“……!”

The goddess rose from the ground, her body slick with green blood.

The filthy, uncomfortable sensation covering her entire form was far removed from the pristine cleanliness she usually maintained as a divine being. Yet, such concerns didn’t cross her mind.

A hero who cut through the battlefield, radiant in brilliant light, vanquishing monsters as she went.

Despite being the kingdom’s strongest knight, commander, and a critical figure in war, she shone like a beacon, drawing the monsters’ attention to protect her allies.

Her body bore more and more wounds as she threw herself into the fray, yet she pressed on, utterly unfazed.

That hero, [Knight Ren], was none other than the goddess’s past life.

“Is that… me?”

This was a glimpse of her existence before she ascended to the status of a Constellation.

“I… remember.”

The goddess’s mind drifted to distant, hazy memories from her human life.

Back then, when she was human, the kingdom she protected was invaded by monsters born from the Abyss.

These creatures, forged by a force of unknown origin, possessed no goal other than the slaughter of sentient beings, sweeping across the continent with unrelenting ferocity.

Bound by a hive mind linked to a singular queen, they flung themselves at humans in a mindless frenzy, their very existence a living nightmare.

“……”

Ren, wielding her aura blade, stared blankly at her past self as she methodically cut through the monsters.

A hero who prioritized the victory of the battlefield and the safety of her allies over her own well-being.

“So… this is how far I went.”

Even she couldn’t help but marvel at the nobility of her former self.

An indisputable hero of humanity stood before her.

Centuries had passed since she was exalted as a Constellation. The languid existence of the divine realm had dulled her memory and spirit, yet now, ripples surged through her heart.

She finally recalled what she had once achieved in her previous life.

She finally remembered who she truly was.

Kirrk.

At that moment, a sleek, mantis-like monster leapt out from among the hordes.

“……Elder Guardian.”

The goddess’s memories confirmed it—a top-tier monster, one of only three in existence, and a personal guard of the Abyss Queen.

Why is it here now?

According to her recollection, the Elder Guardian didn’t appear on this battlefield.

Something was different from her past.

Kirrrrr!

The Elder Guardian flapped its wings aggressively, ignoring the other soldiers as it lunged straight at Knight Ren.

Chaeng!

The creature’s razor-sharp bladed limbs clashed with Ren’s aura blade.

As a product of the Abyss’s immense resources, the monster’s weaponized exoskeleton rivaled the aura blade’s strength.

Kieeeeek!

A massive monster, preparing to unleash a corrosive breath attack, targeted the clustered soldiers.

If that acidic substance drenched the soldiers, they would be reduced to molten remains in an instant.

“Damn it!” Ren clicked her tongue and launched a wave of sword energy, cleaving the monster in two.

But the cost of her momentary distraction was steep.

Crunch.

“Urgh!”

The Elder Guardian’s blade severed the arm she held her sword with.

Ren’s aura blade was sent flying.

Thud.

It embedded itself in the ground right in front of the goddess’s avatar.

“Impossible…”

The goddess was stunned.

This had never happened in her past life.

The Elder Guardian hadn’t appeared on this battlefield, and losing her arm wasn’t something she experienced at this stage.

“This should happen during the operation to invade the Queen’s lair…”

[TEST] [STORY] [ABYSSAL CORRUPTION]

The goddess finally understood.

The Administrator had said that the story encapsulating her saga had been corrupted by the Abyss.

At first, she thought the monsters in the story originated from the Abyss, but now it was clear: the Abyss had twisted the narrative itself.

As a candidate for the position of Administrator, her task in this test was to resolve this distortion.

The goddess carefully picked up Ren’s aura blade.

A sensation, both chilling and warm, surged through her. It was her old companion, long forgotten.

Crackle.

Initially, the blade rejected her, unleashing a surge of energy that sent her stumbling back. But upon sensing her resolve, it accepted her grip.

Kieeek!

The monsters noticed her wielding the blade and began converging on her position.

[Wield the blade.]

A formless power emanating from the sword attempted to guide her movements—a combat tutorial to assist her in this virtual reality simulation.

“No.”

The goddess released the sword’s energy and shattered the guiding force.

“I don’t need it.”

This was a battlefield she had already faced once.

She wasn’t dulled by her time in the heavens.

Taah!

With a mighty leap, the goddess swung her blade, her body coursing with mana.

