If you Like this story! Check out my other story's ! Sukuna in DC! and Dragon Slayer in Marvel!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !
/*\
"Now then!" boomed Ganesha's voice, carrying across the arena like thunder. The crowd, still wild from Damien's victory, slowly began to calm. "Normally, this is where we'd congratulate our champion, hand over his hefty five million Valis reward, his trophy, and close the tournament!"
The audience cheered again, chanting Damien's name. But Ganesha wasn't done.
"However!" he continued, voice rising with theatrical excitement. "There's a question on everyone's mind! The question that's shaking all of Orario right now! — Which Familia will Damien Ardent choose?!"
That alone sent the stands into chaos. The noise was deafening. Bets were already being placed, and adventurers shouted over one another to argue who deserved him.
"Now, now!" Ganesha laughed heartily, raising his arms to calm the storm. "We've already discussed this with Damien himself, and we've come up with a rather fun little idea!"
The crowd hushed, eager.
"Each god or goddess who wishes to invite Damien into their Familia will submit their best proposition! Once all offers are in, we'll gather the top five proposals — and those five gods will be invited up here, to the podium itself, to make their pitch directly to our Champion!"
The crowd roared in approval. Even some gods smirked — it was a cunning twist.
"But wait, there's more!" Ganesha added gleefully. "To save us from endless offers of the same type, we're adding a rule! If two gods offer, say, a 100,000 Valis signing bonus and another offers 120,000, the lower-valued ones won't even make it through! Only the best of the best shall remain!"
His laughter echoed across the stands. "Now then! Each god has one hour to submit their offers! After that, the top five shall be chosen, and the fate of Orario's newest prodigy will be decided!"
The announcement ended with an explosion of applause and chaos. Gods began whispering and plotting. Some left their seats, others snapped their fingers for their children to fetch writing stones. It was no longer just a tournament — it had become an auction.
"Very sly of them, eh?" Loki's amused voice broke the silence in the gods' section. She leaned back lazily, eyes flicking toward Freya. "Can't imagine our little rookie came up with all that himself."
Freya's expression didn't shift much, but her gaze was colder than steel. Loki knew exactly what she was doing — poking a goddess who was already on the verge of fury after the humiliation of her own child.
"Yes," Freya replied smoothly, though her tone carried an edge. "Ganesha's thinking about profits, not honor. He'll surely ensure he himself makes the shortlist. Clever… but cheap."
Loki grinned, her usual playful smile curling into mischief. "Oh, I'll make my offer now. Pretty confident I'll take that kid in. He's got spirit — and guts. Two things I like." She leaned in closer, whispering just loud enough for Freya to hear. "But you? I wouldn't be so fast to choose the Familia of someone who just tried to kill me, wouldn't you agree?"
Freya didn't answer. Her eyes tracked Loki as she walked away, that infuriating red-haired goddess waving lazily as if to say try and stop me.
When Loki was gone, Freya's mask cracked for just a second. Her hand clenched into a tight fist, knuckles whitening. The sound of cracking glass could've matched the tension in her silence.
Elsewhere, Hephaestus sighed as one of Ganesha's followers handed her a glowing magic stone. "So this is where we write our offers, huh?" she muttered, examining the smooth surface.
"Yes, Lady Hephaestus!" the Ganesha child chirped politely. "And, ah — there's a small fee of ten thousand Valis to submit your offer!"
Hephaestus' eye twitched. "…Ten thousand?"
"Yes! To limit the number of submissions and make our work easier. Administrative costs, you see!" The child's grin was far too cheerful.
Hephaestus exhaled slowly through her nose, fighting the urge to mutter something that would melt the floor. I see why Ganesha's all for this… she thought bitterly. 'He's probably going to make a small fortune off the gods before the bidding even starts.'
Still, she pulled out a pouch of Valis, handed it over, and etched her offer onto the stone — practical, honest, and strong.
As she turned, she caught sight of a certain blue-haired goddess staring at her with wide, pleading eyes.
"Uh… Hephaestus…" Hestia said sweetly, clutching an empty magic stone. "Can I borrow some money?"
Hephaestus froze. "Hestia," she said slowly, already rubbing her temples, "you don't even have ten thousand Valis, do you?"
Hestia puffed her chest proudly. "Nope! But I have something even better — faith!"
Hephaestus groaned. "You're hopeless."
...
"So as we agreed, little champion! I take seventy percent of the fees, and you take thirty!" Ganesha said proudly, his booming voice filling the private chamber behind the arena stands. He looked like a man who had just conquered Orario itself.
Damien leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Of course. You've worked hard, and you did try to protect me after the Ishtar Familia incident. I think you deserve it." He paused, tapping his finger against the armrest. "So… has the bidding started?"
"Indeed it has," Ganesha replied, grinning ear to ear. "Many gods are already throwing in wild offers. Though…" he tilted his head curiously, "are you sure about that condition you asked for? The unique aspect? It's quite unusual, you know."
"I'm sure." Damien's tone was calm but carried an edge of curiosity. "Whichever god offers something truly unique—something that's not money, property, or meaningless trinkets—add them to the list. I want to see what kind of creativity the divine have when they can't just throw valis at a problem."
Ganesha crossed his arms, nodding slowly. "Heh, that's quite the test for the gods themselves. I like it! But it will narrow the field a lot."
"That's fine," Damien replied, standing up and looking toward the large window overlooking the arena. "I'm not looking for the richest offer. I'm looking for something… that stands out."
Ganesha gave a hearty laugh. "You really are an interesting one! Very well—let's make this even more exciting for the crowd. I'll make the announcement soon. Prepare yourself, little champion! In one hour, all of Orario will be watching your choice."
/*\
If you Like this story! Check out my other story's ! Sukuna in DC! and Dragon Slayer in Marvel!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !