The most incredible thing then transpired. Everything around the Traveler gradually began to shift as he hovered above the earth's surface. Tendrils of energy extended from its core, snaking down towards the ground. The Martian surface was lightly caressed by these dazzling tendrils, sending ripples. The once-lifeless dirt began to change with each contact.
The first signs of vegetation were small sprouts poking through the stone crust. Bright green colours progressively spread and entwined to form little patches of vegetation, creating a stunning contrast with the rusty red background. These plants, which were alien to Mars, had unusual shapes and hues, combining elements of terrestrial and extraterrestrial vegetation.
Water, which was formerly a rare resource on Mars, was now flowing out in thin streams from undiscovered subsurface reservoirs. And that was simply the beginning of the gradual transformation of everything else. Robin felt amazed. It resembled magic.
"This guy is terraforming the planet actively." Sirget muttered. A tiny, metallic, spherical shell that appeared to have just emerged from the Traveler's body then suddenly descended toward Robin.
From a distance, Robin could clearly see what was heading down at him. It was a Ghost. No, not those terrifying ghosts that Durnehvir was in charge of. It had a large eye-like lens atop, smaller sensors and ports, and the ability to hover with agility.
"Hello Benefactor, the Traveler is delighted to meet you." The Ghost said in a robotic, metal voice.
"Benefactor? I don't believe I did anything to account for that, do you? I picked you from a different world." Robin was honest from the start since he didn't want the two to misunderstand each other. Since the Traveler stood for the Light—which, in a strange sense, was synonymous with truth—Robin wanted to be sincere with it.
"We completely understand what the benefactor has done. He has helped us escape the grasp of the Darkness and the Witness by using his ability to bend reality. We will always be grateful to you for this."
"Oh. However, don't you believe that the previous world just lost its main Guardian and that I just ripped them off?" Robin enquired because he was curious about the Traveler's thoughts on his previous world.
"No. We realize that the world we came from might not be a true representation of reality." said the Ghost. The response impressed Robin. He had not anticipated how quickly he would grasp his own circumstances or even how unaffected he would be.
"So, what are your current plans?" With caution, Robin enquired as to the journey's following steps.
"Assist the Benefactor in achieving his goals and watch that the Light of this world doesn't dim." said the ghost.
"Can you help me with my goals? Do you know what my ambition is?" Robin enquired.
"Yes. To achieve freedom and usher in a better, more tranquil era for humanity. The only way for the Traveler to assist the species that are oppressed in this universe is to follow the Benefactor. The Benefactor's life has already been glimpsed by the Traveler. We are extremely sorry for that but it came natural to the Traveler since the benefactor touched it with his hand. I hope it stays within the Benefactor's moral bounds."
"Well, that's okay. I appreciate your faith in me." When Robin learned that the Traveler would assist him, he exhaled in relief.
"Thank you so much. The solar system's planets are actually dead, as far as I can tell. Do you want me to terraform them?" The Ghost enquired.
"Yes. But in order to work better, you'll also need that fragment of yours, right?"Robin questioned, recalling from the legend that the Traveler had lost a fragment in its struggle with the Darkness.
"Yes. The Benefactor will become the Traveler's Champion if he is successful in returning the shard to the Traveler." The ghost said.
"Champion? However, I am still alive." Robin said as he remembered the lore of the Destiny game. A dead player was revived with the help of Light and the ghost and thus become a so called Guardian. In other terms, the Guardian was meant to defend the Traveler and protect humanity from Darkness.
There were two paracausal aspects in the Destiny game's mythology. The other was Darkness, the first was Light. And they had been at each other's throats for quite some time. And the last line of defense against the so-called Fallen and Black Fleet, which was actually the legion of Darkness, was humanity.
Robin was still alive, though.
"No. You will be something more than the Guardians, who are only the dead. You will be the Champion of Light. You will have considerable influence over Light, which will grant you immortality as well as supernatural abilities not found in humans." When Robin heard that, he raised an eyebrow. He didn't really anticipate receiving anything in return from the Traveler.
Robin nodded as he went to the part of the game where the shard was first seen. Robin had to use his entire hand to pry the entire shard out because it was quite deep and had already become stuck in the surface. He had never removed anything from a piece of game that was barely lodged to the ground, thus it was the first time he had done something similar.
The shard was finally freed after a little tug, and he removed it from the game. The shard was little, but as he laid it, it began to enlarge to its full size and quickly developed into a gigantic, pointed chunk. If one looked closely, they could also see out dark lines that were pulsing across the shard.
It was a result of the darkness. The shard had suffered from Darkness' influence during the fight and had lost a significant amount of its radiance, but since Robin had made the decision to let it out as soon as possible, the contamination was minor.
The Ghost watched as Robin took the shard out, and when it had taken on its former shape, it slowly floated while the dark lines and patches that had been covering it dispersed into dust.
And it sped up to an extremely high rate of speed before flying directly to the levitating Traveler. No visual explosion or anything of the type occurred, but Robin did note that the surrounding plants and atmosphere started to become a little more lively and upbeat.
"Thank you, Benefactor." said the Ghost.
The Traveler's center soon released a brilliant burst of luminescent energy that descended on Robin and engulfed him in its ethereal embrace. As they unfolded, whirling and throbbing ribbons of dazzling light woven the very fabric of his existence with the mighty force of Light.
Within this mesmerizing display, Robin underwent a profound metamorphosis. His physical appearance changed and shimmered as though transformed by cosmic alchemy. If one could see through the bright light, one could make out Robin's new eyes, which now shine with an iridescent luminosity, representing the boundless potential and indomitable spirit within.
His body was flooded with transforming forces that gave every fiber and cell in his body the gift of eternal life. Robin's mortal restrictions vanished, being replaced by an unbounded tenacity and vigour. He was permanently connected to the everlasting nature of the Light and was no longer constrained by the limitations of time or age.
Robin didn't even have time to react because it happened so quickly, and he wasn't even permitted to express his consent. Although Robin believed he could halt the process whenever he wanted to, he didn't. He was aware that the Traveler didn't say much and preferred to let its deeds speak for themselves.
The Champion of Light got a huge assortment of powers in addition to immortality. He became a conduit for the Traveler's might, channeling the forces of creation and protection. The power of his thoughts and will could manifest into tangible energy, capable of shaping reality itself. He was able to conjure elemental forces of destruction, wield ethereal weapons created from pure Light, and transcend the bounds of the physical realm.
The Traveler's profound wisdom and goodwill fused with the spirit of Robin during the transformation process. He could communicate with the Traveler through the power of Light itself, therefore he didn't require a Ghost to do so.
Robin who was levitating a moment ago slowly fell down. Sigret and Myrene were a little concerned but Robin didn't show any form of pain or major physical change so they let it happen. Robin appeared more radiant, alive, and had an angelic quality to him now.
Around Robin's foot, grass and plants began to grow as he took his first steps on the surface. He was taken aback. He examined his hands as they surged with little sparks of light. His Blue Beetle suit had long since disappeared, and he had no trouble breathing on Mars itself.
He swung his arms as bright light shot and landed on the surface. Wherever the light touched, plants and trees bloomed into full vigor and in a very fast pace.
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