Little Garden 236-240

Title: Can You Still Get a Wife for Free in This Day and Age?

England, Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.

A beautiful fair-skinned girl approached the place. She was a white girl, about twelve or thirteen years old.

Golden curly hair, an elegant and beautiful face.

She looked like a delicate doll crafted by a rare dollmaker who staked their entire career on it.

She wore a black dress resembling mourning attire. Though the clothing wasn’t convenient for movement, she arrived at the city outskirts with remarkably swift steps.

Then, she halted on grass clearly pressed down.

Behind the girl, an illusory cloaked shadow appeared.

“Stop, Guinevere, this is the place.”

“Alright, Uncle.”

Guinevere stopped, looking around curiously.

“Uncle, can this place be used to summon the King?”

The figure Guinevere called Uncle was actually a woman.

She wore a cloak concealing her form. Honey-colored hair faintly peeked from the cloak’s edge.

From her attire, it was vaguely discernible she was a woman with a fine figure.

She was a War God from ancient times, the prototype of Lancelot in epic legend, a rare Steel Goddess.

But now, she was merely a shadow lingering in the world, protecting Guinevere.

Though she could briefly exert her power, she wasn’t her true body, let alone a Heretic God.

At this moment, the shadow of the God Lancelot wandered around, finally returning to the courtyard before Guinevere.

“Guinevere, I can sense the leyline here is very abundant. As the tomb of Arthur and Guinevere you built, it should be able to summon the King.”

Hearing this, Guinevere’s face showed joy.

“Finally, I can summon the King this servant serves?”

Guinevere was a Divine Ancestor serving the King of the End.

Sharing the name Guinevere, she herself was King Arthur’s wife in legendary myths.

However, her true self was an ancient Earth Mother, a White Goddess whose name wasn’t even recorded.

She served the King of the End, swearing with her eternal life to follow the Savior who eradicated Devil Kings.

But hundreds of years ago, during the King of the End’s last earth purge, she was gravely injured. This forced Guinevere to embark on a long journey chasing the King of the End.

And The Legend of King Arthur in this world was created by this Guinevere, solely to awaken the King of the End.

To summon the King of the End through the method of Spirit Status Affiliation.

As known, in this world, it was normal for Gods to have alternate identities in other mythologies. Every God’s origin could be traced to different mythologies.

For example, the famous War God of Victory, Verethragna, was also Bahram and Indra in Indian mythology.

He combined elements of many Gods, like Vahagn, the ancient Armenian War God, Dharmapala, the Buddhist Protector God, Kushan’s Orlagno, Parthia’s Wryhrm, and incorporated tales of Hero Gods like Hindu Vishnu, Manichaean Adamas, Babylonian Nergal, Ancient Egyptian Horus, and Greek Heracles.

Meaning, summoning through the above identities had a certain chance of calling Verethragna with a different Spirit Status.

Guinevere planned the same. Through crafting The Legend of King Arthur, she summoned the Savior who purged many Devil Kings on earth with the Divine Sword of Salvation.

King Arthur was an alternate identity Guinevere created for the King of the End through myth propagation.

Though summoning the other party as King Arthur would suppress some of his Divine Authority, King Arthur’s alternate identity wasn’t weak either.

Plus, the King of the End’s power relied on the blessings of the great ritual of the Old Covenant, not much tied to the Heretic God’s original body’s power.

Guinevere’s plan seemed perfect.

But Lancelot always had a bad premonition. She spoke to warn, “Guinevere, for some reason, I have a feeling our plan won’t go so smoothly.”

This feeling didn’t come from the Black Prince, who repeatedly ruined their plans and even destroyed most of the Holy Grail over a decade ago.

But from another bad premonition.

“I feel summoning King Arthur to Possess our Lord might not succeed.”

Though only a shadow, her inspiration as a Steel God wasn’t comparable to ordinary people.

The King Guinevere chased wasn’t so easily summoned.

And the legend of King Arthur had been sung for thousands of years, no longer just the myth Guinevere created.

Though poets continually crafted new stories about the legend of King Arthur, successfully making the myth widely known.

It was hard to say the myth’s similarity to the King of the End wasn’t distorted. The two identities might not fully connect.

Guinevere sighed, looking at Lancelot with her last hope.

“But this plan I’ve prepared for thousands of years. I must try.”

Guinevere said through gritted teeth.

“If not for that God Slayer…”

Back in the 12th century, Guinevere once summoned King Arthur. Back then, the legend of King Arthur still had her guidance and constraints. There was a high chance of summoning the King of the End.

But she was attacked by a passing God Slayer, only reincarnating until now.

Having missed the best summoning time, she was now unwilling and wanted to try again.

