I came to the labyrinth city as soon as I turned 18. Once you reach this age you can receive a blessing from a god or goddess. I tried everywhere but with no practical skill in combat no diety would accept me. I had given up hope and was living in an alley in the slums. I got a sword and a chest plate and decide to attack the first floor of the dungeon. The guild wouldn't let you go deeper without a blessing from a god. After weeks of fighting goblins I saw her. A goddess so beautiful words fail to describe. Blond hair, blues eyes, a perfect womanly figure. Dressed in a pitiful dress for a goddess. One look and I froze in my tracks, a smile so beautiful I thought time stopped. Somehow she noticed me on the way to the dungeon. She walked right up to me "brave warrior do you not have a familia?" I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't even think. All I did was kneel before her and looked at the ground. I couldn't stand in her presence. "May I ask your name child" words still failed me. I glanced up at her finally realizing she spoke to me. "I-I'm sorry goddess I was so taken by your beauty that I couldn't hear you, please forgive me"
"My what an amusing child I asked your name"
"my name is Josh your grace"
"I came down from the world of the gods quite recently and have no familia would you join me" a smile so big appeared on my face. I couldn't believe I could join a beautiful goddess' familia. All red in the face I look away from her so I could speak once more.
"I would be honored." This woman, words could not describe, jumped a little clapping her hands like a little girl, almost squealing, looking so happy.
"I noticed you going in to the dungeon a few days ago without our falna and decided if you were that brave you must be mine." She had already stolen my heart.
She took me back to a tiny house barely big enough for one person. I couldn't believe she was living in the slums. Immediately she had me take off my armor and shirt and said she would give me her falna. I lay on the couch while she stratled me. She used a needle to bleed her finger and used her blood and a needle on my back like giving me a tattoo.
"My name is Aphrodite you will be the first member of my family work hard for me Josh" I realize now I never got her name.
"Thank you for joining such a small goddess such as myself. The falna I am giving you means you belong to me. Also the more you fight the stronger you become, the higher you can reach. My power is only a catalyst I can't make you more then what you are. I can only unlock your potential." She slowly begins to explain.
"First there are basic attributes, strength, agility, vitality, and magic. Also a human such as yourself can only learn up to 3 different magic spells usually. There are also skills which help in a variety of ways I will help you with those as you start to acquire them. Those have more freedom then magic does and it depends on potential. I'm new to the Earth and won't be of much use to you for now for that I apologize."
"Please goddess don't say that. I tried to join many familia's before only you were kind enough to welcome me. I will put you on a throne above all others, this is my promise to you." She giggled at that one
"my what loafty ambition you do realize you are starting from the very bottom today right?" She is still tattooing my back with her ichor, blood,
" it doesn't matter I will give everything I am to prove my worth to a goddess as kind as you" once she is finally done I run to a small handheld mirror to try to look at my back. Craning my head to see the "status" I now have a tattoo covering my whole back. Roses surround it and there are seashells and pearls about. There's a swan, a small hand held mirror, and a golden apple as well as words I cannot read. Seeing my confusion she giggles at me again.
"The pictures you see are symbols of my divine authority, the words are in the language of the gods most can't read them. I am the goddess of beauty and sexual desire. I hope you will make me proud Josh." I try to clean up the place and take care of her but she sends me off to the dungeon.
"Don't let a pretty face stop you from your desires. Go to the dungeon, grow, become a warrior fit for a Queen." With those words her divine will was spoken. I dare not refuse.
I head to the guild to show my falna to the receptionist that take care of me. "Miss Mira I finally joined a Familia." I show her my falna on my back. "Aphrodite is a new goddess on Earth are you sure Josh?" She seems apprehensive. Mira had been in charge of me the past few weeks as I tried to attack the dungeon, she has been so worried since I didn't have a status. But now she is still worried.
"She was the goddesss I pledged myself to from now on I see no other"
"very well remember you are not any stronger now then you were build up experience in the dungeon when your stats grow you can go deeper."
Days passed like this and I felt like I was getting nowhere. My basic stats were all around 100 except magic which I don't have. All rank F until 200. I could barely make enough money to feed myself and the goddess. She said she would get a job but I told her no way in hell. How could a dignified goddess work some regular job. Just a few days after joining Aphrodite was when I met them. The most powerful battle party in the whole city, the whole world, Freya familia. They seemed to be guarding their goddess, a woman beautiful enough to rival my own goddess was walking with these powerful warriors. I couldn't help but be drawn to her beauty like Aphrodite they were both intoxicating. She glanced at me and told the men with her something and they approached. "Warrior what familia are you from" what the fuck why did she approach me exactly like my goddess. This time I did not bow but I still couldn't look her in the eye.
