Hitman with a Badass System

Michael gently led Gaya towards the giant mushroom that concealed the entrance to their new base of operation. As they approached, Gaya, with a mix of curiosity and confusion, eyed the unusual structure. 

"What's this?" she asked, her tone laced with intrigue.

With a playful chuckle, Michael demonstrated how to enter their secret haven. He pressed his hand against the seemingly solid stem, revealing the hidden passage within. Gaya's eyes widened in amazement, a smile spreading across her face as she followed him inside.

Upon stepping into the base, they were greeted by Vedora. Each head, Cain, Sarba, and Ayag, eagerly leaped towards Gaya, showering her with affectionate, wet kisses. Their tongues playfully licked at her, causing her to burst into laughter.

Gaya, overcome with joy, wrapped her arms around Vedora, embracing the familiar warmth and comfort of her companions. Her laughter echoed through the base, filled with the happiness of reunion.

"I've missed you all so much," she said, hugging them tight.

As Vedora contentedly settled atop Gaya's shoulder, a sense of completeness filled the air. Pink, with a hint of awkwardness, stepped forward, scratching her head as she mulled over the appropriate way to address Gaya. 

"Uh, lady, goddess, Mrs. Ghost?" she muttered, trying to find the right title.

Noticing Pink's hesitation, Michael introduced her. 

"Gaya, this is Pink,"

Gaya's eyes widened in a mix of surprise and recognition. 

"The Pink? The one from Earth?" she asked, her voice tinged with astonishment.

"Yes, she was also transmigrated to this world, just like us." Michael nodded affirmatively.

Pink, seizing the moment, joked about her current half-orc form. 

"Yeah, quite the upgrade, isn't it? Or downgrade, depending on how you look at it," Pink said with a light-hearted chuckle. Gaya, amused by Pink's humor, responded with a warm nod. 

"Just call me Gaya," she said, her tone friendly and inviting.

As they walked through the base, Michael and Pink proudly showcased their new operation center to Gaya. The state-of-the-art equipment, combined with magical elements, gave the place an aura of both technological advancement and mystical wonder.

Explaining his journey, Michael delved into the tale of his betrayal by Goddess Marli and his following struggles and victories. He recounted the intense battle with the ancient centipede and how he forged a weapon from its collarbone. His narrative led to the climactic moment of assassinating Rainar, the God of Rain.

Listening intently, Gaya's expression shifted to one of realization. 

"So that's why the rain suddenly stopped in the Dark Ocean and everywhere else," she remarked, piecing the events together.

"Yes, and it's likely a new God of Rain will be chosen soon," Michael added, his voice tinged with a hint of concern about the implications of his actions.

The tour concluded, Gaya, now fully updated on their situation, turned to them with a look of determination. 

"What's our plan now?" she asked.

While Michael was contemplating his next plan, Pink settled into her chair, immediately immersing herself in her task of hacking into Seraphene's spy hub. The screens in the room flickered to life, revealing the live feed from the spy hub, where the dwarf captain could be seen peering intently at the Celestial Valley.

"Is that woman gone?" the dwarf captain was heard muttering, referring to the recent chaos in the valley.

"Were they spying on me?" she growled, her eyes narrowing.

"That's Goddess Seraphene's domain. She's the Goddess of Information, known for her extensive network of spies and informants." Michael explained.

"You're a goddess too, you know." Ayag perched on Gaya's shoulder quipped.

Hearing Ayag, Gaya just rolled her eyes and shot back sarcastically. 

"Yeah, right. As if I'm a goddess." She laughed off the remark, believing it to be a joke. But Michael's calm response stopped her in her tracks. 

"Actually, Ayag's right," he said seriously. When Gaya heard Michael, her laughter faded, replaced by a look of utter shock. 

"Me, a goddess?" she echoed, hardly able to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, you are the Goddess of Monsters."

Suddenly, Gaya was overwhelmed by a cacophony of whispers and prayers directed at her from monsters and beasts across the realm of gods. The voices bombarded her mind, each one pleading and praying in various tones and dialects.

"Great Goddess, guide my fangs..."

"Protect us, Mighty One, in our hunt..."

"Grant me strength, Divine Gaya..."

