The World's most Overpowered Side-Character

The rainy night had passed, making way for a partly overcast day as the advance army moved forward, although their mood was glim and their spirits low; they moved with the same energy they always did taking one step at a time.

"I overheard someone saying that there's a chance that the generals' position is going to be indefinitely filled by lady Arla," Eris brought up a topic, and listened in the carriage for an answer, but nobody uttered a word, Usami as usual was in her own world, Han and Bruce were never that talkative to begin with, Dina had her eyes trained outside with a downcast and depressed aura around her, and Ikaris was oddly enough staring at Dina with an unreadable expression and not minding anything else.

"Ahem," Eris cleared her throat awkwardly and turned to her window again, that was her third failed attempt at bringing up a topic. "Never mind, then..." She adjusted her glasses and folded her arms.

"I wonder if this is okay," Sol stared at the window before himself, after the Diablos incident his challenges had declined to barely any, and after he rejected Ashera's challenge, there had been a period of silence, but once again, he was staring at a list of challenges issued overnight, two such being the goddess of Beasts again, as well as the god of time; again he was recieving attention from two of the most powerful gods of Arkadia, both of which he didn't know enough about.

"Sara, what do you know of the goddess of Beasts?"

"Ashera?" Sara answered him. "Well, she is quite the enigma amongst the gods, from what I know through the royal libraries." She took on a thoughtful face while she sat behind him on his horse with both her legs on one side like a maiden. "From what I have read, it is said that the goddess of Beasts shares no empathy and is almost as war-crazed as Dr'ul, goddess of war."

"Really?" Sol raised a brow.

"I have no way to confirm these tales, but it is written that there was once a time where Ashera descended for the thrill of fights, taking the form of various beasts and battling the most powerful creatures of myth; she challenged one beast every hundred or so years for several thousand years before the strongest had all been defeated." She tapped her chin.

"Records have her defeating a dragon king, an eldritch god, and Leviathan, the king of the deep..." She trailed off and stared at Sol's head as he turned to look at her through his peripheral.

"She is one of the Seven, and one of the most popular amongst all the gods, she has different monuments all across Arkadia from her many descents, but by far her most famous is her humanoid appearance in Argom which she used when she was challenged by Diablos.

"Diablos?" Sol's mood turned sour at the mention of that scheming lizard. "She fought him?"

"Yes, the legends say Diablos was unsatisfied with being subservient to the goddess of beasts, and he challenged her out of spite and greed for her throne, the tale goes; their battle was over in the blink of an eye, and he was cast from the sky and his wings torn from his back as punishment for his avarice, and he was cursed by the goddess of Beasts to never again ascend into the high heavens, he was rejected by his progenitor to roam amongst lesser gods and demigods for the rest of his existence for even daring to cover her throne."

"Hm," Sol straightened his posture. "Interesting." He mumbled. "Diablos was one-shot by Ashera when he was stronger..."

[Your challenge has been rejected!]

Ashera saw the message and cursed under her breath, while Dr'ul at her side laughed at her expressive displeasure.

[Why do you mock me?] Ashera stood from her perch and shook her fist at Dr'ul. [I am being humiliated by this rodent and it is making me consider foregoing the entire process and attack him without restraint!]

[I forbid it!] Dr'ul sat forward immediately, and all her humour dried up in an instant. [I absolutely forbid you or anyone else from attacking that man without a proper challenge, I gave my word and swore it on the gods!] She gestured to herself. [Honour the agreement between warriors, he will accept your challenge in his own time, when he is ready, or maybe never, but it is his choice to make]

[It is taking too long, I do not possess the same patience as you-]

[Ashera] Dr'ul lowered her tone and took a serious expression when her sister made an attempt to tear the space before her. [Stay your hand.] She ordered her, and the goddess of Beasts felt the throne room tremble.

[I-]

[Do not provoke me into spiteful action, sister.] Dr'ul's eyes burned crimson, and her hair caught aflame. [I will not repeat myself.] Dr'ul threatened her, and Ashera narrowed her eyes and took a step away from Dr'ul as her claws began growing out and her lips peeled back revealing sharp shark-like teeth in her mouth as a trickle of sweat appeared on her forehead.

