A few days after the group set out onto the road.
After the group had settled for the night, Hera made her way to the girls' tent, her footsteps soft against the forest floor. There, she sought out Aki, her heart heavy with the weight of responsibility.
"Aki," Hera's voice was gentle yet firm as she addressed the young girl, her eyes reflecting the firelight's dance. " I know you said you wanted to join my familia but we have yet to give you a falna, are you ready for that now?"
Aki's response was hesitant, a mixture of nerves and anticipation evident in her voice. "Yes, Lady Hera. I am ready."
"Good," Hera nodded, a hint of warmth touching her expression. "Now, take a seat, and I shall bestow my blessing upon you."
Aki complied silently, her movements betraying the uncertainty that lingered within her. As Hera prepared, the air seemed to thicken with anticipation. With deliberate care, Hera pricked her fingers, a single drop of crimson welling forth—a symbol of the bond they were about to forge.
The atmosphere hummed with solemnity as Hera began to inscribe her Falna upon Aki's skin, the lines etched with purpose and meaning. Yet, as her hand moved, a fleeting moment of hesitation seized her—a pause in the rhythm of her actions.
In that moment, Aki's skill materialized, a manifestation of her potential and her destiny intertwined. It was a skill unlike any Hera had encountered before, its very essence a testament to the unpredictability of Genkai:
Anakitty Autumn
Demi-Human Cat Person
Age: 9
Lvl 1
Strength: I-0
Endurance: I-0
Dexterity: I-0
Agility: I-0
Magic: I-0
Magic:
Skills:
Guardianship Presence
Exponential status growth when seeking to defend family.
Or in the face of what the user has deemed to be evil.
Raises user's base status in an exponential curve the longer a fight goes on.
The curve is related to the number of people that the user is defending.
Does not enhance Excelia accumulation
A unique skill—a rarity that Hera had encountered only in a handful of her children over the last 1,000 years. With practiced precision, Hera completed the update, her mind already racing with the implications of what lay before her. Leading Aki outside the tent, she called for Alice, her voice tinged with a gravity that demanded attention.
"Alice, come here. It's time to update your status. Zeus, do the same for Bell," Hera's command rang out, the weight of her words underscoring the urgency of the moment.
Zeus complied, his usually composed demeanor betraying a hint of unease at Hera's uncharacteristic seriousness. "Alright, come here, Bell. Let's see what your status is like," Zeus spoke, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Okay," the twins responded in unison, their expressions reflecting a blend of anticipation and uncertainty as they approach.
As Zeus began to update Bell's status, in the blink of an eye, his jaw fell open in shock, the realization of what he beheld etched across his features.
Bell Cranel Status
Human
Age: 8
Lvl 1
Strength: I-53 - I- 60
Endurance: I- 99 - H - 120
Dexterity: I-73 - I - 80
Agility: I-99 -H - 103
Magic: I-0
Magic
[Satanas Version] (Inherited)
User sends out waves of Sound towards the enemy
Quick chant: Gospel
Skills:
[Realis Phrase-Crystallization of Desires]
As long as owner has a strong desire and goal, he will grow stronger according to his desires
Accelerated Growth
Immunity to charm
Immunity to mental attacks
Status Limit is broken
Stronger desire results in stronger growth
Continued desire results in continued growth
[Inheritance of Talent]
User has monstrous will and desire of wanting to surpass the Incarnation of Talent herself. The user slowly gains some Magic, Abilities, Skills, and Development Abilities that belong to the Incarnation of Talent in addition to their own [Magic: [Satanas Version] Gospel is gained], (Development Abilities, Skills, and Abilities are linked to the user's Skills and Abilities).
[Twin's Bond]
Grants the user the ability to utilize the same skill and abilities as their sibling. If both twins activate the same skills doubles the effectiveness of the skill. Negative effects can be mitigated through this ability.
Zeus sputtered, his words catching in his throat as shock rippled across his face: "da fu…"
"Zeus, language," Hera's reprimand cut through the air, her voice a sharp contrast to the tumult swirling within.
