(Planet Satoru, Leo’s POV)
Although slightly surprised to see this new and evolved form of Dumpy, Leo soon regained his posure, as he smiled and said–
"I’m glad to see you again, old friend.
And no... I do not want you rushing back into war immediately...."
Leo began, as he looked toward Dumpy while the winds of Planet Satoru brushed past them softly.
"You’ve suffered enough these past few years already, and I would rather you stay beside me and live a calm life, until a truly worthwhile fight finally presents itself...."
He proposed, as the grin on his face widened.
"Till then, shrink yourself and hover around my shoulder like old times.
We will hang out. Train... drink... and grow stronger.
Just like we used to."
He said casually, as though suggesting something pletely ordinary despite Dumpy’s current monstrous size.
However, hearing that suggestion, Dumpy lowered his massive head slightly before shaking it with visible reluctance.
"My apologies, Lord Father," Dumpy replied respectfully, as his deep voice rumbled across the empty field around them.
"But after ascending into the Demi God realm, I unfortunately lost the ability to shrink beneath this current form permanently."
Leo raised an eyebrow slightly hearing that.
"I can still gigantify myself further and temporarily reach nearly four hundred and fifty feet in height during bat.
However, this forty five foot form has now bee my natural base state, and I cannot reduce my body beneath it anymore."
Dumpy concluded, as a faint trace of disappointment surfaced in Leo’s eyes afterward.
"So I suppose shoulder rides are officially dead now..." he muttered beneath his breath, as memories from years ago briefly resurfaced inside his mind.
Dumpy nodded slowly.
"However, although I lost one genetic ability after ascending, I gained another in return," Dumpy explained next, as his golden eyes glowed faintly beneath the evening sky.
Leo’s interest sharpened immediately afterward.
"Oh?" he muttered.
"What did you get?"
Dumpy’s massive chest expanded slightly before he answered.
"A new ability called [Divine Essence Disruption]," he said, as faint ripples spread through the surrounding divine essence almost instinctively after he spoke those words aloud.
"It does not pletely erase divine essence from the environment the same way [Mana Nullification] affects mana..."
"But it interferes with the natural flow of divine essence itself."
Leo’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"So enemy Gods attempting to cast techniques near you..."
"...might fail to stabilize their abilities properly?" he asked, immediately understanding the terrifying implications behind such a power.
Dumpy nodded proudly afterward.
"Yes, Lord Father."
"There is now a significant chance that enemy techniques destabilize entirely while cast within my surrounding aura range."
His voice deepened slightly afterward.
"With this ability, I believe I can bee an extremely valuable support asset during future God-level warfare."
A cocky grin spread slowly across Leo’s face listening to that explanation.
"Hah... support asset?" Leo muttered, before chuckling softly afterward.
"Since when did you start talking like a lowly mongrel?
Since when did you start classifying yourself as support instead of lead?"
Leo asked, as Dumpy tilted his head slightly in confusion.
"Am I incorrect though, Lord Father?" he asked sincerely.
"While my arrogance has not faded, I do understand that with my current set of abilities, I can perform better as a support role fighter helping you from the back, rather than a front line assaulter.
However, if you want me to charge ahead, I will.
I have not lost my balls...."
He explained, as listening to his words only made Leo laugh harder.
"Hahaha... no, you terrifying bastard, you are absolutely correct.
You are better suited for a support role now.
But it’s just that, I did not expect you to talk so maturely.
I guess.... My little frog is truly not little anymore." Leo admitted, as he shook his head with visible satisfaction afterward.
Honestly, hearing Dumpy explain his new abilities reassured Leo greatly internally, because although he rarely admitted it aloud—
Having Dumpy beside him during battle always made him feel significantly safer.
Because while Dumpy was not the most perfect fighter. He was the most loyal protector Leo could ever want by his side.
"Alright, Alright.
We will slay some Gods together when the time es...." Leo assured, waving his hand casually.
"Although honestly, I don’t think another major fight will happen anytime soon."
His expression relaxed slightly afterward.
"But if shoulder rides are impossible now, then at least e drink with me for a while."
Leo smirked faintly.
"I know alcohol still makes you happy."
A strange warmth flickered through Dumpy’s eyes hearing that invitation.
"I’m sure Amanda would also be glad to see you again," Leo added afterward.
However, almost instantly, Dumpy raised one enormous hand politely.
"No offense, Lord Father," Dumpy replied carefully.
"I will gladly accept the drinks..."
"But honestly, I only wish to spend time with you."
Leo blinked once.
"The wife still feels slightly... whiny bitch like to me," Dumpy admitted awkwardly afterward.
"And after our previous interaction together, I have decided that avoiding her presence entirely is probably the safest option for my mental stability."
For several seconds, Leo simply stared at him silently.
Then—
"PFFT— Hahahahaha...!"
Leo burst into laughter immediately afterward, as even the nearby cliffs trembled slightly from the force of his amusement.
"You’re still annoyed with Amanda?" he asked between chuckles.
Dumpy looked away with plete seriousness.
"I am not annoyed," he answered calmly.
"I am unsure of how much patience I possess in me to tolerate her presence."
That response somehow made it even funnier.
"Hahaha... alright, alright..." Leo replied eventually, as he wiped lightly at the corner of his eyes afterward.
"I won’t force you to meet her."
Leo said, as after that, the two eventually departed toward one of the desolate regions of Planet Satoru where Dumpy’s corrosive presence would not accidentally destroy surrounding civilian infrastructure.
As beneath the crimson skies of Satoru, the Cult Master and his oldest panion opened a few bottles of the strongest whiskey available, and drank them in peace.
While occasionally toasting a couple to the smoking man, who they both missed.
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