After learning Athena's divine name,
The two of them immediately prepared to dash away from the Seven Heroes Shrine.
Yuri Mariya's spirit vision was extremely effective. Not only could she identify the god in question, she could also roughly determine the area. At the same time, Satsuki's Tenseigan detected an exquisitely concealed fluctuation of divine power in that direction. However, if one were not deliberately searching, it would have been almost impossible to notice. (She could not discern its exact origin or Authority, but the presence of divine power itself was detectable.)
After leaving the shrine, Erica made a very difficult decision—she called Anna on her phone.
As expected, the enormous four-wheel-drive vehicle appeared together with Miss Anna.
"...It can't be helped. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to do this either. But if we want to meet Athena as quickly as possible, riding in a car is the only way."
Erica whispered softly, in a voice only Satsuki could hear. At this moment, the girl known as the Crimson Demon wore a rare expression of distress.
The instant the two fastened their seatbelts, the ordinary-looking vehicle transformed into a bolt of lightning.
Looking at Erica's deathly pale face beside her, Satsuki had reason to believe that the reason Erica always stood atop Arianna's moving car instead of sitting inside it was because she herself could not endure such drifting techniques.
That said, if not for the Authority of Status Infusion constantly refreshing her condition, Satsuki suspected her own complexion would not be much better.
Who would have thought—the dignified Three Thousand Great Thousand Heavens' Demon King, sovereign of the Sixth Heaven of Desire, the Demon Buddha Māra—would suffer from motion sickness?
"Pfft, Host, I never knew—you actually get carsick." Even the system within her sea of consciousness seemed as though it had witnessed something rare. It manifested as a sphere of light drifting around the mandala throne at the center, wearing a mockingly comical expression.
"Hmph..."
Satsuki did not even feel like replying. She was already considering whether she should simply use space-time power to teleport them directly. Exposing a few insignificant trump cards did not seem like a major issue.
However, amid the cycle of dizziness repeatedly surging and being cleansed, accompanied by a drawn-out whoosh—
The car came to a stop.
Erica immediately got out. She glanced up at the roof of the vehicle, as if contemplating whether to install a couple of seats on top in case she needed to jump off during a crash.
Fortunately, Satsuki could swiftly eliminate her Motion Sickness status, so she appeared much as usual.
"Thank you for your hard work, Arianna. Next time we'll just call a taxi ourselves."
"Not at all. Being able to assist Lady Erica and Lady Satsuki is my honor."
Arianna stepped out of the driver's seat with a bright smile.
In a certain sense, being able to remain completely unfazed after such perilous driving proved that this maid was far from ordinary.
"If the God of Akina were to descend as a Heretic God, Miss Arianna would be the perfect vessel."
"..."
For once, Satsuki did not refute the system's remark.
Based on the position provided by the Tenseigan and the information previously gathered, they were now far from Narashino City in Chiba Prefecture.
Because it was by the sea, the most eye-catching structure here was a bridge stretching across the ocean.
The earlier fluctuation of divine power had also been near that bridge.
Although an hour had passed and the divine presence had since shifted location,
Once it had been locked onto in advance by Satsuki's Tenseigan, there was naturally no possibility of escape.
"Athena's location is nearby, Erica. Are you certain you wish to go?"
"Is that even a question?"
"Then please be careful, both of you."
Anna bowed deeply, watching the two depart.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Satsuki said directly to Erica this time, "At this distance, I can activate spatial magic. Hold my hand."
After speaking, Satsuki extended one hand and began using the Great Tenseigan to lock onto the spatial coordinates.
"Ah?"
Erica froze for a moment, then instinctively grasped Satsuki's hand.
Before she could indulge in further thoughts, the surrounding space shifted with a sharp whoosh, and the two had arrived atop the roof of a high-rise building.
Above them, the sky churned with divine power. When they looked up, it had already been dyed a pale violet.
And at the source of that divine presence stood a silver-haired girl upon a high vantage point.
—The Heretic God Athena.
Somehow, she had acquired a thin sweater, a miniskirt, and knee-high stockings. Upon her silver hair rested a blue knit cap with pointed tips.
"A newly born Godslayer and another peculiar being... Was it you who stole my possession?"
For some reason, this goddess Athena did not speak Greek or English—but Japanese.
Fortunately, both of them understood the language.
Erica's face displayed her usual proud expression, her golden hair gleaming like a crown.
"To think that Athena, one of the principal gods of Olympus and the goddess of wisdom, would appear in such a girlish form. That is quite unexpected."
"This body is not my true self. It is merely a phantom shaped by the distorted wishes of those pitiful humans."
She narrowed her eyes as she replied.
Her tone was as flat and inorganic as ever. Within her cold violet pupils lay indifference and machine-like detachment.
"State your names first. I am the god who bears the divine name Athena. Remember it well."
...
From the moment they met, Satsuki had been assessing the goddess's strength.
Setting aside her Authorities for now, judging purely from what she displayed at present, she was not as formidable as the previous war god or the King of the Gods Melqart.
Then perhaps I can treat this as Erica's training. If she is to grow stronger and establish authority, she must learn to slay a god.
With that thought, Satsuki stepped forward. The faint lift of her chin mirrored Athena's own indifference.
She raised one hand high, displaying what she held.
"You're looking for this, aren't you?"
"Ah? Since when?"
Erica stared in surprise at the Gorgon Stone in Satsuki's hand. It had clearly been retrieved from Yuri Mariya earlier—when had it ended up with Satsuki?
