The parking structure held—but barely.
The echoes of the fight still lingered in the air. Cracks spiderwebbed across the concrete near the entrance, dust drifting down in thin streams from the ceiling above. The space smelled of sweat, smoke, and something heavier now—blood.
Rowan stood near the ramp, looking out toward the street.
Nothing about the world outside had slowed.
Distant movement flickered between buildings. Shapes passed through smoke. The occasional shriek or crash rolled across the city like distant thunder.
It wasn't ending.
It was spreading.
Behind him, the others were recovering.
Marcus paced in short, restless steps, one hand running through his hair as he tried to steady his breathing. Dana leaned against a pillar, her jaw tight as she pressed her palm against a shallow cut along her arm. Chris sat on the ground, staring forward but clearly not seeing anything. Lila hugged her knees, her shoulders rising and falling unevenly.
Ivy stood apart.
Watching.
Rowan turned slightly.
"Now's the time."
Marcus glanced over. "For what?"
Rowan didn't look away from the entrance.
"To use it."
A pause.
Then understanding.
The system shimmered faintly into Rowan's vision.
[Divine Favor: 30]
Not much.
But enough.
He focused.
The interface shifted smoothly, familiar now.
[Allocate Divine Favor]
His stats appeared clearly.
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 20
Perception: 11
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 5
[Cost: 1 Divine Favor per Stat Increase]
Rowan didn't hesitate.
Strength → 8
Agility → 9
Endurance → 10
[Divine Favor Remaining: 21]
The change settled into his body immediately.
Subtle—but real.
His muscles felt tighter. His balance sharper. The lingering fatigue from the earlier fight dulled slightly, like his body had caught up to itself.
Behind him, Marcus exhaled. "…Yeah. I see it."
Dana pushed off the pillar. "How much did you get?"
"Enough," Rowan replied. "Use it."
This time, no one hesitated.
Marcus focused first.
His posture shifted as he invested points, his shoulders straightening as his breathing steadied.
Dana followed, rolling her shoulders again—this time without wincing.
Chris frowned as he worked through the options, slower but deliberate.
Lila took longer, her hands still shaking slightly before she finally committed.
Ivy didn't move.
Rowan noticed.
"…You're waiting."
She met his gaze calmly.
"Thinking."
He didn't push.
Smart.
The system shifted again in Rowan's vision.
[Mind of Athena - Legendary]
[Level 1 → 2]
[Enhancement Available]
He focused.
[Spend Divine Favor to level blessing?]
[Cost: 10]
Accepted.
The change wasn't physical this time.
It was mental.
The world sharpened again—edges clearer, motion easier to track. The noise from outside separated into distinct layers, each one easier to process.
[Mind of Athena - Level 2]
[Stat Scaling Increased]
Rowan exhaled slowly.
"…Better."
Marcus glanced over. "You upgraded something."
Rowan nodded. "Blessing."
Chris looked up. "…So it's not just stats."
"No," Rowan said. "It's both."
Dana gave a short nod. "Then we balance it."
That settled it.
Behind them, Ivy finally focused.
[Divine Favor: 27]
She didn't rush.
Didn't follow their pattern.
She analyzed.
Strength?
No.
Agility?
Minimal value.
Her blessing mattered more.
[Aphrodite's Grace - Legendary]
[Level 1]
She hovered there for a moment.
Then—
[Spend Divine Favor to level blessing?]
[Cost: 10]
Accepted.
The change was immediate.
It wasn't physical.
It wasn't visible.
It was… presence.
The air around her shifted subtly. Not enough to notice directly—but enough to feel. A faint ease settled into the space around her, like tension smoothing out at the edges.
[Aphrodite's Grace - Level 2]
[Charm Influence Increased]
Ivy inhaled slowly.
Yes.
That was better.
She opened her eyes.
Rowan was already looking at her.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
Before either of them spoke—
A sound echoed from outside.
Heavy.
A deep, resonant impact that rolled through the structure.
Everyone turned.
Another hit followed.
Closer.
Chris stood up quickly. "That's not—"
Something scraped along the outside wall.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Rowan stepped toward the entrance.
The light shifted.
A shadow passed across it.
Large.
Too large.
"…Get ready," Rowan said.
No panic this time.
No hesitation.
They moved.
Marcus raised his hands, faint embers forming between his fingers. Dana stepped forward, her stance lowering as that hardened shimmer spread faintly across her skin. Chris lifted his hand, air tightening around it. Lila steadied herself, focusing.
Ivy stayed just behind them.
Watching.
Waiting.
The creature stepped into view.
It filled the entrance.
Massive. Broad. Heavy with muscle. Its skin was rough, dark, almost stone-like. Thick horns curved from its head, its eyes dull but focused.
A minotaur.
It snorted once.
Then charged.
"Move!" Marcus shouted.
The impact shook the structure as it slammed into the entrance, concrete cracking under the force.
Rowan moved first.
Forward.
The creature swung.
Rowan ducked under it, the air snapping above him from the force of the strike. He drove the metal pipe into its side.
The impact barely slowed it.
Not enough.
The minotaur turned faster than expected.
Its fist came down.
Rowan rolled, the ground cracking where he had been.
"Together!" he called.
Marcus unleashed a blast of fire, slamming into the creature's chest. It staggered—but didn't stop.
Dana charged in, striking its side and forcing it to shift.
Chris fired a compressed burst of air, snapping its head back slightly.
Lila followed with a weaker strike, targeting its legs.
It worked.
Barely.
The minotaur roared, swinging wide and forcing them back.
Ivy stepped forward.
Not to attack.
To influence.
Her presence shifted again.
Subtle.
Focused.
[Aphrodite's Grace Activated]
The creature's movement stuttered.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Its attention flickered.
Confusion.
It wasn't human.
But instinct still reacted.
That was enough.
Rowan moved.
His hand sparked.
Shock.
He drove it into the creature's leg.
Electricity surged.
The minotaur froze.
"Now!" Rowan shouted.
Marcus fired again.
Dana struck low.
Chris aimed high.
The creature staggered.
Rowan stepped in—
And drove the pipe into the same weakened point.
The minotaur roared—
Then collapsed.
The ground shook as it fell.
Silence followed.
Then—
[Enemy Eliminated]
[Divine Favor +75]
The warmth this time was stronger.
Heavier.
[Drops Generated]
Drachma x120Rare Divine OrbIron Horn Fragment
The items shimmered into existence.
No one moved immediately.
Then everyone looked at the orb.
Ivy watched them.
This time, the tension came faster.
Sharper.
Because now—
They understood its value.
And that changed everything.