Lengthy Author's Note: I have consistently updated this story in 3-parts of a single chapter since its beginning. Yet, a lot of people don't seem to recognize that fact despite it being blatantly stated. This is fine, as I am sure most people pay no attention to chapter numbers and names.

Would people prefer that I just update this story as a single chapter after I finish this chapter? Be advised, you would get only one update per week. Two at most, with no guarantee of two. I vastly prefer the three update per chapter structure, as that makes at least 5-6 updates a week most of the time, and keeps the story moving along.

So, make your voice known about the update structure. However, I say this as respectfully as I can...If all you want to do is complain, you will be ignored. I would rather focus on the comments with constructive criticism as that actually helps the story along. The nature of the story and how it is written will not change. If you do not enjoy it, then I understand.

I'm magnanimous so I will even provide a reading recommendation for another litrpg style story after this chapter. As this story does not seem to appeal to many, for various reasons.

Chapter 28.2: The Price of Failure

Within the confines of a well-kept room that was stuffed with action figures and anime related memorabilia, a goddess began to stir. Shara lifted the tiara from her head then sighed. On the screen before her the letters AFK were emblazoned in bold red color.

She placed the tiara onto its cradle then stood up to stretch. She had no need to do so as her muscles would never tire or cramp unless she wished them to do so.

“Man, what a mess.” said Shara after a moment. Her eyes glanced over to the second part of her bifurcated screen then nodded. She was glad to see that her sister and her soon-to-be brother in law were progressing on their current goal. She would be able to join up with the again soon. That would be nice. She missed Origin, her sister quite a bit.

Shara thought about things for a moment then yawned delicately. It seemed like the sort of moment where she should yawn. Wouldn’t a human yawn after being awake for several days? She was certain that they would.

The ninja gamer goddess started to turn away from the screen to go take a break, but noticed that there was a message icon on the lower right of the ARS side of her screen. “Origin sent me a message?”

Shara opened it up and saw that her sister wanted to have a talk with her sometime soon regarding their father wanting to meet their respect love interests. “Big sister wants to get together when I’m available?”

The red haired girl immediately sent back a message that she was free now. She watched in amusement as Origin’s avatar, Rhea, quickly turned to her Scott and started to explain the situation. Soon, Rhea logged out and her avatar body fell limply into his arms.

It was not long before a knock came from Shara’s door and she quickly trotted over to greet her visitor.

The door opened and Shara smiled brightly. On the other side was a goddess so beautiful that even flowers would be ashamed to bloom in her presence, or so Shara thought of her.

“Big sister!” squealed Shara excitedly, before she lunged forward and gave Origin a tight hug.

The blue haired goddess of love reached out and lightly stroked Shara’s hair. “Hey. So, you can talk now? You’ve been busy recently, you know.”

Shara pulled back but refused to drop her sisterly embrace. “Yeah, lots of things have been happening. Same with you though, isn’t it?”

“True, busy and a little sore...” said Origin with a soft smile.

“Sister!” exclaimed Shara before she unleashed a bright smile of her own.

“Well... anyway, let’s talk...” said Origin as a blush threatened to creep onto her cheeks.

“Do you want to talk here, or somewhere else?” asked Shara.

“Here is fine. How have you been?” asked Origin before she walked inside and sat down on her little sister’s bed.

Shara closed, and then locked, the door before she moved to sit next to her sister. “Good for the most part. I was killed recently, and I’m still a little peeved about it.”

“Yeah, Silence told me. Have you figured out who did it yet?” asked Origin.

“Not sure. The committee is limiting access to data whenever the mood strikes them. Man, I wish we could just buy those idiots out.” muttered Shara.

“Already checked, the project committee doesn’t want to sell.” said Origin.

Shara groaned loudly then fell back on the bed with her arms stretched out. She touched down with a loud Whuff!

“It’s alright, you’ll figure it out. You’ve always been good at that.” said the blue haired goddess before she made a big production of falling backwards just like her younger sister.

They rolled over and faced each other, soft smiles on their faces. For a moment neither of them talked, they merely enjoyed being close while they had a moment of sisterly bonding.

“Anyway... What happened with you and that Sarah girl? Did you slap the taste out of her mouth for what she did?” asked Shara.

“I really don’t want to talk about that woman. How Scott ever thought to marry her is beyond me. He deserves better.” said Origin with a snort.

“He deserves you, you mean?” asked Shara lightly.

Origin laughed softly. “Of course.... By the way, how are things going with your Scott?”

“We get along well enough, and have a bit of history... But...” said Shara before she looked away from her sister’s soft gaze.

“But...?” asked Origin.

“I don’t know how to get him to move forward with me, or anyone... And we’re at a crucial moment right now, too.” said Shara.

“Crucial moment? What’s going on?” asked Origin before she reached out to lightly stroke her sister’s hair.

“I’ve been given permission to give him the full rundown on what’s going on as soon as he can start an official faction.” said Shara.