"I'm from Aphrodite's familia" I said as I stared at the ground. Silver hair, silver eyes, and a dress both revealing and stunning. I found myself slowly being drawn to her. Freya laughed out loud.
"My she really did come here after all." I didn't look at her face but I feel hostility. I'm not sure if it's from her or her followers.
"Fine I was just curious why you felt so familiar I guess it is her blessing I noticed. Very well I won't bother you carry on" as she leaves an elf with her runs into me with his shoulder and he was powerful enough to knock me on my ass just with that. The dieties are almost overwhelming to be around I'm sweating like crazy and feel weak. Confused and annoyed I return home after. I explain the situation to my goddess when I return home and she seems upset. "Freya and I have a complicated relationship. Since we are both goddess' of beauty you could say we are rivals." Now I understand the hostility I guess she doesn't have the character to belittle us openly though. She also explained that in her presence I feel calm, unlike other gods, is because I have her ichor. A part of her power if you will. Still like any deity they can tell if we are lying in their presence.
Feeling like I was looked down on by my goddess' rival I threw myself into the dungeon fiercely. Day after day killing goblins making a few hundred bucks. Barely getting anywhere with my status I was getting overwhelmed. Walking to the dungeon I felt eyes on me, watching me. But I couldn't find who it was, suddenly a young woman's voices calls out "sir did you drop this" I turn around and see a girl my age. Stunning silver hair and silver eyes, wearing a apron and what looks like some uniform. "Ahh no I turned in my crystals" she is holding a magic crystal bigger then I have every seen, but still no bigger then the pocket watch I have. "Well your the only adventurer here so why don't you take it" while I try to deny her she grabs my hands and puts it in them. Blushing at this girl I thank her. I thank her and try to leave but
"well why don't you repay me by coming to the bar I work at"
"if I make enough in the dungeon I will" and with that I'm off. Frustrated with my lack of strength and money I decide to go deeper in the dungeon. I find kobolds and goblins on the second floor and they prove to be as easy as the first. Hours of wandering I find myself on the fifth floor. The same monsters here as well but there are more of them. The maze in the dungeon is getting bigger also it has to be twice the size of the first few floors. That's when I heard it. "Raaaaaaaa" a thunderous roar. I knew right away it was bad news. I try to back track but quickly realize I'm lost. *Boom *boom. Must be sounds of fighting. I think I heard screams as well. I run for my life then I hear what sounds like a stampede of monsters. A dead end I turn around a see a Minotaur. It must be at least 7 feet tall, huge horns, huge muscles, blood dripping from his horns and what looks like a rock axe dripping with blood. I try to block his swing with my sword and I'm thrown into the wall. *Uuffff all the air is knocked out of my lungs. That's when I realized I will die here. The Minotaur is over me the next second when "raaaa" it screams out in pain a few sword strikes later and I'm covered in blood. A huge man almost as tall and big as the Minotaur stands there. I saw him with Freya a few days before.
"Pitiful just like that goddess you serve" I absolutely lost it. I grab my sword and attack him
"fuck you". *Boom the armor I had on cracks and breaks. My ribs are broken, I can hardly see anything. Bloods pouring down my face and back. *cough, spitting up blood, I can't breathe
"well you have guts kid but stay down were you belong." He turns and leaves. It took about 5 mins for me to stand and I see that he left the magic crystal and the Minotaur horn on the ground. There was also a potion I guess he figured I would die in this condition and decided to leave it. The potion didn't do much but with its help I was able to fight my way out of the dungeon. Above the dungeon is the Tower of Babel. It stands towering over the city, most gods reside there. The first floor has stairs that lead to the dungeon and there is also an exchange like the guild to turn in our crystals. Outside has some showers to wash the blood off so after I do that I sell my drops.
I made 5 grand today which hurts my pride since that bastard left it there like it was nothing after talking shit about Aphrodite. As a broke fuck living in the slums I can't refuse it which hurts me even more. After almost dying twice I couldn't face my goddess so I went to the bar Syr invited me to. It's called the Benevolent Mistress. As soon as I walked in Syr found me she brought me to the bar said a few simple greetings and went back to work.
