Upgrades Chapter 55 (Patreon)

My goddesses face when she slapped her divine tramp stamp on Tamamo's back was one for the ages honestly... Her face twitched and she looked between me and Tamamo and I shamelessly nodded with her closing her eyes and I could see her mentally screaming as she did the Falna, put a paper on her back and then slapped the paper onto my chest as she said. "You guys need to leave... And we will have words about giving me a daughter with no warning Jake Bariss!" She hissed as she began pushing me and the other two into the closet.

I didn't even get any time to react as Hephaestus pushed Tina, and myself into the large cabinet closet while Tamamo hurriedly pulled her kimono back onto her shoulders.

But as the door slammed shut with Tamamo being pushed onto my lap making me grunt. I heard a loud crashing noise outside the door with Hephaestus yelling out. "I am getting dressed hold on!"

'Shit they caught on or something.' I thought as I hurriedly pushed a tab on the side and of the cabinet to lock our signature back to the cabinet back in Melen and then as the door to Hepheastus's office was broken into. I pushed open the door with the internals of the cabinet opening up to the dimly lit storage room of our Familia mansion in Melen.

"Out!" I hissed with Tina and Tamamo quickly getting out of the cabinet and as I soon as I got out of the cabinet I closed it and then moved it into my inventory so no one could use it even if they wanted to or Hephaestus if coerced could be pushed into here. "Well that was something I grumbled as I patted my chest clean but either way I grinned as I was level 2 now!

With all my stats in the SS range due to taking my supplements and working my ass off in the last stretch of things, I had gotten the best rewards I could get from the Falna in each letter higher grade giving a stronger boost for the user when they level up. So with all my stats being SS tier in the previous level, I was already at the same level of a fresh average level three because of how terribly they typically leveled up with only C rank stats at most!

Well besides Hera and Zeus Familia members... They were fucking insane and did death challenges to push themselves beyond their limits.

I took a breath as I continued to smile but then Tamamo asked with some concern. "Uhm, Jake could I see my Falna?" She asked and I blinked before holding it in front of us so she could sidle over to us so we could both read it.

Tamamo [Demigod/Spirit]

Level 1

Strength 0 I

Endurance 0 I

Dexterity 0 I

Agility 0 I

Magic 0 I

Skills-  True Flame Immunity, The User is completely immune to damage via high temperatures at all levels including any harmful gases that are associated with high-temperature areas.
The incarnation of the Divine Tongs of Hepheastus- The user's arms are strengthened greatly with enhanced grip strength and durability.

Magic- Mount Vesuvius's Flame- The Wrath of Vulcan. The disdain of the forge for mortal lands. Wash it all away in molten flames and ashes!

My lips twitched seeing good old Tamamo's completely bullshit Falna though I did note that it was interesting that she didn't actually have a direct forging skill but then again even with Hepheastus's blood added to her when I made her. She never remotely touched a forge to begin with and there wasn't really any reason to with my fusion skill.

I looked up and Tamamo gave me a small smile as she asked with honest curiosity. "Did I do good? Is this a good Falna?"

Tina scoffed and Tamamo squeaked as Tina gave her a swat on the ass with Tina snapping out. "Yes, Tamamo... This is the definition of a bullshit Falna." Once Tina however was done with Tamamo she looked back to me and raised an eyebrow as she asked more seriously. "Jake do you plan to start doing those more extreme weapon quests now or should we try to fight monsters on the coast of Melen?"

After a moment of thought as I looked at my SoulsBorne, Elden Ring and many other different themed weapons that could actually somewhat use the elemental effects and abilities of their original selves... I looked at the Leviathan Axe and it's quest. [Leviathan Axe- Upgrade Quests 3] [1- Kill 100 serpent-based monsters to upgrade the Leviathan Axe- 2- Kill the local Leviathan with the axe as the primary weapon- Survive five minutes in an enclosed arena with Kratos to upgrade the axe giving it the aspect of Jörmungandr's frost and venom.]

Yeah... I couldn't do either of the last two options but I had a great many of weapons that I actually could do with some real confidence like dealing with the Watchers of the Abyss in order to fully upgrade my Farron Greatsword which would come with some very interesting abilities.

So I nodded and said with a hum of thought. "Yeah, I plan to do some of the more reasonable weapon challenges but we will still be working on killing the Melen coastal monsters. Anyway, its already late at night. Let's get going to bed as we have a lot to do in the morning."

Well, that and as I wrapped my arms around Tamamo and Tina there was obviously going to be a more carnal celebration for our level-ups and Tamamo getting her own Falna... However, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on back in Orario with my goddess. Was she alright?

-

Back in Orario Hephaestus was grinning widely as she rocked back in forth in her office chair all but fucking giddy with joy as the clearly annoyed 'blind' blond looked towards her with frustration. "Lady Hephaestus, this is just being petty... I may not have divine soul reading to pick out lies. But lying to me with actual joy is just rude."

And Hephaestus snapped back. "Eris, the Sword Maiden I understand that you are deeply in love with one of my newest smiths in Jake Bariss for his help in curing your Familia's mascot in Meteria... But breaking into my office after leaping over my Familia's walls after half my Familia was culled is just too much honestly. Especially when he isn't even here!"

Eris's face went still as her large staff and sword's rings that were attached to the handle jingled loudly as she took a step towards the cabinet that Jake and those other two souls somehow escaped from or somewhere around it.

See Eris with her loss of sight had gained the near-divine ability to instead see through her own soul in seeing the world in terms of magical energy and souls themselves. So things like walls could be scene through if she was willing to put the effort into doing so.

And she had seen Jake's soul along with that Pallum's soul in Tina that she was told about by their informants in the Guild. So with no recourse and their obviously being no easily recognized magical signature or a false bottom in the cabinet, she sighed and said. "Lady Hephaestus this antagonism is truly unnecessary, although Shenhe and Albion may have been... Rude, or a bit too enthusiastic about keeping Jake in place so he could heal and we could retain his services to heal Alfia. We just want his services with how your Tsubaki is the only mortal smith who can work on high-tier equipment."

At that Hephaestus's easygoing grin died as she said coldly. "Yeah... No shit, the rest of the smithing and crafting Familia's came together and told Maxim if he or you ladies try something similar one of us would bite the bomb and kill Zeus or Hera with our Arcanum if they want to ruin everything here in Gekai... We will see how arrogant you guys are when your Falna's get instantly depowered. While you all are in the deep parts of the dungeon when your gods get sent back to Tenkai."

Eris's face was tired and clearly uncomfortable with this situation as she wasn't a hostile or confrontational person. Leaving her to sigh as she then said softly. "The Hera Familia doesn't wish for any hostility between us Lady Hephaestus... Please send Jake a message that the Hera Familia wishes to form a contract with him as a provider of potions and weapons should his weapon crafting match his skill with making elixers."

With that, Eris bowed her head in deference to the forge goddess with her taking her staff as she walked out of the room. With Hephaestus's eyes watching her back as Tsubaki herself passed Eris with a scowl as she was made to stand outside to make sure no one else intruded on the conversation.