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"Then why aren't you eating?" Alex continued teasing.
Saya-miya Kaoru looked like she was about to cry from nerves and hurriedly said, "W–We're just not very used to European food. We'll eat right away!"
Seeing this, Hikari Banriya hopped down from her chair and ran over to Alex. Tugging on the corner of his clothes, she said in a small voice, "Demon King big brother, don't scare the big sisters, okay? I'll let my sister marry you and be your woman."
Alex burst out laughing and couldn't help reaching out to pat her little head.
Meanwhile, Yuri Banriya turned bright red with embarrassment after hearing her sister's words.
After laughing for a bit, Alex looked at Hikari and said, "But what if big brother doesn't like your sister?"
Hikari froze. Her big, adorable eyes rolled slightly, and then she asked, "Then… does Demon King big brother like Hikari?"
Alex smiled and nodded. "Hikari's so cute. Of course big brother likes you."
Hikari immediately beamed. "Then when I grow up, I'll be your woman!"
Alex was briefly stunned, then laughed as he gently pinched her chubby, collagen-filled cheeks. "We'll talk about that when you grow up. For now, go eat."
Hikari actually nodded seriously. "Okay!"
By the time the meal ended, night had fully fallen.
Alex led the girls out of the hotel and headed to the beach to enjoy the night view of the sea.
Even at night, the beach was still lively with people.
The full moon and starlight reflected off the water, painting a beautiful scene.
Couples laughed and played along the shore, and vendors lined the beach selling coconut juice, ice cream, and snacks.
Alex wore beach shorts and a floral shirt, with a simple pair of flip-flops on his feet.
Behind him, the six girls wore various swimsuits, their youth and beauty on full display.
After spending some time playing around on the beach, it was already 9:30 p.m.
By then, there were far fewer people around, and the beach grew quiet.
Alex took out the Gorgon Stone and poured divine power into it.
In an instant, the snake-haired figure engraved on the stone, Medusa, seemed to come alive.
He was sure Athena would sense it.
Although she had been injured by Luo Hao, so much time had passed that she should have recovered by now.
And now that the Gorgon Stone was no longer in Luo Hao's hands, Athena would definitely want to test things for herself.
After all, even among Godslayers, there were vast differences in strength.
Luo Hao stood at the very top, while Alex was still a newly awakened Godslayer.
With Athena's wisdom, she would certainly come.
Sure enough, just a few minutes after the Gorgon Stone was activated, Alex felt a divine presence descend.
The entire world immediately turned a muted gray-white, as if bound by some restriction.
A petite girl with silver hair and violet eyes appeared before him, wearing a middle school uniform.
She had delicate features, a knitted cat-ear hat on her head, and beneath her short skirt were long, pale legs clad in dark blue thigh-high socks.
A small owl perched quietly on her shoulder.
Alex recognized her at a glance.
Athena.
This, however, was not her complete form. Her true appearance was that of a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old少女.
Because her power had been split and she had lost her trinity, she had taken on the form of a young girl.
"Lord of Rakshasa," the small Athena asked calmly, "you used the Gorgon Stone to draw me here. Do you wish to fight me?"
Her tone was flat, betraying no emotion.
"Not at all," Alex replied directly. "I want to form an alliance with you. To deal with the God of Steel, and even the King at the End."
Athena's previously calm eyes flashed with surprise, but she quickly laughed it off. "Human mythology has existed for thousands of years. In all that time, not a single Godslayer has ever defeated the King at the End. What makes you think you can?"
"Because of my strength," Alex said, releasing all of his divine pressure.
Divine power seven times greater than that of an ordinary Godslayer surged forth, once again shocking Athena.
This rookie Godslayer was actually stronger than that woman, Luo Hao. How was that even possible?
Still, Athena was Athena. After her initial shock, she quickly regained her composure.
"You do have some strength," she said coolly, "but you are still far from matching the King at the End."
Athena had been a Heretic God for over a thousand years.
During that time, she had personally witnessed the King at the End slaughter Godslayers more than once.