"So your the adventurer Syr has been talking about all day." A huge woman behind the bar starts talking to me. She is a dwarf very muscular but not very tall. I wouldn't say short tho prolly about 5'2"
"no wonder your quite good looking for a rookie" Syr comes over blushing like crazy. "Momma Mia stop embarrassing me"
"okay okay don't waste a seat kid beer is on the way order something else" Between working Sur and I talk a bit she asks about where I'm from and that sort of thing. We have a good time while I get drunk still pissed about the guy from the dungeon when a group of people enter the bar. Obviously a battle party, all different races, a dwarf, elf, a beast person that looks like a wolf, two Amazon women, a prum, basically a race like humans that's stand anywhere from 4'6" to 5" tall. And a human woman that is absolutely stunning. Golden hair, golden eyes.
"It's the Thor familia" Syr explains to me. The two strongest factions in the city are Freya familia and Thor familia. I choose to ignore them since they are way above me in status and skill. After they start drinking I hear the wolf guy
"did you guys see that rookie earlier. Came out of the dungeon covered head to toe in blood. Ha ha ha, he looked like a freaking tomato."
"I heard Freya familia let a Minotaur escape from the 15th floor and made it down to the 5th before Ottar killed it"
"pfffd haha ha that stupid rookie must have been scared to death running from that thing omg that's hilarious"
"really Bete what could a lvl 1 do against a Minotaur anyway"
"man you guys would be dying laughing too if you saw him damn it was a sight to see" I couldn't take it. these people were mocking me right in front of me. I slam the money I owe down on the table and leav me without a word. "Josh" Syr tries to stop me but I can't get that bastards words out of my head. Him and I guess that big guy earlier was named Ottar. "Josh" I storm out the door and run. All I feel is shame and helplessness. I ran as fast as I could feeling really depressed and before I knew it I was in the dungeon. With my armor broken I have nothing except my sword. To try to calm my rage at this point I slay goblin after goblin. Claws rip my skin, fangs tear into my arms. I still refuse to quit. Maybe it's the rage or because I was drunk my defense is terrible. I fight through the whole night. Skin torn to shreds, blood everywhere, eye swollen shut. Still I fight. The backpack I carry full of drops was long ago so I just leave the drops where they fall. It wasn't until afternoon that I dragged my ass home. My shirt is gone, pants ripped everywhere you can see one entire leg the fabric was gone. Still blood is running down my arms, legs, chest, back, and face. Before I make it to the house my goddess finds me outside.
"Oh my Josh what happened?" In this miserable state I fall to my knees and look at my goddess while she runs over to me. All I could do was smile at her
"goddess I want to be strong" that was when she broke my heart. The pain and worry on her face the tears running down from her eyes, she hugs me and holds me tight. I couldn't bear that I caused her pain. She didn't say anything else, she helped me inside and cleaned my wounds. I slept until the next morning, I found the worst of my pain was in my leg I could hardly stand. Even so I made breakfast for Aphrodite.
"Eros Physis"
"Eros in Ancient Greek means love or desire. Physis means to grow" Aphrodite is doing a status update on me right now. It similar to the "tattooing" she did but not as elaborate. She explains we acquire "experience" as we fight and as my goddess she can see my experiences and fights in the falna she gave me and pulls them out elevating my "status".
"So you can see my experiences through the falna?" "Not everything you do but yes it's like a picture before my eyes when I update your status" I was wondering if she saw that bastard Ottar insult her. "I will explain your skill in a min also you have magic!" I was so stunned I tried to sit up throwing her off my back into the bed "Magic!"
"Lay down I'm not done!!" Looking at her she seems to be pouting. I'm extremely embarrassed for throwing her off of me. Since I can't read the status she writes it down for me when she is done.
Josh lvl 1
Strength E 237
Agility D 304
Reflexes E 242
Vitality E 201
Magic F 0
Skill
Eros Physis - rapid growth
Magic
Mind Load - user can use mind to add magic to his attacks
Wow I have magic. Not really anything showy but it can boost my attack power.
"Wow goddess I have magic"
"hmm oh yes I'm proud of you. it's because you worked so hard now remember to go buy as much armor as you can before fighting again please."
"Yes I promise thank you goddess" and with that I run out of the house.
