Pride was a bane of lesser beings; those who held to the most powerful of sins would always find themselves losing. For someone like Fortuna, it was a sin that she was unwilling to indulge, despite her title as the strongest goddess dictated that she should.
How could she ever be expected to indulge such a sin if she were to beseech the help of someone like Ariel and the Angels?
Instead, she was fully willing to do anything that was demanded of her, if Ariel wished to abuse her Avatar's body, sure.
If she wanted her as her personal toy, she was willing to submit.
As long as the support for her rebellion was secured. This was the only way she would be able to get in contact with Cedric.
How surprised she was that Ariel merely told her to grovel and lick her boots, and after that, put a collar.
It was nowhere near what she expected, which made her slightly disappointed but at the same time relieved.
While Ariel looked different than usual, she knew that the girl was a shapeshifter; someone like her was not bound to a static form like humans were.
She kneeled in front of the girl, her fingers tracking the edge of her collar.
'Becoming someone's pet is a small price to pay...' Fortuna's face became slightly redder before she shook her head.
'I definitely don't enjoy this, I definitely don't enjoy this!' Even if she tried to convince herself that she didn't enjoy being treated like this, it would be a lie.
Yet, even if she enjoyed this, she should show some dignity in front of her saviors. If they had beaten Chrunus, she would have offered her whole being to Ariel, or if her Father wished, to him.
Even if they had decided to turn her into nothing but their pleasure toy, she would accept such a fate with open arms.
"Fortuna, Dad shall arrive shortly. Meanwhile, tell me everything you know about Chrunus." Ariel pulled out her chair and slowly sat down, leaving Fortuna standing.
Fortuna nodded before kneeling, "Yes, my Lady. I will tell you everything."
The Angel sighed, "You don't need to kneel... There is no fun when you are into it..." Ariel rolled her eyes before gesturing towards an empty chair.
"Sit." She ordered.
The goddess rose to her feet before taking the seat. "Understood..."
Fortuna crossed her arms as she took a deep breath. Her eyes closed as she scoured her mind for every information about Chrunus she could.
"Chrunus... is the god of Chaos. He is one of the oldest gods in the pantheon; however, he was not the strongest." Her voice trembled.
"And how did he come to dominate you?" Ariel tilted her head before placing her legs onto the table again.
A small tear rolled down Fortuna's cheek. "He never was a very amicable fellow; he always sought to undermine other gods and rule over everything."
Ariel leaned forward while pulling her legs down the table.
"And yet he was able to dominate... how many of you?"
"Then, there were 30 of us. Both Minor and Greater."
"How?"
"We do not know... All that I remember was that Chrunus grew almost infinitely stronger than he was." Fortuna stared at the floor, her fists clenching.
"Those who tried to resist were not killed, but erased from reality itself... And to spite us, he destroyed all of our domains. Natura and Celara got hit the worst by his desolation."
Ariel hmphed, her fingers scratching her chin, "Why are you so fit to have, from what I can tell, equal power to me?"
She shook her head, "I plotted the entire time to convince Chrunus I was loyal and useful to him. I served as his eyes on the world; without me, he is almost blind."
Mistress's grin widened, forcing Fortuna to shrink back, "Fortuna, so you want to say you are a schemer, huh?~"
Ariel leaned over the table, her finger pulling her by the collar, "I would have never thought, considering how quickly you submitted, or is it because you have some deeper scheme~"
Fortuna shook her head. No matter what happened, she couldn't make Ariel distrust her.
"Heh~ I can tell you are serious, I guess you are a little divine masochist, huh?" She yanked Fortuna closer, bringing her face to Ariel's.
"Continue." Ariel released her collar before leaning back into her seat.
"When Chrunus took control of the divine realm, he had empowered certain Mortals and natural Chaos elementals to suppress followers of all other gods. Except mine."
"There are no loyalists to Chrunus?"
She stayed quiet, "I do not know. I have investigated to the best of my ability, but everyone hated him."
"I'm not buying it. There are always those who support tyrants." Ariel waved her hand.
"He made everyone suffer... Only his elementals thrive under his rule."
"Ah, Father had killed one of them... If I am correct, it was Caridzorp."
Fortuna's eyes widened, "Are you serious?! The Supreme Chaos is dead?!"
"Why would I lie?" She grinned.
"I'm just shocked. That gives me confidence. I will open a way for you and Cedric, once Chrunus is dealt with, you may do what you wish with me, Lady Ariel." Fortuna blushed while averting her eyes.
But Ariel merely had a slightly disgusted look.
"We shall see what Dad decides to do with you."
"I understand."
Ariel sighed once again, "I don't think you do. Do not disappoint Dad, he is a lot scarier than I am if angered."
Fortuna gulped.
"Also, tell me more. Mostly about the goddesses that got hit the worst." Ariel rose from her seat, before she slowly walked close to Fortuna and sat at the table's edge with her legs crossed.
"Celara and Natura suffered the worst of it. While Celara was the one who rebelled against Chrunus and was stripped of her power and left in a state near death, Natura was weakened, and her nature was destroyed. She is in such a state that she wishes for death that will never come."
She clenched her fists. "Those two didn't deserve such a fate. Calera is left in a state of Paralysis while Natura has to lament her helplessness. I want them to be happy once more."
Ariel's grin turned into a compassionate smile, "I don't think Chrunus will rule for much longer. He had made an enemy of Dad. It was a foolish decision."
Just as Fortuna was about to question the Angel benefactor, she felt the weight of infinity suns descend upon her.
It was much like the presence of the Tyrant, and yet completely different.
Her head snapped back as she met face to face with the man who surely was the Father.
Behind him stood 3 women. However, her gaze was fully taken by the magnificence of Ariel's Father.
She saw Ariel rush forward and take a kneeling position, which she quickly followed.
She bowed her head as far as she could.
'This is him... This is our hope.' She cracked a smile.