Multiverse's Holy Right

"John Pluto Smith, the Campione! Why are you here?!"

Over the waters beyond Manhattan Island, a girl who appeared no older than thirteen or fourteen stared in shock and fury at the armored figure standing before her.

The girl's petite frame should have been endearing, but her face was twisted with ferocity. She was barely clothed, her slender body wrapped only in a few simple bandages. Her undeveloped form lacked any seductive curves, yet exuded the allure of an unripe fruit, tempting others to pluck it.

Asherah possessed a beauty that would excite any depraved man. Unfortunately, the Campione before her, though publicly known as male, was in truth a woman beneath that armor.

"Divine Ancestor Asherah, my reasons for being here are irrelevant. All you need to know is that I am here to stop you—to prevent you from harming innocent American civilians."

Annie Charlton, clad in armor, spoke with polite composure, embodying both the casual demeanor typical of Americans and the heroic individualism of her nation.

An ordinary woman might easily be charmed by her gallant and heroic bearing, but Asherah was no ordinary woman.

"Ha...ha...hahahaha!! Although it's a bit different from the plan, never mind. Since you're here too, let me destroy you along with this island. Can you feel it? Can you feel the surging divine power within me?! Come, John Smith, this shall be your burial ground!"

The Divine Ancestor Asherah screamed with a twisted expression, her once-beautiful pupils now filled with cruelty and hatred.

"I am the heavens—tremble before me! I am the earth—curse me!"

"My head is Enlil, my face is the light of noon. O gods who protect me, banish the demonic curse upon me!"

Borrowing the essence plundered from the earth and sea, Asherah chanted the words to restore her identity as the Heretic Serpent. Amid the hissing of dragons and serpents, her petite body began to transform. Scales sprouted on her skin, her legs turned into a serpent's tail, and her head morphed into that of a snake. In the blink of an eye, she changed from a beautiful maiden into a silver-scaled, godlike serpent over twenty stories tall!

This was none other than the Heretic Serpent Leviathan, a being in defiance of the gods. Though not as formidable as Athena's Gorgon Serpent, it was still a monster far beyond any mortal's ability to resist.

BOOM——————

The massive serpent tail slammed into the sea, stirring up towering waves as Leviathan surged forward, crashing toward Manhattan Island.

Annie Charlton's expression beneath her helmet was solemn. With her divine energy burning throughout her body, she fearlessly collided with the serpent. Upon closer inspection, one could see that Annie Charlton's body had also transformed—no longer human. This was the authority of the Aztec demon god, a power she had usurped.

...

The battle between Asherah and Annie Charlton threw Manhattan into panic. American rescue helicopters buzzed overhead, broadcasting warnings as the sea turned into rain, pouring down over the canals. Yet, amid the chaos of the city, the place where Roy and Athena stood remained eerily quiet.

"Guinevere, the witch who bears the name of King Arthur's wife—it was you who incited Asherah to absorb the essence of the earth and sea so violently and swiftly, and who brought her from the West Coast to the East Coast, wasn't it?"

Roy gazed at the girl before him, who appeared to be around fourteen years old. No one would ever associate this elegant yet youthful girl with the Guinevere of Arthurian legend.

"Isn't this something you already knew, Lord Roy? Under those eyes of yours, no secret should be able to escape."

Guinevere smoothed her skirt, her sweet voice calm and unhurried.

"Don't think I don't know your true intentions. You wanted to use Asherah to suddenly alter her plans, forcing John Smith into such a desperate situation that he'd have to turn to me for help. That way, you could verify whether my 'eyes' truly see all past secrets, as the Greenwich Assembly claims."

Roy smiled faintly, as if meeting an old friend in a distant land, chatting familiarly with Guinevere.

"You're absolutely right. I did want to test whether your Mystic Eyes truly possess the legendary power they're said to have. And now I see it's truly incredible—you didn't conduct any investigation on Asherah, yet you grasped her entire plan just from a few pieces of information. Even as a Divine Ancestor like myself, I'm humbled by this level of clairvoyance."

Guinevere spoke in admiration, her soft, radiant eyes filled with a maiden's yearning—the kind that easily makes men swell with pride.

"Then, Guinevere, do you know why I still followed your plan even though I clearly knew it was your scheme?"

Roy had his right hand in his pocket as he slightly lifted his chin and asked.

"You just mentioned it earlier, didn't you? Because you're interested in me, and you must also be interested in the Last King. That's why I appeared before you. Since both of us are interested in the Last King, why not use those wise eyes of yours to show me where the Last King slumbers?"

