The lake shimmered under the sun, and a gentle breeze skimmed across its surface. Sky and his companions smoothly glided across the water in a small boat, leaving behind a slender trail of ripples. The tranquil scenery enveloped everyone, creating an illusion of being in a dreamlike world.
Suddenly, a faint ripple disturbed the depths of the lake, and massive shadows quietly emerged underneath. They circled the sturdy wooden boat, causing it to sway ever so slightly.
One shadow surged upwards, revealing its enormous and mysterious form in the sunlight. It was a nearly 2-meter long, colorful koi with scales glittering in a spectrum of colors, a stunning sight as it elegantly soared past the boat in the sunlight.
"Wow, what a huge fish," Lumiya exclaimed excitedly, wagging her tail vigorously.
Before she could finish, the boat and its occupants were drenched by the splash of the leaping koi. The boat filled with water, leading to an unfortunate incident.
Electricity conducted through the water, a fundamental rule of this world, whether it's direct current, alternating current, Eastern immortal lightning, or arcane magic lightning.
A powerful magical current flowed from the electric fatty's arm, plugged into the boat's socket, instantly enveloping the boat and shocking Sky and the others.
Lumiya, still in her werewolf form, puffed up, her fur exploding into a fuzzy round ball.
Lilianna, with the quickest reflexes, transformed into a swarm of bats at the moment of the shock. But as she left the boat, a pressure from all around the divine realm and a voice in her mind declared, "No flying in the divine realm!" Her magic dissipated into nothingness. With a thud, she fell back onto the electrified boat. Fortunately, she quickly activated a protective spell, but her elegant clothes were burnt with several holes.
"Damn," she muttered, glancing at Sky. Unlike her and Lumiya, he was still a mortal in this realm.
Sky stood dumbfounded on the boat, his clothes tattered and smoking, his hair in an exploded style, yet strangely unharmed otherwise.
"Eh?" Lilianna's eyes narrowed in thought, a knowing smile spreading across her face.
The electric fatty quickly controlled the current and cleared the water with a small arcane wave, floating over to apologize with a series of electric sounds.
"Zap, crackle, fizz, pop," the electric fatty said.
"These colorful koi are the goddess's pets, usually not so active unless sensing her divine aura," Sky translated for Lumiya.
Addressing the electric fatty, Sky said, "Don't worry, we're all unharmed, but...," he gestured towards Lumiya's fuzzy head, "our appearance might be a bit improper when meeting the goddess."
Lumiya seemed unconcerned about her appearance, touching her strange form, "Weird, why can't I change back to my human form?"
The electric fatty, while plugging his hand back into the socket, replied, "Zap, crackle."
"The electricity contains a trace of divine essence, altering states in a way hard to reverse with other forms of power, especially within the divine realm. It'll naturally revert in 1-2 hours after leaving," Sky translated, trying not to laugh.
Lilianna suppressed her laughter, amused by Sky's new hairstyle.
The boat continued without further incident, docking at the island in the lake's center. Guided by the electric fatty, they walked past a massive fountain to a villa combining various styles. The doors opened automatically, sensing their arrival.
Inside, the villa blended futuristic technology with elements of Eastern immortality and Western magic. They followed a long corridor to a door with intricate carvings, opened by two mechanical guardians.
Magical automatons danced gracefully, and vigilant robots patrolled. The protagonist was captivated by these wondrous creations.
Then, Sky saw a slender girl seated on a throne exuding both eeriness and futuristic vibes. She appeared 16 but possessed a solemn, detached aura. Her green eyes sparkled with intelligence and mystery.
She wore a white, hollowed-out top, revealing her slender collarbone and skin, paired with high-waisted black trousers and shiny silver sci-fi boots. A transparent, glowing necklace graced her neck, like stars in a temporal flux.
This must be the goddess.
The electric fatty bowed before her. Lumiya and Lilianna, recognizing the goddess from their dreams, followed suit.
As Sky was about to bow, the goddess stopped him: "Wait, stand there, let me have a good look at you." Her voice instantly shed her solemn air.
Her face became animated, almost exaggeratedly so, matching the voice from the phone call. Sky thought her demeanor... somewhat unserious?
She approached, examining Sky, then commented, "Hmm... first time meeting in this world, right? Your impression is strong. This getup... how should I put it... I quite appreciate this style." She was referring to Sky's exploded hairdo. Lilianna couldn't hold back a giggle, and Sky, somewhat bewildered, thought she meant his charred clothes, offering an awkward smile.
The goddess then turned her attention to Lilianna, observing her for a while before remarking, "You're quite beautiful," then shifted her gaze.
Addressing Lumiya, she said, "Hey, little werewolf, cosplaying as a Pandaren today?"
Lumiya chuckled sheepishly, "Hello, Goddess. Got struck by lightning again."
The goddess then resumed her seat, casually crossing her legs. "Let me formally introduce myself. I'm Schiso 007, recently took over this mess of a world. Currently the sole deity here, and for a considerable future, no other gods will emerge. You can call me Goddess, but I prefer Schiso 007. Before we begin the interview, any questions?"
Sky and his companions exchanged glances, overwhelmed with questions yet unsure where to start.
Sky eventually spoke up, "Uh, Goddess, or, Schiso, I wanted to ask..." but was cut off.
"Remember this: Call me Schiso 007 or 007, but not just Schiso. It's important for clarity," the goddess interjected.
"Ah?" Sky was puzzled. "Just the number?"
"Yes, for identification since it's a mass-produced series," she explained.
"Mass-produced goddesses?" Sky was astonished.
Schiso 007 glanced at him, "Divine matters are beyond mortal understanding."
Had she spoken with a solemn, sacred tone, Sky might have bowed or even knelt in penance for his presumption. However, Schiso 007's tone was more akin to 'adult matters, kids shouldn't pry,' sparking more curiosity than reverence.
Sky was about to ask more when Schiso 007 announced, "Enough questions. Let's proceed to the interview."
Sky glanced at Lilianna. Surely, the goddess knew of Lilianna's ancient vampire lineage. Referring to her as a 'little brat' suggested the goddess's age was incomprehensible.
Respect for the goddess welled up in Sky.
Then, pointing at Sky, she began, "Let's start with you."