Chapter 50

He really paused for dramatic effect... Ugh... "Jordan!" What?! "So that means our winner is Phoenix! Karl won 1 event, Tom and Gandus both won 3 each, Jordan won 4, and Phoenix won 5. Congratulations High Priestess Phoenix!" The crowd erupted into cheers.

Meanwhile, I'm stunned to no end. Me? Really? The 4 other Champions tackle hugged me, knocking me to the ground.

"Nix, you won!" Gandus exclaimed.

"I... did..."

"What are you so stunned for? Of course you were gonna win. We all had our bets on you. You're really good at a lot of things, and this just proves it," Sparky commented.

"Plus the fact you're a really good person, who best to win these games than you?" Gandus stated. I grumbled a little.

"Not that great, sure I'm High Priestess, but that's all I ever expected to be."

"Oh come on, Nix. You've come so far since you first joined us. You've learned so much about being friends with others. It also helped that you naturally had a caring side toward others, despite what happened," Tom said, surprising all of us with how gentle he was being and that he called me Nix. He immediately got a defensive look. "What? I've got a soft side when I need to." We all chuckled.

"I guess. I just never expected to win. I thought for sure Sparky would win. He's good at a lot of things."

"So are you. It also proves even without powers, you have so much talent," Karl affirmed. I felt a new presence appear and Aianite showed up in front of me. She looked very serene, yet also excited. She hugged me tightly.

"Nix! You did it! You were supposed to win these games. I felt it in my soul that you were the one to take on the demigoddess responsibilities." She let me go and flew to Ianite. Aianite's Olympics outfit is really cool too. Aianite took Ianite's hand. They really miss each other, I can feel it from here.

"Phoenix, come to us, please." Mianite sounded serious. I went over to the thrones of the gods. The other 4 and Dec all stood behind me. "Phoenix, if you choose to gain the powers of these stones, you will no longer be High Priestess, but a demigoddess. You will still have an immortal life, but you will no longer have the connection with Ianite, being her personal High Priestess, nor will you be a Champion. You will have demigoddess duties. Do you accept that?"

"Boy, I wasn't High Priestess for long, was I? Like I said, I never expected to win this..." I looked at the others. They shook their heads.

"Don't look at us Phoenix. It's your choice and your choice only." Wow, Gandus used my full first name. I sighed. I looked down and thought about what Aianite just said to me. I can't let her down. Also... I do have a duty to protect my girl at all costs. I need to bring back the peace within her presence. Without becoming a demigoddess, I can't do that. Not with my powers and status I have now. I am determined. I will fully accept these powers. I looked back up at the 4 gods with a determined look. I could also feel High Priestess Phoenix say this next bit alongside me, which surprised everyone.

"I fully accept these powers that will be given, nay, gifted to me by these stones. I am not afraid, I will fight with this gift bestowed upon me. I will take down the Darkness with my fellow Champions and my Priest, bringing back peace into this world and into my beloved girlfriend and goddess' presence. Aianite, Ianite, Mianite, Dianite, I'm ready." They smiled, proud of me. They all came down in front of me. Each one had a stone. Aianite had Water, Ianite had Air, Mianite had Earth, and Dianite had Fire. They concentrated their powers into the stones and held them up when they were ready. The stones glowed their respective colors and energy burst forth from them.

The colors went into the sky, then came down upon me, gifting me their magic and powers. Holy shit this feeling is intense. I pushed through, doing my best not to faint from all the power being put into me. After all the power, the stones shattered into nothingness, I floated into the air and glowed soulfire blue. Wait... I was surrounded by actual soulfire and soul magic. I heard surprised gasps and murmurs of contemplation.

Both things went into me and my outfit changed from my High Priestess look to a more regal, goddess looking look. I felt powerful. My soulfire and soul magic powers were coursing through me, stronger than they've ever been. Even more so than when I was High Priestess. My hunger bar was gone, my hearts were increased and a whole different color, I got curious and checked something. Yes, I have access to literally everything one could ever need. I looked at the gods, extreme surprise on my face.

"We're just as shocked. You were only supposed to be a demigoddess. You're a full fledged goddess now," Dianite said.

"Could it be because I already had powers?" I mused. They gained looks of contemplation.

"You could be right. I wonder if one of the mortals won, if they'd become demigods. Gandus may become a goddess if she won, because she has powers." That felt wrong.