Even if the success rate was low, what if it worked?

She wasn’t willing to let thousands of years of hard work go to waste.

This was the Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, also the Tomb of Arthur and Guinevere she built in the 12th century.

This was the location she originally set to summon King Arthur.

After a thousand years, the magical power here had become abundant again, and the Faith gradually grew stronger.

The chance of summoning King Arthur would only be higher.

“O King, this servant awaits your arrival. This servant has prepared the best offerings for you.”

It was the Magical Holy Grail, born from everything she had as an Earth Mother Goddess, pouring all her Holiness, Immortality, and Wisdom into it.

“Such a pity, the Holy Grail was destroyed by some fool. Most of the magical power this servant gathered was also taken by that fool. Only this remains as your offering.”

“O King, please forgive this servant’s rudeness.”

Saying this, Guinevere stood in place, pulling out a cup made of pure gold.

This was the so-called Holy Grail.

Guinevere held the Holy Grail, gently pouring its liquid onto the ground. She also knew the one she summoned might not be the King she followed.

So she poured carefully. The painstakingly gathered magical power couldn’t be wasted.

If the King of the End was truly summoned, it wouldn’t be too late to apologize.

[We beseech the rebirth of the sword, cleaving the darkness of the world’s end, slaying all Devil Kings.]

[The sword among swords, the noblest blade among blades.]

[You are the blade that annihilates Devil Kings, the pure light of the savior, born to slay all Rakshasa in the world.]

Accompanied by Spirit Words, the pure white light grew increasingly dazzling.

As the magical power drained, Guinevere felt the poured magical power wasn’t enough.

She grew more excited and thrilled. This meant she could finally summon the Lord she truly followed.

After that, she stopped being cautious, directly pouring the Holy Grail’s magical power, equivalent to ten God Slayers’ total magical power, into the ground.

Used to nourish the “King of the End” newly awakened.

A ghostly figure suddenly appeared amid the ruins.

It was a handsome man with blonde hair and a striking face. He wore luxurious silver-blue armor, holding a beautiful Holy Sword, appearing here slightly surprised.

“My Lord, this servant has finally found you.”

Before Aslan could react, a petite figure rushed into his embrace.

Aslan lowered his head, sinking into thought at the sight of his appearance.

The King Arthur Alternate Identity given by the Halloween Queen must have something wrong.

For some reason, every time he used this alternate identity, he always had to descend to another world through summoning?

He just didn’t know if it was the Halloween Queen’s bad taste or another reason.

But Aslan suspected it was likely the Halloween Queen’s bad taste. After all, her mastered ability was Summoning.

Anything from the past, future, or even illusory, she could summon.

The Halloween Queen’s most proficient combat method was summoning incomplete Spirit Statuses to fight, a group of Two-Digits ganging up on one.

Of course, preparing a reverse summoning wasn’t hard for her either.

But seeing the petite figure in his embrace, the corner of Aslan’s mouth couldn’t help twitching.

His Spirit Status told him the woman in his arms was his wife, his wife in his Spirit Status.

An existence tied to his Spirit Status.

“So, in this day and age… can you still get a wife for free?”

“If it’s the King, it’s possible.”

Guinevere showed a joyful yet slightly shy expression. She seemed thrilled to be called a wife by Aslan.

After all, when she created The Legend of King Arthur, she positioned herself as Guinevere with that intent.

But Lancelot beside showed a wary expression.

To her, the King Arthur Guinevere summoned didn’t seem like the King of the End, but his power far surpassed ordinary Heretic Gods.

Even the Holy Sword at his waist was filled with divine qualities like the Divine Sword of Salvation.

Powerful, wielding the Divine Sword of Salvation. From any angle, the youth perfectly matched the King of the End’s description.

Yet Lancelot’s instincts told her this King Arthur was absolutely not the King of the End.

-

Title: It’s Simple, I Will Become the King of the End

—It is the King! It is the Knight!

—It is the Star Holy Sword!

—It is the Thirteen Constraints, the Star Weave Anchor Point, it is the Savior Light wielded by the King!

In Lancelot’s eyes, she saw thirteen powerful shadows surrounding a round table.

Each had the strength to face a Pantheon alone, far surpassing the King of the End. Yet, before the King Arthur in front of them, they willingly swore allegiance.

Even among those shadows, she saw a position that should’ve been hers.

At this moment, her existence seemed to have been usurped.

She was no longer the Steel Goddess who revered battle and mastered martial arts.

But Lancelot, the Knight of the Lake, truly swearing allegiance to King Arthur.

Divine power as strong as a prison, divine grace as vast as the ocean!

