Every muscle in my body protested to stop it and give up.
"I can't give up now," I muttered inwardly, determination flickering amidst the fatigue. "Not when I've come this far."
Desperate to find a way forward without resorting to my celestial powers, I wracked my weary mind for a solution. It was tempting to cheat, to tap into that forbidden strength, but I knew I couldn't yield to such temptation.
"If it continues like this, maybe I won't be able to complete this and I'll disappoint him again," I thought, frustration gnawing at my resolve. "I need to think of a way. If not, I can't become stronger. But if I use my powers, it will definitely be cheating. So, what should I do to complete this task without cheating? If I continue to fail like this, maybe it will take forever. I need to think of a way."
Then, like a distant echo from the depths of memory, an idea surfaced. I recalled the forgotten volumes and scrolls hidden within the recesses of my celestial library, each holding secrets long overlooked.
I immediately scoured my library to find a useful power that I could use here.
[Time, space, and dimension information obtained.]
Drawing upon this reservoir of knowledge, I focused my mind, conjuring a pocket dimension where time flowed differently. Here, minutes stretched into hours, offering a reprieve from the relentless march of time.
I created a new dimension where one minute is equal to five hours in the real world. I may appear to be doing my work normally, but in this dimension, time behaves differently. I can create several dimensions in the heavenly realm. I had no use for it before, so I thought it was such a waste. But now, I realize I can put it to good use.
i started to my task usual sometime i was fully sure that i can complete this task today fully overconfident. but the reality was different from imagination.
With each step, I ascended the staircase, the weight of the buckets heavy in my hands. Time seemed to warp and bend around me, as if the very fabric of reality had shifted. In this realm, minutes stretched into hours, and hours into days, a disorienting dance through the corridors of time.
"Uhh, it feels like a never-ending process. It's already been two days, and I couldn't fill this well.
As I poured the water into the well, I couldn't shake the feeling of being adrift in a sea of endless moments. Yet, amidst the chaos of this temporal labyrinth, a peculiar sensation washed over me - hunger, that primal urge that had plagued me relentlessly in the world beyond, seemed to ebb away, replaced by a curious sense of detachment.
"I want to give up already. What's with this task? It looks like slavery to me. How can this task increase my strength? Am I not already stronger with my powers? Do I need to train myself to make myself strong enough to fight without power?"
All types of thoughts flooded my mind. It had been only a few minutes in the real world, but here, it felt like two days had passed.
Despite the relentless passage of time and the physical strain weighing heavily upon me, I persisted. I continued without pause, pushing through the pain to fulfill my duty.
There were countless reasons to abandon my task. The discomfort, the exhaustion, the temptation to give in to my celestial powers - all whispered seductively, urging me to relent. Yet, amidst the cacophony of doubt and fatigue, there remained one unwavering reason to press on: my commitment to my purpose.
I had become more human-like since arriving in the human world. The allure of comfort and luxury beckoned to me, a siren song tempting me to stray from my path. But as an angel, I knew I could not succumb to such distractions. My ultimate goal loomed large in my mind, a beacon guiding me through the haze of temptation.
"I hate this pain," I admitted to myself, the strain evident in every syllable. "But witnessing the completion of my task... it's immensely satisfying."
Though it may not have been a victory in some grand battle, the simple act of perseverance brought a profound sense of accomplishment. In this moment, amidst the toil and struggle, I found solace in the knowledge that I was one step closer to fulfilling my purpose.
The well was half-filled. If I continued at this pace, perhaps I could complete the entire task.
With unwavering dedication, I pursued my task as if it were the ultimate goal of my existence. Every movement was infused with a sense of purpose.
At the outset, I struggled. Water droplets slipped through my fingers, adding to the challenge. But with perseverance, my agility and endurance improved. It felt like I was cheating, exploiting the altered flow of time to my advantage. In this dimension where minutes stretched into hours, I moved with unprecedented speed. Before a single drop of water could touch the ground, I was already at the well, poised to pour.
"Finally, this last bucket," I exclaimed triumphantly. "I think I should not use the dimension this time to fill the well."
Exiting the dimension, I happily filled the water in the two buckets and approached the well. But as I did, a sudden shock coursed through my body, sending tremors of pain rippling through every fiber of my being.
"Ahh, what the hell is it?" I felt electrocuted by touching the water. Until now, I didn't feel it, but why now?
A big fish in golden color emerged from the water, emitting electric shocks. "What is this? A fish with electric power, or is it a monster?"
I didn't know what to do in that situation. The fish was long and emitted sparks of current, with red eyes and sharp teeth.
"It finally came out," Rud said. I hadn't noticed Rud until now. Where was he hiding? I thought he had left immediately after giving the task.
"You should hunt it. This is your second task: catch it. It won't fly high because it needs water to survive, so it will be around water," he explained, tossing a weapon into my hand. It was a spear, not a sword as I had expected.
"How do I kill it?" I asked him, as it was my first time encountering such a monster.
"Aim for its eye. If you can hit its eye, it won't be able to use its thunder sparks on you." I had never hunted a fish or even a small animal before, but as my master gave this task, I knew I had to complete it. With this motivation, I stepped forward to hunt the fish.
The fish was releasing thunder if I got near, so I needed to hunt it from a distance. I lifted the spear, took two steps back, and aimed at it. "It just missed by an inch."
"Just focus on its eye, forget all your surroundings—the sounds of birds, the wind, and even me. Forget everything and just focus on its eye," Rud suggested.
"I tried, but as you can see, I missed. It's too hard to focus; it keeps moving," I said, feeling frustrated. Rud corrected my posture.
"I know, but all you have to do is concentrate on its eye and throw. Leave every other thought behind," he instructed. After hearing his words, I took a deep breath, ready to try again.
I decided to give it another try. Focusing solely on the fish, I blocked out all distractions and honed in on its movements. Despite its erratic darting, I remained steadfast, fixing my gaze on its eye. As I concentrated on the fish's iris, a sense of calm enveloped me. It was as if only the fish and I existed in that moment.
With determination coursing through me, I released the spear. To my surprise and elation, it found its mark, striking the fish's eye. A rush of joy and victory flooded through me, overwhelming in its intensity. After countless failures, I had finally succeeded, and in doing so, I had learned a valuable lesson.
As the fish writhed on the ground, attempting futilely to rise, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Its blindness rendered it helpless, unable to flee from its predicament.
"Thank you, Rud. I succeeded in this task, and I also learned something today," I expressed my gratitude to my mentor.
"It was all your doing. All I did was push you a bit so that you could do it yourself," Rud replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
"But how did it come into this well?" I queried, my curiosity piqued by the mystery of the fish's presence.
"You don't need to know. Be prepared for the next training, which you will have tomorrow," Rud replied cryptically, deflecting my question.
Despite the unanswered question lingering in my mind, I couldn't deny the sense of accomplishment and growth I had experienced. Today had pushed me out of my comfort zone, forcing me to confront challenges head-on.
The next morning arrived swiftly, bringing with it a sense of apprehension. As I stood before Rud once again, I couldn't help but voice my doubts.
"Rud, I don't think I can defeat this. It's too big and very giant," I admitted, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
"it's too frightening to even look at it. see it's size it might swallow me in one gulp."