RISE OF EROS

"So, your visit is about whether we can stay in the city?" Andrew suddenly interrupted the conversation. So far, only Fluffy had spoken to the spirit girl, and Andrew felt he had to intervene.

He didn't like being left out, especially when they were talking about him. His question surprised not only Fluffy but Aqua as well. The spirit girl hadn't expected Andrew to butt into the conversation and be aggressive.

Although his words and questions didn't seem aggressive, his attitude was different. It was obvious he was annoyed at being excluded and that they were starting to talk on his turf as if he weren't there.

Although Fluffy was out of his body and couldn't read his thoughts at the moment, she knew him well enough to understand that and could only hang her head in regret, for she had truly committed an offense.

Aqua also noticed Andrew was angry, but didn't pay much attention. For her, even though Andrew is a candidate for god, he isn't yet old enough to deal with her. This isn't a matter of combat or strength but of status. Aqua is a true sea spirit, a divine being, and in her mind, only Fluffy, who, despite being repressed and unable to display her power, was her equal.

To her, Andrew would only earn grades upon reaching the final seal, and even then, he would be an inferior being. It wasn't that she looked down on him; it was a reality, since she was currently comparable to a god, and Andrew was still in diapers.

Andrew was perceptive and could tell that Aqua didn't truly see him as an equal, and although that bothered him a little, he didn't lose his cool. With a serious expression and sharp eyes, he spoke again, "So you don't intend to talk to me."

After saying that, he sighed and continued, "It seems I don't have enough status to treat me with courtesy. That's fine, it's not necessary, but coming to my house and being so rude isn't necessary either."

Andrew paused again, staring at Aqua, and then said, "Say what you came here to say and stop acting so arrogant and haughty." Everyone was surprised to see Andrew become aggressive.

They understood Andrew was upset, but they hadn't expected him to speak this way. Honestly, it seemed as if he was picking a fight with the spirits, something no one wanted to see.

Even Aqua was surprised by Andrew's attitude. She had to admit that, while Andrew wasn't at her level yet, he had shown courage and deserved respect for that alone. However, that respect shouldn't come from her.

No matter how much courage and valor Andrew displayed, he was still unworthy of her. Nevertheless, she didn't remain silent. "Pretty arrogant for a brat. Do you feel very brave to be in your temple?"

These words made Andrew narrow his eyes and assess Aqua seriously. Her words implied that she didn't fear Andrew even though they were on her territory. This wasn't a simple situation, because if that was the case, it only meant that Aqua was more powerful than she seemed. The next second, a powerful force began to be felt.

It was as if millions of tons of water had fallen on them. It was like being at the bottom of the sea, without air and with pressure hitting from all sides, trying to crush them.

Even Biacko felt he couldn't hold out for much longer, and Andrew was also serious. Thanks to being in his temple, he could withstand this pressure relatively easily, but it was still surprising that Aqua could manifest such power in this place.

Within the Celestial Palaces, Andrew has absolute control over everything, but Aqua's aura doesn't seem to be part of what he can control. He could counteract it, but not eliminate it, and that was already a problem.

Fluffy, who was observing everything, suddenly became serious and with a cold expression and sharp words said, "You should stop, or I won't stand by and watch." Fluffy's words surprisingly calmed Aqua.

Andrew was surprised, not expecting that threat to work. Fluffy might be a divine beast, but right now she didn't have such power, so her threat was empty. At least that's what Andrew thought, but not all of it was true. It's true that her power hadn't been restored, but Fluffy had her ways, ones Andrew didn't know, but Aqua did.

Aqua was an inhabitant of the land of the gods, so she knew how things worked with god candidates and the divine beasts that accompanied them, so she knew more than Andrew. She knew that Fluffy could ultimately destroy this entire place and hurt both her and her sisters if pressured, so she didn't want to upset her.

While Fluffy's method would come at a heavy price, Aqua didn't care about that. What matters to her is the damage it could cause, and she knows it's not small at all.

The tension eased, but a certain unease could be felt in the room. The silence was awkward, and only Fluffy, who had been the one who created this situation, could change it, so she said, "I imagine you know the situation on the mainland, right?"

