Martial Arts Worlds
Author: Alekzi
Chapter 836: Test of the Heavens
"..."
Kiernan stood on his back in a field of white fluffy clouds, just staring at the golden sky with a wondrous expression.
He didn’t currently know where he was.
All he was aware of was that the shockwave of the explosion sent him flying quite far away.
’It hurts... Everywhere... Sigh...’
Kiernan sat back up, and after some struggle, he was soon back standing up, but his whole body was screaming in pain.
His body wanted nothing more than have him lay back down, and relax for the rest of the day.
’I’ll need to find the Fair One... And get back home...’
Kiernan thought and started walking back.
However.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
At that moment, he heard the sound of wings flapping, and he saw a couple of angels descending from the golden skies.
They were well-armored and looked like Warrior Angels unlike other Civilian Angels and Servant Angels that he’d seen.
"Kiernan Hunter... Your presence is required in the Feast Hall."
One of the Warrior Angels said.
’There is something off about the way they are looking at me. It is almost like they will attack me if I try to run away.
’Maybe they don’t want the so-called Great Robber stay in the Heavens any longer? Well, I don’t want to stay either way.’
Kiernan thought and nodded to the Warrior Angels, and they then grabbed him by his arms and carried him all the way back to the God City.
When they arrived at the Feast Hall, all the gods and goddesses were already gathered there with their champions.
"...Thank you."
The Fair One was kneeling before the Big God, and she had already gotten her own wish granted.
She then stood up, saw Kiernan, and instead of looking happy about him returning, her expression looked conflicted.
’...What’s going on?’
Kiernan realized that something was off.
In that moment, the Warrior Angels pushed him towards the Big God, and he was soon standing before him.
"...Kiernan Hunter."
Big God said with a booming voice.
It turned very tense in the Feast Hall.
With a side eye, he was able to see Death standing with his arms crossed, and it looked like he was ready to do something.
"Your thievery of the reincarnation has been left unpunished for far too long."
Big God suddenly said.
’...Are they serious? They waited till the end of the Battle of the Champions to do this shit?’
Kiernan’s eyes turned dark.
He glanced at the Fair One, who averted her gaze, and he thought, ’Coward...’ and then turned back to Big God.
’Gluttonous... Greedy... Selfish... Slothful... Envious... Wrathful... The gods carry all of those heinous traits.
’I thought the gods of the Heavens were supposed to be magnanimous, forgiving, and benevolent, but they’re nothing like that.’
"The punishment shall be the following—your system will be removed from you, the strength that you’ve gained with the help of the system will be removed, and you’ll be sent to Hell for a million years.
"After those million years, you’ll be judged again for your crimes, and if you have repented, you’ll be given a second chance at redemption."
Big God said.
’This is bullshit!’
Kiernan screamed inwardly.
The anger kept rising inside him, boiling at almost uncontrollable levels, almost exploding out of rage.
’Wait... This is... weird?’
Kiernan shook his head, and that something was off with his emotions.
He wasn’t usually this emotionally unstable, as he knew himself better than that and realized something was off.
’...Something is off... Someone is trying to mess with my emotions...’
Kiernan thought with a gulp.
And then he realized that Death didn’t look all that pleased even though he got his wish granted that he was going to be sent to Hell.
’This is not actually happening, is it? It’s a test, and someone is manipulating my emotions to make me fail the test.’
Kiernan thought with cold sweat trickling down his back.
"...Well, what do you have to say?"
Big God asked.
"..."
Kiernan reached out his hand towards Big God, and all the Warrior Angels grabbed their weapons.
They were ready to jump in and stop him if he was going to do anything.
"...Fine, take it."
Kiernan said.
"..."
Big God looked at him silently, and slowly he reached out his hand and grabbed it with a tight squeeze.
He realized that he could take the system out of his body at any given moment, and Kiernan was letting him.
’He really is giving himself up?’
Big God thought in shock.
With a small smile creeping to her face, the Fair One was thrilled and almost cheered but kept her emotions in check.