The newfound energy enhanced her speed and agility, propelling her forward like a streak of light.

Kieek! Krrrk! Kuurr…!

Cutting through countless monsters, the radiant streak led her to Knight Ren.

Boom!

There, her past self was battling the Elder Guardian with only her remaining hand, striking with relentless force.

Knight Ren was far stronger than the Elder Guardian, but her condition was deteriorating rapidly.

The accumulated wounds from protecting others and the heavy blood loss from her severed arm were taking their toll.

[Save Knight Ren.]

“You didn’t need to say that.”

The goddess tightened her grip on the blade and leapt into the fray between the two warriors.

Krrrrk!

The Elder Guardian trembled with rage, its wings fluttering violently at the sudden arrival of another formidable foe.

Knight Ren seemed momentarily surprised but soon smiled and coordinated her attacks with the goddess.

When the Elder Guardian’s blade was blocked by Ren, the goddess struck it down with her sword. When the goddess deflected, Ren crushed with her remaining hand.

Despite being strangers, their teamwork was seamless.

The Elder Guardian lasted only 30 seconds.

Krrrk…

The shattered remnants of its body scattered across the battlefield.

Rumble.

With the death of the Elder Guardian, the remaining monsters fled. The Abyss Queen had acknowledged defeat and ordered a retreat.

“Lieutenant! Do not pursue them! Tend to the wounded and secure the battlefield!”

Like the supreme commander she was, Knight Ren issued clear orders before walking over to the goddess with a bright smile.

“Soldier! Your efforts were extraordinary just now. Without your help, I would’ve fallen to that wretched creature!”

“……”

The goddess remained silent.

She had many things she wanted to say, but the emotions surging within her made it impossible.

Facing her past self stirred a storm of feelings.

Silently, she held out the sword.

“Hm?”

Knight Ren glanced at it, her expression shifting to mild surprise.

“This sword feels familiar… Was it mine? Incredible. I didn’t think anyone but me could wield this enchanted blade.”

Taking the sword, Ren fell into thought for a moment.

“Actually… I think it’s better if you keep it.”

“…What?”

“I’ve lost my dominant arm. But you still have yours. More importantly, you wield that blade as well as I ever could. Perhaps even better.”

With those words, Knight Ren offered the sword back.

“Here. Take it.”

Reluctantly, the goddess accepted it.

Even now, her former self’s nobility shone through. Willing to part with her cherished weapon for the greater good of humanity, even if it meant entrusting it to a stranger.

Was I… really like this?

The goddess couldn’t help but compare her past self to the complacent version of her that had wasted centuries in the divine realm.

***

After the battlefield was cleared, a strategy meeting was held in the general’s tent.

Originally, only high-ranking officers were permitted to attend such gatherings, but despite her status as a mere soldier, the goddess had been dragged along by Knight Ren and now found herself sitting awkwardly in a corner.

“This battle allowed us to annihilate their main forces and secure a critical stronghold leading directly to the heart of their territory,” Knight Ren began, spreading out a large map and pointing to it with a commanding presence.

Her severed arm had already been replaced with a chrome-colored alchemical prosthetic, gleaming as though it were a natural extension of her body.

“However,” she continued, “these creatures function like cells in a single organism, all subservient to one queen. Simply depleting their numbers isn’t enough to deal a lasting blow. They’ll regenerate their forces and attack us again in no time.”

Using a long pointer, Knight Ren tapped a red-circled spot at the center of the map.

“To end this war, we must kill the queen who commands and coordinates them.”

The plan was clear: while the main force distracted the enemy, a small elite squad would infiltrate and assassinate the queen.

It was the same strategy that had been executed during her past life, leading to their victory over the Abyss.

Though it came at the cost of my life.

In her final moments, Knight Ren had chosen to sacrifice herself to take the queen down with her.

That noble act saved humanity and enshrined her in history, ultimately leading to her elevation as a Constellation.

A far cry from her current self, the goddess thought bitterly.

The mighty and selfless Knight Ren was everything the complacent, powerless goddess was not.

“And the key to this operation lies here.”

Knight Ren gestured to a specific point on the map, her prosthetic hand resting on the surface as she spoke.

All the generals, officers, and strategists in the room turned their gaze to follow her gesture.

“Eh? …Me?”

At the end of her pointing finger sat the goddess Ren, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.