Chapter 19: The Eternal Cyber Goddess

Chapter 19 - 19: The Eternal Cyber Goddess The golden warmth of morning filtered through the window blinds, casting pale rays upon the tiled floor of their reconstructed residence. The scent of fresh tea and fruit lingered in the air, a soft melody of morning peace that contrasted the powerful revelations of the past few days. Evon slowly sat up, the bedsheets still loosely wrapped around him. Beside him, Veyra stirred gently, her silver hair cascading across the pillow like liquid metal. Her eyes blinked open—now glowing with a prism of cybernetic colors, each hue pulsing in tandem with the soft beats of her breath. "You're glowing," Evon whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Veyra turned toward him and gave a quiet nod, her fingers lacing with his. "I think I've fully absorbed your essence, Evon. Something... awakened in me during the night." She slowly sat up, covering herself with the blanket, yet radiating a grace both powerful and serene. Moments later, soft footsteps approached outside the room. Naia's voice rang lightly. "Evon? Veyra? Breakfast is ready! You two better not have broken the bed too!" Lyria chuckled behind her. "Let them have their fun. As long as Veyra's functional, we'll forgive a few cracks." Sythara's amused growl followed. "Functional? I swear I saw a lightshow through the window." Evon and Veyra exchanged a glance and burst into soft laughter. They dressed quietly, sharing warm glances and occasional lingering touches. Once ready, they stepped out into the central hall where the rest of the group was gathered around a low wooden table filled with warm breads, honeyed fruits, smoked meats, fresh juice, and a sweet, glistening fruit tart—Naia's contribution. As Veyra entered, the others immediately turned toward her, blinking as the soft rainbow glow in her eyes lit the room like a low-powered hologram. "Whoa," Naia whispered, leaning forward. "You're seriously radiant." "You feel different," Lyria added. "Not just glowing... but *complete.*" Veyra stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. "My power is called the *Eternal Cyber Machinery.*" The group listened intently as she continued, her tone infused with wonder. "I can create powerful armours with unique elemental capabilities. I can also forge cyber warriors—fully functioning, programmable fighters that can be stored in a digital space I command." She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across her companions. "I can enhance my armour to wield any form of elemental or conceptual power... but there's one limitation. I cannot use a power that matches the enemy's. If I face a flame-wielder, I must rely on another force—like ice or lightning. But this limitation doesn't apply to the cyber warriors I create. They can be optimized freely." The room was quiet for a moment. Then, with a slight upward twitch of her lips, Veyra added, "And the most surprising part... there are no stages. No evolutions. I've already become the *Eternal Cyber Goddess.*" The words settled into the room like thunder. Sythara's golden eyes widened. "Wait, you mean—fully ascended already?" Veyra nodded. "Yes." She explained further "But...I can't utilize my full power here. I got a message while awakening. It said when we uncover the truth I will know when I will be able to use my full power." "For now I can only help you and myself by creating strong armour for ourselves. And some weak cyber warriors. Only one percent of my power can be used now." Naia stared with awe. "Even so, That's incredible... Evon, what kind of seed are you growing in us?" Evon raised both hands in mock defense. "I'm starting to think it's your own strength. I'm just the... uh, catalyst." Lyria smirked, crossing her arms. "Catalyst? You're more like divine fertilizer." The group broke into laughter, warm and real. Even Veyra chuckled softly, the edge of her usual formality melting under the shared joy. Evon reached out, gently squeezing Veyra's hand. "I'm proud of you," he said, his voice low but meaningful. "Not just for the power... but for letting me see your truest self." Veyra gave a small, rare smile, her gaze soft. "You're the only one who ever wanted to." The morning passed with food, laughter, and the gentle warmth of something blooming deeper between them all—trust, connection, and something that felt like the beginning of a shared destiny. --- The morning sun filtered through the scattered clouds above their restored residence, casting a warm amber glow across the open training field. The grass swayed softly in the breeze as birds chirped in the distance, a moment of calm before the sparks of excitement lit up among them. Veyra stood in the center, her silver hair fluttering gently. Her outstretched hand still shimmered with fading cybernetic light from the creation she'd summoned. The fire armor floated before them, rotating slowly. It was a vision of elegance