Trait Hoarder
Chapter 245: River Goddess – (3)

River Goddess – Part 3

‘How will she react?’

Will she be enraged by the audacity?

She might even strike me down with a surge of river water.

Just as I subtly brought the Manpasikjeok to my lips—

[Ahahahaha!]

The River Goddess burst into laughter, light and carefree like a child.

[How amusing, Human Paladin. You mean to command me like a subordinate, don’t you?]

“As I said—give and take.”

She looked at me with the piercing gaze unique to transcendent beings.

Down below, the fish-men belatedly erupted in chaos.

[Human! Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?!]

[We thought well of you, yet you dare treat the Goddess this way?!]

[You did this before too! And now again!]

[Grrr, I can’t stand this!]

[Human! I challenge you to a duel!]

Ignored. All of it.

I lifted my chin and met the Goddess’s gaze.

She stared at me for a long time.

My neck was starting to ache when her massive form undulated once.

[Human Paladin. No, not a Paladin. You are a Warrior, a Knight, a Dragon Knight, a Paladin, a Gunman, an Artisan, a Psychic, Master of the Sword, and King of Flame.]

Even I had to admit—that’s a flashy list of titles.

At last, the Goddess had discerned my true identity.

[I’ve heard of you before. The Omnipotent One—yes, that’s what they called you. Truly incredible. To think I’d see with my own eyes the very being said to have appeared only once, thousands of years ago, in the distant East.]

Her voice echoed through a grand psychic wave.

Naturally, the commotion below died down.

The fish-men fell silent and glanced among themselves.

Probably whispering quietly to one another: [What’s an Omnipotent One?] [No idea.]

“That’s correct. The Pope of the Thor’s Cult formally confirmed it—I am the Omnipotent One.”

[Ha… Omnipotent One. I’d only heard the name, but you truly are something. The mana circuits etched into your body—they don’t look that old, do they?]

“No. It’s been just over a year since I awakened as a superhuman.”

[A year? Not even two? And you’re already Level 7? Not even early Level 7—closer to mid-level.]

“I think so too.”

[Ehehehe!]

The Goddess let out a strange laugh, thick with disbelief and astonishment.

Even I had to admit—it was wild.

Others spend a lifetime just to reach Level 3 or 4, and I was at Level 7.

That’s how broken trait-swapping and the Blank Body were.

And my game knowledge had helped too.

“So? Doesn’t this sound mutually beneficial?”

[Hmm…]

“You’ve probably sensed it as well—just as you have Osiris, I have an enemy. The Old Father.”

[I felt it. The powerful thread of fate coiled around you—shaking violently.]

“That conflict will come to a head soon. Three, maybe four months. At most, a year. And to face the Old Father, I need powerful allies.”

Harshly put, yes—I’m trying to use her as a magic spirit.

But in truth, it’s a partnership.

A mutually beneficial alliance.

The River Goddess aids me as the Sky Ship’s spirit, and I, in turn, will aid her in the future.

I’ll be, at the very least, a Level 8 transcendent.

Maybe even reach Level 9—a Constellation.

[Cunning. If I accept your help, I’ll have to tear everything up from the roots, won’t I?]

“It’s that kind of job. Going up against the Osiris Order is a massive risk for me too. If I only cared about my own benefit, the smart move would’ve been capturing a few of your children and turning them in to the Order for a reward. Wouldn’t you agree?”

[But you want something from me too, don’t you?]

“That’s life. High risk, high return.”

[High risk, high return… yes. That’s true. To escape this situation, ordinary methods won’t suffice. I’ll have to take extraordinary steps if I want to protect myself and my children from that despicable, selfish ruler.]

The Goddess looked down at the fish-men.

They bowed deeply.

With reverence.

With solemnity.

Seeing that, the Goddess seemed to make her decision.

[Human. I accept your proposal.]

[Goddess!]

[Goddess!]

[Children, listen well.]

Her voice was full of warmth.

But beneath it was an undeniable firmness.

[For the next three years, I—nameless woman of the river—shall assist Human Warrior Kim. I shall dedicate all my strength to his victory. And you, my nameless river kin, shall serve Warrior Kim as you would me, and give your all.]

[As you command, Goddess.]

[We accept your will.]

[For the Goddess!]

The fish-men shouted in unison.

I placed my hand over my chest and solemnly declared.

“[I, Warrior Kim, accept the River Goddess. For three years, I shall aid her in relocating to a river of her choosing. Should conflict or war arise with Osiris, I vow not only to fight as an individual, but to mobilize the entire organization under my command in her defense.]”

