The Hero Tempered by the Sacred Fire

It hurt!

It really hurt—!

At this moment,

Thaumas's body had already lost all sensation. He had no idea what was happening outside.

Because he was in a gray, unknown space,

Thaumas's soul was being burned by the Sacred Fire.

An accident had occurred with the Heavenly Fire meant to reshape the hero.

At first, the Heavenly Fire Hestia had given Hephaestus was meant to assist her forging.

But Hestia had secretly mixed in a wisp of Sacred Fire containing a great deal of her Authority, intending to help Hephaestus forge more effectively.

Yet even Hestia probably had not expected anyone to use it to reshape a body.

The Heavenly Fire was mixed with Sacred Fire. And the Sacred Fire did not burn the body—it burned the soul. More accurately, it burned away the impurities within the soul.

Thaumas might not have been old in actual years, but he had still lived three lives. Completely different bodies and utterly different lives had caused problems to arise within his soul as well.

In fact, if he reincarnated a few more times, his mottled, chaotic soul would no longer be able to bear his "information," causing his soul to collapse.

Hephaestus also realized something was wrong. The fire patterns on her face glowed, flames burning in her eyes as she saw that wisp of Sacred Fire.

She also understood what Thaumas was going through.

Nine parts Heavenly Fire, plus Sacred Fire carrying Hestia's Authority—the pain of having both body and soul burned was unimaginable, yet he was still holding on.

Even with the Divine Salve helping him, it only worked on the body. The problem now was his soul.

He was only a mortal! Even some demigods could not endure the agony of having their souls tempered!

If he could not hold on, he would truly die—the kind of death where even his soul perished.

She wanted to help Thaumas, because this was the God of Fire's mistake.

At that moment, Thaumas was like a weapon being forged in her eyes. She would never allow herself to produce a failed work!

Especially when the failure would be caused by her! As a goddess of forging, she could never permit that!

But,

Thinking of what Athena had said to her, she ultimately chose silence. Then, after making up her mind, she sent her voice into Thaumas's soul:

"If you can't hold on any longer, tell me. I can stop."

Though she had isolated herself from the world, she was still a goddess. She also wanted to see whether a mortal could truly create a Miracle.

The trial of forging had posed no difficulty for Thaumas. But could he create a Miracle in this despair-inducing trial as well?

Although Hephaestus did not know Thaumas could not open his mouth, or that he had already lost consciousness, she mistakenly believed he was still desperately enduring...

What an innocent Hephaestus!

Much, much later,

In a haze,

He heard the sound of rushing water beside his ears. It seemed some sort of liquid was drawing near him.

Wait, this feeling... It was like being wrapped in something warm?

Such familiar warmth! It felt as though he had experienced it before.

It did not hurt anymore. Instead, it felt so comfortable!

Slowly, Thaumas struggled to pry open his eyelids. He finally opened his eyes. Though everything before him was still blurry, he could already make out a few things.

It was a magnificent Monument, recording his life and achievements!

It had lent Thaumas a hand at the crucial moment.

It had allowed him to create this Miracle.

No, it should be said that this was also thanks to the little bits of accumulation he had built up over so many days.

Every day, he had gone to the forging room and faced the Earth Fire directly, using it to improve his resistance to flames. Though the two were not the same, they were largely similar.

With the Divine Salve, the foundation of three lifetimes' worth of souls, and the Monument's aid, most importantly, he had possessed a belief that refused to give up even after he lost consciousness!

That desire to live, to keep holding on, had made his soul persist unconsciously.

That was how he had miraculously survived! It was a Miracle that could not be replicated!

And then...

Then he fell into a deep sleep...

After all, it had really hurt! Let him sleep for just a little while!

"You're saying this child endured the tempering of the Sacred Fire?" Athena blinked, looking greatly interested.

