Ten Lucky Draws: I Became OP

[A/N: I will be showing more R-18 scenes soon.... However, we’ve put the next stage on hold long enough!]

----

After several millennia spent with Lithia, Aurelia, and Mira in the newly formed minor existences, Ash found himself back in the new private homeland of the Ineffable Pantheon.

This realm existed beyond the reach of anyone who was not Ineffable.

It floated quietly in the vast cosmos between the minor existences — a grand, ancient manor-like mansion surrounded by floating gardens, crystal-clear lakes, and floating islands of lush greenery.

The architecture was elegant yet deeply personal, blending styles from countless worlds Ash and his family had adventured... or more like destroyed over the cycles.

Ash walked slowly through one of the many gardens, Aphrodite on one arm and Persephone on the other.

The air was rich with the sweet, familiar scent of flowers that carried his own aura — a subtle, intoxicating fragrance Persephone had carefully cultivated.

Every petal, every vine, and every blooming flower had been shaped by her hands, creating a living tapestry of life and beauty that stretched across the floating grounds.

Persephone leaned lightly against him, her fingers tracing the back of his hand as they walked.

"I thought it would be nice to have a garden like the one I made back in the Earth Dimensions," she said softly, a wistful smile touching her lips.

"Though... I have to admit, the scenery makes it even better," she added with a smile. "It feels so peaceful here."

Aphrodite let out a soft, melodic laugh, her voice tinged with a playful lilt. "Is it because it’s peaceful?" she teased, tilting her head slightly.

"Or were you just looking for another excuse to flaunt how hopelessly obsessed you are with Husband?"

Persephone arched an eyebrow before rolling her eyes.

"Does it even matter? You’ve literally dedicated an entire courtyard to his image, covered in paintings and murals of his face."

Unfazed, Aphrodite’s smile remained warm and amused.

"Oh... so was its jealousy then?" she asked, leaning casually across Ash’s chest as they strolled.

"That doesn’t suit you, my dear."

Ash chuckled quietly between them, listening to their familiar banter as they continued walking along the winding garden path.

The scent of the flowers grew stronger with every step, wrapping around them like a warm, fragrant hug.

After a while, the conversation naturally shifted to Ash himself.

"And Husband... Why did you decide to halt the births of the new children?" Aphrodite asked as she herself was looking forward to growing babies again.

"Right... it’s been so long since we had little cute babies running around." Persephone added on as by now each and every heir were always out doing their own thing.

And the daughters were more captivated by Ash than by anything else... so, when they learned that the spirits and Lucy were expecting, the news brought a wave of excitement to the entire family.

Ash’s expression turned a touch more contemplative as he spoke.

"Well," he began, "I’d like for them all to be born around the same time. That way, there can be a little healthy competition between them as they grow up."

While he could arrange their births at any moment he chose, now simply wasn’t the right time.

It wasn’t out of concern for any enemy, but because he intended for them to serve as intricate parts of Pantheos in the eras to come.

And, as he’d said, fostering a touch of rivalry between them was part of the plan.

Persephone nodded in understanding, while Aphrodite arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"Competition, hmm?" she mused.

"Don’t tell me you’re planning to put them in your novels?"

Ash’s faint smile suggested she was almost right.

"Not exactly... but they will indeed be part of Pantheos at the same time as my future characters."

They continued walking in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the gentle sound of flowing water and the distant rustling of leaves filling the space between them.

Eventually, Ash spoke again, his tone shifting into something more forward-looking.

"You two should pass the word to others... we will be stepping out again in a few years."

"Once I finish up a few things for the readers," he said, "I’m going to have a proper talk with NovelGeek."

Over the years, without Ash even needing to tell them, the Ineffable Pantheon had become well verse in the novel and especially the Author.

Persephone tilted her head, curious.

"About what, exactly?"

"It’s time for me to take full control of the Novel," Ash said simply.

"And... I want to know exactly what he’s been keeping from me."

It wasn’t that he thought it was anything too alarming, but every time he checked Discord, there was always a thread of messages hidden from him, all relating to what would happen during the exploration of the First Absence.

’Tsk, he’s probably just trying to avoid spoilers or something,’ Ash mused, as there seemed to be no other reason for blocking his view at this stage.

Still, the thought only made him more curious.

What could be so intriguing that even the Author, after granting him access to the Volume Plans, wouldn’t want to give it away?

By the time their conversation wound down, the three of them had reached a large, serene lake nestled between two floating islands.

The water was crystal clear, reflecting the artificial sky above.

Near the shore, Caelan and Kael (the Twins), Thalion, and Kaelthyr were fishing quietly, their lines cast into the still water as they spoke in low voices.

Aphrodite and Persephone exchanged a glance before both leaned in to give Ash a soft kiss — one on each cheek.

"We’ll see you later," Persephone said with a gentle smile.

"Right... we’ll go inform the others about the news... So, don’t take too long," Aphrodite added, her tone teasing but warm.

With that, the two goddesses disappeared in soft flashes of light, leaving Ash standing by the lake with the other men.

-----

Ash strolled over to the group by the lake, his footsteps light and soft against the grass.

The water lay still, lazily mirroring the vast stretch of stars above.

Kaelthyr was the first to spot him.

The older man turned with narrowed eyes, his dark hair a little tousled and that familiar sharp glint shining in his gaze.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," Kaelthyr remarked, his voice slightly gruff yet playfully teasing as ever.

"Took you long enough, brat. We were starting to think you’d forgotten how to relax."

Caelan, one of the twins, chuckled as he cast his line into the water.

"Big bro’s been busy... we have over ten thousand sisters, after all," he said with a smile, referring to the countless concubines Ash had kept since the days of the Earth Dimensions.

Then there were all his Valkyries, Nia’s bastion, and even Lithia’s.

Altogether, the number of women in his life surpassed one hundred thousand, and everyone knew that if he wasn’t off doing something for Pantheos—which was now complete—he was spending time with them.

"Not that I can blame him though. My wife treats me well!"

Kaelthyr waved his hand and with a thought, he created a fishing line that shimmered with a faint crimson glow. He tossed it toward Ash without much ceremony.

"Take this brat," he said, tossing the fishing rod toward Ash. "The least you can do is spend some quality time with the boys."

Thalion laughed at the sight, shaking his head.

"His Majesty... yeah, there’s no way he’s actually doing that," he said as he adjusted his monocle.

"You know he’s never liked fishing. He’ll just sit there and complain the entire time."

Ash caught the rod, but the moment it touched his hands, the blood began to twist and turn.

In an instant, the fishing rod transformed into a small ball of blood, which he casually tossed into the lake.

He then settled onto the grass beside them, leaning back on his hands with a quiet sigh as his gaze drifted over the calm surface of the water.

"Exactly Old man... at least Old Thalion knows something," he said with a small chuckle. "I didn’t come here to fish with you, that shit is boring."

Kaelthyr scoffed, though there was a clear smirk on his face as he reeled in his line with practiced ease.

"How typical of you, big bro," Kael muttered with a laugh, not even glancing up from his own fishing rod.

Kaelthyr lip twitched in response, suddenly jerking his rod upward.

Just as Ash tossed the blood ball into the lake, a massive, glowing fish burst from the water’s surface, thrashing wildly against the line.

"Haha, speak for yourself," Kaelthyr said with a smug look, holding the writhing catch aloft.

"At least one of us is actually good at something around here."

Ash observed the spectacle with mild amusement, the corner of his mouth twitching upward as the group’s easy banter carried on.

"Right... I’m sure you managed that all on your own."