"But Hera, this is..." Zeus began, his protest cut short by Hera's stern gaze. His swearing had drawn the attention of Zald and Alfia, their curious gazes fixed upon the unfolding scene.
"Quiet. Let me finish Alice's update, then we can talk," Hera's voice held a note of command, her Falna beginning to unfurl upon Alice's back:
Alice Cranel Status
Human
Age: 8
Lvl 1
Strength: I-45 - I-55
Endurance: I-99 - H - 117
Dexterity: I-90 - H- 18
Agility: I-85 - I-95
Magic: I-0
Magic
[Corpus Sanum](Mutated Inheritance)
(Godly Explanation: the Deviation of Inheritance is due to the users own will and desires)
Negation of physical attack and pain
Suppression of physical symptoms of illness, status aliments, and physical attacks so long as armor is active. (Does not stop progression of a disease.)
Suppression of physical illness and status aliments will result in recoil if armor is deactivated during manifestation.
Recoil will significantly exacerbate the severity of the illness/status aliment temporarily
The more mind that is poured into the spell the power it is able to suppress
Quick chant: Ataraxia
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Skills:
[Bonds of Family-Crystallization of Desires]
As long as owner has a strong desire and goal, she will grow stronger according to her desires.
Accelerated Growth
Immunity to charm
Immunity to mental attacks
Status Limit is broken
Stronger desire results in stronger growth
Continued desire results in continued growth
Skill automatically applied to those the user considers to be family.
Strength of effect is based on the recipient's desire.
Those in proximity have the same effects as user applied to themselves.
[Inheritance of Talent]
User has monstrous will and desire of wanting to surpass the Incarnation of Talent herself. The user slowly gains some Magic, Abilities, Skills, and Development Abilities that belong to the Incarnation of Talent in addition to their own [Magic: mutated inheritance], (Development Abilities, Skills, and Abilities are linked to the user's Skills and Abilities).
[Twin's Bond]
Grants the user the ability to utilize the same skill and abilities as their sibling. If both twins activate the same skills doubles the effectiveness of the skill. Negative effects can be mitigated through this ability.
Utter shock pervaded the campsite, casting a heavy veil over the assembled adults. It took several minutes for them to gather their wits amidst their astonishment.
"Kids, why don't you watch the campfire and make dinner while we adults talk about this. We can talk more shortly," Hera's voice cut through the stunned silence, her tone a beacon of calm amidst the chaos.
"OKAY," the children responded in unison, their movements guided by routine as they gravitated towards the flickering warmth of the campfire.
Meanwhile, the deities exchanged meaningful glances before entrusting the status sheets to Alfia and Zald, their mortal companions.
Zald, the first to regain his composure, broke the tense silence. "Alright, so what are we supposed to do about these statuses?"
"Not much, other than we can tell that the twins really love their auntie," Zeus quipped, his tone light with teasing as he directed a playful jab at Alfia, who blushed and fidgeted under his gaze, her discomfort palpable amidst the revelations of the children's skills and magic.
"These statuses are truly unbelievable. But first, what does this 'Status Limit is broken' mean?" Alfia's voice cut through the gathering tension, her curiosity tempered by a hint of apprehension.
"Not sure entirely. I can take a guess though," Zeus responded, his gaze flickering towards Hera for confirmation.
"Well, out with it," Alfia snapped, her impatience tinged with a hint of frustration.
"I think it means that they can break past the S rank limit of their status. Now, how much they can break past the limit, I don't know, but from the feel of it, I don't think there is any real limit on their status. What do you think, Hera?" Zeus queried, his gaze lingering on Hera, who nodded in agreement.
"I agree with that for Alice's skill as well," Hera affirmed, her voice steady amidst the swirling uncertainty.
"WAIT. Alice's skill applies to others..." Zald interjected, his realization sparking a new wave of astonishment among the assembled deities.
"Yes, based on the feel of the update. Alice's skill will apply to anyone she perceives as family, meaning that based on the individual's desire, they will receive a boost," Hera elucidated, her words echoing with the weight of revelation.
