"Oh? This is… a direct alteration of the world's rules?"
"As expected. This one was not wrong. Your Holy Spear truly carries a dreadful terror."
Athena did not launch another attack. Instead, all three pairs of eyes fixed on the Holy Spear in Akuto's hand.
Akuto raised the spear slightly and replied at an unhurried pace.
"Correct. An alteration of the world's rules."
"If you, Athena, remain within the range of my barrier, then even if the myths of the mortal world undergo a drastic upheaval, it still won't be able to harm you in the slightest."
"I see. So this is what you call the 'path beyond,' is it?"
Athena frowned. To be honest, she was not very satisfied with that kind of "path beyond."
If that was the case, didn't it mean she could only stay by Akuto's side forever?
Of course, satisfied or not, Athena had to admit that this state was far better than the Divine Realm as it currently stood.
At the very least, if she stayed beside Akuto, she wouldn't have to worry about being influenced by the mortal world again and suffering an involuntary shift in divinity, right?
…
Akuto's answer was simple.
"Of course not. My path beyond is not that shallow. I'm only saying this: the rules of my world can surpass the rules of the Divine Realm. That's all."
Though it was only a small area, under the Holy Spear's judgment, the world around Akuto had indeed become his private pocket world.
"I see. Then what exactly is this 'path beyond' you keep mentioning?"
Athena was very satisfied by one thing: Akuto's method clearly did not require her to be glued to him.
But the very next second, she puffed her cheeks in displeasure.
Because Akuto's reply was not what she wanted to hear.
"That… is temporarily classified."
"At this stage, I have no intention of telling you." Akuto smiled.
…
"Hmph! You really are a vile man!"
Athena's temper flared as Akuto teased her again.
She had already expected he wouldn't reveal everything right now, but when he actually did it, she was still furious.
Didn't he say he liked her? Hadn't he expressed that liking so intensely? Then why was he always messing with her?
A man rotten to the core by nature.
"Song of death. Guide death. Dance death. Servants of Athena, death messengers from the Divine Court. At once, show your valor and strike down my foe!"
In a fit of pique, Athena directly used triple the divine power to summon the Underworld's attendants.
However.
Akuto had already confirmed the change in Athena's feelings, and he had no interest in continuing to "play" with her.
Facing the army of Underworld attendants rushing at him, Akuto merely spoke calmly.
"Genesis Explosion."
"Authority Seal."
"Divine Power Seal."
Woom.
A strange ripple spread out, and the surging army vanished in an instant.
No, it was not only the attendant army.
The night sky remained. The ruins remained. But after the army dispersed, all radiance of divine power disappeared as well.
Even the trinity split of Athena, Metis, and Medusa was forcibly fused back into one, returning to Athena's original form.
After being forced back from the trinity state, Athena realized in shock that her connection to Authority had become unbelievably faint, almost impossible to sense.
She could not summon attendants.
She could not wield Authority.
She could barely even call forth the dark scythe at all.
…
In the next second, the Holy Spear in Akuto's hand dissolved into golden light and disappeared.
Akuto looked at the goddess before him, expression even.
"Athena, in the world right now, there is no Authority, no Underworld attendants, and no such thing as divine power."
"In this world, there is only you and me."
As he spoke, Akuto bent his knees slightly and lifted a hand. Athena's ankle showed a wild, combative edge as she shifted her stance.
"Oh? Do you intend to engage this one in classical close-quarters combat?"
Athena instinctively raised a hand-to-hand posture.
But out of "trust" in Akuto, Athena's mind jumped one layer further beyond "Akuto wants to fight up close."
Wait.
Was Akuto planning to use the excuse of "close combat" to take liberties with her?
The moment that thought clicked into place, Athena snapped her gaze to Akuto's eyes.
She caught the amused look there and understood his intention. Heat rushed to her face.
In the next instant, a clear mix of embarrassment and irritation rose on the silver-haired goddess's flawless features.
"Are you planning to… use melee as a pretext to molest me? To profane the body of a goddess?!"
Athena was pleased that Akuto desired her body, but she was even angrier that he was trying to sneak in shameless "benefits" like this.
If he truly wanted intimacy with her, then at the very least, he should first confess passionately, and then kneel before her and kiss her toes.
If he could not even manage that, he still wanted a goddess's affection?
It was hard not to think the worst.
…
Akuto smiled and walked toward the goddess, who rarely showed such a cracked, flustered look.
"Calling it profaning doesn't sound quite right, does it? My standing in the Biblical faction is fairly high, you know."