By absorbing Arthur’s Divine Authority in this world, Aslan possessed Arthur’s Spirit Status atop his existing Four-Digit Spirit Status.

Arthur’s Spirit Status and Divine Authority merged, making Aslan’s current Arthur Spirit Status a Heretic God under Celtic Mythology.

Lancelot’s knees weakened. She instinctively wanted to kneel and swear allegiance to the King.

If she weren’t just a shadow now, and her true origin was the rare Steel Goddess, the War God protecting Divine Ancestors, Hippolyta the Amazon Queen.

Lancelot was already distorted after her myth was usurped. Otherwise, she might truly have sworn allegiance.

She resisted her body’s instincts, stood in place, and looked at Aslan.

“You’re not the King of the End. Who are you really?”

“Hmm? King of the End?”

Aslan showed an understanding smile. He thought he might know what kind of world he was in.

He was initially worried about how to trigger a Historical Transformation Period to shake Christianity’s Faith.

That’s why he used Arthur’s alternate identity. Ordered to cause trouble, how could he use his main account?

Exactly, Aslan felt the Halloween Queen was perfect to take the blame, so he went out causing trouble with Arthur’s alternate identity.

And it must be said, this world was truly perfect for making trouble.

Aslan didn’t even need to do much. Just observing this world would surely cause unimaginable chaos.

Imagine, Holy King Rama, Messiah Savior, White Horse Kalki, and Noah being the same person playing different roles in different mythologies.

Containing invincible Baal, Heracles, Great Demon Baal, Saint George… also one person. No, not just one person.

And many even shared alternate identities.

Anyway, Aslan didn’t dare imagine; if this world was observed, who wouldn’t be affected?

A more critical point was this world’s Worldview.

This world’s myths were created by human Ancient Sages to bind the Earth Spirit.

This was a worldview where Humans Create Gods.

If this possibility was confirmed, that’d be truly entertaining.

Almost all Gods in Little Garden would, without reason, be one rank below humans.

In such massive chaos, Aslan suspected even releasing Angra Mainyu might not attract the Gods’ attention.

Aslan’s desire to cause trouble thumped loudly in his heart.

“King of the End? I am King Arthur?”

Aslan looked at Lancelot with slight surprise. Since she saw his identity with Spirit Vision, what was there to question?

“On the contrary, you? The divinity in your body is rather complex.”

Aslan thought for a moment. Lancelot’s position in Avalon seemed still vacant.

“And your existence has been usurped.”

“So, do you want me to help you become the true Lancelot?”

Compared to a bunch of rough men in Avalon, Aslan preferred a female Knight.

“Sorry, you’re not the Lord we seek.”

Lancelot shook her head slightly. The King they sought was the Savior wielding the Divine Sword of Salvation, eradicating many Devil Kings, the King of the End.

Not a standalone King Arthur.

“Guinevere, the plan failed. The one summoned is King Arthur, not our Lord.”

Lancelot paused, speaking to Guinevere.

But Guinevere showed no awareness. She was still intoxicated by Aslan’s aura.

She didn’t want to wake from this beauty.

“Guinevere!”

Seeing her not react for a long time, Lancelot couldn’t help shouting, wanting Guinevere to be more aware.

Only then did Guinevere snap out, reluctantly stepping down from Aslan, bowing slightly to him.

“Sorry, King, this servant was rude.”

Aslan waved slightly, indicating he didn’t mind.

It must be said, being hugged by Guinevere, who swore allegiance to Rama, gave Aslan a kind of NTR thrill.

Though it was someone else’s desire.

Only then did Guinevere notice Lancelot, who seemed ignored after getting her King.

“Uncle, are you saying the King before us isn’t the one we seek?”

Guinevere said with slight disbelief.

But that’s impossible, right?

Every cell in her body, every sense, told her Aslan was the King she painstakingly sought for thousands of years.

“That’s right. I’m indeed not the King of the End you seek.”

Aslan didn’t need to hide it. After all, one Heretic God and one Divine Ancestor weren’t worth lying to.

“The King of the End is still sleeping.”

“Instead, are you willing to follow me and help the King of the End break free?”

Honestly, the King of the End position intrigued Aslan.

It felt like if this Spirit Status was brought to Little Garden, it’d likely have potential to become Two-Digit.

And it was a Savior Spirit Status, like Kalki.

Of course, assuming this world’s mythology wasn’t created by humans.

“What do you mean by break free?”

Guinevere looked at him with slight confusion. She didn’t quite understand what Aslan meant.

“What else could it mean?”

Aslan rolled his eyes speechlessly. He could only say Guinevere was truly unfortunate. Though she chased Rama for thousands of years, she forgot his name entirely and didn’t notice his exhaustion.

