Chapter 26 – Divine Advent in Nikko
No matter how hard Hikigaya searched, he couldn't find Luo Hao.
Two hundred years of being a shut-in certainly did something to her personality—utterly incomprehensible.
But right now, Hikigaya really needed the data held by someone familiar with Chinese mythology.
The reason was simple: the information provided by the Committee contained nothing of interest to him.
For someone like Hikigaya—who didn't slay gods by understanding them but rather used that understanding to acquire suitable authorities—this was critical.
You could say that unless the Great Sage Equal to Heaven personally showed up on his doorstep, or ran amok in Chiba, Hikigaya wouldn't make a move without satisfactory intel in this area.
As for the Committee? They could die for all he cared—he didn't have a shred of sympathy for them.
But while Hikigaya wasn't in a hurry—others certainly were.
Because the Great Sage seemed to have gained an ally.
Just as Hikigaya was still complaining about how worthless the Committee's documents were, the Great Sage and his ally made their move.
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It happened at Nikko Tōshō-gū Shrine, just as the morning sun bathed it in dawn light.
A girl standing on golden clouds, dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, and an absurdly handsome young man suddenly descended from the skies above Tōshō-gū, overlooking the entire shrine complex.
The girl's face was obscured by a mask that strongly resembled a monkey's. She held the Ruyi Jingu Bang, the golden staff—leaving no doubt as to her identity.
"Hmm, this appearance still needs some adjustments," said the girl—or rather, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who had taken over the body of Mariya Hikari.
In the next moment, the shrine maiden's attire transformed into imposing ancient armor, and the monkey mask vanished—revealing the missing Hikaru's face and a pair of Fiery Golden Eyes—red irises with golden pupils.
"Perfect. This should do it. Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone!"
Cackling, the Great Sage who had possessed the girl's body declared in a loud voice. Tourists, shrine staff, and even the hidden onmyoji all watched in stunned fear.
"I am the god who defies Heaven! Master of endless transformations! When Heaven and Earth first opened, I already was! The Three Realms were vexed by my existence. The gods of the Four Directions feared me. The ghost soldiers of the Five Sacred Mountains raged at me. I threw the Six Directions into chaos. The Seven Hells and Northern Dipper couldn't hold me. Of the Eight Realms—who dares stand above me? The Nine Heavens couldn't catch me! I am the Lord of One Hundred Thousand Demonic Generals!"
Though the voice was that of a young girl, the divine majesty behind it was unmistakable.
And at that voice, the people below began to change.
Every single one turned into monkeys—big and small, male and female.
"Hahahaha! That's it! I am neither bird of the sky nor beast of the land— I stand alone as king! If any dare protest, then to the Hall of Heaven I shall go, and raise my weapon in revolt! Children—go, and make merry!"
As the Great Sage laughed wildly, the monkeys all began howling.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Mount Nikko turned into what felt like a zoo.
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However, not every god enjoys the sound of monkeys screaming.
The one standing beside the Great Sage was clearly not a fan.
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish with all this?"
The Western god, radiant like the sun itself, wore an expression that screamed: "Shut these things up or I will."
He seemed to seriously be considering giving the monkeys a few slashes just to bring peace and quiet.
"Hey, Sunboy. You better not hurt my children," the Great Sage said with a sideways glance at this so-called fellow god, someone he clearly had little regard for.
"Taking on two hidden God Slayers at once is a real pain. So naturally, if I turn all the people like them into my children, they'll have no choice but to reveal themselves."
"Who're you calling 'Sunboy'?! Say my name properly!"
"'Sunboy'? You got indigestion or something?"
"It's Mithra! Ugh… just call me Perseus."
"'Penis? That your kink or something?"
"You damn monkey! You trying to pick a fight with me?! I've been way too patient with you—show some gratitude!"
And just like that, the two gods started bickering mid-air.
The one accompanying the Great Sage was the Persian solar god known both as Mithra and Perseus.
His followers had once made Mithraism the state religion of the Roman Empire. Before the rise of the monotheistic god, the Western world had worshipped him for thousands of years.
He still couldn't understand how his name got so mangled in that monkey's mouth.
Must be because the guy really had become a damn monkey…
"Gratitude? I am the free and untamed Great Sage Equal to Heaven! I do as I please— I can save mortals from disaster, or bring them ruin. It was you people who lumped me into the so-called 'Steel' classification. Yes, I'm a hero, but I'm not like you."
"I'm not here to argue philosophy. But it was agreed by all gods that when the time comes, He must be awakened. You made that promise too."
"Exactly. That's why I haven't attacked you yet."
As soon as the Great Sage finished those words, his divine power surged again.
With one hand, he formed a mudra and began to chant:
"In ancient times, there was Da Yu— A 19th-generation descendant of Nüwa,
Lived 360 years, ascended Mount Jiuyi, And became immortal."
"During Yao's reign, the floods raged, People drowned and suffered. Da Yu, moved by compassion, Was born of the mountain spring at Shiniu."
"A woman named Nü Di fetched water at dusk, Found a pearl-like stone, Swallowed it in fondness, Became pregnant and gave birth after 14 months. The child grew up to know the water's source, And succeeded his father Gun in flood control."
"When Yao saw his merit, He named him Yu, after the ancient water sage. Once, Yu leaped upon a stone and struck a drum. The Lady of Tu Mountain came, Saw Yu as a bear and fled in shame. She turned to stone at the foot of Mount Song, And gave birth to Qi."
As the Great Sage chanted, Nikko Mountain began to change.
Gentle slopes rose into peaks, while some places sank into valleys. Dry ground split open, spewing water, forming streams and waterfalls.
Human-built structures were flattened or swallowed by the earth.
This was divine authority—words shaping reality, with only a thin line between fantasy and truth.
"Hahaha! From this day forth, this place is my Flower-Fruit Mountain! Children! What are you waiting for? Raise your weapons and rebel against the heavenly army!"
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
Monkeys howled from every corner of the mountains. Divine beast-like auras radiated from their bodies.
Perseus watched with cold eyes. The Great Sage's army was now fully assembled.
A faint smirk crept onto his face.
It was a pity that the young Western God Slayer wasn't here—otherwise, taking him out too would have been a nice bonus.
Perseus's divine sight turned toward the nearest human city.
He had once been a creator god, but also one of destruction—ending everything so it could be reborn anew.
This island, the breeding ground of God Slayers, was a place ripe for destruction and rebirth.
Yet within it seemed to reside a descendant of an Eastern Divine King, someone with the power to suppress rebellion and restore order—a power equal to his own.
Perhaps that's the "interesting one" the monkey mentioned.
"Fighting women isn't really my style…" Perseus muttered inwardly.
But the Heroic Steel God had no intention of suppressing the malicious thoughts rising within him—thoughts unbecoming of a so-called good god.
He added to himself:
"I have a pact with the monkey… But if the enemy comes for me first, That's not breaking the deal."
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