Hitman with a Badass System

The proposal hung heavy in the air, a dangerous gamble that demanded everything from the griffins. Shock and disbelief washed over their faces as they processed Gaya's words. Tarnis was the first to regain his composure, his voice thick with accusation. "You expect us to just surrender? To those bastards? You're out of your damn mind if you think we'd fall for such a manipulative ploy!"

Orin and Fleece, too, shook their heads vehemently, their earlier fear now mingled with a deep-seated distrust. "Captured on purpose? You're asking us to leap into the maw of the beast!" Orin exclaimed, her tone laced with incredulity and anger.

Fleece, always the most timid, added his own quiet yet firm rejection. "It's madness," he whispered, "utter madness."

Standing firm before the trio's burgeoning revolt, Gaya tried to weave her words into a tapestry of persuasion, explaining the strategic advantage, the element of surprise, the chance for a real blow against their shared enemies. Yet, her efforts met with a wall of skepticism and fear, the griffins unmoved by her plea.

As the stalemate stretched thin, a sudden disruption shattered the tension. A large griffin, with a majestic bearing and a gaze sharp enough to cut through the dimness of the cave, landed with a grace that belied his size. His arrival was heralded by a unique squeak, drawing all eyes to him.

The three griffins, a mix of reverence and relief washing over their features, murmured almost in unison, "Father..."

The elder griffin's gaze locked onto Gaya, and recognition flickered in his eyes—an emotion swiftly chased by a cocktail of snicker, anger, shock, and fear. He stared at her, the silence stretching between them like a chasm, before he finally spoke, his voice carrying a weight that stilled the air.

"Goddess Gaya..." The title, spoken with a mix of disbelief and reverence, shocked the younger griffins into silence. Their eyes swung from the elder griffin back to Gaya, the implications of his words slowly dawning on them. Here, in their midst, stood not just a human, but a goddess they had heard of in legends, a figure of immense power and mystery.

The younger griffins, still reeling from the elder's revelation, could hardly process the shift in reality. "Is she... the Goddess of Monsters?" Orin asked, her voice a blend of awe and disbelief, barely above a whisper.

The elder griffin spared them no glance, his focus solely on Gaya, who now stood with her arms crossed, a flash of irritation crossing her divine features. "Didn't I tell you to stay out of trouble?" she asked, her tone sharp, betraying a history that went beyond this cave, this moment.

Memories surged within Gaya, unbidden and sharp as knives. This was the same griffin who had once dared to call her an incompetent goddess, who had mocked the very idea of her potential motherhood with Michael, the God of Darkness, as doomed to failure. Such words, once spoken, were not easily forgotten or forgiven.

The griffin sighed, a deep, rumbling sound that filled the cave. "I was staying out of trouble," he began, his voice carrying a hint of defense. "After your warning, I left Sagespire. Been living my life peacefully, until..." He trailed off, glancing at the three younger griffins with something akin to fondness. "Until I found these three in an abandoned nest."

The revelation hung in the air, a bombshell that landed squarely among the younger griffins. Tarnis, ever the hothead, couldn't contain himself. "Are we adopted?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the cave walls.

"Yes," the elder griffin replied simply, his affirmation dropping like a stone into the pool of their newfound family history.

Gaya couldn't hold back any longer. Laughter bubbled up from within her, a genuine amusement at the scene unfolding before her. "Adopted!" she exclaimed between chuckles. "Oh, this is rich. You three, so proud and fierce, were just a bunch of lost chicks until this old bird found you."

Tarnis, his feathers ruffled in more ways than one, glared at the elder griffin. "Why'd you have to say we're adopted like it's no big deal?" he complained, his voice a mix of hurt and indignation.

The grown griffin scoffed, his beak curling in amusement. "And what did you expect, Tarnis? A grand adoption reveal party with banners and fireworks?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm, clearly finding the notion absurd.

Fleece, ever the quieter one among them, sighed, his voice shaky as he chimed in.

