After several days exploring the territory and analyzing every corner, I reached a conclusion. Although this place is large and strategically located, the land seemed dead, lifeless. The air was filled with the scent of ash and smoldering smoke, like the memory of a campfire extinguished centuries ago. Every step echoed in the silence, as if the ground itself was absorbing all sound. The feeling was one of desolation, like walking through an abandoned cemetery.
According to Sofia's analysis, there is potential to turn it into fertile land, but there is a problem: a powerful and ancient magical energy source seems to be draining and corrupting the soil, preventing anything from growing here naturally.
At that moment, my mind went blank. Frustration overwhelmed me as I searched for a solution to locate the source of the problem. "What can I do?" I wondered, feeling the pressure of time.
But then I remembered Zero, my loyal subordinate, who had been training intensely with Ryoga. His goal was clear: to become stronger to protect me.
I was surprised by his determination, considering he surpassed me in combat strength—though that changes when I activate automatic mode.
However, I knew that without Sofia's help, Zero would have the upper hand in a direct confrontation. Fortunately, Ryoga had kept Zero busy with exhaustive training, giving me some breathing room. Now, I was eager to see the results of his efforts and how he had improved.
In the silence, Sofia spoke clearly: "Analysis complete. The source of the problem is 10 km from here." I was surprised by how quickly we got results.
"What is the cause of the problem, Sofia? What is preventing the growth of this land?" I asked curiously.
Sofia responded directly: "It's a sword, located in a nearby village."
"A sword?" I thought, intrigued. If it can affect this entire area, it must be extremely dangerous.
Upon hearing those words, I realized the danger of facing it personally, so I decided to send Zero.
I called Zero, and his presence was instantaneous. His teleportation ability impressed me, though it also made me a little envious.
As soon as he appeared, Zero bowed respectfully and asked, "Tell me, my lord, how may I be of service?"
I responded bluntly: "Zero, I've noticed you've grown stronger lately, though that's not important right now. I have a mission for you. It might be a bit dangerous."
Zero, with a confident smile and without hesitation, replied: "My lord, anything you ask, I will do without question. No matter how risky it is."
His words filled me with confidence as I explained the situation: "The land is infertile, and a sword is draining the energy of this place. My goal is to create a prosperous kingdom where people can live in peace and harmony. A place where we can protect and care for our subjects, and ensure a better future for everyone."
"Zero, I'll give you one order, and I want you to fulfill it well: go and investigate the source draining the energy of this land. If possible, recruit subjects for our new kingdom. If the mission becomes dangerous, avoid unnecessary fights. I want people to follow me willingly, not by force."
"Your task is clear: investigate, negotiate, and if your life is in danger, eliminate any threat without hesitation. I will not tolerate failure."
Upon hearing this, Zero flashed a big smile. This was the first time I had given him a direct order. "I understand, my lord. I will return victorious, with new subjects, and bring the sword as a trophy," he said, bowing with a spark of enthusiasm.
Without paying much attention to his last remark, I simply said, "Good. Be careful and return safely."
At that moment, Zero flew away, emanating an intense aura as he headed to fulfill his mission.
After receiving the mission, Zero quickly withdrew, determined to complete it without fail. As he flew toward his destination, he observed the green landscape stretching before him: gentle hills covered in tall grass and scattered trees reaching toward the sky. The sun shone over the land, illuminating small streams winding through the valley. Though the scenery was beautiful, Zero cared little for it. The only thing on his mind was fulfilling Sora-sama's order and recruiting new subjects for the future kingdom.
Before reaching the village where the intense magical energy source was located, Zero noticed something unusual: a group of goblins emanating surprising strength. They were settled in a small, primitive village surrounded by fallen trees and intertwined branches. The huts were simple structures of branches and mud, with thatched roofs made of straw and leaves. The goblins, about 200 in number, wore tattered and ragged clothes made of animal skins and worn fabrics. They carried rudimentary weapons: sharp sticks, carved stones, and makeshift spears.