The King of the End identity for Rama wasn’t just a duty but endless torment. Each awakening was only to swing his sword.

Under daily repeated sword swings, he was too exhausted to keep fighting.

So, after his last sword swing fifteen hundred years ago, he chose to sleep until now.

He no longer wanted to fight.

“Just the literal meaning.”

Hearing this, Guinevere opened her mouth, stunned.

“So, what’s your choice?”

Guinevere seemed to realize why all her efforts to summon the King of the End over the years failed.

He didn’t want to wake. So how could she disturb him?

And for some reason, Guinevere felt she had no feelings for the true King of the End.

Instead, she cared deeply for Aslan. As if she were truly his Queen.

“If what you say is true, then we’re willing to follow you.”

Guinevere bowed slightly to Aslan.

Lancelot seemed to want to say something, but seeing Guinevere’s decision, she held back.

After all, she was only summoned to protect Guinevere.

“But what do you mean by the break free you mentioned?”

“It’s simple, I will become the King of the End.”

Aslan showed a confident smile.

To him, the Star Holy Sword wasn’t incapable of acting as the Divine Sword of Salvation.

And if operated correctly, he might make this Arthur alternate identity a Three-Digit, glimpsing the Three-Digit realm early.

“Then, please sign a contract with this servant.”

“Only by signing a contract can this servant fully trust you.”

Guinevere looked into Aslan’s sapphire blue eyes, held both his hands, and slowly pulled him toward her.

“This servant and Lancelot will swear allegiance to you from now on, but it’s temporary, only until you truly do what you say.”

“This servant and Uncle will be loyal to you forever, never betraying.”

Aslan curved his lips, saying joyfully, “Fine.”

After all, he was the one benefiting, just a matter of how much.

Gaining two loyal and pleasing subordinates while taking the King of the End position wasn’t bad.

Taking and gaining, he felt no shame.

After all, Rama didn’t want these things, so don’t blame him for not holding back.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Milan, on a bustling commercial street in Europe’s most vibrant city.

A girl in an off-shoulder white Greek-style robe, with short pure white hair and a delicate face, walked barefoot on the pedestrian path.

Though her appearance was eye-catching, people around seemed not to notice her, hurriedly passing by.

The girl raised her head, revealing pitch-black eyes.

Sensing something, her eyes narrowed slightly, resembling snake eyes.

“So close, this servant’s snake… ugh, gone again?”

Pallas Athena, ancient Earth Mother, sighed regretfully.

Mother of Heaven’s Wisdom, Mother of Earth’s Majesty, Lord of the Underworld’s Sublimity. This was her essence, the most majestic trinitarian ancient Earth Mother Goddess.

And based on this majestic status, Athena was worshipped by ancient humans in various mythologies.

Metis, Medusa, Neith, Anat… all were alternate names from ancient times, also considered her avatars.

But many avatars had separated her essence to some extent.

This, in turn, caused Athena’s Earth Mother essence to be destroyed by an ancient Steel God, turning into a Divine Artifact and lost on earth.

And that Divine Artifact, Athena called “Snake.”

It was the key to regaining her complete Trinity and majestic status.

Sensing the connection between the snake and herself, Athena closed her eyes.

“Intermittent contact. Was it taken by some fools?”

“Hmm? Why does this servant feel a stronger pull? It’s like my snake.”

“That direction? Is it Britannia?”

Athena raised her head, opened her eyes, and looked toward England.

There, she sensed the aura of Gorgon.

-

Title: Fine, Foolish Adina, No Problem Being Foolish Adina

“Despicable thief and hateful traitor.”

Outside one of Britain’s five-star hotels, looking at two figures soundly asleep on the bed.

Athena gritted her teeth, uttering this sentence.

As a majestic ancient Earth Mother, she despised all Steel Heroes in the world.

Because those disgusting Steel Heroes oppressed and degraded countless Earth Mothers into wives, daughters, and the like, seizing their power.

But compared to enemies, what Athena hated more were traitors who forgot their Earth Mother dignity.

None other than Guinevere, acting as Aslan’s cuddle pillow.

As an ancient Earth Mother in the British region, the White Goddess, she chose to forsake her dignity, willingly manipulated by a Steel Hero.

Even relinquishing her Divinity, Immortality, and Wisdom, degrading into a Divine Ancestor.

This was regret for being powerless and hatred toward traitors.

Heresy was sometimes more despised than infidels.

“But you seem too relaxed. That’s fine, this is precisely this servant’s chance.”

Athena curled a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, raising her hand.

Black snakes slithered from her fingertips, from the ground, from window cracks, cautiously creeping toward Aslan and Guinevere.

