"Welcome to the Floor of Seat."
A divine voice resonated in the air, echoing with an otherworldly power.
I glanced around, wary. The surroundings offered no sign of Julie, not even her thoughts for that matter.. Relief washed over me for a while, but it was quickly replaced by confusion.
"Don't be nervous," the voice continued, calm and authoritative. "Your comrade is safe... for now."
"For now?" I muttered, my unease deepening. What was this voice trying to imply?
Suddenly, the world around me shifted. The barren landscape dissolved into a shower of light, reshaping itself into something else entirely. My footing felt unsteady as reality itself bent and twisted.
"Your True, real trial from henceforth begins," the voice declared.
"While climbing, you shall nurture your children—your followers. Prove yourself worthy of the mantle you bear."
'The Floor of Seat', as the voice had called it, formed endlessly before me. Towering thrones, each unique in design, loomed like ancient sentinels, their sheer presence casting long, ominous shadows.
Every chair was grand and majestic, radiating an aura of significance. Some gleamed with celestial light, others pulsed with dark energy, and a few seemed to hum with elemental power.
The sight overwhelmed me. There were far too many to count. If each seat represented a god or goddess chosen by the system, then what did that make me? Another cog in this divine machine?
The thought sent a ripple of doubt through me.
But as I stood there, scanning the sprawling array of thrones, my gaze locked onto one. It wasn't the most magnificent or the most striking—it was vile.
Twisted and grotesque, the seat seemed crafted from writhing black tendrils and jagged edges.
Its surface shimmered faintly as though alive, pulsating with malevolent energy.
And yet, it felt oddly comforting.
The pull was undeniable. Despite its dreadful appearance, it called to me like a whisper in the wind, beckoning me closer.
I hesitated, my hand clenched tightly around the hilt of my sword.
– Was this my destiny? To claim a throne that exuded misfortune and despair?
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward. The closer I got, the heavier the air felt, as though the throne's presence was testing my resolve.
Finally, I stood before it, its grotesque details clearer than ever. The seat seemed to breathe, the tendrils curling and uncurling in anticipation.
I lowered myself onto the throne.
The moment I made contact, the world shifted.
Voices erupted in my ears—whispers, cries, and desperate pleas for help. They overlapped and echoed endlessly, creating a cacophony of chaos that sent a shiver down my spine. I clutched the armrests, my knuckles white.
Prayers. Offerings. Bargains. These were the voices of my believers, their words filled with desperation and reverence.
I jolted upright, my heart pounding in my chest. The voices faded, replaced by a singular, commanding tone.
"The Goddess of Misfortune has returned," it declared, its reverberation shaking the very air. "She has taken her seat for the trial."
Before I could react, the familiar glow of the system interface appeared before me.
Status
Name: Lira
Level: 24
Occupation: Goddess of Misfortune
Holy Power Pool: 2,420,047
Followers: 1 (Julie)
Believers: 291
Priestess: 1
The once sealed occupation was unsealed. Below the main details, a new section emerged, outlined with faint golden light.
Active Quest:
—Expand your Faith.
Your holy power is dwindling in numbers, and without more believers, your divine influence will weaken further.
Tips:
• Bring massive misfortune to a group of sentient beings (Highly effective ).
• Assist those stricken by misfortune (Not recommended ).
I frowned at the bluntness of the advice. As a so-called Goddess of Misfortune, even the system seemed to steer me toward the more destructive path.
Another screen appeared beneath the quest, and my attention sharpened as a name caught my eye. A being I have been so curious about, enough to ignore Julie and her situation, which I don't know of yet.
"Priestess Of Misfortune—"
Name: Xin Da Qi
Age: 19 years
Faith Level: 100 (Chosen)
• Abilities Granted by Faith:
1. Healing Touch: Restores vitality but subtly transfers minor misfortune to the target.
2. Divine Communication: Ritual-based ability to commune directly with the goddess she worships.
Current Location: Abyss, 7th Floor.
The mention of Chosen stood out, and as if responding to my curiosity, another section unfolded, breaking down the nature of faith.
***—***
Faith Levels and Holy Power Contribution:
0–20 (Casual Believers): +1 holy power per hour of prayer (Even fake prayers count).
21–40 (Devotees): +10 holy power per hour of prayer (Common believers).
41–60 (True Believers): +100 holy power per hour of prayer (Those who genuinely follow your teachings).
61–80 (Zealots): +1,000 holy power per hour of prayer (Fanatics driven by fervor).
81–90 (Pure Fanatics): +10,000 holy power per hour of prayer (Individuals who live solely for their faith).
91–100 (Chosen): +20,000 holy power per hour of prayer. Chosen ones may also generate 'Fanatic Crystals'.
— A divine resource used for blessings or power enhancement.
__________
The weight of the information hit me like a crashing wave. Xin Da Qi, with her unwavering devotion, was the reason my holy power is high. Her contribution was immense—20,000 holy power every hour of prayer—and the possibility of Fanatic Crystals was an intriguing bonus.
But the rest of my believers? A meager 291 souls offering a trickle of faith, most likely casual or half-hearted in their prayers. Their impact was negligible compared to a single pure fanatic.
I exhaled slowly, closing the screen with a wave of my hand.
"Expand my faith," I murmured, the words heavy with implication. It wasn't just a simple task. It meant either spreading my influence to new followers or deepening the devotion of the ones I already had.
The system's "tips" echoed in my mind:
• Bring massive misfortune to a group of sentient beings.
• Assist the misfortunate.
The first option was undeniably effective, aligning with my title and perhaps my nature.
The second was less efficient—almost mocked by the system itself—but it lingered in my thoughts.
I shook my head, turning away from the screen.
"First, survive this floor," I muttered. "Then I'll figure out how to expand my so-called divine influence."
The trial ahead loomed large, but one thing was certain: this wasn't just a challenge of endurance. It was a test of what kind of goddess I would choose to be.