Souta made his way toward the platform, his heart still reeling from the unexpected turn of events.
The Welcoming of the Hero... Those words from Agape had been meant for this very occasion.
Heroes—warriors blessed by Athena herself, recognized for their ingenuity and courage in diverse trials.
Becoming a Hero was an arduous journey, one that required much more than this singular moment. Souta felt he was merely a candidate, a step closer to the ultimate recognition from Athena. There was still a long road ahead before he could stand proudly beside her as a true Hero.
A candidate like Souta would undergo a lengthy filtering process. Observers would scrutinize his actions to assess his worthiness. With numerous warriors vying for a god's blessing and only a limited number of spots available, not everyone would succeed. Hence, a rigorous process of elimination was in place.
