The Saintess's Thorough Inspection
With a plan in place to control Rampage, the conversation shifted to casual chit-chat. Most of it revolved around Lize, who graciously fielded their questions while building rapport. The group, initially awkward, loosened up as she answered patiently, firing off one query after another.
"If you've been chosen by Chaos, how do you raise your divine power? For Gaia or Gulaak, it's through prayer or offerings, right?"
Kara's question. She might face prejudice as a barbarian, but she was one of Gulaak's trusted faithful. Young as she was, she already wielded lightning freely—and she offered tributes religiously. Tatar's recognition as a nation owed much to Hector and Kara earning Gulaak's favor.
"You may have heard this already, but Chaos is extremely capricious. No one knows when, where, or how the faith will come."
Lize sipped her tea and replied calmly. Even she acknowledged Chaos's wild mood swings. They were more like pranks than anything malicious, and in serious moments, the god usually delivered. Usually being the operative word.
Right on cue, she elaborated.
"Sometimes, even in crises, bizarre things happen. Like boosting the enemy's body at a critical moment or doing nothing when healing is needed. Thinking back makes my heart race."
"...Is a god allowed to do that?"
Kara looked utterly baffled. Gulaak rewarded offerings proportionally, and Gaia did the same. Chaos? No such luck. Faith came on a whim, and the payoffs were unreliable. In the end, you could only trust yourself.
In Soul World, getting chosen by Chaos skyrocketed the clear difficulty.
The funny part is how that forces the player to grow just as much.
Just in case: it grew the player, not the character. You cleared it by pulling off ridiculous feats, leveling up your own skills in the process.
"Chaos may love pranks, but the affection for us is as deep as any god's. Even the tricks pave the way through trials. So when Chaos plays those games, I see it as a test of resolve."
Lize flashed a bright smile. Nicely packaged words, but it boiled down to enlightenment. Overcoming those trials had forged the Kwonseong Saintess before them. Rock bottom lows, but sky-high peaks.
"So what can you do with faith, Saintess? Gaia handles healing, Gulaak boosts abilities."
"Both. But they're... underwhelming. Healing draws out personal regeneration, and boosts raise potential limits."
"...Could you explain it simpler?"
"When Gaia followers heal, I pair it with medicine. For Gulaak's physical amps, I do weight training."
One of Chaos's defining traits. As I mentioned, it pumped the player's personal stats. Characters under extreme control saw gains too. Chaos zeroed in on the individual.
That high ceiling came at the cost of abysmal efficiency and convenience—why it was seen as a trap.
"I have so much divine power that minor injuries don't need it. Just disinfectant potion does the trick. Physical stats, I build steadily."
"Can't you boost others?"
"I can. Problem is, it works on enemies too."
Soul World clerics could heal others unlike most games, but no stat buffs. Gulaak followers only amped fellow believers—try it on a civilian, and lightning would roast them golden.
Chaos allowed it, but as Lize said, enemies got buffs too. The biggest wildcard.
"Demons are the exception. Chaos may be fickle, but demons are pure enemies. Against them alone, it's safe to use freely."
"What happens if you use it on demons?"
"Their flesh burns away. Demons lack color, so they crumble like paper in flames."
Why Lize hard-countered demons. No 'color' made them vulnerable to life essence itself. Exposure melted flesh like white phosphorus; amputation was the only fix.
Too easy? Demons had insane regeneration. No vital life meant no rules—severed heads regrew. No wonder 'undead' served as their minions.
At least it guzzled mana. Clear weaknesses made them straightforward once identified.
Most lesser demons would vaporize from a divine burst alone.
Lize radiating power would dust grunt demons. Only violet-tier or higher could endure—and even they'd take heavy damage.
"Just to be clear, Brother Sivar doesn't have to become a cleric. As I said, Chaos chooses those at crossroads. My duty is guiding them right. I chose the clerical path, so divine power comes easily."
"Th-that means... Sivar could bulk up like you just did?"
Ellie ventured timidly. That muscle-bound Kwonseong mode must've left an impression.
For the record, I had zero interest in going full musclehead. Even if I wanted to, it'd take forever.
Lize seemed to read my mind, smiling as she replied.
"Possible, but it'll take time. I've pilgrimaged for decades, building power for this body. What you need isn't 'body'—it's 'heart'. No rush."