and power—slim and fierce, shaped to a feminine form. The bright scarlet color pulsed softly, like a steady heartbeat. Subtle ember-like etchings glowed across the chest plate and arms, and jagged flame motifs flared along the shoulders and boots. Lyria's eyes sparkled with wonder as she stepped forward. "It's... beautiful. I can feel the heat radiating off it, even though it isn't on fire." Veyra gave a small, confident smile. "That's because it's not ordinary armor. It's attuned to your aura now—your 'True Fire.' It'll react to your power and protect you from backlash when you enter your Goddess stages." Evon watched from the side, arms folded as he admired the work. "It really suits her. The craftsmanship's incredible, Veyra." Lyria reached out, her fingertips brushing the armor. The moment she made contact, it shimmered and began to shift—disassembling into dozens of glowing red plates that floated around her. "Whoa—what's happening?" she asked. "Relax," Veyra said softly. "It's syncing with you." The plates moved gracefully, fitting perfectly over Lyria's limbs, torso, and shoulders. Each piece locked in with a hiss of magical steam. The moment the chest plate clicked into place, the armor pulsed brightly and a ripple of flame swept around her in a harmless flare. Lyria stood still, her red hair blazing like a phoenix's tail behind her. Her entire figure now looked like a warrior of flame, reborn from ash. "This... feels amazing," Lyria said, her voice reverberating slightly from the helm interface. "It's light... but sturdy. Like I'm wearing living fire." Naia clapped gently. "It looks incredible, Lyria. It's like watching a fire goddess step down from legend." Sythara's golden eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued. "It seems Veyra's ability isn't just practical. It carries artistic finesse." Veyra nodded once. "This is just the beginning. I can tailor each armor to match our elements. Lyria's was the easiest because of the clarity of her flame path." "Can you make one for me too?" Naia asked, stepping forward with curiosity glimmering in her cool eyes. "Eventually," Veyra said. "But it's better to test this one thoroughly before I begin the others. The creation process uses a huge amount of power, even with my goddess form." Evon stepped forward. "Lyria, try activating your True Fire form while wearing the armor. Let's see how well it holds up." Lyria nodded and took a deep breath. Her feet dug slightly into the soil. "Alright, everyone, stand back just in case." The others stepped away, and silence fell. Lyria closed her eyes. A gentle hum filled the air. Then—**THRUMMMM!** A powerful pulse erupted from her. Her hair ignited into glowing flames again, the armor absorbing the heat effortlessly. The scarlet plates shimmered, resonating with her aura. Thin lines of glowing energy lit up across the joints, knees, shoulders, and chest. The air distorted slightly from the invisible heat. "I don't feel the usual strain!" Lyria said in awe. "Normally when I activate True Fire, it feels like I'm on the edge of bursting. But now... I'm stable. Grounded." Veyra's expression softened. "That's what I wanted. You've got the raw firepower of a goddess, but until now your vessel—your body—wasn't quite enough. The armor stabilizes the overflow." Naia moved beside Evon and whispered, "I'm a little nervous now. My power doesn't look that flashy, but I'll still need help controlling it." "You'll get your armor too," Evon assured her. "And it'll be just as amazing." Lyria flexed her hands, the gauntlets of the armor shifting with her movement like second skin. "I want to try moving around." She dashed forward—her steps kicking up tiny explosions of embers—and moved with fluid grace. She spun, jumped, and even released a small wave of heat from her palm. The armor absorbed and redirected the energy. "It's like it's dancing with me," she murmured. Evon's chest swelled with quiet pride watching them. These weren't just his companions anymore—they were growing into true goddesses of their elements. And now with Veyra's armor, their journey would only accelerate. "Alright," Veyra called out. "Next we test the armor in combat simulations. I'll summon one of my Cyber Warriors to spar with you." "Oh? You can make people too?" Naia blinked. Veyra smiled mischievously. "Sort of. They're autonomous battle constructs. Let me show you." She raised both hands, and a circuit-like pattern glowed from her palms. A small sphere of light formed between them—glitching and flickering like some kind of living code. Moments later, it expanded and solidified—revealing a humanoid warrior clad in sleek obsidian armor with red neon lines running across its joints. Its face was hidden behind a smooth mask. It raised a sword in salute to Lyria. "Meet the Flame Echo. It's designed to push you to your limits." Lyria smirked. "Then let's dance." Evon stepped back with the others, and the sparring began...