Saints weren’t all that rare.

In reality, several Saints walk the Continent preaching for their Gods. For a God, a Saint was necessary existence to spread their doctrines to others and expand their reach.

The more follower executes their doctrines in the name of a God, the stronger they become.

However, the Major Gods of the Two Major Pantheons were an exception to this tradition. The ten Gods were the Deities leading the biggest Religion of the Continent, their names resound just by existing, and their doctrines were naturally all-encompassing. There was no need for them to bestow a Mortal their power, but when they find someone they favor, the Light of the Divine will come to surround this Chosen person.

The Light of the Divine would pierce the heavens, allowing the God and their Saint to meet and talk. At the moment, only four Saints hails from the Major Gods; all of them reside in their Cathedrals, surrounded by devotees executing their duties.

Amid their prayers, preachings, and service, they all suddenly paused their actions. They turned to a single source, all of them holding a heavy expression.

Black and White were the color signifying the two Major Pantheons of Light and Dark.

One of the other would appear in due time.

6:14 PM

Theo's fingers twitched as he floated.

"It's time," Rose said as she remained on the ground.

The golden pillar of light wavered. It began to shift and turn, expanding, contracting, and then reverting to its original form until finally, it cracked.

They waited until the light from within escaped. A blinding white light shattered the brilliant golden light.

"It is of the Light Pantheon!" the people across the City cheered.

The people of the Light Churches threw their hands in the air while others gloated to the Dark Church. Aegis cried, and so did the other Nuns and Priests. Now, they began to wait.

The Pantheon has been determined. Now, they only needed to know what Sect he belonged to.

Inside Theo's room, he slowly opened his eyes. A crimson light glowed before being returned to a silvery pair reminiscent of flowing mercery. The White Pillar swirled as glistening red threads wrapped around the white light, transforming it into a crimson tower!

"The Red Thread of Fate… Young Master Theo is the Saint of the Goddess of Fate."

"It's the Saint of Fate!"

"THE SAINT OF FATE!"

They looked in awe for a full minute, gazing at the crimson pillar. After 750 years, another Saint of Fate appeared in their midst. They threw their hands in the air in celebration.

It mattered not if they scrutinized against the First Young Master, but seeing the light was enough to bring them joy and hope.

Those who could not walk nor even stand earlier were now cheering with the rest. The Saint empowered the weak and cured the sick.

Many cried seeing the miracle.

Those who had already abandoned their futures saw a string of light.

Those hiding in the shadows began to fear and panic.

They watched Crimson Light subsided into the Dragons' Manor, but their cheers did not stop. The crimson thread filled the room.

*** Inside Theo's room.

He felt his body, from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. Heruzen confirmed its functionality.

He stretched his body before standing up. His joints cracked, from side to side, he sprung up from where he lay, cracking his neck and throwing his hand, “That’s better.”

Heruzen laughed, “Initiate System Assimilation—”

System Activation—Completed.

[You can do everything now, Theo.]

“Set Control to Semi-Automatic — Conform to the Flesh and Blood but keep its core in my soul.”

System Function, All Optimal — Divine Energy Detected

[Do you want to absorb the Divine Energy?]

"No, keep it intact for the time being. Do not touch it—Administrator Access…."

Heruzen moved his hand and summoned the panels. One after another, information flowed. First, Heruzen took care of the hidden Gift issue.

Everyone has an innate Gift; it just needs to be activated in some way. Activation varies, and from what he could gather, Theo never got to know what his Gift was.

'The kid could have unlocked it if he had the time.' Heruzen's previous hypothesis of Theo breaking down because of impotence, 'I couldn't be any further from the truth.'

He snickered with joy at his mistakes.

Theo was too busy fighting back against the hold of the Archduke of Greed, nothing more, 'Though he, or rather, I did wallow in despair, at least it wasn't for useless reasons.'

Heruzen laughed as he had the System dig his soul out.

'Activate Self-Scan—’

[Beginning Scan]

‘—ignore status effect, focus on finding the Gift.'

[Scan Complete, target acquired.]

Gifts:

Beast Anima — Theo

“Beast Anima? That’s new, is it a power indigenous to this reality? Open Description.”

Error information cannot be found, the [Source of All Knowledge Function] cannot be accessed.

“Oh, right, I forgot about that. Well, it can’t be helped—hmm?”

Devil’s Contract — Heruzen

“Devil’s Contract? I… don’t think I ever had something like that before.” Heruzen had a myriad of abilities. From a straightforward Firestorm, to the Complicated [Northern Star Acupuncture Weather Finger].

He had no memory of ever having a Devil’s Contract, “The Beast Anima and now this, I haven’t read all the books so I thought it was just a culmination of every world I have been to, but it appears I was wrong again. It is that and more.”

Once more, he is filled with joy.

Activating his Gifts didn’t change him, but, an instinctual guideline could be felt appearing in his head, ‘So that’s how they know how to tackle its improvements. How mysterious.’

“Time for the Starter Booster Packs.”

The Saint Package

Eye of All Seeing Fate

Lull

Hero’s Lodestar

Guidance of the Meek

Saint Light

[Eye of All-Seeing Fate: Fate is an uncertain flow. It ebbs and flows to the desires of the living, guiding to infinite amount of futures that expands to a—]

"No theatrics, no vague words—give it to me straight."

[…fine.]

[Eye of All-Seeing Fate: You can see to the future of a Major Event.]

"How major? Can I snuff out the problem before it happens?"

