'Wait, I'm Supposed to Become a Goddess?! But I'm a Guy!'

At the very same moment, far beyond mortal perception, nestled deep within the folds of the void, Mize watched everything unfold with a sly little smile tugging at her lips.

From up above, she lingered there like a lost fairy.

She had seen it all, every splash, every squabble, every soaked argument, and she wasn’t just watching.

No, she’d been guiding things with a gentle nudge here, a calculated twist there.

Every step, every misstep, had been subtly paved by her own hand.

From the beginning she noticed Klein's presence, his fate was already doomed, Intertwined with a string from her creation, to be orchestrated to the script she wanted.

The fish monster they encountered moments ago? That hideous, oversized lantern-headed nightmare?

That was hers.

Whipped up on a whim, just to give Klein a scare and send him flailing downward in the huge hole she created.

Without that sudden fright, her plan would've flopped like a wet scroll.

Honestly, scaring him was more of a bonus.

"But I never thought these two would actually get along this well," she said aloud, voice soft with amusement.

Her eyes sparkled with delight. “They’re more like brothers-in-arms than a dusty old master and some half-baked disciple.”

"That's good, I will create a whole dramatic script for them soon"

A snort slipped out as laughter followed, light and melodic.

She wiped at the corners of her eyes where tears of laughter shimmered like morning dew, genuinely entertained by the chaotic slapstick mess they’d made of themselves.

“This really is starting to feel like one of those ridiculous fantasy-comedy novels,” she mused, spinning midair like a feather caught in a breeze.

Her dress flared as she twirled, legs bent behind her in a fluttery kick while her elbows propped beneath her chin. “So much dumb energy between the two of them… it's almost artistic.”

Her grin sharpened, and with a soft hum, she began to think through everything she had created so far today.

“I changed the lake water's properties,” she said matter-of-factly, a touch too proud.

"Nullified all soul-type abilities, even blocked that geezer’s divine sense.”

She clapped her hands once, satisfied. “Add a pinch of darkness… a dash of limited visibility… stir in some creeping dread… and boom, guided them straight into the second layer.”

And yes, this second layer?

Entirely new.

She had crafted it while they were too busy bickering like wet puppies.

Arguing, paddling, failing to notice the subtle shift in the water’s gravity as it led them downward.

But of course, she couldn't create this whole vast space on her own, that would be logically impossible given her limited ability of a single individual person.

However, who said she could only be 'one'?

To solve this issue as the two were swimming in the lake back then, she created a skill to clone herself, a perfect clone that mirrored everything about her.

In a second, to fit the script she had conjured, she split herself into 10000 clones simultaneously, and created the entire underground space in the matter of minutes.

This new space wasn’t a separate realm, not entirely.

It was still nested within the dungeon’s spatial framework, meaning the core’s rules still held dominion here.

So naturally, she’d taken the liberty of populating it.

Before the two could even arrive, she had flung dozens of monsters into the zone like a chef tossing herbs into a cauldron.

All handcrafted, all arranged to give the place a certain... chaotic spice.

Different from the monsters above, there were no loot system down here. As such, the carcass or corpse of any monsters killed here would be considered the loot itself.

In addition to this, she also added numerous treasures, herbs, spiritual plants, all of which would be useful up to tier 5 realm.

Still hovering midair in the void, Mize folded her arms and tilted her head to one side.

A devilish glint sparked in her eye.

To add depth, and mystery, she had expanded the dungeon layer exponentially.

Almost consuming several mental tank all at once. To counter these, she created several more mental tank reserves on the spot.

One blink, and the space had stretched from a mere hundred kilometers in diameter to over a thousand.

Just like that.

Her mind had burned through three mental tanks in a single breath, but the result?

Worth it.

A subterranean world of such vast scale, it rivaled mountain ranges.

Not just a dungeon floor anymore, a realm in its own right.

A world she built.

And despite its size, she barely raised an eyebrow at her own feat.

