. 

'Am I hallucinating?' 

Contemplated Elise while she put on her mage robe that was made of Arachne silks, a commodity that was very durable and adaptable to any temperatures. Only those privileged people who were able to craft or order such expensive items in her world could obtain it, hence she was not just a nobody back then. 

Until one day, she had been reduced to a state where she signed a contract with the System and let her soul forever be damned in endless battlefields in foreign worlds. 

'The System…' 

The being known as the System wasn't a sentient being or anything of such. However, it had the authority to receive the divine energy of a God by becoming one of the champions. 

"Oh, Goddess.." Elise murmured while she clasped both of her arms in prayer to a goddess which definitely had abandoned her in this moment. It was not strange for a follower of a certain goddess to have their blessings taken away after they had chosen another God, since it was no different than becoming a traitor. 

"Goddess Vita…" 

She prayed, even though she knew it was of no use, like speaking to a wall. Her call was unanswered, her soul condemned, and her existence was owned by a God that was supposed to be the enemy of her faith. 

"But I had no choice…" 

Elise spoke, as tears started flowing down from her eyes. However, it wasn't the end. No, there still is a way. 

'I will find it..' 

She still remembers back then when she had met a certain orc who had bonded his soul to the System. There were signs of the faith of her goddess in this world. The faraway world where the two dominant races waged war amongst each other. 

'I will find it, the Shrine of Trials. Blessed by the Goddess herself.' 

Showing a determined gaze in her eyes, Elise prayed again, with her hope and desire still burning as strongly ever. 

**** 

"The Champion?" 

Asking back towards the voice in his head, Zuyuan continued his inquiries, "Are they like someone who had been chosen by the Gods themselves to wield their banner or something?" 

~"Hmm… You could say it's like that."~ Answered the woman's voice after thinking for a second. 

"Wait, is that wrong? Aren't they like those heroes in games?"  

Staying silent for a moment, the voice spoke, ~"Is this reality a game to you?"~

Making a confused expression, Zuyuan replied immediately, "Of course not." 

~"Then it's not a game."~ Said the voice with a tone as if it was so obvious. 

"No, that's not what I meant…" Sighing, Zuyuan then asked, "Well, you talked about a way for me to get XB11 back. How?" 

This time, the shrine behind Zuyuan began to shine brightly right after Zuyuan's speech ended. Then, the same humanoid being with a body made of only green light had come out of the shrine's gates. 

Walking calmly atop of the lake, the being showed her hand which was holding a ball of bluish light which had the size of a basketball. Offering the ball to Zuyuan, the being spoke with the exact same voice of a woman who has conversation with Zuyuan all this time. 

~"That would be easy. You are a champion. And it is a champion's duty to choose the apostles under them."~

"Apostle…" Listening to the same word that Zuyuan had seen on his title screen before, Zuyuan asked in curiosity, "Then.. doesn't that mean the missionaries are-"

~"Pffft."~ 

Letting out a laugh so suddenly, the being answered immediately with a giggle In her voice. 

~"Hahaha, nope, no, very wrong. Although it wasn't completely off, but your.. Well, ex kind, were nothing more than cannon fodders. The 'Title' which you had mentioned was the very slight power of the divinity to make anyone with it easily surveyed even in very distant places."~

Putting her finger on her chin in a thinking gesture, the being then continued, "Though, technically, the Missionaries were created as an offshoot of the real Apostles. However, even though they were right under the Apostles, their status and divine power depends on how much they had gathered on the battlefields." 

Seeing Zuyuan's surprised expression, the being then chuckled once more as she said, "Well, aren't you something? Knowing so much of the universe's secrets when you had just arrived on this kind of side not too long ago." 

"You.. What do you know about me?" Responded Zuyuan while he became vigilant from the voice's words. No matter how he looked about it, she said it like she knew him more although they had just met recently. 

~"Mmm.. I'll tell you when you have enough cash for it."~ 

"C-Cash?" Stuttered Zuyuan while he widened his eyes in shock. Someone like her need money? 

~"Hehe, I'll explain it to you in another time."~ 

After that, the being stretched out her hand to Zuyuan and asked. 

~"Well, do you still want this child or..?"~