The Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi sword was originally the blade Susanoo-no-Mikoto obtained from the tail of the eight-headed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi after slaying it in myth. It was a weapon symbolizing the steel hero, while Yamata-no-Orochi naturally represented the Earth Mother Goddess. Extracting it from the serpent's tail signified its steel attribute—capable of absorbing the essence of the Earth Mother Goddess.
Thus, under such myths and legends, the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi underwent changes. Due to its ability to absorb the essence of Earth Mother Goddesses, it gained immense authority over immortality. Even the serpentine traits and reincarnation cycles of Earth Mother Goddesses could be severed by this blade. At the same time, having absorbed the divine essence of Earth Mother Goddesses, the sword developed its own spirituality. In other words, Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi was not merely a weapon—it was more like a subordinate deity of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, a sentient armament with its own will.
The Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi that Roy had shattered in Tokyo was merely a shadow of the true blade. How could Ena Seishuuin, a mere shrine maiden, possibly wield the full power of such a divine artifact?
This was a weapon of immense lethality against Earth Mother Goddesses—their natural nemesis, the bane of all immortal beings.
Yet Roy was no Earth Mother Goddess. He was a Campione—one who had surpassed the limits of Campiones, truly standing at the pinnacle of the world!
Step by step, Roy advanced toward Susanoo-no-Mikoto. With each stride, his aura surged exponentially. The terrifying, almost viscous density of his magical power, coupled with the instinctive killing intent a Campione harbored toward Heretic Gods, filled Susanoo-no-Mikoto with dread. His grip on the sword trembled uncontrollably.
Barring newly born Campiones, Campiones were inherently stronger than Heretic Gods—unless their attributes happened to be countered. Roy's power had already exceeded the limits of a Campione by more than threefold, and this was no simple additive effect. The current Roy could handle the combined assault of multiple Campiones or Heretic Gods. Facing just one Susanoo-no-Mikoto was akin to confronting mere scarecrows in his eyes.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto knew that if he didn't act now, by the time Roy's aura peaked, he would lose even the chance or right to strike. The pride of a Heretic God compelled him to suppress his terror. The violent essence of the Storm God and the Steel Hero ignited his fury from within.
"Old friend, let us fight side by side once more!"
Susanoo-no-Mikoto's hand steadied. Gripping the hilt tightly, he drew the divine sword.
"At your command, Lord Susanoo-no-Mikoto!"
A sharp, resonant voice echoed from Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi in response.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto was a rare god who had rampaged across the earth yet escaped being slain by Campiones. After venting his defiance as a Heretic God, he chose to withdraw, retreating to the Netherworld to live in seclusion, abandoning his identity as a Heretic God entirely.
Had this been all, Roy would have had no reason to trouble him. After all, the Netherworld housed many gods like Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who had forsaken their defiance and chosen seclusion.
Such reclusive Heretic Gods were bound by the rule of no longer interfering in worldly affairs. Yet Susanoo-no-Mikoto had stretched his hand back into the mortal realm. Even he knew this warranted his execution here.
But a Heretic God who had lost his defiance was akin to a Divine Ancestor—closer to humanity. Thus, Susanoo-no-Mikoto felt fear and the urge to flee, unwilling to fight Roy to the death because he feared death.
If Susanoo were still the Heretic God who ravaged the land, he would never have entertained such thoughts. Instead, he would have laughed wildly and fought Roy to the death, meeting his end with a grin on his face.
Susanoo gripped the hilt of the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi sword with both hands and swung it down with all his might.
The steel-like sword energy transformed into a ferocious storm, roaring forth with terrifying force. The gale was so devastating that every flower and structure in its path was instantly reduced to dust. Even the underworld was swept up in the dark tempest, the winds converging under the steel hero's sharp aura as they slashed toward Roy.
Standing before the storm capable of rending the earth, Roy seemed like a lone boat on a raging sea, as if he might capsize at any moment.
Yet Roy only sneered in response. Raising his left hand high, he gathered an overwhelming surge of cursed power so dense it stifled the air—then swung it down.
