It was a young woman's voice, yet there was no trace of breath behind it.
Sayanomiya Kaoru frowned and turned toward the direction of the sound. Very few people could approach her without triggering any of the barrier alarms surrounding the family estate, and the realization left her inwardly shaken.
"I'm not very good at fighting and the like. So I've been thinking about how I could help everyone... Fortunately, this is something I can call myself an expert in. Why not leave it to me?"
The one who walked in from outside the door was a blonde beauty.
She appeared to be in her early twenties. Her golden hair shimmered with a soft radiance, and her composed tone matched perfectly with a fragrance-like elegance.
Beneath her coat was a short knitted dress paired with leggings, giving her the refined air of a "princess who slipped out of the castle to stroll through the streets"... Which was only natural, because she truly was a noble lady—moreover, a genuine Princess.
Her gentle beauty caught Sayanomiya Kaoru's eye, and the woman's distinctive attire quickly stirred her memory.
"Princess Alice. For the daughter of Duke Godding to appear here so suddenly is quite unexpected."
The full name of this spirited woman was Alice Louise Oph Nafar.
Former Chairwoman of the Greenwich Council of Sages and currently serving as Special Advisor, she was known among those aware of her existence as the White Miko Princess.
Her name was quite renowned across the world. When facing the Trinity Athena, Yuri Mariya had once relayed one of her prophecies. However, due to Satsuki's later intervention, that prophecy had ultimately not come to pass.
Hearing Sayanomiya Kaoru's formal phrasing, the blonde beauty revealed a mischievous smile and placed her index finger lightly against her lips.
"Miss Kaoru is as charming as ever. But I snuck out this time, so please don't make a fuss about it~"
That small gesture carried a natural grace, causing even Sayanomiya Kaoru, who carried herself with masculine elegance, to pause for a moment before regaining her composure and steering the conversation back on track.
"Princess Alice, what did you mean just now by going to the Astral Netherworld?"
As the sole rival candidate to become the next commander of the History Compilation Committee, the two were equal at least in terms of political standing. Thus Sayanomiya Kaoru's attitude was neither servile nor arrogant.
As for when and why Princess Alice had come to Japan—such blunt, tactless questions were not suitable for the present moment. When the time came, she would naturally explain.
Moreover, from her opening words, it could be inferred that she already had a general grasp of the situation.
"I wouldn't say I understand everything," Princess Alice replied. "The curse power erupting from that space prevented my spirit body from traversing the Netherworld as smoothly as before... But I do know a thing or two about that seal itself. And I also have a confidential piece of news: not long ago, the one in Europe who calls herself Divine Ancestor Guinevere came to this region of East Asia and had contact with that Eastern Godslayer."
"Divine Ancestor?"
"Oh?" This time it was Princess Alice who looked puzzled. "As distant relatives of the Divine Ancestors, you Hime-Miko truly haven't heard of them?"
"Aside from occasionally seeing one on television once, I've had no contact at all," Sayanomiya Kaoru replied calmly. "As for being distant relatives... If anything, it's probably the sort of relationship that hasn't interacted for several centuries. Not just me—I doubt any Hime-Miko knows what these so-called Divine Ancestors really are."
"You haven't heard anything about them from Erica? Within our magic circles, the secrets of the Divine Ancestors are quite widely circulated."
"I suspect there aren't many Japanese onmyoji or shrine maidens proficient in minor foreign languages," Kaoru answered lightly.
Princess Alice nodded in understanding. She had some experience with the foreign language skills of the Japanese—they could indeed be described as astonishing in a rather unfortunate way.
"Among magicians, there is a secret theory passed down," Princess Alice explained. "In myths and legends, many gods, for various reasons, grow weaker, fall from grace, or are driven from their thrones. These downgraded deities then assume another form of existence—the beings known as Divine Ancestors. Though they possess human bodies, in essence they are not human. Their rank does not reach that of true gods, yet they far surpass humanity. They are masters of extraordinary power—aberrations that neither age nor die..."
Sayanomiya Kaoru fell into thought. "If I remember correctly, the leader of the Fly King was called the Divine Ancestor Angela... And she did transform into some abnormal giant serpent form, called the Serpent of Deviance Leviathan. At first, I assumed it was merely self-aggrandizing branding."
After all, Leviathan was a rather famous existence. In certain Protestant Bible translations it was rendered as "Leviathan," and in Catholic translations as "Liwayatan." The word itself carried meanings such as "twisted" or "whirlpool" in Hebrew, and in Christian tradition it corresponded to the sin of "Envy" among the Seven Deadly Sins.
In terms of reputation, there had seemed to be quite a gap between the name and Angela's actual performance.
