{A/N: I'm making it so every time Ravin replies or communicates with Pixia it will be mentioned in single commas ' ' to avoid confusion. Also their conversation is always done mentally.}
[Ravin's POV]
The realm shifted again.
One moment, we stood panting at the end of the maze—sweaty, scratched, and mildly tired by our recent IQ-overdraft puzzle session.
The next, the world shimmered and shifted. When the light cleared, we found ourselves standing in a wide circular clearing, surrounded by looming crystalline trees. At the center was a raised marble platform, etched with golden runes.
On it stood a radiant shrine—graceful, divine, and ancient. A statue of a blindfolded woman with a serene smile stood at the heart, her outstretched hands cradling a glowing orb of pure luck energy.
A message appeared above it in luminous letters:
Objective: Defend the Shrine of the Goddess of Luck from Five Waves of Enemies.
Time Between Waves: 1 Minute
Failing to Protect the Shrine Results in Team Disqualification.
'It's going exactly like the game. This is were Leon grabs the attention of the goddess of luck.' I muttered mentally.
(Oh great. Divine foreshadowing. Next thing you know, the goddess will fall for you too.)
'You say that like it's a bad thing,' I replied mentally grinning.
Borik grunted. "Tch. Don't tell me we're protectin' fairy-tales now."
Luni tilted her head, eyes shining. "This place… feels blessed. It's warm."
Mera nodded nervously, inching closer to Leon. "It's… nice. Peaceful…"
Eira stood beside me, eyes twitching. "If that statue gets more of your attention than me, I'll break it."
"…Noted."
(Host. This is the perfect time to show off.)
'I know and I plan to do exactly that.'
The moment we gathered around the shrine, a faint bell chimed. Magical barriers flickered to life around the outer ring.
Borik cracked his knuckles. "Finally. Something to hit."
Mera swallowed nervously, but stood close to Leon.
Luni stood near me, her unicorn horn faintly glowing. "This place… feels sacred."
Eira was stroking the statue's fingers.
(Host. She's flirting with a divine statue.)
'...'
The first wave hit like a storm—spider wolves, 100 of them, leaping from the trees with hissing cries. They were all fledglings which was equivalent to apprentice rank
"Positions!" I commanded, stepping forward and drawing my blade.
Pixia popped in with her usual timing.
(Oh look. Spooder puppies. How terrifying.)
'Try not to jinx it.'
Leon raised a barrier with [Earthen barrier], shielding Mera and Luni while Borik launched at a group of monsters with his axes and blew half of them sky-high.
I moved through the remaining ones like a windstorm with my katana in my hand, casually killing everything in my way without even using mana.
After the first wave finished Eira who was fully covered in black monster blood walked up to me and smiled terrifyingly.
"Ravin~ I got twelve! Praise me?"
"You're terrifying."
"Aww~"
(Host. She's glowing. Affection +2. Eira: 125/100. Yandere Level 3—getting dangerous.)
While, in the background I could guess the crowd was going crazy because of the amount of CP I was getting.
"RAVIN!"
"Did he just kill all those beasts without using mana?!"
"He's glowing!"
(Audience admiration detected. CP +200,000)
(Host, keep it up. You're basically a celebrity at this point.)
The monsters in the next wave were of the same rank but were more difficult to kill. In wave two monsters who were a strange mix of a monkey and a crow where flying while shooting fireballs. There were twenty of those.
It was a shit show. Mera even got grabbed by a monster who throwed her from 50 feet above. She would have been teleported outside if not for leon catching her bridal style mid air looking like a god damn protagonist.
As for me, well I was having fun shooting down those flying monkeys with nothing but compressed mana. I even got a three monkeys in a single shot.
(Tch... The crowd was going crazy seeing that. You made it look like those poor monsters your targets for your aim. You even got 50000 CP from the crowd.)
We were surrounded by 10 shadow leopards for the third wave. Each of them was a beast (beasts are the same as Master rank.)
This time I decided to let my team shine and not just aura farm.
Leon took the front—he wielded water and fire in harmony.
Borik stood at the shrine, axes cleaving anything that got through.
"Oi! I don't need you telling me how to swing!" He shouted at me.
"I didn't say anything." Bro what the hell. I didn't even say it out aloud.
"You were thinking it!"
" (゜o゜; "
Eira was dodging through enemies like a dancer, eyes gleaming. She giggled every time she stabbed something.
Mera, trembling at first, began using [Binding Threads] to entangle enemies for Leon to strike.
"Good job," he said. She lit up like a firework.
(Affection +2. Mera → Leon: 14/100)
Luni healed and buffed them gently from the rear, her mana soothing like warm tea. While I just sat on a stair with both of my hands on my chin staring at absolutely nothing.
In my defence it did look cool. I even got alot of CP when a beast came to attack me and I just killed it with a flick of my katana.
(It infuriating that you are correct. Tch if only you weren't this handsome.)
"You're all doing wonderful," I said loudly feeling smug inside.
(Affection +2. Luni: 16/100. CP +2,000)
Wave four would have been actually challenging for me if I didn't use 10% of my power. A thunder chimera who was also a beast but was incomparable to the shadow leapords charged at us like a wild elephant.
Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to farm CP I stepped forward. My hair fluttered in the non-existent wind and my body began to glow I stepped forward and declared.
"Let me handle this."
"Ravin, wait—" Leon shouted but before he could even complete his sentence I vanished.
[Void Step]
I reappeared above the chimera, my katana glowing with mana of multiple elements, carved down in a single arc. The beast was sliced in half cleanly, the light so blinding it silenced the arena.
(Host. You're showing off.)
"Obviously."
(Audience Awe Detected. CP +350,000)
Pixia was laughing.
(You love this, don't you?)
