Chapter No.38 Coincidence?!

[Aditya's POV]

My grin widened as I examined Daedalus' Gauntlets. They weren't just a combat enhancement—they were a gateway to boundless possibilities. The strength boost alone is worth it.

Well, imagine with my Apollo and Vali template just how much that 100% increase in physical strength means like one is a god and another is a demi-god known for immense strength who trapped Asura King Ravana under his armpit. The same Ravana who tried to lift Kailash Parvat—the sacred mountain of Lord Shiva, a feat requiring godlike power. Combining these gauntlets with my existing prowess would make me an unstoppable force in physical combat.

The Precision Boost: Well, due to Apollo's template, who is also known as the God of Archery, my skills with ranged weapons are already exceptional, but with a 30% boost in accuracy, I'd essentially become a flawless marksman. Ranged combat would become a precise art, where every shot would find its mark, no matter the conditions or distance.

But the real gem? Mechanized Crafting. This wasn't just a combat perk but a game-changer for strategy and innovation. With these gauntlets, I could potentially create advanced weaponry, repair intricate mechanisms, or even modify existing tools into something far superior. Daedalus was a genius in his own right, and now, a fragment of his legacy was in my hands.

"Mmmm~" A soft moan sounded from Draupadi as she shifted slightly, her body still nestled against mine, her breath warm against my chest. I glanced down at her, a soft smile curling at the edges of my lips. Despite the power surging through me, despite the legendary items I had just acquired, it was these quiet moments, these rare, intimate instances, that truly held my heart captive.

I paused, then leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. Her hair, soft as silk, was tangled around my arm, but I didn't mind. Something was calming about this, being here with her, in this fleeting moment of peace.

But as I gazed at the Gacha panel still open in my peripheral vision, especially those two fate points remained.

Then I thought of saving points for more amazing and powerful draws like Exclusive or Mystic draws...

I couldn't help but chuckle at my own indecisiveness. Despite the powerful items I'd just acquired, the thought of saving those last two Fate Points gnawed at me. The possibilities of what they could unlock were tantalizing. The "Exclusive Draw" or "Mystic Draw" could offer something even more powerful, something that could truly change the course of everything.

But Draupadi, still resting peacefully in my arms, reminded me of the simple pleasures in life. The new treasures I had gained, while powerful, weren't what truly mattered in this moment. As much as I craved more strength, and more abilities, I didn't want to lose sight of what was in front of me—what I already had.

With a soft sigh, I made my decision. I closed the Gacha panel, the lingering allure of potential treasures fading into the background as I focused on the present.

"Two Fate Points can wait," I muttered to myself, as my hand gently stroked Draupadi's hair. "I need to savour what I have right now."

She shifted in her sleep, snuggling a little closer to me, a soft hum escaping her lips. I couldn't help but smile. There was something about her that made the chaos of my life feel just a little bit more bearable. Her warmth, the way she anchored me in this world of uncertainty and power, was something I never wanted to let go of.

"Hubby~" Draupadi mumbled in her sleep as her grip around my waist tightened.

I chuckled softly at Draupadi's sleepy declaration, a warmth spreading through me at the sound of her calling me that. Despite the weight of my newfound powers, the chaos of the political intrigues, and the bloodshed I had witnessed, it was moments like this—small, quiet, and intimate—that made everything else feel insignificant in comparison. Her soft breath against my chest, the feel of her fingers lightly curling around my waist, and the gentle pressure of her body against mine, all of it grounded me in a way that nothing else could.

With that, my eyes closed as a tired sigh left my lips. As the warmth of Draupadi's presence enveloped me, I let go of the restless thoughts that had plagued me earlier. The weight of the world outside seemed distant, as though it no longer mattered. In this moment, it was just the two of us, lost in the quiet peace that only the stillness of night could offer.

Her soft murmurs continued, and I felt the tension in my muscles gradually ease, my mind finally at rest. The items I had drawn from the Gacha were incredible, no doubt, but they weren't what I needed most right now. It was the connection with Draupadi—the bond we shared—that grounded me, and reminded me of what truly mattered beyond the power I wielded or the struggles I faced.

In a way, this moment was a treasure all its own. And for now, that was enough.

As I drifted into sleep, the last thought that flickered through my mind was one of quiet contentment.

Tomorrow could wait.

***

[Third Person's POV]

[Somewhere Between Realms]

"NO! I can't wait to see my beloved again! Let's just cross this stupid barrier~" An extremely beautiful woman with long flowing pink hair and pink eyes stomped her foot in frustration, her gaze fixed on the shimmering barrier before her. The magical barrier pulsed with a forceful energy, preventing anyone from crossing its threshold. Her lips pouted as she glared at it with disdain, her aura filled with impatience.

Sigh~

"Aphrodite, I also want to see my beloved brother. But we can't just invade a pantheon without any preparation!" A second voice, soft and calm, echoed from behind the first woman. It belonged to a figure draped in a flowing, serene white robe, her silver hair glinting under the soft light of the moon. "We have to respect the laws of their realm, or we risk causing unnecessary conflict."

