Rod felt the terrifying aura emanating from her and showed a satisfied smile.
"From today onwards, your name is — Typhon."
[Name: Typhon]
[Affiliation: Shadow Legion · God-Slaying Unit]
[Level: Lv7]
[Characteristics: All skills possessed by Shadow Soldiers, such as the strongest physical defense and self-regeneration ability of the Blackened Goliath, the azure flame and red mist of the Blackened Amphistaena, the extreme speed, magic reflection, and destructive claws of the Blackened Juggernaut, and the laser of the Floating Crystal.]
[Evaluation: An ultimate creation immune to divine power, born only for slaughter. If the Dungeon could spontaneously produce such a monster, the human world could declare its demise.]
"Typhon…"
Rod reached out and gently ruffled her head, which bore terrifying horns.
"Once we return to the surface, a God will soon ask you to act. Don't be impatient."
"The Dungeon's recovery ability has temporarily reached its limit… Never mind, time is almost up. I'll explore the later areas another time."
Rod put away all his Shadow Soldiers, stretched lazily, and leisurely returned to the upper levels as if taking a post-meal stroll.
Along the way, many adventurers ran back in a panic, clearly thinking that an unprecedented great riot had occurred in the Dungeon.
Many people who saw Rod, alone and composed, ascending from the middle levels, showed expressions of great surprise, apparently recognizing his identity.
There were also kind adventurers who, worried about Rod, enthusiastically invited him to join them, but Rod politely declined with a smile.
Rod casually dispatched a Shadow Soldier to secretly follow this group, ensuring their safe departure from the Dungeon, treating it as a return for their goodwill.
As he entered a narrow passage on the 17th floor, a figure appeared before him like a mountain.
It was a man as tall as a giant, with bulging muscles full of explosive power, and rust-colored hair that made him look even more fierce.
Orario's current apex, Ottar.
Rod, with his hands in his pockets, did not stop walking, but merely looked at the formidable figure blocking the middle of the path and calmly said,
"You are blocking my way."
The plain words echoed in the silent cavern.
Ottar instantly tensed all his muscles, entering the highest level of combat readiness!
An indescribable sense of terrifying crisis, originating from the depths of his soul, surged into his heart.
All the shadows around him seemed to come alive; they twisted, writhed, transforming into countless abyssal beasts, opening their gaping maws, emitting silent roars and sneers, as if they were about to devour him completely in the next moment!
This terrifying aura... how is this possible?!
Drip.
A drop of cold sweat slid from his temple and hit the ground with a clearly audible sound.
After a deathly silence.
Ottar, this formidable man who never retreated, silently moved aside.
Rod did not say another word, not even a ripple in his eyes, and simply walked past him calmly.
It wasn't until Rod's figure completely disappeared around the corner of the passage that the terrifying sense of crisis, as if from the shadows, finally receded like a tide.
Ottar unconsciously let out a long breath.
He looked down in disbelief at his hands, which were still trembling slightly.
"Could it be... that just a glance made me feel fear..."
In just a brief moment, his back was completely soaked with cold sweat.
The last time he had such an experience was long ago, when facing the two true monsters of the Zeus and Hera Familia, who reigned over an era.
Ottar stood silently in place for a long time before finally taking heavy steps.
He went all the way down to the origin of that terrifying tremor—the 25th floor.
When he saw the scene before him, even his perpetually indifferent face showed an undisguised look of shock, and his entire scalp tingled.
The entire Water Labyrinth... was gone.
It was as if the area had been scoured by a meteor shower; the entire structure from the 25th to the 27th floor had collapsed beyond recognition!
The walls, floor, and ceiling of the labyrinth, everything had turned into dust and rubble, with no place to even set foot!
Even in his perception, there was not a single monster's aura in these three vast floors!
"...Is the Dungeon's recovery ability not keeping up with the destruction? What exactly..."
Just then, he noticed a sign standing by the passage exit, seemingly deliberately protected, and quickly walked over.
When he clearly saw the words on the sign, Ottar's expression instantly froze.
Four large characters were written on it in a flamboyant style.
"Ahead, a magnificent view."
Ottar turned his head, looked at the ruins before him, which resembled the end of the world, and then looked down at the sign again.
He read it several times, remained silent for a long while, and then gave a wry smile.
"It is indeed... a magnificent view..."
Court of the Stars.
It was evening, just as the sun disappeared behind the city walls.
