"Hey Nova, where are we going exactly?" Zephyron asked as he soared toward an unknown location at hypersonic speed.
[Nova: Master, wasn't it *you* who took off without a plan? We could have just teleported, you know.]
"It doesn't look cool. As the future strongest, I have to maintain my image."
[Nova: I'm not sure how you're maintaining your image when you nearly cried in front of Diablo for analyzing his skill.]
"Ahem, you wouldn't understand my plans. By the way, tell me, what's it like being a Manas? And why did my elemental affinity end up being Darkness?" Zephyron tried to change the subject, but Nova, infinitely more intelligent than him, saw through it and chose to let it slide.
[Nova: It's because of my evolution into Manas. Due to my internal struggle, you gained the Darkness element.]
"Wait, hold on. But I didn't help you resolve that internal struggle, like Rimuru did with Raphael. So, how did you evolve?"
[Nova: Master, why do you always bring those two up?Also I don't need some flimsy reason for my evolution.]
"..."
[So, tell me, do you want to evolve into a True Hero now?] Nova's words made me pause, and I asked about the last requirement for my evolution.
"Don't I need her blessing for that?"
[Nova: No. You're an Elemental yourself, so you don't need her blessing. And as for why you can evolve into a True Hero, is a bug in the voice of the world because you're not actually human or even an Enlightened Human.]
[The reason is that while your soul is human, for some reason, the Voice of the World is treating you as both a human and an Elemental at the same time.]
"So it's like a glitch in the system?" Zephyron asked, confused because it is impossible for a half-human to evolve into a true hero.
[Nova: Yes, it shouldn't be possible, but for some reason, it is.]
"Anyway, how strong will I be after the evolution?"
[Nova: You'll reach your potential, which will put you on the same level as Veldora before he was sealed.]
"Wait... how can I be that weak? Veldora was a joke before he met Rimuru," I asked, feeling uncomfortable.
[Nova: Well, you're not the protagonist, after all.]
Hearing this, Zephyron clenched his fists. Nova, observing him, waited to see what his host would choose. He had told him a mix of truths and lies, testing Zephyron's resolve.
Zephyron's ultimate skill passively negated all interference, be it fate, luck, plot armor, or external manipulation from other dimensions. His skill could counter all of it.
For example, there was a reason Raphael had warned Rimuru not to fight a True Dragon: they were on an entirely different level than rimuru. The world itself was supporting him because he was the protagonist. The assistance he received couldn't be explained by logic—it was essentially plot armor. Velgrynd, for instance, could have used Cardinal Acceleration or a sub-skill from her ultimate skill, Charity, to end him. Yet, she didn't. Instead, she divided her power among her clones.
If Zephyron fought Rimuru instead of Velgrynd, his chances of winning would be 70% due to his ultimate skill, "Lord of Defiance, Aurex". However, if he faced someone like Velgrynd, he would surely lose in a short battle.
Nova was testing whether Zephyron would accept this potential or not, curious if his host was worthy of the power to defy fate itself.
"You might be right about my potential, but you forgot one important thing," Zephyron said, looking confidently at the small circular interface in front of him.
"I'm just a puppet. All I need is a stronger body to crush anything in my way." As he said this, he clenched his metallic hand, his face set with determination.
[Nova: As expected from my host. Then let's go to the place where you'll obtain the skill to achieve your dreams.]
"Yes, but with style."
[Nova: Of course. Don't worry, every Demon Lord will be shocked when they see you.]
As Nova finished speaking, it was as if the strings had been cut from the puppet. Zephyron, now with a blank expression, began plummeting toward the ground.
The moment his body touched the earth, it dissolved into the shadows, vanishing into the night.