Hephaestus considered it for a while. Looking at Thaumas, whose body was covered in bandages, the godly eyes were stung slightly by the radiance of his soul. Only after withdrawing her gaze did she finally speak:

"Judging by the result, that seems to be the case. Though I don't know exactly what happened. After all, souls aren't my specialty.

But you can see it too, can't you? This child has always been shrouded in mist. No god can see the fate awaiting him, but we can all sense the true nature of his soul beneath that mist.

Before, though it was not ugly, it was unbearably murky.

But now, after being tempered by the Sacred Fire, what remains is his own 'essence.' It truly shines brilliantly.

Like a perfect work of art!"

Athena nodded slightly, then smiled as she stroked Thaumas's head. Her slender fingers combed through the hair that had just started growing back.

After all, the Heavenly Fire had burned away things like hair. Fortunately, the Divine Salve seemed capable of making hair grow back?

Athena was now very satisfied with Thaumas. If Hera had not kept coming to make trouble for her every few days, she would not have waited until now to visit this hero she had taken a liking to.

Before, Thaumas's soul had been rather mixed. To gods, such a soul was very "filthy."

That was also one of the main reasons Athena had not thought highly of Thaumas at first.

It had to be said, Hera truly had a sharp eye!

The Goddess of Wisdom was filled with emotion once more.

But the more that was the case, the less Athena wanted to let go. She wanted to snatch him away.

Such a hero should belong to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom! This child had miraculously survived the double torment of bodily incineration and soul-forging!

If he had shown even the slightest hesitation, he would have been doomed beyond redemption!

Thaumas, you had offered the gods a Miracle!

"By the way, where is Hera?"

Hephaestus was the one asking, but unlike before, there was no hatred for Hera in her voice today. She calmly questioned Athena.

"The Queen of Heaven? She is probably worrying herself sick over Thaumas right now!

Recently, she has not even been catching Father's affairs anymore. That is why Father was willing to issue an oracle.

If it were not for Father, he probably really could not have stopped the Queen of Heaven.

Though she does not dare come see you, either."

Athena spoke mischievously, as though she were telling a very amusing story.

"Is that so? She still doesn't want to come?" Hephaestus said somewhat dejectedly.

Seeing her like this, Athena, as her friend, could not bear it. Yet there was nothing she could do. If she could help, things would not have become like this.

But as Athena looked at Thaumas lying on the bed, she suddenly thought of something. A smile she could not hide curled across her lips.

Or perhaps,

"Say, Hephaestus, look. You helped Thaumas so much. You forged this Bracelet for him, one capable of containing the powers of countless gods. That is an enormous favor.

So why not ask him to do a tiny favor in return? Surely Thaumas would not mind?"

"Huh? Is that all right? He is only a child. Can he do it? Besides, he has already passed my trial."

"Haven't you already seen it? He created a Miracle! Then recreating one should not be impossible, right?

Even if it truly looks impossible, challenging such despairing things is what gods wish to see.

As for another trial, just give him another reward."

After hearing that, Hephaestus thought for a while, tucked back her beautiful hair, and only then said:

"Then let us believe in this child! If he can do it, the power of the Weapon Ship shall be his to command!"

Then, could he bring another Miracle to the gods?

Athena was greatly looking forward to it!

P.S.: Today's bonus chapters have all been delivered. I keep my word—honesty is a rare and precious virtue!

First, there were the usual three daily chapters.

Then there was the extra chapter promised yesterday. I had originally planned to post it on Monday to ask for recommendation votes, but I was too busy on Sunday and did not get it up.

One extra chapter for the big shots who tirelessly and carefully help me correct mistakes every day.

I saw readers sending red packets to help me get recommendation votes, and I was deeply moved, so here is another extra chapter.

Also, the editor has taken notice of the new book. Congratulations! Everything is slowly getting better, so I decided on yet another extra chapter!

All in all, today's update is—seven chapters!

Burn, little universe!

All right, I've burned out today. If there are any more bonus chapters next time, it will probably be for signing a contract and getting published, if I'm lucky...