"Tch!"
Death clicked his tongue.
He didn’t understand why Kiernan didn’t try to attack Big God as he was intentionally manipulating his emotions.
He was putting a seed of hatred towards gods into his heart, and also manipulating his emotions in a way that made him extremely angry.
Yet, even with all this, Kiernan still didn’t do anything!
"...Hooh."
Big God pulled his hand back without taking the system, and he then crossed his legs and said with his booming voice.
"It was a test. The Fair One’s wish was for us to forgive your crimes and show you mercy, but the level of your crimes is unprecedented.
"I had to test you... To see your reaction... If you truly deserve that mercy, well, it does look like you do."
Kiernan faked surprise.
"Your crimes have been wiped off. You have now a fresh start. However, just remember, you are neither going to Heaven nor to Hell at this moment.
"How you live the rest of your life... Greatly affects where you end up in the afterlife."
Big God said.
"...Thank you."
Kiernan let out a breath of relief, and he bowed deeply.
"Let’s continue the feast!"
Big God slapped his hands, and angelic music started playing in the background, and the gods and goddesses returned back to eating.
’...Whew.’
Kiernan was really relieved, and since there was no reason for him to stay here anymore, he started heading to the exit.
In that moment, the Fair One ran after him with a big smile on her beautiful face behind the white veil.
"Good job and congratulations!"
"...I should thank you. Why did you use that wish on me? You could’ve gotten anything you wanted."
"Hmm... I have everything I already wanted. I never had a wish that I really wanted to make, and either way, you’re the one that won.
"So I felt like the wish belonged to you."
The Fair One said.
"Mmh, well, thanks. I have another favor. Can you bring me back to the Martial Arts World? I want to return to my family."
Kiernan asked.
"Sure, see you later~"
The Fair One tapped his forehead, and he disappeared into thin air, as if he were getting sucked back into the mortal world.
...
"...Ah!"
Kiernan’s eyes slammed open, and he sat back up and noticed that he was sitting on the ground of one of the Elven Kingdom’s streets.
The elves were looking at him strangely as he appeared out of nowhere and noticed that he was human.
’I am back... Whew.’
Kiernan stood up, looked around at where he was, and rummaged through his pockets for his phone.
He eventually found it, pulled it out, and noticed that the screen was cracked.
’Right, I completely forgot that I had this phone in my pocket for the entire tournament. No wonder it didn’t survive.’
Kiernan wryly smiled.
"Mommy, I want that!"
In that moment, he heard a familiar-sounding shout and immediately looked over and saw a pair of a mother and daughter looking at the Elven Wingsuit in a shop window.
It was early in the morning, and Aoi and Ellie went straight to shopping.
Kiernan’s legs moved towards them, and as he appeared behind Ellie, he suddenly grabbed her shoulder, making her jump in surprise.
"Ahh!"
Ellie’s head whipped around, and when she saw the gray eyes of her father, she beamed with happiness.
"Daddy!"
She jumped into his hug, and Kiernan chuckled and carried her up to his shoulders and made her sit down on his shoulders.
"...Dear."
Aoi smiled and hugged Kiernan tightly, as she couldn’t sleep well last week for fear of never seeing him again.
She then noticed the state of Kiernan, and noticed there were scratches, bruises, and dried blood on his arms and legs.
It looked like he’d been in a hellish kind of fighting.
"Let’s go."
Aoi grabbed Kiernan’s hand, and he looked at her with a smile and nodded while Ellie played with his hair, giggling and having fun.
She led the way to their temporary residence, and as Ellie went to get the stuff they purchased from Elf Kingdom to show her father, Aoi started cleaning up Kiernan’s wounds.
"...Where did the Goddess take you?"
Aoi asked curiously.
"To the Heavens."
Kiernan said with a quickly.
"You were in the Heavens? How does it look? How was it?"
Aoi asked with great interest.
She was always interested in the concept of the afterlife, as were other mortals, but while some didn’t believe in it, she did.
"It was alright. I prefer the mortal world, though."