A declaration made in dragon tongue.

Naturally, I cannot break it.

Nor would I want to.

Using people and throwing them away?

I hate that more than anything.

Because that’s exactly what happened to me in the world I came from.

The Goddess nodded, clearly pleased.

[So it is settled. I already look forward to three years from now.]

“Still, I suggest you build up your strength before seeking revenge. You’re far too weak right now.”

[Indeed. I agree. Now then—shall we head to my new home?]

The Goddess placed both hands over her chest.

A radiant blue light flared from within.

Her mana core was activating.

And at once, the Nile responded.

Shwaaaa—

The current began to stir.

It evaporated.

The water element itself.

Not H2O, but the pure magical essence of water—its concept, not its chemistry—separated from the river and began to rise.

And it wasn’t just the river.

The mist that had been covering the sky began to do the same.

It thinned slowly, and the elemental water within it separated, flowing toward the mana core.

From the sky, from the river—everywhere.

Flaaash!

And then, a burst of light.

A pillar of brilliance formed.

It connected the River Goddess and the Sky Ship.

The transfer happened in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, the immense power I had sensed before vanished from in front of me—and moved into the Sky Ship.

Wuuuuung—

The ship trembled.

Its color changed.

The golden sheen of its surface turned deep blue.

The protruding gun turrets, missile launchers, and oversized radars changed as well.

Even the wood composing the hull began to shift—becoming more like water.

Its shields, its barriers—everything.

The Sky Ship evolved into a completely new form.

“A river…?”

A river in the sky.

That’s the only way I could describe it.

Not a lake.

A majestic river flowed through the sky, and a single strand of that river now hovered—manifested in a surreal sight.

[What a curious feeling.]

The Goddess spoke to me.

[My body has certainly become smaller, yet my mind feels infinitely vast.]

Of course.

That’s magi-tech.

It’s no wonder humanity once triumphed over the gods.

Even if, in the end, they ended up worshipping gold and magic as new deities.

“We’ll call it Heavenly River.”

[Heavenly River?]

“Yes. That’s the new name of the ship. And you, Goddess… I suppose I’ll need to call you the Goddess of the Heavenly River for a while.”

[Heavenly River… Heavenly River, you say.]

The Goddess didn’t seem displeased.

[Indeed. So that’s why it’s called that.]

She must’ve used a magic sensor to examine herself.

[Then I must look the part.]

Shwaaaa!

The Goddess released her power.

Heavenly River descended.

From the ship hovering in midair, water began to spread outward.

Like the tendrils of some deep-sea leviathan.

The flowing water touched not just the air, but even the frozen surface of the Nile.

The fish-men let out cries of joy and leapt into the air.

[Let’s go!]

[Our new home!]

[We can live within the body of the Goddess!]

[Our ancestors would be jealous!]

[Someone go fetch the rest of the kin from the village!]

[This is the Great Migration!]

At the front were the Council Chief, the Guard Captain, the Sage, the Priest, and the Administrator.

They rode the water into the bridge of the ship.

Each took a station and snapped sharp salutes toward me.

[Loyalty! Reporting for duty as newly appointed Assault Commander, sir!]

[Loyalty! Reporting as Deck Officer, sir!]

[Loyalty! Reporting as Gunnery Chief, sir!]

[Loyalty! Reporting as Barrier Officer, sir!]

[Loyalty! Reporting as Supply Officer, sir!]

“Good to meet you. Just call me Sword Star.”

[Yes, Sword Star, sir!]

The now-Assault Commander Council Chief responded with vigor.

They were locked in.

Just a few hours ago, they’d been glaring at me for every little word I said.

Slaaash, sluuush!

The fish-men swam upstream like salmon.

Big and small, grotesquely ugly, but each one a powerful superhuman.

While aboard Heavenly River, they would wield invincible combat strength.

Their Goddess—their Mother.

The Goddess of the Heavenly River would bless them.

[Now then.]

The Goddess gently gathered her breath.

[I withdraw the blessing granted to the Nile.]

Sssssss—

A long inhale.

The Nile was silent.

But the mist above it churned.

It rushed in from afar, gathering around Heavenly River.

And so, a massive cumulonimbus formed.

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘That’s insane.’

This was the very mist the Osiris Order hadn’t dared attack.

Now, it surrounded Heavenly River like a fortress wall.

Its range and thickness had diminished—but its effects remained the same.

Mana suppression. Reduced visibility. Stat debuffs.

Even the Old Father’s Cult wouldn’t strike this ship lightly now.

