Seeing his good buddy in trouble, Issei rushed over to help Yuuto up.
Meanwhile, Irina, who had just been knocked unconscious, rubbed her head and slowly woke up, complaining as she looked at the caved-in ground, "Xenovia, really, every time she fights, she has to destroy the ground."
As Irina spoke, she stood up, and upon seeing Issei, her expression became somewhat complicated.
Forget it, from now on, I'll devote myself entirely to the divine.
Thinking this, Irina returned to her original demeanor.
"I'm sorry, I lost."
Irina came before Xenovia and said apologetically.
Looking at her teammate, Xenovia felt she needed to give her extra training.
She then looked at Issei. "Are we still fighting?"
"Of cour..."
"Alright, that's enough!"
Rias stepped forward. "Let's call this spar a draw, but I still thank you for not using a holy sword to kill him."
Xenovia looked at Rias and nodded, as there was no point in continuing the fight.
She turned and picked up her white robe. The cloth strips on the Holy Sword automatically wrapped around it, and Irina did the same.
Issei, worried about the injured Yuuto, said nothing.
"Then... let's take our leave."
With that, the two turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Abel smiled.
Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, he would see the two of them begging on the street. After all, that big smarty Irina bought a painting of a saint, and it seemed to be fake.
"Then Rias, take good care of your family matters. Sona and I will leave first."
"Mm, you two go ahead."
After Abel and Sona left, Rias and Akeno looked at Yuuto and Issei with some helplessness.
...
Time flew by.
The sky donned a black veil, and the moon hung high in the sky.
Abel lay on the balcony, enjoying the breeze.
That faint, almost imperceptible gaze made him feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Athena, come out."
Everything around them plunged into darkness, all the lights went out, and the people on the street seemed to have disappeared.
Athena appeared before Abel. "It's been a while, Godslayer, to be able to..."
"Alright, don't say so much. You've been watching me all along."
Faced with Athena's words, Abel interrupted her.
A hint of anger appeared on Athena's usually expressionless face. "Rude Godslayer, to interrupt my speech. State your name."
Athena still didn't know the name of the Godslayer Devil before her, yet her own name was known to him.
"Abel Astaroth, the Seventh King who slayed gods as a devil."
"Godslayer Devil, Abel, I know."
Athena said, looking at Abel, "Let's fight. Let's battle with the Gorgoneion as the stake."
Abel smiled, saying nothing. He threw the Gorgoneion to Athena, who instinctively caught it.
Looking at the Gorgoneion in her hand, Athena then looked at Abel. "What do you mean by this? Are you bestowing it upon me?"
"No, the battle must still happen, but let's change the stakes. If you lose, you become my servant. If I lose, vice versa."
Upon hearing Abel's words, Athena burst out laughing.
"Interesting. I accept this wager."
At the same time, Liliana and Mariya Yuri, who were catching up at a dessert shop, looked at the pitch-black surroundings and instantly became alert.
Sensing this aura, Liliana and Mariya Yuri exchanged glances.
"This... this is the aura of an Heretic God!"
Sensing the approximate location, Liliana was stunned.
"Oh no! My King!"
With that, Liliana gave Mariya Yuri a princess carry.
"Wings of the Witch, please help me fly!"
Saying this, Liliana activated 'Flight' and hurried towards home.
Similarly, Erica and Lucretia also rushed home.
Damn it, in just a moment, their home was stolen!
The scene returned to Abel.
Athena held the Gorgoneion in her hand, looked deeply at Abel, and then smiled. "Godslayer, remember history, the resurrection of the Trinity Queen is about to descend."
With that, the Gorgoneion floated in Athena's hand and rose into the air.
"I sing the song of the ancient goddess who once ruled earth, darkness and sky, sing..."
"Athena swears here to restore her ancient body!"
Athena was completely enveloped in darkness.
As the darkness dissipated, she transformed from a small child into an eighteen-year-old girl, with long hair and dressed in ancient Roman attire.
Athena felt her current power, it seemed she couldn't fully control it yet.
"Then, Abel, are you ready?"
"Of course."
"When you fail, you will be my first male servant."
"Is that so? I don't want to be your male servant."
As Abel raised his hand, the Golden Sword appeared in his hand.
He continued, "Then Athena, when you fail, you shall attend to me in bed."
"Golden World!"
As his words fell, Abel pulled Athena into the domain of the Golden Sword's authority. Golden swords filled the entire space.
With the activation of the Golden Sword, Liliana and Erica both became somewhat frantic. They hadn't even imparted knowledge of Athena to their King yet.
Inside the Golden Space.
Abel plunged the Golden Sword into the ground, maintaining the continuation of the space.
Athena surveyed the area. "A good place. Then, let's wager our future freedom."
Saying this, a purple expanse appeared behind Athena. Pairs of eyes emerged, then transformed into purple light arrows shooting towards Abel.
Yagarish appeared in his left hand. Then with a wave, countless bolts of lightning met the light arrows.
Explosions resounded continuously.
"Then how about this!" Athena waved her hand.
The ground began to shake. Abel instantly left his original spot. Immediately after, a black serpent with a gaping maw burst out of the ground.
At the same time, Athena stood on the head of another serpent.
Abel looked at the black serpent, with no trace of fear in his eyes, but rather great interest.
How do words of power create such creatures?
Abel dodged the serpent's attacks while thinking about how to create one.
"Athena, thank you for the inspiration!"
Abel laughed loudly, as if he had understood something.