These were snakes imbued with the Underworld’s Death power. One bite, and even a God Slayer would return to the Underworld.

This way, the traitor and the Steel Hero she hated could return to the Underworld together, and she could reclaim her Divine Artifact.

Athena’s gaze fell on the Demon Star at Aslan’s wrist.

The pull of Gorgon’s Divinity told Athena that was the “lost” snake. But for some reason.

After thousands of years of wear, the snake’s Divinity not only didn’t diminish but became purer and stronger.

Her wisdom told her that absorbing that snake would make her a stronger existence than her peak glory days.

But just as Athena suppressed her excitement, watching the Death snakes she controlled slowly creep toward Aslan and Guinevere.

An accident occurred. A woman holding a spear, wearing Silver Chain Armor, appeared in the room, unnoticed until now.

Lancelot saw the snakes on the ground and frowned.

“Death Divinity? Is another Heretic God here?”

Immediately, several white lights flashed. The snakes on the ground silently turned to black ash, vanishing in a breeze from nowhere.

The next second, Lancelot shifted her gaze outside the window. Her eyes met Athena’s.

“Athena?”

“Disgusting Steel Goddess.”

Athena’s face slightly contorted. Her heart felt utterly nauseated.

Was today a cursed day? Why were all the things she hated gathered together?

Steel Hero, traitor who betrayed the Earth Mother, a rare Steel Goddess, and her “stolen” snake.

It’s common knowledge: the God Slayer world is where hundreds of Spirits enact global mythologies, causing most Gods to have dozens of alternate identities, and most know each other.

Even if not familiar, they’ve at least dealt with or met each other.

During her long sleep and wandering, Athena had dealt with Lancelot.

She knew well how troublesome this martial-arts-proficient Steel Goddess was.

Thirty-Six Tactics, Fleeing is the Best Tactic.

Without hesitation, Athena turned into countless dragons and snakes, slipping underground, fleeing in all directions.

“In response to the beloved daughter’s prayer, crush the honorable enemy. We here turn into lightning, offering life to you!”

In an instant, Lancelot summoned a white horse, charging toward Athena’s escape with Godspeed.

She swore to capture Athena and offer her to her Lord.

“O Fog Wind, blow!”

Following Lancelot’s chant, a fierce wind blew. All of London was enveloped in thick white fog, like the Fog City of the Victorian era.

Lancelot and her white horse even turned into fog, hiding within it, chasing Athena in all directions.

Countless fog strands turned into knights, slaying every dragon and snake Athena separated into.

“Ha~~, why so noisy in the middle of the night?”

Aslan opened sleepy eyes, turned on the light while yawning, and covered the still-sleeping Guinevere.

He did nothing. He really just used Guinevere as a cuddle pillow.

Though he wasn’t above eating young girls of this body type, like Leticia or Minamiya Natsuki.

But since Guinevere hadn’t truly sworn allegiance, he wasn’t rushing for this momentary success.

What was his would always be his.

“On the contrary, you, I haven’t sought you, yet you came to me?”

Aslan looked at the owl on the tree branch outside the window with slight helplessness.

Athena’s trick of hiding the real with the fake was clever. Even Lancelot was fooled.

The owl was Athena’s symbol, and the dragon-snake was the Earth Mother’s symbol.

Athena’s current Spirit Status, from the Trinity, was Athena, not Metis, let alone Medusa, who lost her Spirit Status.

But this trick could only fool Lancelot. Fool him? Practice a few hundred years more.

Not to mention he still had Athena’s Blessing. A Heretic God barely touching Five-Digit, and she wanted to break Athena’s Blessing?

Aslan felt that releasing the Blessing would shatter this Athena’s Spirit Status instantly.

But fortunately, the Athena before him hadn’t reclaimed the Gorgon Stone to restore her Trinity Athena state.

Otherwise, when Algol learned she and Athena somehow became one, who knows what chaos would ensue.

“This servant only came to reclaim this servant’s snake.”

Seeing her cover blown, Athena didn’t need to hide. She flew down from the branch, into the room, transforming into a petite figure in a cream sweater, with a cute cat-ear knit cap.

“On the contrary, you, this servant didn’t expect the famed King Arthur to be a despicable thief.”

Athena said to Aslan mockingly.

Aslan was stunned.

(Huh? Thief? Me?)

No. How long had he been in this world? Where’d he find time to steal Athena’s snake?

If he really wanted the Gorgon Stone, wouldn’t it be better to ask Algol to make one?

Why steal?

Following Athena’s gaze, Aslan looked down, seeing the Demon Star Algol hanging on his wrist. He sank into thought.

