For a brief instant, as Athena's divine power surged explosively, she almost suspected that the black-haired, golden-eyed woman before her was the true goddess of night who brought death.
Otherwise—why was it that she, the one who governed darkness and death, the one who possessed the Authority of the goddess of war and wisdom, the one in the process of reclaiming her true body, felt fear in her heart at this very moment?
Nevertheless, she forced herself to remain composed and spoke, "Even if my power has not yet fully recovered, do you truly believe you can so arrogantly destroy me with ease...?"
As her divinity returned, the golden domain around her became permeated with the aura of night and death.
An unnatural silence descended, enveloping the entire rooftop.
A dense, sacred presence advanced step by step.
Then the goddess raised her head and chanted aloud:
"I chant, I chant the hymn of the trinitarian goddess. She who unites sky, earth, and darkness—she who embodies reincarnation and wisdom.
"I chant, I chant the song of the goddess who was cast into disgrace. A queen regarded as a forbidden serpent—this is the queen's lament.
"I chant, I chant the poem of the goddess whose body and soul were torn asunder. Violated by her exalted father—this is the humiliation of the loving mother.
"My name is Athena, daughter of Zeus, guardian of Athens, the eternal maiden.
"In ages past, I was the Mother Earth who gave birth to all things! In ages past, I was the ruler of the underworld who governed darkness! In ages past, I was the queen of wisdom who understood the scattered intellect of the heavens! I swear—Athena shall return to her primordial self!"
From Athena's lips flowed the woven chant of Words.
Like a hymn. Like a prayer. Like a solemn eulogy.
As the chant continued, Athena's form began to change.
Her height increased, her limbs lengthened, transforming from the appearance of a young girl into that of a dignified and graceful lady.
The childishness vanished from her face.
Judging by her appearance alone, she now seemed about seventeen or eighteen years old, and her modern attire transformed into a white robe reminiscent of ancient Greece.
A black wind of death swept outward. Yet when it reached Satsuki, it was obstructed by an invisible barrier and could not advance an inch.
"Simpler than dealing with Verethragna—fifteen minutes..." Satsuki raised a single finger. "In just fifteen minutes, I will cast you down from the throne of the gods."
"You—!!!"
She was a god.
Though her appearance resembled that of a human, in spirit and moral nature she was an entirely different existence. And yet—even so—
Fear, anger, confusion... even doubt in herself.
In that instant, even Athena, who had regained her trinitarian true form, took half a step back. For a fleeting moment, uncertainty about her own power flashed through her mind.
And the moment she realized this, unprecedented shock surged across Athena's face.
Because in that single instant—she had believed it.
Having reclaimed her true body, her strength ranked among the highest of the Heretic Gods. Such a being could not possibly be defeated by an unknown existence.
Even Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades could not accomplish such a feat.
Drawing upon the wisdom aspect of her divinity, Athena's eyes quickly regained clarity, and her tone no longer carried even the slightest arrogance born of regained power.
"You... are indeed an existence I have never encountered since the age of myth. Not only your strength, but also your wisdom—even among the gods, few possess your skill with words. Therefore, I wish to know your name."
Within the region swallowed by darkness, a faint glow shone in Athena's eyes.
"Satsuki."
"Is that so? I shall remember this name. And then..."
Though she knew well that the name might not be the other's true one, the goddess did not pursue the matter. With unwavering determination upon her beautiful face, she declared, "Let me witness how you intend to defeat me—who has reclaimed all her Authorities—within fifteen minutes!"
...
At the very moment Athena fully reclaimed her Authorities, an abnormal phenomenon that paralyzed the entire city's functions occurred simultaneously.
All sources of illumination visible to the naked eye, regardless of size or location, were extinguished by a strange power.
On the ground, every vehicle came to a halt. More disastrously, airplanes in the sky began to plummet toward the earth.
A starless night—just as Princess Alice had foretold—descended upon the world.
In a single instant, it seemed as though the human realm had been replaced by the underworld.
It was only a little past nine in the evening. Though there were fewer pedestrians than during the day, many office workers and local residents were still present.
The situation resembled what had once occurred in Italy.
Government and news agencies could only attribute the event to a natural disaster or accident, but their announcements did little to quell public dissatisfaction. Some people raged, others looked around uneasily.
Still others fell into panic.
Anger, unrest, disarray, confusion, distress...
Yet a very small number of people understood the gravity of the situation.
"This is quite something. It seems matters are becoming increasingly urgent."
"Mr. Amakasu, that remark is far too careless. Please take this seriously."
The car remained completely motionless.
In response to the muttering of the young man in the driver's seat, Yuri Mariya spoke from the passenger seat, her tone reproachful.
Although they had not known each other for long, she had already learned one thing: the personality of this Historical Compilation Committee member named Touma Amakasu was somewhat lacking in seriousness.
"Oh my, my apologies. But in a situation like this, whether we're serious or relaxed makes no difference in solving the problem. If that's the case, isn't it fine not to worry about it?"
"I'm talking about your attitude. Honestly, someone as unserious as you is quite troubling, Mr. Amakasu!"