Zero frowned, quickly assessing the situation. Though the goblins seemed primitive and savage, he knew this group could be useful for Sora-sama's plans. Their strength and ferocity could be valuable in battle.
In Zero's mind, this seemed like child's play; he had more than enough time to complete his mission. The goblin village was in full celebration, with a large bonfire in the center and tables filled with roasted meat and wild fruits. The goblins, about 200 of them, were gathered around the bonfire, laughing and shouting as they feasted. Zero arrived at the center of the village, his presence immediately noticed by the goblins, who nonetheless ignored him completely.
Irritated by the lack of attention, Zero frowned and clenched his fists. His face tensed into an expression of displeasure, a slight wrinkle forming between his eyebrows.
Without a second thought, he approached the bonfire and, with a quick and precise movement, destroyed the food they were cooking. The meat burned instantly, and smoke rose into the sky.
The goblins were startled and stepped back, intimidated by Zero's sudden action. His aura of dark energy intensified, emanating a sense of power and authority. Zero stood tall over them, his imposing figure and piercing gaze commanding attention.
"Despicable beasts!" Zero exclaimed, his voice loud and clear. "I come in the name of my lord, Sora-sama. I have only one goal: I want you to submit to his leadership. For a group of common creatures like you, serving a being as perfect as my lord is an honor you could never deserve."
As he spoke, Zero took a step closer to the goblins, his gaze fixed on them. His smile was thin and threatening, and his dark aura seemed to grow and expand, enveloping the goblins in a sense of fear and submission.
The goblins stepped back, intimidated by Zero's presence, who waited for their response with an expectant look.
As Zero waited for a clear answer, his gaze scanned the village, assessing the goblins' reaction. The central bonfire still burned, but the celebration had ceased. The goblins huddled together, their eyes fixed on Zero with a mix of fear and submission.
However, someone stepped forward. It was an elderly goblin, his face wrinkled and his body hunched, but with a strength and authority that stood out among the others. Upon seeing Zero, he bowed deeply, his head almost touching the ground.
"We accept your proposal to submit to your lord…," he said with a trembling voice, visibly sweating. "We beg you to also grant us your protection, as we will offer our lives in return."
Zero, surprised by the swift acceptance, responded irritably: "Your requests will be presented when you stand before my lord. Now, prepare yourselves. I will complete the second part of my mission, and you will present yourselves honorably before Sora-sama and his best friend, Ryoga-sama."
With that, Zero turned and left the village, satisfied. His face relaxed into a smile as he thought of the praise he would receive from his lord upon returning with 200 strong goblins as subjects.
After leaving the village, Zero focused on heading at full speed to the village where the energy source was located. As soon as he arrived, a group of men with swords and spears surrounded him, shouting insults.
"Filthy demon! Are you one of those Huns? Answer us, or we'll kill you!" Zero, unfazed and calm, responded respectfully, while the women and children hid in their homes.
"Good afternoon, people of this village. My name is Zero, a loyal subordinate of my lord, Sora-sama. I come in peace, as I have detected a source of energy in this place that is rendering the lands where my lord resides infertile," he said with a confident smile. "Additionally, I bring you a proposal. My lord has tasked me with finding subjects who wish to work on his lands under his leadership. I myself can guarantee your safety against any threat."
Zero then used his ability "Temptation," a manipulation technique that created illusions in the minds of his listeners, showing them an idealized future to make them accept his proposal. The ability worked by exploiting their deepest desires and aspirations, making them believe their future would be better with Sora-sama. The illusion was so realistic it felt tangible.
"Imagine a life without worries, with fertile lands and abundant harvests," Zero suggested, his dark aura mingling with a faint light that seemed to draw the villagers in. "Imagine a future where your children grow up safe and happy, under the protection of my lord."
However, a deep voice resonated, halting everyone's attention. "Filthy demon! Using that temptation ability to manipulate my people is worse than heresy!"