Aphrodite, the first woman, whirled around, her pink eyes flashing with determination. "Conflict? Please, as if anyone could stop me! I will... I want to see him again after so many centuries... to see him again. I will break through any barrier in my way."

Her companion, a goddess with a composed demeanour, sighed. "You always think with your heart, Aphrodite. I understand your feelings, but you can't just barge into their world. There are rules, consequences—things you should consider."

Aphrodite pouted again, but this time, there was a slight trace of sadness in her eyes. "I know, Artemis. I just— I just miss him so much. Why did he have to leave? I need to see him."

Aphrodite's frustration only deepened as she stared at the shimmering magical barrier, her delicate fingers flexing in a mix of longing and anger. Her usual serene composure, a hallmark of her divine nature, was slipping away in the face of her overwhelming desire. Her pink eyes, once so radiant with the charm of a goddess, now held a trace of sorrow, a longing that no divine power could easily quell.

"I understand," Artemis replied softly, her gaze sympathetic but firm. The goddess of the hunt was a study in calmness, her silver bow resting easily on her shoulder, and her posture as poised as ever. "But even you must acknowledge that there are limits, Aphrodite. This is not just about your feelings. There are far-reaching consequences if you break the rules."

Aphrodite scoffed lightly, twirling a lock of her flowing pink hair around her finger. "Consequences? What consequences are we talking about, Artemis? For once, I just want to see him, to hold him again—after all these years! I'm done with waiting."

Her voice trembled as the weight of centuries spent apart from her beloved weighed heavily upon her heart. Despite her beauty, her eternal grace, and her status as one of the most powerful beings in existence, Aphrodite's vulnerability was on full display at that moment. The love she harboured was not just an emotion but an all-consuming force, the very thing that kept her immortal and yet, at times, bound her to a fate that felt unbearably lonely.

"Do you think you are the only one? Athena, Hestia and me... we all love him so much but if Zeus got to know what we are up to of that Apollo is alive then... it would cause a massive uproar," Artemis said, her voice heavy with the weight of unspoken history. "Our actions would have consequences that could reverberate across the realms. Do you truly want to risk everything, Aphrodite? We all have loved him in our own way, and we know the price of it. But we cannot just act on our impulses."

Aphrodite's pink eyes, usually filled with playful mischief and allure, were now clouded with sorrow. The thought of her beloved, Apollo—whom she had shared such an unbreakable bond with—being lost to the void of time, pulled at her heart in ways she couldn't describe. She clenched her fists, her divine aura swirling around her like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

"But it's been so long, Artemis! So many centuries without him. I... I can't bear it anymore!" Aphrodite's voice trembled with the emotion that threatened to burst from within. She was the goddess of love, the embodiment of desire, and yet, she felt as helpless as a mortal woman torn apart by heartbreak. "How could they let him be gone for so long? Why must we be so far apart? I don't care about the rules anymore—"

"WHO'S THERE!!!" Artemis and Aphrodite both simultaneously jerked their heads towards the energy they sensed and shouted. "Show yourself immediately!"

"Mmm~ I wonder what two goddesses from the Greek Pantheon are doing all the way from their realm, here at the doorstep of the Hindu Pantheon." A feminine voice sounds as two figures reveal themselves.

With one being a beautiful woman with golden hair cascading like rays of sunlight, radiating both beauty and power. Another is an old man with tattoos carved all over his bald head with eyes glowing like diamonds embedded in his skull. The woman's golden aura shimmered as her gaze fell upon the two goddesses, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. The old man, with his wise and mysterious presence, seemed to study them intently, his arms folded across his chest.

"Goddess Freyja and Wise man—Mimir from the Norse Pantheon," Artemis said, her voice steady but cautious as she assessed the two new arrivals. "We could ask you the same question. What brings you both here, crossing the borders of realms?"

Freyja's golden eyes twinkled with caution as her eyes drifted from Artemis to Aphrodite. "Ah, I see… It seems you two have been busy, haven't you?" Freyja's voice was calm but filled with an underlying tension, her gaze flicking back to the shimmering barrier. "Crossing the borders, so freely, and yet here we are, at a delicate crossroads. Aren't we all?"

Mimir, the ancient wise man beside her, didn't speak, but his eyes, glowing with the wisdom of countless centuries, locked onto Artemis and Aphrodite, as though calculating the cost of their actions. His presence alone was enough to give weight to any words he would say.

Aphrodite's frustration was palpable, her hands clenched at her sides as she glared at Freyja. "What do you want, Norse goddess? You've got your own issues to deal with, don't you? I heard your watchman tried to invade our realm with his sense~"

"You—"

"Ahem! I am sorry for interrupting you lovely ladies but it seems we have alerted them—" Mimir said but got further interrupted by a space tear in the barrier in front of them.

"Can I ask what are the gods of two pantheon are doing here~"

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[To Be Continue]

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