Mantle of the Gods [LitRPG / Slow Burn / FTB Harem]

Ether slapped me.

"What was that for?" I thought about dodging the next one, but I didn't. I found myself regretting supporting her raising her Power as she smacked the other side of my face.

"Ow!" I rubbed my face as she balled her fist. "Wait! Why are you hitting me?"

"You told me there was nothing going between the two of you!"

"There isn't!" I waved my hands in front of me. I'd let her hit me all day if this was over not fully disclosing Justia's role, but this? Nope, not got to let her have free hits for something I'd never do.

"Everybody knows what the relationship between a God and their High Priest is!"

I pointed at myself. "Do you seriously think that I would put this…" I pointed at Justia. "In that..?" I realized what I said as soon as the words came out of my mouth. "Justia, no offense, you're wonderful and all, but…"

"Some taken." Justia folded her arms in front of her. "But he's right. Atlas has never even tried to touch me that way." She looked at me. "I know I'm as safe as he can make it when I'm around him." Her brow furrowed, "What's going on between you two?"

"I told Ether, Oz, Fray, and Gesai everything and now Ether is mad at me for not telling her everything..!" I winced as Ether started to swing. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Okay?" I let my hands drop. "You want to hit me? Fine. I won't stop you. But here's one more thing. I didn't know that I was this until eight weeks ago when we got our Mantles. I didn't even know about what these things were until last week and I still don't know everything about them. I may have held back some of the details, but honestly, what is the difference between a Hero and a God? Both can ascend. As far as I can tell the only difference is I'm better at seduction and Rix is better at killing. And honestly I think that may have to do more about the individual person than the class."

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I let my hands fall by my side. "So if you want to hit me, then hit me. But Ether, I love you and that won't change. So if that's what you need to do. Then I'll take it."

I saw her fists start to loosen and I knew she wasn't going to hit me anymore. At least, not until I found some way to mess up again. She wrapped her arms around me as she sat on my lap.

"I'm so sorry, I just…" Tears were running down her face.

I looked into her red eyes. "It's okay. I knew you were freaked out and I wish I could have found a way to tell you earlier, but we've…"

"Not really had a chance to stop." Ether kissed me.

I let the warmth spread over me. It'd been crazy since we arrived and this was what I needed to help calm the storm in my mind.

"Hey lovebirds!" Whisper came over and shook my shoulder, breaking the kiss. "Make-up on your own time where I don't have to watch it."

I was about to tell him off when he pointed at the walls of the Chamber. There were over a dozen tears in various places and the black smoke like the stuff that had been wafting off of the dead demons was coming in.

"We've got a problem." Whisper had his sword in his hand again.

We'd been able to handle nine and now with Ether and Justia, I had a feeling that we could handle them all okay. Until they started forming into almost thirty.

"Justia!" I stood up and willed my sword into my hand. "Now would be a good time to figure out how to get us out of here!"

"I have no idea what to do!" Justis stood up. "I didn't even know about these things." She motioned at the Chamber.

"Fera put her hand on Mive. See if that does something!" Ether pointed at the unconscious God. She looked at my sword. "How did you do that?"

"I just thought about it and it appeared." I shrugged. "I don't…"

Blue metal armor covered Ether, but I'd never seen that armor before. It looked like something that someone Tier Four or Five would wear. There were tiny runes all over it, written in some type of gold, and her shield was as big as she was, but in the shape of my seal, complete with the emblem that was on my chest on it.

"Where did you get that?" I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

"You said you thought of it and it came in your hand…" I knew she was smiling inside that helmet. "I saw this at an Adventurer Games once. I thought since Whisper said levels don't matter…"

"Seriously?" Rix stood up and a flaming chain-scythe appeared in her hands. Her golden skin started to sprout leather as she was covered head to toe in an armor that I'd also never seen before.

"Oh, this is going to be fun…" Rix vanished.