So, the Gorgon Stone Athena meant was the Demon Star.

(No. Where’d you get the courage to target Algol?)

(If Algol knew, she’d laugh herself to death.)

An Athena barely considered Five-Digit thought to absorb the Demon Star to complete her Divinity?

Even Christianity back then was helpless against Algol, only able to hand it to the Greek Pantheon, letting Athena seal it.

Even Athena could only seal it.

Even joking, no one jokes like this.

“Foolish Adina, you managed to make me laugh.”

Aslan held back laughter, clutching his stomach, trying not to laugh too freely.

To avoid accidentally waking Algol.

“This servant is named Athena, not Foolish Adina. Can’t Steel Heroes nowadays even call this servant’s name correctly?”

Athena looked at Aslan with slight displeasure.

This man truly lacked manners, not a shred of courtesy.

But who made her the weaker one now? Be it Lancelot, already a Heretic God, or Aslan standing here in pajamas.

She couldn’t beat either. Even escaping wasn’t possible.

“Fine, Foolish Adina, no problem being Foolish Adina.”

Athena frowned. She didn’t try correcting again. This self-talking man didn’t listen at all.

As for Aslan, there was another reason he called her that: to distinguish this Athena from Little Garden’s Athena.

You can’t call both Athena, right? Who could tell which was which?

“Even so, I’d like to remind you, you’re after the wrong snake.”

Aslan shook the Demon Star on his wrist. His Demon Star was a Gorgon-head-shaped pendant.

While Athena’s Gorgon Stone was a fist-sized stone emblem, carved with a Gorgon’s face.

“Don’t tell me you can’t even recognize your own snake?”

Athena touched her nose, slightly embarrassed.

Just now, she seemed to sense her snake, and its direction was in Italy, where she was before.

Though Aslan’s Demon Star indeed had immense allure for her, it wasn’t her snake.

“Sorry for the disturbance. This servant will…”

Athena’s face flushed slightly. Mistaking her own snake was a bit embarrassing for her, the Goddess of Wisdom and Victory.

Especially in front of the Steel Hero she despised.

“You really think you can just leave?”

Aslan’s mouth curled into a pleased smile. Since Foolish Adina came, don’t expect to escape.

Did she think his place was an amusement park, come and go as she pleased?

“So, what do you want to do to me?”

A bad feeling flooded Athena’s heart. She slightly regretted provoking this man.

“Relax, I won’t do anything to you.”

Saying this, Aslan pulled out a rope, walking toward Athena with a wicked smile.

Then, under Athena’s horrified gaze, he strung her up, simultaneously writing “Foolish Adina” in big black ink on her face.

“You’re sick, aren’t you?”

Athena was silent for a long time, then cursed.

-

Title: At the Peak of Divinity, Overlooking the World, There Is I, Athena, There Is the Sky!

After that, Aslan went back to sleep.

Really, what was all the fuss about in the middle of the night? Can’t people get a good night’s sleep?

As for Athena, Aslan casually used a Silence Spell to mute her mouth.

Judging by Athena’s intense movements, it was clear she was cursing profusely, her emotions highly agitated.

“Hmm? AI-chan, why’d you come out?”

Aslan looked at the petite figure hugging a blanket and pillow, lying beside him, slightly surprised.

“So I accidentally woke you up?”

“AI-chan just sensed that ugly woman’s aura.”

Algol turned, glancing at the hanging Athena, and burst into laughter.

“Foolish Adina? Didn’t expect that ugly woman to have such a counterpart. When we return to Little Garden, AI-chan will definitely let that ugly woman enjoy her own dark history.”

Algol could already picture Athena’s expression upon seeing this counterpart.

It’d surely be hideous.

But Algol loved seeing Athena show such an unsightly appearance.

“But the possibilities on this Foolish Adina are a bit strange. Oh well, doesn’t matter.”

Algol muttered softly, then stretched a few times, snuggling into Aslan’s embrace, letting him hold her.

“I heard that after a good mood, a deep sleep has magical effects on beauty.”

Algol hummed an unfamiliar tune, then continued her sleep.

If she hadn’t suddenly sensed Athena’s aura, she wouldn’t have wasted her beauty sleep time.

As for now, of course, back to sleep.

Aslan and the others slept soundly, but Athena—she couldn’t sleep soundly at all now.

Since Algol appeared, she couldn’t sleep anymore.

That was Gorgon, Medusa, the Primal Demon, the Demon Star…

It was a Medusa whose power far surpassed hers.

Since Algol appeared, Athena felt her connection to the Gorgon Stone severed.

She truly lost a third of her Earth Mother essence.

