Chapter 179: Goddess Of Destiny
A resounding clap rang through the air, a sharp contrast to the hushed murmurs and heavy silence that dominated the arena. Heads turned as a woman with blonde hair and piercing green eyes rose from her seat on the stage, her movements poised and deliberate, yet carrying an unmistakable energy. Her hands met in rhythmic applause, each clap echoing with unwavering enthusiasm.
Her hair shimmered like spun gold under the arena lights, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves that framed her striking features. Her green eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and amusement, locking onto Eren as if she saw something in him that no one else did. A knowing smile curved her lips, gentle yet enigmatic, as though she held secrets that could shatter the fragile understanding of those present.
Eren's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he turned toward her, the faintest flicker of curiosity breaking through his otherwise stoic expression. His gaze lingered on her, scanning her face, her stance, and the confidence that seemed to radiate from her like a second skin. For a moment, he tilted his head, his brow furrowing subtly, a question forming in the depths of his shimmering eyes: Who is she?
The woman continued her applause, stepping forward gracefully yet with an air of purpose. Her movements were fluid, each step deliberate but unhurried, as if she commanded the very stage with her presence. The starlight fabric of her emerald dress caught the light as she moved, creating a mesmerizing effect that seemed to amplify her elegance. She stopped at the edge of the platform, her applause fading into a silence that felt louder than the applause itself.
"Marvelous," she said, her voice clear and melodic, carrying effortlessly across the stunned audience. Her tone was warm but carried a subtle weight, as if every word she spoke had significance. "Simply marvelous."
Eren raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, but a faint tension lingered in the set of his jaw. He shifted his weight slightly, crossing his arms over his chest, his smirk from earlier fading into something more neutral. "And you are?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with a curiosity he couldn't quite mask.
The woman chuckled softly, her laugh like the chiming of distant bells. Her green eyes held his, unflinching and steady, as she replied, "Someone who recognizes greatness when she sees it." Her gaze flicked briefly to the cracked and scorched ground beneath Eren's feet, then back to his face. "Though I must admit, I wasn't expecting he would make you an horseman, an upgrade of what I intended when I decided to change your fate."
A murmur rippled through the crowd like an incoming tide, soft at first but growing in volume as her words sank in. The whispers carried a mix of shock, curiosity, and awe, as though the air itself had been charged with her revelation.
Eren's brow furrowed, his stoic facade briefly cracking to reveal a flicker of disbelief. His arms dropped to his sides, his hands curling slightly into loose fists. His sharp gaze locked onto the woman, now laced with a cautious intensity.
"An upgrade?" he echoed, his tone edged with incredulity. His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he stepped forward, his boots crunching against the debris-laden ground. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"
The woman tilted her head slightly, her enigmatic smile widening as though she relished the reaction she'd drawn. Her green eyes shimmered with a mix of mischief and an otherworldly wisdom, and her posture remained unshaken, regal in its poise.
"I am the Goddess of Destiny," she replied, her voice unwavering yet layered with a mysterious undercurrent. Each word carried a weight that seemed to press upon the very air around her. "The threads of fate are mine to weave, and you, Eren, have been an intriguing strand in the tapestry."
She stepped forward once more, her emerald dress flowing like liquid starlight with each movement, and the faintest glimmer of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. Her expression softened as her gaze swept over him, her amusement tempered by something deeper—admiration, perhaps, or a quiet respect.
Eren's lips pressed into a thin line, his muscles taut as if he were preparing for a blow that might never come. "And why," he began, his voice low and guarded, "would a goddess of destiny take an interest in me?"
Her laughter rang out again, light yet resonant, as if the answer were both simple and profound. "You are no ordinary man, Eren," she said, her smile returning, though her gaze grew more intense, boring into him as if peeling back layers of his very soul. "You have defied the odds in ways that intrigue even the divine. And now, my husband has seen fit to make you his horseman—a role of immense power, greater than even I envisioned when I decided to alter your path."
The crowd's whispers reached a fever pitch, individuals exchanging bewildered glances as they tried to process what they were hearing. Some faces reflected awe; others were etched with fear.
Eren's eyes darkened, his expression hardening as he took another step toward her. His tone carried a dangerous edge, though his curiosity burned brighter now, barely masked beneath his words. "Your husband?"
Her smile turned wistful, and for the first time, her gaze softened into something almost tender. "Yes," she said, her voice quieter now, yet no less powerful. "He has made you his horseman, Eren. A formidable one, at that. Few mortals could carry such a mantle and remain whole. But you…" She paused, her eyes glinting with something akin to pride. "You are different."
