Solien's horror - a fallen god
Scene: Divine Heaven – The Report that Shook the Stars
The grand banquet hall of the Divine Heaven was radiant with light, laughter, and the clinking of celestial chalices. Garlands of starlight bloomed across the vaulted ceilings, and music crafted from aurora winds danced in the air. The gods of the realm were deep in celebration—the mortal realms had triumphed over the demon invasion.
At the head of the hall sat Solien Astridane, the Radiant Sovereign, clad in his ceremonial robes of dawn-hued gold and silver. His six wings shimmered faintly behind his throne, folded in ease. A glass of divine nectar was raised halfway to his lips when the banquet doors swung open.
Two divine messengers stood there, robes tattered with residual distortion and faces pale.
Solien's gaze narrowed slightly. "You're late. Sit. Eat. The wine is rare and the company finer."
But the first divine messenger bowed hastily, voice tight. "My Lord Solien, this report cannot wait."
The room shifted. Conversations halted. Even the celestial musicians lowered their instruments.
"…Very well," Solien said, lowering his glass. "Proceed."
The divine messenger stepped forward and exhaled slowly. "As ordered, we bestowed celestial rewards upon the top two mortal contributors during the demon invasion."
Solien nodded. "And?"
"The first was the celestial item reward for the one named Alter."
"That is expected," Solien said mildly, reclining. "He earned it."
"…Yes, my lord," the messenger continued, voice beginning to tremble. "But then… I sensed others on the contribution list."
Solien's gaze sharpened slightly. "Others?"
"I bestowed your divine blessing upon three others: Finn, Mira, and the entity known as Blazebloom."
A clang echoed as a wine goblet slipped from a lesser god's hand nearby.
Solien blinked. "...Wait, those names… You blessed them?"
"Yes, my lord. But…" The messenger gulped. "They had already received your blessing prior. Somehow."
A visible twitch hit Solien's brow. Internally, No. Not again.
The divine messenger pressed on grimly. "Because of this—your blessing evolved into a new form. It granted increased effects, including Level Cap 500, 2x EXP Gain, and devastating combat enhancements."
Dark lines appeared on several gods' faces. One of the war deities dropped his fork into his lap.
Solien's expression became… distant.
"Continue," he said.
The divine messenger winced. "I then presented your blessing again… to the Twelve Commanders of Mythral Dawn."
A confused squint crossed Solien's face. "Mythral Dawn… why does that sound familiar?"
The messenger braced himself. "They… also had previously received your blessing."
The silence cracked. A faint crunch was heard as someone bit through a spoon.
"They… already had my blessing?" Solien said slowly, voice dropping.
"Yes," the messenger croaked. "So, like before, your divine energy evolved. The Twelve Commanders now possess Level Cap 500, 3x Damage vs. Dark Affinity, and 2x EXP Gain
A low rumble echoed through the hall as several gods leaned back with slacked jaws.
Solien covered his face with one hand, exhaling through his nose. "I never even… gave them a blessing…did I?" he whispered.
In the crowd, Seraphina stood frozen in elegant disbelief, her crystalline eyes wide. Even she hadn't foreseen such chaos.
Then the first messenger turned to the second, whose face had gone pale. He gave him a discreet elbow jab.
The second messenger jolted and bowed stiffly. Solien looked at him, exhausted. "Well?"
"While presenting the celestial-tier reward to Alter… I too sensed individuals on the contribution list."
Solien's eyes narrowed to slits. "…Who?"
"Finn, Mira, and Blazebloom."
"YOU TOO?!" a shout rang out from a minor storm god.
Solien stood up slowly, eyes void of emotion. "And?"
The messenger trembled. "I gave them your blessing as well. It also evolved further. They now have Level Cap 750, 5x Damage vs. Dark Affinity, 3x EXP Gain, and synchronization stacking effects and two unique enhancements.
"—have a level cap of 750," Solien whispered in dread, completing the sentence.
He collapsed back into his divine chair, wings drooping like drenched sails.
The gods around him murmured with varying degrees of horror and disbelief. How many mortals had this happened to? How many had the Radiant Sovereign accidentally created into divine-tier beings?
Solien pinched the bridge of his nose with glowing fingers.
Then paused.
But the second divine messenger continued to speak, "There is more".
Solien interrupted, "More!?"
Scared, the second divine messenger continued, "Even the 12 commanders received the same effects. Level Cap 750, 5x Damage vs. Dark Affinity, 3x EXP Gain, and synchronization stacking effects. And… and… two unique enhancements per commander based on class."
Solien froze for a moment, but sudden realization donned on him.
"…What about Alter?" he asked warily.
Silence.
The two divine messengers glanced at each other, then back to him, lips sealed.
Solien's right eye twitched violently.
