Raphaeline's pale body and golden hair emitted a faint white glow as the life energy worked its magic. Ethan held Chisato's curvaceous body, observing Raphaeline. Seeing her color return, his worries finally faded. Her lost power was a shame, but she was alive. With his help, she would eventually surpass her old self.
Raphaeline was a top-tier talent. Even without a Godhood, she could have reached God-level through sheer training. The Godhood had saved her time but limited her growth, as those who inherit one rarely surpass the original owner. But with Ethan's dual cultivation, the "Primary God" level was no longer her ceiling.
Chisato, Frigga, and Sif were in the same boat. They had inherited "Mid-Rank" Godhoods and would never have broken that limit without Ethan. Chisato was the proof; after their first time, she felt her power surge. During this healing session, she finally broke through, becoming a "High-Rank God" like Sophia.
Ethan set Chisato down and frowned. "Chisato, can we find a way to strip your Godhood too?"
Chisato was panting, her skin flushed from her climax. "Mmm... it's possible... but it's a hassle..."
Ethan compared the feeling of dual cultivating with Raphaeline versus Chisato. "It's better to remove it. A Godhood is a dead object; the host just borrows it. Because it can't be truly refined, it acts like a foreign object lodged in a perfect body. As you get stronger, this flaw becomes more obvious and could be fatal."
He explained that one could either refine it with absolute power (requiring Dragon God level) or remove it. Removing it leaves a "hole" in the soul, but Ethan's energy could perfectly patch it. Removing the Godhoods and returning them to the Heavens would also solve the conflict with the Primary Gods. Ethan wanted the women, not their titles.
Chisato and Raphaeline agreed immediately. "Strip it. I've noticed the issue too," Chisato said. "And I prefer my current name over 'Afreyia' anyway."
"Yes, and Frigga and Sif are here," Raphaeline added. "With them helping, the process will be easier for Chisato."
Unlike Raphaeline's forced extraction, a voluntary ritual would be safe, though it would lower their power temporarily.
"We should do it soon," Raphaeline said. "And we should ask Sif and Frigga if they want to remove theirs. If they don't, Heaven will never stop hunting them."
"I'll go ask," Ethan said, getting out of bed.
"Are you going like that?" Chisato asked.
"Going out naked in your own house isn't exactly polite," Raphaeline teased. "Unless you're trying to seduce them directly?"
Frigga and Sif were stunning goddesses—Frigga was a slender, gentle lady, while Sif had a "doll-face" with an incredibly mature body. Ethan wouldn't mind adding them to his harem, but he wasn't that desperate.
"I'm not going out like this."
"But you aren't putting on clothes."
"Because they're right outside the door."
Raphaeline had lost her power, and Chisato was in her "human school nurse" form, so they hadn't sensed the two goddesses eavesdropping. But Ethan had. They weren't malicious; they were just lost and wanted to be near their only friends. They didn't understand human sex and had listened out of curiosity, getting more and more turned on by the sounds of the "treatment." When the topic of the Godhoods came up, they stayed to listen.
Ethan walked to the door. The two goddesses outside froze, their faces alternating between white and red. They were too naive to run. Ethan opened the door.
"Frigga, Sif, it's been a while. Come in," Raphaeline called out.
The two walked in, blushing. Ethan was now partially dressed, but the two sisters were only covered by a thin sheet, exposing plenty of skin.
"Sorry, Chisato insisted I dress or I would have opened the door sooner," Ethan said.
"Ah, no... it's okay..." Sif stuttered, looking at Ethan's perfect physique. "It's our fault for... eavesdropping."
"It's fine," Ethan smiled. "About the Godhoods..."
"We want to remove them too," Frigga interrupted. "We don't want to go back. We'd rather start over."
"What about your families in Heaven?"
"It's okay," Sif said. "Heaven isn't like the Devils; they won't use family as hostages." She then realized Ethan was a Devil and blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way..."
"It's fine," Ethan laughed.
"Removing them solves the trouble, but you'll lose your current strength. Are you sure?" Raphaeline asked.
Frigga and Sif looked at each other, then at Ethan. Their minds were filled with the sounds they had just heard. They instinctively squeezed their legs together, feeling a slight dampness between their thighs.
"We... we also want 'treatment' after the removal," Frigga said, looking Ethan in the eye. She noticed the massive bulge in his pants and her heart skipped a beat. They had only known him for a day, but they felt safe with him. In an unfamiliar world, they wanted to stay close to their friends and the man who saved them.
Ethan didn't hesitate. "No problem. But once I treat you, you're mine forever. Ready for that?"
They weren't "ready," but they nodded firmly. "We've stayed pure this long for a reason."
"When do we start?" Sif asked, her watery eyes roaming over Ethan's body. She was a bit of a closet pervert; listening to the treatment had made her soaking wet.
"After the removal," Ethan said. "The first time is the most effective for healing the soul. We'll wait until the Godhoods are gone."
"I'll prepare the ritual," Frigga said. "It will take about three days."
Three days passed. Ethan spent that time healing Raphaeline and Chisato. By the end, Chisato was in peak condition. In the underground training hall, a massive magic circle glowed. Frigga, Sif, and Chisato stood inside as golden and green energy flowed.
After an hour, crystals emerged from their chests—pale gold for Frigga and Sif, and emerald green for Chisato. These were the Godhoods. They were hollow objects now, having no energy, but they acted as a "pass" to reach the level of the original gods without effort. To Ethan, they were useless husks.
"So these are Godhoods? Underwhelming," Ethan remarked. To someone like him, who broke limits naturally, these were just shackles.