Guinevere lowered her head slightly, speaking as if pleading.

"Divine Ancestor Guinevere, I never expected you to have fallen so deep. You traitor to the Earth Mothers, you rebel who serves the Last Steel. Do you know how many of our kin have died because of you? How dare you appear before me? I wish I could grind your bones to dust right now."

Athena suddenly spoke up, her voice icy with barely restrained fury. Her amber pupils had turned into vertical serpentine slits as she glared coldly at Guinevere, as if ready to unleash the Petrifying Gaze of Medusa at any moment.

"Lady Athena, that's all in the past. Besides, even without me, the fate of the Earth Mother Goddesses was already sealed. In fact, ever since I saw you, I've been considering whether to turn you into nourishment for the Last King's revival."

After a brief pause, Guinevere remained smiling, yet her words were ruthlessly sharp. She showed no fear of Athena—because—

"Even if you kill me here, my serpentine immortality ensures I will revive. It'll just take a little time."

"You—!"

Athena grew even more furious, her fists clenched and her delicate frame trembling slightly. But Guinevere was right—the witches who had fallen from Earth Mother Goddesses to Divine Ancestors were like serpents shedding their skin, cycling through rebirth unless they willingly relinquished their immortality. Truly killing them was nearly impossible.

Roy gently placed a hand on Athena's shoulder, soothing her, then raised an eyebrow at Guinevere.

"...Guinevere, I am a Campione—an enemy of the Last King. Why should I help you awaken my foe?"

"Forgive my impudence, but ever since I learned of your Mystic Eyes, I've been secretly following you. Yet you've never once sought out the Last King's resting place. If you truly feared the Last King, knowing his past feats of slaying countless Campiones, you should have tried to keep him asleep—or even sealed him away..."

"...But you did not do so, which leads me to boldly speculate that your goal aligns with mine—to awaken him from his slumber. The Child of Fools is also such a person, foolishly yet bravely rushing toward what may be their death, even knowing it could be a formidable enemy."

Guinevere spoke eloquently, her words logical and well-reasoned. She had indeed guessed part of Roy's intentions.

Roy would never seal the resting place of the Last King out of fear. His only consideration was how to defeat him once and for all.

"I once promised Athena that we would sever the Last Steel together. Whether we succeed in cutting the Last Steel or are slain by it, I will not break this vow!"

Roy's voice was clear and resolute, carrying an undeniable air of majesty that commanded respect.

Athena glanced at him with her beautiful eyes upon hearing this and praised, "...Roy, with just these words, I have decided—even if you truly fall into the underworld in the end, I, as its queen, will accompany you there so you will not be alone. Rejoice, Campione who defeated me. Even the great heroes of Greece were but playthings and insects to amuse the gods in my eyes. Yet you alone have earned my special regard."

Like a proud phoenix, the goddess declared these words that sounded almost like a confession. Her cherry-colored lips curled into a dignified yet haughty smile, and her amber eyes shimmered like stars in the night, radiating a brilliance that inspired awe.

"I envy you, Lord Roy! To be so intimate with Goddess Athena—none of the heroes throughout history have ever received such an honor."

Guinevere sighed in admiration.

"Therefore, since our goals align, please tell me the resting place of the Last King, Lord Roy."

She spoke earnestly once more.

"Hmph, you understand the principle of equivalent exchange, don't you, Guinevere? You wish to know the resting place of the Last King—what can you offer me in return?"

Roy asked leisurely.

"That depends on what you desire, Lord Roy."

"Then how about offering yourself in exchange?"

Roy suddenly pointed at Guinevere.

"Me?"

Guinevere froze for a moment, pointing at herself in disbelief before breaking into a coquettish laugh. "...I never expected you to take an interest in someone as plain as me. Truly befitting a tyrannical Demon King, treating women as playthings to command at will. But if you tell me that location, I, Guinevere, am willing to offer this body for your enjoyment."

The ancient goddess, now fallen as a Divine Ancestor, spoke in a gentle, seductive tone, her eyes laced with an allure no man could refuse.

Athena shot Roy a sidelong glance, her expression slightly displeased. She had just made a bold declaration to stand by him in life and death, only for him to 'confess' to another woman moments later. As a goddess, she found this nothing short of insulting.

But Athena was not one to wallow in melancholy or hysterics like ordinary women. Her wisdom told her Roy must have a deeper purpose for doing this.

Thus, while a clever woman may make a man wary, she can also make his efforts twice as fruitful.

***

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