Scene: Divine Heaven – The Armor Set That Broke a God
Solien sat slumped on his celestial throne, the once-majestic wings behind him now sagging like wilted banners. A ghost of his usual divine glow remained, flickering like a candle in the wind. Around him, gods whispered in disbelief, divine attendants murmured in alarm, and the hall's once-golden ambiance had dimmed.
Several divine attendants cautiously approached, but it was Seraphina who stepped forward first. Her radiant form cut through the gloom like a blade of starlight, her silver-white hair trailing in shimmering waves behind her as her eyes locked onto Solien's half-lifeless stare.
"My lord, breathe," she said gently, kneeling at his side, her voice a blend of celestial authority and soft concern. "You've survived worse than accidentally blessing the mortal realm into godhood."
Solien let out a weak groan and muttered, "Barely."
The second divine messenger, still visibly trembling, attempted to retreat quietly—until Seraphina turned her head sharply.
"You. Messenger. Continue your report," she commanded, tone crisp and cutting.
The messenger stammered, then began to mumble his next words so low that even the wind spirits looked confused.
"Speak. Clearly," Seraphina warned, a halo of glowing rings tightening behind her in rhythmic pulses.
Still terrified, the divine messenger tried again—but even the nearest gods leaned forward and cupped their ears.
Solien, now glaring with barely restrained celestial wrath, slammed a hand down on the armrest of his throne. A sonic BOOM echoed through the heavenly hall.
"LOUDLY!" Solien barked. "I want EVERYONE to hear it. NOW!"
The messenger flinched—and then screamed at the top of his lungs:
"ALTER CHOSE A FULL CELESTIAL ARMOR SET! IT WAS MARKED AS 'ONE ITEM SET' IN THE LIST!"
The banquet hall fell deathly silent.
The messenger hastily opened a glowing projection scroll. Floating in midair, the divine list of celestial rewards shimmered into view. Highlighted in glorious, shining golden font was:
[Luminarch Guard – Shell of the Celestial Architect] (ONE ITEM SET)
There it was. The entire celestial armor set. Underneath it, a subtle description in ancient script:
"This is considered one item by decree of item grouping protocols for harmony of classification purposes…"
Solien's pupils dilated. His mouth slowly opened. His chair groaned as his entire posture stiffened like someone reliving a thousand-year nightmare.
Seraphina tilted her head and calmly asked, "Solien… did you personally approve this set?"
The messenger replied sheepishly, "Y-Yes. It was in the official archive list."
Seraphina turned to the messenger and asked, "Did you give the reward to Alter?"
The messenger replied, "Yes..."
Seraphina blinked once.
Then blinked again.
And then, inside her divine consciousness, a miniature chibi Seraphina with sparkling star-eyes popped into existence, forming a thumbs up while shouting:
✨"OMEGA GOOD JOB!"✨
Seraphina's actual expression, however, remained the picture of elegance and discipline.
"…I see," she said flatly.
Solien, meanwhile, had yet to move. His body was locked in a state of frozen existential dread. If anyone listened closely, they might've heard a tiny crack—not of bone, but of a divine soul splintering ever so slightly.
Scene: Divine Heaven – Treasures Lost, Tempers Broken
The golden hall of Solien's divine palace had long since quieted. For ten long minutes, the Sovereign of Light sat frozen—utterly still—staring at the spot where the second divine messenger had last spoken. The banquet had gone cold. Laughter vanished. Even the celestial winds seemed to hold their breath.
Finally, Solien stirred.
A slow, trembling sigh escaped him. He reached for a goblet of divine nectar, then stopped, setting it aside as he looked toward the twin moons above the vaulted glass dome.
"…He's done it again," Solien muttered bitterly. "Alter… that man. That mortal. That thief in hero's clothing. First my blessings, now… my treasures. He's raiding my vault like it's a flea market!"
Then, without warning—
"DAMN YOU, ALTER!!"
His divine voice echoed like a thunderclap, shaking golden cutlery and making a few lesser gods fall out of their chairs.
Attendants rushed to his side. "Please, Sovereign, breathe!"
A War God in black-and-silver battleplate stepped forward from the hall's edge, brow raised in concern. "Wait. What about this other name on the reports… Takayoshi?"
That name alone sent a tremor through the room.
Both divine messengers flinched. Hard.
It didn't go unnoticed. Murmurs flared to life instantly.
Solien narrowed his eyes, wings extending behind him in a slow, ominous rise. "What… happened?"
The first messenger reluctantly stepped forward, sweat on his brow. "Takayoshi... received high contribution points. One of the top two. Thus, by decree, we both presented him with the celestial item list…"
The second messenger nodded—his eyes darting, face pale. It was like watching a man about to confess to setting a volcano on fire.
"Continue," Solien said grimly, his tone deceptively calm.
The first messenger began, voice trembling. "He… Takayoshi… selected the Seraphic Aegis – Vestments of the Dawnborne Oath (one item set)."