She had been suppressed almost entirely by that American "Smith," and after her second resurrection she was instantly slain by Satsuki. There had been little sign of overwhelming strength.
Princess Alice shrugged cutely. "Rather than saying that Divine Ancestor was weak, it's better to say that the individuals on your side are simply far too extraordinary. Even the American Campione required a scheme to lure the Serpent of Deviance into self-destruction. Yet your Campione directly captured a god alive. Not only I, but even His Highness the Black Prince was astonished."
"The Campione of Britain? Even that lord has become involved in this matter?"
A rare hint of surprise appeared on Sayanomiya Kaoru's normally composed face.
"Yes. After all, since the age of sixteen, his goal has been to pursue the Holy Grail~" Princess Alice revealed a shocking secret as if it were nothing. "However, it seems that the magic Grail ultimately fell into the hands of Divine Ancestor Guinevere."
Only then did Sayanomiya Kaoru understand. "So your original target was Divine Ancestor Guinevere. You simply happened to discover her involvement in this incident?"
"Precisely. Though we don't know her purpose in actively cooperating with that Eastern Campione, to prevent unforeseen developments, the Black Prince has recently been preparing to act as well."
As she spoke, Princess Alice's face carried a pleasant smile. "However, he's not very good at dealing with women, so he likely won't intervene here directly."
Only then did Sayanomiya Kaoru realize that among those currently at the Western Heaven Palace who could truly influence the course of events, nearly all were women.
In Japan, onmyoji had gradually lost much of their former power, leaving Hime-Miko as the primary force in resolving such matters. That in itself was not particularly unusual—but on a global scale, it was relatively rare.
"Then I will entrust the affairs of the Western Heaven Palace to you," Sayanomiya Kaoru said with a bow.
"Not just me."
As she spoke, Princess Alice extended a slender finger toward the monitor behind them. Sayanomiya Kaoru turned around and only then noticed that Ena Seishuuin was staring intently through the display, having been observing the conversation between Alice and Kaoru the entire time.
...
Netherworld...
The structures that could once be called heavenly palaces in the far distance had completely vanished within the glazed Buddhist radiance.
This was a projected space created by Satsuki—a battlefield belonging solely to Campiones and Heretic Gods.
Above the boundless starry sky, a peerless beauty soared forth, dancing through the air like a celestial maiden from Dunhuang.
Clad in garments as light as feathered robes, Luo Hao overflowed with curse power surpassing that of a high-ranking magician, her speed faster than a shooting star. At the same time, Erica invoked the authority of the Persian War God's Bull incarnation, transforming into a streak of crimson light that followed closely behind.
Their shared target was the golden meteor racing ahead of them.
Three differently colored "meteors" intertwined and collided in the air, converging and separating in rapid succession... From time to time, immense surges of curse power and shockwaves erupted outward, shaking the entire space.
As she pursued, Luo Hao flicked something from her fingertip into the air—whoosh!—and an object shot forth from her hand as a beam comparable to a laser, piercing straight toward the golden meteor.
It was a divine martial technique known as "Divine Finger Flick," an ultimate art of the martial path.
In a flash of lightning, the golden meteor abruptly shifted direction midair. Its straight-line divine speed faltered for a moment, allowing the two pursuing Campiones to catch up.
The golden meteor halted and took the form of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. He brushed the spot grazed by the laser-like strike. Several strands of monkey fur drifted from his palm, scattering into the glazed space.
But he had no time to linger. The crimson meteor was already charging in with overwhelming momentum.
Erica had fully activated the Persian War God's authority—the Bull incarnation. It was a special ability used only when facing opponents of monstrous strength. The legendary Sun Wukong could wield the one-hundred-thousand-and-thirty-five-thousand-jin Ruyi Jingu Bang with ease. There was no doubt he qualified as such an adversary.
Within the glazed space, the atmosphere tore apart with a sharp whoosh! under the combined force of divine speed and immense strength.
—"Arges, Steropes, Brontes, grant my sword the protection of thunder!" (Silent Casting)
Erica triggered the prepared Protection of Thunder, swinging her thunder-infused blade toward the halted Great Sage. With a slight flick of her wrist, the sword twisted like an ominous lightning serpent, coiling several times in the air before striking toward the god.
Yet the deity standing upon his Somersault Cloud did not move in the slightest. He showed no intention of using the golden staff in his hand. His Fiery Golden Eyes swept over the incoming lightning serpent in an instant, revealing a mocking sneer.
In the next moment, Erica's face revealed a flash of startled embarrassment.
The lightning blade that should have struck his shoulder inexplicably changed direction at the moment of impact, instead slashing toward her own left shoulder. The god known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven had reversed the whip-like strike with invisible divine speed or supernatural skill, returning the attack to its originator without suffering the slightest harm.
