Some who listened to Su Mo's explanation not only grasped the general principle but also vaguely guessed his future plans.
Others, however, remained completely stupefied.
For someone with zero foundational knowledge, his explanation was no different from listening to a celestial scripture.
"Um... dearest friend! I'm sorry to interrupt, but I didn't understand a single word."
Doni raised his hand politely. He didn't really need to speak; one look at his bewildered expression was enough to know that you didn't need to ask what he didn't understand—he hadn't understood any of it.
"Principles, myths... I don't really get any of that!"
After stating his thoughts with utter frankness, Doni stared intently at Su Mo and asked the question that concerned him most.
"I just want to know, what's the deal with that sword? Why did I lose before I even made a move?"
Hearing this question, the members of the chat group also grew curious.
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh, right! We know Mythical Thaumaturgy is amazing, but what kind of spell is it, to have such a terrifying effect?"
Tohsaka Rin: "Lord Su Mo didn't even exert himself, and his opponent just collapsed."
Godslayers could also wield Divinity. Although their method of use couldn't compare to Mythical Thaumaturgy, both were powers based on Divinity. The gap shouldn't be that big, right?
"Are you referring to this?"
At Doni's question, Su Mo lightly raised his hand, and an orange-red sword of light immediately appeared in his grasp.
"This is an autonomous-drive thaumaturgy that I constructed with Victory as its essence, by reconfiguring Verethragna's Authority and using his Divinity as the core."
"Naturally, as the Sword of Victory, its effect is to grant defeat to my opponents."
Victory and defeat were, after all, two sides of the same coin. Of course, Zoroastrian doctrine emphasized dualistic opposition rather than unity.
"...Can you be a little clearer?"
Doni, still not getting it, scratched his head in embarrassment.
"To put it more simply, this spell can directly analyze a target's power and make an assessment."
"When the target meets specific conditions, under which they are certain to be defeated in the ensuing conflict, it will directly skip the process and grant the enemy the outcome of defeat ahead of time."
Su Mo's explanation remained exceptionally patient.
All in all, this spell was more suited for crushing weaklings, helping Su Mo to quickly clear out lesser mobs. Like, for instance, a small portion of Godslayers or Heretic Gods.
Against stronger foes, or enemies who didn't meet the judgment criteria, the spell's effect wasn't as significant.
"Huh?"
This time, Doni understood. But he wasn't convinced.
"You're saying that, in this sword's judgment, I'm guaranteed to lose a fight against you? That I don't even have a one percent chance of winning?"
That was just too arrogant! Not even Marquis Voban or Cult Master Luo Hao would dare claim to have a 100% overwhelming advantage against him.
He didn't know what "Mythical Thaumaturgy" was, but the sword before him was, at best, a single Authority. How could it pre-judge his certain defeat?
"That's impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Though he was currently unable to move, practically at Su Mo's mercy, he still refused to accept it.
He hadn't even had a chance to successfully use his trump card Authority!
No matter what troublesome Authority Su Mo possessed, as soon as he activated the Divine Insanity of the Wine God, he was certain he could turn the tables back in his favor.
Faced with this defiance, Su Mo had no interest in releasing him, crushing him again with his Authorities to prove a point, or making his captive submit wholeheartedly.
Explain? Did a mere loser deserve an explanation?
"Think whatever you like. I was merely introducing the spell; I have no interest in convincing anyone."
After speaking in a remarkably calm tone, Su Mo shook his head.
"However, for someone like you who can't even handle wide-area divine speed, you were destined to lose at the very first check."
In all of martial arts, nothing is indestructible, only speed is unbeatable. This principle applied to Godslayers as well.
Before Su Mo, anyone who couldn't handle divine speed wasn't even qualified to step onto the battlefield.
Although Doni possessed the martial artist's mind's eye and could barely cope with ordinary divine speed attacks, he had absolutely no chance of survival against a wide-area offensive of the "Thousand Lights, Thousand Swords" type.
Furthermore, Su Mo's Sun-attribute Authorities had a special advantage against the Protection of Steel that Doni relied on most.
Even without the Sword of Victory, he would have been killed instantly, with no chance of survival.
"I..."
Doni opened his mouth to retort, but looking at his own powerless state, he sullenly shut it. Whatever the case, the fact was that he had been insta-killed.
Putting aside his own defeat, he was quite interested in the "judgment" Su Mo had mentioned. So, after a few seconds of silence, he couldn't help but ask.
"You said 'the first check' just now. Don't tell me this so-called Sword of Victory has other judgment conditions?"
"Of course it does." Su Mo nodded as if it were obvious. "The judgment conditions change depending on what other Authorities are linked to it. But the general principle remains the same: those who cannot win will be stripped of their very right to fight."
"For now, this spell's name is still the Sword of Victory. I wonder if it will have the chance to be elevated to an Aura after linking more Authorities."
As everyone knew, Verethragna's seventh incarnation, the Phoenix, was named Kvarenah. In the Zoroastrian sacred text, the Avesta, this name represented the incarnation of a divine aura.
It bestowed upon heroes and emperors the "Aura of the King," granting them the power to vanquish all darkness and evil.
The source of all this aura was the supreme god of good, Ahura Mazda. It was Kvarenah that ordained the fate that good must triumph over evil.
As for this aura, in the Avestan language, it was also called Khvarenah.
If obtained by a hero or emperor, it was called the "Aura of the King." But if it was stolen by an evil god or demon, it would take on another name...
The Aura of the Conqueror, or rather, the Halo of the Conqueror.