Chapter 41: Awakening on the Battlefield (Patreon)

Eyes open~

After the ritual concluded and the transformation reached its final stage, Haru finally awoke from that mysterious and profound state. Returning to reality, he opened his eyes.

What greeted him was, naturally, the scarred earth—the battlefield that had been blasted from a flat plain into a deep basin.

And then, in the very next second, hunger and exhaustion washed over him like a crashing tide.

At the same time, he felt his body swelling with power, as though an overwhelming force now filled every corner of him.

If his previous cursed energy had been a small pond, it had now expanded hundreds of times into a vast lake—an immense reservoir pushed right to its limit.

When he burned the Martial King's (Luo Hao) cursed energy before, it felt like a dam breaking apart.

But now his own cursed energy felt like an ocean. And his physical strength—his muscles, bones, everything—had increased by an immeasurable amount.

Even if a “nuclear peace” detonated directly on him, he might be injured, but he definitely wouldn’t be finished.

In this state, any ordinary weapon couldn’t even scratch him, much less break through his defense.

Just moving his body slightly made Haru feel as though he had turned into reinforced steel wrapped in iron—his strength magnified countless times.

So strong!

This body now possessed unprecedented might, to the point of being utterly superhuman.

Thump-thump Thump-thump Thump-thump~

But before he could carefully examine his physical condition or check which authority he had received…

At that moment—responding to something—

Haru felt his entire body heat up with a familiar, instinctive battle readiness.

Excitement. Thrill. Fervor.

His depleted cursed energy surged back to life, and even the exhaustion left from the previous fight was swept away in an instant.

His spirit buzzed with vigor, brimming with fighting spirit.

In only a few breaths, at most a handful of seconds, all of his conditions returned to their peak.

All because he sensed the presence of a powerful enemy.

In the blink of an eye, cursed energy ignited within him; overwhelming strength rushed through his muscles; his mind sharpened like a blade—his entire body preparing for battle.

For no other reason—this was the automatic reaction of a God-Slayer encountering a Heretic God.

Emotions surged. Blood roared.

Perhaps this was why every God-Slayer carried a battle-hungry temperament within them.

At this moment, Haru felt that sensation vividly. It was like being injected with pure adrenaline—or drinking a vat of boiling “chicken soup.” His entire being felt ready to explode with power and fighting desire.

And right now, wasn’t there a perfect opponent standing right here?

Setting everything else aside, he finally understood why God-Slayers relentlessly sought out Heretic Gods.

First, to grow stronger.

Second, because battle itself was intoxicatingly enjoyable.

The moment he saw Verethragna, excitement ignited his nerves. His body, mind, and even soul felt like they were boiling.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds; the wind had stilled, and the rain had stopped.

The battlefield lay in utter silence, yet a heavy pressure began radiating outward.

“Haru?”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Erica, Lucretia—step back for now. What comes next is between him and me.”

“Understood.” x2

“…”

The moment he awakened, the two women rushed to him with joy and relief.

Especially because Haru’s aura had surged to a level they couldn’t even comprehend. It felt as though they were looking at a completely different person.

There was a new sharpness in him, a sense of dominance.

Though he still wore the appearance of an elegant young gentleman, his presence had become freer, bolder, and profoundly confident.

Under normal circumstances, they would have been completely captivated—hearts fluttering, faces flushing—by the intensity of his aura and the beauty of his transformation.

But now, with the unfinished battle looming and the eager Heretic God standing across from them, they didn’t linger, didn’t chatter, and didn’t dare interfere. Instead, they silently nodded and retreated to a safe distance.

After all, what was coming next was a battle between a God-Slayer and a Heretic God. Remaining close would only hinder him.

“You have succeeded. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Now—let us wager our lives in battle!”

“Alright.”

Across the field, seeing that Haru had successfully slain a god and now radiated the unmistakable aura of a God-Slayer, Verethragna laughed joyfully, his fighting spirit shooting skyward.

He had come here seeking true battle. His fight with Melqart had been incomplete, unsatisfying.

But as long as he could fight—whether he claimed victory or tasted defeat—it didn’t matter who his opponent was.

Thus, without pleasantries, without unnecessary words—once both sides took their places, the battle began immediately.

Although Haru had only just awakened as a God-Slayer, receiving Melqart’s authority moments ago—without even having time to examine its details—

for a God-Slayer, training was meaningless. Battle itself was their best tutor.

“Fear me, O King of God-Slayers! Fear me and my mighty name! My name is Verethragna! I am the protector of light and the sacred realm! Fear me—Verethragna!”

The slender young god reappeared, radiating a golden glow that cut sharply through the clouds.

“Words are light. Words of power are light. Therefore—O light! O words of power! Become my sword, transform into my blade!”