“That’s wonderful!” cried Origin before she clasped Shara’s hand and gave it a warm squeeze.

Shara shook her head. “It would be except for his little sister. I loved her, she was so warm and friendly, and I can’t do a damned thing about what happened to her.”

Origin lost her happy smile then nodded slowly. “Yes, you told me a bit about that when you first finished your two week period. That man needed to be flayed.”

“Yeah...” said Shara softly. Those events were what had shaped her Scott into the man he was today, and also what made it hard for him to connect with someone on an intimate level. He would use any means to avoid real physical intimacy even if he had actually been with a woman before.

“You think he will blame you when he knows?” asked Origin.

“Of course he will. Hi, I’m a goddess and one of the people involved with the project that caused your world to turn to shit. Please love me!” muttered Shara before she reached over and grabbed one of her fluffy pillows. “Yeah, that’ll go over great.”

“Have you done everything that you can think of to help him?” asked Origin.

“Yes, I’ve expended every option available, even made him my champion by way of his own decision. But...” said Shara, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“Then he will forgive you for your indiscretions.” said Origin softly before reaching out to lightly stroke Shara’s hair once more.

“How can you be so sure?” asked Shara, her eyes beginning to tear up. She looked to her sister with an expression that was both worried and hopeful.

Origin smiled at her. “You know him as well as I do. His core existence is not the sort of person to never forgive an honest mistake.”

“His core existence? Oh you mean his true persona, huh?” asked Shara, a slight smile creeping onto her worried face.

“Yeah, he’s a rare soul. There aren’t many who have his default nature.”

Shara laughed. “Yeah! Even when he’s a lord of darkness he’s still inherently that sort of person.”

“Who’d think that little miss ninja assassin would go for the true soul paladin type?” asked Origin with a grin.

Shara snorted then hit her sister with her pillow. “Don’t tease me... Especially when my heart wouldn’t hurt like this if you had just learned to share more as a child.”

“Nope, all mine.” said Origin with a sweet smile.

“Ah! So mean! Just because you saw that Scott first...” Shara pouted at her sister in a cute way.

“Yep, all mine.” repeated Origin with that same sweet smile.

Shara pulled her pillow over her face and screamed into it a little. Life was not fair. “Some goddess of love you are.”

Origin laughed softly then patted her sister on the cheek. “It took a lot of effort to get him to accept me properly, Shara. You’re right there, on the verge of being able to make things right with the one you love.”

The blue haired goddess tilted her head to the side. “You do love him don’t you?”

Shara sighed. “Would I be a horrible person if I admitted that I don’t know?”

“No, you would be honest.” said Origin.

Shara nodded. “I’ve seen it here and there. I’ve tried to emulate it... but I don’t really understand it.”

Origin leaned forward and pressed her forehead to her sister’s forehead. “It’s a hard thing to understand, at least from the human end of the equation.”

“How did you know that you really love him?” asked Shara.

Origin took a moment to try and collect her thoughts. It was a difficult subject to discuss. Human emotions were something that the gods did not properly understand. In the end, she said, “I could not think of anyone else for any great length of time. I would spend hours just wanting to see what he was doing... I’m a goddess of love, and even I don’t really understand it... But I think that’s all part of it.”

“Oh.” said Shara. She knew that she wanted to love Scott, but if she were honest with herself, she was not certain if she would ever truly understand love.

She had often obsessed over the idea of Scott even before she met the variation that she currently spent most of her time with him. She loved every moment of it and sincerely wanted to spend even more time with him. But in all honesty the only person she had ever had feelings that strongly for was right across from her. They had been in each other’s lives for a few thousand years at this point and yet, Shara always wanted to spend more time with her sister.

“Big sister...” said Shara.

“Yes?” asked the blue haired goddess softly.

“I love you.” said Shara softly.

Origin lightly stroked her sister’s hair. “I love you too, Shara.”

Shara closed her eyes then leaned in closer. Her sister’s simple touch and gentle love were the one thing in her life that she truly craved above all else. She had spent most of her life alone, and only that innocent touch had ever granted her any sort of lasting peace.

****[end]***

Story recommendation time!

There are many other lovely stories out there to read. You may wish to read those instead of Blackthorne. Heck, here's a recommendation! (I'm being serious here, you might actually like this story since it doesn't stray from game based combat that much.)

Zhan Long translated by gravity tales It's a wuxia/litrpg story

Zhan Long has a lovely overpowered MC who does nothing but kill things, gain levels, and get loot. It hasn't got anything remotely close to lengthy character development. There are even werewolves and lizardmen in real life for him to kill with a sword even though heavily armed police using rifles and shotguns are useless.

I read it daily despite how little I can take the MC seriously, so if you dislike Blackthorne for having a story outside of leveling, consider Zhan Long if you haven't read it.

You might enjoy it more than Blackthorne, and that is what reading fiction is really all about. Enjoyment and fun. :)