It was an elderly man, with white hair and glowing eyes, his golden aura enveloping him in a warm, wise light. His presence was imposing, and Zero could feel the authority radiating from him.
With a simple snap of his fingers, the old man nullified the effect of "Temptation," breaking Zero's influence over the villagers.
Zero was stunned; he had never expected someone in this village to have the power to counter his ability so easily. Moreover, he hadn't noticed the old man's presence until he chose to reveal himself.
Zero stared at him, a challenging smile on his face. "You're no ordinary old man, not with that ability to nullify skills. From what I know, only ancient heroes possess such abilities. Tell me, are you one of them?"
The old man let out a deep laugh and addressed the villagers. "Return to your homes. There's nothing to fear," he said, laughing. "This man doesn't have the strength to rival me."
Without giving Zero further attention, he continued reassuring his people, ignoring him completely.
Zero clenched his teeth, annoyed at being treated with indifference. In an instant, he summoned his scythe, and a dark, menacing presence filled the air. The old man's expression changed; for the first time, he gave Zero a serious look.
"So, you want an answer," the old man said firmly. "Are you the specter I fought fifty years ago? I barely managed to send you to an isolated dimension."
Zero barely had time to react before the old man continued: "If you are who I think you are, then you should already know who I am. I am the Hero of Heroes, the only one who has received the greatest blessings of this world."
Zero let out a cold laugh. "To be honest, I forgot your name long ago. It's been fifty years, after all. Though, honestly, I'm not interested in remembering it. Today, I am a loyal servant of my lord, and I have come with a direct order: to make allies and destroy the magical source that has rendered the territory of my lord's best friend—and also my master, Ryoga-sama—infertile."
Upon hearing these words, the old man felt a drop of sweat run down his face. "Did you say… Ryoga?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
Zero showed a defiant smile. "That's right. My lord is the best friend of Ryoga-sama."
The old man took a step back, still disturbed. "Then… was it Ryoga who gave you the name Zero… and also a physical body?"
Zero let out a low, dark laugh. "No. My true lord is named Sora. It was he who granted me this physical body and gave me a worthy name. I chose to become his subordinate because he is the only human who has managed to land a blow on the Dragon God himself, Ryoga."
Despite his fear, the old man responded nervously. "And what would you do if I told you your lord is trapped in an ability from which he will never escape?"
Zero looked at him coldly, but the old man continued without hesitation. "What good is it for someone to give you a name… if you're going to die here and now? Not even your lord can save you. These infertile lands exist thanks to my ability, Infinite Prison. If I had used that ability, Ryoga would have destroyed it fifty years ago. But thanks to the blessing of the supreme goddess, my Infinite Prison evolved into Meta Prison, creating an infinite loop with no possibility of escape."
The old man let out a deep, dark laugh, his words dripping with mockery. "You say you escaped that prison, but do you really think you could do it?"
At that moment, the old man extended his hand and summoned his sword, which appeared in a flash of celestial light. The sword was the Sky Destroyer, a divine-grade weapon bestowed by the gods themselves.
As Zero prepared for battle with his scythe in hand, knowing he couldn't defeat the old man, I found myself trapped in an endless cycle of boredom.
Suddenly, Sofia interrupted my monotony. "Analysis complete. Barrier detected."
"What did you say?" I asked, intrigued.
"Meta Prison ability. It has been analyzed. In short, we are inside it," Sofia replied.
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine. "What is this ability?" I asked.
"The Meta Prison ability is a complex of infinite interconnected universes," Sofia explained. "An endless loop where all possible universes and realities converge."
"What do you mean?"
"We are in a place where causality, time, and space are flexible concepts," Sofia responded. "A place where all possible outcomes of any event occur simultaneously."
"And how can we escape?"
"To escape, we need someone who transcends all those concepts," Sofia said. "Someone who can see beyond reality and manipulate the threads of the universe."
"Someone like who?"
