Hikaru leaned against a tree, arms crossed as he watched Lira pace back and forth. The priestess—Celestia's lackey or secretary or whatever—kept muttering things like "worst summon yet" and "how did this idiot pass the divine trial?" Hikaru was too busy basking in his newfound powers to care.
"So, Lira, right?" Hikaru asked casually, flicking a small rock into the air and catching it with a wave of his hand. "You're telling me I got summoned here to 'restore balance' or something? Bit vague, don't you think?"
Lira stopped mid-pace and glared at him. "That's not just 'something.' It's everything! Astraleon has been under the tyranny of the gods for centuries, and mortals like us suffer daily under their whims. You are supposed to be our savior—our champion!"
"Supposed to be?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. I'm not exactly what you expected?"
"That's an understatement!" she snapped, throwing her hands up. "You have no discipline, no sense of responsibility, and you're treating this like some sort of vacation!"
"First off," Hikaru said, holding up a finger, "you summoned me. I didn't exactly apply for the job." He held up a second finger. "Second, I haven't had a chance to treat this as anything yet. I've been here, what, ten minutes? Give me a break."
Lira groaned, rubbing her temples. "I… I don't have time to argue with you. We need to meet Lady Celestia. She can—"
"Hold up," Hikaru interrupted, sitting up straighter. "If you're just the messenger, what's the point of me talking to you? Take me to your leader."
She stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "Did you just make a movie reference in the middle of a divine quest?"
Hikaru smirked. "You're catching on, Lira. Keep up."
She muttered something under her breath, probably a prayer for patience, and straightened. "Fine. We'll go to Celestia. But don't think for a second that I'm impressed by you, Champion."
"Noted," Hikaru said cheerfully. "Lead the way."
Lira waved her hand, and a shimmering portal materialized in the air, casting a faint golden glow around them. She stepped through without waiting, clearly not eager to continue the conversation. Hikaru followed with a shrug. "Guess I'm meeting the boss lady."
The moment he stepped through, the forest disappeared, replaced by a grand chamber of light and marble. Golden pillars stretched toward a ceiling so high it felt like he was outdoors. A massive, glowing throne sat at the far end of the room, and seated upon it was a woman who could only be described as radiant.
Celestia's presence was overwhelming. Her silvery hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of moonlight, and her eyes sparkled with the kind of power that could incinerate galaxies. Her regal white robes glimmered as if woven from sunlight itself. Yet there was a sharpness in her expression—a blend of frustration and desperation that immediately put Hikaru on edge.
"Champion," she said, her voice ringing out like a melody woven with thunder.
Hikaru squinted at her, unimpressed. "Celestia, I presume?"
The goddess's lips twitched as if she were resisting the urge to scowl. "Yes. I am Celestia, the Goddess of Light, and I am the one who brought you to Astraleon."
"Right, about that," Hikaru said, crossing his arms. "You wanna explain why? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm flattered you thought of me. But dragging me out of my apartment without so much as a warning is kind of rude, don't you think?"
Lira gasped, her face pale. "You dare speak to a goddess like that?!"
Celestia raised a hand to silence her, her gaze fixed on Hikaru. "The situation is dire. I summoned you because Astraleon is on the brink of annihilation. The gods who once upheld balance have turned to chaos, each vying for control, and the mortal realm is suffering as a result. Only a being with power beyond the gods—beyond even this world—can put an end to it."
"Uh-huh." Hikaru looked around the glowing chamber. "Sounds rough. And this has what to do with me?"
Celestia's expression darkened. "You were chosen, Hikaru Sato, because you possess something no mortal in this realm could comprehend. The spark of creation itself."
Hikaru frowned. "Spark of creation? Sounds fancy, but you're gonna have to dumb it down a bit."
Lira groaned audibly, but Celestia remained calm. "Simply put, your potential surpasses even the gods. Your abilities defy the very laws of existence, making you uniquely equipped to face the Tyrant Gods and restore balance."
