Flames dyeing the sky crimson burned outside the city walls.
Even from a considerable distance, the scorching residual heat seared the skin, forcing Ritsuka and the others to suppress their urge to rush forward and assist as they noticed their arms on the verge of burning.
Unlike the previous Sword God technique, this one wasn't purely a consciousness-based attack—it carried physical devastation on par with its spiritual force.
The once-level ground was now marred by a crater over a hundred meters wide and a fissure that stretched beyond sight, perhaps spanning thousands of meters.
Yet, what left Amber in disbelief was that even after enduring such an assault, that South American chief deity only appeared slightly dust-covered, her expression still radiant and vibrant.
"Such a powerful strike—even I wouldn't be able to completely withstand it," Quetzalcoatl remarked, her tone tinged with excitement. "And this attack doesn't cost you much, does it?"
As a supreme deity from the Age of Gods herself, Quetzalcoatl could sense the surrounding mana being drained in an instant, only to be replenished continuously. She had caught that fleeting moment of depletion.
It was true.
For her, using Sword God wasn't particularly draining—it just required some concentration.
It wasn't something she could spam casually, but firing off dozens of bursts in one go, pausing for a few seconds, and then launching dozens more? That was effortless.
The Garuda's restorative power wasn't limited to the physical; it kept her energy levels perpetually brimming.
"To take that hit completely unscathed... continuing would only cause more unnecessary destruction," Amber murmured, her spirits dampened.
For the first time, she felt a sense of powerlessness, yet her expression remained calm and unreadable, as though she still held cards up her sleeve.
And she did.
Not to mention the 5,600 approval points—courtesy of Ereshkigal's significant contributions—that allowed her to take a gamble, she still had the Fenghuang Down, a deadly weapon in her arsenal.
Even if I can't harm you directly, dragging you into the Fenghuang Down's illusion and making you 'believe you're dead' could still be a solution... though the chances are slim...
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt.
"What in the world happened here? This is insane! Are you two trying to wipe Uruk off the map?" A sharp sound cut through the air as Ishtar arrived beside Amber, gasping at the devastation left by their battle.
"..." Amber didn't respond. Instead, she stepped forward, shielding Ishtar with her body in a protective stance.
In her eyes, Ishtar wasn't exactly top-tier—better not to let her stand around so casually. Who knows if she'd get targeted?
"While I appreciate the sentiment, aren't you underestimating me a bit?" Ishtar's face stiffened, a vein bulging on her forehead as she forced a strained smile.
"No matter what, I'm still one of the pinnacle goddesses. Even if I can't injure this fellow, I'm not completely helpless."
True enough—Ishtar's escape speed was unmatched in this Singularity.
Feeling somewhat looked down upon, Ishtar resolved to make Amber recognize her strength later.
For now, though, explaining the situation was more important. "I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but the reason I suggested understanding her mindset instead of persuading her through force is that physical power is useless against her."
"Well~ You're Ishtar, right? As fellow Venus goddesses, I can recognize that much," Quetzalcoatl chuckled, unbothered by the revealed intel.
Since things had escalated to this point, she saw no reason to hide anything. Better to explain it herself.
"Just as Ishtar said, if it were the Beast Goddess, I might have a headache. But against you and Ishtar, there's absolutely no way you can defeat me."
Amusement glittered in Quetzalcoatl's eyes. "As long as you are 'good,' you cannot defeat me."
"Good?" Amber was baffled. What did she mean by 'good' can't defeat you?
"She's a deity of goodness, the apex of benevolence. In other words, 'anything good is no match for her.' Only 'evil' can harm her," Ishtar cut in, reclaiming the narrative.
Quetzalcoatl didn't mind, generously spreading her hands. "That's right."
Amber, Fu Hua: ...
Well, that's just broken...
Even Fu Hua, who had initially felt a hint of satisfaction seeing Amber struggle, couldn't help but frown now.
She had already been treading carefully in this world, but this situation refreshed her understanding entirely—it defied logic.
Immunity to 'good'? It was even more baffling than a Herrscher's authority. Such an opponent couldn't be overcome by force; the only option was to use the Fenghuang Down to restrain her.
Amber could only think of the same solution.
But... they hadn't reached a life-or-death impasse. Honestly, she had regretted using the Sword God technique the moment it was unleashed.
Facing Quetzalcoatl, who possessed a benevolent heart, she truly didn't wish to cause her serious harm.
If not for their conflicting standpoints, she wouldn't want to hurt her at all. If the other goddess were severely injured or killed because she pushed too hard, her conscience wouldn't be able to bear it.
Noticing this, Amber allowed her expression to soften slightly.
Quetzalcoatl didn't miss that subtle shift.
The South American chief deity broke into an even wider grin.
"See? This is why I adore humans so much—especially the brave and righteous ones."
"Though the Phoenix is human, she's also considered a goddess here," Ishtar reminded.
"That might be true for Mesopotamia, but to me, she is undoubtedly human," Quetzalcoatl replied, aware of the local 'divine authority bestowed by humans' concept. Every region had its own beliefs—that wasn't strange.
And it didn't hinder her fondness for Amber one bit.
Amber felt a surge of pride at those words, but she wasn't conceited enough to think the affection was directed at her personally.
She had always been embodying the image of the Phoenix Celestial. Quetzalcoatl's admiration for the Phoenix Celestial was essentially admiration for her 2D waifu.
That pride was just confirmation that her portrayal hadn't been in vain.
You're absolutely right—my waifu is indeed that brave and righteous!
Fu Hua felt too drained to even muster a mental retort.
"Let's call it a day for now," Quetzalcoatl declared, seeing no point in continuing. Besides, she wasn't entirely unscathed—she still had to return and train those humans under her protection.
With that, she turned without a worry about potential sneak attacks, winked at Amber, then leaped out of the crater, landing gracefully on a waiting pterosaur.
"Let's head back too."
Ishtar breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Amber. "Right now, we don't have any means to confront Quetzalcoatl head-on. It's better to step back and strategize."
Having no alternative herself, Amber could only nod in agreement.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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