She wasn’t surprised anymore by what she could do. Her limits had long since become irrelevant.

The terrain mirrored the surface layer, but with more flourish.

More variety.

The foliage was denser, the herbs rarer, the spiritual plants nearly glowing like lightbulb.

She’d littered the land with treasures and filled the air with the warp energy so thick it shimmered faintly in the dark.

To be fair, she couldn't really understand how the warp energy works, but her innate ability allowed it and eventually things worked out.

And monsters? She had spawned so many the land practically breathed with them.

Not enough to overwhelm, just enough to feel alive.

“I doubt anyone would be able to tell this place was artificial,” she murmured, watching the two figures staggering about below like ants on a tapestry. “That’s how it should be.”

Her smile deepened, eyes narrowing in mischievous delight.

“Now then, everything must go according to the script.”

She gave a dainty little spin again, humming to herself as she pondered her next move.

“Perhaps it’s time I take the stage personally.”

Or maybe...

Her form shimmered, and suddenly, several copies of herself stepped out from her body like reflections peeling off glass.

Each one identical, each one wearing the same sly, unreadable smile.

“The more the merrier, no?”

They all giggled in unison, their voices overlapping in a melodic chorus.

The scene shifted with an almost comical abruptness back to the thoroughly miserable duo.

Klein, soaked to the bone and still reeling from their earlier plunge, muttered a few words under his breath.

A basic fire spell sparked in his palm, radiating warmth as he swept it across his damp clothes.

Wisps of steam rose lazily from his sleeves and boots.

After half an hour of rest in this hidden pocket of forest, the two finally stirred.

Klein cracked his neck, exhaled sharply, and made a decision.

“North, it is,” he said with a resigned tone, brushing a strand of hair off his forehead.

“Since I’m stuck here anyway, might as well look for something worthwhile.”

The crisp sound of his boot pressing into the overgrown grass echoed quietly as he stepped forward.

The blades bent beneath his weight, dew clinging to his heels.

His eyes locked on the dense stretch ahead, while beside him, the old man illusory figure floated silently , though not for long.

“Left,” the old man murmured, his voice dry and calm. “Better avoid that slope. Hidden vines and unstable footing.”

Klein wordlessly veered off course, trusting the old man's advice.

Again and again, the specter’s voice interrupted his pace, guiding him around concealed cliffs, dense brambles, and ominous rock formations.

Every now and then, the path curved at odd angles, but Klein didn’t question it.

Not anymore.

After all, the old man's divine sense was so powerful that no dangers could be missed. Except the lake that is.

Suddenly, the old man froze.

His tone dropped.

“Four kilometers west. A huge ape-like monster. Never seen anything like it before.”

Klein stopped as well. His expression sharpened. “How strong?”

“Judging by the aura, it should be tier six,” the old man said casually, though his divine sense was still fanning out with focus. “Why? Feel like testing your luck?”

Klein barked out a dry laugh and adjusted his collar. “I’d rather not get torn in half today, thanks. I’m just curious… How different are the monsters down here compared to the ones on the surface?”

“Stronger,” the old man replied bluntly.

He pointed to a narrow path that cut through a pair of leaning trees.

Klein followed without question, feet silent against the moss. “The aura concentration here is hundreds of times higher. Tier five and tier six beasts are probably normal.”

A pause.

“This place might even rival the central wilderness… there might be a tier seven lord prowling around. If not careful, death"

Klein swore under his breath. “Don’t just say crap like that to scare me.”

“Scare you?” The old man raised a brow, arms folded behind his back. “I’m not joking, brat. If one of those things shows up, it’s on you to run like hell. That said, I could try scaring it off with my divine thoughts or shielding us in time"

“No way,” Klein snapped. He leapt across a fallen tree, landing softly. “You’re already half a ghost. Using your divine thoughts like that’ll burn through your soul. You’re not allowed.”

“I’ll be fine,” the old man muttered, a bit of a smirk playing on his lips.