Kiernan said with a smile.
Kiernan stood on his back in a field of white fluffy clouds, just staring at the golden sky with a wondrous expression.
He didn’t currently know where he was.
All he was aware of was that the shockwave of the explosion sent him flying quite far away.
’It hurts... Everywhere... Sigh...’
Kiernan sat back up, and after some struggle, he was soon back standing up, but his whole body was screaming in pain.
His body wanted nothing more than have him lay back down, and relax for the rest of the day.
’I’ll need to find the Fair One... And get back home...’
Kiernan thought and started walking back.
However.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
At that moment, he heard the sound of wings flapping, and he saw a couple of angels descending from the golden skies.
They were well-armored and looked like Warrior Angels unlike other Civilian Angels and Servant Angels that he’d seen.
"Kiernan Hunter... Your presence is required in the Feast Hall."
One of the Warrior Angels said.
’There is something off about the way they are looking at me. It is almost like they will attack me if I try to run away.
’Maybe they don’t want the so-called Great Robber stay in the Heavens any longer? Well, I don’t want to stay either way.’
Kiernan thought and nodded to the Warrior Angels, and they then grabbed him by his arms and carried him all the way back to the God City.
When they arrived at the Feast Hall, all the gods and goddesses were already gathered there with their champions.
"...Thank you."
The Fair One was kneeling before the Big God, and she had already gotten her own wish granted.
She then stood up, saw Kiernan, and instead of looking happy about him returning, her expression looked conflicted.
’...What’s going on?’
Kiernan realized that something was off.
In that moment, the Warrior Angels pushed him towards the Big God, and he was soon standing before him.
"...Kiernan Hunter."
Big God said with a booming voice.
It turned very tense in the Feast Hall.
With a side eye, he was able to see Death standing with his arms crossed, and it looked like he was ready to do something.
"Your thievery of the reincarnation has been left unpunished for far too long."
Big God suddenly said.
’...Are they serious? They waited till the end of the Battle of the Champions to do this shit?’
Kiernan’s eyes turned dark.
He glanced at the Fair One, who averted her gaze, and he thought, ’Coward...’ and then turned back to Big God.
’Gluttonous... Greedy... Selfish... Slothful... Envious... Wrathful... The gods carry all of those heinous traits.
’I thought the gods of the Heavens were supposed to be magnanimous, forgiving, and benevolent, but they’re nothing like that.’
"The punishment shall be the following—your system will be removed from you, the strength that you’ve gained with the help of the system will be removed, and you’ll be sent to Hell for a million years.
"After those million years, you’ll be judged again for your crimes, and if you have repented, you’ll be given a second chance at redemption."
Big God said.
’This is bullshit!’
Kiernan screamed inwardly.
The anger kept rising inside him, boiling at almost uncontrollable levels, almost exploding out of rage.
’Wait... This is... weird?’
Kiernan shook his head, and that something was off with his emotions.
He wasn’t usually this emotionally unstable, as he knew himself better than that and realized something was off.
’...Something is off... Someone is trying to mess with my emotions...’
Kiernan thought with a gulp.
And then he realized that Death didn’t look all that pleased even though he got his wish granted that he was going to be sent to Hell.
’This is not actually happening, is it? It’s a test, and someone is manipulating my emotions to make me fail the test.’
Kiernan thought with cold sweat trickling down his back.
"...Well, what do you have to say?"
Big God asked.
"..."
Kiernan reached out his hand towards Big God, and all the Warrior Angels grabbed their weapons.
They were ready to jump in and stop him if he was going to do anything.
"...Fine, take it."
Kiernan said.
"..."
Big God looked at him silently, and slowly he reached out his hand and grabbed it with a tight squeeze.
He realized that he could take the system out of his body at any given moment, and Kiernan was letting him.
’He really is giving himself up?’
Big God thought in shock.
With a small smile creeping to her face, the Fair One was thrilled and almost cheered but kept her emotions in check.
"Tch!"
Death clicked his tongue.
