บท 17: Chapter 17: A New Beginning
The light from the teleportation spell flickered, and when it faded, Ansh, Kavi, and Tara found themselves standing at the edge of the trial grounds. The tension in the air from the God Trial had dissipated, leaving a strange sense of calm that contrasted with the intense struggles they had just endured.
Ansh, however, was still feeling the aftershocks of his transformation. His heart pounded in his chest, but not from exhaustion—this was different. He could feel the divine energy coursing through him, a steady thrum of power that he had never known before. He had crossed a line, ascended into something more than human. The weight of this new reality settled over him as he turned his gaze inward, trying to make sense of it all.
As the three friends adjusted to the new surroundings, a familiar figure materialized before them—Neeraj. He stood at a distance, his expression unreadable, as though waiting for Ansh to take the first step. Ansh had seen him before during his trials, but this time, Neeraj looked different. More substantial. More... connected.
Ansh walked forward slowly, his eyes fixed on Neeraj, who gave a soft smile of recognition. Neeraj's form seemed to flicker slightly in the sunlight, almost ethereal.
"I knew you'd return," Neeraj said quietly, his voice steady yet filled with a kind of ancient wisdom. "You've finally found the path, Ansh. The power you sought was always within you. You just needed to find it."
Ansh nodded, taking a deep breath. "I felt it, Neeraj. But it wasn't just about finding power. It was about understanding who I am."
Neeraj stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that pierced through the air between them. "Exactly. And now, the final step is yours to take. You no longer need me as a guide. The Ansh who wandered through the trials is not the Ansh who stands before me now. You have become more than that. We were once separate, you and I. But now… now we are one."
Ansh blinked, his mind spinning as he tried to grasp the full meaning of Neeraj's words. "One?" he echoed.
Neeraj's form flickered again, and for a moment, it was as if Ansh was looking at a mirror. The same divine energy that flowed through Ansh pulsed within Neeraj, as though they were two halves of the same whole. "Yes," Neeraj whispered. "Everything I am, everything I was, is now yours. My path is now your path. My strength, my knowledge—it's all yours. You don't need to follow in anyone's footsteps anymore. You are a god now."
Ansh's heart swelled with the weight of those words. He had felt different ever since the moment he had touched the relic, but now, hearing it spoken aloud—being called a god—it felt overwhelming. A low-tier god, but a god nonetheless. His journey was far from over, but now, he stood among the gods, no longer a mere mortal striving for greatness.
"From here on out," Neeraj continued, "you must forge your own way forward. The path to becoming a god is never easy, but you've taken the first step. The rest is up to you."
Before Ansh could respond, Neeraj's figure shimmered once more, then faded completely, leaving Ansh standing alone. He stared at the space where Neeraj had stood, feeling a strange mixture of loss and completion. Neeraj had been his guide, his mentor in the shadows. But now, their roles had changed. They were one and the same.
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With a soft hum of energy, Ansh, Kavi, and Tara found themselves teleported back to the temple grounds. The bustling noise of priests, acolytes, and temple visitors filled the air, but it all seemed distant to Ansh. His mind was still reeling from what had just happened.
As the three of them stood there, Kavi couldn't help but glance at Ansh, his brow furrowing in confusion. He studied him for a moment before blurting out, "Dude, you look different. Your hair was blonde before, but now it's... blue?"
Ansh looked down at himself, realizing that Kavi was right. His appearance had changed subtly, as if his new godhood had altered him in ways even he didn't fully understand. His once blonde hair had turned a striking shade of blue, and his eyes seemed to glow faintly with divine light.
Kavi chuckled, shaking his head. "Since when did the blue hair trend start with you, Ansh?"
Tara, who had been quiet for the most part, smirked. "Looks like you got more than just godhood from that trial. Fashion upgrade too, huh?"
Ansh smiled weakly, still trying to get used to the changes. "I guess this is what happens when you become a low-tier god. Everything changes."
Before they could delve further into Ansh's transformation, the temple courtyard erupted into commotion. A group of priests came rushing towards them, their expressions filled with awe and excitement. The leader of the group, an older priest with a long white beard, approached Ansh and immediately bowed low, his forehead nearly touching the ground.
"Glory to God Ansh!" the priest proclaimed, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. "You have achieved what few mortals ever could. You are the third human to ascend to the rank of a low-tier god. We are honored to witness such greatness."
The other priests echoed the sentiment, bowing in reverence. "Glory to God Ansh!" they chanted, their voices filled with admiration.
Ansh, stunned by the sudden attention, raised his hands awkwardly. "Uh, thank you? I mean, I wasn't expecting this…"
The older priest straightened up, his eyes gleaming with pride. "You are now one of the gods, Ansh. As such, it is our sacred duty to provide for you. From this day forward, all your expenses will be covered by the temple. You are no longer bound by mortal concerns."
Ansh blinked in disbelief. He had barely wrapped his mind around the idea of becoming a god, and now this? "You're saying the temple will take care of everything?"
The priest nodded solemnly. "Yes, God Ansh. You are divine now. It is only fitting that the temple serves you."
Kavi and Tara stood by, momentarily stunned by what they had just heard. The realization that Ansh had truly become a god was sinking in, and both of them exchanged shocked glances.
"Wait," Kavi said, breaking the silence, "Ansh… you're really a god now?"
Tara's eyes widened as the truth hit her. "I mean, I knew you were special, but a god? That's next level!"
Then, all at once, the shock gave way to excitement. Kavi let out a whoop of joy, throwing his arms around Ansh. "Dude! This is insane! You're a god now! I can't believe it!"
Tara, grinning from ear to ear, joined in the celebration, hugging Ansh tightly. "You did it! You actually did it! We're friends with a god!"
Ansh, still feeling dazed by the sudden shift in his reality, found himself laughing along with them. The weight of his new title pressed on him, but the joy of his friends' excitement lightened the burden, at least for now.
The priests watched the scene with quiet reverence, allowing the three friends their moment of celebration. They knew that this was a significant moment—not just for Ansh, but for all who had witnessed it. The rise of a new god was a rare and powerful event, one that would be spoken of for generations to come.
As the sun began to set over the temple, casting long shadows across the courtyard, Ansh, Kavi, and Tara stood together, their bond stronger than ever. They had faced the God Trial, each of them emerging changed in their own way. But now, they faced an even greater challenge—navigating the world as newly empowered beings, with destinies that were still unfolding.
Ansh looked up at the sky, the divine energy still thrumming within him, and for the first time, he allowed himself to fully embrace what he had become
A god.
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