Chapter 14: Duties
I welcomed the idea of giving her a name, considering it a small gesture of gratitude for the favor she was about to do for me. A name would not only signify her existence but also serve as a representation of this remarkable primate I had encountered.
As I pondered on a suitable name, simplicity became my preference. She possessed healing abilities, so I needed to choose a name befitting a healer.
"After careful thought, I believe Panacea would be a perfect name for you," I finally proposed.
"Panacea? What does it mean?" she inquired with a joyful tone.
"It means the remedy to all things or illness. In this case, you are a remedy to one of my problems," I explained, observing her embrace me in what seemed like a primate's hug.
"I love the name you've given me, Ikenga," she expressed her joy.
"I'm glad to hear that," I responded. Time seemed to pass swiftly as I continued conversing with her, sharing my plans for the future and imparting knowledge she lacked. It amazed me how quickly she absorbed the information, even though I knew she would likely not utilize the knowledge she's learning.
"That's essentially everything I can tell you about myself," I concluded, wrapping up my story.
"After hearing everything, do you still want to proceed with this?" I inquired, seeking her final decision.
Panacea's determination shone through her eyes as she expressed her unwavering commitment to help me, despite her limitations. Although she acknowledged her incapability of offering everything, she pledged to channel all her energy into producing a strong offspring who would eventually assist me in my endeavors.
Realizing that the time had come, I focused on the core of my divinity, invoking a call to revert back into my true form. Unlike imagination, this transformation was a deep, instinctual process. I could feel the change sweeping over me instantaneously.
Recalling Crepuscular's warning about the potential consequences of revealing one's true form, I took immediate action. As the transformation occurred, I carefully reined in the aura and energy that threatened to overflow, ensuring it remained contained within me. With that done, my transformation was complete.
No longer in my humanoid state, I now stood at a towering 25 feet, assuming my crouched Kong-like form. My horns had grown larger to suit my immense stature, while my arms became adorned with the finest stone. In this primal state, I understood the reason for its name, as an animalistic wildness coursed through my being.
Looking down at Panacea, whose mouth was agape in disbelief, I playfully flicked one of my colossal fingers towards her face, causing her to stumble slightly.
"What was that for?" she asked, slightly taken aback.
"Nothing," I replied, feigning ignorance.
Now that she had composed herself, she gazed up at my new form and, with a hint of heat in her voice, commented, "You look really handsome right now."
"Wasn't I always handsome?" I asked with a playful grin.
"You were, but now you're even more captivating," she replied.
Her next words resonated with a touch of concern, "But I can do nothing with you at this size."
"You seem to forget that I can change my size," I responded, a mischievous glint in my eyes. Gradually, I shrank back down to her size.
As soon as I reached her size, she leaped onto me in excitement. Not wanting to put on a spectacle for the creatures in my realm, I extended my hand and called back the divine energy that had been illuminating the sky, causing the realm to once again descend into darkness.
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As our main character pulled the curtain to fulfill his godly duties, somewhere in the northern realm which now belongs to the goddess of the moon.
For the small amount of time Mahu has been born, she couldn't help but feel bothered by the strength exuded by her older siblings after she met them at the meeting. She understood that the age gap accounted for the difference, but it still didn't sit right with her.
Her twin, Ikenga, seemed unfazed by the discrepancy in strength and even if he was bothered, he did a good job of keeping a composed facade.
Despite her concerns, Mahu was overjoyed when Ikenga agreed to her request for an alliance. Wasting no time, she journeyed to the north, the region assigned to her, in search of the creature she would choose for her creation.
She understood that starting a creation will breach the disparity in strength even if a little and the earlier she starts the better.
She chose the north due to its affinity for her moon divinity. As the goddess of the moon, she had a certain level of control over the element of ice, which was abundant in this region.
Descending from the moon to the northern part of the planet Nana, Mahu's eyes beheld a vast expanse of ice covering the land. However, amidst the frozen landscape, there was a particular area that emitted a warm fragrance, resembling a normal land. This place stood out prominently in the Northern hemisphere.
Despite the snowy terrain, the north appeared like a regular forest, with thriving trees and animals. It seemed the abundant cold mana in this part of the planet had caused a mutation in the land.
Instead of the usual brown bark and green leaves, the trees in this cold land possessed white bark and leaves. Surprisingly, this mutation didn't hinder the trees and plants from bearing fruit.
The fruits produced by these mutated plants shared a common characteristic—a cold and refreshing sensation when bitten into, each with its own unique flavor.
Humans in this region had adapted well to the cold. They had established their homes in the abnormal part of this frigid land, where normal-looking trees, plants, and animals thrived.
They seemed accustomed to the cold, often seen venturing into the cold forest with minimal clothing to gather fruits and hunt.
Mahu had been closely observing the creatures inhabiting this part of the world. Unlike her brother Ikenga, she lacked the ability to transform for closer observations, so she had to rely on what she could see from a distance. Ideally, she would have chosen humans as her creation, as she found them to be more aesthetically pleasing. However, humans were off-limits according to Nana's rules. It was quite demeaning for Maha to consider letting a lower creature touch her.
The northern region was teeming with a variety of creatures, both magical and non-magical. Like the trees, the animals had also undergone mutations. Lions and hyenas could be spotted in the area, but their thick white fur indicated the changes they had undergone.
Among the numerous creatures, Mahu had been observing polar bears, foxes, reindeer, and tigers. However, it was the pack of snow-white wolves that captured her interest the most.
Mahu admired the wolves for their pack dynamics. As a deity with an affinity for motherhood, she found their cooperative behavior and unity beautiful to witness. She observed how the wolves worked together to bring down their prey, relying on their unity to dominate the food chain.
Yet, she couldn't ignore the cruel side of nature demonstrated by the wolves, such as their ruthless treatment of weaker members. This was an expected aspect of the natural world.
Hovering in the air, Mahu observed the wolves as they rested, satisfied with their successful hunt. They licked their fur and occasionally bit into the snow around them. Her decision had been made; the wolves would be her chosen creation.
Slowly descending, Mahu approached the wolves, their curious gazes fixated on her. While they observed her, she also observed them, soon singling out her target: the Alpha.