Lewd Dungeon, Chapter 387

Chapter 387 – Divine Chat

I shifted my focus to GodNet, and the divine space I had there, for meeting with other deities. Considering who I was going to see, I decided that the ‘throne room’ and ‘smoky back room’ options weren’t the best for this meeting. These were deities that I was on good terms with, after all, and it wasn’t likely we were going to be talking business. Well, not mostly. So, the ‘bachelor pad’ setting based on the lounge I received mortal visitors in when they visited my dungeon was best for this meeting.

Right on time, the requests to enter my divine space came in, and I accepted them. A door made of light appeared in the air, and it opened. From it stepped four figures, each perfect in that way that only divinities could be. Two of them were familiar faces, since we had met a couple times before, but the other two were new to me, though I had a guess as to their nature.

First was a woman with brown hair done up in a matronly bun, brown eyes that instantly made one think of a cow, and a body that could best be described as ‘MILFy’. Not fat, but not skinny or muscular, either. Curves in all the right places, with generous breasts and wide hips, not to mention a very spankable rear. Her white dress was modern, but styled in a dignified way. A diadem of polished bronze sat upon her head, signifying her station. This was Hera, wife of Zeus and Queen of Olympus.

Next to her stood a woman with hair like spun gold, and a body that simply screamed sex. Long legs led to a round ass, toned but not muscular. Hourglass curves led up to breasts which simply defied gravity. Her crimson dress was more of a suggestion than a garment, draped across her in ways that, technically, covered everything that they needed to, but left little to the imagination, and showed plainly that she had nothing on underneath. Aphrodite had adapted well to the modern world.

I greeted both goddesses with a kiss upon their cheeks, right then left, as was common in Greece. Both women had practically demanded that I greet them like this, last time we met, and since we had enjoyed our time together so much, I saw no reason to deny them. If kissing a beautiful woman to greet her kept a goddess from being upset with me, that was a small price to pay, no?

“Hera, Aphrodite, it is a pleasure to see you both again. But who might your companions be?”

“Ah, Kuronoth,” Hera said, a regal tone coming to her voice. “Allow me to introduce you to two others from the Greek pantheon. I believe you’ve spoken with them before on the Earth section of GodNet. You’d know them as OwlEyes and Iochaeira.”

With that, the first of the unknown deities stepped forward. She was athletic in stature, but had a refined look, dressed in comfortable, practical clothes, with a pair of glasses upon her face, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her eyes were indeed those of an owl, and I noticed a pin on her lapel, shaped like a shield with the image of a gorgon’s head upon it. “I am known on GodNet as OwlEyes, but you may call me Athena the Bright-Eyed, Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare. I pledge to keep my peace in your domain.”

I nodded respectfully, and completed the expected response. “And I shall ensure your safety whilst you are here.”

The last goddess stepped forward. She was no less athletic than Athena, but was altogether wilder in her appearance, long hair left free as it went down the entire length of her back, wearing leather boots and pants, and an armored vest over a sleeveless shirt. There was an empty quiver at her hip, and I didn’t doubt she could produce a bow to match, if needed. “I am known on GodNet as Iochaeira, for that is one of my names of old, but you may call me Artemis, Queen of Archers, Goddess of the Hunt, the Wilds, and the Moon. I pledge to keep my peace in your domain.”

I nodded respectfully, and repeated the expected response. “Well met, to you both. I must admit, I never expected that two of the three major goddesses over whom the Goddess of Love had no power over to come and visit me.”

Aphrodite chuckled. “Yes, these two, and Hestia, were never keen on finding love, or even carnal companionship. It was vexing to never have any sway over them.”

Hera just chuckled. “Well there are a few things we wanted to talk about. Before we get into what Athena and Artemis would like, Aphrodite and I have a bit of news for you.”

“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant,” I said, jokingly. However, the two goddesses didn’t laugh, but, instead, dispelled glamours which hid the way their bellies were swelling. “Wait, really? I’m pretty sure that kids from two divine parents were pretty rare, especially if both sides aren’t consciously trying for them.”

“Well,” Aphrodite said, “these things do still happen. Even when the gods and goddesses involved don’t mean for them to. Also, while he is better known as the Messenger and Guide, Hermes has a well-deserved reputation as a trickster. Apparently, he met up with Loki from the Norse, one of the Native American gods, Coyote, and some new god by the name of Murphy, and they all decided to go out drinking. They didn’t stop until they were all deep in their cups.”

I groaned in sympathy for everyone who had to put up with that group. “And when you take three trickster gods, along with a God of Chaos and Misfortune, and get them all blackout drunk, a lot of shenanigans can occur. I take it that this night of revelry was around the last time we had ‘dinner’ together?”

“Yes,” Hera nodded. “Fortunately, Zeus cannot complain, given his past record, and how he has been rather zealous in exploring those dating apps the mortals put together. So, no need to worry on that account.”

“And as for Hephaestus,” Aphrodite grinned, “we worked out something similar to what Hera and Zeus arranged. Even if he wasn’t busy trying to learn everything about metalworking, machining, and manufacturing that has changed since the old days, he’s had several other consorts and mistresses in the past, as have I, so we have an open relationship. For the most part.”