"So, you who possess unusual power—are you offering the Gorgon Stone to me? If that is your intent, I would not begrudge you divine protection."
Athena's tone remained even, devoid of overt emotion.
"It's not that I can't give it to you. However..."
Satsuki spoke calmly. "I am merely safeguarding the stone itself. Its ownership belongs to the Campione at my side. If you want it, you must obtain her consent."
Before Erica could respond, Athena murmured, "Ridiculous. It was mine to begin with. Even if you stole it, it remains mine. Since you refuse to return it, I shall reclaim it by force."
The rooftop became a battlefield against a god. Though the scale was far smaller than before, within the domain unfolded by the deity, there were no other human figures besides Satsuki and Erica.
The mere presence of a god influenced humanity.
As long as Athena stood here, no one would approach. The appearance of a god altered human thought and movement.
"Why...?"
Athena's nearly toneless soprano echoed around them. "The part of me that is the war goddess recognizes the Godslayer as an enemy. Yet the part of me that is the goddess of wisdom tells me that you are far more dangerous than she is."
Her abyssal violet eyes flickered with interest.
"Even as the goddess of war, I do not desire risk-laden and senseless violence. After all, I am not a fool like Ares."
"Your tone may say that, but—"
Satsuki lightly tossed the Gorgon Stone in her hand. "The light in your eyes just now told me that what you truly desire is battle. There's no point wasting time. Let's settle this directly."
A flicker of surprise crossed Athena's face. "An intriguing one. To remain so composed before me—upon what do you rely?"
"If you are fortunate enough to meet Melqart, you may ask him yourself," Satsuki replied flatly.
"Is that so? Then show me this confidence of yours."
Athena wasted no more words. Her figure vanished in an instant.
Such speed was beyond the naked eye of ordinary humans or magicians.
Like repeated leaps through space, her form flickered several times before closing the distance to Satsuki.
The two inhuman beings were now close enough to touch.
Is this already the end?
With that thought, Athena reached out, attempting to cradle Satsuki's head and press her lips against hers.
"An instant-death attack? That's certainly an unusual method of activation."
Though Olympus was infamous for its scandals, launching such a direct attack in battle was still surprising.
At that very moment, two voices rang out simultaneously from different dimensions.
"Stop!" 2
One was the system within her consciousness. The other was Erica in the outside world.
Yet even as their voices sounded—
"Are you that confident in your own charm?"
Satsuki's cold voice rang out. Within her golden Tenseigan, there seemed to resound the clash of steel.
A silver-gleaming phantom blade pressure erupted, cleaving straight toward Athena before her.
The blade cut the body—
The heart cut the soul.
The physical vessel through which a Heretic God descended was merely a manifestation. Only an attack that struck directly at the soul could inflict true harm.
Yet along the trajectory of that sword force, Athena's figure—so close a moment ago—vanished abruptly like an illusion.
Only then did Erica forcibly activate the ability of the Raptor incarnation, moving at a speed surpassing the wind to stand before Satsuki.
Originally, this ability would only trigger when subjected to a rapid attack from the opponent.
But in that instant when Athena closed in on Satsuki, a fierce flame had erupted within Erica's heart—anger at Athena's brazen act, and despairing terror that Satsuki might be struck down.
What Athena had just unleashed was not some flirtatious gesture—it was a Word of Spirit capable of killing a Godslayer instantly.
If the target offered no resistance, she would inject the Word of "death" into their body.
Thus, still burning with undiminished fury, Erica loudly chanted her strongest incantation.
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani! My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!"
"All my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax and melted within me. You lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me. A band of evil men encircles me!"
As the incantation rang out, the surrounding temperature plummeted rapidly. Kotodama infused with hatred and despair were poured into the Reinhardt sword in her hand.
"My Savior, hasten to help me! Deliver my soul from the sword, rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen..."
Such Kotodama... an excellent Godslayer indeed.
Athena manifested once more. For the first time, her deep violet eyes settled upon Erica.
However, unlike the Persian war god who sought defeat, Athena would not wait for Erica to finish her chant.
She raised a hand, and the starless darkness of night transformed into a roaring shockwave that howled toward Erica.
However—
Before Erica, a shield composed of a peculiar substance materialized, effortlessly blocking the divine attack.
It was a Truth-Seeking Orb shield. The power contained within it caused Athena's impassive face to reveal genuine astonishment for the first time.
"What is this power?"
Yet she had no time to ponder further.
Erica's incantation had concluded. She tossed the longsword in her hand upward.
"O lion of steel, I entrust to you my sighs and wrath. Bear the lament of the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. Baptized in the blood of the sacred remnant, manifest—Holy Spear, Longinus!"
Then she invoked the Authority inherited from the war god—Gale.
"—I am the strongest, the one who grasps all victories in hand."
"—Eliminate all who dare stand before me! Shatter every obstacle!"
Boom!
The immense fusion of Authority incarnation, supreme Kotodama, and godslaying armament caused Erica's combat power to surge to a level that even Athena could not ignore.
With the completion of the chant, Words of despair swirled incessantly around Erica.
The perceived temperature in the area dropped nearly twenty degrees in an instant.
Sounds inaudible to ordinary ears—muffled anguish, sorrowful wails, furious roars—gathered together, accumulating upon that godslaying spear.
All of it responded to Erica's summoning.
"Goddess Athena, withdraw from this place at once. If you refuse my warning, I shall demonstrate the majesty of the Campione with divine blood!"
Erica declared in a resounding voice.
"Oh? Godslayer, do you intend to declare war upon me?"
"Indeed!"
"Very well... I declare—war has begun."