There was a pause.
Then Solien let out a choking noise.
"AGAIN WITH THE 'ONE ITEM SET'?!" he roared.
A jet of golden divine blood burst from his mouth as he collapsed to one knee, coughing violently.
Pandemonium. Gods leapt from their thrones. Celestial healers rushed over. The Moon Oracle screamed into her veil. Seraphina calmly approached, placing a hand on his shoulder to stabilize his aura.
But behind her composed expression… her miniature chibi avatar had reappeared behind her shoulder—waving pom-poms and dancing to an imaginary beat, shouting in a squeaky voice:
"Gooooo Mythral Dawn! Goooo loopholes!"
Once Solien had stabilized, trembling but conscious, he raised one shaking finger to the second messenger.
"…And the other item?"
The poor soul looked like he was ready to bolt.
With a voice barely above a whimper, he pleaded with his eyes: Don't make me say it. Please… he'll die.
But there was no escape.
"Speak," Seraphina ordered, her eyes flaring with divine light.
Her chibi double popped up again beside her cheek, cheering:
"Yea! Say it! Say iiiit~!"
The second messenger collapsed to his knees and shouted:
"Regal and Celestial! One item set!!"
A silence.
Then—
SPLURT!
Solien launched a second mouthful of golden blood, this time spraying it in an arc like a divine fountain. His head flopped back. A thud followed. The Sovereign of Light collapsed completely, unconscious.
A shriek went up from his personal attendants. "He's down!! The Sovereign is down!!"
The other gods moved quickly to carry him out, muttering in shock, awe, and horror.
"…This is the third time today…"
"…Is he hemorrhaging divine essence?"
"…You mean he gave away both of those item sets? Oh no…"
As the doors closed behind Solien's unconscious form, Seraphina stood before the two messengers. Her radiant glow pulsed gently.
"You two…" she said sternly. "Have a lot to reflect on."
The two messengers dropped to their knees.
But behind her calm tone… her chibi avatar now rode a flying starboard behind her, giggling.
"Best report ever~!"
Scene: Divine Heaven – The Aftermath of Collapse
The golden halls of the Celestial Court buzzed with tension. Solien had just been carried away—still unconscious after spewing golden blood from the shock of discovering that both Takayoshi and Alter had acquired full (One Item Set) celestial artifacts under his name.
As the doors closed behind the fallen Sovereign, Seraphina remained behind. Her radiant form stood dignified, her brow creased in composed frustration as she turned back to the two trembling divine messengers.
"You've caused quite the storm," she said calmly, though her tone was sharp. "And now… Solien is down."
But within her, behind the veil of her divine expression—
Chibi Seraphina danced on a celestial keyboard, neon banners waving:
"LET'S GOOOO ALTER!!! 💖💖💖"
Pom-poms in both hands, cheering while doing backflips midair.
Still, Seraphina maintained her posture.
She folded her arms. Her expression darkened in contemplation.
"Wait a minute…"
Alter received two celestial items… and all those around him had their blessings upgraded... even those on different continents?
Her eyes flickered with sudden realization.
She turned sharply to the two messengers. "Why were there two blessings granted? Finn, Mira, and Blazebloom are in Terravane, but the Twelve Commanders are in Seraveth."
Silence.
Stunned looks spread across the court like wildfire.
A War God coughed into his fist, stepping forward hesitantly. "…It's… because we sent out two divine messengers to deliver the rewards."
Another god blinked. "But wasn't the item list… identical?"
"Yes," the War God replied grimly. "Each messenger was instructed to reward the top two contributors on each continent. But no one expected—"
"—that both were the same people and that both divine messengers did not know of the others task and gave out blessings according to the list of contribution only" Seraphina finished, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Behind her, Chibi Seraphina had facepalmed cutely, floating upside down while spinning.
Then flipped around again with wide eyes and a glowing signboard:
"BLESSED BY LOOPHOLE."
Before further words could be exchanged, the great golden doors opened once more.
A third divine messenger burst in, robes askew, breath heaving.
Everyone turned.
The room tensed again.
"My apologies for the interruption!" he gasped, holding up a glowing scroll. "An urgent report from the Celestial Tower!"
Seraphina turned fully toward him. "Report."
The messenger unfurled the scroll and read aloud.
"According to our observers… Takayoshi was seen perishing in the early stages of the demon invasion. But shortly after—he reappeared. Not just reappeared—but emerged… alongside two demon generals on the Seraveth front."
Shock rippled through the assembly.
"What?" one of the goddesses murmured. "But how—?"
The messenger continued. "Upon deeper scrying and analysis… the Tower's seers observed that Takayoshi's emergence was traced directly from—" he gulped, "—from within Alter."
Gasps erupted.
Seraphina's pupils dilated. "You mean… Takayoshi is a clone?"
