I quickly glanced at my father. More or less certain of what I would be picking for my class, the only person that needed convincing was him. He gazed at me with a worried expression, I'm sure he just didn't want me to go down a path I would regret.

How do I tell him not choosing the class would be the path I regret the most?

First, I had to be transparent. He trusted me, but I had to make him understand.

“Father, can you analyze the awakening sphere? I've already chosen, I just want you to see for yourself.” I asked confidently with no hesitation in my voice.

“...” My father replied with silence.

Two minutes later, I could see a soft frown forming on my father's face.

“Tene, your best bet is the dimensional weaver class.” My father replied.

“I'm going to choose the Fallen Angel of Time and Space class, Father” I responded back quickly, not giving him time to corner or push back against my decision. I had to show him my determination to choice nothing else.

“...Tene, You know that's not the wise choice.” My father said worriedly. He probably already knew he couldn't force me or alter my decision. He might have been gone for a long time, but I really hadnt changed much since he left.

“Do you trust me, Father,” I asked.

“Your my little girl– of course, I trust you, but you need to allow me to guide you Tene, you're still only ten years old.” My father said desperately.

I looked at Urila, signaling for him to leave us alone for a moment. Normally you would feel a little awkward about being in the center of a father-daughter fight, however, he seemed to act no different from normal, coldly glancing at our exchange. Returning my gaze, he steadily walked out of the room. I still didn't trust him at all, there was too much he was hiding. Although that in itself was fine, I couldn't forget the way he had treated Lita when we met the Rain Hero.

Looking back towards my father, For the first time in my life, I mentioned my life before I was reincarnated.

“Im older than that father,” I replied.

“...What do you mean.” He asked with bewilderment in his voice.

Honestly, I wasn't going to lie to him, but I knew how ridiculous my story sounded, so I was planning to only tell my father half of the truth.

“I met a goddess just before I was born as your daughter, back when my consciousness was still hazy. That is the oldest memory that I have. She not only gave me a blessing but blessed me with other things too. I think this class is one of them. Being from an outside goddess, that's probably why it's seen as a cursed class, It's not inherently evil.” I explained.

I excluded my memories of being trapped for endless years and only my encounter with the goddess. It should have been a believable story since it also explained how I got my divine blessing.

“...Why did you never mention this before?” My father asked. I could tell that he decided to trust and believe in my story. The disbelieve in his voice was replaced with Worry.

“Because I didn't think it was necessary. It happened so long ago, the blessing in itself had rarely affected how I've lived so far, Father. Besides, I wasn't sure if you would believe me.” I said dejectedly.

“Haaaa, so this class is a gift from her as well then? How can you trust her?” My father asked. I could see his worry beginning to slowly dissipate. The status system meant that divine blessings and such truly laid a firm foundation in the belief of gods.

“Yes. We can trust her, I trust her.” I replied with clarity in my voice. I didn't like lies, So I wasn't lying. Those final words the goddess said before reincarnating me still echoed in my soul. Her heartfelt sincerity for me to be happy in this life. Did I trust people too easily? Maybe it was a curse that followed me from my last life into this one. I wasn't sure.

One thing I’m certain about though is that out of my own free will. I decided to trust in that goddess. Perhaps even from the moment she had freed my soul.

“Ok, it is true that I don't see anything inherently harmful in its descriptions or name.” My father said. He was talking to himself, a thing he did when he was trying to convince himself of something. My sincerity had clearly pierced through his doubt. I could tell, Ive already won this battle.

“Ok. You trusted me enough and wanted to pick this class enough to tell me something you had hidden for years. I could never force you to do anything in the first place.” My father said while rubbing his temple with his thumb.

“But please Tene, If something were to happen to you…” My father's voice broke off with worry at the end.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Shit, better pick the class before he changes his mind.

“Trust me Father, ill be fine. The goddess herself, although questionable in how she acted. Seemed like she only thought of my own good.” I quickly added.

“Questionable?”

Moving my hand toward the black mess of unreadable characters on the awakening sphere, I willed for the selection of the class. Soon a bright purple light filled my surroundings, blinding me. I felt my very soul begin to shift and change, no, revert.

[Awakening Commencing]

[Integrating Cursed Class - Fallen Angel of Time and Space]

[Soul Integration successful]

[Unlocking Passives]

[Converging skills]

…

…

…

[Strenghtening stats]

[Class Unlocked - Fallen Angel of Time and Space]

I could feel it, my status itself was changing, and I was getting stronger. I could feel my body getting lighter, easier to control, more flexible, and more durable.

[Unlocking Fragment of Pandemonium]

…

…

…

Suddenly, I could feel a strong searing pain begin to imprint itself on my soul. Like a hundred flaming swords impaled through my gut and left to burn for eternity. It took everything I had not to scream, I didn't want to alert my father. If not for the pain I had experienced while trapped, I might have lost my mind from the pain.

[Attempt Successful]

[Gained - Key of Dawn]

It's only been a couple of seconds? It felt like I had been in pain for far longer. I could feel my consciousness begin to fade as all colors began to sink into darkness, and my senses began dissipating into nothing.