[You two, stop it] A male's voice intruded Dr'ul's domain, and her and Ashera looked over as a regular gate appeared.

[What brings you here?] Dr'ul calmed down, as did Ashera as they stared at his approach with curiosity.

His eyes were a dark void filled with stars, and his voice carried echoes with it, he had six arms all lazily swaying as he stepped, and a tail coiled behind him like a spring, all covered in greyish-blue skin.

[I just wanted to talk a little, the appearance of Ikaris and Sol Vestic has sparked the heavens into a lively place again, so I am intrigued] he answered with a yawn, raising one of his hands and tapping one of the two tusks that grew from his mouth. [Ashera, do not descend unless he accepts your challenge, it was agreed upon by the entire pantheon]

[You too?] Ashera saw the team-up and growled in annoyance. [Why are we the gods abiding by the rules of a human?] She asked exasperated.

[A game can only function if both sides abide by the rules little sister, if we break those rules again, we might lose our source of entertainment, not to mention, If Ikaris deems it a threat to her master, and the challenges which deter her have been violated further, we have no idea how she will act, whether she will target a single god, or the entire pantheon] He extended all six of his long thin arms in a gesture of "here".

[Do you understand?]

[Not really, no] Ashera scratched her head. [If all you want is entertainment, S'mael, then I do not understand at all, I never understand what goes on in that bald head of yours] She admitted and he clicked his tongue and chuckled. [I only wish to fight and test his might!]

[I want to fight him too, do not be fooled, but Like Dr'ul I am far more eager and far more restrained, I am letting the tension build until it reaches a point where my mind and body are in a state of peace, where I can comfortably and fully enjoy the experience!] He bore his fangs and clasped his fists.

[He is a being I respect, both from his actions and his titles; Tarnished, Godslayer, and even his demon god transformation on a whole, I want to experience each one of these unique powers for myself, I want to see his destruction unfold, to feel with my own body his power!

But, I do not want to fight a battle to the death, he is far too fun to die, I want to enjoy the fight and possibly fight him again multiple times!]

[Alert]

[The god of destruction is showing a disgusting amount of interest in you]

The system warned Sol and he choked on the water he was drinking and leaned forward coughing and slapping his leg.

"Sir!" Sara knelt next to him and rested her hand on his back. "What happened?"

"Something ...annoying," Sol continued choking for a few more seconds before he regained composure.

"Disgusting amount?" Sol felt the god's eyes on his form and felt his skin crawl.

*Thump

"Oh' Ikaris, my dear Ikaris, please shield me from the gaze of this hideous creature, I am a pure man; an untouched man, I do not want to be the plaything of a pervert, shine your blessing upon my unsullied self and save me!" Sol clasped his hands in prayer as his forehead went blue.

[P-pervert!?] S'mael shook from shock while Dr'ul and Ashera burst out laughing hysterically from his reaction. [He calls me pervert!?]

"Master?" Ikaris seemed to appear at Sol's side after she felt her divinity seeking him out passively.

"Goodness me, that worked?" Sara jolted from Ikaris's sudden appearance.

"Ikaris~" Sol's eyes watered as he reached for her hand dramatically, but then he froze with a stare over her shoulder when he saw more golden windows pop up.

[The god of stories challenges you]

[The god of time challenges you]

[A certain god of creation challenges you]

[You are being ridiculed as unfair by the god of destruction]

[The goddess of love is interested in a challenge]

[The god of goats is staring in disbelief]

[The pantheon is shocked that your prayers work within their realm]

[True Goddess Ikaris is shielding you from the lecherous gaze of the god of destruction]

"Oh," Sol looked at the last windows with his lips turned up into a smile. "What's this, there was such a god here too?"

[The goddess of Fauna challenges you]

[The god of speed beckons a race]

[The goddess of sins is interested in a duel]