"I'm not so sure about that. She'd become a demigoddess. I have specific powers. She's conquered all Elemental magics. What would she be the goddess of? No, she'd have demigoddess powers for as long as she needed to. Mine are forever. So, it seems like we had a goddess of the Oceans, we have a goddess of Balance, we have a god of Order, we have a god of Chaos, and now we have a goddess of Soulfire and Soul Magic. Will I take followers? No. There are three true gods in this world, used to be four, but one sadly passed and now resides in the spirit world. I'm just a new goddess, undeserving of being one."

"You deserve it, Nix. Don't say you don't. You were made full goddess for a reason. That reason may be because you have certain powers, it may not be. Whatever the reason, it's what fate decided and I am proud of you." Ianite hugged me. "You're also drop dead gorgeous in your goddess look, my love," she whispered in my ear. I grinned like a fool. I didn't get a good look at myself yet. She gave me a kiss then let me go.

"Welcome to goddesshood Phoenix. Can you handle it?" Dianite asked.

"I can, and I will. It'll be just like being High Priestess, except I have access to everything, much like you 3 and I'm more powerful." After saying that, I felt Darkness' presence. I immediately threw up a soul barrier around the whole Colosseum, strengthening it 100 fold. He will not get past this. I felt him hit it, but it shot soulfire at him.

"I felt that great power! Who became a new god?!" I rose into the air, meeting Darkness on my side of the barrier.

"I did, Wot. I am the goddess of Soulfire and Soul Magic. Be prepared, I will not hold back when the fight comes."

"Oh, I'll be prepared, alright... just you wait. You'll fall just like Aianite did."

"I will not. I am strong."

"We'll see about that." He turned back and went back to his hideout. I kept the soul barrier up, just for safety. I went back down to the others.

"Everything is fine, everyone. No need to fear. He is gone," I announced.

"Thank you Phoenix. Seems you were made for this after all. Your leadership is one to commend," Mianite complimented. I shrugged.

"Maybe it's because I'm the oldest here?" I guessed.

"Maybe, but maybe leadership comes naturally to you. And... do you remember your comment from this morning? About almost being on our level?" Mianite asked. I blushed.

"Oops." The gods chuckled.

"Maybe you were unknowingly predicting the outcome of these games and what you would truly become." I shrugged.

"Who knows, really? It happened, so it shall be, I suppose."

"Nix, you look so beautiful," Gandus said in awe.

"You really do. Your new look suits you," Sparky said.

"You've also got a crown and a gem," Tom added. I raised my hands to my head and sure enough, there was a crown. I took it off and inspected it. Heh, more like a tiara. It's thin and has a green gem in the middle, where it rests on my forehead. It's pretty. I put it back on. I looked to the audience. They were waiting with bated breath for me to say something as a new goddess.

What do I say? Hmm... I flew into the air, so they can get a better look as I give my speech. Aianite flew and hovered on my left, taking my hand, Ianite came to my right side and took my hand in the lover's lock, Mianite hovered next to Aianite, taking her hand, and Dianite hovered up next to Ianite, taking her hand. I looked to each side of me and I felt a great rush of pride. I felt like... I truly belonged in this comraderie of godhood.

"My lovely friends, I am pleasantly surprised to have been given this gift of goddesshood. As your new goddess, I promise to uphold the honor of being a divine being. I promise to do my utmost best at being a leader, to keep you all safe and to help wherever I can. I also promise to take down the Darkness, make it so he doesn't hold the power that he has. There will be peace in this world again, rest assured! I am honored to be your new goddess. And now, I have something to say to my fellow goddess and girlfriend."

We went back to the ground. I could feel Ianite's confusion. I conjured an ender chest from nothing and set it down. I felt the others' confusion as well, but Gandus knows what's up. She figured it out. I took out the ring box, got down on one knee, and opened it. Ianite's face was shock and surprise. I could also feel love pouring out from her for me.

"Ianite, my beautiful goddess, my lovely lady, my girl, my everything. I love you more than life itself. I love you with everything that I have. We were truly meant to be together. I was reincarnated from your past lover who also was High Priestess with the same name. I came back for you, that's how much I love you. I kept my promise from back then. I promised you that I'd come back for you, and I did. I'd love to take this next step in our life. My question for you is, are you? Ianite, will you marry me?" Ianite was crying tears of joy as she nodded.