'Almost as much as I love my waifus.'
The shrine pulsed. The blindfolded goddess statue shimmered briefly. A single message blinked in my vision.
I blinked.
'Pixia…'
(Don't even say it. I wouldn't be surprised even if this world fell in love with you.)
[Affinity Detected. The Goddess of Luck smiles upon you.]
(Affection +2. Fortuna: 2/100. CP +50,000)
(CP +70,000 – Performance Applause Bonus.)
(Luck Passive Gained: Divine Favor: luck is always by your side.)
(Host. You got a divine waifu's attention. Are you happy now?)
The crowd outside the realm went wild. My charm was apparently universal.
---
[Third-Person POV – Above the Trial Arena]
The moment Ravin killed the chimera cheers erupted from the crowd and Ravin was showered with CP.
"That's Ravin!"
"He didn't even sweat!"
"He's glowing! Is he glowing?"
"Ah, I think I'm wet!"
Meanwhile, a grand floating platform hovered above the realm. On it sat two apex women—Queen Zephyra and the Sword Empress Synthia.
Synthia leaned forward, her arms crossed, eyes locked onto the battlefield below. "He's improving."
Zephyra's eyes gleamed.
"Well. That was fun."
Synthia didn't speak—only sipped her tea calmly and smiled faintly.
"You underestimate him. He hasn't even used 10% of his power."
"I take it back," Zephyra said, smirking. "He's not flashy. He's terrifying. But I enjoyed watching you act like a concerned lover when a snow leapord almost hit him.
Synthia didn't respond—though the faint flush on her cheeks betrayed her.
Zephyra chuckled softly, her draconic pupils narrowing. "Let's see how he handles what comes next."
---
[Ravin's POV]
After giving an award winning performance and the goddess of luck by my side we were teleported to the fourth test.
The world twisted again.
We were thrown into a black crater—ash, fire, and the oppressive pressure of something ancient.
The monster rose from the center—twenty feet tall, plated in obsidian, eyes glowing with molten red. It was part lion, part scorpion, part walking war crime.
Its roar shook the realm. It was an awakened monster.
Leon took a shaky step forward. "Okay. We might need a plan."
"We hit it really hard and don't die," Borik said.
"Sound strategy," I agreed. "Luni, buffs. Leon, defense. Eira, flanks. Mera, support from the rear. Borik—let's turn this thing into stew."
The fight was beautiful.
Borik and I charged. I drew its aggro while dodging its claw swipes. Borik… okay, he just yelled and charged at it.
Leon created a prism of elemental barriers while Mera amplified his buffs. Luni healed anyone who took a hit with calm grace. Eira danced on the beast's back, slashing deep with every giggle.
"Its eyes are glowing it's about to attack!" Leon warned.
"I'll intercept!" I leapt and slashed across its eyes with my katana layered with condensed mana.
"NOW, Eira!"
"Ehe~" Eira vanished and reappeared mid-air, impaling its skull with her blade as it fell to the ground while screeching and attacking randomly.
Seeing this Leon and I fought side by side—light and dark, storm and starlight. Every clash of my sword met the beast's fists. Every time it tried to attack from my blind spot Leon appeared behind to protect me.
We fought like a unit .
And when the final strike landed—my blade plunged through its corrupted core with a burst of white flame—our team stood, panting and victorious.
[Boss Defeated. CP +120,000]
(Host. Your fanbase is growing again. Girls are screaming.)
[Audience CP Bonus: +60,000]
I wasn't even given time to brag when suddenly, our team members turned to one another—magic circles forming beneath our feet.
>Final Test: "Only the strongest shall lead."
Fight. The winner gets priority placement, special rewards, and the right to form a party under their name.
Everyone looked around awkwardly.
Leon rubbed the back of his head. "Well… this is sudden."
Borik grunted. "Tch. I ain't fightin' ye kids."
Eira drew her blades. "But we just bonded!" There was no sadness in her voice instead it was filled with excitement.
Mera looked like she was going to cry.
Luni floated back, serene. "Perhaps… a friendly match?"
Leon's gaze met mine. He smiled.
"I guess we fight."
"You okay with that?" I asked.
He laughed. "You're strong, Ravin. I want to see how far I still have to go."
My teammates took their stances and they all looked at me.
Like they knew who the real opponent was.
Pixia purred.
(They all know. You're the final boss.)
I exhaled. Then smiled.
"Come on then."
---
[Short Scene – Above]
Zephyra leaned back, smirking. "They're teaming on him."
Synthia didn't blink. "He'll win. Easily."
Zephyra blinked.
----
[Back to Ravin's POV]
I drew my sword.
And smiled.
"Let's make it fun."
Then I vanished.
They never saw me move.
I disarmed Leon in one tap, flicked Eira into the air (earning a moan, somehow), flipped Borik onto his back, made Mera spin in place with a gentle tap, and bowed to Luni before lightly booping her on the nose.
Done in six seconds.
Silence.
(Host. You didn't just cook them. You roasted and then burnt them.)
'Sometimes the chef must serve humility.'
(Affection +3. All teammates. CP +30,000 total)
---
[Zephyra & Synthia – Floating Balcony POV]
Zephyra set her wine glass down.
"...He only used a fifth of his power."
Synthia smiled faintly. "That was generous of him."
"I take back what I said. He might actually be too dangerous."Zephyra said, eyes gleaming with excitement. "We should challenge him."
Synthia sighed. "Please don't break my boyfriend."
Zephyra grinned. "No promises."
----
[Ravin's POV]
The trial ended with me standing in the middle of the glowing platform.
The crowd? Losing their minds.
Girls screamed.
Boys cheered in disbelief.
And above all that— I saw Syntha looking at me with proudly while Zephyra looked at me with interest.