The Next Guest
Copyright© 2025 by Pars001
Chapter 8
Ephus - Demi-god
Quinn Markov - human wife of Ephus, blessed by multiple gods
Egyptian Dieties
Bast - Goddess of cats, protection, joy, dance, music, family, and love
Serket - Goddess of scorpions, medicine, magic, and healing venomous stings and bites
Japanese Dieties
Amaterasu - Japanese Goddess of the sun (head goddess)
Wakahiru-me - younger sister of Amaterasu, goddess of the rising sun
Benten - Japanese Goddess of love
Hachiman - Japanese God of war
Shuten-dōji - King of Japanese Demons
Oiwa - disfigured and vengful female spirit
Jorōgumo - spider that can shape shift into a woman
Gashadokuro - a female spirit that takes the form of a giant skeleton
“Amaterasu, even with the eleven I released, there are still some he is drawing power from them. I have to stop him before he manages to destroy them,” Ephus said.
All the goddesses bowed their heads as they realized that he was correct. “You also need to rest and rebuild your power. Passing out again from lack of it would kill you and us,” Bast said.
Ephus nodded as he felt that his power was only about half. He had been going and going to try and free all the minor gods and goddesses.
He’d seen the look of hope as he’d moved down the line of them, freeing them. That had been like a knife in his chest as they had vanished even as he had a hand on the eleventh.
The goddesses were startled when they felt Ephus’ power start to grow higher. He saw all of them starting to back off as he realized he was growing pissed.
It took him a while to grow calm, though it upset him that he couldn’t free them. It had been so much simpler when he first started on this.
He then sat to try and relax as he, the three gods and all the goddesses tried to come up with a plan. For the moment, they didn’t seem to have a way around Shuten-dōji and his demons.
Not far from where Ephus had freed the minor gods and goddesses, Shuten-dōji was pissed. How dare a mere demi-god damage the king of the demons!
There was a way to defeat this demi, he knew it. Shuten-dōji snapped the fingers on his only working limb, his females of course! Shuten-dōji smiled evilly, he just had to take one.
The only problem with that was the fact that they had a lot of very powerful brothers. There were also the three god leaders who were also fathers.
It was about that time that he felt an enormous surge of power as it broke into their realm. Interesting Shuten-dōji thought, as this was very powerful energy on a par near Ephus power.
A few minutes later, he received a message that two of Ephus’s wives had arrived. Ummmm, he thought, such delicious power that they had.
Yes, he thought they could empower him for a very, very long time. Rubbing his hands together, he started to plan on just how to get to them.
Hmm, he thought he just needed to lure them away from the palace and Ephus. That demi had seriously screwed his plans to death.
He sat there for more than a day plotting and planning. Every few minutes, rejecting plan after plan that only fell apart the longer they went on.
Finally, at the end of the day, a smile crossed his features, yes! It most definitely would work, a goody, goody like Ephus who didn’t kill. He was much more worried about his wives.
Shuten-dōji started to laugh manically, he had that demi this time. He’d get the wives, a hell of a lot of sex, plus all the energy he’d want. Laughing harder, he’d have Ephus’s bitches in no time.
His laughing was interrupted when his new lair shook as if it had an explosion hit it. He then realized that it had been as he rushed out of it.
Even with one and half arms and legs, Shuten-dōji could still move fast. Ephus appeared as soon as he rounded a corner.
Ephus smiled as he started to cut those that were still chained off the walls as fast as possible. Outside as he was fleeing, Shuten-dōji shrieked as all the minor gods’ power was rapidly yanked from his body.
“I have to kill that demi as soon as possible, though I need to humiliate him first. Yes, after I take his bitches, I will have the advantage,” Shuten-dōji said to no one in particular.
Ephus, Hachiman and the rest of the minor gods and goddesses appeared back in Takamagahara. All five of the goddesses and Quinn could only stare at Ephus and Hachiman.
“Is this all of them?” Wakahiru-me asked as her sister did a quick count.
Amaterasu nodded slowly as she started to count again. “It would appear so, though I am making sure.”
After a few moments, she nodded. “Finally got that ass-hat stripped of the powers he’d stolen.” Ephus said, then an idea came to his mind that made him smile.