"You're messed up in the head, old man." Despite her timid nature, the absurdity of the situation drew out her blunt assessment.

Gaya, seizing the opportunity for further jest, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Oh, look at this—a family reunion and a comedy show all in one. You guys are a riot!" Her laughter echoed once more, the cave momentarily forgetting the gravity of their situation in favor of the light-hearted banter.

"Seriously though," she continued, wiping away a tear of mirth, "being adopted by this grizzled old feather duster here is probably the best thing that's happened to you lot. At least someone was looking out for you, even if he is as subtle as a landslide."

The grown griffin's demeanor shifted from bemused to stern in an instant. He growled at the three younger griffins, his voice booming within the confines of the cave. "And you three! Sneaking out and attacking people, drawing her here? This is the trouble I warned you about!"

Gaya feigned offense at his words, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Who's the bad parent now, hm?" she shot back, a playful smirk dancing on her lips despite the seriousness of their conversation.

The elder griffin responded with a low, frustrated growl, his patience thinning. "What are you planning to do now?" he asked, his gaze fixed intently on Gaya, as if trying to discern her next move.

Gaya met his gaze, the smirk fading into a look of determination. "Since you're so curious," she began, her voice taking on a tone of solemnity. "I plan to turn their mistake into an opportunity. The beast tamers are coming, and we're going to use that to our advantage. These three," she gestured to the younger griffins, "will be our bait. We let them get captured on purpose."

The elder griffin's eyes widened in shock, mirroring the reaction of the younger ones from earlier. "On purpose? You're going to let them be captured?" he echoed, disbelief coloring his tone.

"Yes," Gaya confirmed, nodding. "But with a twist. I'll break them out before they can be sold or worse. And in the chaos, we take down the leader of the beast tamers. It's a chance to strike back, to send a message that not all prey is helpless."

The revelation left the elder griffin speechless for a moment, the audacity of the plan sinking in. It was a dangerous gamble, one that placed his newfound charges in harm's way, yet offered a path to reclaiming their dignity and agency. The plan was bold, reckless, and... perhaps just crazy enough to work.

The younger griffins, still grappling with the unfolding plan, turned to the elder with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. "Father, tell her she's crazy," Tarnis implored, the term 'father' now a testament to their forged bond rather than a mere acknowledgment of adoption.

The elder griffin sighed deeply, his gaze shifting between Gaya and the trio before him. "As much as she and I don't see eye to eye—" he began, only for Gaya to cut in.

"Hate each other, more like," she interjected with a wry grin, emphasizing the depth of their mutual disdain.

The griffin shot her a glare but continued, his voice firm. "She is a goddess. She doesn't have to lie about her intentions or capabilities. And," he raised his voice, making sure the younger griffins heard him over their murmurs of dissent. "Your actions have indeed led us here. I'm aware of the beast tamers, and frankly, her plan might be our only shot at ensuring your safety."

The elder griffin, practical and cautious, was not one to leap without looking. "And if things go south?" he pressed, his tone demanding a fallback plan, a safety net beneath the tightrope of Gaya's scheme.

Gaya, understanding the necessity of his concern, reached into her satchel, pulling out a handful of small, intricately carved amulets. These shimmered with a subtle, otherworldly light—gifts from Michael, imbued with teleportation magic. "Ghost and I anticipated that," she said, offering the amulets to the griffin. "These will serve as your emergency exit."

She explained, "Swallow them, and when the moment calls for it, activate their magic to teleport away from danger. It's a single-use escape, so make it count."

The elder griffin examined the amulets with a critical eye, then nodded, accepting the lifeline she provided. He turned to the younger griffins, relaying Gaya's advice with a seriousness that underscored the gravity of their situation. "Swallow these and use them if necessary. It's our last resort."

Gaya continued, outlining the final steps of her plan with clarity and precision. "When the time comes, you'll break out of your cages and strike at Borgin Ironfist. Take him down and use the amulets to teleport to safety. I'll handle everything from there."