Brandon stood in the grand hall, his mind racing as he contemplated his choices. The God of Light sat on his golden throne, watching with an expectant gaze. Time had no meaning here, and though it felt like an eternity had passed, neither moved nor spoke.
Finally, Brandon broke the silence.
"My first ability," he began, his voice steady, "will be the ability to devour talents, stats, comprehension, and anything else I choose."
The hall fell into a deeper silence, if that were even possible. The God of Light's face remained impassive, his blue eyes fixed on Brandon, but there was a faint tension in the air.
[That will be difficult,] the God said at last, his tone serious, his expression unreadable.
"Difficult but not impossible, right, my lord?" Brandon asked, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The God of Light chuckled softly, a sound that echoed like distant thunder. [You think flattery will push your request forward? Hah, you are an interesting child indeed.]
Brandon felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Despite the gravity of the situation, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the banter.
[It's not impossible,] the God continued, [but it's far from simple. A gift of that magnitude would require significant drawbacks to keep the playing field balanced. Do you understand?]
"What kind of drawbacks?"
[This one request will count as three of your four choices,] the God replied, his voice carrying the finality of a judge's gavel. [Are you sure you want to proceed?]
Brandon's mind raced. The ability to devour could be a game-changer, a power that could set him above the rest. But at the cost of three wishes? He hadn't anticipated that.
[You have no idea how true that is,] the God said, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Brandon blinked in surprise. "Wait, you can hear my thoughts?"
[Of course I can, child,] the God replied, a chuckle escaping his lips. [It's rare to see you startled by anything. It's refreshing.]
Brandon shook his head, regaining his composure. He hadn't lost his cool in years, and the embarrassment was quickly eating at him. "Sir, may I choose my second ability before we finalize the first request?"
[Of course,] the God of Light said, leaning back in his throne, resting his chin on his fist in a leisurely manner. [Go ahead.]
"I want the number one rated heavenly physique across all worlds."
Silence returned to the hall, thick and palpable. The God of Light's gaze sharpened, and for a moment, an indiscernible expression crossed his face.
[How do you even know about heavenly physiques?] he asked, his tone curious but cautious.
Brandon shrugged slightly. "I did a bit of reading when I was in the military—mostly during stakeouts or while escorting prisoners."
[Unexpected,] the God mused, [but interesting. These two requests are ambitious, and they're putting me in a bind. But let me consult with Chronos and Odin to see if they'll yield.]
With that, the God of Light closed his eyes, and his form dissolved into particles of shimmering light. Brandon was left alone in the vast, brilliant hall, his thoughts churning. He knew the risks were high, but the rewards...
Time slipped by unnoticed, and eventually, the God of Light reappeared, settling back onto his throne with a blank expression. Brandon couldn't discern whether the news was good or bad, but he waited with bated breath.
[You're in luck, Brandon—or some might say you're not,] the God said at last. [Odin has an interesting champion who asked for more than he should have, which helped our case greatly. In the end, they agreed to your requests, but there are conditions.]
Brandon remained silent, listening intently.
[You will reincarnate at the age of twelve, giving their champions a significant head start. Moreover, you'll be born into the body of an orphan, with no family wealth or resources to assist you. Everything you achieve will have to be done on your own. Their champions will have knowledge, resources, and time on their side. Are you still willing to accept these handicaps in exchange for these two abilities?]
Brandon's thoughts raced, but there was no hesitation in his resolve. He knew the path he wanted to take, and he would grasp it, regardless of the challenges. "Yes, sir! I'm willing to take all those disadvantages for the sake of these two abilities."
[Good,] the God of Light said, his tone carrying a hint of approval. [You're not losing out—if you're smart about your path, you'll gain the upper hand later on. The ability to devour is a taboo power, one that even gods are wary of. But let's move on to shaping your physique. I'm getting excited now.]
The God's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light as he continued, [You'll be given the Ancient God Physique. It's a perfect match for your devouring ability, which is why you were penalized so harshly. This physique allows you to copy features from other heavenly physiques, granting you immense versatility. With your devouring ability, you won't just copy these features—you'll integrate them into your own being.]
Brandon raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize there were restrictions on devouring heavenly physiques. If I'd known, I might have just gone with the devouring ability alone."
[And you would have lost before the contest even began,] the God of Light said, his tone matter-of-fact. [Devouring is powerful, but it has its drawbacks. Your second gift mitigates many of those. Don't forget that while you've benefitted from reading your books, reality is far more complex than fiction.]
The God's words carried weight, and Brandon nodded in understanding. This was no game—this was his new reality.
[Now, your physique and devouring ability will awaken on the day you do,] the God of Light continued. [As a bonus, you'll receive four elemental affinities to work with, one of which must be my element of light. The other three are yours to choose.]
Brandon opened his mouth to speak, but the God held up a hand, his expression stern. [Don't think about choosing anything too outlandish. We're already on thin ice. Stick to the basics, with perhaps one high-grade element.]
Brandon paused, considering his options carefully. Finally, he found his answer. "Gravity, Lightning, and Fire."
[Acceptable,] the God said with a nod, the tension easing from his posture.