Once more Hathor updated Shurry's Status, this time the world trembled, with both fear and anticipation. He'd leveled up, increasing his abilities a considerable deal.
--------------------------
Shurry
Hathor Familia
Level : 13 -> 14
Strength : (S987 -> SSS2000 -> I0)
Vitality : (SS1073 -> SSS2000 -> I0)
Dexterity: (A859 -> SSS2000 -> I0)
Agility : (SSS1598 -> SSS2000 -> I0)
Magic : (SS1097 -> SSS2000 -> I0)
--------------------------
Development Abilities :
Agile Body : SSS
Pursuit : SSS
Sorcerer : SSS
Warrior : SSS
Healing Power : SSS
Supreme Body : SSS
Supreme Light : SSS
Spiritual Resonance : SSS
Champion : B -> SS
Godling : G -> C : 275 -> 684
Spirit Pleasure : G -> S : 243 -> 983
All Power : I -> S : 0 -> 902
Calamity Slayer : I : 0
--------------------------
Lyca's Blessing (passive) - Born from the blood shared with the ascendant wolf, increases all attributes by an amount dependent upon level.
--------------------------
Looking at his status for just a few seconds his eyes fell upon the name of the new skill, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Alfia, if this is right, all that share blood with Lyca, will find they have this skill manifest." He said, filing the paper away with his previous status sheets. "My blood flows through my children, and thus they too shall manifest this skill at some point. Even if it ends up working a little different to how mine does, it will still be an excellent boon that all of my children will benefit from." He added, before sitting down, to which Alfia quickly claimed his lap as her own chair.
"In that case, you should have as many pups as you can handle having. Ensuring there will be plenty of powerful people in the following generation." Zeus laughed.
"As long as they're cute I don't mind." Astraea said, holding a stuffed bear to keep her from bottling up the cute day dream she had.
"Humph! Seriously, you said you weren't going to marry anyone else!" Hera said, crossing her arms.
"I'm not." Shurry replied flatly. "I am simply expanding my offspring through mutual agreements where all parties involved have signed on in agreement."
"Tsk, and what do you think of that Alfia? Your husband getting with more women outside the family, being a Casanova!?"
"Well, I did play a part in pushing him to try accepting Iska's offer. Largely because I want to see just how wild he can get in bed without anything blocking his heart." She answered, honestly since lying here was utterly impossible. "However, he did make a great counter point. That if he did it with Iska, the others would never stop asking him, and constantly be sneaking it whenever possible."
"Moreover, they all asked, and it wouldn't be fair to the others if I only accepted Iska. Basically, if I don't allow myself with the others who really want it, it would spread more pain than if I didn't accept any of them. So, it was either all, or none." Shurry answered, completely honestly… Or so he thought.
Zeus and Hathor looked at each other, smirked, and started laughing. Hera just glared at him. Astraea giggled along. Idunn seemed to be deep in thought, then she spoke up next.
"That's not the whole truth is it, my son?" Idunn smirked, leaning forward with an interested gaze.
"Hmm? What do you mean? Am I hiding anything?"
"Yes, you are." Hera glared daggers like she was going to kill him with her eyes.
"Oh relax, Hera, relax. Shurry seems confused so I'll explain…" Zeus said, clearing his throat.
"Oh no you won't, he's my son, he can figure it out. Besides, it's largely my influence anyway! So don't go making it sound all crass." Hathor interrupted with a quick jab.
Meanwhile Zald just sighed, relaxing as he must have figured out the answer the moment Hathor and Zeus laughed. Alfia did as well, and she pinched Shurry's butt for it, which was all the hints he needed, more than enough.
"Oh, maybe I do want more? Huh, I suppose that could have been a part of it. Odd how I didn't notice it myself…" Shurry said, whistling slightly before his butt cheek was twisted slightly by a pouty frowning Alfia. "Ah, alright, alright… I was holding myself back to honor the promise I made years ago."
"Better." Alfia huffed.
"Now then… Let's get to the other topic of discussion, clearing the dungeon." Shurry said, narrowing his eyes. "I will not truly clear it."
"Huh?" Zald's eyes went wide. "Why not? Are you not strong enough? Surely not, right?"
"No, Zald, what's down there really is a lot. It's a miracle it hasn't escaped." Zeus said, to calm him down.
"I might be able to beat it, since I think it's a type of dragon. So my most helpful skill should kick into high gear. However, that's not the problem."
"What is it?" Alfia asked.
"Once cleared, the dungeon will go completely dormant. Likely vanishing from the world for many eons. And, now that the surface is cleared, the end result would be the gods leaving the world. Or, worse, wars among the various races of our world."
"So, to save us from the potential of an all out self destructive war, you can't truly clear the dungeon?"
"That's right. Typhon is no slouch, that's for sure. Ain't that right, Zeus?"
"Hehehe, so you know about that fight huh…" Zeus chuckled nervously. "Yeah, he's quite a bit weaker now than he was, but I'd still say that at the very least, it's a bit much for you. Defeating that damn thing would probably just flat out make you a god on the spot."
"Best case scenario I manage to get out before the dungeon swallows me to replace its missing power source…" Shurry's eyes went wide. "I really can't do it. How else would we get magic stones for our, well, everything?"
That question put everything into perspective, just how bad the ramifications would be if the dungeon just stopped producing stones.
"Is there something else down there that could give you another level up?" Hera asked.
"Yeah, the Hecatoncheires triplets will not be an easy battle. Hell, I don't think the Dungeon was meant to be cleared at this point."
"Well, you're right, it's not, because it's a path into Tartarus."
"Thanks for that… Now I'm certain. Clearing it would mean the destruction of reality itself. And to that I say, no thank you. I prefer the world to exist, so I can see my pups grow up. Screw destruction, it's weak compared to creation and joy. And so, I will do what is needed to ensure it's not cleared."
"Even if that means others will die in their exploration?"
"Yes, it is not up to me to rob everyone of their chance to adventure in a dungeon and fight monsters. Living their best life with friends who have their back. Or even to rescue, or be rescued by someone, falling in love in the process."
"Good, then we should continue forward with this in mind."
…