"Divine Power… it should be the ability I gained after absorbing the energy from Artemis' arrow." Leon murmured thoughtfully, eyes fixed on the newly surfaced development ability options.
"If I choose this… perhaps my body will generate divine power even faster in the future. And the higher my level climbs, the more efficiently that divine power will be produced."
He paused, shifting his gaze to the second.
"Godslayer… this must be the result of destroying Antares, an ancient monster who devoured Artemis, using the divine weapon itself."
Leon's gaze lowered further, falling upon the third development ability.
"Divine Healing… the literal meaning should be the ability to heal gods. It probably manifested from the act of resurrecting Artemis…"
His fingers tapped the status paper. "But that's odd. I didn't heal her, I resurrected her. Shouldn't the development ability be 'resurrection' instead?"
A frown crossed his face. "…Strange."
He stared at the words Divine Healing, his thoughts already drifting toward someone else.
"Maybe this ability could be useful to Hephaestus…"
Leaning back in his chair, Leon mused silently, contemplating whether Divine Healing was what he imagined it to be. But even as the possibilities sparked his curiosity, he didn't intend to choose yet.
His stats hadn't reached their cap. Leveling up prematurely wasn't his style. He'd only confirm his theories once his stats were maxed out.
Satisfied for now, Leon skimmed over the rest of the updated status. His current development abilities had all progressed again, another step forward.
With a nod of contentment, he burned the paper and left the room.
— — —
Rather than heading to the front yard or sitting back in the library, Leon walked straight toward the kitchen.
They'd been gone for over a week. But thanks to Orario's modern refrigeration enchantments, the ingredients in their storage were still fresh.
Opening the fridge, Leon retrieved a variety of items and began preparing dinner. It wasn't just for him or Hestia. He was cooking for everyone who had gathered at the library.
Two hours passed before the grand feast was ready. The aroma wafted through the building.
Soon, everyone was called to the dining hall, and laughter, chatter, and warmth filled the air as they dug into the hearty meal.
After dinner, Leon quietly excused himself. He made his way to the Twilight Manor, where the Loki Familia and Astraea Familia were waiting for their final pre-expedition meeting.
The current state of the Astraea Familia was vastly different from a few years ago. Before their resurrection, many of the girls, Alise and her companions, had already built up significant stats. They had long earned the special excelia required for leveling up but hadn't yet chosen to rank up.
Now, after reuniting with Astraea and updating their Falna, the accumulated excelia had triggered immediate promotions.
Multiple members had jumped from Level 4 to Level 5. Those who had been Level 3 became Level 4.
And then there was Ryuu. Just like in the original timeline, Ryuu's feat of eliminating the entire Rudra Familia and ending the remnants of the Dark Age earned her a double promotion, from Level 4 to Level 6.
That, in turn, was how Ryuu, Alise, and Kaguya were capable of going head-to-head with the likes of Argana and Bache.
Ryuu, now a true powerhouse at Level 6.
Alise, known for punching above her level with fearless skill.
Kaguya, a strategic anchor and sword master.
With this kind of firepower, it was only natural Leon invited them to the expedition.
If they had remained unpromoted, Leon wouldn't have taken the risk. Without at least Level 5 strength, surviving the brutal encounters in the lower depths, would be near impossible.
In Leon's absence, the Astraea Familia had been pushing hard. They descended through the lower levels, even delving deep into the 45th floor.
The few who remained on the surface had focused on supply gathering. But there was a problem, money. The Astraea Familia was broke.
They didn't even have the funds to prepare for the expedition. Yet, because of their reputation and the goodwill they had in Orario, various vendors allowed them to purchase equipment and provisions on credit.
The merchants trusted that they would pay once the core members returned from the Dungeon. And they did.
After nearly non-stop dungeon diving, Alise and the others returned from the 45th floor with bags full of magic stones and rare drops, enough to settle their debts and prepare for the upcoming journey.
Given the Familia's small size, only eight or nine members would participate in the expedition. The rest, Neze, Asta, and other newcomers, would remain in the city.
After a lengthy strategy session with Finn, Alise, and others inside the Twilight Manor, Leon finally returned to the library.
But the scene that greeted him was far from peaceful.
"What now?"
Leon blinked.
In front of the library, Ryuu was bathed in golden light, engaged in a fierce, fast-paced battle with Argana and Bache.
Swords clashed. The ground cracked. Blasts of pressure rocked the air with every movement.
Sitting on the steps of the library, watching it all with great interest, was none other than Hestia. She turned her head lazily and waved. "Ah, Leon! You're back!"
Next to her sat Artemis, graceful as ever.
"Good evening, Leon." Artemis greeted him with a serene smile.
Behind them stood Belle, Rethusa, and several others, all quiet, their eyes focused on the battle, yet offering small nods of greeting to Leon as he approached.
"I'm back." Leon said, walking over. "Good evening, Artemis."
"You finished everything already?" Hestia asked without turning from the match.
Leon nodded. "Yeah. The meeting's done. Oh, and I took care of the lodging situation. Bought the house next to the library."
"Oh?" Artemis blinked in surprise. "So we'll be neighbors now?"
Leon smiled. "I hope we get along."
"Of course." Artemis gave a gentle nod.
If Leon had been watching closely, he might have noticed the subtle flicker of emotion in her eyes but he didn't. Instead, he took a seat next to Hestia and glanced at the ongoing fight.
"Why are they fighting again?"
"It's your fault for being too charming." Hestia replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Hehe, allow me to explain." Artemis chimed in with a smile.
"After Ryuu heard you were back, she came looking for you. But since you were at the Twilight Manor, she decided to wait here."
"Then not long after, the two Amazonesses showed up."
"Argana, of course, was shouting about how you're her husband again. Ryuu didn't take kindly to that… so…"
"So she fought them?" Leon muttered, exasperated.
"Yep. Hestia got worried Ryuu might get hurt, so she had Haruhime buff her."
Leon sighed deeply, watching the battle.
Argana really was persistent. And once again, she'd ended up clashing with Ryuu.
But with Haruhime's boost, Ryuu's combat level was temporarily at Level 7, far beyond Argana and Bache, who were both still Level 6.
A sigh escaped Leon's lips as he materialized in the midst of the battlefield, slapping each of the three combatants sharply.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They dropped to their knees immediately, heads bowed low in sudden submission.
"Are you calm now?" Leon asked with a scowl.
"Fighting in the middle of the night like this, don't you think you're disturbing everyone?" His tone carried more annoyance than anger.
Argana, still flushed from the fight, blinked in surprise. She hadn't noticed Leon return amid their clash. When she recognized him, shock turned quickly to excitement.
"Leon! My husband, you're finally back!" She called out loudly, rushing forward.
Ryuu gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before stepping toward Hestia.
"Let's go inside and talk." Hestia said firmly, clearly wanting to put an end to the skirmish.
"We'll leave this to Leon to sort out."
***
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