5

After walking for some time through the woods, ISAC reports back that anything affected by the call has been neutralized, including people, and dusted. I had calmed down somewhat so that I felt my heart, which had started hurting, slowly stop feeling like it'll start failing on me or potentially burst. While walking, I sorted out my thoughts and sighed, not looking at the young Phoenix which had at some point landed on my right shoulder. Because I had an inkling that if I did, I would start over thinking and riling up my emotions once more, which would hurt me physically in the long run.

"Pandora, I'm not sorry. I'm a twisted soul. You know this as you were made from me by Zeus, so I won't make an excuse or an empty promise to you, my little hatchling. I will go down that path again, I will always enjoy watching something or someone being tortured to death, I won't deny that fact ever. I'm a monster in plenty of ways, it's probably a key part of why I was chosen to be dropped into this world. However, you also know what I value above all else and will die to see it still stand, even if I must become a full-blown monster that seeks to destroy everything after that value."

"Fwrrr…"

"Don't apologize, you're essentially my daughter, and I was scaring you. That's all on me, Pandora."

Chuckling as the Phoenix rubbed her head into my cheek, I rubbed back. Causing her to ruffle her chest feathers as she fidgeted at the affectionate action. The Warg was still silently following after us. Sighing I pulled some dried ration meat from a pouch and offered it to the Warg. They perked up and carefully took the dried meat so I gave them a little rub on the muzzle and head, getting a huff from them.

That was when a certain someone after all these years contacted me. Those expressive little floating black letters had appeared.

(Updated your taming and enslavement, I can't create a Familia beyond you; however, you can increase it now. Also Freya has locked onto you and Bell Cranel who just entered that cesspit, rip her eyes out for me~!)

Looking at the message from Cthulhu, the letters vanished as they came. Shaking my head, as that message possibly got the Eldritch bit by the Universal Laws. That was nice of them to mention that Bell is there now though. That's for later though pulling up information on those specific abilities mentioned. I took a look at what changed about them.

[Monster Taming: You're able to tame wild monsters and those which reside in the dungeon. Taming surface monsters has no special effects aside from soul linking them to you. Taming monsters from the Dungeon removes its will from them, thus no longer does it control them.

*NEW* The Dungeon will not attempt to kill you for taming its monster's due to your blessing.

*NEW* Monster's now count as member's of your Familia and thus are given their own Falna through you.]

[Enslavement: Enslave another living person or untamable monster. If the enslaved are weaker than you, it takes effect immediately when this skill is used. If the enslaved are of similar strength to you, then you must beat them into submission. If the enslaved is stronger than you, prepare to die.

*NEW* Those enslaved by you now count as your Familia. If an enslaved has a Falna already, it will not be overwritten until their God/Goddess dies. Until that happens, their Falna will remain unaffected, even if their patron is sent back to the Heavens. As only true death shall deactivate the Falna.]

Huh, so you want disposable pawns as the bulk of the "family" Cthulhu? Sure I'll enslave some asshats for that, monster's not so much I'm going to make those Divine Beast. Because why wouldn't I want to be the owner of godly monsters that could possibly trounce on God's? The only one really not worth hurting is Hestia, as she's super mom, childish, but she's the only Divine not worth touching. Everyone else is free game, unless Amaterasu shows up suddenly, then that's two who aren't worth touching.

Wolf lady can just go on her merry way because I used to follow her and her son's, and well, she controls the fuckin sun to burn things. I like being whole and not ashy. Reaching near an abandoned village that ISAC located so I can scavenge for some materials to make a saddle, I remembered to have ISAC deploy some repouroused drones to harvest what's left of the dino pair down to the blood. They were still high ranked monsters even if they're weaker versions due to the surface.

{Research: White Phosphurous Applications completed. Research: ExoSkeleton Suite completed. Research: Arcane Arms completed.}

Seeing that screen pop out as a notification from ISAC as I checked over an abandoned forge. I set down a still somewhat decent leather working tool even with the rust coming onto it. Pulling up the three specific tabs I looked over them to see what all unlocked for production. There are definitely a few that I can immediately use though from each of them. However, until I get back to Orario or close to it, those can wait to be gotten as I need to make a very basic saddle first and foremost.

Making the saddle didn't take me long as I had the bare essentials at the village. Zuno, the Warg, also appreciated getting it fitted right even if they hated being a model. They knew I had something better at speed than them as well, but gave a rough smile seeing that I'd be riding them instead. After mounting the newly saddled canine monster I grabbed a fist full of fur and tapped his side with a foot getting him to get a move on. Sure I can move faster without him or the bike, just because I can doesn't mean I'd want to.

I'd miss a lot of things, I like the scenery as well, and ISAC still needs time to process information, so I don't use my speed unless a fight is going on. Zuno was fairly good as a mount though as the canine monster managed to do pretty well. Some carriages were surprised to see him, but they didn't flee at the sight of him. Mostly. Some even gave a simple job like escorting them to a village on the way to the city. Having Zuno's nose helped such jobs avoid monster nests or troublesome areas.

By the time we reached Orario the three of us were sitting on an extra sixty thousand coins. Not a lot but can't ask a farmer for a million Valis for something cheap like killing a Goblin. Riding up to the city gates I calmly rode in through them while stroking Zuno's neck to calm him due to new smells and sounds. When we passed by a certain stand a petite Goddess called out to us.

"Ah! Dakota! Pandora! New monsters! Your back, want some Jagamarukun?!"

Stopping to look at the Goddess, I smirked seeing her bouncing excitedly. So I gave Zuno a pat on the neck causing the Warg to huff as he laid down next to the stall. I sat atop his back still as Pandora rested on my shoulder preening her feathers a bit.

"Hestia, good to see you as well. Give me twenty of them which is six hundred Valis. Although if you tell me what's got you so excited I'll see about giving you an extra eight hundred for some dinner."

"Thank you for your patronage! Well I got the first member of my Familia yesterday. I never thought I would so I'm excited… but also nervous."

Watching her as she worked and spoke about stuff. I chuckled seeing the nervous but excited expression on her face. Shaking my head as I spoke with a crooked smile on my lips.

"Ah the new family jitters? You're not alone there Hestia. I've seen some other deities have the same experience. Even Freya had them though she faked it till she made it when she first came here. Even your dreaded Loki has had them before, so don't stress too much Hestia."

She became less tense after hearing that, she then described her new member to me. Hearing the description of them I cackled hearing it was Bell and Hestia hearing that I knew them got pretty bubbly. Having our food while talking with Hestia was relaxing, so it wasn't surprising that Ais had found us. She was just sorta standing off to the side nibbling like a hamster on some food as she smiled.

Just glad to be around someone considered family, Hestia knew who her Goddess was but didn't start anything as she noticed the feelings from Ais. She is the Goddess who is about family, and seeing Ais act like essentially a shy daughter made her smile wryly. Which Ais technically feels like one given I had to help raise her so I did treat her as such at times. Just if Loki hears her call me dad she gets very petty and rowdy. Not my fault if the kid thinks that way just because I disciplined and rewarded her for stuff.