After Satsuki and Erica left the Nanxiong Shrine, Yuri reunited with this 'ninja' gentleman and reported the matter concerning the Gorgon Stone. The two then decided that they could not simply ignore the situation and must track its development.
After all, this was a battle between a King and a Heretic God. Regardless of who emerged victorious, Japan itself—serving as the battlefield—would suffer a catastrophe.
However, the speed at which events unfolded far exceeded their expectations.
The sudden change occurred in an instant.
The car driven by Amakasu abruptly slowed, moving at little more than walking speed. In less than two minutes, it came to a complete stop.
Looking around, they realized that all the car headlights had vanished, and the lights throughout the city were gradually being extinguished.
The roads were filled with countless vehicles that could no longer move. Unlike an ordinary traffic jam, no matter how long one waited, the vehicles would never advance again.
Many drivers left their cars, anxiously looking about in all directions.
"Miss Yuri, let's get out and proceed on foot. Waiting here won't help."
"Is that really alright? Leaving the car here might cause trouble for someone."
"In the current situation, worrying about such things is pointless. Come on, quickly—let's go."
Urged by Amakasu, who had already stepped out of the car, Yuri followed suit.
The two began walking along the sidewalk.
As far as the eye could see, everything was shrouded in darkness.
The only light came from the dim glow of the moon and faint starlight.
"A domain of darkness... Is Athena truly a goddess who possesses such a divinity?"
Though his knowledge of mythology was limited, Amakasu's confusion did not prevent him from assessing the opponent's strength. To create such a vast and powerful influence—Athena was indeed worthy of her reputation as the most renowned goddess of Greek mythology.
Compared to the scale of her Authority on the island of Sardinia, her divine power now was undoubtedly far more destructive in terms of range.
Meanwhile, the body of the shrine maiden trembled slightly.
No—this was not from the cold. As a shrine maiden, she sensed the gradually reviving divine presence being exalted high into the heavens.
She suddenly recalled the obsidian emblem—the Gorgon Stone—that the black-haired Satsuki had shown her at the Nanxiong Shrine.
There was no mistake. Such a phenomenon could only mean that Athena had reclaimed the Gorgon Stone, just as foretold.
"Could it be... they failed?"
...
The space atop the rooftop had been dragged into another wondrous domain. The darkness that had once been dispelled by the authority of the White Stallion, which manifested as the sun, surged forth once more—and on an even greater scale than before.
Countless eyes stared at Satsuki from within the darkness, like hunters observing their next meal.
To Athena, mortals were akin to ants beneath her feet—their life or death was not something worthy of consideration.
However—the being before her clearly did not belong within the category of "mortals."
Those who are too ignorant do not fear the gods, for they cannot comprehend them.
Those who are too rational do not fear the gods, for fear is meaningless.
The most dangerous when facing a god are those of half-understanding.
For the mere existence of a gap in hierarchy is enough to plunge such mortals into despair.
Like a frog that sees a snake, the absolute disparity between them causes the weaker one's self-belief to collapse entirely, reducing it to helpless prey awaiting slaughter.
Yet in the eyes of the being named Satsuki, Athena saw none of these gazes.
Within those golden eyes was an expression that seemed both seeing and not seeing—an indifferent gaze that pierced through her divine body and the starless night enveloping the land, reaching beyond the endless heavens and looking down upon the world from the distant cosmos.
This caused an inexplicable thought to arise within Athena's heart: If one were to look down from that starry sky, would she and these mortals not appear equally insignificant?
Satsuki still stood before her, yet the terrifying psychological pressure grew heavier with the restoration of Athena's divine power.
She could not help but feel a trace of alarm. What kind of existence was the being standing before her?
Within this darkness, Satsuki—perfectly merged with the surroundings—seemed even more like the true sovereign of heaven and earth.
Then, the resplendent sword in Satsuki's hand cleaved through the void, its tip steadily pointing toward Athena.
The trajectory of this strike appeared exceedingly simple, yet imbued with a power that even gods found difficult to withstand, it became a lethal attack that could not be easily opposed.
With no time for further thought, Athena, having regained her true form, summoned the fighting spirit and authority of the goddess of war, focusing intently on the incoming blade.
Multiple images of Satsuki appeared within her vision, and the frames of time shifted forward. As the goddess of wisdom and war, she possessed the ability to foresee the future—she could observe the outcome of all attacks in advance and determine the most optimal method of countering them.
Had she not reclaimed her Authorities, she would have been unable to withstand this strike.
But now, she could clearly perceive the path of her opponent's attack!
With full strength unleashed, Athena could not help but cry out softly as her massive scythe swept horizontally before rising upward in a sharp counterstroke.
Clang—!
At the instant the weapons collided, Athena once again felt that unreasonable and overwhelming force surge into her wrist. However, having regained the power of the Earth Mother Goddess, her feet were firmly planted upon the ground, and her strength flowed endlessly. She stood completely unmoved, successfully blocking Satsuki's attack.
This was the first time she had managed to withstand Satsuki's strike.
Then came a dazzling barrage of rapid attacks.
Within this lightless battlefield, two figures—one black, one white—clashed fiercely against one another.