And if I completed the [My House] trait?

Even if Seo Woojin’s land battleship appeared, I could smash it to pieces.

‘Shame I didn’t unlock the Commander trait.’

For the General trait, I’d need ingredients like [Command], [Leadership], [Tactics], [Supply], [Captain].

The fish-men calling me “Captain” made me hopeful—but it seems it wasn’t enough yet.

Still, I didn’t think I was far off.

My instincts whispered that much.

[Sword Star.]

The Goddess called out to me in a heavy voice.

[Receive this.]

One of the water tendrils reached toward me.

It elongated like a squid’s tentacle and dropped a single, shimmering jewel.

A drop of divine blood.

“Thank you. How did you know?”

[Hah hah. Though I’ve fallen from grace, I once sat among the divine seats of Egypt. This much, I can recognize.]

I carefully sealed the blood.

It was fully bound—no further treatment necessary.

[My blood… it’s something you need to become stronger, isn’t it, Sword Star?]

“Exactly. It’s a key ingredient in my Reconstruction Elixir. I have so many abilities, and to use them properly, I need special ingredients beyond what others use.”

[My blood treated like an elixir… Fine. Sword Star, if you grow stronger, that benefits me as well. You must reach Level 8. No, while you’re at it—reach Level 9. Only then can I truly reap the rewards of aiding you.]

“Aren’t you trying to profit a bit too much here?”

[In return, I shall give you ample aid, Sword Star. I guarantee that as long as I dwell within this ship, no one in this world will be able to touch it. And furthermore, I shall grant you a blessing.]

“A blessing?”

Heavenly River trembled.

After all the fish-men had boarded—

The tendrils of water that had stretched out like tentacles all converged above my head.

[Sword Star. You shall surely succeed in your bodily reconstruction and reach Level 8.]

Power gathered.

An overwhelming force, far beyond the earlier blessing.

The laws of the world twisted slightly.

In game terms, it felt like an experience booster.

It would likely also ease the pain that came with drinking the Reconstruction Elixir.

But that wasn’t all.

Right after hearing the Goddess’s benediction—

A strange force took shape in the form of letters, floating before my eyes.

If I were to draw those characters into my mouth and speak them aloud, it felt like reality itself would bend to make it true.

‘This is the [Blessing] trait.’

A weaker version of [Wish], so to speak.

In the game, it was used for minor boosts—gold, experience, buffs, debuffs, map revealing.

Nothing huge.

Its effects were modest, at best.

But if it’s a Wish-level trait—or someone like me who can craft wishes—then it’s a different story.

“Thank you. That’s a huge help.”

[Even if I’ve fallen from grace, I can still offer things like this. If you need anything more in the future, speak.]

“Yes, Goddess.”

I had gotten everything I needed from Egypt.

The Goddess looked tired.

“My personal jet is in the hangar. Could you bring it out?”

[Of course. Hmm? It has an interesting function. I’ll assist.]

A supersonic jet was brought out, riding a stream of water from the hangar.

A magical runway unfolded.

It flowed upward into the sky, carried by water.

This really was an airborne carrier now.

Back then, it had only been carrier-sized—no catapults or launch mechanisms, so flying planes from it was impossible.

“Thank you. Please get some rest.”

[I shall.]

I folded Heavenly River and tucked it into my pocket.

Originally, the Sky Ship couldn’t store living beings.

But with the Goddess now residing within it, at least the fish-men could be stored safely.

Unfortunately, Red still couldn’t.

[Do I go in too?]

“Yeah. Go ahead. I’ll summon you once we’re back in Korea. I’ll have beef ready.”

[Beef!]

Red returned to his gauntlet form.

I boarded the jet.

Heavenly River had disappeared, but the river current crafted by the Goddess still remained.

It would likely last for a few more hours.

VRRROOOOM!

A red beam scanned the sky from the north.

Fighter jets were taking off in formation from the airfield.

Helicopters equipped with special gear combed through Lake Nasser.

A state of emergency had been triggered by the sudden disappearance of the mist.

They’d soon figure out who was behind it.

I didn’t care.

[Dragon Knight] [Mana Soul] [Thor Cultivation Technique]

[Sacred Knight] [Flash] [Aerial Assault]

The jet, now a lightning bird, soared into the sky.

I’d already hit top speed—over Mach 4.

Destination: South Korea.

The Village of Mutants, Monster Town.

Time to negotiate with the Lesser Deity who gave me a drop of divine blood and unlocked my holy power.

The Grandmother of Trees.

–TL Notes–

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