“We’ll be fine if you just keep helping me avoid them,” Klein added with a glance back. “That’s all I need from you.”

“Alright, alright.” The old man chuckled and floated onward.

The forest thickened. Shadows stretched farther, coiling under the enormous trees.

The air grew heavier, tinged with faint spiritual essence.

Though the scenery resembled the surface, subtle differences marked the underground wilderness, like touches from an artist who couldn’t help but tweak every corner.

And then… they found the ruins.

At first, it was just the base of a wall, half-swallowed by the roots of an ancient tree.

Then, further on, shattered stone pillars emerged, etched with strange, winding symbols, murals whose meanings had been devoured by time.

“Looks like remnants of some long-forgotten force,” Klein said offhandedly, running his fingers across a moss-covered archway.

“Could be,” the old man replied, eyes narrowing. “Judging by the wear and traces, these structures have been buried for tens of thousands of years.”

“Wow. Older than you?” Klein shot him a cheeky grin.

The old man’s eye twitched. “I’m not that ancient, you brat. These ruins are probably ten times my age. Only"

"Still old"

Klein’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Fascinating, really. Who had the guts to build a dungeon on top of a place like this? Was it always here? Or was it placed here on purpose… by someone powerful enough to hint at something?”

“You just answered your own question,” the old man muttered. “Using native awakeners like you as meat bags. Send in the cannon fodder first.”

“That’s one hell of a plan.” Klein nodded solemnly. “The lord of this place… must be insane. Strong, mysterious, probably rich, with a literal angel as his wife. Now he’s got a dungeon with relics even older than the antique I’m dragging around.”

Cough. Cough!

The old man stopped floating. “You’ve been taking a lot of shots at me today, brat.”

“What? Me? Never! I was talking about other old men. There are lots of them,” Klein said, eyes wide in mock innocence.

The old man sighed in defeat, and the two devolved into another round of juvenile bickering, snapping at each other like teenagers.

But then, something changed.

The old man’s expression turned grave. His divine sense surged forward, slicing through layers of spiritual haze like a blade.

His mouth opened to speak.

but he was too late.

Boom!

Up ahead.

The world lit up in a blinding blaze of deep orange.

The sky cracked as an oppressive heat blanketed the forest.

Flames erupted in the heavens, twisting and curling in a blazing spiral. And from the heart of the inferno… a colossal lion emerged, the size of a hill.

Its body composed entirely of fire, eyes like molten gold, mane billowing like a burning sea.

It stalked through the void, each step echoing across the sky.

Then it roared.

BOOM!

“What the hell!?” Klein froze mid-leap, heart slamming against his ribs.

The shockwave hit a beat later, a searing pressure racing toward the forest like a wall of molten air.

"Damn it! Kid! BEHIND ME!” the old man bellowed.

In a blink, he surged forward, his arm swinging around Klein’s chest to drag him back.

A translucent barrier of radiant blue surged up between them and the incoming storm.

And then the fire hit.

BOOM!!!

The forest buckled under the force. Trees exploded into ash, rocks cracked and screamed, and the very ground seemed to recoil from the heat.

The translucent shield trembled violently under the impact, holding just barely, but not without cost.

The wave of heat pierced through. Klein grunted, teeth clenched, as his skin burned in streaks.

"What the hell!!!!???"

"Arghhh!!!"

The wind felt like razors soaked in boiling oil.

He stumbled, shielding his eyes with an arm, trying to breathe through the pain.

Flames licked across the grass, twisting the landscape into a hellish red.

The old man’s expression was strained, a hand extended, the barrier glowing brighter with each second.

His robe billowed against the wind, the edges curling from the heat.

“I-It’s a true lord monster! Fuck, my salty mouth!” he growled, his tone strained. “I shouldn't joked about it!”

Klein didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His ears were ringing. His vision blurred from the blinding light, his body trembling against the heat.

And above them, the lion of flame let out another earth-shaking roar.

"Old mannn!!!!!"