"Someone capable of destroying this loop," Sofia replied. "Someone who can break the barriers of time and space."
"Can you do it, Sofia?" I asked directly.
Sofia responded with a resounding "Yes." Her voice was full of confidence and certainty. "Destroying this ability is both too easy and too complex. I can nullify it immediately without spending a single drop of energy. However, to do so, I must release several of the seals imposed on you."
"What seals?" I asked, intrigued.
"It doesn't matter," Sofia replied. "I want you to allow me to show my true power. Sofia, activate automatic mode. Destroy this place and get me out of here. At the same time, let's free Ryoga as well."
At that moment, Ryoga sensed a powerful magical energy and headed toward us.
Meanwhile, Sofia had taken full control of my body. She approached the barrier preventing our escape and, with just her hand, began modifying the Meta Prison ability.
"Meta Prison ability has been successfully acquired," Sofia said.
I felt my body transforming. My energy increased, and my mind expanded.
"Restrictions for modifying laws, successfully removed," Sofia said. "Restrictions for modifying concepts, successfully removed. Restrictions for altering reality itself, successfully removed."
The list of restrictions continued endlessly, and with each one removed, I felt my power growing.
"Transcendence restrictions, successfully removed. Absolute action restrictions, successfully removed. World modification restrictions, successfully removed."
Finally, Sofia said, "Imposed restrictions, successfully removed. Sofia, Goddess of Absolute Knowledge, has evolved into Sofia, Goddess of Absolute Transcendence."
I felt confused, but at that moment, the Meta Prison ability vanished with an explosive sound. The barrier surrounding us collapsed, and an intense magical energy enveloped us. We exited the place, and a blinding light surrounded us.
Suddenly, my body tensed. I felt a searing pain coursing through every fiber, every cell. It was as if my body was being remade from the inside out. The pain was unique, a sensation I had never experienced before. It was as if my soul was being purified by a fire that burned away everything nonessential.
My body trembled, and my mind expanded. The golden light surrounding me seemed to be fueling my transformation.
"Evolution complete," I heard an inner voice say. "Ascended to Hero," the voice continued.
I felt my body growing stronger, my power multiplying. The restrictions that had been imposed on me vanished, and my potential became infinite.
"Evolution and monster naming restrictions destroyed," the voice said. "You can name any monster without being affected. Summoning restrictions removed. You can summon any monster without limitations."
The pain dissipated, and a sense of euphoria washed over me. I felt renewed.
At that very moment, Ryoga lifted me with a punch, his expression reflecting surprise.
Before I could process the information, Sofia gave no signs of life. I felt alone, but I paid it no mind. I felt a surge of power within me, and my mind was now focused on Zero.
"Zero might die if we let him fight that old man," Ryoga said coldly and directly.
I wanted to go myself, but before that, Sofia responded, "Summoning circle activated. Summoning three beings to serve me."
The air filled with intense magical energy. A circle of white light formed in front of me, with ancient symbols and runes glowing with a bluish light. The circle began to spin, and a figure emerged from its center.
The girl who always watched over me appeared before me, her gaze fixed on me. At her sides, two imposing demons emerged from the circle, their presence almost palpable. They were tall and muscular, with black wings and red eyes that glowed with supernatural intensity.
A third demon emerged from the circle, smaller than the other two but with an equally intense aura of power. The three beings bowed before me, awaiting orders.
Sofia took control of my body without my command. The girl bowed before me, asking for a name and a body. Her tearful eyes were sincere.
"Do you wish for a name?" I asked.
"Yes, my lord," she replied softly.
"Then, you shall be called Kiyohime. I hope you will be loyal to me," I said.
Sofia returned control of my body to me. Kiyohime drained my mana at an alarming rate, but Sofia intervened: "Analysis complete. Body and evolution complete. Kiyohime has successfully evolved."
A small bit of information about Kiyohime appeared before me, but I paid it no mind. I wanted to see what she would become.