Meeting the Cause

"Damian, can you come up here for a second?"

Huh? Lily? What's she doing in my room upstairs?

Damian groaned as he woke up from the couch in the living room.

"Yeah, give me a sec."

He climbed the stairs and pushed open his bedroom door, only to find Lily standing in front of the mirror, dressed in a green bodycon dress while applying makeup.

Damn, she looks stunning.

"Perfect timing," she said, glancing at him through the mirror. "Can you help me with the zipper on my back?"

"Oh, yeah, sure."

As Damian helped her, he asked, "Why are you dressing up so fancy?"

"...Did you forget?"

Shit. What the hell? Did I actually forget something?

"Nah, I'm just messing with you."

"...You really did, huh?" Lily sighed. "Now that I think about it, you're not even dressed properly… It's our one-year anniversary, you idiot."

Damian froze. "…Huh? Wait, hold on, what do you mea—nghh." He groaned as a sudden headache hit him.

Lily frowned. "Well, I guess it makes sense. You've been exhausted for a while. You finally got some proper sleep."

"Hm? Uh, yeah, I guess so. I think I need to sit for a bit… catch my breath."

"Sure."

After a few seconds, Lily turned to him. "So? How do I look?"

"...You make me want to tear that dress off," Damian said, standing up and admiring her.

Lily blushed. "Ehehehe, of course." Then, with a playful smile, she added, "Looks like my hero is already dressed up."

"Huh? What the—when did I get dressed?"

Lily grabbed his arm. "You're really out of it, huh? But we should be fine for a bit. C'mon, let's take a picture in the mirror."

"Hm, sure, I guess."

She took out her phone, and Damian wrapped an arm around her.

"Smile~"

Damian looked into the camera and smiled.

Click!

Flash!

"AH—what the fu—Is your phone's flash a flashbang grenade or what?"

As his vision adjusted, he turned back to the mirror—only to freeze.

What the… Where's my reflection?

It was only now, as the initial daze wore off, that he noticed something was wrong. He hadn't realized it earlier because he'd been too focused on Lily. But now… something was seriously off.

Why the hell am I not in the mirror…? And… Lily's eyes… What's wrong with her eyes?

As he turned to face her, he saw them—one glowing yellow, the other red.

'Lily' suddenly grabbed him and pinned him down.

"Oof! What the fu—" Damian struggled, but he couldn't break free. Her grip was like iron.

Then, from her mouth, fire erupted.

Blazing hot flames surged toward his face.

"AHHHHHHH FUCKKKK!! WHAT THE FUCKK!!"

His vision burned white—then faded into darkness.

Damian jolted awake with a scream.

"AHHH SHIT FUCKK!!—What the fu—"

He gasped for breath.

It was a dream.

"...Oh, fuck me. What a weird dre—huh?"

His surroundings were unfamiliar.

He wasn't in his room. He wasn't even at home.

Where the hell am I?

Damian found himself standing in a place that looked almost… divine. The sky stretched endlessly, filled with soft, swirling clouds that formed a sea beneath him. Majestic golden pillars upheld a massive circular structure above, glowing with a mysterious luminescent energy.

Before him, a grand staircase led to a throne.

Sitting on that throne was a woman with long black hair, wearing a blindfold. She was clad in flowing white and gold robes.

To her left stood a man, completely covered in golden armor with glowing red streaks. A massive axe rested behind him.

To her right, an angelic figure with dark red hair and white wings stood. But those wings were tainted—black feathers were scattered throughout them. A golden halo hovered above her head, and her crimson eyes burned into him. She held a spear in her right hand.

The woman on the throne spoke first.

"Greetings, Damian Ashford. My name is Serenys, Goddess of Time. I have summoned you here to make a deal."

Damian stood there in silence.

"…Human? Is everything alright?"

He exhaled sharply.

"…Fuck my life. Am I seriously dreaming right now?"

The red-haired angel's eyes flared.

"How impertinent! You dare speak such foul words before the Goddess!?"

A powerful energy surged from her, and her golden halo blinked rapidly with a deep crimson glow.

Damian felt his body shudder involuntarily. A crushing force pressed down on him, compelling him to kneel. He gritted his teeth, trying to resist, but his body wouldn't move.

"Cease this display at once, Azarel," the armored man spoke firmly. "He is unaware of the presence he stands before."

"Thalgor is right, Azarel," Serenys added. "He is confused. We must explain, for we are running out of options."

Azarel clicked her tongue and bowed her head. "Yes, oh graceful one. Forgive me for my impudence."

"It is fine," Serenys said.

What the fuck is with this bitch? I already hate her.

Serenys then turned to Damian. "Are you alright, child?"

"Yeah, pretty much… So you're a goddess, huh?"

"Yes, I am Serenys, the Goddess of Time. And I wish to make a deal with you."

Damian took a moment to process her words.

It seems like they can't read my thoughts, despite being divine beings. That's good to know.

"Before that," he said, "I have a couple of questions."

"You may proceed."

"What's going on with Earth? What were those flashes of light? What were those cracks in the sky? Why did they have eyes? And how soon can you send me ba—"

Serenys cut him off.

"Your planet is undergoing an evolution. It will change, and so will the species inhabiting it. The flashes of light were attacks—blasts from the ones who came from the other side. We call their domain Xal'Zaroth."

"Attacks? And Xal'Zaroth? What is that?"

