The Broken Halo

Chapter 984 - 983: The Honoured One

Rowan tapped the unselected Blessing entry.

A new window opened over his status. Names filled it from top to bottom, with more waiting beneath the edge.

[Available Blessings: 24]

He counted the first few, then checked the number again.

’Twenty-four?’

”The Honoured One,” he read aloud. ”Radiant Dominion. Worldfire...”

Celeste leaned toward him.

”Are you reading the offers?”

”Yes. Can you see them?”

”No,” she replied. ”Those are private. We can’t hear what you read from them, either.”

Rowan tested another name. Adrian watched his lips move without reacting.

”You can hear me now, though?”

”Perfectly,” Sir Luke answered. ”Go through them. Take your time.”

Rowan returned to the first entry.

The others appeared in pale-blue lettering. This one occupied a separate violet panel, its white characters edged with gold. It stayed at the top even when he moved down the list.

[The Honoured One]

His brows drew together.

He opened the description.

[The Almighty has deemed you worthy of His favour.

Accept, and wield the Light of Annihilation. Flesh, souls, and the powers raised against you shall be reduced to nothing. As your authority grows, even the defences of gods will fail before it.

All shall instinctively fear you. Their strength will falter beneath your presence, and the weak-willed shall kneel.

Your body and soul shall be continually refined. Injuries shall mend, corruption shall be purged, and the limits that bind ordinary mortals shall not prevent your ascent.

Divine treasures, lost arts, and guidance toward a realm beyond godhood await you.

You shall know no defeat.

Be grateful. Countless lives may be spent in worship without earning what the Almighty now offers you.]

Rowan read it twice.

Beyond godhood?

He had only just reached the point where holding a sword for hours didn’t leave him collapsed. Now something was offering to make even gods unable to withstand his attacks.

His hand rose toward the panel.

Then he remembered Celeste sitting across from him in his room.

”Don’t choose The One.”

Rowan lowered his hand.

Was this what she had meant?

He examined the title again. The description never named its owner. It called him the Almighty, as though there could be no need for anything more.

Rowan searched the other offers. Each gave a name or title identifying the god, Demi-God, or spirit behind it. None had ”The One” in its name. He went through them again, looking even for the word ”One.”

Only the violet panel had it.

His stomach tightened.

There was nothing in the description about danger. Nothing about a price. It promised everything he could want and more than he knew how to imagine.

Blackmoon would be growing stronger while he trained. Every day Rowan spent learning could mean another day of falling behind.

But with this...

He looked at Celeste.

She was waiting beside him, rubbing her thumb over a crease in her skirt. She noticed him looking and gave him an encouraging smile.

Rowan remembered the dark circles beneath her eyes when she’d told him about the dream. She hadn’t pretended to understand it. She had only asked him to remember.

He had promised her.

He let out a long breath and moved to the next offer.

[Divine Blessing: Radiant Dominion]

[Offered by the God of Light.]

It promised weapons and armour formed from light, rapid healing, and the power to spread a field of radiance that strengthened its bearer while burning enemies within it.

Rowan pictured Celeste’s white light, then reminded himself that she served someone else.

[Divine Blessing: Worldfire]

[Offered by the God of Fire.]

This one offered an ever-growing flame that could feed upon hostile spells. Its bearer would eventually endure heat capable of melting mountains and release that same heat through his own attacks.

Rowan glanced at his Fire affinity.

That might suit him.

[Divine Blessing: Nightfall]

[Offered by the God of Darkness.]

He could move through darkness, hide his presence, and strip enemies of their senses. At greater strength, the Blessing promised darkness that could smother the power of other Blessings.

He read that part again.

Further down were Stormheart from the Storm Lord, the Last Ember from the Keeper of Ashes, and Judgement’s Hand from the God of Justice.

One promised command over storms. Another offered survival after otherwise fatal injuries. The third could make each successful strike more damaging than the last.

Rowan rubbed his forehead.

He hadn’t expected to have trouble choosing because there was too much to want.

The Elemental Blessings made it worse.

[Sun Phoenix Bond — Sun Phoenix, Fire Elemental Spirit]

[Space Dragon Pact — Space Dragon, Space Elemental Spirit]

[Tempest Roc Bond — Tempest Roc, Wind Elemental Spirit]

[Winter Dragon Pact — Winter Dragon, Ice Elemental Spirit]

The Sun Phoenix was described as one of the highest forms of Fire Elemental Spirit. Its offer included an S-grade Fire affinity, regenerative flames, and a phoenix manifestation that would grow alongside him.

