As the divine pillar crumbled beneath Akiyama Ren's fingers, a thunderous tremor echoed through the earth. The essence sealed below surged upward like a green tidal wave of life force. It erupted into the sky, forming a towering, jade-hued pillar that bridged the heavens and earth.
Within moments, the converging earth essence began to swirl and mold itself into a colossal dragon—its scales glistening like emerald starlight, eyes burning with primordial fury.
At that very instant, Ren sensed a divine presence descending nearby. A Heretic God had come.
A golden-haired man, majestic and radiant, galloped in atop a white horse. He drew a radiant bow and, without hesitation, loosed an arrow aimed directly at the dragon's heart.
But before he could even blink—
ZWOOM!
Ren appeared right before him, expression unreadable. "Too slow," he whispered.
The God didn't have time to react. Ren activated the Authority of Gluttony—Gluttony King—and in an instant, the radiant deity was engulfed, his divine essence devoured whole.
Without pausing, Ren turned to the colossal dragon, its mouth wide in a silent roar. "You too," he murmured, and extended his hand.
Another pulse of Gluttony. The dragon's body twisted and shimmered before being consumed in its entirety. Its ancient energy joined the storm within Ren.
"Yosh!" Ren laughed, his voice ringing with elation. "Now that was awesome, na no da~!"
He vanished again, space warping around him as he returned to the hotel room. There, he sat cross-legged on the floor and entered a meditative state, beginning to digest both the Heretic God and the dragon.
As their divine essence was broken down and assimilated, Ren's power surged at an astonishing rate. Today alone, he had devoured a Godslayer, a Heretic God, and a mythical dragon—a haul that increased his divine power by a whole tenth.
"If I keep this pace up... I'll hit Galaxy Level in no time!" he said, eyes gleaming.
[Power Levels: City Destruction > Continental > Planetary Surface > Star Destroyer > Galaxy > Universe > Multiverse!]
Just as he was reveling in his rising strength, a gentle pull tugged at his soul.
"A summon... from the Gap of the World?" Ren murmured.
A smile crept across his lips. "Pandora-chan, is that you~?"
Without hesitation, he tore open a rift in space and stepped into the divine dimension of the Gap of the World.
Waiting for him was Pandora, her delicate face wearing a complicated expression—resentment, worry, and longing all blended into one.
"You... you killed another one of my children..." she muttered. "Ren-kun, that's so mean."
Ren chuckled and strode up to her. "Don't pout, okaasan~" he teased before scooping her into his arms.
"B-Baka! Put me down!" Pandora squeaked, but Ren silenced her with a kiss, passionate and unrelenting. She struggled briefly, then melted into his embrace.
"I missed you," he said softly.
They kissed for what felt like hours, the tension melting between them. Eventually, their lips parted, and Pandora—her cheeks crimson—smacked him lightly with a tiny fist.
"Ren no BAKA! You killed Doni-kun! He was like a brother to you!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Brother? Nah... that guy was more like my son."
Pandora froze. Her face turned beet red. "T-Tonikaku, you're shameless!" she huffed, punching him again, though with little force.
He grinned and caught her fist. "Alright then. Shall we proceed with the ritual?"
Despite having already devoured Perseus and acquired his Authority, Ren knew better than to skip out on an official Godslayer ritual. More power was always welcome.
Pandora pouted but nodded. "Mou~ I'm so impressed with how greedy you are, Ren-kun..."
She summoned the Circlet of Usurpation, and the ritual began. Though Perseus's body had already been consumed, Ren had retained the divine soul—and that was more than enough.
As the ritual surged with cosmic energy, Ren felt divine power coursing into him again. It merged with his own, refined and reshaped by the Gluttony King's digestion.
He clenched his fist as new Authority crystallized within his soul.
Sun Sovereignty!
Not to be confused with the Sun Authority from the Hakoniwa universe, this version granted absolute dominion over the sun and solar fire—befitting Perseus, the so-called Son of the Sun.
Ren nodded in satisfaction. "Another flame-based Authority... interesting."
Combined with his White Horse Incarnation, which also channeled solar fire, there was potential for a powerful fusion. He made a mental note to experiment with merging the two.
But not now. He still had more gods to devour.
With the ritual concluded, Ren stayed in the Gap of the World a while longer to keep Pandora company. She had been alone here for so long, and he could sense her loneliness.
They talked. They laughed. They cuddled. And yes, things got steamy once again.
Ten days passed in a haze of debauchery.
When Ren finally returned to reality, only ten hours had passed. The sun had just begun to rise.
Stretching lazily, he walked into the living room—and blinked in surprise.
"Yo, Erica-san?"
The red-garbed knight stood there, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him.
"You're back!" she exclaimed.
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Something happen?"