He didn’t understand why Kiernan didn’t try to attack Big God as he was intentionally manipulating his emotions.
He was putting a seed of hatred towards gods into his heart, and also manipulating his emotions in a way that made him extremely angry.
Yet, even with all this, Kiernan still didn’t do anything!
"...Hooh."
Big God pulled his hand back without taking the system, and he then crossed his legs and said with his booming voice.
"It was a test. The Fair One’s wish was for us to forgive your crimes and show you mercy, but the level of your crimes is unprecedented.
"I had to test you... To see your reaction... If you truly deserve that mercy, well, it does look like you do."
Kiernan faked surprise.
"Your crimes have been wiped off. You have now a fresh start. However, just remember, you are neither going to Heaven nor to Hell at this moment.
"How you live the rest of your life... Greatly affects where you end up in the afterlife."
Big God said.
"...Thank you."
Kiernan let out a breath of relief, and he bowed deeply.
"Let’s continue the feast!"
Big God slapped his hands, and angelic music started playing in the background, and the gods and goddesses returned back to eating.
’...Whew.’
Kiernan was really relieved, and since there was no reason for him to stay here anymore, he started heading to the exit.
In that moment, the Fair One ran after him with a big smile on her beautiful face behind the white veil.
"Good job and congratulations!"
"...I should thank you. Why did you use that wish on me? You could’ve gotten anything you wanted."
"Hmm... I have everything I already wanted. I never had a wish that I really wanted to make, and either way, you’re the one that won.
"So I felt like the wish belonged to you."
The Fair One said.
"Mmh, well, thanks. I have another favor. Can you bring me back to the Martial Arts World? I want to return to my family."
Kiernan asked.
"Sure, see you later~"
The Fair One tapped his forehead, and he disappeared into thin air, as if he were getting sucked back into the mortal world.
...
"...Ah!"
Kiernan’s eyes slammed open, and he sat back up and noticed that he was sitting on the ground of one of the Elven Kingdom’s streets.
The elves were looking at him strangely as he appeared out of nowhere and noticed that he was human.
’I am back... Whew.’
Kiernan stood up, looked around at where he was, and rummaged through his pockets for his phone.
He eventually found it, pulled it out, and noticed that the screen was cracked.
’Right, I completely forgot that I had this phone in my pocket for the entire tournament. No wonder it didn’t survive.’
Kiernan wryly smiled.
"Mommy, I want that!"
In that moment, he heard a familiar-sounding shout and immediately looked over and saw a pair of a mother and daughter looking at the Elven Wingsuit in a shop window.
It was early in the morning, and Aoi and Ellie went straight to shopping.
Kiernan’s legs moved towards them, and as he appeared behind Ellie, he suddenly grabbed her shoulder, making her jump in surprise.
"Ahh!"
Ellie’s head whipped around, and when she saw the gray eyes of her father, she beamed with happiness.
"Daddy!"
She jumped into his hug, and Kiernan chuckled and carried her up to his shoulders and made her sit down on his shoulders.
"...Dear."
Aoi smiled and hugged Kiernan tightly, as she couldn’t sleep well last week for fear of never seeing him again.
She then noticed the state of Kiernan, and noticed there were scratches, bruises, and dried blood on his arms and legs.
It looked like he’d been in a hellish kind of fighting.
"Let’s go."
Aoi grabbed Kiernan’s hand, and he looked at her with a smile and nodded while Ellie played with his hair, giggling and having fun.
She led the way to their temporary residence, and as Ellie went to get the stuff they purchased from Elf Kingdom to show her father, Aoi started cleaning up Kiernan’s wounds.
"...Where did the Goddess take you?"
Aoi asked curiously.
"To the Heavens."
Kiernan said with a quickly.
"You were in the Heavens? How does it look? How was it?"
Aoi asked with great interest.
She was always interested in the concept of the afterlife, as were other mortals, but while some didn’t believe in it, she did.
"It was alright. I prefer the mortal world, though."
Kiernan said with a smile.