“For the most part?”

Aphrodite laughed. “Don’t go worrying about him. He’s to deep in trying to see whether he can bring life to one of those ‘artificial intelligences’ he read about.”

My throat went dry for a second at that. “Aphrodite, dear, when this is done, I’m going to give you a list of movies and books I’d like you to make sure your husband reads before he gets too far along that road. While humans have never actually created a truly sapient AI, there have been some… theories about what an AI might be capable of, if it were angered and let loose out in the world. And that was before people knew that magic was real.”

Athena nodded grimly. “I concur. It would be wise to learn from what humans have already considered might happen, than to let arrogance blind one to danger until it is too late. And this brings us to the reason why I asked to join this group.”

I turned my attention to the Goddess of Wisdom. “Well, if wise Pallas Athena comes to me with a warning, I would be a fool to ignore it. Given the way you phrased that statement, there is some trouble on the horizon, and you would see it settled before it can become a storm?”

“Precisely,” she said. “The news from Japan has had time to filter out through the realms of gods, mortals, and dungeons. Both the news of the dark rite that created a dungeon, and the deadline by which Earth must stand united, or fall. Unfortunately, the mortals are too contentious, and too divided. While the Gods of Earth have agreed to stand together against outside forces, should they attempt to conquer us, I am concerned about the mortals.”

“And what would you have me do? While I do have some influence, thanks to the deals I have made, there are limits to how much I can interfere with mortal governance. Free will and all that. I’ve instructed my followers to start teaching the value of working together beyond national boundaries, but I cannot easily do more than that. The Japan summit was one of the most direct actions I could take, and even then, it was only because I gathered people for another reason, and then let those who had information speak.”

“Of this, I am aware. And I will say that your portal network has started breaking down the barriers between nations, as well. But only amongst the people. The ones in charge still cling to power and prestige, and are not willing to give any of it up in order to create something more, or to make the ‘United Nations’ an actually functioning body.”

“So, you want me to intervene, on a higher level? Try and influence things beyond the limits I’ve obeyed so far?”

“Not intervene. Out of the old gods and new that have awoken, you would have the best chance of uniting the world through conquest, especially if you sat at the head of an alliance of gods from Earth and in the wider galaxy, but my projections do not foresee favorable results, if you walk that path. There are too many who would fight, simply because they refuse to be bound by the will of another.

“More importantly, going down that road would change you, as the records in the System say Pofmis changed. You have kingdoms which venerate you, now, but you did not set out to conquer the lands. If you do start down that road, you will not stop, ever, until someone eventually puts an end to you. As happens to all tyrants, eventually.”

“And I am rather fond of not getting killed. So, what is it you suggest?”

“If left to their own devices, the mortals will never put aside their differences until there is no choice, and maybe not even then. However, if someone of power and influence were to call the world together at a convention of the world’s leaders, for the purpose of crafting an actual global government? That has more hope in it than anything else. But it would have to be someone who is known to the world, someone of Earth, who transcends mortal limitations, and yet stands apart. And they would have to have power enough to make simply ignoring their words perilous.”

“And the person who fits that bill the best would be me,” I nodded. “But that will not be easy. Even if most of the world leaders I’ve spoken to me respect my contracts, that is not the same as saying that they respect me, and certainly not claiming they like me, or would do what I say without question. And they will be looking for what I get out of the deal.”

Athena nodded. “That, too, I have surmised. Which is why I am here, to ask what you would want, in order to take up this call?”

I paused as I considered that. There were many, many things I might ask for from a goddess like Athena, some more reasonable than others. However, there was one idea that came to me, and it would potentially work out the best for both sides.

I took a breath, and then said, “I am well aware that I do not have the temperament or skills to see this venture to the end, unaided. However, if Pallas Athena were to join with me, and add her wisdom to this cause? That would have potential.”

“Join with you? You do not mean just as a partner in bringing the world together.” It was a statement of fact, not a question.

I nodded once. “A union between a God of the new world, after the System, and a Goddess of the old world? That would be a signal to many. And, if a shrine to me accompanied everyone of yours, and one of yours accompanied each of mine? Think on what we could accomplish together.”

Hera and Athena looked taken aback at my basically proposing marriage to the goddess, but a happy squeal sounded from Aphrodite, who was practically bouncing in excitement. However, before more could be said, Artemis cleared her throat. “While wise Athena considers that, perhaps you will listen to what I want? It ought to be simpler to resolve than uniting the world under one banner, at least.”

I looked back to her, and said, “And what might the huntress deity ask of a dungeon god?”

“The secret of creating those ships which use wormholes to move across the galaxy in moments, instead of weeks, months, or years. I wish to have ships that might carry those hunters who have called out to me, and take them to plentiful hunting grounds across the stars. Whether that hunt be one of game, or of man.”

I chuckled at that. “Well, I had expected to be asked about that by one of Earth’s deities at some point, but I hadn’t expected it to be you. Though, perhaps I should have. Unfortunately, however, it is easily explained but not so easily replicated for anyone but myself. Not because of any hidden skill or secret craft, but because it depends upon different facets of my nature, which is unlike any other god in the galaxy.”

Artemis took a breath, and said, “Tell me more.”