Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: The Realm of the Gods and Goddesses
I stared at the man who had just declared that the next trial would begin immediately.

He was a towering figure with blazing red eyes like fire, his crimson hair burning at the tips like living flames. His muscular build radiated strength, and he wore pure white robes adorned with gold embellishments. But one thing confirmed my suspicions—above his head hovered a golden halo.

Not just him—there were two other men and two women, all clad in the same divine attire, each with a halo above their heads. However, their appearances and auras were vastly different.

I focused on the fiery man. He had been trying to intimidate me from the very start, his menacing grin never fading. With an eager and almost terrifying expression, he declared that there was no need to heal me—I should proceed straight to the next trial.

As I looked at him, I could feel the overwhelming aura of divinity radiating from his presence.

It was the same feeling I had when I met the Goddess of Benevolence.

So this man… No—all of them—were they truly gods?

As that thought crossed my mind, the fire-like man suddenly moved closer, his face mere inches from mine, his gaze filled with an eerie intensity.

But then—

THUD!

A short golden-haired woman with a fit physique and a shield symbol on her forehead smacked him on the head, halting his intimidating glare.

“You idiot, Flareth! You’re scaring him!” she scolded, her brown eyes filled with concern as she turned to me.

“What the hell, Miranda?! You damn woman! I’ll burn that massive chest of yours!” Flareth growled angrily.

“Enough, Flareth! Take this!”

A blue-haired woman suddenly summoned an immense surge of water from an urn and drenched Flareth completely, leaving him utterly stunned.

“Damn you, Aqualia! You know I can’t stand water!” Flareth shouted, glaring at the woman who had drenched him—Aqualia.

Then, a short-haired blonde man with a strong build and a lightning emblem on his chest stepped forward, siding with Flareth.

“Flareth was right to do what he did,” he said in his defense.

At that moment, a towering man with bark-like skin and tree roots entwined around his limbs intervened. With a calm but commanding presence, he extended his hand, and vines burst from the ground, wrapping around everyone, silencing the commotion.

“Enough, all of you… Let’s tend to our little friend first,” he said, his deep voice carrying authority. “Miranda, heal him.”

“You’re right, Gaia. He needs to be in top condition before the next trial,” Miranda nodded, addressing the massive tree-like man.

Miranda then approached me, gently lowering my head onto her incredibly soft lap.

I wanted to see her face, but… her chest blocked my view completely.

This… felt familiar.

Ahh… this comforting warmth…

She then began chanting [High Healing], and within moments, all of my wounds in this realm healed instantly.

“Ahh… my body… doesn’t hurt anymore. Thank you… um, Miranda,” I murmured, a bit embarrassed.

“Hehe, you’re welcome, little hero,” she giggled. “Even though this isn’t your physical body, any injuries you sustain here still affect your real body in the mortal world.”

I nodded, finally understanding what she meant.

With her help, I slowly sat up. As I looked around, I saw the other gods and goddesses smiling at me—except for Flareth, who was pouting.

“Where… am I? You—Flareth, Miranda, Aqualia, Zarion, and Gaia—are you really the gods of this world?” I asked, still trying to process everything.

They exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha! You catch on quickly!” Zarion said, clapping my shoulder enthusiastically.

“If you get too excited, you’ll hurt him again, Zarion,” a female voice interjected.

I turned to see a tomboyish woman with tan skin, a green ponytail, and massive fists. She looked strong and confident.

She was Terra.

“That’s right, Child of Fate,” Zarion said, smirking. “We are the gods of Aetheria… well, not all of us are here.”

“Ahem…” Aqualia cleared her throat before stepping forward. “I am Aqualia. Welcome to *Comsoria, Child of Fate.”

She struck a welcoming pose alongside Miranda, both of them smiling brightly.

I could only let out a small, awkward chuckle at their enthusiasm.

“Child of Fate… do you not know what Comsoria is?” Gaia suddenly asked.

I hesitated for a moment before slowly shaking my head.

I had never heard of this place before.

….

Gaia immediately began explaining what Cosmoria truly was. It was the realm of the remaining gods and goddesses, a sacred domain where they resided alongside their angelic subordinates. From here, they observed the world of Aetheria and its unfolding fate, watching over mortals while remaining unseen.

I looked around, trying to take in my surroundings. Cosmoria was unlike anything I had ever imagined. It was a vast floating island, suspended in the endless sky, far beyond the reach of humans or any mortal beings. The air here felt pure yet heavy, filled with a strange energy that made my entire body tingle.