Her sudden question, changing the subject, surprised everyone, but no one interrupted them. Although Andrew had once again faded into the background, he knew better than to interrupt as he had before.

If he did, they would only enter into hostile combat, and it was better to remain neutral, so he let Fluffy lead the conversation. "Of course, nothing happens on the continent that doesn't reach this city," Aqua replied.

"So, what are your positions?" Fluffy continued, and Aqua looked at her seriously and replied, "We're neutral." Fluffy raised her eyebrow at that answer, and Andrew could only snort in derision.

Aqua glared at him, but Andrew wasn't intimidated. It's true that she's a threat, but Andrew wouldn't hide. He was no longer the little weakling he'd been years ago who had to measure his words.

Now he's not just a demigod, but he has plenty to back it up. He didn't shy away from anyone, and that included spirits; not even the gods scared him now. He's respectful by nature, but respect is earned, and Aqua didn't deserve his respect—at least, that's what Andrew thought. Fluffy, not wanting them to start a fight, interrupted.

"Are you really taking a neutral stance?" "You know that if the fallen god revives, such a thing as being neutral won't exist, right?" Fluffy questioned, not understanding what Aqua meant by saying they were neutral.

"That's none of our business," Aqua said, confusing Fluffy even more. She couldn't understand the spirit girl's thoughts, because if it came to that, they would suffer too.

Fluffy knew Aqua and the other spirits were powerful. With their help, eliminating Purgatory and destroying the remnants of the fallen god would be much easier, so she didn't understand why they were acting this way.

Aqua could tell Fluffy was confused, but she didn't intend to clarify the situation, and at that moment Andrew said, "Your position is truly strange. Having the power to prevent what's coming, but not taking action, leaves a lot to be desired."

"Brat, don't think you can turn white into black," Aqua retorted angrily. At first, she only thought Andrew was someone beneath her, but now she found him annoying.

He was challenging her so often that she began to feel she should teach her a lesson, but she didn't make a move for fear of Fluffy doing something extreme. However, Andrew paid no attention to that.

"So, can you at least tell us, why you didn't return to the divine realm after the war and chose to stay?" Andrew asked. Just as Aqua found him annoying, he found Aqua suspicious.

Her words, actions, and inactions were strange. Who would want to wait for the world to go to hell to do something when you have the power to stop it? That was the question they had to ask themselves.

It was obvious Aqua was powerful. She was at least on the same level as Crhono and wasn't restricted in some way by world laws that would make her ascend like Crhono if they showed their power.

This characteristic alone made her more powerful than Chrono, and if the other four Spirits were similar, it meant there was no more powerful force in the world, so he couldn't understand their attitudes.

For Andrew, there could only be two reasons. The first was that something was preventing them from interfering, and that couldn't be a simple matter. The second reason was that they weren't really allies or neutrals, but enemies.

Andrew truly hoped it was the former, as they already had enough problems to add five extremely powerful Spirits to the mix of all this chaos. Honestly, although Andrew didn't like Aqua's attitude, he was almost certain she wasn't an enemy or a vicious being, so he ruled out the possibility that she was colluding with his enemies.

Still, it seemed strange to him, and that's why he asked. Those present weren't stupid people. They clearly understood Andrew's reasons for these questions, and Aqua didn't like it.

She felt that Andrew wasn't messing with her, he just wanted to know the reasons, but even so, the mere doubt, however small, irritated her, and she was about to explode when next to her a strange mound of earth began to rise.

Although everyone was surprised, Fluffy quickly signaled them not to attack, and then the mound of earth began to take shape until it became a beautiful young woman. If Aqua, as a sea spirit, reflected the sea in her physical features, this new visitor demonstrated the strength of the earth. Her beauty was unfading, and she also had her charm.

Short brown hair, skin a bit pale like wheat, eyes the same color as her hair, celestial curves, and toned muscles. She was obviously an earth spirit, as even the color of her clothes was like that of the earth.

The appearance of the new beauty calmed the situation, and although she was as rude as Aqua appearing out of nowhere, Andrew didn't say anything, as the girl bowed and said, "We're sorry for the recklessness. Aqua is always too impulsive."