Chapter 32: The Banished Goddess

"Hold up, wait a minute. Where the hell am I?" Yuuto surveyed his surroundings, finding himself in a vast cave system. In the centre stood a massive pillar, to which a chained woman was bound.

Curiosity piqued, Yuuto approached the woman. As he drew near, she lifted her head and flashed him a warm smile.

"Welcome to my Altar," the woman greeted.

"You're not Aizen to say it like that,"

Yuuto cleared his throat and attempted to mimic Aizen's voice, using his Demonic Power. "Welcome to my Soul Society," he proclaimed.

The woman grew puzzled. "Who is Aizen?" she asked, clearly taken aback.

"He's the goat. But why am I here?" Yuuto inquired.

The woman's confusion deepened, both by his remark about Aizen and his question. Nevertheless, she responded, "Because you are the one who will set me free from this place."

"Why would I be interested in that?" Yuuto questioned, sensing the direction the conversation was heading.

"Because, in exchange for my freedom, I can bestow upon you tremendous power," the woman enticed, her voice laced with a hint of desperation.

"What kind of power are we talking about here?" Yuuto's curiosity was piqued, prompting him to lean against one of the cold, stone pillars.

"I will grant you the power and the body of a Demigod," the woman revealed, her words laden with allure. "Furthermore, I will remove the Evil Piece from your body."

Yuuto's interest heightened. "So, let me get this straight. I become your avatar, and you must be one of the Gods," he deduced, studying her intently. "Tell me then, who exactly are you?"

"I am Gaia, the primordial essence of the Earth, the nurturing mother, and the unwavering guardian of all living beings," she introduced herself with pride and conviction.

"So, can I call you 'Mommy' then?" Yuuto inquired, half-jokingly, but curious to see her reaction to the term.

Gaia chuckled and replied, "If that brings you comfort, you can call me 'Mommy' if you wish." She found the devil's audacity amusing, never expecting such casual banter from a being of his nature.

Surprised by her response, Yuuto proceeded to ask another question. "Alright then, Mommy, why exactly are you here?"

Gaia's expression turned somber. "The Greek Gods deemed me too dangerous to be allowed to roam freely and decided to seal me away," she explained, her voice carrying a tinge of sadness.

"Don't lie to me," Yuuto retorted. "Zeus banished you because you meddled in the war, didn't he?"

Gaia's eyes widened in astonishment. "How do you know about that? There is very little recorded information regarding that war," she inquired, genuinely intrigued.

"That's a trade secret," Yuuto smirked, playing coy. "But tell me, where exactly are you located?"

"I am somewhere within the Earth itself," Gaia responded.

"Literally within the Earth?" Yuuto pressed for clarification.

Gaia nodded. "Yes, quite literally."

Deep in thought, Yuuto rested his hand against his chin, contemplating the proposition before him. 'Hmmm... It's certainly a tempting offer. However, dealing with the Greek Gods is a whole different challenge, even with the potential boost she could grant me.'

After pondering for a moment, Yuuto shook his head and stated firmly, "No, I'd rather seek alternative methods to grow stronger. Even with the power you offer, it wouldn't be enough to defeat Great Red. So, find someone else."

Gaia's anger flared within her. "You think you can just walk away from me? If you refuse, then I will make you comply!"

In response, multiple enormous beanstalks sprouted from the ground, lunging towards Yuuto. However, he swiftly drew his Zanpakutou in its Shikai form, slicing through the approaching beanstalks with precision.

"How are you able to summon your swords? I sealed away your Sacred Gear," Gaia exclaimed in surprise, witnessing Yuuto's defiance.

Taking a deep breath, Yuuto calmly responded, "Reppuu Jigoku no Tsubame" (Gale of Hell Swallow). He unleashed a rapid barrage of slashing attacks, creating a ferocious vortex of wind and flames.

The beanstalks were engulfed in fire, reduced to mere ashes. Yuuto locked eyes with Gaia, devoid of any emotion.

With a steely gaze and a menacing aura, Yuuto's voice dripped with chilling intensity. He took deliberate steps towards the woman, his every movement radiating a silent threat.

"Don't for a moment believe that I am incapable of causing you harm in this realm," he growled, his voice laced with a bone-chilling tone. As he closed the distance between them, his presence loomed over Gaia, casting a foreboding shadow upon her.

As the tension escalated, Gaia's sense of threat heightened, compelling her to unleash a barrage of woody tendrils and plants from the ground, converging on Yuuto.

In response, Yuuto swiftly dispelled his Zanpakutou, replacing it with the formidable Devil Sword Vergil. He assumed a poised Iaido stance, exuding a palpable air of focused power and lethal intent. The blade gleamed ominously in his hand as he prepared himself for the imminent clash.

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Concentrating his demonic power, Yuuto channelled it into the Devil Sword Vergil, his grip tightening around the hilt. With deliberate slowness, he spoke the words, "Judgment... Cut." Each syllable rolled off his tongue, carrying an ominous weight.

Multiple slashes were unleashed, cutting through the air with deadly precision. As the assault reached its climax, the wooden tendrils and plants crumbled, reduced to mere fragments strewn across the ground.

Gaia looked at Yuuto, a mix of astonishment and concern visible in her eyes. "How are you able to release such power within this place?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Yuuto's face softened, a glimmer of empathy crossing his features. "You know, in this small space, I don't have to restrain myself. I can unleash my true strength without any inhibitions," he said, his voice now carrying a more genuine and compassionate tone.

Gaia's countenance hardened, her voice resolute. "Go ahead then, strike me down if you dare. But remember this: one day, when I am liberated, I will make you face the consequences."

Taking a step closer, Yuuto paused, his eyes meeting Gaia's. "I understand your anger and desire for revenge. But before you act upon it, I offer you another proposition. It has the potential to benefit both of us. Will you listen?" he implored, his voice carrying a genuine sense of hope.

"Go ahead, Devil," Gaia said, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

"We're about to make a life-or-death contract. The condition is that you become my genuine mother in exchange for your freedom," Yuuto stated, his words hanging in the air.

Gaia couldn't help but feel puzzled by his choice of condition. Even his Zanpakutou, an extension of his own spirit, seemed perplexed.

Through their telepathic connection, Yumi confronted Yuuto, her voice laced with confusion. 'I thought you wanted to negotiate terms that would make you stronger. What's with this bullshit you're pulling?'

'I'm attempting to exploit her maternal instincts,' Yuuto admitted silently, a touch of mischief colouring his thoughts.

'You sneaky devil,' Yumi responded, a mischievous chuckle slipping through.

Gaia, still uncertain about the situation, spoke up. "Alright, I thought you desired greater power, but if that's the contract you wish for, let's proceed."

A magical circle materialized on Yuuto's chest and Gaia's chest, emanating an ethereal glow. A crimson line connected the two circles, symbolizing the completion of the contract.

"The contract is now sealed, and I suppose I'll be seeing you soon, Mother," Yuuto declared with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty in his voice.

"Hmm, what exactly are you scheming by making me your mother?" Gaia inquired, her voice tinged with suspicion and curiosity.

"I can't say for certain," he replied, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as the telepathic connection between them was severed.

Unbeknownst to Gaia, the contract they had just sealed would not only bind them together but also ignite within her a deep and genuine love for him, surpassing the boundaries of a typical mother-son relationship.