Marvel Multiverse System

Yuri smiled calmly as he analyzed his status panel, the numbers glowing softly in the candlelight. Sitting on his lap, Hestia rested her head with a satisfied sigh, as if allowing herself a rare moment of peace.

"You really went too far this time, Yuri," Hestia murmured with a proud smile, her eyes half-closed with exhaustion.

Yuri gently stroked the goddess's hair.

"I didn't do anything special."

It was modesty. Yuri, now at level 4, far surpassed any other adventurer of the same level. His physical strength, his skills, his magic… Everything had been enhanced with almost monstrous precision.

Danmachi's leveling system was a blessing to him. Defeating higher-level enemies while still at level 1 had granted him growth bonuses that bordered on the absurd.

"This system is so... fair, it's almost cruel," Yuri mused.

"Because it rewards those who dare to do the impossible."

Every attribute raised to SSS didn't just boost his basic capabilities—it multiplied his physical and mental power. And Yuri had something extra: the Sage Body and the Mangekyō, gifts that accelerated his growth to an almost unnatural degree.

Yuri's record-breaking ascent to level 4 had spread through Orario like wildfire. Everyone was talking about the "Sunsetter," the adventurer who had killed the sun god, Apollo.

Meanwhile, at the Hestia Familia's home, the atmosphere was almost idyllic.

"Don't breathe so hard or force yourself too much, Cassandra. You'll end up fainting," Yuri said, correcting the girl's posture.

"B-But... this is hard!" Daphne complained, her breath shaky.

Yuri smiled. He patiently guided them through breathing techniques and mana control.

That evening, dinner was cheerful. Yuri had prepared a delicious meal, while Hestia laughed heartily, her cheeks flushed from the wine. It was a rare moment of peace.

But Yuri didn't linger.

When everyone was asleep and the lights in the hallways had gone out, he rose silently, covering Hestia with a blanket before leaving the mansion.

There was someone he needed to see.

Orario glowed under the light of the waxing moon. The city never slept. From the imposing Pantheon to the bustling theaters and casinos downtown, everything pulsed with life. But not all light was pure.

At the city's heart, the red-light district radiated a completely different atmosphere.

That was where Yuri was headed.

At the top of Ishtar's grand palace, surrounded by golden veils and cool night breezes, the goddess of beauty stared at the Tower of Babel. Her eyes were fixed on the sky.

Only jewelry and the barest garments covered her body, yet she didn't feel cold. The fire in her heart burned hotter than any wind.

"Why her?" Ishtar murmured, teeth clenched. "Why her and not me?"

There stood the tower, white and arrogant, as if mocking her existence. At its peak, Freya—the other goddess of beauty—rested in silent glory, as if ignoring the existence of any rival.

Ishtar clenched her fists.

"A fraud... A farce adorned in gold..." She spat each word like venom. "The people, the gods... they're all blind!"

She was beauty, she was desire, she was power. And yet, she was ignored, rejected, traded for that pale creature who hid behind silent gazes and enigmatic smiles.

"One day, Freya..." she whispered, her eyes blazing with hatred. "You'll fall from that pedestal. And I'll be there to see it."

The moonlight bathed her face, highlighting her expression twisted with envy.

What truly infuriated Ishtar wasn't just Freya's fame as a goddess—but the power of her familia. The Freya Familia, with its unmatched strength, dominated Orario in a way Ishtar could never hope to. Especially that last one… the power she held was beyond the reach of any other familia, including Ishtar's.

With her dazzling beauty and her unquestionable position as the most powerful familia in the city, Freya stood at the summit, impassive—as if she were the absolute goddess of Orario.

Ishtar looked down at the illuminated city, her eyes burning with envy. After a long silence, she scoffed, releasing a low, mocking laugh.

Her smile—an intoxicating blend of charm and malice—was the kind that could make anyone fall for her... and also the kind that hid the darkest of emotions.