"Xal'Zaroth is a collection of realms inhabited by monsters of various races. The gods they follow rule over these realms. A war is currently raging between them… and now, your world has been dragged into it."

Damian fell silent.

"As for the cracks in the sky, they are tied to the deal I wish to offer you."

He sighed. "…I don't really have a choice here, do I?"

"You are quick to understand your situation, human," Thalgor said. "But worry not. We will not treat you unfairly."

"Yes," Azarel added. "And we shall even forgive your previous transgressions."

...What the hell did I even do? Damian thought.

He turned back to Serenys.

"I do have one question, though... Will my world… my family and friends survive?"

Serenys hesitated. Her gaze drifted upward for a brief moment before she finally spoke.

"Your girlfriend, Lily, will survive. But the others… I do not know. There is much chaos unfolding on your planet."

Damian's eyes narrowed. "…How do you know her name? And while we're at it, how do you know mine?"

Serenys smiled slightly. "I am a goddess, Damian. Such knowledge is trivial for us."

"…Then how do you know whether she survives or not?"

Serenys gazed at Damian with an unwavering expression. "I looked into her future and saw glimpses of her strength. After all, once you humans awaken, you always find ways to grow stronger."

Damian frowned, considering her words. Hmm... she doesn't seem to be lying. Not that it would matter—she's a god. Not much I can do about it even if she was. But why does a god need my help? That's the real question.

He exhaled and crossed his arms. "Fine, I accept. So, what's the problem?"

Serenys' lips curled into a faint smile, relief evident in her gaze. "A couple of centuries ago, there was a Goddess of Balance and Time. Her name was Celtheris. She was revered by her followers and cared for them deeply. But like all gods, she had an enemy—Vaelgorath, the God of Destruction. He waged war against her, a war so violent it shook the realms.

Celtheris emerged victorious, but at a terrible cost. When gods clash, the realms they fight on can shatter. To protect her followers, she was forced to split her very existence into two halves—one to hold the realm together, the other to safeguard her people. But before he perished, Vaelgorath cast a curse upon the half protecting the realm. Since both halves shared the same divine essence, the damage spread to the other as well.

Celtheris was no more. Instead, her two halves became separate deities. One became Veltrissa, the Goddess of Balance and Time—twisted by the curse. The other… is me."

Damian let out a low whistle. "Damn."

"Since then, Veltrissa and I have been at war. When gods wage war, they each choose a champion—a mortal proxy to fight on their behalf. Thalgor here was Celtheris' champion in the war against Vaelgorath, while Azarel fought in a different war long before that."

Damian turned to the two warriors. "Then why do you both follow Serenys now?"

A heavy silence followed. Then, Azarel finally spoke. "We didn't."

"Huh?"

Thalgor sighed. "As Celtheris' champions, when she split, so did we. Our existence fractured along with hers. Only our followers remained untouched."

"So… there are two of you under Veltrissa as well?"

"Yes."

Damian tapped his fingers against his arm, absorbing the weight of the revelation. So those black feathers on Azarel's wings and the red streaks on Thalgor's armor… they're not just markings. They're damage. That's why they feel… off. As if they don't belong. They really are desperate, huh?

"Alright. Then how did you bring me here?"

"I used my divine energy," Serenys explained. "Opening portals isn't difficult for a god, but in my weakened state, it's no simple feat."

"And I'm guessing that yellow eye was you and the red one was Veltrissa?"

"You catch on quickly."

"So… why me?" Damian asked, his voice carrying a mix of skepticism and frustration. "I'm just an engineer. What do I have to do with any of this?"

Serenys' expression turned somber. "Veltrissa and I each chose a champion to end this war. However, she did something no god should ever do—she created a bridge between two parallel timelines."

"A bridge? You mean gods can't travel to other timelines?"

"Oh, we can, but we have placed a strict taboo on it."

"Why?"

"Because if a god freely travels between timelines, it risks destroying both—the one they enter and the one they leave. Worse, the god who initiates the travel risks complete erasure. It's a reckless gamble, and no sane god would take that risk. Yet, Veltrissa did. No one knows why, but the damage is done. The timelines are now at risk of collapsing, and it's too late to reverse it."

Damian rubbed his temples. "Okay, but that still doesn't explain what I'm doing here."

"When gods win a war, their champion becomes an angel. And a god can have only one champion at a time. By interfering with your world, Veltrissa created an anomaly—a human from another timeline. To restore balance, that anomaly must be eliminated before they kill my champion. Likewise, to them, you are the anomaly that must be erased. Only one can exist. Either you… or them."

Damian's jaw clenched as the weight of her words settled in. His eye twitched. "Permission to cuss?"

Serenys tilted her head slightly. "You may proceed."

"Fuuu—! GOD-FUCKING-DAMMIT, WHAT THE FUCK?! FUUUCK! FUCKING—Fhooh…Okay. Why me? You could've picked anyone else, but you chose me. I'm no hero. I don't even like heroes."

"...When I searched for a champion, I used my power to witness the past, present, and future of every human on the planet. But when I looked at you… I saw nothing."

Damian stiffened. "What?"

"I couldn't see anything. Something about you blocks even a god from perceiving your existence. I took a gamble, hoping that choosing you would lead to the best possible outcome."

A bitter chuckle escaped Damian's lips. "Haaah… fuck me. Alright. So, what do I get out of this?"