That monstrous ability, the Covenant of Law, was practically unbeatable.
Seeing that Athena still did not believe him, Alex stared at her for a long moment. Then he took a deep breath and said, "My confidence doesn't come from strength alone. I come from another world. I follow a cultivation system completely different from this one. I've already broken past the limits of a Godslayer, and I can keep growing stronger. Surpassing the King at the End is only a matter of time."
This time, Athena could no longer remain calm.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared right in front of Alex. "What proof do you have?"
Alex smiled faintly. He unbuttoned his shirt, took it off, and revealed the blessing engraved on his back.
When Athena saw it, her eyes lit up brilliantly. She stared intently at the divine script. "Yes… this is divine writing. It's different from the runes of my world, but it is divine writing nonetheless. And I can sense Hestia's presence here. Not the Hestia I know, but the origin is the same!"
Alex put his shirt back on. "Believe me now?"
Athena nodded. "How do you propose we form this alliance?"
Alex tossed the Gorgon Stone in his hand to Athena and said, "It's simple. I'll help you kill the God of Steel, and even slay the King of Steel if needed. I can also take you to other worlds, letting you completely sever your ties to myth and live freely among humans. You'll be free from the influence of being a Heretic God. In return, when I need you, you fight for me. And if I form a pantheon in the future, I hope you'll join it."
Athena toyed with the Gorgon Stone for a moment after hearing this. Then she suddenly smiled. "Athena's wisdom tells me that this is an opportunity. I accept."
As she spoke, the Gorgon Stone melted into her body.
The next instant, the entire Earth was plunged into endless night.
Purple lightning tore down from the sky like the end of the world.
Then Athena began chanting words of power.
"I chant, I chant the hymn of the trinity goddess, who connects sky, earth, and darkness, ruling over reincarnation and wisdom.I chant the song of the goddess cast down, a queen reduced to a forbidden serpent, the lament of royalty.I chant the poem of the goddess whose body and soul were torn apart, defiled by a lofty father, the humiliation of the nurturing mother.My name is Athena, daughter of Zeus, protector of Athens, the eternal virgin.Once, I was the great mother who birthed all things.Once, I was the ruler of the underworld and darkness.Once, I was the queen of wisdom who governed the heavens.I swear: Athena shall return to her original form!"
As the chant ended, black energy enveloped her entire body.
Her small frame began to grow, until she transformed into a beautiful少女 of seventeen or eighteen.
Her silver short hair flowed down into long silver locks, and her clothes became a white, ancient Greek-style gown.
Upon her head rested an olive wreath symbolizing peace, tinged with purple.
Alex swallowed unconsciously as he looked at Athena in her complete form.
She was stunning.
Among all the women he had ever seen, none could match her beauty.
Of course, that was Alex's personal impression.
Everyone's taste was different. Athena simply happened to perfectly match his.
From a broader perspective, Merlin and Riveria were certainly no less beautiful.
Female Merlin's beauty alone could make enemies forget reality itself and lose all hostility.
And Riveria, of royal elven blood, was said to possess beauty surpassing even the gods.
Their beauty was no less than Athena's.
Even Morgan, Artoria, and Ais were all at the very pinnacle as well.
Once beauty reached a certain level, it was hard to rank it at all.
Athena noticed Alex's gaze. Even as a virgin goddess, she enjoyed it.
When it came to appearance, even goddesses were not immune to vanity.
The myth of the golden apple made it clear that Athena cared deeply about her beauty.
"Lord of Rakshasa," Athena asked, "how should I address you?"
"Just call me Alex," he replied.
"Alex," Athena repeated, nodding. Then she lifted the temporal restriction and dispelled the eternal night.
In an instant, light returned to the world.
The barrier over the Sardinia beach vanished, and color flowed back into space.
Ariana and the others stared in amazement as they realized that another breathtakingly beautiful girl had appeared beside Alex.
Her beauty was enough to make them feel a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Her clothing, however, was strange, like something straight out of ancient Greece.
"..."
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