"Okay," Hikaru said, rubbing his chin. "So you plucked me out of my world, handed me these cheat abilities, and now you expect me to clean up your divine mess?"
"That is correct."
There was a long pause as Hikaru considered her words. Then he started laughing. "Wow. You're really just handing over the responsibility for an entire world to a guy who eats instant ramen for dinner every night."
Celestia's calm exterior cracked, a faint flush of irritation coloring her cheeks. "You are more capable than you appear, Hikaru Sato."
"Oh, I have no doubt," he said, still grinning. "But you didn't summon a hero. You summoned a couch potato with zero motivation."
Lira opened her mouth to scold him, but Celestia cut her off. "Hikaru Sato. This is not a request. The power I granted you was no small gift—it comes with the responsibility to use it for the greater good. You will rise to this challenge, or Astraleon will fall into ruin."
Hikaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man, you gods really don't know how to sell it, do you? 'Hey, save the world or everyone dies' isn't exactly a motivational speech."
"I am not asking for inspiration. I am commanding obedience."
He raised an eyebrow. "That's cute. But see, I didn't sign any contract, so technically…"
Lira sputtered. "You insolent fool! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
"Relax," Hikaru said, waving a hand. "I'm just saying, maybe give me a bit more information before I start toppling gods. Who are these Tyrant Gods? What exactly do they want? And why should I care about fixing your world?"
Celestia leaned back in her throne, studying him. For a moment, the only sound in the chamber was the faint hum of divine energy in the air. Finally, she spoke, her tone measured.
"The Tyrant Gods were once my peers, guardians of balance and protectors of life. But over time, their power corrupted them. Greed, envy, wrath… they succumbed to their basest desires and abandoned their duties. Now they fight amongst themselves, ravaging Astraleon in their pursuit of dominion."
She gestured, and an image appeared in the air: cities in flames, fields turned to wastelands, and mortals screaming in despair as colossal god-like figures clashed above them.
"This is the fate of my world if they are not stopped. You, Hikaru Sato, are my last hope."
Hikaru stared at the image for a long moment, his grin fading. Despite his usual flippant attitude, he couldn't completely ignore the devastation on display. It was like something straight out of an anime—only this wasn't fiction.
"All right," he said slowly. "I get why you're desperate. But here's the thing, Celestia. If I do this, I'm doing it my way. No divine micromanaging, no constant nagging. Got it?"
Lira gaped at him. "You can't talk to Lady Celestia like—"
"Agreed," Celestia said, surprising them both.
"Wait, really?" Hikaru asked, blinking.
"You are no servant, Hikaru Sato," she said, her gaze steady. "You are a force beyond comprehension, one I have entrusted with this task. I will not dictate your actions, but know this: If you fail, Astraleon is lost."
Hikaru scratched his head. "Fair enough. Guess I'd better not screw up, huh?"
Celestia rose from her throne, her divine aura dimming slightly as she stepped closer. "Before you begin, I offer you a choice. I can guide you to your first opponent, or you may explore this world on your own. The path you take is yours to decide."
Hikaru smirked. "Let me guess. First opponent is, like, the tutorial boss? Probably some big dumb monster to get me warmed up?"
Lira huffed. "The first of the Tyrant Gods is no mere 'tutorial boss.' He is Ignar, the Flame Tyrant, a god who commands the very essence of fire itself!"
"That's more like it," Hikaru said, cracking his knuckles. "Sounds like fun. Let's start with him."
Celestia nodded, her expression grave. "Very well. Lira will prepare your passage to his domain. Remember, Hikaru Sato, this is not a game. The fate of countless lives rests on your shoulders."
Hikaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Save the world, don't die. Got it."
As Lira reluctantly opened another portal, Hikaru glanced over his shoulder at Celestia. "Oh, and one last thing. Next time you summon someone, maybe don't mess with their electricity. Just sayin'."
Before Celestia could respond, he stepped through the portal, ready—or at least pretending to be—for his first challenge.