[You killed me, and I now inhabit your body so I no longer know the extent of your powers. As a Goddess, I oversaw every possible reality that would happen through the threads. Fate originates from the infinite possible futures interwoven to create the best outcomes. Even if I pull a thread, futures can still be changed if the people do not follow my nudges.]

"So, you're telling me you have no clue?"

[…now that no Goddess of Fate is holding the reigns, you are going to experience a lot of premonitions. Most of which would have a connection to those you hold dear or major wars and fights.]

"So, I can see the futures that would shift the fate of the World… that means I can't see the stock market's ups and downs. There goes the idea of scamming everyone. Does divination include Wars as a Major event?"

[…it should.]

"Good, I might be able to make a living for being an Arms Dealer for War Mongers — Continue."

[…]

"Don't worry. I won't start wars. I don't like wars; it's filled with unnecessary deaths and fueled by the hypocrisy of Patriotism. Soldiers are treated like trash and end pitifully by the end of it. I won't make it harder for them."

[Heruze—]

"I won't start one for the sake of money, but don't think for a second that I'll just sit idly by if something who antagonizes me appears before me with their flags raised. Also, I will be selling weapons to anyone wanting to go to war. Don't think for a second I'm any better to a regular person."

[Maybe just stop the wars and offer your wisdom to them?]

"Oh, scamming others with the name of the Saint. Yeah, that might work."

[That's not what I—you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?]

"Maybe—Next!"

[Hero's Lodestar: Heroes who are attracted to your presence and tasked with keeping them on the right track of their journey.]

"Useless, next!"

[Guidance of the Meek: those without power are to be guided by y—]

"I don't care about being a Nanny to a single child that is not one of my own, Next!"

[Saint Light: you are the light that brings comfort to the—]

"So that's why Saints could bullshit and get away with it."

The Hero Package

Theo took notice of something bizarre.

“Wait a minute, aren’t you forgetting something? The Lull, you haven’t explained that one. Do I become good at singing lullaby or something?”

[Lull: ???]

[…I don’t know that one… I don’t think that’s a Saintly Manifestation of my divine existence.]

“Hmm, well, so I have an unknown Ability… I hope it’s a cheat, all I got from the others are mostly useless anyway. Let’s move on.”

The Hero Package

[Extended Lifeline: Makes you unnaturally capable of clingy to life and have access to memories and fragments of consciousness in your psyche from those who had died upon entry to the Borders of Life and Death.]

[Uneven Luck: your luck varies from being extremely unfortunate to getting the strongest weapon after tripping down a mountain.]

[Hero’s Charm: You can create a Harem if you want to. But certain sets of people will hate you.]

[Hero’s Worth: Your improvement will be quicker than a virgin’s first time.]

“In the end, I didn’t get anything uniquely interesting. Well, at least I got to know what the Plot Armor perk looks like in its natural state. Extended Lifeline, huh, what a bunch of bull.” He was salty remembering how many times a Hero got up from being stabbed and mutilated because of this exact perk, “Fuck it, I have one now, I just need to sacrifice a mentor—finalize awakening.”

—Command Accepted—

—Activating—

Flesh, Blood, and Soul are fully bonded, you became one with Theo in its entirety.

"Finally—"

The crimson sphere moved. It beat like a heart before shattering into millions of pieces.

Fragmenting into the air, the Divine Energy entered Theo's body. Everything disappeared and inside the sphere was Theo sitting on the bed with a pleasant expression on his face, his eyes closed.

And when Heruzen… no, Theo opened his eyes, the first thing he saw surprised him. A woman stands in waiting with a simple and gentle smile. She wore her black gloves all the same, and under her eyes were a layer of black bags.

With her was a tray of food already prepared, with steam still rising.

Tired and drained, yet Rose stood still, waiting for Theo's return. She was not one of the original Theo met in the past. She was simply a woman who met Theo at his time of uncertain identity.

“Your Holiness, you are awake.” Rose lowered her head ever so respectfully.

“You know I awakened as a Saint?”

“Yes, the Light of the Divine informed everyone his Holiness has earned the affection of the Goddess of Fate.” Rose respectfully explained.

‘I see, so everything that happened was broadcasted. I didn’t plan on hiding it, but attracting everyone’s attention at once is unsolicited. I have to take care of the “Cult” before “envoys” start visiting to kiss my family’s ass.’ Theo did not appreciate what was about to come.

“Is something the matter, your Holiness?”

“Hmm? Why do you ask?”

“Your expression…” Rose pointed at Theo’s massive scowl.

Massaging his eyes, Theo laughed, “Oh, do not mind, it’s nothing big. Also, could you please refrain from calling me, your Holiness? The way you called me is better.”

‘Theo changed. He didn’t stutter, neither did he show me an awkward submissive expression—that is better. He is more honest than before. An improvement!’

Rose’s smile got brighter!

“I see, then, Theo, how do you feel?”

‘By referring to me with a title of [His Holiness], that means she’s connected to some religious things. But she reverted so naturally without a care—that’s preferable.’ Theo liked it.

“I feel…alive—famished—but alive!” he appreciated her transparency.

“I knew you would feel that way. As we wait for the rest of the family to pay their visit, why not partake in the dish I prepared. A soup made from the highest class of ingredients that would be easy to digest and help you recover.”

‘She still holds the same expressions? So, her affection wasn’t born from any script?’ Heruzen thought, seeing Rose before him. ‘She still has an honest smile... huh.’