“Silent Vigil: Alzeria’s Petrified Fate” [CHAPTER -05]

"Ah, how intriguing,"

she mused, tilting her head ever so slightly, as if she were reevaluating me through a new lens.

"But tell me, are you truly man enough to command me as your servant? I assure you, I do not take orders from someone so woefully beneath me."

As she stepped closer, an undeniable heat emanated from her body, enveloping me like an inescapable tide. The gentle brush of her curves against my chest left no space for even the faintest whisper of air between us. It was an intoxicating proximity, charged with an exhilarating danger. She reached up, her fingers gliding across my chin, her gaze piercing and intense. In that moment, I felt myself freeze her eyes, the darkest I had ever encountered, seemed to contain entire worlds of shadow. Within their depths, I sensed my own strength waning, like a flickering candle struggling against a fierce wind, the echoes of her unspoken laughter reverberating in my mind.

"I have a proposition for you,"

she purred, her voice a silken thread weaving through the charged air.

"There exists a rule that forbids refusal of a challenge; the challenger may ask for anything and wage war upon you. If you are truly man enough to claim me as your master, then come and defeat me with all your power. I shall await you in my kingdom. Are you man enough to accept my challenge?"

She was undeniably clever, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the audacity of her words. My pride had been called into question, and now I found myself with little choice. Well played, goddess of the night. I will conquer you. A smirk crept onto my face as I replied, "You're quite the strategist. I accept your challenge. But what of her?" I gestured vaguely, my thoughts drifting to the fate of the one I had left behind. "She cannot remain in the divine realm, nor can she enter the kingdom?"

"Oh, she will become a statue in the kingdom,"

"She will watch everything unfold from her stone perch. If you wish to petrify her, then you must summon all four dragons and defeat her in battle. As for your powers, you will receive them upon your arrival in my realm. So tell me, are you ready to put everything on the line for this new adventure?"

"Not much of a choice, is it?" I sighed, though a thrill coursed through me. "Well, I'm ready. Let's do this."

"Hmmm, by the way, what is your name?" 

"In my old world, I was called Aqua, but now I am your ruler—a new beginning. So you may call me Red, Alzeria."

"I trust you, Red," 

"I trust myself too"

As I smiled, a grand gate materialized in the room, its presence promising to lead me to my kingdom. "Alright, Red. This is your fate now. Let's seize it," I murmured to myself, stepping toward the gate. As I entered, darkness engulfed me, and a wave of dizziness washed over me, causing me to collapse once more.

**After some time...**

With each collapse, a dull ache throbbed in my head. Slowly, I began to regain my senses. I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the ground of a vast dome, the cool stone beneath me grounding my thoughts. In front of me stood a magnificent statue, its presence commanding. I rose to my feet, taking in the sight of an elaborate array of chairs arranged before the statue. A strange sensation coursed through me, a new surge of energy flowing in my veins. This must be the power bestowed upon me by the goddesses.

As I gazed closely at the statue, it struck me with an uncanny familiarity—it resembled Alzeria, the fierce red goddess. "Hello, Alzeria," I called out, a laugh escaping my lips. "How does it feel to be trapped in stone? Don't thank me for this; I hope you're watching."

The space around me felt sacred, a place of worship, yet an unsettling silence hung in the air. I glanced out a window, only to find it shrouded in pitch blackness. Perhaps it was nighttime here. Raven had shown me a globe that looked like Earth, but she had mentioned that this realm was millions of times larger, divided into countless kingdoms. She had promised that I would gain my powers upon arriving here, but how could I harness them?

After what felt like hours of fruitless searching for a way to tap into my newfound abilities, frustration began to settle in. I realized I was getting nowhere. With a sigh, I abandoned my plans and turned my focus to exploring the dome, hoping to uncover something—anything—that would shed light on the magic of this kingdom.

After what felt like an eternity of searching, I stumbled upon a dusty old box tucked away in the corner of a forgotten room. Curiosity piqued, I opened it to find a book nestled inside. To my astonishment, I realized I could understand the language in which it was written, even though I had no prior knowledge of it. The title on the cover read, "Manual for a Hero." It was a surprisingly thin volume, but as I flipped through its pages, I felt a strange connection to the words.

One page caught my eye, detailing something about skills and status. It explained that every person born or summoned to this world is granted skills, categorized into three distinct types: divine, human, and dreadful. The skills bestowed upon one at birth are referred to as primary skills, and intriguingly, these could evolve over time. Additionally, one could learn new skills through practice, grimoires, or rituals. 

Eager to discover my own abilities, I remembered the book's instruction to declare my status. With a deep breath, I spoke the word: "Status."

The words materialized before me like a shimmering hologram:

**NAME:** RED 

**SPECIES:** HYBRID 

**LEVEL:** 09 

**SKILLS:** NO SKILL CHOSEN YET 

**ADDITIONAL SKILL:** MARTIAL ART [LEVEL 05] 

I blinked in disbelief. "What kind of nonsense is this?" I muttered to myself. No skills? How could that be? I distinctly recalled someone mentioning that I would possess skills upon my arrival in this realm. But how was I supposed to choose? There were no options presented to me, and the only guidance the book provided was a cryptic suggestion to level up by venturing into the dungeon. 

"Hybrid," I mused, pondering the implications of my species. Apparently, I wasn't considered fully human in this world. Interesting, but it didn't change the fact that I felt woefully unprepared.

As I gazed out of the small window, I noticed the first hints of dawn breaking on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the landscape. I knew I had to leave this place before anyone discovered me. With my current abilities, I felt vulnerable, and the last thing I wanted was to attract unnecessary attention or get caught up in a situation I couldn't handle. 

I made my way out of the place of worship, stepping carefully into the fresh morning air. My instincts guided me northward, where I recalled seeing a signpost earlier. It indicated that east led to the city, north to the dungeon, and west to the forest. The south, however, bore ominous markings warning of danger—a path I had no intention of exploring. 

"Why would I invite unnecessary trouble for myself?" I chuckled softly to myself, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. With a newfound sense of determination, I set off toward the north, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in this strange new world.