Eren studied her carefully, his breathing steady but shallow, his jaw clenched as he absorbed her words. "And who is this husband of yours?" he asked, his voice carrying a mixture of defiance and begrudging respect.
The goddess's smile grew, a playful glint returning to her emerald eyes. She raised a hand and pointed to the heavens, her movements fluid and deliberate. "You already know," she said simply, her voice like a melody carrying an unspoken truth.
Eren's gaze followed her hand instinctively, his mind racing, piecing together the fragments of the cryptic puzzle. His fingers twitched at his sides, his body tense as if bracing for an answer he wasn't certain he wanted.
The goddess lowered her hand, folding it gracefully with the other in front of her. "You'll meet him again soon," she said, her tone laced with finality, though her smile remained. "For now, consider this a gift: my blessing to match his. Use it wisely, Eren, for your destiny has only just begun."
Her form shimmered briefly, a radiant glow encasing her figure as she began to step back, the light growing brighter with each movement. The crowd fell silent once more, their collective breath held as the goddess prepared to leave.
Eren's fists clenched tighter, his eyes narrowing as he called out after her, his voice sharp and commanding. "Wait!"
The goddess paused mid-step, her radiant glow dimming slightly as she turned back to face him. Her expression was serene, her smile tinged with a faint amusement.
"Do not fear your path, Eren," she said, her voice soft yet resolute. "You were chosen for a reason."
And with that, she disappeared in a burst of light, leaving behind an arena bathed in an eerie, stunned silence. Eren stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the spot where she had been, his thoughts a whirlwind of questions and realizations.
The silence in the arena lingered, heavy and oppressive, as if the weight of the goddess's presence still clung to the air. Eren remained rooted to the spot, his fists slowly uncurling as he exhaled, a sharp, controlled breath that did little to quell the storm brewing within him. His green eyes, now colder and sharper, swept across the stunned crowd before returning to the scorched ground beneath his feet.
The whispers resumed, louder this time, an unruly tide of speculation and awe. Words like "goddess," "horseman," and "chosen" rippled through the audience, fueling a growing fervor. Yet Eren paid them no mind, his thoughts locked on the cryptic words and unsettling truths the goddess had revealed.
From the edge of the arena, a slow, deliberate clap broke through the noise once again, drawing all eyes to its source. A man stood, his figure cloaked in shadows despite the glaring light of the arena. His sharp, angular features became visible as he stepped forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Eren. A smirk tugged at his lips, one that held equal parts amusement and challenge.
"Well, well," the man drawled, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the space. "It seems the boy has caught the attention of both the divine and the damned. How utterly fascinating."
Eren's gaze snapped to the man, his stance shifting slightly, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. "And you are?" he asked, his tone low and measured, though his simmering irritation was unmistakable.
The man chuckled, a rich, velvety sound that seemed to vibrate through the very air. He placed a hand over his chest and offered a mock bow, his smirk never faltering. "Call me Lucien," he said, straightening with an elegance that belied the dangerous energy radiating from him. "An interested observer... and perhaps a potential ally."
Eren's eyes narrowed. "Ally?" he repeated, skepticism lacing his tone. "I don't recall asking for one."
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Lucien's smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, you didn't," he replied smoothly. "But whether you like it or not, boy, you've entered a game far beyond mortal comprehension. You'll find that allies are a luxury you can't afford to ignore."
The tension in the arena thickened, the crowd watching with bated breath as the two men faced off. Eren's jaw tightened, his glare hardening. "If you're so eager to help," he said, his voice cutting through the charged air, "start by explaining what that goddess meant. What is this 'horseman' nonsense, and why does everyone seem to think I'm some kind of pawn in their schemes?"
Lucien's chuckle turned into a low, genuine laugh, his head tilting slightly as if in appreciation. "Direct. I like that," he said. "Very well, I'll indulge you—for now." He began pacing leisurely, his hands clasped behind his back as he spoke.
"The goddess you met is no mere deity. She's one of the oldest powers in existence, one who shapes the fates of worlds and those who inhabit them. Her husband?" Lucien paused, his smirk growing darker. "Let's just say he's a force even the gods respect—and fear."
Eren's gaze remained steady, though his fists clenched once more. "And this husband of hers made me his 'horseman,'" he said, his voice laced with both disbelief and frustration. "What does that even mean?"
Lucien stopped, turning to face him fully. "It means, dear boy," he said, his tone dipping into something more serious, "that you've been granted a mantle of immense power. You are no longer just a man, Eren. You are a harbinger, a force of reckoning tied to the will of a being who sees you as a tool—or perhaps something more."