"That's fucking insane," Zald murmured, his disbelief mirrored in the eyes of his companions.
"It is that. I have never seen a skill like that in our thousand years. It truly is an unprecedented skill. Bell's skill is the same. A growth skill is rare but not unheard of. However, the ability to break both past the S rank and immunity make it unprecedented," Hera explained, her words punctuated by a knowing smirk directed at Alfia.
Both men mirrored her smirk, their amusement evident, much to Alfia's chagrin.
"I WILL HIT You," Alfia's threat cut through the air and caused both men to immediately sober up their expressions.
"Alright. So for now, there is not much we can do other than observe the twins and see their progress. As for Aki's skill, it seems to be in a similar vein as Alfia's Gift Blessing but rather than suffering abnormalities, the activation condition is needing to defend family or in the face of evil," Hera elaborated
"Well, given the state of the world, that should be a fairly easy condition to meet," Zald remarked
"True. Now, these skills make the children prime targets should they ever be revealed. We will need to keep them completely under wraps. Plus, should the twins decide to go to Orario, we will need to find a suitable deity for them. I expect that even with these skills, they will eventually hit a limit as to what they can do outside of Orario," Hera explained, her words echoing with the gravity of the situation.
"Beh. That city is a viper's nest. Is there even a suitable Deity left there?" Alfia scowled, her voice laced with disdain.
"Of those that are dungeon exploring, which will be a requirement given the twins' goal, there is only the Astraea familia. However..." Zeus began, only to be swiftly interrupted by Alfia's vehement protest.
"Absolutely not. Astraea only accepts women, and even if she made an exception for Bell, I will not let Bell be left in the care of a bunch of love-starved hyenas. He is too adorable for that. They will gobble him up," Alfia declared, her protective instincts flaring.
"Okay, okay. Settle down, Alfia. If Astraea is out, then we will have to find a suitable deity outside that is willing to relocate," Zald intervened, his voice a soothing balm amidst the rising tension.
"Tch. I will protect both of them from anyone that is unworthy," Alfia affirmed
"Good grief. She is already a mama bear. I pity anyone that tries to get close to these two in the future," the others mused, their thoughts a silent acknowledgment of Alfia's overprotectiveness rearing its head.
"True. However, for now, we can simply focus on helping them develop. I truly do not want to part with them, but it may become a necessity," Hera conceded, her words tinged with a melancholic acceptance of the challenges that lay ahead.
"Yes. We will have to see what happens once they hit that wall. There are a few that might be willing to take them. I know several in the Far East would probably be willing to take them. Especially if they had experienced members like Alfia or Zald to guide them. Last I heard there was a shrine where several gods had congregated to take care of orphans caused by the wars. There are also several wandering familias to consider. Artemis being the largest and most well-known familia. Though..." Zeus continued, his voice trailing off into the ether.
"Hmph... Artemis the man-hater you mean. You have a better chance of Taturaus thawing than her accepting a man into her familia. Really, Zeus. Why would you even suggest her?" Hera interjected, her tone sharp with disdain.
"Simple. If Bell were to be accepted, he would be the only man. He would have an Instant Hare..." Zeus began, only to be abruptly cut off by Alfia's incantation.
"Gospel!" Alfia chanted, unleashing a wave of magical energy that sent Zeus airborne, prompting Zald to spring into action to catch him before he hit the ground.
"ALICE. Sweetie, get Gramma a frying-pan please," Hera's voice dripped with anger as she directed her request to her granddaughter.
Several tense minutes passed before the two men returned to solid ground.
"Wow. I thought I was a goner for a second there. Thanks, my boy," Zeus remarked, his tone light despite the gravity of the situation as he patted Zald on the shoulder.
"Seriously, old man, Alfia is going to kill you one of these days. If she doesn't, then Hera will," Zald muttered, his exasperation evident as he shook his head.
Meanwhile, Alfia and Hera continued to glare daggers at Zeus, who began to sweat under their combined gaze. Attempting to change the subject, Zeus forged ahead.
