My Goddess is Good at Pretending

Early in the morning, Gaia went out to check on some things for her own peace. She originally wanted to go alone since it wouldn't take long, but the family's rule forbade anyone from going alone. Therefore, she dragged Fortuna to accompany her.

"I thought you had already let go of your strings from this world, but… Fwaah~" Fortuna yawned, feeling sleepy.

"This is to assure my heart and mind before the great war. Sorry for dragging you to accompany me." Gaia replied with appreciation.

"Never mind. Let's get it done before sunrise. I haven't really gotten a proper rest, uh." Fortuna held her head with a subtle sigh.

"The night was so intense, and you continued with deep meditation without any rest. Ely truly helped us to make a breakthrough. I reckon we will ascend another one rank before the war. However, is it alright for us to ascend continuously in such a short time?" Gaia grasped her hand, expressing her concern.

"Well, I'm still surprised that Ely can handle all of us easily. She is build different... Anyway, the shared divinity can void the cons of our extremely swift progress. Our foundation is also very solid, so no worries." Fortuna put her hands on her cheeks, feeling a little embarrassed at last night's memory, but she was confident in her claim.

"Mm, it was the game of selection, but Ely chose all of us altogether."

"Well, luckily Elena and Ai are always by Ely's side, or we may get many more new sisters. Ely's soul binding slots can handle dozens of slots more, but I'm somehow reluctant to have new sisters at this time."

"Hmm... Ely already has all of us, so she can't think about it. Fortunately, she is not active in trying to convert the heavenly agents, especially Yuna."

"They are He-Dao's subjects for eons. It's a bit inappropriate to kidnap his people. We're enough for our Ely. They are not needed in the family."

Gaia and Fortuna made small talk on their way to the Heaven Realm. It might take them a while to check what Gaia wanted to confirm, but the topic of Ely would never end.

"You've changed so much since you met Ely, Fortuna. Your aloofness is already gone." Gaia faintly smiled.

"Speak for yourself, Earth Mother. There are so many high-rank gods and ancient ones who respect you or have a crush on you. I hope they won't cause trouble once they know you fell to Ely's hand." Fortuna smirked, teasing back.

"Now that you say it... they will cause trouble for sure. However, with Liam and other Divine Executioners around, none will dare to cross the line." Gaia sighed as she remembered it.

The invasion occurred before the Divine Executioners awoke, and therefore, the casualties became so numerous because the truly strong ones, the ones who possessed the power to hold the monsters off in the Heaven Realm, didn't dare to make an immediate move to repel the monsters.

It was the primary reason that caused massive destruction beyond anyone's expectations in heaven, hell, the underworld, and also the mortal realm.

Worst of all, the path of reincarnation, the samsara cycle, was also damaged because of the desperate battle in heaven. Fortunately, it had been repaired in their previous visit.

Although she blamed those foolish, selfish high-rank gods, including the God King, she never expressed it. Elysia didn't even want to meet them for the same reason.

However, her aim here was not about them, but towards the oldest ancient one who once served the Creator God just like her, her old friend.

She came to inquire about his future plans and intentions, demanding answers as to why he had been secretly keeping a watchful eye on Elysia for the entire day.

He awakened along with the Divine Executioners, serving as the backup in case Liam and co. failed with their mission. However, no one knew about this except her. Sadly, his presence was unknown even to her and other ancient ones.

She could not meet him easily, but he left her a method to call him out. He once said if something happened at the end of time and she had to seek his presence, she only had to go to the death zone from the first era's apocalypse and call his name.

"Ra..." Gaia called out her old friend, one of the first beings in Earth's existence.

Unfortunately, she came at the worst possible moment. She had yet to receive any response, and unexpected immortal evil spirits struck.

Shadows burst from all sides. Demonic assassins, hidden monsters, evil spirits, and dark creatures emerged from the void, launching a relentless attack meant to eliminate her.

"What in the world?! Are they the ones you are looking for, Earth Mother?" Fortuna gasped in shock as she hastily activated her defensive artifacts to protect Gaia and herself, but Gaia was a step ahead of her.

Caught in the crossfire, Gaia and Fortuna found themselves in an unexpected battle.

Yet, a massive golden talon suddenly emerged out of the void. With a single step, it shattered the ground.

Its presence sent shockwaves that annihilated lesser foes instantly. Another talon emerged, cracked the sky, and obliterated the entire dark creature in mere moments. It didn't even take ten seconds, and all threats were slaughtered.

Amidst the chaotic battlefield's dust, Gaia's eyes met with the divine being in the void.

"Yo—!" Gaia started, raising her hand in greeting.

"You're still alive..."