Erica nodded, stepping forward, her tone serious. "Your battle with the King of Swords—then the destruction of Hera's Pillar, and the defeat of Perseus... Word has spread across all of Southern Europe."
From Akiyama Ren's recent exploits, the entire South European magical community had reached one unanimous conclusion—he was a tyrant! A fearsome, unstoppable, absolute monarch who devoured Gods as casually as one might sip tea. But even so, no one could afford to resist him.
South Europe could not remain leaderless. With the fall of the King of Swords, they had no choice but to pledge loyalty to the new reigning monarch. Resistance was futile, and submission… well, that might just earn them mercy—or power.
And so, because Erica Blandelli had already sworn her allegiance to Ren-sama, she was chosen by the Seven Sisters Magic Alliance of South Europe as their envoy. Her mission: gauge Ren-sama's disposition and see if he would accept their formal submission.
"Ren-sama," Erica said respectfully, bowing slightly with a noble grace. "The Seven Sisters Magic Alliance of South Europe humbly seeks your acceptance of their allegiance. Will you allow it?"
Ren's expression remained calm as he nodded. "Sure. Tell their leaders to come see me tomorrow. We'll talk then."
"Yes, I understand! Thank you, Ren-sama!" Erica replied, clearly relieved and even a little excited.
"Master, what's the plan for today?" Jibril asked, her tone casual as she floated lazily in the air, wings slightly fluttering with boredom.
"Today?" Ren smirked. "I'm going to pay a visit to the Witch of Sardinia. Let's see if she's wise enough to kneel before me."
"The Witch of Sardinia? You mean Lucretia Zola!" Erica exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"You know her? Is she strong?" Jibril tilted her head.
"She should be quite powerful," Alice interjected with a scholarly tone, adjusting her glasses. "She's long achieved a thousandfold multiplication—a technique that amplifies one's power over time. That puts her at least at the Demigod level."
The hierarchy of power in the Godslayer World was distinct:
Apprentice/Intern
Official Practitioner
First-Rate Knight, Advanced Magus, Superior Knight, Great Knight/Magician
Divine Beast, Demigod, Holy Knight, Supreme Rank
Pseudo-God, Divine Ancestor, Transcendent
Godslayer, Heretic God
Currently, Erica stood at the third tier, ranked as a Great Knight. In comparison, Lucretia Zola was suspected to be fourth-tier—formidable, but still far from a Godslayer's domain.
"Tch. That weak?" Jibril pouted, clearly unimpressed.
After yesterday's battle with Doni, she had found most of his strength lacking. If his Authority hadn't specifically countered her own, she would've mopped the floor with him. A mere demigod? She didn't even consider it a warm-up.
Erica's mouth twitched. If a Demigod was weak, then what was she—a Great Knight? The weakest of the weak? Talk about brutal...
"Enough chitchat," Ren interrupted, smirking. "Let's head to the witch's place. Erica, do you know where she lives?"
"Leave it to me!" Erica puffed her chest out proudly. "I've got the location."
To assist, she called her trusted maid—Arianna Hayama Arialdi. Though she wore the garb of a servant, her relationship with Erica was closer to that of sisters. Arianna was undeniably adorable, with a soft, charming demeanor. Even standing next to a top-tier beauty like Erica, she still held her own.
Unfortunately, Arianna had zero talent for swordsmanship or magic. She couldn't distinguish between an incantation and a kitchen recipe. Her primary responsibilities were household chores and personal care for Erica. Also… her driving was the stuff of horror stories. In the original tale, this girl once wrecked a car so badly that Kusanagi Godou, the protagonist, vomited from the experience.
Recalling that, Ren quickly declined. "Nope. We're not risking Arianna-chan's driving today. Let's just take a taxi."
"Hehe… that's probably wise," Erica chuckled.
"Arianna, you can return for now," she added.
"Yes, milady!" Arianna bowed politely, but as she turned to leave, Ren suddenly stopped her.
"No need to go back. From now on, you're not just Erica's maid. You're mine, too. Stick with us."
"Eh?!" Arianna blinked in confusion, cheeks tinting pink. "M-Me? Serve Lord Ren-sama too?"
"Hurry up and thank Ren-sama, baka!" Erica nudged her.
"O-Oh! Yes! Thank you very much, Lord Ren-sama! I'll do my best!" Arianna bowed again, flustered but sincere.
Ren gave a small nod. "Good girl."
The group left the hotel, and within twenty minutes, their taxi arrived at a quiet, forested area. There was only one house nearby, but calling it a house didn't do it justice. The building was massive—like a small castle nestled within nature.
High walls surrounded the property, enclosing a beautifully kept courtyard. Atop the wall, a sleek black cat reclined lazily, its golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Hoh? This witch lives pretty lavishly," Ren muttered, observing the opulent surroundings.
