Chapter 40: The Gray World (Patreon)

Snap!

Yet even such a sharp strike was stopped by the young god with nothing more than a slender branch—and he even countered in the same motion.

A single tap from that twig made Erica’s shield-bearing left hand tremble ever so slightly.

Erica’s combat style was not only beautiful and flamboyant but also filled with techniques designed for practical combat. She pressed forward in rapid succession, unleashing a flurry of precise, relentless attacks.

But the young god slipped through every one of them with ease. At times he even tapped her blade with his tiny branch, subtly weakening the momentum of each assault.

“Young lady! You’ve trained quite well! If you continue like this, you’ll surely become a formidable warrior one day. Most impressive!”

He offered his praise effortlessly, casually, as if the whole exchange were no more than a game. After all—he was a god.

At last, Erica resorted to her ultimate technique.

“O magic sword of the lion, discard your blade and become bonds!”

Steel clashed against twig again and again, but Erica suddenly leapt back, chanting a short incantation.

Her beloved sword began to transform. It was no longer a knight’s weapon, neither sword nor spear.

It became an iron chain about three meters long, with a heavy metal weight attached to the front.

She lashed the chain toward the young god’s heels, intending to bind his feet and bring him down.

“Hahaha, so that was your plan.”

But even against this move, the young god only laughed, easily hopping aside to avoid it.

However, Erica immediately hurled a second chain—this one “transformed” from the shield on her left arm—and it wrapped tightly around his right arm.

At the same instant, Erica charged forward instead of retreating, closing in boldly.

The chain in her right hand changed back into a massive sword, and she swung with all her strength.

Just as the young god landed, her blade struck him—a true hit, even if it was no more than a minor scratch, not enough to be called a real injury. Still, it was enough to earn his genuine admiration.

But at that same moment, the small branch in the young god’s hand appeared directly before Erica.

With no time to dodge, she could only force the chain in her left hand to transform back into a shield.

BAM!

Perhaps irritated by the scratch, or perhaps simply done with playing games, the young god unleashed a sudden surge of power, blasting Erica backward.

BAM!

Even so, Verethragna held back. He repelled her, but he did not harm her. To him, this wasn’t even a battle—and he truly admired the girl’s bravery and skill.

Do not misunderstand. His admiration was purely for her courage and combat talent.

“Not bad. And rest assured, I will not make a move against him. I intend to have a life-or-death battle with him!”

With Erica defeated, Verethragna did not pursue. Instead, excitement and anticipation filled his gaze as he waited.

Meanwhile, Haru remained unaware of anything happening outside.

Because at this moment—just as if a ritual had finished—a strange power began to gather, surging through him as though ready to sweep across his entire body and reshape him from the inside out.

The world around him shifted, transporting him into an unfamiliar space.

It was a realm empty of everything, painted entirely in shades of gray and white. Even the horizon was gray—an overwhelmingly gray world.

“Are you my new son?”

A clear voice, sweet and alluring, sounded right beside Haru’s ear, prompting him to turn.

A cute girl stood there—a delicate, dignified face with gentle features. Rather than beautiful, “adorable” suited her far better. She looked about fourteen.

Her twin-tail hairstyle only made her seem younger.

She wore a thin white dress, her long golden hair tied into twin tails with white ribbons. Large spherical earrings hung from her delicate ears, slightly oversized for her petite frame.

She was short, leaving the first impression of a child.

Yet she possessed an enchantment unlike anyone else.

Her figure was slender and well-balanced, though compared to the exceptional physiques of the Luo Hao, Lucretia, or Erica, she appeared a bit lacking in that department.

Instead, she had the face and build of a doll—so cute it demanded admiration.

“Pandora.”

Haru’s tone held no surprise; if anything, he sounded mildly impressed. After glancing at her, he swept his gaze across their surroundings.

“My, oh my Compared to that name, I’d much rather hear you call me ‘Mom’ This is the ‘Realm of Life and Deathlessness.’ To put it simply, it’s like ‘you’ve almost reached the other shore,’ or ‘you’re practically at the Sanzu River’—something along those lines~”

Despite being a deity, Pandora carried no divine solemnity. She acted more like the girl next door or a childhood friend—approachable and casual.

“Mom? You?”

“Alright~ Even if it’s a foster mother, having a foster mother with a childlike face, a loli body, and no blood relation—isn’t that what they call ‘moe’ in your world? Don’t you think you’re lucky?”

“…I don’t think so.”

“Eh? So un-cute~”

“My apologies for not being cute.”

“My, my Well then, congratulations on achieving the miracle of god-slaying. Next up is your reward”

“Mm.”

“Endure it. This pain is the price for leading you to the summit. Just accept it obediently Now then—bestow blessings and curses upon this child! The seventh God-Slayer, destined to become the youngest Devil King. Please offer the sacred words of power to this child”

[I bestow my blessings upon you, reborn as the King of God-Slayers!
You are the first to usurp my—the King of Gods’—authority!
Become stronger than anyone else! Possess a body that shall know no defeat until the day we battle again!]

“…”

As Melqart’s voice faded, Haru felt the world around him blur once more.