Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Hall of Ascension
Upon stepping into the Hall of Ascension, both Envi and I were utterly mesmerized. The sheer magnificence of this place was unlike anything we had ever seen before. Towering statues of the gods and goddesses stood in a perfect circle around the chamber, their divine presence radiating an overwhelming sense of power and reverence. The craftsmanship was so detailed that the figures looked almost alive, as if they could move at any moment. Even though they were merely statues, their auras could be felt, pressing down on me like an unseen force.

This place reminded me of the moment I first met the Goddess of Benevolence. At that time, her divine presence was so overwhelming that it was almost suffocating, a power beyond mortal comprehension. Standing here, surrounded by these statues, I felt that same sensation—a silent yet undeniable authority. The ceiling of the hall, adorned with a sun-shaped symbol with the number one inscribed at its center, pulsed with a strange divine energy, further enhancing the sanctity of the chamber.

Curiosity stirred within me. Just what was the true purpose of the Hall of Ascension?

Yet, as I studied the room further, something felt off.

The arrangement of the statues seemed deliberate—designed to hold exactly ten divine figures. However, one side of the circle contained a noticeable gap, as if a statue had once stood there but had now vanished. It was strange. If this was a sacred place meant to honor the gods, why would one be missing?

Then, my eyes landed on something even more disturbing.

All the other statues were perfectly intact, their forms sculpted with intricate details from head to toe. But one statue was different—it was missing its head. The clean-cut surface where the head should have been gave me chills.

An uneasy feeling settled in my chest.

“What happened here?” I muttered under my breath, still staring at the headless deity.

Noticing my expression, Sir Godvrey let out a hearty chuckle.”You’re wondering what this place is, aren’t you?” he said, his deep voice echoing through the chamber.

I turned to face him as he continued.

“This hall is unlike any other in the world. It is the only place that has been inherited from the age when the gods still walked this earth. Legends say that this chamber was where the gods would gather, and it was here that humans were first gifted with magic by the divine.” His tone carried a weight of deep reverence as he spoke.

“The Hall of Ascension has been passed down for generations, safeguarded by the Braveheart royal family. Its existence is an absolute secret, known only to those who must protect it. Under no circumstances can this place be discovered by demons—because this hall is the only location where a hero’s status can be officially bestowed by the gods.”

At this, my eyes widened in realization.

“This chamber serves as a bridge between the gods and the chosen ones. If this place were ever destroyed, then perhaps… no more heroes would ever be born among humanity.”

Sir Godvrey’s normally jovial expression turned serious as he folded his arms across his broad chest.

“That is why I, along with the Saintess, have been entrusted with its protection. It is our sacred duty to ensure that this chamber remains untouched. Aside from the Braveheart family and the Saintess, no one else is permitted to enter this place.”

His voice was firm, carrying the weight of his responsibility.

I exhaled slowly. “I see… That makes sense now. Your role is just as heavy as the Saintess’s.”

But something else still bothered me.

“Speaking of the Saintess, what exactly is she? Why isn’t the Saintess chosen from the Braveheart family instead? You all possess Divine Magic, after all.”

My question seemed to catch them off guard for a brief moment. Then, Arsene stepped forward and answered.

“The Saintess is a unique existence. Unlike us, she is not born into her role. She is chosen directly by the gods.”

“Chosen?” I repeated, intrigued.

“Yes. The Saintess is essentially an envoy of the divine, a living representative of the gods on earth. That is why she alone is granted pure Divine Magic, an ability far beyond what our bloodline provides.”

She continued, “Unlike the Braveheart family, who inherit Divine Magic through our lineage, the Saintess is selected randomly. Any girl—regardless of status—can become the Saintess if she is chosen by the gods. The current Saintess, for example, was born among the common folk.”

I was taken aback by that revelation.

So the gods chose her personally?

Arsene went on to explain that the Saintess was one of the most important figures in the kingdom and one of its strongest individuals, standing on par with King Aslan and Sir Godvrey. Her Divine Magic was the purest, making her the greatest healer in existence. That was why she was currently at the frontlines of the war, tending to the injured knights battling against the demons.

Hearing this, I finally understood how extraordinary the Saintess truly was. I felt a sense of pride knowing that Lyra had chosen to become her apprentice. If Lyra could learn from the Saintess, then perhaps she would one day achieve her dream.

But there was still one more thing I needed to ask.

I turned to Amelia and voiced my thoughts.

I noticed something strange—the number of statues here seems off. It looks like there should be ten, but one is missing. Also… why is that statue missing its head?

Amelia exchanged glances with Arsene and Sir Godvrey before answering.

“The statues here represent the gods and goddesses we study at the academy.”

