Danmachi: Strongest Familia

"Give me a ride, Alfia, I really can't walk anymore..."

Alfia raised an eyebrow at the request. "Do you want me, a weak woman, to carry you? How can the dignified Creator God care so little about his image in his own world?" 

A 'weak' woman of LV8.

Sol rolled his eyes in exasperation. She was looking for an excuse—one that certainly wasn't reliable.

"Don't worry, no one will see it," he said, noticing Alfia's hesitation. He put in a little more effort, trying to convince her.

"Just drop me off when we're closer to the city," he added, trying to compromise.

"You're really something," Alfia muttered. "Fine, I'll take you there."

"Yes, yes, please!" Sol eagerly responded.

Before Sol could react, Alfia had already grabbed his shoulder. In an instant, they were soaring through the air, the surroundings blurring as the wind howled in their ears.

"What is this? Slow down—slow down!" Sol shouted, struggling to keep his balance. He felt as though he was being carried like a package, helpless against the speed of her flight.

Even though his physical fitness was top-notch, this was more than he had bargained for. If he had known this would happen, he might have just walked.

Since arriving in Valoran, Sol didn't have to hold back his divine power anymore.

Before, he had just intended to tease Alfia, but now, the joke had gone too far. Yet, the speed was undeniable. In just a few minutes, Alfia began to slow down, the town's gates coming into view.

Ahead, the architecture of Ionia—lush, intricate, and graceful—greeted them. Many buildings were even built on cliffs, blending seamlessly with the land's natural beauty. Ionia's style was elegant and ethereal, reflecting the rich vitality of the land.

As they approached the town, Sol noticed many residents moving about. This was a real world—one full of life. Though most of Ionia's heroes had been summoned by Sol to Orario, they still represented only a small fraction of the population. The common folk here were the majority.

Sol had no doubt that there were more than a few "good seeds" among these commoners. Unlike Orario, where familias had long since scooped up the most promising adventurers, Ionia still had untapped potential. 

Now, Orario was a place where talent was quickly claimed by influential familias. The Ganesha Familia, for instance, had practically monopolized the gatekeeping task, pulling in newcomers as fast as they could. Every day, countless gods waited by the gates of Orario, eager to recruit any promising adventurers.

In contrast, Ionia was an untouched treasure trove of potential.

"Is this place lively?" Sol asked, glancing around.

"It's more than lively," Alfia replied with a smile. "It's peaceful too."

Even without the presence of heroes, there was no chaos. The people of Ionia were peace-loving, and there wasn't even a standing army. With such a rich and bountiful land, they had little to worry about.

Here, they didn't have to hide their identities. No one here knew who they were. Sol's divine identity, in particular, was a secret to all except Alfia.

After a brief stroll through the town, Sol couldn't help but notice the subtle smile on Alfia's face. She hadn't said much, but it was clear she enjoyed the quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Away from the disputes of the world, Ionia seemed to offer a kind of tranquility.

Magic filled every corner of Ionia, and as the "earth of birth," it was a land teeming with vitality.

"This town is too small," Sol said after a while. "Let's go to Presidium(Sacred Site of Ionian Harmony) for some fun!"

"I'll follow your lead," Alfia replied. Having just arrived, she didn't know the area, and Sol didn't either. But after his parallel consciousness created Ionia, all the information about the land had appeared in his mind as if he had always known it.

For the first time in a long while, Sol didn't plan to ask Alfia for help. He hadn't moved his divine power much since descending into the human realm. 

With a stretch, he could hear the joints in his body creak, and a smile crossed his face. 

"Move back a little, don't let it affect you," Sol warned.

"Oh? Then I'm looking forward to it," Alfia replied, stepping back but still keeping her eyes on him.

This was the first time Alfia had seen a god's power firsthand. She was curious to see how strong gods truly were. Most gods in the lower realms had sealed their divine power, so she had no idea what Sol was truly capable of.

Sol stood tall, his posture unwavering. Despite the clear daylight, Alfia could already see the stars glittering around him.

In an instant, starlight flooded his body, followed by the distant sound of a melodious dragon roar. Energy exploded from Sol's body, and the surrounding vegetation was blown away as if a mighty wind had swept through.

The next moment, Sol's form shot up into the sky, disappearing into the clouds, his translucent, blue body shimmering like a giant dragon against the heavens.

For a long time, Alfia couldn't tear her eyes away. She saw Sol's front paws, then his back legs and tail, his form massive, covered in flickering starlight as though he was the sky itself.

Alfia marveled at the sheer size of his divine form. The floor masters of the dungeon—those titanic monsters—seemed like mere children in comparison to Sol's full godly form. Even legendary creatures like Behemoth, Leviathan, and the Black Dragon would be no match for him.

What Alfia didn't realize was that this was only a fraction of Sol's true power. He had deliberately controlled his size to avoid causing too much of a stir. In truth, his real form was capable of covering an entire planet with a single claw.

As if to vent years of suppressed power, Sol soared and twirled through the sky, reveling in his divine freedom. Fortunately, no one else was around to witness this spectacle. Otherwise, it would have surely caused a commotion.

"Beautiful lady," Sol called with a teasing grin as he landed in front of Alfia. "Do you want me to give you a ride?"