The surging divine power, the unceasing sparks, and the overwhelming pressure capable of tearing space itself apart caused the surrounding darkness to emit a hysterical wail.
The black domain was continuously stripped away, replaced by an even deeper and more profound darkness.
Even a divine realm forged by godly power could only become a helpless lamb to the slaughter under the ravages of this chaotic storm.
As the prolonged exchange continued, a trace of confidence appeared in Athena's eyes. Utilizing the extended reach of her scythe and her foresight into the future, she skillfully seized control of the battle's rhythm, maintaining a distance most advantageous to herself.
At the same time, the eyes within the surrounding darkness occasionally fired beams capable of petrifying even gods toward Satsuki. This hindered Satsuki's fierce and relentless assault. Even her most exquisite variations and unpredictable attacks were deftly avoided under Athena's future-seeing gaze.
As though fate itself were being manipulated, the longer the battle continued, the more constrained Satsuki became, while Athena grew increasingly adept.
The Samsara Reincarnation Sword and the pitch-black scythe intertwined in relentless conflict.
Meanwhile, the darkness at Athena's feet spread gradually.
—Cold.
As the darkness expanded, the temperature steadily dropped.
It was as if winter had suddenly descended, the chill biting into the skin like blades.
"Even though I am immortal, I cannot endure the strikes of your sword. Therefore, I shall defeat you with the forbidden power of darkness!"
Athena infused her power into the wrist that held the black scythe.
Though she had gradually gained the advantage, she now began to burn her divine power with all her might.
Unknowingly, the formless darkness spreading outward had enveloped the entire night sky. The moon and stars vanished, and the surroundings were swallowed by chaotic darkness—an abyss where not even a single ray of light could exist.
—This was the Authority of Instant Death.
Wielding the underworld's divine power of annihilation and death, Athena imbued her pitch-black scythe with her most dangerous divine force.
"I am she who summons winter and governs life and death—the sovereign of the frigid underworld, the queen who seizes by cunning and force. I command you—become a corpse!"
As she spoke, Athena swung her scythe, releasing a beam of dark death capable of sundering heaven and earth.
This was an irresistible Authority attack, surging directly toward Satsuki.
At the moment the dark death-light struck, a Truth-Seeking Orb shield suddenly manifested before Satsuki, firmly blocking the terrifying attack. (Note: this is not a Vipralopa Truth-Seeking Orb.)
However, the Truth-Seeking Orb proved far less effective against an attack outside the chakra system. Soon, the shield began to disintegrate under the impact of the Instant Death Authority, and the dark death-light struck Satsuki's body directly, beginning to erode her form.
—A hit.
A trace of pride appeared upon the face of the goddess of wisdom. Maintaining the forbidden power's assault, she spoke to Satsuki in a clear and melodious voice, "Arrogant one, do you still dare claim you will defeat me within fifteen minutes?"
Yet when she looked into those golden eyes, she found that the star-like pupils remained as indifferent and detached as before, regarding her existence as though it were barely worth notice.
At the same time, a layered voice echoed in her ears, as if resounding from all directions.
"Is that so?" *3
As the words fell, the radiant sword and Satsuki's figure abruptly vanished from Athena's future-seeing vision. Everything around her seemed to plunge into absolute "darkness."
"What is happening?"
Athena frowned and looked toward the surrounding dark domain. Violet underworld divine power radiated from her body, yet she discovered that her authority as the goddess of night and death could not control the darkness around her. But how could that be possible?
"Because that is not your domain of darkness, but the Dead Line Boundary I have replaced it with." *3
"All this time, did you believe I was trying to attack you?" *3
"You were mistaken. My objective was merely to set a cage that would completely trap you at the moment of your complacency." *3
"Goddess of the underworld, look well upon this dark firmament." *3
Hearing these words, the silver-haired goddess raised her head to gaze at the starless night that had once belonged to her. Within her violet divine eyes, she faintly saw a massive black wheel slowly rotating above.
Like a wheel formed from the abyss itself, it turned within the starless night. Heaven collapsed, earth shattered, and boundless violent fluctuations instantly suppressed everything within the region.
The blackness of death was being purged, and the evil eyes scattered throughout space were drawn into the wheel above like grains entering a millstone.
The goddess could sense that any substance touched by that wheel would be erased from existence itself—from the very concept of being.
This technique—was the ability Satsuki had once developed to counter the immortality of the Demon God King Goetia within the Temple of Time.
And now, Athena, who claimed immortality, would experience this world-destroying and realm-annihilating power.
How could she respond? How could she resist?
Her once-infallible wisdom seemed to collapse at this moment, her sight—capable of perceiving the trajectory of fate—clouded into chaos.
Even her authorities of the underworld and death were reduced to their primordial Words under this pure conceptual erasure, twisting around the silver-haired goddess and emitting the most despairing wails.
At this moment, the resplendent silver-haired goddess could only stare blankly as the annihilating wheel descended, purging all existence.
And in the end, the final sound she heard was a familiar, ethereal voice.
"Fifteen minutes have passed. Now—the game is over." *3
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