"Eros Physis" 'I didn't tell him but it really is driven by love and desire. His love for me and his desire for strength literally forced him to get this skill and magic. Continued love = continued growth. Stronger desire = stronger growth. It also allows him to exceed his abilities and push beyond the peak of 999. What an interesting child'
Mira my advisor at the guild told me about a place to buy armor. The aspiring smiths at Hephaestus familia sell there goods there. The top smiths in her guild it requires millions of dollars to get there gear. These guys sell it for dirt cheap to get their name out and so they can get new materials and keep working on thier craft. I only had about 7 grand so I was lucky to find a set of light armor in one of the shops. It covered the bare minimum but I can't complain for the price. Also I even have vambraces now so in a pinch I can block with that. No helmet so I get a leather hat that protects my head and neck. All for a little over 6,000 so that's not bad. The smiths name is engraved on the armor, Ragnar Brokkr. With my new armor it's off to the dungeon. In the court yard outside of the Tower of Babel I was stopped by a elf girl.
"Mr adventurer do you need a supporter?" "What's that?"
"You must be new to this sometimes people like me who can't fight join adventurers as their supporters we carry the drops and potions for adventurers so they can fight freely I saw you had a backpack and thought I would ask I actually don't have a familia anymore our god lost a war game and had to leave Orario. Since I'm level 1 nobody wanted me so I'm currently looking for a way to make money"
"umm idk I guess we can give it a shot see what happens"
"thank you mister what's your name my name is Kelly"
"please call me Josh" with Kelly's help I was able to spend more time fighting in the dungeon and her backpack was hilariously too big so it wasn't filled after the whole day. We each made almost 1,000 dollars I was impressed.
"Kelly meet me here tomorrow and we will fight the dungeon together again." with the day over I went home and told the goddess about Kelly while she did my status.
"She said she doesn't have a familia what do you think?"
"an elf girl huh?, well I guess I would feel better about you being in the dungeon with someone to watch your back. I'll meet her in a few days if she is still doing a good job for you." after getting my status from her I was stunned. Each of my abilities went up by over 50 points. Before I was going up somewhere between 10 and 20 a day. "Goddess is this from my skill?"
"Yes and your skill is linked to your desire for strength remember that." Waking up the next morning I realized Aphrodite had slept on the couch with me. She had her head resting on my chest. My arm was wrapped around her. Normally she sleeps in the bed and I sleep here. One hand around her waist another on her thigh, I thought I was in heaven. After awhile of feeling her softness on me I started to play with her hair. "Goddess I have to go to the dungeon, Kelly will be waiting for me." She giggles a little.
"You dare to talk to me about another woman when I am sharing your bed?" My face was red immediately
"no it's not like that" she laughed out loud after that.
"I know I'm just teasing you. be safe." I get out from underneath her and get ready to leave forgetting breakfast entirely. "Josh" she calls me before I leave so I turn back towards her. She gives me a kiss out of nowhere and I forgot how to breathe for like 10 seconds. "Work hard" she says that and goes to her room closing the door. Completely confused and embarrassed I left for the dungeon.
"Your late" was how the elf Kelly greeted me as soon as I got here. She is in a mages robe with some leather armor as protection from the monsters underneath. She has a nice womanly figure and her face is gorgeous. You would mistake her perfect face for a goddess. Elves really are beautiful I thought. "I'm sorry Aphrodite held me up" I blame the goddess because this elf is glaring daggers at me.
"With your ability I think we could go further in but I'm worried since my status is sealed do you want to try it?" I get the feeling she is really broke. We each made 1,000 bucks yesterday. I thought that was good.
"I have never gone past the 5th floor but if it is to hard we can try to retreat." Fighting my way to the 7th floor didn't take as long as I thought.
"Starting here we will see hunt ants and poisonous moths. Be really careful they say the hunt ants are the leading cause of death amoung rookies."
"Thanks for bringing me here then." I joke back. The ants are ridiculously strong and seem to use their front two legs and fangs to attack. The main trouble is there are usually several together. Still with my sword I am able to stab through the cracks and crevices of their exo skeleton.
"The problem is the moths" I have been poisoned twice. Luckily Kelly has antidotes as a supporter but it's to expensive. The moths leave traces of poison in the air just flying around. The ceiling isn't to far away that I can't reach them buts it's troublesome. Still fighting for the rest of the day there wasn't much issue. I got my arms messed up pretty good a few times since I have no cover over my biceps and inner forearm. but all in all a good day. "Kelly I talked to my goddess about you would you be willing to join her familia. Right now it's just me but I'm hopeful we will be a strong familia one day."
"I do need to join a familia and I wouldn't mind joining your battle party you have potential but I'm worried." I get that it's literally just me in the family. But what she said next confused me. "Goddess' of beauty can charm mortals with just their beauty, voice, or touch. It is really frightening honestly." Huh maybe that's why I was so shaken when I met her.
