"DAMIEN! Do you know who that is?!" Loki shot up from her seat, her eyes wide.
Damien settled back into his chair, completely at ease. "Nope. But she sure as hell is a fun one." He looked at the shocked faces around him. "What?"
"Heracles... Hera... and Zeus..." Loki's voice was tight. "I thought it was just a rumor. But now... it might be true."
Damien raised an eyebrow. "What rumor?"
Freya sighed, her golden eyes fixed on the arena below. "The rumor of Zeus's infidelity. And a child named after Hera."
Damien processed that. "Wait... so Zeus and Hera were a thing?" He frowned. I thought in this world they were just allies...
"Yes. But it was mostly secret between them." Loki crossed her arms. "Everyone knew that Zeus and Hera loved each other. But Zeus was known for being a pathetic playboy. Sleeping with plenty of women. Some from his own Familia. Some were goddesses."
Damien scratched his head. "Yeah... pathetic."
Freya placed a hand on his arm. "He is not like you, dear Odr. He was indeed pathetic. He treated women like trash. There were rumors of him forcing some of his own children to service him." Her voice hardened. "And unlike you, he promised to be loyal to only one... and betrayed that promise."
Loki nodded. "He fathered plenty of children. Some died. Some left. Hera always hated him for that. As a goddess, she could not give birth. Gods can easily have children with mortal females, but goddesses cannot do it outside of Heaven."
Damien absorbed the information. "But that does not matter. What matters is that girl. Her name is special."
Loki leaned against the railing. "During their era in Orario, there was a rumor of a special rising child in the Zeus Familia ranks. One that grew super strong. Rumor said he was the son of Zeus and another woman, and that Zeus named him after Hera. When Hera tried to kill the child..."
"There was no kid," Freya cut in. "We looked everywhere for the rumored Heracles. He was never there."
Hestia spoke up, her voice quiet. "Because it was never a he. It was a she. A girl." She looked at Damien. "And now she is back."
Damien studied the red-headed warrior below, her massive sword resting against her shoulder, her confident stance unwavering.
"Hmm. Indeed. I suppose so." He nodded slowly. "Hera and Zeus are still out there, are they not? Not in Heaven. They might have sent her... or not." He waved a hand. "I do not care. I will take her in if she deserves a spot. She looks like one of the good ones."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the railing.
"Now... let us see this tournament through."
....
Not much changed after that.
The dominant ones were already apparent. Heracles carved through the remaining competition like a storm. Chloe, Lunoire, and Anya fought with the precision of veterans who had never lost their edge. The Samurai's katana flashed with eastern magic. Royland's flames consumed everything in his path. Daphne and Cassandra moved as one, covering each other's weaknesses.
The final ten emerged from the chaos.
Heracles.
Chloe Rollo.
Anya Fromel.
Lunoire Faust.
Akizuki the Magic Samurai.
Royland the Mage.
Daphne Lauros.
Cassandra Ilion.
Evans Lloyd.
Raya.
Damien smiled as he rose to the podium.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" His voice boomed across the arena. "It seems each and every single one of you is special! Winners of this tournament! The new members of the Hestia Familia!" He spread his arms. "Applaud them, everyone!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and clapping.
Damien clapped along with them. "Oh, and... now that only you are left, why do—"
He stopped.
He looked up.
Something dark was coming.
A powerful explosion slammed into the arena. Stone shattered. Dust billowed. The crowd screamed.
Damien was already moving. He jumped down, landing between the winners and the blast, his shadows spreading to shield them. But he could not save everyone.
Three figures emerged from the smoke.
The first was a woman wearing no clothes whatsoever. Her muscular figure was on full display to the world.....breasts, pussy, ass, everything shown. But she was bloodied. Her red hair was even more red now, soaked with the blood of someone. In her hand, she held the head of Evans Lloyd, one of the winners. She was eating pieces of him.
"Tiamat. Please refrain from eating like this. It is disgusting."
The man who spoke stood beside her. He wore a white and green robe. His hair was green. He adjusted his glasses.
Tiamat looked at him and snarled. "FUCK YOU, QINGLONG."
A third figure emerged, pushing the two apart. "No fighting, you two."
She walked toward the center. She wore a beautiful white and gold dress that emphasized her assets....while still retaining elegance. Her golden eyes swept across the arena.
"It smells like gods in here... and adventurers." She smiled. "That is good. Yes... good."
Her gaze locked onto Damien.
"You must be the Shadow Monarch. Correct? Yes... it must be... indeed." She tilted her head. "I am Yinglong." she sighed and said
"Can you die? We will leave in peace if you do." Her smile widened. "It won't take long...Just lose your life...Die...And we don't bother anyone..."
Damien's voice was flat. "What the fuck? what the hell are you? who the hell are you"
She looked at him with no care "Is that a no?" she asked
"Obviously...It's a NO"
Yinglong's golden eyes closed. When they opened again, she looked disappointed
"Shame."
She turned around and placed her hands on Tiamat and Qinglong.
"Do not take too long."
She teleported away.
Tiamat and Qinglong grinned.
"Time to indulge in a delicacy" said Tiamat
"Kill them First" replied Qinglong
The battle began
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