Rose stared at the system message and wondered. Now—how does this work? She had waited a good five minutes already, and evidently, nothing would be happening without her intervention. The system message was just sitting there, displaying that same message about assigning rewards.

It does make sense, Rose thought, thinking back on what she had been taught. If I remember correctly, the treasures found within the dungeon itself were always referred to in a different way than the rewards you get for actually completing the dungeon.

There had always been something religious about how the teachers had referred to killing the dungeon boss as an offering to the gods. The other treasure is to be found in a dungeon on the other hand were handled more practically, just as loot to be collected.

Rose stared at the collapsed body of the dungeon boss—a fallen knight lying in an expanding pool of blood. She didn't really feel as if she had offered it to herself in any way.

She hadn't even absorbed any of the blood yet, for fear it might sabotage the process. And oddly, the blood didn't seem to be losing its vitality like other blood did after leaving a body.

It did look tasty, but—if I drink that, will it count as the dungeon reward? Rose narrowed her eyes, pacing in back and forth in front of the body. She couldn't risk it. Why didn't this come with an instructions manual? Or maybe...

Rose stared off into space in that vague way, trying to will a system window into existence. “Display instructions for assigning dungeon reward please.”

She waited 10 seconds, and nothing happened. Her eyes went back to that window that was still stuck displaying the same message. “Well, you're no help at all, are you?”

Apologies, mistress.

Rose jumped a bit at the sudden system message—she really hadn't been expecting it. What in the Hells? She hadn't asked it to apologize, nor to call her a mistress. But somehow, it made her feel just a bit satisfied.

“Well, at least you know your place.” She said, a hint of a smile on her face.

But enough distractions. Rose examined the dead boss with a furrowed brow. How should this work? That potential was still hanging in the air, waiting to be tapped into. Can I touch it somehow?

She was sensing it with her divine sense, so evidently, it was the key somehow. But was her divine sense only a sense, or could she touch things with it too? Rose closed her eyes and focused. Thanks to her shrine maiden robes, the sensation was far more tangible than it had been before. She reached out for that invisible field—the ever-present system, and—

A vibration went across the surface. Rose's eyes snapped open, and she immediately let go of her divine sense. The ripple faded. She once more looked at that waiting system message. Did I just touch you somehow?

This felt promising. Rose started pacing again, this time much faster than before. Her excitement was building. That has to be a part of how I’m supposed to hand out the reward! But where would the reward come from?

Once more she looked at the dead boss. Even now, a subtle aura of power emanated from him. Rose was starting to form a theory. I think traditionally a follower is supposed to offer something from this boss to their God, and the system would handle that process. Then that God would take the offering, and give something back. In a more usable form, perhaps.

She didn't believe for one second that the gods would give back more than they would take. But in this case, she was both the one offering and taking, so she should be able to take everything. Her eyes drilled into the armour-clad corpse.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Show me. What do you have to offer?”

The system message almost made her jump.

Sandel, the Guardian Knight of the Shrine Mountain

Soul Rank: C

The second son from a mighty house, he volunteered to serve amongst the shrine guard to stave off succession concerns. Despite his highborn origin, the common-born men he commanded respected him greatly, and his valor at arms was respected all over the mountains.

It was the same message as when she had first seen the boss, except with one additional line. So, I can see this even for the dead—with additional information? Interesting.

Had this one been made the boss of this area because its soul was powerful enough? Was the soul supposed to be the offering then? Can I use it to strengthen my Blooming Blood, then?

But that felt wrong—inefficient. Perhaps it could be useful for the normal acolytes, who could not strengthen their boons on their own. But Rose only needed to drink more blood to make herself stronger. Wouldn't it be a waste to throw away this unique opportunity for something she could acquire through more common means?

What can I do with this? Maybe I can...

Rose felt for her divine sense and reached out to that wasting potential in the air. It was difficult. Like touching something ethereal that always tried to stay just out of your reach. But now that she had done it once, rose had the feel for it.

It only took her a second. It felt like a moment of fate. Bells should have been a ringing to announce the arrival of something glorious, but instead there was only silence. The eerie silence of a dead shrine, a tomb for those who had once walked through its many ceremonial gates.

Rose touched that hanging potential in the air and grasped it into her fist. She felt a power much greater than her settle into her hand, like the bound radiance of a sun. Tingles ran across her skin and an infinite weight set into her bones. She gasped, struggling with the power she was trying to wield.

The system was supposed to help her, but it was heavy. So, so heavy. Meant for true deities, not those only taking their first steps. But rose was determined to succeed. Her gaze was mad. She was right in front of the boss's dead body, but the distance felt insurmountable. My hand! I just need to move my hand!

Roaring, Rose held on to that radiant power and thrust her hand forward, right into the chest of the dead knight. There was no resistance—her hand moved through platemail as if it was air. But she pushed deep, right towards the heart where she felt something waiting.

I don't know how to use this power yet. I don't know how to transform you into something else yet. So instead, I'll just take you whole. Your everything.

“Give yourself to me,” she whispered with a strained voice.

Rose closed her hand, grabbed something, and pulled.

The radiant energy crystallized around her hand, fading as Rose took the object of her desire. Her hand came out of the armoured body, and rose jumped back, staring at what she had taken.

In her hand was a ghostly blue fire. It gave off no heat, but a stable power was radiating from it, as if observing Rose.

It held a life. A soul.

She closed her hand and felt the blue fire fade, going somewhere inside her.

Soul taken: Sandel, the Guardian Knight of the Shrine Mountain

Rose was grinning. The mad grin of a newborn goddess. Heart thrumming with excitement, she reached out to that pool of blood forming around the dead boss, and felt a potential.

There was enough blood here. There was a waiting gaze through the surface of the crimson pool. I can summon him up now. He is mine.

Rose tasted the name against her teeth. “Sandel, first servant of the blooming blood goddess.”

Her smile was wide. Yes—this was proper. This was how things should be. And this was—

Divine.

She didn't summon him yet. There was no need, and she felt it would be wasting good blood. Instead, she pulled at the pool of blood, bringing it up to her mouth and drinking deep. It tasted like a rich red wine of the finest vintage. Rose drank it all up, like a celebratory toast to her new fate.

Blood: 24/100

Then she looked to the sky, mouth messy with blood, and laughed. Long and hard, truly free for the first time in her life. She hadn't truly believed it yet. A nascent goddess.

They had been just words, far too grand for her to truly grasp. Her blood manipulation wasn't truly that special—at least not yet. There were probably many acolytes who had gained boons of equivalent strength. Probably some who had gained even stronger ones. She had only seen her ability as a new power of her own, that would grant her freedom, but this—

This was far more than that. Claiming a soul as her own... That was divine. Finally, Rose was starting to believe.

One day, she would be a true goddess. And it felt exhilarating.

So she laughed.

Long and hard with true joy in her heart.

And the clouds above swirled, welcoming a new goddess into the world.