"Athena, you only need to think of it this way: without divine power, we have no choice but to decide victory and defeat through close combat."
"Now then, doesn't that make it much more acceptable?"
"Excuses! You just want to take advantage of this one!"
Athena knew it perfectly well. Since Akuto could seal Authority and divine power, he could also simply kiss her directly.
But he chose not to.
Instead of taking the straightforward path, he insisted on settling it through melee. Wasn't that precisely because he wanted to take liberties with her, thoroughly and shamelessly?
Hearing that, Akuto shook his head, helpless.
"Correct. It's only an excuse."
"But Athena, is it really fine for you to call the excuse out like that?"
"I don't mind either way. With or without the excuse, I would still choose to get a little closer to you in this manner."
"But what about you?"
"If you expose it like this, you won't have any way to convince yourself anymore, will you?"
At those words, Athena's pupils contracted.
It was only for an instant. Athena quickly forced herself to steady her thoughts.
Then she rolled her eyes at Akuto, violet gaze sharp.
"Hmph. A man who always seeks shortcuts."
"If you want to be intimate with this one, then you must first confess to this one, then kneel before this one and kiss the tips of this one's toes. Only if you can do that will this one consider granting your request."
Athena's bottom line dropped again.
Before, it had been "wait for Akuto to confess, then reject him hard."
Now it had gradually become "as long as Akuto confesses and kisses her toes, physical intimacy is acceptable."
Facing Akuto, Athena showed a very obvious mix of shyness and anticipation.
Because no matter how annoyed she was, Athena had to admit it: Akuto was her only "partner candidate." No other man even had the right to enter her eyes.
And beyond that, Akuto was her ally. Even if she found him unbearable, it only reached the level of "unbearable." She still had to prepare cooperation properly.
"Oh? Confess to you first, then kiss your toes?"
Akuto raised his brows and looked toward Athena's perfectly shaped feet.
Her refined feet, like works of art, were wrapped in Greek-style golden-thread heels. Her pale, cute toes had no decoration, yet carried a clean, lotus-like clarity that still struck with breathtaking impact.
"Fine. I agree. But it'll have to wait until later, because that is not the top priority right now."
With that, Akuto suddenly burst forward.
"Hmph! This one feels like your eyes are not quite right!"
"And so, the toe-kissing can be skipped!" Athena suddenly had a very bad premonition and refused outright.
"No."
"Athena, you said it. Confess first, then kiss your toes. If I say I'll do it, I will do it."
"This one already said no!"
"The toe-kissing you speak of is practically flirting with this one!"
Athena had noticed the look Akuto gave her feet. She was pleased by his desire, but letting him cash in on those words was another matter entirely.
She had zero doubt that Akuto would do something far beyond what she could imagine.
"Is that so? Athena, you're clearly happy. Don't refuse."
"Who told you this one is happy?! Don't go probing other people's emotions!"
In her panic, Athena blurted a contradiction.
Her first sentence denied Akuto's claim.
Her second sentence told him not to peek at her emotions, which only perfectly proved what he had said.
The moment the words left her mouth, Athena realized she'd misspoken. A red glow spread across her cheeks.
Just then, the two of them stepped into each other's striking range.
From that instant on, the battle plunged into its most primitive, most brutal mode: barehanded brawling.
With Authority sealed, Athena still possessed formidable divinity and superb combat technique. But Akuto's strength, speed, and understanding of battle crushed her completely.
"Impudent wretch! Always trying to take shortcuts!"
Even as she spat that complaint, Athena's golden-thread heel was knocked off and sent flying by a blow that skimmed past Akuto's temple.
She understood clearly: with the Holy Spear's influence covering everything nearby, and with divine power and Authority sealed, even if she somehow injured Akuto severely, it would mean nothing.
Not to mention, she was almost certainly incapable of harming him.
But she still wanted to throw herself into this close-quarters fight with everything she had.
Not for anything else.
Only to vent the knot of frustration in her chest.
On Akuto's side, he lifted a hand lightly, deflecting the heavy punch Athena drove toward his temple.
His other hand clenched into a fist, and without mercy, slammed into the goddess's soft abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Athena let out a pained gasp as her body curled on instinct.
The hit did not only bring sharp pain. It carried a strange penetrating force that made her whole body seize for an instant.
That seizing was not only from pain.
It was also because… something inside her had been switched on.
Her temperature rose slightly, and her body was forced into a state that prepared for reproduction.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]