A thunderous majestic sound echoed across the realm, but the space around the deadly battlefield was sealed, and the reversed echo caused the earthquake.

"W-wha, what is that?" Fortuna stuttered, shocked because she never expected such a higher divine creature was still around. She never knew it even with her fate divinity.

"I have come to discuss something with you." Gaia clasped her hands with a concerned gaze.

"You, who have abandoned your faith. We have nothing to discuss, as you have lost all of them."

"Please hear me out."

"..."

"This is important and concerns that higher being and our ascended Creator God."

"You are not worthy to discuss anything with this one. Bring the new ascended god you serve to this one."

"Alright. Wait a moment."

Gaia immediately contacted Elysia. After hearing the words, Elysia teleported to Gaia's side.

"It's me, the you you sought. Now we can talk." Elysia looked up. She steeled her resolve and courage because the unknown, hidden, ancient creature in the void could not be more dangerous and terrifying than Sera.

Because Gaia wished to discuss something with the other party, Gaia's senior, then as leader master, she should back her people up.

"Enter the void crack. Just you and Gaia."

A void crack emerged before Elysia, and the voice soon vanished, along with the massive talons in the air.

"Fortuna, please return to Nature Realm. I will take over from here to accompany Gaia." Elysia opened the portal for Fortuna. She honestly did not expect the one Gaia wished to meet was an ancient one, the one older than Earth.

"Mm." Fortuna meekly nodded, entering the portal obediently.

"He is Ra, an ancient one with the shape of an immortal spatial bird of the golden cosmos. I refer to Ra as him because he often uses his male persona." Gaia berbisik dekat telinga Elysia.

"Mm, I'll back you up. He won't cause trouble with me here." Elysia reassured Gaia even though she still didn't know Gaia's purpose in meeting Ra. However, she was now curious about this ancient one, hoping to peek at his status screen.

Sadly, she couldn't discover anything noteworthy because the one who came before Gaia was just a projection, but it was strong enough to rival the God King. Ra tested her, and she passed it, and after that, it was just an exchange of information between Ra and Gaia.

"..." Elysia crossed her arms, feeling ignored, but she didn't complain.

After the discussion, the small metallic golden bird flew before Elysia. "You've had a long and arduous path ahead. This one will leave Gaia in your care, Elysia."

"Gaia has become my person, physically and spiritually. She will not regret following me." Elysia nodded in understanding.

"If you by any chance regained your prime, uncovering your origin, please look for our Creator God in the higher universe." Ra put down a piece of spirit paper with an ancient rune written on it.

"Why do I need to look for Creator God? And, what is this?" Elysia looked at the paper on her palm. She couldn't touch it physically, and she needed to exert her magical abilities for it.

"It's Creator God's rune mark."

"Huh, wouldn't my whereabouts be known easily then?"

"No, it's just His divine mark written by this one, a replica in case you encounter the similar rune mark in the higher universe."

"Alright, but I won't go to look for him even if I could."

"Why?"

"I'm sorry, but we have no reason to do so. Unless you show me your true form and tell me the reason and purpose, we cannot fulfill your request, Ra."

Elysia crossed her arms. She could have complied because it wasn't a certainty either, but she still didn't know Ra's intentions.

"..." The metallic golden bird spread its wings.

"Ra, stop it. This is your request, not an order. You can never overpower the current Ely even though it is your true prime form. Do not force Ely to make you an enemy." Gaia stood between Elysia and Ra, spreading her arms.

"..." Ra was silent for a moment. He then stared at Elysia's eyes. "Do you just want to see my true form and hear the true reason?"

"That's worth it." Elysia nodded in reply.

A moment later, the void switched into the outer space of the 6th dimension. The small metallic golden bird vanished, and the distant constellation soon took the shape of a golden mass of things, resembling a golden bird.

"You are bigger than Mars..." Elysia widened her eyes at the sight of Ra's true form. He has no physical form, but his aura could rival Amy in battle mode.

"This one will only speak once, so listen carefully." Ra spoke directly to Elysia's mind.

He then conveyed her reason and purpose, and Elysia just nodded in response. After that, he sent Gaia and Elysia back to the mortal world.

"..." Elysia and Gaia looked at each other, silent, but the exchange was more meaningful than a thousand words.

"We're just a small chess piece in the bigger scheme, right? Do you think we can break it?" Elysia covered her face with awkward laughter.

"Most of us knew it, and that's why we embarked on the path of truth. Your Dao will enlighten us, Ely. We shall follow you unconditionally. Please show us the path." Gaia held Elysia's hand.

"Lucky bird." Ai in Elysia's shadow mumbled silently. She was ready to strike back in case that stupid bird tried to harm Ely, but that bird was lucky because it never attempted it.