The Fort of Favia's grand hall echoed with the weight of Thor's surrender.
Her hammer lay abandoned on the cold stone floor, its faint crackle of lightning extinguished. Thor knelt, forehead pressed to the ground, her voice trembling with remorse.
"I— I have soaked myself in shame!" she said, her words cracking. "My anger has led me astray. Please, my Worship, I beg only your forgiveness— but I dare not demand it. I only ask that you punish me as you see fit so that I shall be worthy of your forgiveness."
Asleroc remained expressionless while Seo-joon's mind explored thoughts of what this punishment could be.
The golden interface of the Character Building System hovered in his vision, Thor's profile glowing beside her trembling form: Loyalty: 3%. The number pulsed, as if daring him to act.
Astensia stepped forward, her Blessed Blade now sheathed behind her. "Thor, rise. Our Worship will judge fairly. Do not let your pride drown you in despair."
Thor's shoulders stiffened, but she remained bowed, her silver hair spilling across the stone. "I will not rise until he decrees my penance," she said resolutely.
Asleroc's eyes narrowed, the system's interface whispering possibilities. He could strip her of her title, as he'd threatened, or bind her to a grueling quest.
But…
His eyes traveled through her prostrate body, submissive towards him. He gazed at the arc of her back, the squeezed skin in between her hips, her plump roundness behind her.
His face tightened.
It wasn't just his lust, it was Asleroc's desires as well. The Hero and the Heroines were a match literally made in Heaven.
They were disciples, agents and followers bound only to him, sworn to fight for his cause and attend to his desires. It was natural for him to feel drawn to her, to draw her closer, and let him glimpse the woman behind the thunder.
He glanced at the system interface once more, intrigued by its promise to unlock hidden potentials.
Since he knew that the Heroines had a natural innate affection for the Hero, perhaps he could use that innate affection to increase Thor's loyalty to him.
At that moment, it had increased to 25% — a number still too small for a warrior meant to fight his wars.
"Rise, Thor," Asleroc said, keeping his voice calm and commanding as he ended the heavy silence. "Your punishment will not be exile or shame. You will prove your loyalty through a Rite of Devotion, performed under my guidance."
"Alone." He added.
Thor's head lifted slowly, her storm-gray eyes wide with uncertainty. "A… rite, my Worship?" Her voice wavered.
Astensia's brows lifted. "My Worship, is this wise? Thor's heart is true, but her temper—"
"Is precisely why this is necessary," Asleroc interrupted. "You will trust my judgment, Astensia. Return to the Fort's antechamber and wait for me. I will handle Thor."
Astensia bowed almost immediately. "As you command." She cast a final glance at Thor, then strode toward the hall's exit, her footsteps echoing in the vast chamber.
Thor rose to her feet. The system's interface updated: 「Loyalty: 28%」
It was a small shift, but still a start. Asleroc gestured toward a smaller alcove off the main hall, just beside the statue of Kestrel, Heroine of the North Star. "Follow me," he said, turning without waiting for her response.
After a short hesitation, Thor followed him into the alcove.
Crackling candles powered by mana illuminated the place dimly. There was a small altar at the center of the room where a single crystal glowed like a captured star.
The space appeared intimate, as was intended.
This room was dedicated to the Heavenly Hero. A place where he could perform acts of romance and desire with Heroines of his choice.
At times, when the Hero is uncertain about a Heroine's loyalty, he would bring them into this room to perform a Rite of Devotion.
Rites of Devotion were sacred acts given to a Heroine by the Hero to test her loyalty to him.
This ritual, preserved within the ancient stones of the Fort of Favia, is both a test and a covenant, designed to bind a Heroine's heart and soul to the Hero chosen by the divine will of the Heavens.
It is said that the rite was forged by the Celestial Scribe, a mythical figure who etched the laws of loyalty into the mana-infused runes of the Fort's hidden alcoves, ensuring that only those truly devoted could stand beside the Hero against the Rupturing Abyss.
Asleroc turned to face her, his system-enhanced perception sharpening.
Thor — as tall as she was — now appeared small and vulnerable before him. She was his subject, and she had only two choices; Submit to him, or let the Heavens themselves reject her.
For the other Heavenly Heroes millenniums before him, they had depended on their own discretion to know if the Rituals worked or not.