In Cosmoria, there were ten colossal pillars, known as “Ascendant Spires.” These towering structures were not just for decoration—they acted as the foundations of the realm, holding everything together. More than that, they symbolized the power of the gods. Each spire served as a sanctuary and a stronghold, where the gods lived and commanded their legions of angels. Additionally, the pillars played another role—they were used to bestow blessings upon chosen heroes, warriors deemed worthy to receive the power of the gods.

Out of the ten pillars, eight belonged to the gods and goddesses standing before me. However, the remaining two pillars were different—one belonged to the God of Darkness, and the other to the Forgotten Goddess.

The God of Darkness was a traitor, and because of that, his pillar had been completely destroyed, leaving no trace of its former existence. I could see the anger in the gods’ faces as they spoke of him. It was clear that his betrayal still haunted them. During the Great War of the Gods, the God of Darkness had turned against his fellow deities, siding with the demonic forces that threatened Aetheria. He had given them power beyond imagination, tipping the balance of the war in their favor. Even now, his actions continued to affect the world, as humans struggled to fight against the demons who had inherited his strength.

I had heard about this before—from Vaelgorath. I never imagined that his story would align so perfectly with what I was hearing now.

The other remaining pillar—the Ascendant Spire of the Forgotten Goddess—was an even greater mystery. Unlike the God of Darkness, who had betrayed the divine realm, the Forgotten Goddess had simply vanished. None of the gods knew what had happened to her. Her spire remained standing, but her presence was completely erased.

The only thing left behind in her spire was an ancient prophecy inscribed upon the stone:

“The Child of Fate shall bring true peace to Aetheria.”

No one understood what this prophecy truly meant. The words had been there for as long as the gods could remember, yet their meaning remained unclear. However, there was one thing the gods were certain of—the Forgotten Goddess had left this prophecy behind as a warning about an ancient adversary: God (???).

This was an unknown entity that the gods had once battled in the distant past. The records of this being were vague, and even among the deities present here, none could recall its true nature. But they all agreed on one thing—the Child of Fate was the key to defeating it.

Even when they sought answers from The Almighty One, the supreme god above all gods, he remained silent, offering no explanation.

At the mention of The Almighty One, I suddenly recalled what the Goddess of Benevolence had told me about him. Gaia, noticing my curiosity, decided to elaborate further.

The Supreme God—The Almighty One

The Almighty One was the Supreme God, the omnipotent ruler of all worlds, governing the entire cosmos. However, unlike the gods and goddesses in Cosmoria, he did not interfere in the affairs of the world.

He resided in the Seventh Heaven, far above this layered, ever-spinning sky. It was said that he watched over all existence, but unlike the other gods, he refused to intervene in mortal affairs.

To him, the fate of the world was something only his creations could decide. Whether Aetheria was destined to perish or survive, he would not interfere.

Even when the gods of Cosmoria pleaded for his guidance, he simply remained silent. The gods here, despite their divine power, had no choice but to accept his will. They believed that his greatest desire was to see fate unfold naturally, without his intervention. And so, they submitted to his decision, vowing to do what they could within the limitations set by his divine decree.

Hearing all of this made me realize just how much I didn’t know about the gods, Cosmoria, and the higher powers that governed this world.

But just as I was lost in thought—

“Enough with the introductions! Let’s start theTrial of the Blessing already!”

A loud, impatient voice rang out.

It was Flareth, the God of Fire. His eyes burned with excitement as he pointed directly at me, an eager grin spread across his face.

“Trial of Blessing?” I repeated, still unsure of what this trial truly entailed.

Before I could ask any further questions, Flareth grabbed me without warning.

“H-Hey! Wait—!” I protested, but my words were ignored.

Miranda, clearly displeased, tried to stop him, reaching out in protest. “Flareth! Don’t just take him like that!”

But the fiery god scoffed, his voice filled with impatience and excitement. “Stop whining, Miranda! I’m going to be the first one to test him!”

His burning red eyes locked onto me with a challenging grin, as if daring me to resist.

Gaia, watching the scene unfold, simply sighed before addressing Miranda. “Let him go, Miranda. We will allow Flareth to conduct his trial first.”

Reluctantly, Miranda released me with a frustrated sigh. I had no choice in the matter.

Before I could even brace myself, Flareth effortlessly lifted me into his arms—like I was nothing but a child—and carried me away.

“H-Hey! Put me down!” I struggled, but his grip was unshakable.

With an amused smirk, he ignored my protests and carried me toward his Ascendant Spire.

Deep inside, I had a bad feeling about this.

Ahh… this is going to be a problem.