"Moses Parts the Sea!"
Facing the all-consuming tempest, Roy charged forward without hesitation. This was the power to split the sea itself—the unyielding will of God's chosen people, trapped between the Red Sea ahead and Pharaoh's army behind, as they marched toward the promised land of Canaan!
BOOM————————
The roaring thunder was split in two, the howling hurricane torn to shreds. The clouds dispersed, the rain ceased, and the sea stretched wide under the open sky—the divine slash from the God of Storms and Steel that could rend heaven and earth was shattered by Roy's single palm strike!
"Gah——————"
Susanoo-no-Mikoto violently spat out a mouthful of blood, a blade wound now running horizontally across his chest, deep enough to reveal bone, blood flowing ceaselessly.
Though he too was a God of Steel, he lacked the indestructible golden body of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Had it not been for his cunning use of the "Keeper of the Horses" curse to seal the Great Sage away back then, he would have stood no chance against the Monkey King in a direct confrontation.
Years of seclusion in the Netherworld had dulled the inherent nature of a Heretic God. Otherwise, Susanoo would not have remained behind the scenes, scheming instead of standing at the forefront.
Roy had now undergone a complete qualitative transformation. The sheer magnitude and aberrant quality of his vast magical power alone made him an opponent beyond the capabilities of ordinary Heretic Gods. Had the Great Sage not employed the Covenant Grand Ritual back then, even that monkey would have been swiftly dispatched by Roy in mere moments.
It could be said that in this world now, aside from the Last King who possessed the true Covenant Grand Ritual, there was no one left who could withstand Roy for more than a few exchanges. This was the metamorphosis brought about by Pandora's Circle of Usurpation and the Spirit Origin Ascension Ritual.
Susanoo's sword-wielding hand trembled uncontrollably once more. Roy's technique, Moses Parts the Sea, had already wounded his divine core. The once-ferocious deity now withered, his courage to challenge Roy utterly extinguished.
"Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, we retreat! Once one of the Three Noble Children of Takamagahara who ran rampant across the land, Susanoo had now lost all his fighting spirit, thinking only to evade Roy's brilliance for the time being and devise a plan to face him later. In fact, Susanoo's thoughts had already shifted—he now contemplated awakening the Last King to have this anomalous Campione slain.
"I said you would die today, and die you shall—573!"
Roy activated his divine speed, his body ablaze with radiant flames and lightning. With a beckoning motion of his right hand, a blood-red cruciform longsword descended into his grasp. The god-slaying martial arts inherited from Scáthach were wielded by Roy as naturally as breathing. As fellow slayers of gods, Roy and Scáthach shared an extraordinary compatibility. One might even say that compared to Cú Chulainn, Roy was more like the true inheritor of all Scáthach's techniques.
"Annihilating Thrust!"
A crimson gleam flashed across the cruciform blade as a killing intent capable of extinguishing infinity and freezing heaven and earth surged forth. In Susanoo's eyes, all else vanished—only the tip of that swordlight remained, inching toward him bit by bit.
He wanted to dodge, but his body could barely move under that annihilating will and murderous intent. It was as if he had been frozen by the chill of hell itself, from the inside out—every drop of blood, every bone, every inch of skin utterly immobilized.
This was a thrust capable of piercing even the Netherworld, the realm of the mind.
Though Roy lacked the full might of Scáthach's full-powered strikes—a gap owed to the difference in their inherent strength—this "Annihilating Thrust" had captured the essence of her spear technique, bearing the same formidable grace.
Susanoo could only watch helplessly as Roy's longsword transformed into a crimson point of light, piercing through his throat. In that instant, the divine vitality of this god was utterly extinguished by this blade that traversed the netherworld.
Susanoo let out a gurgling sound, losing the ability to speak. His grip on the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi faltered, and the once solemn, profound light in his eyes faded into emptiness.
Thus perished one of the Three Noble Children of Takamagahara, who had once roamed the earth for millennia.
***
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