He moved to Amaterasu, touching her shoulder lightly, then moved to Wakahiru-me hugging her. He patted Benten on her back lightly. He then moved to Bast, hugging her tightly, then Serket, who he was careful as she was pregnant. Quinn, he wrapped his arms around, holding her longer than the rest.
“So,” Ephus started. “I am hoping that this seriously hampers any plans that he now has. For the moment we,” here, he indicated Hachiman, “are trying to come up with a plan to stop him.”
All five of the goddesses turned toward him, each with a look of almost disbelief on their faces. “Husband,” Bast started. “All your wives miss you.” Here she looked at Quinn, “some more than others.”
Ephus sighed and nodded his head: “I know, but each time the realms are so different. It appears that there is always a piece of shit god that wants to take over. I thought that Zeus’s strengthening of the barrier around Tartarus would help. I am still having to deal with the Titans.”
A worried Bast said, “I thought that the two of you dealt with that.”
Ephus shook his head, “It appears that Cronus managed to gather enough power that even the strengthening isn’t enough. Soon I may have to re-banish them with my own power. I am not looking forward to doing that, as I am now, I barely have the power.”
“That would drain you almost to the point of death, that is completely unacceptable husband,” Bast said.
“Haven’t you ended a Titan before?” Serket asked. “Couldn’t you do that again?”
“That was far different, even though they can’t revenge them, they are still pretty pissed. Plus, there again is the amount of power that it would take to accomplish that,” Ephus said.
Serket nodded, though she seemed to be getting more and more angry with each passing minute. “I will not allow them to hurt you, husband. Things for them will deteriorate so fast, that they will be ended before they realize that they are no more.”
Ephus watched as Serket’s eyes and skin grew brighter and brighter. He put a hand on her shoulder as she sighed, then her power lowered quickly.
“I appreciate your thoughts and actions, my love,” he said. Serket’s face blushed as Ephus bent down and deeply kissed.
All the females there sighed and shuddered when the kiss ended, Serket with a huge smile on her lips. “It, it has been a long time since I felt your love as strong. Thank you husband,” Serket whispered.
“You’re very welcome, my Serket,” Ephus said, then proceeded to kiss Bast and Quinn the same. They both swayed as much as Serket did when he finished.
Wakahiru-me was as surprised when Ephus walked to her and kissed her nearly as passionately. “As a new mother to one of my children, I welcome you to the family.”
“I, I,” was all she could get out as soon as Ephus said what he had. A very appealing blush crept up her features as Ephus held her.
Amaterasu smiled at her sister, happy that her errant sibling was as happy as she was. She looked around at the smiles all the others had, then noticed Benten had a look of pain on her face.
She walked to Benten, bending to whisper in her ear, “Are you worried, Benten?”
“Not as much worried as I am,” here Benten sighed. “I am so very happy, but we may have a slight problem at this time.
“A problem? This is a joyous time what,” Amaterasu said, then realization crossed her mind then her features. “You are!?
Benten nodded her head then lowered it, a few tears escaping her eyes. “I am so sorry, Amaterasu, it was only the one time, but”
Here Amaterasu hushed her, then placed a hand on Benten’s stomach, nearly gasping, then nodding her head to Benten. “Shhh my dear Benten, this isn’t a bad thing.”
Benten was nearly in tears as she whispered, “This is your sister’s glad tidings she will hate me for,” Benten stopped as soon as Amaterasu placed a finder on her lips.
“No, she will be just as happy that she won’t be the only one. I’m sure that she’ll be just as glad,” Amaterasu said.
“What about Ephus?” Benten asked. “He has so many children.”
Amaterasu smiled, “He might pass out at first, but he seems to be happy about all the children.”
Benten stared at Amaterasu for a moment, the look of shock on her face. Then they both started to giggle quietly.
Amaterasu cleared her throat, quieting everyone there as she got all their attention. “It appears that we have more good news, at least I feel that it is good news. I just found out that we have another goddess that is with a child. Your child Ephus”
Ephus smiled widely, said, “uh huh,” then passed out.
Amaterasu nudged Benten and said, “See?”
Benten, who’s eyes were large, looked down at Ephus. “Huh, Why am I not so sure about that?”
Bast smiled at the both of them, “He’s done this at almost every female telling him they are with a child. I believe the worst was when I told him that I was the second time.”