Pandora's cheeks flushed crimson as she lightly bit her moist lips, a bewitching smile playing on her face. She leaned slightly closer to Roy. Though her figure was far from voluptuous—indeed, one might call it underdeveloped—her status as a mythological wife, a goddess, and the ethereal allure radiating from her petite form all stimulated Roy's masculine senses.
Her slender, delicate fingers grasped Roy's sleeve as the goddess knelt before him, so close that a mere stretch of his hand would allow him to touch her.
Yet, even faced with such tender warmth, Roy remained expressionless. It wasn't that he was unmoved, but rather that his current form was merely a spiritual projection—a manifestation of his consciousness. His physical body remained in the mortal world, rendering him incapable of acting on any desires.
Gently pushing Pandora away as she nearly nestled into his embrace, Roy found himself more intrigued by the knowledge this foster mother possessed than by her beauty. If there was one thing Roy desired above all else, it was knowledge—an insatiable greed for the unknown, like a diligent scholar yearning for the wisdom to alter his destiny.
The adage that knowledge could change fate held true, whether for ordinary people or extraordinary beings like him.
"Does little Roy dislike me now?"
Pandora's eyes welled with tears, her beautiful face a picture of heartbreak—a performance so convincing it left no room for critique.
To say Pandora loved Roy was not untrue, but it was not romantic love. It was more akin to maternal affection. She was willing to offer both her body and her knowledge, not only because Roy was the only Campione she had ever seen with the potential to defeat the Last King and free her from fate, but also because she genuinely cared for him—whatever the nature of that affection.
Had she not held such fondness for Roy, Pandora would never have used her own body as a bargaining chip to increase his chances of victory. Goddesses were inherently self-centered; unless willing, she would rather remain bound by fate than debase herself like a common woman.
Roy sighed helplessly and smiled at her. "...You know full well I'm just a spiritual projection right now. There's no need to put on such a tempting act."
"Oh? So little Roy does like his mama after all? I was worried you might not fancy someone like me."
As she spoke, Pandora tugged lightly at her flat chest. Unlike Athena, who could transform into a mature woman, she was stuck with this loli appearance—no amount of wishing could change that.
"Big has its advantages, and small has its benefits too, so there's no need to envy others."
Roy gave a slight glance at the subtle curves beneath Pandora's dress, speaking with an air of expertise.
"Hearing that, Mother feels reassured!"
Pandora giggled, not at all like a noble goddess, but more like a young girl using her immature body to tempt a man.
"Alright, you've been in the Netherworld too long. Staying here any further will affect your physical body in the present world... You should leave now. You already have the coordinates here and can return anytime. Mommy will be waiting for the day you come to claim knowledge~~ Of course, if you have time to visit and chat with me, Mother would be happy too~"
Pandora suddenly gave Roy a gentle push, sending his astral body back to the present world, her soft whisper lingering in his ears, "...Beware the gods of fate, for behind it all spins the thread of destiny's spindle!"
As Roy's figure vanished from the divine realm, Pandora's smile gradually faded, replaced by the dignified aura of a goddess. She looked around at the gray, empty space and sighed softly.
Sitting on the ground, she tugged at the hem of her dress, which barely covered her thighs, and murmured to herself, "...Would Epimetheus be angry? But he's just a foolish oaf anyway. Our relationship was forced upon us by myth, so I needn't care about his thoughts."
"...Ah, suddenly I feel like an unchaste woman. But then again, Pandora is the witch who brings calamity!"
She covered her mouth with a light laugh.
Pandora was one of the oldest Heretic Gods. Because she had always resided in the Netherworld, she had never died and thus never had to conform to modern myths. If this Pandora were to die and descend again as a Heretic God, the new Pandora would emerge as the calamitous witch and wife of Epimetheus.
Just as the Amazon queen Hippolyta had now become Lancelot—though Hippolyta, as an ancient Heretic God who had never died, remained the Amazon queen of Greek myth in truth, despite her outward guise as Lancelot. But if this female Lancelot, born of Hippolyta, were to perish, the next time Lancelot descended as a Heretic God, he would follow the newer myths and manifest as a man.
This was the essence of Heretic Gods breaking free from myth's constraints. No matter how myths changed, those who descended as Heretic Gods remained unaffected, retaining their true nature.
...
Though Roy had spent much time conversing with Pandora in the Netherworld, when his consciousness returned to the present world, only an instant had passed.
As his body and mind reunited, Roy sensed the new Authority he had seized from the Great Sage Equal of Heaven. By all rights, this Authority should not have been compatible with Roy—Luo Hao and Salvatore were far better suited to it. But with Pandora's "headshot, aimbot, wallhack" cheats, she had directly secured the very Authority he needed most.
—Indestructible Golden Body!
This was the authority Roy had usurped from the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the 'steel' body of Sun Wukong—a power that essentially transformed one's body into true forged steel.
It wasn't that Roy's body had literally turned into steel. He still had flowing blood, muscles, nerves, and bones. But in battle, his body could become 'forged of steel,' eliminating all vital weaknesses.
Vital points like the heart or head no longer existed for Roy. If he wished, he could even emulate the Great Sage, not shedding a single drop of blood even if his body were severed. If Scáthach's special training had eliminated all weaknesses in Roy's will, then this new authority had now removed all physical vulnerabilities as well.
In the past, despite possessing the highly versatile Holy Right, Roy's body remained mortal flesh. Without protective magical energy, even something like molten lava could harm him. A single careless hit to a vital spot could have been fatal.
But now, Roy had remedied this critical flaw. His current body could not only swim freely in a volcano but could even traverse the vacuum of space unprotected without harm.
'An authority that alters the body is both rare and immensely useful.'
Roy was thoroughly satisfied with his new power. After all, even Aleister was merely mortal—susceptible to severe injuries and reliant on life-support systems.
Though Roy's Indestructible Golden Body might still be fragile against opponents like Aleister, whose strength neared that of a Magic God, in terms of versatility, Roy's physical form far surpassed Aleister's. For now, this body, endowed with the attribute of steel, was more than sufficient for Roy to contend with his enemies.
Breaking the sound barrier with his bare body was as effortless as a light drizzle to the current Roy.
'Even the Great Sage's spiritual foundation was intercepted by Aiwass. Once I assimilate it, my strength will rise yet again!'
Roy was growing stronger at a visible pace. This world truly lived up to its promise of fulfilling his wish to 'become stronger.' Before reaching the true limits of a Campione, Roy's growth could only be described as meteoric.
***
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