[Unlocking Fragment of Pandemonium]

…

…

…

Soon all I saw was black.

[Attempt Successful]

[Gained - Key of Twilight]

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“Why do you continue on this path general?!!” A voice seemed to echo loudly in my head, I sensed her irritation, her anger, her disappointment. How could I read her emotions so plainly even though I had never seen this individual before? The cloudy sensation of being in a dream seemed to get weaker and weaker as I heard her speak. Like my old reality was a dream and this was reality.

Before me stood two individuals in a long, grand hallway whose ceiling I couldn't even see the top of, almost as if the beings that traversed these halls were unsurmountable. Like specks of dust, there were two individuals that stood in the center of these halls, yet their presence was undeniable as if this large stage was built just to contain their small bodies alone.

The first person wore jagged, almost metallic-like black clothing. His white hair fell down to his waist and seemed to shine with a purple-like glow. Indented on his forehead was a small purple gem that gave off a solid purple sheen.

Bowing her head before him was a woman who seemed to be a direct subordinate of his. With deep metallic purple hair that fell to her shoulders and the same metallic armor as the general, it seemed that they were both a part of some unified group.

“...Seraphina, there are only those who conquer and those who are conquered. I've bided my time for millennia just for this single moment.” The general replied. His voice was heavy like a boulder, leaving no room for refusal. Yet it carried an ambiance like that of the ocean's depths, tranquil and bottomless.

“General–The supreme one is not to be taken lightly. You shouldn't let your past cloud your judgment!!” Seraphine shouted. Just listening to the man's words would have made most drop all pretenses and submit to his word, there was something about his tone that mesmerized and made one follow. Yet this woman didn't seem affected in the slightest, her fiery tone erupting with the strength of a volcano.

“There are very few I truly trust Seraphina, even then, I've been betrayed more times than I can count. The supreme gods have feared and limited me time and time again. If we lose this chance, another won't come so readily. I fight NOW because I know of their power.” The general replied. At the mention of the supreme gods, his tone shifted to that of animosity and hatred.

Seraphine gritted her teeth, her nails dug into her palms until she drew blood.

“Very Well, General,” Seraphine whispered under her breath.

RUUUUUUUUMBLEEEEE

The entire hall began shaking heavily as small cracks began appearing on its walls. Soon the shaking began to intensify as heavy crashes could be heard slamming into the halls' exterior.

“An attack–” the general said. His voice tore slightly at the end as if he had come to some sort of realization.

Seraphine on the other hand seemed to have come to terms with something, materializing in her hand was a sword that shone with a fiery brilliance of a blazing inferno. The air surrounding it quivered and began to dissipate, the walls of the hall began to char black and melt. It shone with a violent glint as she pointed it at the general she should have served. Just how hot was that blade? The fact that she could hold such a thing so effortlessly?

“I- couldn't stab you in the back unaware, my general. Unsheath your sword” Seraphine said, her voice shaking.

“Why?” The general asked. For someone who was so sure of himself earlier, I could help but snicker at his lack of understanding toward his subordinates. To be betrayed and not even know why. What a fool.

“I can't risk everything I've built, the lives of all on my planet, just for your narrow-minded ambition and pride,” Seraphina said. Her words seemed to pierce not only through the general's heart but through mine as well.

“... Narrow-minded? I see fear has clouded your judgment Seraphina. Weights attached to your soul to control you. You had just to believe in me.” The general said, his voice laced with sadness.

“Die.” rushing towards the general, with a speed I couldn't even fathom, the ground below and air around her combusted and turned to dust, Seraphina’s sword was already inches away from his neck, as bright vermillion lights followed the path of her sword, I could tell that a normal human would have already been disintegrated just from being in her presence.

However, as if to laugh at her efforts, the general grabbed the blade with his two index fingers.

“Seraphina, you know you can't defeat me.” The general said.

“Ahhhhhhhh.” Screaming loudly, Seraphina let out an onslaught of attacks, her once purple hair turned a vermillion red as the heat around her intensified. I could tell that each attack had the power to completely annihilate the hall they stood in. Yet, With precision, the general caught and deflected each of her attacks, minimizing the damage to the surrounding area.

“No, I can't, but as long as I fulfill my end of the bargain, my people will be safe,” Seraphina whispered.

Soon, a small pitch-black gem appeared in her grasp. It was a gem that seemed unmenacing at first, but the longer my gaze held onto it, the more difficult I found it to look away. As if it was gasping and fiddling with my very soul. I felt an uncomfortable itch quiver along my spine as I unconsciously shivered.

“You would use your life just to stop me, Seraphina?” the general said sadly. As soon as Seraphina brought out the gem he seemed to look at Seraphina with what appeared to be…hesitation. I was the only one who noticed it, no I was the only one who would ever be able to distinguish such an emotion from his eyes.

“I—I truly did want to see you topple those bastards. Even with this, I wonder if they will truly abide by my terms. Please general, drop your sword and admit your faults, we may still be saved.” Seraphim asked. She smiled softly, perhaps aware that the general would never abide by her terms.

Then why ask!!!

“...”

An explosion shook the hall, and all turned to dust.

[A Fragment of Pandemonium has been unlocked]

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