The Space Dragon offered him the power of teleportation and the ability to cut through space.

Rowan’s attention lingered there.

Would a sword even need to reach someone if it could cut the space between them?

He wasn’t sure. The description gave him enough to want it without explaining how he would actually fight.

The Martial Blessings were easier to picture.

[Thousand Weapons — Martial Spirit: The Weapon Sage]

[Heaven-Splitting Sword — Martial Spirit: The Sword Saint]

[Mountain-Breaking Fist — Martial Spirit: The Iron Monk]

A spirit that could take the form of different weapons. Sword strikes that could cut through distant targets. A body strengthened until bare hands could meet enchanted steel.

Rowan looked at his fingers.

That last one might solve the weakness Sir Luke kept warning him about.

But would it be better than the phoenix? Or the dragon?

He passed over the Guardian Blessings. Their Demi-God patrons offered formidable protection and endurance, but none held his attention for long.

By the time he’d finished reading all twenty-four, he had gone back to several of them three times.

”Master?”

Luke turned toward him.

”I don’t know which to choose.”

”What is making it difficult?”

”There are so many. Every time I think I’ve found the right one, I read another.”

Celeste looked at Luke, then asked, ”How many offers did you receive?”

”Over twenty. Twenty-four to be exact.”

Adrian’s mouth fell open.

”Twenty-four Blessings?”

”Offers,” Rowan said quickly. ”I haven’t chosen anything.”

”We understood you,” Luke replied. He looked at the space in front of Rowan as though he might now be able to see it.

”I got one offer during my time,” Adrian said.

Rowan blinked.

”One?”

”And I was grateful for it.”

”I had two,” Luke added.

Celeste shook her head in amazement.

”I had six. That was considered extraordinary.”

Rowan looked back at the crowded window. He hadn’t realised that his was completely abnormal.

Luke folded his arms.

”With that physique and Peerless Martial Insight, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. Though twenty-four...”

”Don’t choose because you feel you have to decide tonight,” Celeste told Rowan. ”You can wait.”

He turned toward her.

”I can?”

”Yes.”

”But this is my awakening.”

”Your System has already awakened. Choosing a Blessing is separate.”

Rowan glanced at Luke for confirmation. His master nodded.

”Some people wait for a better offer,” Celeste explained. ”Others want a particular god or spirit and hope to attract their attention.”

”Why doesn’t everyone wait, then?”

”Because most people without a Blessing are weaker than those who have one. Training and fighting become harder, and there’s no guarantee the offer they want will arrive.”

She touched his arm.

”But you’ve only just learned what these choices mean. Give yourself time to understand the path you’re choosing.”

Rowan frowned at the violet panel.

”What if they take the offers back?”

”They can,” Luke said. ”We can’t promise otherwise. But if you keep working and showing potential, most will have a reason to keep their offers open.”

”Some may offer you more,” Celeste added. ”And other patrons may become interested.”

Adrian gave a quiet laugh.

”Apparently, the queue isn’t long enough already.”

Celeste smiled before turning back to Rowan.

”The gods, Demi-Gods, and spirits approaching you want your talent and your physique. Right now, they want you more than you need any particular one of them. You have room to be careful.”

Rowan studied her face.

She didn’t know what the first offer promised.

Would she say the same thing if she did?

He looked at the words about never knowing defeat. They were difficult to leave unread, even after everything she had told him.

Then he lowered his hand.

”I’ll wait until I’m sure.”

Celeste nodded. Luke gave him an approving look, and Adrian rested a hand on his shoulder.

The violet panel suddenly disappeared.

Rowan jerked forward.

Two more offers vanished beneath it. Then another.

[Available Blessings: 20]

His hand lifted before he could stop himself.

The Honoured One was gone. The promise of annihilating gods, the treasures, the guidance... all gone before he’d even finished feeling relieved about his decision.

His chest tightened.

”Rowan?” Celeste asked.

”Some of the gods and spirits have withdrawn their offer.”

Luke’s expression became serious.

”Do you want to reconsider?”

Rowan watched the twenty remaining offers, afraid another would disappear.

He had wanted time to understand them. Losing a few didn’t mean he understood the others any better.

”No, Master,” he said, lowering his hand. ”I’m going to wait.”

He only hoped he wouldn’t regret it.