Now, she was more fittingly called the Lord of the Underworld and Goddess of Victory than the Trinitarian Athena.

A premonition in her heart told her that even if she did nothing, she could easily be swallowed by the other party.

This kind of swallowing wasn’t like Zeus’s previous swallowing of just Divinity but a complete replacement of even her existence.

Athena didn’t want to give up without a fight, but the absolute gap made her despair.

The other party, just by existing, made the Divinity she lost willingly sever ties with her, wanting to join Algol.

She saw a beam of light fly from Italy to this place, about to enter Algol’s body.

Then, it was slapped to the ground by the sleeping Algol.

“Ugly thing, don’t come tainting AI-chan’s beauty.”

In Algol’s eyes, anything less beautiful than her, if absorbed, would only affect her beauty.

So she never absorbed her counterparts, only their possibilities.

More or less like collecting data.

But seeing Algol disdainfully slap away the Gorgon Stone she chased for thousands of years, though Athena was slightly relieved—since the other party didn’t plan to swallow her—she was also a bit displeased at the same time.

Why? She shouldn’t be weak, right?

She was a Goddess, so how could she be an ugly thing?

But since the other party didn’t want it, don’t blame her for being impolite.

Athena vigorously shook the rope, arduously swinging toward the Gorgon Stone on the ground, under the watch of Lancelot hidden in the darkness.

(Just a bit more! Just a bit more!)

(Damn, why is this servant in this little girl form now!)

Athena’s toes strained, but she was always about a centimeter away from the Gorgon Stone.

Just a little further, and she could reclaim her lost power, returning to the Sublimity of the Trinitarian Goddess.

(Struggle! Just a bit harder! Just a little!)

Finally, with a gentle breeze blowing from nowhere, Athena’s toes reached the Gorgon Stone.

Her toes touched the Gorgon Stone, absorbing the lost Divinity within it.

The sky darkened at that moment. By the planet’s rotation cycle, only half the earth should be dark. But now, everything fell into pitch-black night.

No moon, no stars in the sky, just endless darkness.

The prophesied Starless Night had arrived.

With an excited face, Athena silently chanted Spirit Words.

“This servant chants, chants the Praise of the Trinitarian Goddess. Connecting sky, earth, and darkness, this is Reincarnation and Wisdom.”

“This servant chants, chants the Song of the Degraded Goddess. As a Queen but deemed a Forbidden Snake, this is the Queen’s Lament.”

“This servant chants, chants the Poem of the Goddess with Body and Soul Torn. Violated by the great Father, this is the Merciful Mother’s Humiliation.”

“My name is Athena, daughter of Zeus, Guardian Goddess of Athens, Eternal Virgin.”

“Once, the Earth Mother birthed all things! Once, the Lord of the Underworld ruled darkness! Once, the Queen of Wisdom knew the spread of heaven’s wisdom! This servant swears, Athena will return to Primitive Athena!”

Accompanied by silent incantations, Athena’s form gradually changed. The soft little girl’s body elongated, transforming in an instant into a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old maiden.

The modern sweater on her body turned into a white Greek-style toga robe.

Descendant of the Earth Mother.

Ruler commanding Death and Darkness.

Queen of the Sky ruling heaven, earth, and darkness.

One of the strongest Divinities among Earth Mother Gods. In various mythologies with alternate identities, she was a Main God on par with Great Gods. Athena reclaimed her original True Body.

At the Peak of Divinity, Overlooking the World, There Is I, Athena, There Is the Sky!

Black Sword, Gorgon, Exterminate God Slayers, Destroy the World!

Only a Medusa stronger than her. Let her try with the Trinitarian Goddess’s power!

Athena was equally invincible in the world!

Just a thin rope, how could it hold the Trinitarian Goddess Athena?

But, fantasies are beautiful, reality is cruel.

“Ughm~ Ughm~ Ughm~~~”

Even Athena, having reclaimed her Divinity, remained hanging.

Her mouth sealed by the Silence Spell. Even if she wanted to speak, she couldn’t utter any crude words.

She could only shake vigorously, as at the start, showing her dissatisfaction.

Of course, the words “Foolish Adina” on her face didn’t vanish with Athena reclaiming her Divinity.

This made Athena’s series of actions look more comical in Aslan and the others’ eyes.

No way, right? No way, right?

Could someone really think a Divine Ancestor (Guinevere), a Heretic God (Lancelot), a mysterious young Creator God (Algol), plus a Star Spirit (Algol) would need sleep?

Even if truly sleeping, it didn’t mean they lacked perception of the outside world.

Athena’s struggle… no, Foolish Adina’s struggle was truly a great spectacle for Aslan and the others.

Bringing countless joys.