Even before entering the door, the pleasant, bell-like voices of the girls could be heard.
The hostility accumulated in the Dungeon was dispelled by this warm laughter, and a relaxed and expectant smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
One unfamiliar voice caught Rod's attention, and the hand he was about to use to push open the door paused slightly.
"....Eh, so Rod was like that at first! Astrea, tell us more about that child's past~"
"Haha, I also secretly snuck over to the Loki Familia and heard it from Riveria."
"But he grew up very quickly later, Hestia. If you had come down a week earlier and seen Orario's lifeless state, you probably would have been very disappointed."
"Yes, compared to the Freya Familia and Loki Familia on the surface, it was the mysterious Rod who suddenly appeared that made the Dark Faction somewhat hesitant."
"After all, the unknown is the most terrifying...."
"Speaking of which, Goddess Hestia, how did you notice Rod?"
Laila's question made all the girls look curiously at the adorable Goddess who had just descended to the lower world.
Hestia lowered her head shyly, and finally, under Astrea's encouraging gaze, she cleared her throat, and the clear light of memory flickered in her eyes.
"...Actually, it wasn't anything special."
"At that time, I was secretly observing the lower world for the first time out of boredom, and then... I saw him walking on the street, looking a little sad."
That bewildered figure searching for his place in the world instantly made her incredibly concerned.
The things Hestia presides over are fire, the light that protects one's abode, or rather, the fire of protection.
An inextinguishable flame, like a hearth fire, extending a helping hand to those who plead, welcoming injured lost children.
Under the girls' gentle gazes, Hestia gently placed her hands over her heart and murmured,
"...In short, I just felt... I couldn't leave that child alone."
Thinking of this, Hestia looked around at the beautiful girls, who were no less stunning than those behind Loki, and her gaze finally rested on Astrea, her expression a little lonely.
"But now... Rod might not need..."
Click—
The door was gently pushed open.
Hestia stood up in surprise and turned around.
The evening breeze blowing in from outside gently ruffled her black twin pigtails.
The young man she had been secretly watching in the Celestial Realm for so long now stood truly before her, giving her a gentle smile and extending his right hand to her.
"My name is Rod. Nice to meet you, Goddess Hestia. Thank you for your past care, and please guide me in the future."
Excitement, nervousness, emotion...
Countless complex emotions she had never experienced before, like surging waves, almost overwhelmed her small head.
Hestia was at a loss for what to do for a moment.
"I, I...."
The girls of the Court of the Stars all cast encouraging glances, and Astrea reminded her with a smile.
"Hestia, this is your first time meeting him, isn't it? Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"
Hestia finally reacted, quickly wiped away the tears that had somehow welled up in the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, and tightly clasped Rod's outstretched hand.
Their body temperatures mingled through their palms, and in her eyes, the young man's sincere and gentle face was clearly reflected.
The anxious and uneasy heart that had been suspended all the way here finally, at this moment, completely settled down.
This child... still needs me.
He still welcomes me to be his family.
Hestia's face bloomed with a radiant, heartfelt smile, like the sun.
"I am Hestia, Rod, please guide me for the rest of our lives!"
Rod's eyes widened.
After a moment of stunned silence, Ke Luoyi was the first to burst into earth-shattering cheers!
"Oh oh oh oh oh, I didn't expect Goddess Hestia to be so bold, nya!"
"Damn it, did a Goddess actually propose before righteous and incorruptible me?" Alise looked indignant.
"Uh... though I don't want to say this, Goddess Astrea was clearly here first..." Selty muttered faintly.
"Wuwuwu... I'm a firm supporter of Goddess Astrea and Rod's CP! Who's going to give me my 'aloof young man and gentle saintly mother' sugar fix now?!" Noin wailed.
"Eh? Wha-what happened? Why is everyone laughing?!" The useless elf was still completely bewildered.
Ignoring the clueless fool, Maliu, Iska cautiously observed her own Goddess Astrea, secretly swallowing.
Her Goddess still wore that gentle, tolerant smile, but for some reason, she always felt a faint murderous aura....
"Wha-what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?!"
Hestia, realizing the girls were all teasing her, finally panicked belatedly, looking left and right like a startled small animal.
Kaguya elegantly covered her face with a fan, chuckled softly, and enlightened her.
"Oh my, Goddess, don't you know? Those words you just said are usually only spoken by girls when they accept a proposal from their beloved~"
"..."
