Chapter 900 The Opportunity to Become a God

"Long time no see, everyone! Especially you, Ais-tan. Did you miss us? We missed you... Wait, don't hit me! Ow, that hurts!"

As the Loki Familia returned to Orario, Loki enthusiastically leapt at them, only to be unceremoniously pinned to the ground by Ais. This was nothing new, as most of the women in the Familia had the skill to subdue their troublesome goddess with ease. Loki, at the end of the day, was more of a mischievous troublemaker than anything else.

After enduring her fair share of humiliation at Ais's hands, Loki decided to give up on provoking her further. She dared not attempt the same with Riveria, either, as she was even more intimidating. And the Amazonian sisters, Tiona and Tione? Far too violent for her tastes. The thought of a punishment at their hands sent shivers down her spine.

So, Loki turned her attention to Lefiya, whom she considered the least threatening. But this time, her calculation was off. Thanks to Riveria's insights into Loki's antics, Lefiya had already been forewarned and prepared.

Before Loki could pull her usual tricks, Lefiya flipped the script, lifting the goddess onto her shoulder like a sack of flour.

"You've got to be kidding me, Lefiya! You're learning bad habits from the others. This is way too much!"

Loki whined in protest as Lefiya carried her around.

"It's your own fault, Loki-sama." Lefiya retorted with a sigh, "Also, if you're going to fake cry, at least squeeze out some real tears. Pretending to cry without any tears doesn't exactly sell the act."

Loki could only groan in frustration, clutching her heart as if Lefiya's words were a piercing arrow.

"Alright, Loki, enough of your antics." Riveria interrupted, shaking her head, "We've returned to Orario to strengthen ourselves. No time for games. We defeated one of the Lords of Cinder, but the enemies ahead will be far tougher. We need to level up and resupply!"

Riveria, like most of the familia, was exasperated by Loki's behavior but resigned to it. After all, Loki was their goddess. Still, this time, the Familia had come back with a clear purpose, and no amount of Loki's mischief would distract them.

Truthfully, there was no need to rush. None of the other Familias had the strength to venture into the place they had just returned from.

Even if they attempted it, they would simply meet their demise there. The Lord of Cinder they had defeated was already formidable, but the next one was on an entirely different level of power.

The Loki Familia needed thorough preparation. No other group could compete with them for the challenge ahead, as it wasn't even a possibility. Any rival parties would simply become fodder for the monsters and creatures within that perilous world.

"Fine, fine! I get it. But first, explain the situation in detail." Loki said, finally sitting up and shelving her usual playful demeanor.

The members of the familia recounted their journey and the enemies they had faced. Loki listened intently, nodding occasionally as she pieced together the gravity of their mission.

"So, the enemies you're facing next are quite troublesome. But if you're well-prepared, you should be able to handle them. Let's get your upgrades done first, after that, you'll be much stronger."

With that, Loki began the process of enhancing her familia's abilities. This time, nearly every member broke through to Level 9, which is an astonishing feat. Only the mages remained slightly behind, but even they were close to reaching this peak.

"All of you, at Level 9! This is unprecedented. Even Zeus and Hera Familia never achieved anything like this!" Loki exclaimed, so overjoyed that she began rolling around on the floor like a child. Her excitement was contagious, as even the Familia couldn't help but feel proud.

To put things in perspective, even at their prime, the Zeus and Hera Familias, who are legendary for their strength, only had a few Level 7 adventurers. While these individuals were undoubtedly elites, they were far from the pinnacle of power. The true paragons of those Familias were heroic figures beyond such rankings.

Yet now, the Loki Familia boasted an entire group of Level 9 adventurers. It was an unprecedented leap in strength, an achievement that set them apart from any Familia in history.

Even Freya Familia, known for their powerful members, had only ever produced one Level 7 adventurer. The Loki Familia, in contrast, had shattered records, leaving other Familias far behind.

"Did you all reach Level 9? In that case, I have a small gift for each of you, a gift from a friend!"

Just as the group finished their upgrades, Asahi appeared. Beams of radiant light spread out from him and entered each member of the Familia.

"What is this...?"

Riveria was the first to notice the change. As someone acutely attuned to her own power, she immediately sensed something unusual within her body. Yet, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

"This familiar sensation... Is this... divinity? You actually gave them divinity?!"

Loki's eyes widened in shock. That peculiar energy she had just sensed was unmistakable—it was divine essence. The very core of what set gods apart from mortals.

Unlike in certain eastern mythologies where mortals could ascend to godhood through cultivation, the Western myths that governed their world operated differently.

For the gods of this world, rather than cultivation or effort, divinity was key. Though their divine nature didn't include something as structured as a 'divine rank', their godhood was anchored in the possession of divinity itself.

It was the foundation of godhood, the proverbial 'key to the door'. Without it, no amount of strength or effort could elevate a mortal to godhood. And for ordinary mortals, whose lifespans rarely stretched beyond a few centuries, time alone was never sufficient.

"Yes." Asahi replied calmly, "They've grown strong enough to push against the limits of mortality. The next step for them is godhood."

"However, while possessing divinity is a prerequisite, it's not enough on its own. Godhood isn't just about having divine essence, as it requires divine power as well."

"Strength matters. With your abilities and now your newfound divinity, you all have the potential. But whether you could step through the door is up to yourself!"

Asahi's words left the group silent for a moment, until Finn finally broke through the haze of awe.

"So... divinity. We have the chance to become gods?" His voice trembled slightly, a mix of disbelief and gratitude, "Thank you, Asahi-san. Truly."

"No need to thank me too much," Asahi said with a dismissive wave, "What I gave you isn't anything valuable to me, just some trivial trinkets, really!"

To Asahi, divine essence was something he had in abundance. For him, sharing it was like handing out spare change. Yet, for the Loki Familia, it was the key to transcending mortality itself.