There are 9 statues of gods and goddesses, namely:

-God of Fire, Flareth

-Goddess of Protection, Miranda

-God of Thunder, Zarion

-God of Wind, Zephyria

-God of Earth, Terra

-Goddess of Water and Ice, Aqulia

-Goddess of Nature, Gaia

-Goddess of Light, Solis

Amelia then turned her gaze toward the headless statue of the god. She hesitated for a moment before explaining that this statue was meant to represent the God of Darkness (???), a figure shrouded in mystery.

“Perhaps it’s because the God of Darkness betrayed the other gods and sided with the demons. That’s why the statue was destroyed like this,” she said in a contemplative tone.

Her explanation seemed logical, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. Was that really the only reason? Why was only this god erased from history? If the God of Darkness truly betrayed the other deities, then there should be records detailing their actions. Yet, in every book I had read, the information about this god was always vague—nothing more than scattered whispers of betrayal and ruin.

There was something deeper at play here.

Moreover, I couldn’t ignore the fact that there were supposed to be ten gods, yet only nine statues stood in this sacred hall. The missing piece left an eerie emptiness in the chamber’s divine arrangement.

However, this was neither the place nor the time to dwell on lost gods and hidden truths. My priority was clear—the Hero’s Trial.

….

I was instructed to sit in the center of the grand chamber, where an immense magic circle was intricately drawn onto the floor. Just a single glance at the ancient runes and inscriptions told me that this was no ordinary formation.

The complex etchings pulsated with latent power, almost as if the chamber itself was alive, waiting for my arrival. The air felt dense with divine energy, as though the lingering will of the gods still resided here.

As I settled into position, Sir Godvrey, Arsene, and Amelia stepped away from the formation and toward the chamber’s entrance.

“Once the trial begins, we will seal the entrance,” Sir Godvrey explained. “No one can enter until you either succeed or fail. If the door is forced open while the ritual is still ongoing, you will be immediately disqualified—losing your right to become a hero.”

“That’s why we’ll stay outside and guard this place with our lives,” Arsene added. Her voice carried a rare seriousness, making it clear just how important this trial was.

I felt a twinge of unease.

There was something they weren’t telling me.

I could see it in their expressions, in the way Amelia clenched her fists slightly, in the way Arsene avoided my gaze for just a split second.

“Is there something else I should know?” I asked.

None of them answered right away.

Then, before I could press further, they turned away and left the room. The heavy stone door began to close behind them.

At the very last moment, Sir Godvrey turned and grinned widely, raising his hand in a confident salute.

“Good luck, kid! Make sure you don’t die in there! HAHAHA!”

Arsene nodded at me, her usual calm demeanor masking any emotion she might have felt.

Then… there was Amelia.

She hesitated for a moment, looking at me with an expression I had never seen before. Normally, she would smirk mischievously, teasing me at every opportunity. But this time, her smile was soft… genuine.

“See you soon, Naoki,” she said. “I’ll be waiting for you here. I hope… you’ll give me a hug when you return~”

I felt my heart skip a beat at her words.

Envi, who had remained quiet all this time, shifted uneasily, sensing the same strange feeling that I did.

Before I could respond—

SLAM!

The stone door shut completely.

And then…

Silence.

The weight of the moment sank in. There was no turning back now. Even though a heavy feeling of foreboding loomed over me, I had no choice but to move forward.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to focus.

“We have to complete this trial as quickly as possible,” I murmured.

“Yeah… I have a bad feeling about this,” Envi admitted, his voice laced with unease.

Neither of us said what we were truly thinking—what if something happened outside while we were in here?

But it was useless to dwell on such thoughts. We had one job—pass this trial and return victorious.

“Let’s do this, Envi.”

“Yeah! I’m ready whenever you are, partner!”

I took a deep breath and sat cross-legged at the center of the magic circle.

The moment my body settled into position—

The entire formation ignited.

Blinding light erupted from the circle, illuminating the entire chamber with a golden radiance.

The power was overwhelming. I felt my very soul being pulled upward, as if something was calling to me from beyond the mortal plane.

Then—

My consciousness… ascended.

I felt weightless, as though my physical body had been left behind. It was as if I had been summoned into the sky itself, drifting into an unknown realm of pure energy.

Around me, countless orbs of light floated gently in the vast, endless space. The air was thick with divine magic, so much so that I could feel it sinking into my very being.

It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

A realm beyond the physical world.

A place that only the chosen could enter.

A deep chill ran down my spine.

I turned my head, searching for Envi.

But then…

Something was wrong.

Envi was gone.

A spike of panic shot through me.

“Envi?”

No response.

I scanned my surroundings again, but there was no sign of him.

Had we been separated?

It didn’t make sense. Envi was a system granted to me by the Goddess of Benevolence. He was supposed to be with me at all times. We had never been apart since the day I arrived in this world.

So why was he gone now?

A sinking feeling grew in my chest.

And then…

A voice echoed through the endless void.

A voice that wasn’t mine.

A voice that sounded ancient, powerful… and inhuman.

“You have finally arrived, child of fate.”

My blood ran cold.

What was going to happen to me?