Refusing My God’s Advances

In the distance, magnificent structures rose, each unique in design yet harmoniously integrated into the landscape, reflecting the personalities and domains of the gods who resided within. The sky above was a canvas of shifting colors, from the soft hues of dawn to the vibrant tones of sunset, never settling on a single moment but always alive with the promise of creativity and change.

Apollo led the way, his stride regaining its usual confidence as he drug Hades along beside him. Luminara hadn't seemed that affected, but maybe she was better at hiding it than these two.

Apollo's residence was a marvel of divine architecture, blending art, nature, and the ethereal qualities of his domain into every corner and curve. As we walked, the path before us seemed to illuminate with each step, guiding us through the splendid gardens towards the main structure. The flowers and trees shimmered with a light that seemed to dance in harmony with Apollo's presence, accentuating the beauty of the surroundings.

The main building was a testament to Apollo's love for the arts and his divine essence. Sculptures of muses, legendary heroes, and mythical creatures adorned the expansive entrance, each piece telling a story of inspiration, triumph, and the pursuit of beauty. The doors, towering and made of a material that appeared to be solid light, slowly opened as we approached, revealing an interior that was as breathtaking as the exterior.

Inside, the halls were lined with paintings and tapestries that depicted the history of the gods, the exploits of heroes, and scenes of idyllic landscapes that seemed to be alive, changing subtly as if reflecting the passing of seasons. The air was filled with the soft melodies of unseen instruments, a harmonious backdrop that complemented the visual splendor of the residence.

Apollo led us to a grand hall, where the ceilings vaulted high above, adorned with intricate frescoes that captured the essence of the sky itself. Here, the light seemed to converge, creating a space that was both awe-inspiring and welcoming.

"This is where I keep my private collection of artifacts," Apollo announced, gesturing towards a series of pedestals and display cases that lined the room. Each case was illuminated with a gentle light, showcasing the artifacts within. These were items of immense power and beauty, each radiating a unique energy that spoke of their divine origin.

Before even bothering to look at anything, I turned to face Apollo. “I will be straight with you. I have about 35 million on me,” I explained, and then gestured to the painting, statues and items on pedestals. “I would appreciate it if you could steer me in the direction of items within my price range so I can get more than one and I don’t waste time.

Hades, who seemed better now, shrugged. “Time is something you don’t have a limit on, right now. Take as much time as you need. It isn’t like Apollo was doing anything important anyways. Very few heroes even have access to Hamazon, so we don’t really do a lot.”

Apollo nodded with a sad smile. “That old shade isn’t wrong. It gets to be awfully boring in the IHSR, but if you would like me to point you to items, I would be glad to help,” he said, but I put up my hand.

“Hold on. What about your own heroes?” I asked, and both gods started to laugh, making me frown. “What the hell did I say that was so funny?”

Hades, still laughing, waved at me with one hand, and then patted Apollo’s shoulder. “Let Apollo show you his bastion of hope known as the hero of his… Bwahaha, I can’t even finish it!” Hades laughed, bursting into laughter again.

Apollo stopped laughing, and groaned. “I should have asked you to train my damn hero rather than this suit, amazing as it is.”

My frown intensified. “What do you mean? Why in your name would you need me to train your hero?”

Hades put up his hand, and then composed himself before starting to speak again. “Sorry about the fit, but He doesn't give out blessings like what you have so easily. I am sure you have heard of your world having heroes, right?”

I nodded to this. “Yeah, I heard that most of them were cunts that over changed for their above average services,” I replied, and both gods nodded.

“Things aren’t that much different in the other worlds. One of the biggest problems is that even after watching over someone for a long time, you can’t be sure how they will use the power. On top of that, other gods give blessings to your world's people just to stir up shit, or even kill your hero. When that happens, we lose that portion of power we gave to our hero to the other god. Since this is the case, most only give a small percentage of their power,” Apollo explained, but he had a defeated look on his face.

“Then there are ones like us,” Hades continued. “Ones that had their heroes hunted down until we were only left with 5% of our power each. You will notice that it is a recurring theme in the IHSR. All of us only have 5% of our power that is placed in one hero on our worlds. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make them much better than a normal person with a class. When this happens, our worlds get certain restrictions placed on them and we are forced to set up shop in Hamazon.”

Now this was interesting. So IHSR was really just a safe area for bullied gods? But were the other gods really that big of assholes? Probably, and now I was kind of glad that Grampa Lite Brite obtained his godhood through shady means. If not, I would have to be dealing with other gods heroes that didn’t have to follow the contract I made with Garland.

“So,” I said, thinking about things. “You're stuck with heroes that are barely above average, but how do you get out of this loop? Are you just stuck here now?”