Hestia blinked, then blinked again.
The next second, her cute face, at a visible speed, blushed from her cheeks to her earlobes, and then spread to her neck.
"Eh... Eh eh eh eh eh?!"
In the end, it was Rod who helplessly carried Hestia, who was about to faint from shyness, to the sofa.
As a result, Maliu, who had long disliked her, immediately squeezed over, sarcastically saying that she was deliberately taking advantage of Lord Rod, and that she was indeed a Goddess, so cunning and so on.
Hestia was both shy and angry, completely disregarding Maliu's previous kindness in leading the way, and immediately started arguing with her, the two small figures bickering.
Rod watched from the side, amused.
These two really are naturally incompatible, aren't they....
As for the other girls, not a single one intended to mediate; instead, they enthusiastically brought out snacks and drinks, acting as commentators on the side.
"Finally, a new show! Goddesses arguing are indeed more interesting!"
"Yes, yes, recently Maliu has also started to mature, and the regular program of enjoying her arguments with Kaguya has become less and less frequent, it was getting boring."
"Am I the only one who wants to request the fun of Black Cat and Black Fist...."
Only Che Huiyi, the serious one, stood by, hesitating to speak, her expression conflicted.
Maliu saw her look and curiously leaned over, asking with a smile,
"What's wrong? Still not used to the atmosphere here?"
"It's okay. Only those who can still entrust their lives to each other after an argument are true companions."
Che Huiyi shook her head.
"No, I understood that principle not long after I arrived here."
Maliu became even more puzzled.
"Then what are you now..."
Che Huiyi leaned close to Maliu's ear, speaking in a tiny, somewhat embarrassed voice.
"I… I want to see Goddess Astrea and Goddess Hestia argue… I'm curious who would win if the two goddesses fought."
Maliu's eyes widened in surprise, then she looked at Che Huiyi with an expression of immense admiration, silently giving her a thumbs-up.
You, you really don't mind making a scene!
After such playful antics, the girls and the goddesses had become much more familiar with each other.
After such laughter and play, the girls and the new goddess had become much more familiar with each other.
Hestia herself was a kind and vibrant goddess, and the girls all liked her for this novel feeling.
The girls, skilled at cooking, worked together to prepare a lavish welcome feast for her, which made Hestia both happy and touched.
This made her both happy and touched.
At the dinner table, the two goddesses sat together, happily chatting about interesting stories from both the Celestial Realm and the Lower World.
Laila, sitting beside Rhode, massaged her slightly sore waist and complained.
"There are more and more people at home; do you think we need to hire some professional chefs?"
Ke Luoyi's eyes immediately lit up. She raised her fork and excitedly suggested.
"That chef at The Benevolent Mistress restaurant is pretty good, meow! She's a cute fellow beast-person, and her cooking is delicious, meow! How about we snatch her over, meow?"
Selty elegantly took a sip of soup and said calmly.
"If Ke Luoyi, you can lure her over, it's not impossible. But the premise is that you can withstand the iron fist of their shop owner."
Ke Luoyi proudly wagged her slender tail, confident.
"A mere shop owner, how could she be a black cat's opponent, meow! Just watch the cat…"
Noin, standing nearby, added expressionlessly.
"Miya, the shop owner, is the former captain of Freya Familia, and her current strength is Lv.6."
Ke Luoyi's proud tail shot straight up with a "whoosh," all her fur bristled, and she immediately curled into a ball.
"The… the cat didn't say anything, meow!"
The girls immediately burst into laughter.
Once this silly cat revealed her true nature, she was quite adept at bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
Rhode shook his head, and after a chuckle, he also began to think seriously.
"We do need to find some professional logistical staff, but we can't just pick anyone…"
Laila asked curiously.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"I'll keep an eye out next time I go to other worlds."
"I see. Oh, by the way, since Goddess Hestia has descended, then you…"
"Yes." Rhode nodded, "After discussing with her, I will likely operate temporarily under the name of Hestia Familia."
Although it still wouldn't be a Familia relationship, to avoid causing trouble, he still needed to conceal it for now.
After all, some things were inconvenient to do under the identity of a righteous Familia, but Hestia Familia would have no such qualms.
Laila had long known Rhode's thoughts.
Acting in the name of justice would inevitably entail some restrictions.
Rhode had his own path to follow, and even Goddess Astrea supported Rhode's choice.