I lay shirtless on the couch, feeling the warmth of soft thighs wrapped around my back as Hestia settled into position. Her presence was comforting, though she was far more nervous than I was.
"Alright, I'm starting," she said, pricking her finger.
A drop of warm liquid landed between my shoulder blades, and I felt something attempt to connect with me. I allowed it.
Then, something unexpected happened.
[Blessing of Hestia received: New abilities acquired – Cooking, Eternal Flame, Blessing of Home.]
"Huh?" Hestia's voice was filled with confusion. Normally, a Falna—the divine script marking a person's growth and abilities—would appear on my back, but nothing manifested. Still, she could feel our connection. It was real... yet different.
Meanwhile, I processed the changes.
Cooking refined my culinary skills, improving my instincts and elevating flavors to a new level. Anything I made would now taste far better.
Eternal Flame drastically enhanced my fire-based abilities, pushing them to near-divine potency. My flames burned hotter, lasted longer, and were far easier to control.
Blessing of Home granted passive buffs while I was within my domain—better rest, a more comfortable environment, and a soothing presence that filled the space.
Hestia tilted her head, her twin-tails swaying slightly. "Weird... Your Falna didn't show up, but I know I blessed you. I can feel it!"
I smirked, rolling my shoulders as I tested the newfound strength coursing through me. "Looks like your blessing took a different form for me."
She huffed, puffing her cheeks. "This isn't normal! You're supposed to have a status I can update and track!"
I chuckled. "I already mentioned I didn't need a Falna, right?"
She pouted, before sighing in defeat. "Fine... but at least I still feel the connection. That means I am your goddess now, right?"
I reached back and ruffled her hair. "Yeah, you are."
Her pout quickly turned into a bright smile. She practically glowed with happiness.
I had expected this to be a simple formality, but instead, I had gained something far more valuable—a goddess's blessing that adapted to me rather than restricting me.
Just as I was about to get up, I felt something probe my mind.
Hestia was trying to access my memories.
I allowed it.
Her body stiffened, and her bright blue eyes widened as an entire lifetime of experiences flashed through her mind. She saw things she had never imagined—worlds beyond her own, battles of unimaginable scale, beings that could rival gods.
Then, her face paled, her expression turning fearful. "S-Scathach won't kill me, will she?!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "No, she won't kill you."
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "And what's with you and all these women, you pervert?! Even Freya has been seduced by you!"
Her face flushed bright red, arms instinctively covering her sizeable bust as she recalled some of the more... intimate moments from my past. A virgin goddess like her wasn't prepared for such things.
"Oh? Are you sure it was me seducing them and not the other way around?" I teased, slipping my shirt back on.
"Hmph! You can't fool me!"
I rolled my eyes. "You can give Winky and Lili your blessing now. I'm curious how Winky's food will taste with your divine cooking boost."
With a pop, Winky appeared. Lili had already been watching, eager for her turn.
I left the room to give them some privacy.
---
I focused on preparing materials for my visit to Hephaestus tomorrow. I gathered rare metals that didn't exist in this world—Deep Sea Sunken Silver, Chilling Heart Iron, and a few other exotic resources.
I also set aside a few special items to show her, curious about her reaction.
A Godly Zhuge Crossbow, capable of launching bolts at terrifying speeds.
My Asauchi, a blank soul-cutting sword.
My Keyblade, forged through powerful magic.
And my Hate Ground No Handle set, my martial spirit connected to my soul.
I wondered what Hephaestus would make of them.
Then, something else crossed my mind.
My Peerage System activated, and I focused on Yue's piece. After making a few adjustments, I activated it.
My body shifted.
---
I suddenly found myself standing in the Arifureta world.
I wasn't here to pick up anyone just yet—there were only a couple of people from this world I actually liked. No, I had a different goal.
A holographic figure appeared before me—lifeless yet imbued with lingering magic.
"Congratulations on reaching the 100th floor!" the figure said. "I am Oscar Orcus, creator of this dungeon. As a reward for making it this far, I will grant you my personal magic."
I felt something attempt to connect to my body.
I allowed it.
[Creation Magic obtained.]
Sounds overpowered, right?
Not quite.
This wasn't true creation magic that could summon something from nothing. Instead, it functioned more like advanced alchemy—similar to Fullmetal Alchemist. It allowed me to shape materials and imbue them with attributes.
For example, I could take iron, mold it into a dagger, and enhance it with the attribute of sharpness.
The stronger the materials, the more attributes they could hold. However, the material's nature also determined what abilities it could receive.
Oscar kept rambling about the Age of Gods, lost dungeons, and ancient magics. I let him talk himself out before he finally vanished.
I turned toward the small house Oscar had lived in. Inside, I found a spatial bracelet, containing various rare items and metals. It also functioned as a control hub for the Great Orcus Dungeon.
Then, I activated my Inner World, which had been reacting to the dungeon's presence.
A massive flash of light engulfed the area.
Within moments, the entire dungeon—all 100 floors—was absorbed into my Inner World.
All that remained in its place was a massive empty chasm.
I now had my own personal 100-floor dungeon.
Of course, there were plenty of hidden treasures inside—one of the most valuable being the God Crystal, which produced Ambrosia.
Without hesitation, I teleported to its location.
Time to claim my prize.
[First chapter of the day ladies and gents. Send Powerstones, buy me something to drink or eat, and send your favorite waifu pictures. Cashapp $Ryantheholy]