"Now back to that topic at hand. We can worry about finding a suitable deity later. We will need to consider those that have yet to descend as well."
"Hmph. Very well. I will let you off the hook for now," Hera conceded, her tone softened slightly by Zeus's attempt at redirection.
With their conversation concluded, the adults made their way over to the children, who had begun to prepare dinner. As they worked, the deities explained the abilities each child possessed and emphasized the importance of keeping their status a secret. The children nodded in understanding, their expressions a mix of curiosity and determination as they absorbed the weight of their newfound responsibilities.
Several Weeks later as the group approaches the City of Asgard.
It was at this city that the twins and Aki arrived several weeks after leaving the devastated village behind. Even after the nearly month of travel, the children had only just begun to recover the cheer they once possessed.
At first, Aki barely responded to anyone other than Bell and Alice. Even in her interactions with the twins, she seemed listless, her replies minimal, lost in the shadows of her own thoughts. While still burdened, she at least had started to go out of her way to talk to the adults. Bell and Alice fared scarcely better. When they learned of their skills, the twins had started to push themselves beyond what anyone would deem responsible.
Since the development of their respective skills, the twins had been relentless in their training. Bell, in particular, drove himself practically to exhaustion in every session, his determination bordering on obsession. Alfia and Zald had to intervene, halting his efforts before they spiraled into self-destruction, often resorting to drastic measures to ensure he rested Including at one point knocking him out so that he would rest. Alice matched Bell's fervor, if not his recklessness, pushing herself beyond reasonable limits in pursuit of strength.
For all the concern this caused the results, their dedication yielded results. The twins and Aki had surpassed the 500 threshold for ranking up in a single month, a feat that spoke volumes of their potential. Bell's agility had even surpassed the 600 mark. While Aki and Alice had not quite reached that point they each had a category approaching it. However, given the implications of their newfound skills, it was unanimously decided to postpone any rank advancement until they understood the full scope of their abilities.
As the city loomed into view, Zeus's voice cut through the air, calling the children out of the wagon to behold the city's splendor.
"Kids, come out and get a look at the city," Zeus beckoned, his voice tinged with excitement and anticipation.
Three children, their eyes wide with wonder, poked their heads out from within the wagon, gazing in awe at the majestic sight before them. Rising proudly atop the tallest mountain, a great city stood, its spires piercing the sky like the claws of a giant. Rising majestically atop the towering mountain, the city sprawled down the mountain until it reached the base.
To the North, behind the city's proud silhouette, mighty mountains reached skyward, their peaks shrouded in mist, touching the very clouds with an aura of mystique. In the South, vast plains stretched out like a golden tapestry, unfolding endlessly to the horizon. And to the West, the boundless expanse of the sea stretched out, its azure waves dancing in the sunlight.
Asgard, nestled at the mouth of the Valley of Dragons, stood as a bastion against the encroaching darkness, its location strategically chosen to guard against the tides of monsters ofthe realms. Encircled by concentric rings of formidable walls, crowned by sturdy castles that stood sentinel on either side of the valley entrance, the city severed as a bastion for the familias of Odin and Frigg.
Bridges spanned the chasm between the twin cities that flanked the valley, their arches a testament to the ingenuity of mortal hands. The Bifrost, a marvel of engineering and magic, seamlessly connected the cities,
Here, in the heart of Asgard, resided the Deities Odin and Frigg, charged with defending the lower world from the monstrous terrors that lurked within the Dragon Valley. Alongside Zeus and Hera, they had descended from the heavens to aid mortals in their eternal struggle against the monsters.
Choosing to venture North to guard the entrance to the Dragon Valley, they erected great citadels to watch over the realm, their presence a beacon of hope for those seeking refuge. What had begun as a humble defense had evolved into a network of alliances and fortresses, as more deities descended to establish their own cities, united in their determination to safeguard the realms.
"Welcome to Asgard, children," Zeus proclaimed, his voice resonating with warmth and authority. The children nodded in silent awe, their hearts brimming with anticipation for the adventures that lay ahead in the legendary city.