Erica didn't reply. She too had never personally met the Sardinia Witch and didn't know what to expect.
Just then, the black cat on the wall stirred and… spoke.
"New faces, hm? Who goes there?"
Its voice was silky and mature—seductive, almost—a classic onee-san tone that sent a shiver down the spine.
Erica stepped forward and bowed. "Lucretia-sama, my Lord wishes to meet you."
"Your Lord?" the cat asked, tail swishing.
"The Seventh Godslayer—Akiyama Ren-sama!"
The cat's golden eyes widened slightly. A beat passed. Then, she purred, "Oh my… I didn't realize such an esteemed guest would grace my home. Forgive my earlier rudeness. I'll open the gate right away."
"It's fine," Ren replied coolly.
Moments later, a strikingly beautiful woman appeared, her presence as captivating as a siren. She had flowing orange hair, wore a deep purple dress that hugged her elegant figure, and her amber eyes gleamed with mature charm. Holding the now-purring black cat in her arms, she gracefully opened the gate.
"I'm terribly sorry for the discourtesy, Lord Godslayer. I didn't expect you to personally visit my humble abode," she said with a polite bow.
"Just call me Akiyama Ren," he replied, smiling casually.
The woman—Lucretia Zora, the infamous witch of Sardinia—smiled back but shook her head slightly. "No, I should still address you as Lord Ren. It is only proper."
Ren shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"Then... may I ask what brings you here today, Lord Ren?" Lucretia inquired curiously, her tone both respectful and cautious.
Ren reached into his System inventory and pulled out a familiar book glowing with arcane light. "This belongs to you, doesn't it? The Prometheus Manual."
Lucretia's eyes lit up in recognition. "Yes! That's indeed mine."
"Mind if I take it off your hands? Of course, I won't let you walk away empty-handed." Ren said with a calm yet commanding air. Then, from the Genshin Treasure Trove, he summoned a Four Winds Origin staff, radiating divine energy. It floated in his hand like a relic from the heavens.
Although it wasn't the original, the copy forged with his divine power retained all the same capabilities.
"T-This is a divine artifact...!" Lucretia gasped.
Even Erica, who had followed silently until now, let out a surprised cry. "That... that's way too extravagant, Ren-sama!"
Lucretia, holding herself back, looked conflicted. "Lord Ren... I cannot possibly accept something of such value. This is far too precious."
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly, his aura subtly shifting. He stepped forward and said with absolute finality, "If I give it to you, you take it. Unless... you're looking down on me?"
Lucretia froze in place.
She gulped, then let out a nervous laugh, accepting the Four Winds Origin with trembling hands. "Th-Then I gratefully accept, Lord Ren."
Ren nodded with satisfaction, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Good. Since you've accepted something I gave you, from now on, you're mine. One of my people."
"...Huh?" Lucretia's face went blank.
She blinked rapidly, completely thrown off. Wasn't this... forced acquisition?
But in front of a Godslayer, what could she even say? She gave a dry laugh, resigned to her fate. "Then, from today on, I shall serve under you, Lord Ren. It is... my honor."
Ren was quite pleased with the result. Watching a renowned witch like Lucretia humble herself so easily really inflated his ego.
Erica struggled not to laugh. Her face twitched as she tried to maintain her composure. Godslayers truly were outrageous beings... and Ren-sama fit right in with the rest.
Even someone like Lucretia, who had once shaken all of Western Europe with her magic, now bowed meekly like a kitten before a Demon King.
"Erica," Ren called out casually. "You go check out of our hotel. Also, notify the commander of the Seven Sisters Magic Society to gather everyone here tomorrow morning. Understood?"
"Yes, Ren-sama!" Erica responded crisply and vanished in a blur of spelllight.
With Erica gone, Ren strolled into the villa like he owned the place.
Azril, Jibril, and Schwi followed, treating the elegant mansion as if it were their own. Their divine and mechanical presences filled the air with subtle pressure.
Lucretia stood to the side, watching this invasion of her peaceful life unfold with dead eyes.
Ren waltzed into the master bedroom without hesitation, sprawling comfortably on the bed. Azril and the other girls immediately picked rooms to their liking, making themselves at home with practiced ease.
Arianna, without Erica to back her up, stood awkwardly in the hall. She didn't dare choose a room and was clearly unsure of her place in all this.
"It's almost noon... I-I'll start preparing lunch," she mumbled nervously.
Ren, resting his head against the plush pillow, glanced at her lazily. "No rush. First, pick a room for yourself. And one for Erica too. Then go make lunch."
Arianna flinched as if struck. "Y-Yes! I understand, Ren-sama!"
Seeing the once-proud witch Arianna scrambling like a frightened servant, Lucretia sighed deeply.
What had her peaceful days come to?
Still, she waved her hand in resignation. "Do whatever you want... I've already given up."