Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent

The moment Melissa's palm pressed against the blazing sphere of light, her body stiffened as though chained in place.

A rush of energy surged through her, pulling not only at her flesh but at the deepest roots of her soul. The world around her vanished.

She was no longer in the crystal chamber. Instead, she stood in an infinite white void, the core of the system itself.

Countless streams of glowing code drifted past her like rivers of light, whispering in a language older than gods themselves.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed within her mind:

[Candidate Melissa Armstrong. Evaluation in progress. All actions, memories, and motivations will be judged.]

Her breath hitched. A wave of images washed over her—her childhood, her failures, every moment of doubt she had ever carried. She saw herself struggling to keep up with training, constantly overshadowed by others.

She saw her clinging desperately to Kyle, more servant than warrior.

She saw herself break down in silence when others weren't looking, terrified that one day Kyle would cast her aside as useless.

The system's voice rang again, sharp as a blade:

[Analysis: Weakness detected. Tendency to give up under pressure. Dependency on others for strength. Candidate deemed unsuitable.]

Melissa's chest constricted as the void trembled around her. The sphere of light began to recede, rejecting her presence.

Her eyes widened.

"No…"

The voice continued, cold and unfeeling:

[Recommendation: Disqualification. Return candidate to mortal plane.]

The floor beneath her began to shatter, endless white cracking into darkness. Her body shook. The system's judgment was absolute, final. By all rights, she should have fallen.

But Melissa's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her voice broke the silence, raw and defiant.

"No! I refuse!"

The cracks froze mid-shatter. The system faltered, almost as if startled.

Melissa's chest heaved as she forced her words out through clenched teeth.

"I know I'm weak. I know I'm not perfect. I've doubted myself, and I've stumbled more times than I can count—but I never stopped walking forward! Even when I wanted to give up, even when I felt useless, I still stayed at my young master's side!"

Her voice grew stronger, her eyes burning with determination.

"If you think you can reject me because I don't fit your mold, then I'll reject you instead! I will not bow down! I will not walk away! I will stand as his shield, even if I have to tear your rules apart to do it!"

The void trembled violently, as if her defiance was rewriting the very foundation of the system. The streams of code twisted around her, no longer whispering judgment but instead swirling in chaotic uncertainty.

The voice returned, but this time softer.

[Re-evaluating… Candidate displays unparalleled stubbornness. Candidate demonstrates unwavering loyalty to chosen master. Candidate possesses singular will to protect.]

The light around her brightened, burning hotter, flooding her with warmth.

[Conclusion: Candidate Melissa Armstrong—approved. Title granted: Third God of the New Age. Authority: Shield of the Loyal Heart.]

Melissa gasped as light poured into her, filling every corner of her being. Courage unlike anything she had ever known surged through her veins.

The fear, the doubts, the endless shadow of weakness—all of it was burned away, replaced by radiant certainty.

For the first time, she did not feel like a servant clinging to Kyle's shadow. She felt like she could stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder, as someone worthy of his trust.

Her voice trembled, but it was no longer with fear. It was with conviction.

"I… I did it."

The void shattered, and she was pulled back into the crystal chamber.

The moment she returned, the entire chamber shifted. The divine guardians that had been relentlessly attacking Bruce suddenly froze in place.

Their formless heads turned toward Melissa, their radiant bodies trembling.

Bruce, standing amidst the wreckage of battle, his blade dripping with light, looked up and saw her. His lips curled into a wide grin.

"You actually pulled it off."

He muttered to himself, relief and pride flooding his expression.

Melissa floated down from the altar, her body glowing faintly with divine authority. Her eyes were clearer than ever before, her aura calm but impenetrable, like a fortress that could never be broken.

Bruce let out a chuckle.

"Guess that means my job's done here."

He turned back to the frozen divine entities. Their hesitation, their fear, was palpable now. Bruce's smirk widened as he raised his blade one final time.

"Time to stop playing around."

With a single swing, his mana erupted outward like a tidal wave. The guardians shattered instantly, torn apart by his will. Not one survived.

The chamber fell silent. Only Bruce's footsteps echoed as he walked toward Melissa. For once, he didn't look tired from the battle—he looked invigorated, almost proud.

Standing before her, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"So. How does it feel, God of the New Age?"

Melissa smiled faintly, her expression soft yet firm.

"It feels… like I can finally stand on my own. No more hesitation. And it feels like I'm one step closer to being the shield he deserves."

She glanced toward the distance, where Kyle's path still lay ahead.

Bruce laughed quietly, shaking his head.

"Heh. Then I'd say it was worth every swing of my sword."

Melissa's gaze hardened as she met his eyes.

"We need to find him, Bruce. He's out there, facing things far worse than this. He shouldn't have to carry it all alone."

Bruce smirked again, his usual confidence returning.

"Then let's stop wasting time. We're gods now. Nothing's going to keep us from reaching him."

He tightened the grip on his blade, his aura surging once more.

Melissa nodded firmly. For the first time, she didn't feel like a burden trailing behind Kyle. She felt ready to walk into the storm beside him, no matter what awaited them.

And together, she and Bruce stepped out of the crystal chamber, divine authority flowing in their veins, their eyes fixed firmly on the path back to their young master.

______

Kyle stood on the edge of the battlefield, his sword resting lightly against his shoulder as the last embers of divine energy faded into the sky.

Through the threads of mana connecting him to his companions, he felt it—Melissa's newfound radiance, Bruce's sharp confidence, and Silvy's steady light.

Each of them had faced trials meant to break them, and yet all had risen higher, returning stronger than before.

For a rare moment, a smile touched his lips.

'They did it.'

Relief, pride, and a quiet warmth stirred in his chest. His people were no longer shadows in his wake—they were blazing stars of their own.

But as the warmth settled, so did his resolve. His gaze lifted toward the horizon, where the oppressive weight of a higher divinity pressed faintly upon the world. Chief God Arkenas.

The name burned like poison in his thoughts, a presence that had meddled in mortal fate for far too long.

Kyle exhaled slowly, the wind carrying away the last remnants of hesitation.

"You've had your turn. Now it's mine."

He murmured, eyes hardening.

Without waiting for anyone else, Kyle adjusted his grip on his sword and began walking toward the path only he could tread—straight into the heart of the Chief God's domain, to settle the score once and for all.