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"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?"The scream cracked across the pleasure palace like a whip.
A porcelain vase arced through the air, then shattered against an attendant's skull. He collapsed with a wet gasp, blood seeping between his fingers. Ishtar didn't spare him a glance. She paced in tight circles, silk robes swirling like a storm front.
"Phryne! Tammuz! My elites! The entire spearhead of my Familia, dead! DEAD TO A SINGLE MAN!" Her voice broke into a rasp as she tore at her hairpins, sending golden ornaments scattering across the marble.
Another attendant tried to speak. She silenced him with a glare that could peel paint.
"We lost Haruhime. We lost the level boost. We lost our level five. Our clients. Our leverage. Our future!" She whirled and seized Samira by her collar so violently that the woman's toes lifted from the ground. "And who else could orchestrate this but Freya!? Tell me, Samira, tell me! Who else can wipe out my Familia overnight?!"
Samira trembled as Ishtar shook her.
"I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO HER!" Ishtar shrieked. "NOTHING! That alabaster parasite has been dreaming of my downfall from the moment she descended. Jealous. Always jealous. Of my beauty. Of my charm. Of my domain. That moon-faced witch fears me!"
She threw Samira aside and inhaled sharply through her nose. The tantrum halted. The fury settled. Her divine poise slid back over her like a mask being lowered.
Ishtar took her throne, one long leg crossing over the other, fingers tapping the armrest with calculated rhythm.
"Find that man," she said, voice quiet but venomous. "I don't care what it takes. Bribe the guild. Threaten them. File a complaint. Buy a complaint! I want a name, a face, a shadow, a whisper. Someone dared to strike me." Her eyes gleamed with murderous glee. "And I will know why."
....
Across Orario, the rumors bloomed like wildfire.
A vendor whispered as he arranged fruit, "They say the Ishtar district got hit by some unknown adventurer. Level six mage, they're calling him. Someone who summons the dead."
"The Necromancer," murmured another. "Guild's naming him that now. Took down half the Ishtar Familia in one night. Monsters obeying him, corpses fighting for him… gods above."
A group of passing adventurers leaned closer.
"You think it's Freya?" one asked.
"Baseless. Freya doesn't even look in Ishtar's direction. And Ottar's no mage. Only level six she's got."
Another adventurer chimed in with hushed excitement, "What about Zeus and Hera? People swear they're seeing signs. A level six not from Freya or Loki? It fits, doesn't it?"
A gruff voice dismissed them. "Idiots. Think. This isn't a god's return. A monster did this. Something crawled out of the Dungeon. Maybe one of those new rumors is true… monsters speaking. Planning. Hunting."
Someone shivered.
Whatever the truth was, no one agreed.Everyone had a theory.No one had an answer.
Which meant Damien's plan was working flawlessly.
Hidden behind layers of fear, stories, and misinformation, his name floated nowhere near the flames he had lit.Exactly as he wanted.
...
"Haruhime!"
Mikoto practically launched herself across the living room. Haruhime squeaked as she was swept into a crushing embrace, tears already streaking Mikoto's cheeks. Ouka, Chigusa, and the rest of the Takemikazuchi Familia—who had crossed half the continent just to find her—closed in around her like a tide.
"Everyone… Mikoto…!" Haruhime clung to them, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and grief. The room filled with that fragile kind of crying that happens only when a wound finally stops hurting.
Damien slipped out quietly, giving them the space they deserved. He caught Hestia watching him from the hallway, her expression softening into something warm and proud.
"Every time you do something," she murmured, stepping closer, "I realize how lucky I am to call you my child. You did well, Damien. I'm proud of you."
He scratched the back of his head, a small smile creeping in. "Just trying to do the right thing. That's our Familia's banner, isn't it?"
"It is," she said. "And you carry it well."
She took a breath, the warmth in her face dimming with worry. "But about what you asked… the Falna issue. I've been digging everywhere I can, and the answer's the same. A god's blessing can't simply be overwritten. The only ways to shatter it are Arcanum—which we can't use—or the god removing it willingly. For now, Haruhime is still counted as part of Ishtar Familia."
"That's… inconvenient." Damien leaned against the wall, brows knotted. "But Ishtar can't sense her, right?"
Hestia shook her head. "Not without a deep bond. And Ishtar doesn't do 'bonds.' Especially not with Haruhime."
"Good." Damien's shoulders eased slightly. "Then we keep her hidden. We get stronger. And one day we'll crush Ishtar instead of sneaking around her."
Hestia nodded with a grim little smile.
He threw himself onto the couch, exhaustion pouring over him like a weighted blanket. Only then did he pull up his stats.
[Stats:
Strength: 56→60→68
Agility: 54→58→68
Sense: 40→54→59
Health: 50→64→69
Intelligence: 57→71→85
Available Ability Points: 42→0
Passive Skills:
Tenacity
Sacred Flame
Demi-God of ███████
Active Skills:
Quicksilver
Mind's Eye
BloodLust
Stealth
Class Skills:
Shadow Preservation: (Capacity 34/40) [(A/N): I have retconned Igris taking 11 spots, as I realized it was a mistake on my part, in the Manhua Igris takes only one spot, not 11)
Shadows:
Elite Knight: Igris, Adonis
Normal Grade:
Adventurers 23
2 Infant Dragon.
1 Silverback.
3 Hellhounds.
3 Minotaurs.)
Shadow Extraction
Authority:
Ruler's Authority]
'I really didn't check any of this since getting Igris' Damien thought. 'This is absurd progress… Did I finally hit level four in the Falna system?'
And then the shadow count caught his eye.
'Right. Intelligence scaling raises capacity. Good to confirm.'
He then finally realized he can do what he's been wanting to do since a long time
He sat up slightly as he addressed the shadows in the room.
'Minotaurs. You three. From now on, you belong to Haruhime's shadow. Guard her with everything you've got.'
The three hulking silhouettes saluted sharply, then sank into the floor and vanished into Haruhime's silhouette upstairs.
Next was Adonis. Damien's gaze flicked toward Hestia.
'Adonis. Your priority is Hestia. Your life is meaningless compared to hers. Do anything! anything! to keep her safe.'
The knight bowed silently and dissolved into darkness, slipping beneath Hestia's feet.
Damien exhaled.
'I still have others to protect… but I need enough shadows on hand if I go into the Dungeon solo.'
His attention drifted to his armor's condition.
The system window blinked back at him.The numbers were… awful.
'Right. Durability is practically screaming. Either I repair this or replace it entirely.'
He clicked his tongue.
'Looks like it's time to visit Tsubaki.'
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Sukuna in DC!
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 !