To perceive the speed and angle in an instant and counter it back—such reflexes were worthy of a god. Had she faced him alone, that single exchange would already have drawn a clear line between their strengths.
Fortunately, she was not alone.
Luo Hao had already closed in at the same time. In this boundless space, throwing techniques could not inflict effective damage—but to Luo Hao, master of the world's martial arts, that was hardly an issue.
"Ha—!"
Her signature resonant cry rang out.
She extended both arms outward, holding them straight to either side. Then her entire body began to spin like a top.
It was a physical technique demanding extreme balance and bodily strength. After witnessing Sun Wukong's superb combat skill in deflecting Erica's attack, she knew that straightforward assaults would not succeed.
This spiral method could convert any deflected force into the momentum of her own rotation without altering her attack trajectory.
"Heh, so confident in your body's hardness?"
The golden Monkey King laughed, then swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
As divine power poured into it, the iron staff expanded dozens of times in an instant, transforming into a colossal pillar that smashed down toward the spinning Luo Hao.
A direct clash of monstrous strength against monstrous strength resounded once more through the space.
Boom—!
A heaven-shaking roar erupted from the point of impact.
At the instant of collision, Luo Hao adjusted her stance and caught the world-splitting strike with both hands.
Though the staff had been swung with only one arm, the immense recoil still caused the Great Sage to show a hint of surprise.
"You weren't blown away? As expected, a Godslayer cannot be judged by common sense."
"This is the Great Vajra Divine Art I usurped from the pair of Nio guardians... Only when the powerless can become strong does it qualify as martial arts. But when one already endowed with immense strength attains supreme martial skill—monkey, I will show you the pinnacle of martial arts."
As she spoke, vast quantities of curse power overflowed from Luo Hao's body.
"Heavenly path be clear, earthly path be tranquil, human path be void!—Ha!"
Still gripping the Ruyi Jingu Bang tightly with both hands, the Cult Leader unleashed a thunderous roar toward Sun Wukong.
Like confronting a meteor descending from the heavens, Sun Wukong's skin rippled under the violent wind pressure like waves of the sea. The shockwave formed from condensed qi transformed into a visible white dragon, crashing toward the staff-wielding sage.
Bang~ Bang~ Bang~ Bang~
Struck directly by this immense force, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven was blasted backward like a falling meteor. Even the arm holding the staff was shaken open by the Dragon's Roar Tiger's Howl Technique.
An opening!
Breaking the stalemate with the staff, Luo Hao lunged forward instantly. With a swift high advance, she closed the distance in the blink of an eye. A precise elbow strike deflected his retaliatory swing, while her left foot stepped ahead to press down upon his knee. The Great Vajra Divine Art activated once more.
With masterful martial skill and uncanny foresight, she drove even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven into steady retreat.
A succession of short punches, knee strikes, and sweeping deflections disrupted his counterattacks. Continuous palm strikes shattered his defensive posture. Finally, a sudden inch-force punch struck his brow—adjusted for height—followed by an instantaneous retreat midair. Before even her afterimage faded, she assumed the inch-force stance once more and unleashed a ferocious heaven-splitting blow at divine speed beyond the naked eye.
Boom—!
The golden figure was hurled from the sky to the ground under the relentless assault. The moment he crashed onto the glazed earth, radial cracks spread outward from his body, extending thousands of meters.
Yet despite enduring such a continuous barrage, the god lying upon the ground revealed an intrigued expression.
"Heh heh, interesting. Looks like if I don't settle you two, Old Sun won't be leaving here."
"You're at a disadvantage now, you know? I'd advise surrender. We have two Campiones here." Erica descended, glancing at Luo Hao's cold, utterly uncooperative gaze before adding, "Well... let's call it one and a half."
"Handling two Godslayers at once is troublesome... But it's rare to get a chance to loosen up my limbs. This counts as self-defense. Even if I beat you to death, it wouldn't break my precepts, right?"
After uttering this contradictory statement without concern, the Great Sage rose from the ground. The relentless assault from moments ago seemed to have done little to him.
Then his divine power surged.
It was even more terrifying than when crimson clouds had pierced the heavens earlier.
This power surpassed that of Melqart and Athena encountered before.
"Since patience has reached its limit, there's no need to endure any longer. I'll take care of you both at once."
Rising upon golden clouds, his Fiery Golden Eyes gazed down upon Luo Hao and Erica.
In the next instant, vast Buddhist radiance erupted from his body. The anomalous power formed countless golden Sanskrit characters in the air, finally transforming into boundless swastika symbols.
"Three Realizations of Guarded Mind: Wukong, Wuneng, Wujing!"