Chapter 73: Enkidu (The Chains of Heaven)
"Aaaaahhh—!!!"
Athena, imprisoned by the chains, was currently held in a "spread-eagle" position. With even a slight movement, she felt nothing but heart-wrenching, piercing pain.
"Wh-What are these chains!?"
She could sense a divine restriction within these chains; it was as if her divine power—which was currently only a third of her prime—was being suppressed, making it impossible to release.
"Enkidu, a Noble Phantasm specifically used to bind gods. You're the very first customer for this treasure~"
Shirou strolled up to the goddess, who was glaring at him while gnashing her teeth, and flashed an incredibly infuriating smile.
"How about it? Lady Goddess, do you still think you can contend with me with your current strength?"
As he spoke, and under the furious gaze of Athena's beautiful eyes, Shirou pulled the Gorgoneion out of his pocket.
"How about it? Do you want it?"
He dangled the Gorgoneion in front of the petite goddess. Watching her eyes move in sync with his hand, Shirou let out a chuckle, finding the situation quite amusing.
"You fellow... are you mocking this queen...!?"
How could the goddess not understand the intentions of this detestable man? Her face instantly flushed red with rage, and she began to struggle violently, trying to break free from the shackles of Enkidu.
However, had she been in her prime, she certainly could have torn through the chains. But now, with only a third of her power, she lacked such overwhelming divine might.
"No, I'm not mocking you. As long as you say you want it, I'll give it to you. How about that?"
The corners of Shirou's mouth curled up slightly. He leaned down a bit, speaking to her like a kidnapper coaxing a young girl.
"..."
Hearing Shirou's condition, the "Heretic Goddess" Athena fell into silence. Her cheeks turned crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye.
She felt both shame and fury; the interweaving of these two emotions made her current expression look quite interesting. Watching her face, Shirou felt a sense of "pleasure."
"I didn't expect the day would come where I'd become a 'pleasure-seeker' (Kotomine-style)..." Shirou muttered to himself, critiquing his own state of mind.
Then, he looked at the goddess again.
"Well? Struggling Lady Goddess? Have you decided whether or not to lower your head and beg me humbly?"
These words infuriated Athena even more. This guy clearly wanted to make her feel humiliated to derive satisfaction from her reaction.
"Do... Do you give your word...?" After much hesitation, Athena felt that if enduring a moment of shame could return her to her peak, it wouldn't be a loss.
I-It's just a bit of losing face. Once my power returns, I'll just kill this detestable, loathsome man!
"Of course, my word is good," Shirou nodded.
Next, the goddess before him, her face flushed and her eyes welling with tears as if she might cry at any second, spoke to him.
"P-Please, give the Gorgoneion to this queen. Th-This queen wants it...!"
"Mm, I am very satisfied," Shirou gave his evaluation like a connoisseur.
"Then... it's time to return the Ancient Serpent to me!" The goddess, her face still red, stared fixedly at the Gorgoneion in Shirou's hand.
"Mm... you have a point..."
As Shirou said this, he leaned close to the goddess's ear and spoke mischievously.
"Actually, I lied to you. I was kidding."
The moment these words reached her ears, the Heretic Goddess finally learned that the human heart is treacherous. Her violet eyes slowly widened. Experiencing the malice of the human heart for the first time, she began to struggle manically.
"This is the first lesson for your descent into the mortal realm, Goddess Athena: never trust the promise of a strange man."
"You...!!"
Grind, grind, grind...
Shirou heard the sound of teeth grinding. It was certain that if he dared to get any closer, this goddess would unhesitatingly open her mouth and rip the skin right off him.
"Alright, just teasing. My word naturally counts."
Shirou shrugged and handed the Gorgoneion to the goddess, even giving it a playful little tug back for a split second.
The chains retracted. Having regained her freedom of movement, the first things to flood Athena's mind were endless shame and killing intent.
"Hmph! To dare humiliate this queen so... once I recover my strength, I shall make you taste all the pain in this world!"
Clutching the Gorgoneion tightly, Athena began to chant loudly.
"This queen chants, chants the hymn of the Triple Goddess; connecting sky, earth, and darkness, for the sake of reincarnation and wisdom. This queen chants, chants the song of the degraded goddess; once a Queen, yet regarded as the forbidden serpent, for the sake of the Queen's lament!"
"This queen chants, chants the poetry of the goddess whose body and soul were rent. My name is Athena, daughter of Zeus, guardian of Athens, the eternal virgin! Once, the Earth Mother who birthed all things! Once, the Master of the Underworld who governed darkness! Once, the Queen of Wisdom who knew the secret reaches of heaven! This queen swears, Athena shall now return to the Primordial Athena!"
It was like a song, a prayer, and an exclamation.
As the chant progressed, Athena's form transformed. From her petite, loli-like figure, she slowly grew—from a child who looked 13 or 14, she matured into the likeness of a 17 or 18-year-old girl. Her shoulder-length silver hair grew down to her waist, and even her previously flat figure became more curvaceous and elegant. Her attire changed from modern clothes to an ancient-style white dress.
Now, she had recovered her full strength. That transcendent grace was the proof of her status as the Triple Goddess. She was the last descendant of the Earth Mother, the dark ruler who led death and darkness, the fallen queen who ruled heaven, earth, and the abyss.
"Finally... Although I have just reclaimed my ancient power and cannot yet wield it skillfully, it is more than enough to deal with a scoundrel like you..."
Athena gave a confident smile. Although her current height of 156cm still required her to look up at Shirou, she still projected a sense of condescending disdain.
"From a young girl to a mature one... is this change for better or worse, I wonder?"
In just a few moments, the "legal loli" had transformed into a tall, graceful young woman. This strange visual feast impacted Shirou's mind.
"Hmph, are you interested in this queen now? You foolish man. But I have no interest in those who are weaker than me!"
Wearing a contemptuous expression, Athena spoke as several owls began to circle in the sky above her.
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