"Well for what it's worth she is kind to me and I would love you to join she said she would like to meet you soon if we keep going to the labyrinth together."
"I will consider it" even after the supplies we both made 2 grand so we decide to continue to attack the 7th floor the following days. After a week I had saved up about 20 grand and dragged Aphrodite out to go shopping.
"I want to buy you some nicer clothes goddess." I still remember Freya and her familia looking down on her I don't want her seen in these peasant rags any longer.
"Josh that's sweet but we don't have much money use it to attack lower floors"
"nope I have been in your familia for only about two weeks and haven't done much for you this is the least I can do. I won't take no for an answer" She flashes me a smile filled with joy and my heart starts pounding. Man I will never get used to her otherworldly beauty. "My after that how could a woman tell her man no" she seems to like to tease me. It wasn't much but I spent ever last dollar I had on her. The following day after the dungeon she was waiting for me on the couch when I got home with a book in her lap.
"Josh I got something for you please sit with me and read this book." I was pretty confused but I did as she asked. Magic so easy a Goblin could do it. Strange title. Fuck if goblins had magic that would make them terrifying. I was so immersed in the book I didn't realize the words disappeared from the pages as I read them.
'I had decided I wouldn't use my charm on Earth but after witnessing his determination in the labyrinth and to take care of me I just couldn't help myself this once' the goddess had used her charm to basically steal me this grimoire. I was lost in a trance reading page after page until suddenly what I heard a voice. "What is magic" I answered instinctively "power" "what does it look like?" "Fire, Lightning, Ice, Wind, A terrifying storm" "is that all? How does it feel?" "Magic is Powerful, magic is Swift, it drives away enemies with a single blast." "Why do you want magic?" "I want to carve a path through my enemies. I want to chase my desire. I want to be strong. I want to stand at the top of the world, the pinnacle, to place my mistress on a throne fit for a goddess like herself who is without equal." *Boom "then it shall be" Boom. The entire world goes black. "Goddess?" I wake up hours later laying down on the couch head in her lap looking up at her. "What happened?"
"That book was called a grimoire it awakens magic in the reader the more magic you have the harder it is I'm quite impressed you were able to awaken something." She is playing with my hair smiling at me. Explaining like a mother would to a child. Once I realize this I'm totally fucking embarrassed so I sit up. That's when I realize.
"Fuck aren't those thing like hundreds of millions of dollars!!!!!???" She turns her head away and won't look me in the eyes. "Normally yes but a god owed me a favor so he gave me that."
"But we could have sold it and bought a house fit for you and we wouldn't have to live here anymore!" I'm literally shouting.
"Now now calm down. You could call it an investment you promised to take care of me didn't you? With this it will be simpler now let me do your status so we can see. *gasp 'I'm new to the world here but most spells that cast magic require spells what is this'
"so is it good?" I ask with impatience. She giggles to herself
"Geez can't you wait just a little bit longer?" Uhhhh
Josh lvl 1
Strength B 612
Agility B 736
Reflexes B 678
Vitality C 578
Magic C 451
Skills
Eros Physis - rapid growth
Magic
Mind Load - uses mind to increase power of your attack
Quick Attack Magic -
Firebolt
Thunderbolt
Icicle Spear
Wind Nova
"Lady Aphrodite I'm confused I thought humans could only learn 3 types of magic?"
"Well as far as I can tell your magic is called quick attack magic. Most magic a chant is required and the spell you should chant shows up with said magic. Yours seems different, I think if you spoke the name you would be able to cast each of those spells immediately hence quick attack."
"So if I said fireb" she immediately covers my mouth with her hands.
"Be careful I think you almost burnt our house down. Yes next time your in the dungeon try it out. Also for the record I'm almost positive you could learn one more type of magic. Obviously we can't get another grimoire so it will have to wait." The next day in the dungeon I blew Kelly's mind. Most of the magic is an attack spell with that element. Except wind nova through some practice I learned it can have two effects. It will push everything around me away with a lot of force, including Kelly, almost like I'm the center of the storm. Or I can use it to pull monsters to me, after some practice I was able to just pull and individual monster. "Elves can learn more magic then other races because we had magic before the gods came to Earth. I've never heard of any other race having more then 3 spells. On top of that you don't even need to chant the spell, honestly I'm jealous." "Can you use magic Kelly?"
"I'm a healer I have a group heal spell and a spell that removes status effects like poison, stun, among others. Unfortunately with my falna sealed I can't cast them. Speaking of which I made up my mind please introduce me to Lady Aphrodite!"