"Yes, Nix. I will." I smiled a very happy smile, stood up, showed her the words that were etched into it, which made her cry even more, put the ring on her finger, which fit perfectly, embraced and kissed her passionately. Cheers erupted through the whole Colosseum. When I ended the kiss, I was bombarded with hugs and noogies and the like by my fellow Champions and fellow gods. Even Aianite joined in that.

"Congrats you two!" everyone in the Colosseum shouted. Ianite and I laughed with joy. Everyone on the ground with us let us go and stood back.

"You also gave a great goddess speech Phoenix. That came naturally to you, didn't it?" Dianite asked. I nodded.

"Once I felt your guys' presences around me and felt the rush of pride of being included, I got the courage and inspiration to think of the speech right there."

"I'm so proud," Ianite and Aianite said.

"I am too. You've come so far," Sparky and Gandus added.

"You're not the loner punk girl you used to be," Tom and Karl remarked.

"You have new responsibilities. Though you already know that," Mianite and Dianite said. I nodded, determined.

"I know, and I'm ready." I let down the soul barrier so that people can go home, now that I gave my goddess speech, proposed to Ianite, and that Darkness is completely gone. The crowd started to disperse and I felt Grandma and Grandpa's presences come near. I got really excited to see them and looked their way. They were teary eyed, bursting with pride for me. Aw, come on. Don't make me cry too. When they got close enough, I held out my arms and they hugged me as I hugged them close.

"We're so proud of you Phoenix, and congratulations, to both becoming a goddess and on the proposal," they congratulated.

"Thank you."

"Now you've got 2 goddesses as granddaughters. That's gotta be overwhelming," Gandus expressed.

"Feels just as we described it when you first met us," Grandpa stated. I smiled gently.

"I'm so happy you came to watch Grandma and Grandpa. How was the trip?"

"Not too terrible. It was crowded when we were trying to get in on the docks, however. Thankfully there was a nice young man who noticed our struggles and made way for us."

"That's good. At least someone cared enough to help you." I looked at the sky. It was getting darker. "It's getting late, we should get to bed." They nodded and we all walked them to their hotel room. As we got to the door, Gandus, Ianite, then I hugged them.

"Good night," we all said. They went into their room and the rest of us went back to our tents.

"Phoenix, will you still be considered an Ianitee, or will you have your own tent now, now that you're a goddess?" Sparky asked. "Also, will you be an -inite now?" he half joked. I chuckled.

"I'm still the same ol' Phoenix, y'know. I'm not one of them. I'm not their sibling. I'm just a fellow divine being."

"Yeah, but you can't be a follower of Ianite if you're a goddess too, can you? I know you also said that you won't take any followers yourself, but still."

"That... I think that has to be an unfortunate result of becoming a goddess, me not being an Ianitee anymore. Though, plus side, we are now engaged, so..." I shrugged.

"Nix, I know you said you don't want followers, but what about me? We have 4 gods again, and there are 4 Champions now. How about each god has one follower again, before the both of us joined the group," Gandus asked. I looked to Aianite, Ianite, Mianite, and Dianite.

"Do you 4 agree to this? I don't wanna steal your guys' thunder, being the true, born gods. I'm not a true goddess. I don't feel like I should have any followers." They looked at each other, silently communicating to one another. I saw Ianite's and Aianite's faces become compassionate looking. Mianite's and Dianite's faces became soft. They looked at me.

"Phoenix, we will allow you to have Gandus as your follower. But only Gandus, as she is your sister," Mianite allowed.

"Thank you so much!" Gandus exclaimed. I smiled.

"Thank you all. We will not disappoint." They grinned.

"I've got to go now. I feel the pull to the spirit realm. Congratulations on becoming a goddess, and congratulations to you and Ianite on your engagement. I'm so excited to accept you into our family, Nix." Aianite hugged me and then her siblings. "Good bye everyone, it was good seeing you all again." We all bid her a goodbye and she disappeared, back to the spirit realm.

"So, I make my own tent, now that I'm no longer an Ianitee Champion?" The gods nodded. "Alright. Time for cyan to be added to the mix." I built my tent next to Mianite's. After I finished, "Wait, Gandus will need her own tent now too, if she's my follower." I built Gandus a tent in the style of the others'. My two colors are black and cyan. Black, not because of Gandus, but for blackstone.

"Nice. I like it, Nix." I grinned. We all went into our own tents and got to sleep.