Ethereal Ascendance: A Journey of Transformation

The "candidate" who stood up was very strict. It felt like everything in this meeting should follow a set plan, every little detail must go by the rules.

"If that's the case, can I ask..."

When the interviewer sat down again, I quickly raised my hand. There was something I really couldn't understand, so I asked again.

"The ones hiding behind number 14 Feliciana , helping her guide world history back on track - that was you guys, right? So why help her? And the Divine Revelation Cyra heard, doesn't that count as meddling in the lower world's growth?"

The "Holy Ones" say they can't mess with lower world rules. But it's clear that a lot of my past experiences are tied to them.

Isn't this saying one thing and doing another? If they can't really do it, why did the interviewer get scolded for slipping up earlier?

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you the deep reasons! But you've probably guessed part of it - Earth's future absolutely can't fall into monster hands! If we're just doing some actions, that's part of set history. We're not actually interfering."

As expected, the interviewer was much more careful now. They didn't deny it, but didn't give much info either.

This answer was so vague! I felt like a herd of angry horses was running through my mind.

When they don't want to say or help, it's against the rules to interfere. But when they secretly do stuff, they argue it's just history taking its course. So they can decide everything?

What exactly the "right history" should look like is still something I'm not allowed to know. How's this different from bullying?

"The meeting can end now! As thanks for stopping the nuke, we fixed your body and gave you a little extra. We won't stop you from telling others about us, that's not against our rules. But after you leave, we'll delete all the memories you're not supposed to have!"

Maybe the interviewer felt guilty and was scared I'd ask more questions and mess up. They suddenly stood up, acting all "helpful" and saying they'd send me off soon.

"Wait, let me check one more thing! Did Raydwin really become one of you? Can I talk to him?"

Seeing they were about to run off, I quickly asked for one last bit of info.

In other words, if Raydwin could become a "Holy One", doesn't that mean we'd have an insider with the "Holy Ones" from now on?

"Sorry! Raydwin chose not to join us! So you don't need to think about meeting him here!"

The answer I got was totally unexpected. After they said this, everything went black and I passed out again.

...

In another part of the higher dimension, Raydwin's soul was slowly waking up on a table.

"Huh? Why am I here? Wasn't I just on a submarine in M-country... How did this happen?"

In his head, his last memory was blowing himself up. Looking at the familiar surroundings, he was confused for a moment and couldn't help looking around.

This was a very ordinary cheap restaurant, the one Raydwin often went to near school. But after looking closely for a while, Raydwin noticed many strange things. Like outside the restaurant was all foggy, you couldn't see anything through the clear windows. And all the other customers were busy looking at their phones, no one was actually eating.

"Weird, this can't be a dream, right? So was the M-country experience a dream, or am I dreaming now?"

There were too many things he couldn't figure out, so he ended up wondering about deep questions.

"What would you like to eat?"

Just then, a waiter came over. They were holding a small notebook, asking the familiar question like usual.

"Ah..."

Raydwin felt his pocket and found his phone was still there. He asked back, not sure:

"Can I see a menu first?"

"No problem!"

The waiter immediately threw a huge thick book on the table.

"Are you sure this is a menu?"

It was clearly very different from what he'd seen before. What restaurant needs such a thick menu? Raydwin stared at the book for a good while, and finally couldn't help opening the first page.

"Please note, you are now in a soul state after death! But you have one chance to upgrade your life form. Please read the terms carefully, then choose whether to accept this chance and become a member of the 'Holy Ones'?"

After reading every word on the first page of the menu, Raydwin suddenly looked up and asked the waiter, confused:

"What does this mean? So I really did die? But what are these 'Holy Ones'?"

"Everything is written in the menu. Read it all, then tell me your choice."

From the second page on, the words in the book suddenly got very dense.

But strangely, it seemed like he didn't need to try hard to understand. Raydwin could easily remember everything on it. As he kept turning pages, he also learned how things happened, how he got here, a rough explanation of upgrading his life form, the process, benefits, and so on.

"I've finished reading. Becoming a 'Holy One' is like becoming a god!"

Putting down the "menu", it only took Raydwin a few minutes to finish reading everything. But there were still some things he didn't quite understand, so he carefully asked:

"The conditions are too good, but I don't get why you chose me? So many people died in this mission, how come they're not here?"

"This is history's necessity. We must give you this choice!" the waiter answered with a smile.

"I know it's written in the book! But what exactly is this historical necessity?" Raydwin asked, very unsatisfied.

"You can't know more specific details now. Unless you choose to join us, then all your questions will be answered!"

Unfortunately, they still wouldn't reveal anything, just kept rushing Raydwin to make a decision.

"Fine, I'll join! Only an idiot would say no!"

After all, these great conditions were like pie falling from the sky! Raydwin immediately reached for the waiter's notebook to write down his choice and name.

But halfway through writing, he seemed to suddenly think of something. He couldn't help stopping and asking again:

"Let me check one more thing. When I become one of you, can I do lots of things, including helping upgrade other people's life forms like you're doing for me now?"

"That's right! You'll have that power. You can control any form of energy, space, time, and know lots of things you've never heard of. Energy life forms can do countless things humans can't. Strictly speaking, we're not that different!"

The waiter clearly saw what he was thinking. They nodded and agreed, but also seriously reminded him to follow the rules.

"But you can't interfere with anything in lower worlds. And you definitely can't upgrade those people you're thinking of to become one of us!"

"Huh? Not even angels? Cyra is clearly an angel, not human. And it seems she heard your Divine Revelation. Aren't you on the same side? Even that's not allowed?"

Raydwin was confused. He thought the god Cyra worshipped was these guys. But the answer was still "no", making him hesitate.

Only he could become a "Holy One", not his family and friends. And he couldn't go to lower worlds anymore. He couldn't even help with small problems. Raydwin felt awful thinking about this, like it wasn't much different from being dead.

"What if I agree first, then secretly upgrade Cyra to this dimension? Would they find out? Even if they do, it'd be too late! At worst, we'd both be stuck in this high dimension. That's still better than being bored alone!"

The chance was too rare to easily refuse. After thinking hard, Raydwin thought he found a way to have it all. He was about to sign his name in the notebook.

"Sorry, you broke the rules! Your decision will be seen as automatically giving up the choice."

But the waiter suddenly stopped him, grabbed the notebook, and put it away.

Strangely, they looked happy, like they'd completed an important task.

"What? When did I decide? I haven't become a 'Holy One' yet, how did I break the rules?"

Raydwin finally realized they could read his thoughts. He quickly argued loudly.

At that moment, all the other customers who were looking at their phones suddenly turned to look at Raydwin and the waiter.

"You're right, you haven't broken the rules yet..."

Seeing this, the waiter had to take out the notebook again. But when handing it to Raydwin, they still seriously warned him:

"Those little tricks you're thinking of won't work at all when you really become a 'Holy One'. You must think carefully. If you really decide to become one of us, I advise you to be ready to give up everything from your human life. Don't have any hopes for old friends!"

"This... I... But..."

Hearing this, Raydwin suddenly felt uneasy. He was holding the pen, but just couldn't make it touch the paper.

It's not clear how long passed. Everything went black, and he lost consciousness too.