Chapter 13: The God of Victory (Patreon)

"..."

Silence.

Their eyes met. A single glance confirmed it—this was someone who would become a "rival."

Thud!

"Oof—"

Right then, the knocked-down Kusanagi Godou hit the ground. He let out a pained groan before struggling to his feet.

He wasn't seriously injured by the blast, but the sudden fall still hurt.

Once upright, his first priority was naturally to retrieve the slab he'd dropped.

While rubbing his sore arm, he looked in the direction the slab had flown—and froze at the sight of two figures standing off in the alleyway.

What was going on?

Why was that elegant young man here?

And who was the person standing across from him?

He looked more closely. It would be somewhat rude to call the boy's attire slovenly, but his coat certainly gave that impression.

It might have been white once, but now it was a dirty, tea-stained brown, tattered in places. It looked less like clothing from this seaside town and more like something worn in an oasis in the desert.

There was no doubt he was around their age, probably fourteen or even less.

His black hair fell to his shoulders, his skin was the color of ivory, and most strikingly, he was exceptionally handsome.

You've got to be kidding me. Another one?

Godou found himself captivated despite himself. The boy's finely sculpted, almost androgynous features were of a beauty you'd rarely see, even among celebrities.

But having already been stunned by Haru’s appearance earlier, Godou managed to snap out of it relatively quickly.

Then, looking at the two handsome youths locked in a standoff, and then at himself, he couldn't help but feel like he was just the sidekick or an extra in this scene!

"Thou... art strange. Not one of Us, nor one of them... And thou carryest a sense of danger. Yet I presume thou hast come seeking Me?"

"Indeed. Though, to be precise, it is not the 'you' of this moment that I seek."

"Hahaha! Fair. At this moment, I am but an avatar, not in My complete state. If thou wishest to complete that ritual, thou must await My full recovery."

"That's fine. I look forward to our battle."

"..."

Haru studied the boy before him as he spoke. The youth was draped in a white linen cloak, his figure slender and almost delicate. He appeared to be only Thirteen or Fourteen, with strikingly beautiful features.

Coincidentally, the young black-haired boy was doing the same, his gaze equally assessing.

His attire, reminiscent of Arabian robes, made him blend in seamlessly.

At first glance, he didn't resemble a legendary deity in the slightest—more like an exceptionally handsome youth.

Heretical God—Verethragna, the Persian God of Victory!

[Heretical God: A deity who rebels against the myths they were woven from, wandering the world, imposing their will upon it, and crafting their own form according to their whims—a god of calamity.]

The boyish form before them was merely one of his avatars. Beneath the harmless exterior lay a hidden, immense power, like a dormant volcano poised to erupt at any moment.

He was one of Haru’s primary targets for this journey. It was a pity, however, that this Heretical God wasn't in his complete form. Defeating him now wouldn't grant Haru the status of a Campione.

A regret, but one of Haru’s objectives had already been achieved—

The stone slab was now in his hands!

The Divine Artifact: Prometheus' Grimoire.

As the name implies, a Divine Artifact is akin to a grimoire inscribed with heavenly wisdom or sacred curses.

Most possess indestructible qualities and are deeply connected to gods or myths.

The slab in Haru’s hands was precisely the Prometheus' Grimoire, imbued with the power of the fire and wisdom bestowed upon humanity by the hero Prometheus.

Thus, it could use its blue flames to steal authorities and wield the power of the gods!

On the other side, noticing Haru’s sudden appearance, Verethragna's eyebrow twitched slightly.

A flicker of seriousness entered his eyes. Heretical Gods who manifested in the human world, even as mere avatars or projections, retained their own consciousness.

They completely disregarded the rules of the human world, acting solely according to their own will and methods—yet they could still be regarded as intelligent beings.

Since Haru made no effort to conceal his presence, even exuding a faint aura of danger, Verethragna immediately categorized this sudden newcomer as a formidable opponent to be taken seriously.

The "him" present here was merely an avatar.

And a weakened one at that. Yet, the barely contained excitement and fighting spirit made him smile faintly, as if he had finally found a worthy rival.

After all, as a God of War, he was born for battle—either fighting or on his way to one.

"I was originally enjoying a rare moment of leisure, but I must reclaim my scattered power. Would you be willing to grant Me a few days?"

The words made no sense to the bewildered Kusanagi Godou standing to the side, but Verethragna simply smiled as he spoke to Haru.

His gaze held a spark of eager anticipation. As a deity born from the very concept of the pursuit of victory, given form through legend,

Verethragna felt none of the irritation a human might at being challenged. Instead, sensing Haru’s strength and fighting spirit, his primary thought was of the battle to come.

He anticipated the thrill of overcoming a powerful foe, or even the unique sting of defeat—both emotions bringing their own form of exhilaration!