The news spread through Heaven faster than celestial wind.
An Irregular.
A mere human.
Granted entry into the Grand Tournament of Ascension.
By the Goddess herself.
It was unthinkable.
Within hours, divine corridors buzzed with discussion.
Floating councils gathered in private chambers.
High Divinities exchanged silent glances.
Some displeased.
Some insulted.
Some curious.
But none dared question her decision openly.
---
In the Chamber of Azure Radiance
Several High Divinities sat around a circular platform of suspended light.
One of them spoke first.
"A human."
"An Irregular."
"In the Grand Tournament?"
His voice carried restrained irritation.
Another responded calmly.
"The decree bears her seal."
"The decision is final."
A third voice, colder—
"Tradition is not meant to be reshaped by whim."
Silence followed.
But even in their dissatisfaction—
None uttered opposition directly.
Because at the pinnacle—
Sat the Goddess of Time.
And her will was absolute.
---
Elsewhere
In a vast training hall surrounded by hovering golden constructs—
A young man stood alone.
Tall.
Refined.
Silver-white hair tied neatly behind.
Golden eyes sharp and confident.
His aura alone pressed the air outward.
A Bloodline Heir.
But not just any heir.
Aurelius.
Son of one of the High Divinities.
He had already heard the news.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"So…"
"The human enters the arena."
His grip tightened slightly around his weapon.
"I will crush him."
There was no rage.
No screaming.
Just cold certainty.
"To be acknowledged by Her Divinity…"
"For an Irregular to stand on that stage…"
His golden eyes sharpened.
"I will make an example."
His mana flared briefly.
Bright.
Golden.
Overwhelming.
---
Back at the Palace
Meanwhile—
In Arin's room—
He was pacing.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
"Why did I go with Caelum…"
"Why did I speak…"
"Why does she enjoy this…"
He dramatically placed both hands on his head.
"I walked right into it."
He stopped.
Took a deep breath.
"Okay."
"Think."
"What can I do?"
After a few moments—
His eyes slowly widened.
"…Wait."
"If I surrender mid-battle…"
"It ends immediately."
"I lose."
"And I go home."
He pointed at nothing dramatically.
"Perfect."
"And besides—"
He summoned Cutie.
The faint glow appeared, brighter than before.
"Cutie can handle things."
He trusted that much.
He knew he wouldn't die.
Probably.
Cutie seemed excited.
There was a small bounce in its glow.
"Mana…"
"Many… mana…"
It sounded eager.
Arin narrowed his eyes.
"…You're excited, aren't you?"
Cutie glowed brighter.
Then suddenly—
It spoke more steadily than usual.
"I… can help."
Arin blinked.
"Help?"
"I can see… how much mana… opponent has."
"I can… absorb attacks."
"If I absorb… their spells…"
"They will have no mana."
"Then… you win."
Arin froze.
"…You can do that?"
Cutie flickered proudly.
"Yes."
Arin stared at it in disbelief.
"That's…"
"That's broken."
He leaned forward.
"You can see how much mana someone has?"
"Yes."
"And you can absorb their attacks?"
"Yes."
"And they can't attack anymore?"
"Yes."
Arin grabbed Cutie gently.
"You're amazing."
"Thank you."
Cutie glowed warmly.
---
Later—
Arin approached Caelum in one of the outer corridors.
"Voo."
Caelum glanced at him.
"What is it?"
"I have important information."
Caelum raised an eyebrow.
"That is rare."
Arin ignored the comment.
"Cutie can see how much mana someone has."
Caelum stopped walking.
"…What?"
"And absorb their spells."
Silence.
Caelum's expression shifted.
Only Elder Gods—
Or the Goddess—
Could fully perceive another being's total mana reserves.
Even High Divinities could only estimate.
He himself—
Could only sense rough density.
Not full capacity.
"Demonstrate," Caelum said calmly.
Arin nodded.
He closed his eyes.
"Cutie."
For a few seconds—
Nothing.
Then—
Arin opened his eyes.
And froze.
The world looked slightly different.
The air shimmered.
And before him—
Caelum.
But not just Caelum.
His mana.
Dark blue.
Thick.
Dense.
It filled nearly the entire corridor.
Like a compressed ocean.
Layered.
Heavy.
Powerful.
Arin's mouth slowly opened.
"…Voo."
Caelum watched him.
"What do you see?"
Arin walked around him slowly.
"Your mana…"
"It's dark blue."
"Thick."
"It fills the entire room."
"Like… like a storm trapped in a container."
Caelum's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You can see its color?"
"Yes."
"And density."
"And the way it moves."
Caelum remained silent.
That was not ordinary perception.
That was divine-grade sensory ability.
"You must report this to Her Divinity," Caelum said.
Arin immediately waved his hands.
"No."
"No, no."
"It's too minor."
"She's busy."
"This is small."
Caelum stared at him.
"Small?"
"Only Elder Gods possess such perception."
Arin shrugged lazily.
"Exactly."
"She probably already knows."
"What's the point in disturbing her?"
"It's not like she doesn't know everything already."
His tone was careless.
Slightly slack.
Almost rude.
"And besides—"
Before he could continue—
The air changed.
Silence fell.
A familiar presence.
Both froze.
Behind them—
A calm voice.
"Oh?"
"What is it that I already know, human?"
They turned.
The Goddess stood there.
When had she arrived?
Neither knew.
Both immediately knelt.
Arin's brain shut down.
"My Lady—"
He attempted to cover.
"We were merely discussing—"
Mid-sentence—
He lifted his head slightly.
And met her gaze.
And he was no longer in the corridor.
Everything disappeared.
There was only darkness.
Endless.
Vast.
Cold.
The palace gone.
Caelum gone.
Light gone.
And before him—
Her.
Suspended in an infinite void.
Not radiating mana.
Not glowing.
Not flaring.
Just existing.
But the space around her—
Was distorted.
Endless layers of time.
Fragments of eternity spiraling outward.
Mana?
No.
This was beyond mana.
It was like staring at existence itself.
Arin's breath stopped.
His body trembled.
He tried to comprehend it.
He couldn't.
There was no color.
No density.
No end.
Just infinite depth.
A presence that swallowed measurement itself.
Her voice echoed within the void.
"Can your eyes perceive what you seek?"
It was gentle.
Almost curious.
But the weight behind it crushed him.
Arin's vision shook.
His mind trembled.
He wished—
He had not looked.
Suddenly—
The vision snapped away.
Cutie had withdrawn the sight.
The corridor returned.
Arin was mid-kneel.
Sweat on his forehead.
Breathing uneven.
He forgot what he was saying.
The Goddess looked at him calmly.
Her expression unreadable.
She knew.
Of course she knew.
And she was amused.
Very slightly.