The messenger nodded rapidly. "A clone, formed by Alter's power. With that clone's help, the demon invasion was fought and stalled across both continents simultaneously."
A moment of stillness.
Then a War God slowly muttered, "…So he fought both wars, using one body… and a replica of himself."
Seraphina stared forward in silent awe.
Her divine form trembled slightly.
But in the sacred realm of her heart…
Miniature Chibi Seraphina had gone absolutely berserk.
She stood atop a floating cloud, spinning with hearts in her eyes, waving a hundred banners all reading:
"I ❤️ ALTER"
"KING OF LOOPHOLES!"
"FOUR CELESTIAL ITEMS! THREE ARE ONE ITEM SETS!"
Seraphina exhaled slowly. "...We must inform Solien."
The room nodded solemnly.
She stepped forward, eyes blazing with the subtle gleam of future chaos.
"Prepare yourselves," she said. "When Solien wakes up and realizes he gave Alter not two, not three, but four Celestial-tier treasures—three of which are One Item Sets—he may need… divine sedation."
A War God muttered under his breath, "We should just rename the vault to 'Alter's Closet' at this point."
Scene: Divine Heaven – The Awakening of a Broken Sovereign
The quiet in Solien's private sanctum was divine in stillness.
Only the soft ripple of celestial light cascaded across the marble walls, painting solemn rays upon the reclining form of the Radiant Sovereign. Golden silken sheets lay over his resting figure, a cool towel resting atop his brow. His mighty wings were folded, limp, like collapsed banners of light.
Around him, a trio of high attendants stood in anxious silence, whispering prayers.
Then—
A twitch.
One of Solien's fingers moved.
"...hnnnn…"
A slow breath escaped his lips. His eyelids fluttered.
"Where… where am I…?"
An attendant leaned over with reverence. "You collapsed, my lord. Divine backlash from extreme emotional upheaval."
Solien groaned, his memory catching up.
"Right… Alter… Takayoshi… Celestial items…"
He bolted upright—
—and immediately winced, gripping his chest as golden divine blood threatened to rise again. One of the attendants hurriedly handed him a restorative ambrosia elixir.
He drank it in silence.
The second attendant, nervously, whispered, "Lady Seraphina has been awaiting your recovery… to deliver an urgent follow-up report."
Solien blinked slowly. "Seraphina…"
The doors opened.
And there she was—poised, composed, divine as ever.
"Welcome back to the realm of the conscious, Sovereign," she greeted.
Solien exhaled warily. "How long was I out?"
"Just two hours," she said. "Long enough for the celestial court to record your collapse as a formal event. They've already started naming a constellation in your honor—The Fallen Light of Fourfold Loss."
Solien narrowed his eyes.
"Don't mock me, Seraphina."
Miniature Chibi Seraphina, just behind her shoulder, was holding up four fingers and gleefully mouthing, "Four. One. Item. Sets."
Solien buried his face in both hands.
"You mean to tell me… not one… not two…"
"Yes."
"Not three…"
"Correct."
"FOUR CELESTIAL ARTIFACTS?! THREE OF WHICH ARE ONE ITEM SETS?! ALL TO ALTER?!"
Seraphina said nothing.
Instead, she handed him a divine scroll.
He hesitated… and unrolled it with trembling fingers.
The title read:
"Contribution Reward Logs: Top Two Combatants – Demon Invasion Across Both Continents."
And beneath it—
Alter (Original) – Awarded: [Luminarch Guard – Shell of the Celestial Architect] (One Item Set)
Takayoshi (Alter Clone) – Awarded:
- [Seraphic Aegis – Vestments of the Dawnborne Oath] (One Item Set)
- [Regal and Celestial] (One Item Set)
Solien sat perfectly still.
His eye twitched.
He whispered, "Why didn't the system recognize they were the same soul…"
Seraphina raised a finger.
"Because the divine system categorized 'Alter' and 'Takayoshi' as two separate combatants due to regional distinction and manifested autonomy in contribution points."
Solien turned to look at her, hollow-eyed.
"You mean the system loopholed itself?"
Seraphina simply smiled.
Behind her, Chibi Seraphina spun in a glowing hula hoop shouting,
"ALTER 4, CELESTIAL VAULT 0!"
Solien leaned back.
He stared at the ceiling for a long time.
"…I need to talk to the Architect of the Divine System."
Seraphina shook her head. "He's on eternal sabbatical. Said something about 'not dealing with bugged mortals.'"
Solien's shoulders slumped. "Of course he is."
Then he sighed. Long and deep.
"...Find me when Alter starts requesting god seats and personal realms."
Seraphina gave a slight bow. "As you wish, Sovereign."
As she left, her internal self continued to dance.
Chibi Seraphina whispered with sparkling eyes and twinkling music:
"I wonder what kind of bed the Architect sleeps in now that it belongs to Alter...~ 💫"