"Phew..."
Ellie sighed in relief, her hand sweeping her ample chest and drawing every eye.
"Why the relief? I think he'd be cute as a muscle hunk. Not your type?"
Kara smirked, teasing after gauging Ellie's reaction. Plenty of room for misunderstanding there.
Ellie caught on late, panicking. Her golden eyes darted wildly.
"N-no, that's not it! He's big enough already—any more, and hugging would be tough!"
"......"
"Ellie..."
From my angle, it warmed the heart. Others? Not so much.
Kara's smirk flattened into a straight line; Luna shot a salty glare.
Ellie realized her slip, face flushing crimson as she peeked at me nervously.
"...Feels weird."
I ignored Kara's mutter. Ellie's reaction was too entertaining.
People get embarrassed when true feelings slip. Ellie was no exception.
Meanwhile, Lize smiled softly and dropped a half-joking bomb.
"How heartwarming. I wondered how Brother Sivar suppresses his instincts... Looks like Ellie's love keeps him in check."
"Wh-wh-what? L-love?!"
Ellie yelped, jumping up. Her face ripened to persimmon red—tempting to poke and see if juice dripped.
"Not that love, idiot. Familial bond."
Kara cut in sharply, watching it all. Clear displeasure in her tone.
Lize just smiled innocently. Lord sipped tea silently. Luna... looked deep in thought. Maybe hanging on Lize's every word.
"Still, a quick check wouldn't hurt. Healthy body, healthy mind. Building the vessel has no downsides. Brother Sivar?"
"?"
"Could you stand for a moment?"
What now? I stood anyway, curious but compliant. Tempting as Ellie's chest was for eternity, forever wasn't an option.
As I rose, Lize pointed to the open space by the table.
"Pardon the intrusion. Just a check—don't misunderstand."
I moved as guided. Then she started running hands over my body. More scanning than stroking, but ticklish and oddly intimate.
Limbs, abs, chest, glutes, neck, shoulders—every muscle got thorough prodding.
"This is... quite..."
Her calm face flushed with excitement, breaths quickening. Like an artist beholding a masterpiece.
Now she rechecked spots. How long did she fondle?
Finally, she met my eyes, cheeks rosy.
"Truly... a perfect body..!"
"...?"
"Finding such perfection is rare...! Brother Sivar, what are you? It's like someone sculpted you by hand..!"
Where? Sure, I'm sturdy, but nowhere near her Kwonseong mode.
I wasn't alone. Lord himself questioned dubiously.
"You're hardly one to say that. If we're talking bodies, yours is superior."
"Mine isn't 'natural'. Look at Sivar—honed to the limit in the wild! It's beautiful. Makes me curious who birthed such a specimen."
Lize's thrill edged toward perversion. Good thing it was saintess mode. Kwonseong with that face? Shudder.
"Pardon, but... could you remove your clothes? Just for inspection."
"No."
No way. I shut it down and retreated to the sofa, glomping Ellie. That woman was scary on multiple levels.
"Kidding. Come back? One more thing."
Lize waved me over sweetly, clearly joking. I hoped.
Regretfully leaving Ellie's embrace, I returned. Then Lize flopped to the floor.
Stunned, but she went prone, propping her right arm.
"Wondering if you fully utilize it. Know arm wrestling?"
Of course—seen Kara and Luna do it. I mirrored her on the floor.
Face-to-face now, her chest squished like a steamed bun. Breathing looked tough, but she seemed fine.
Grip!
"Mm. Excellent grip strength."
Hands clasped, she praised with a satisfied smile. I stared her down. Saintess mode—maybe winnable? All-in on faith.
Creak!
"Nngh..!"
That hope died at 30 seconds. Luna's cheer and my push? Futile.
I strained; she was an unyielding tree. Serene as ever. I was the flustered one.
Bam!
"...Huh?"
Loosened for a recharge—my arm slammed down, cracking the floor.
I eyed my tingling hand, then looked up. Lize rose leisurely, smiling.
"A great body means nothing without technique. All looks, no substance?"
"......"
"Arm wrestling isn't just forearms, biceps, triceps. Use your back muscles too, Brother Sivar."
That hit home.
"I'll teach you soon. How to wield the vessel."
A towering wall incarnate.