But Asleroc had the Character Building System. And if a ritual worked, he would see a rise in her loyalty.
Thor clasped her hands together. "My Worship."
Asleroc turned to her. "The last time a Rite of Devotion was done was over a millenia ago. You should understand the gravity of your actions that have led to this. It's a shame that your faith has to be tested already."
She bowed her head. "I will—" she sniffed. "—accept whatever you ask of me. Just grant me the opportunity to redeem myself."
Asleroc walked towards her. "I admit, I do not know what I'm doing. I'm still…" He glanced to his side. "...new to this."
Then his eyes found her again and he continued forward. "But the Heavens speak through me and that is why I know I have been wronged. They are insulted and so have my honor."
He stopped. "You will perform the Rite of Devotion. You will offer three acts of service to prove your loyalty to me, the Heavenly Hero. If you perform these acts to my satisfaction, you will remain my disciple. If you don't..."
Thor's eyes widened. "I am ready, my Worship."
Asleroc suddenly closed the remaining space between them and sunk his lips into hers.
It was electric. Literally.
There were sparks of lightning left in her lips that buzzed as they kissed. Thor, out of surprise, moaned inside his mouth. But not long after, Asleroc pulled out.
They stared at each other. Thor was speechless.
"I— I…" she tried to speak. "You honor me, my Worship. How could I be the one you give your lips to first after everything I just did. Everything my anger led me to?"
The system chimed: 「Loyalty: 50%」
Asleroc's inner eyes widened at the screen while he remained expressionless. 'That was a big increase.'
"I feared you would push me away," Asleroc uttered dryly. "I have these emotions I can't control when I see you… and Astensia."
"No, my Worship!" Thor exclaimed, placing a hand on his cheek. "Do not fear the blessed connection that we share. It is normal for you. We are your subjects, to fight for you and… to please you."
She slowly brought her face closer to his, but Asleroc merely said, "You have passed the first Ritual."
Thor opened her eyes. "That was a… Ritual?"
"For the second," Asleroc said, pointing to the altar, "place your hammer upon the altar. Surrender its power to me, as a symbol of your trust."
Thor froze, her hand hovering over Mjölnir-Seraph at her belt. "Surrender… my hammer?" Her voice was a whisper, as if the very idea shook her core. "My Worship, the Mjolnir-Seraph is my soul, my strength."
"And yet you offered it to the floor in shame," Asleroc countered, his voice steady. "Now offer it to me, willingly. Show me you trust my guidance."
Thor's jaw tightened, her eyes searching his face for a trap. But the Heavenly Hero appeared stern.
"Yes, my Worship. If surrendering my powers to you is my punishment, then I accept it. I will forever fight by your side, even if I am powerless."
Slowly, she unhooked Mjölnir-Seraph, its weight heavy in her hands. She stepped to the altar and placed the hammer on the crystal surface. The runes around the altar flared briefly, and Thor flinched, as if expecting a blast of power.
None came.
She spun and stared at Asleroc. "I can still sense the Mjolnir-Seraph. I still feel my lightning."
Ding! 「Loyalty: 72%」
Asleroc nodded once. "I don't have the ability to take the powers and weapons of my disciples and make them mine. But you were willing to give it all to me in search of penance."
Thor's eyes glistened as she gazed at him.
"Even though you are afraid of losing who you are. Because what is the Heroine of Thunder if she can no longer summon it?"
"I feared for my identity, yes. But you are more important to me than the hammer. You are more important for the sake of Cinriten!"
"I know," Asleroc said. "I am slightly worried of what awaits me, but I think I can count on you, Thor, to be by my side throughout all of it."
The Heroine of Thunder beamed, her once stern eyes turned to that of a joyful daughter, or a dutiful wife.
She bowed, falling to her knees in subservience. "Thank you, Heavenly Hero! Thank you for these words of affirmation. Thank you for your Heavenly forgiveness and your Heavenly grace!"
Asleroc stood motionless.
Thor looked up. "But they were three Rites, my Worship. You've only said two."
Her brows furrowed softly. "What is the third?"
Asleroc remained still for a moment, then, his hands moved to his belt, and he started to unbuckle. "Remain on your knees."
"My Worship…?"
"You are my subject to please me, aren't you?"
Ding! 「Loyalty: 85%!」