"Very soon..." she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible but charged with intent. "I'll drag you down. I'll make you feel the weight of my presence."

Ishtar's eyes gleamed with a sinister purpose.

"When the full moon rises, I'll bring my army. And then, Freya, you'll see… You'll fall. And I'll be the only one left standing at the top."

She curled her lips into a poisonous smile, full of dark promises.

As the goddess Ishtar reveled in her schemes and rage, another figure moved silently through the quiet streets of Orario. Cloaked in black, the figure walked soundlessly, asking the few late-night passersby where to find the room of a certain fox girl.

When the door opened, the figure was revealed under the flickering lantern light. She trembled slightly, her eyes tense and restrained, as if every move was made with calculated care.

The girl before her was a vision of elegance. She had long blonde hair and emerald-green eyes, with a thick tail that matched the golden hue of her locks. Her beauty was a silent, immense presence—a creature who captivated not only through appearance, but through the gentle grace of her being.

She knelt gracefully in seiza, her lips pressed tightly together in a posture that reflected her status as one of the Renard, a mythical fox race. Her clothing, simple yet refined, contrasted with the delicate curves of her slender form.

It was impossible not to be struck by the sight of that sorrowful fox, whose mournful beauty and melancholic air drew the gaze of anyone who saw her.

"...Um, my name is Haruhime, and you are...?" Haruhime's voice faltered as she tried to compose herself, her hesitant eyes fixed on the figure before her. When she finally raised her head and saw who stood there, her face lit up with instant recognition. "You're... the Sunsetter!"

The young woman, her eyes sparkling with surprise and a touch of reverence, stood with a soft breath. The memory of that fateful day—the "War Game"—was still fresh in everyone's minds, especially the violent and dramatic clash Yuri had fought against the Apollo Familia, ending in his overwhelming victory—and Apollo's death.

Haruhime, like many in Orario, had memorized every detail of that event. She secretly admired the hero who had defied all odds and emerged triumphant. The young man who had not only defeated a god but dismantled an entire familia.

She looked at him with a mix of awe and admiration, and a faint blush colored her cheeks as her tail swayed gently, almost as if expressing a feeling of affection and shy excitement.

"Thank you for coming..." Haruhime spoke in a soft voice, her hesitation clear. "Please, try my food. I'm glad you're here."

With graceful formality, Haruhime stood and gently guided Yuri to a small, Japanese-style table. Her movements were careful and meticulous, as if each gesture was a way of honoring his presence in her space.

But then something unexpected happened. When she held Yuri's hand to lead him, she felt the warmth of his palm wrap around hers, and in that moment, something inside her faltered. She panicked, turned her head quickly, and stumbled over her own feet, nearly falling.

Yuri hadn't expected her to be so... adorable in her clumsiness. He chuckled softly, allowing himself a relaxed smile.

In that very instant, the girl, in the momentum of the fall, pulled Yuri down with her, and both of them landed gently on the tatami with a soft thud. The moment was so close, so intimately shared, it felt like time had stopped.

The two locked eyes, their breaths shallow and uneven. The space between them was small—one wrong move, and they'd be on top of each other.

Yuri looked at Haruhime's profile, illuminated by the lantern's warm glow. She was so delicate, so pure in her beauty, that the effect on him was immediate. The fox girl before him wore no adornments, no makeup or artifices. Her natural elegance exuded a captivating aura that made Yuri's breath hitch for a moment.

He didn't rush anything. There was no haste in any of his actions. But, not missing the chance to be kind, he leaned slightly toward her and spoke gently.

"You don't need to worry so much..." he murmured, touching her hand delicately, trying to offer her a sense of comfort. "I won't do anything to hurt you. You're safe."

Haruhime's shy and confused gaze softened slightly, though she still seemed to struggle to calm herself in front of someone she admired so deeply.

(End of chapter)

"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."

We ended up getting quite far from the goal, but that's okay hehe, I want to see how much we can achieve in power stones by the end.😁😁