Read Novel Full Chapter 446: A Divine Assignment?
Chapter 446: A Divine Assignment?
Gabriel sucked in a deep breath as his eyes locked onto the familiar figure. The heavy chains wrapped around her arms and torso glowed faintly as they anchored her massive body in place. In that moment, everything became clear to him, because this was not coincidence, not an illusion, not some side effect of exhaustion. This was real, and it confirmed what he already felt in his chest.
He was officially back.
The chained giant goddess slowly raised her head, her fiery red hair shifting slightly as her mismatched eyes settled on him. For a few seconds, she simply studied him in silence, her gaze steady and sharp, before her lips curved into a faint smile.
"It has been a while, champion," she said calmly, her voice carrying through the chamber with ease. "I can see it already. You have grown powerful."
He did not move closer. He stayed where he was, posture straight and expression controlled as he met her gaze without flinching.
"Why am I here," he asked plainly, voice firm. "And before you answer that, I already know I am not strong enough to break those chains yet."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the radiant bindings wrapped around her body, then returned to her face.
"But more importantly," he continued, "how am I here."
Persephone watched him for a moment longer, then exhaled slowly.
"This is not a dream," she said. "What stands before me is your self consciousness. Your body is still in your world."
She paused, then added casually, "You are currently dead."
His brows tightened instantly.
Not for himself.
His thoughts went straight to Anna, to Sophie, to the others who had been beside him when he collapsed.
"What will they think," he said quietly, jaw tightening as concern surfaced in his eyes. "They saw me fall. They will assume the worst."
He clenched his fists at his sides, then slowly loosened them as he took another steady breath.
Only then did he realize something else.
Something was missing.
He focused inward, instinctively reaching for the familiar cool presence of his Undead Heart skill, for the constant background awareness of his abilities, for the silent feedback of his system.
Nothing answered.
His expression darkened slightly.
"So here," he said slowly, "I have nothing."
No skills. No passive effects. No resistance.
Just his consciousness standing naked inside a divine space, vulnerable.
Persephone noticed the shift immediately.
"You have realized it. Your systems do not function here."
He nodded once. "Meaning if something happens, I do not have any safety net."
"Correct."
He let out a slow breath through his nose.
She straightened slightly against her chains.
"Do not worry," she assured him. "I will not waste your time. All I need is a short talk with you."
His eyes narrowed.
"You did not pull me here just to chat."
Her lips curved faintly.
"No," she admitted. "The reason you are here is because I have a quest for you."
He stared at her.
"A quest."
"Yes."
He did not respond immediately, but the word alone made his thoughts move quickly. This was not some normal assignment from a system interface or an NPC.
This was coming directly from a god.
"A divine quest," he said.
She inclined her head slightly.
"You learn quickly."
"It is something I already know. I just did not expect to receive one," he replied.
Divine quests were not like ordinary missions issued by cities, guilds, or system boards. They were personal assignments given directly by gods or god level entities, often without warning and without the option to refuse. They did not appear on public rankings, could not be shared with others, and could not be tracked by standard interfaces. Only the chosen recipient would be aware of their existence.
They were extremely rare.
And brutally difficult.
Most players who ever received one never lived long enough to complete it.
But those who succeeded were rewarded on a level far beyond standard progression.
Unique classes. Exclusive abilities. Permanent stat changes. Divine artifacts.
Sometimes even fragments of godhood.
"These assignments are designed to push mortals beyond their limits," Persephone said evenly. "They are not meant to be fair. They are meant to test whether you deserve what you carry."
He listened without interrupting, face calm as always, though his mind processed every word carefully.
"So failure means death," he said.
"In most cases," she replied. "Or something worse."
He exhaled slowly, wondering what might have triggered the quest.
"And success," he asked, holding her gaze.
Her mismatched eyes gleamed faintly.
"Success reshapes destiny."
He nodded lightly. "That fits."
Silence settled between them for a brief moment. The chains around her body gave off a low hum as divine energy flowed through them. He glanced around the chamber, then back at her.
"So let me get this straight," he said. "My body is back there, collapsed. My consciousness is here. My abilities are sealed. And you summoned me because you decided it was time to assign me something that could either make me stronger or erase me completely."
She smiled. "Yes."
He stared at her for several seconds.
Then spoke.
"You have about one minute before my people start realizing I am not waking up."
Her smile faded slightly. "That is why I said I would not take your time."
Persephone shifted against her restraints, the chains tightening briefly as if reacting to her movement. She lifted her head higher, her expression turning serious for the first time since he arrived.
"Champion," she said slowly, voice steady and heavy, "this divine quest will determine whether you remain an average human or become something far greater."
He met her gaze without hesitation, expression extremely serious. Different scenarios of what the quest could be were already forming in his mind as he tried to come up with ways to complete them.
The tension thickened in the air as they held each other’s gaze.
"Tell me," he urged calmly, though his patience was wearing thin.
Her eyes locked onto his and her lips parted slowly.
"The quest is—"