The sudden influx of voices caused Gaya to stagger, her hands flying up to clutch her head as she struggled to process the overwhelming barrage of thoughts and prayers.

Michael quickly wrapped an arm around her, steadying her as he recognized the signs of someone experiencing the flood of worship for the first time. "It's intense at first, hearing their prayers," he said gently, offering her a reassuring presence.

"How do I make it stop?" Gaya growled, her voice strained under the weight of the countless voices in her head.

"Take a deep breath," Michael instructed, "and look into my eyes. Focus on me. Let my presence anchor you."

Michael stood by herside, calming her nerves. He could vidily remember the first time his head was filled with the prayers from his worshippers so he knew how overwhelming it could be. 

As Gaya gazed into Michael's eyes, she felt the chaotic whispers in her mind begin to recede. Gradually, the voices faded into the background, allowing her to focus her thoughts solely on Michael. His steady gaze and calm demeanor acted as a balm, helping her regain her composure and silence the once-deafening chorus of prayers.

Gaya, still grappling with the revelation of her newfound godhood, shook her head in disbelief. 

"So, I really am a goddess," she mused, a hint of pride in her voice. With a haughty smile, she added, "I always knew I was special."

Michael chuckled softly and affectionately pinched her nose. 

"You've always been special, goddess or not," he said, his words filled with warmth.

Her laughter echoed through the room, lightening the atmosphere that had been heavy with revelations and concerns.

Interrupting the moment, Ayag chimed in. "Happy as we are for this reunion, Ghost, you promised us you'd visit the Hydra breeders in this realm.

Sarba nodded in agreement. "Now that we've dealt with Rainar, it's time to focus on learning more about our kind. We should meet with the hydra breeders and understand more about Vedora's lineage."

Michael turned his attention to Pink, who was already busy hacking into more of Seraphene's data crystals. "Find out everything you can about the Ironhands Beast Tamers," he instructed, his voice steady and commanding.

With swift and skilled keystrokes, Pink accessed the information, her eyes scanning the data that flickered across the screens. 

"The Ironhands are led by Borgin Ironfist," she relayed, her tone reflecting her focus. 

"Seems like he is famous for his feats, including defeating a wild ice dragon in the Frosted Peaks and taming an Eagle Bear, a rare and formidable creature known for its strength and ferocity."

She continued, providing an overview of the Ironhands' hierarchy and specialties. 

"They mainly focus on dragons and other rare breeds. The clan's reputation is built on their ability to handle and train some of the most dangerous beasts in this realm."

As Pink shared the information, Michael absorbed every detail, formulating a plan in his mind. Amidst their planning, Pink chimed in, her voice filled with a hint of excitement. 

"The Ironhands have a branch in Goldspire, within Seshat's kingdom of Sagespire. It's the perfect place to start."

She glanced at Michael, then added, "You can open up a portal directly to Goldspire. While we're there, we could also check on Fayeth and Rurik."

Michael considered her suggestion, nodding in agreement. "That sounds like a solid plan."

"We're back in action, just like the old times!" Gaya's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. 

"While we're at it, maybe we can also seek out Seshat. She might have some insights on how to elevate Gaya's cultivation to the standards of the realm of gods," said Ayag.

For a few moments, Michael's gaze lingered on Gaya before he spoke. 

"Let's take it one step at a time," he said, his voice resonating with the confidence of a leader ready to embark on their next adventure.

Michael turned his attention to Pink, his tone serious yet appreciative. "Keep an eye on Seraphene's spy hub. We need to access more of those crystals."

"Hmm," Pink nodded, her fingers poised over the keyboard. 

" And maybe you can find a way to tap into those secluded crystals while you're meeting with Seshat. She's Seraphene's sister, after all."

"I'll see what I can do," Michael replied, his mind already strategizing their next moves.

Shifting his focus, Michael looked at Gaya and asked, "Ready to head to Goldspire?"

Gaya's response was immediate and enthusiastic. "Hell yeah."

With a swift motion, Michael summoned the portable portal, and a swirling vortex materialized before them. 

"Let's go then."

One by one, Michael, Gaya, and Vedora, comfortably perched on Gaya's shoulder, stepped into the vortex, vanishing into the portal as it whisked them away to their next destination in Goldspire.