Finally, Athena realized something was wrong. She looked at Algol, laughing heartily in the blanket, with slight silence.

Her mind froze at this moment.

So, what was all her hard work for?

To come play the clown? Or to reclaim her snake?

Athena once again regretted why she was possessed and came to Britain to retrieve “Gorgon.”

Though her life was spared, and her snake was reclaimed.

Her dignity was lost forever.

Humiliation!

Athena bit her lip, staring at Aslan with tearful eyes of sorrow.

She could only hope her tearful expression now could evoke pity from this wicked Steel Hero, King Arthur.

But Aslan’s character was far worse than she imagined.

Aslan pulled out a phone, aimed it at Athena, and started taking photos.

“Yes, like that. It’d be better if your expression was a bit more humiliated.”

“Great, this is truly perfect!”

Aslan was so shameless that even Algol couldn’t stand it.

“With you acting like this, aren’t you really not afraid that ugly woman will kill you?”

Know this, Little Garden’s Athena wasn’t good-natured. In fact, she was very hot-tempered.

In Greece, the fake War God, Ares, was only responsible for starting wars, not victory.

The true War God (Athena), after three warnings, started wars directly. Without a word, she’d crush bones and send the other party to the grave lightning-fast.

And never failed.

“Of course not afraid.”

Aslan shook his head. Satisfied with the photos in his album, he put away his phone.

“What do you think of this Foolish Adina’s Spirit Status?”

“Trinitarian Athena, and she dares make AI-chan and that ugly Athena one entity. If AI-chan finds who’s behind this, AI-chan will turn them to stone!”

Algol said with slight annoyance.

But who made this the natural evolution of this world’s mythology? It clearly still had much use for Aslan.

Otherwise, he’d have acted long ago and killed this Athena.

“But in terms of Spirit Status, though majestic and very complete for Athena, AI-chan would never give Medusa’s Spirit Status to Athena.”

The Trinitarian Athena Spirit Status, if completed in Little Garden, could likely reach top-tier Almighty Domain status and a Pantheon Leader among Three-Digits.

It also had much use for Athena.

As for Two-Digit? Still lacking.

-

Title: Who’s the Real Problem Child?

However, this Spirit Status alone wasn’t enough to quell Athena’s anger.

“Of course I know that.”

Aslan pinched Athena’s slightly panicked face, chuckling as he spoke.

Athena genuinely couldn’t laugh now. If her ears didn’t deceive her.

Just now, that other Medusa seemed to say there was another Athena, no weaker than her?

What kind of colossal bad luck had befallen her?

Trinitarian Athena, but now, there were two other versions of herself, far more terrifying than the King of the End.

And it seemed… those two, Medusa and Athena, were enemies…

Athena only felt her vision darken. Why did she have to learn such heartbreaking news?

With her wisdom, she also knew about counterparts.

As she understood, this world had different parallel worlds, plus a Ghost World crossing all worlds, and the Domain of Immortality standing above all worlds.

The Original Body of the current Heretic Gods lived in the Domain of Immortality at the multiverse’s edge.

So, in reality, it wasn’t just a few hundred Earth Spirits from one world forming mythologies and using alternate identities.

But hundreds of Earth Spirits from the entire multiverse, over three thousand parallel worlds, forming this multiverse mythology.

Yet even so, Athena had never seen an existence stronger and more terrifying than Algol before her.

That fearsome Divinity, as if it could petrify the entire sun with a glance, made her tremble.

Even Zeus, at the peak of Steel Gods who usurped Earth Mothers’ status, wasn’t a ten-thousandth as strong as Algol.

(Note: Zeus’s display in the Domain of Immortality can unleash lightning at 150 kilometers per second. Poseidon can strike seventeen times in 0.1 seconds.)

But her two counterparts were so powerful. And there seemed to be enmity between that Athena and Medusa.

This wasn’t good news for her.

This meant, if lucky, she might lose two-thirds of her essence. If unlucky, she’d likely become a punching bag for Athena and Medusa.

Now, the latter outcome seemed highly probable.

“But AI-chan, what if we give Athena a path to Two-Digit, and directly reveal this path?”

Aslan’s mouth curved into a wicked smile. Of course, he knew that with Athena’s current state, under the watch of Saint Seiya’s Athena, she had no chance of becoming Two-Digit. Even if she fought and succeeded, condensing a Two-Digit Spirit Status, she’d likely become nourishment for the Athena who mastered the Will of the Gods during absorption.

If she was a bit less lucky, Little Garden’s existence could even be exposed.

Thousands of Worlds, different paths to the same goal.

Aslan didn’t believe the peak of the Cosmo System didn’t require absorbing one’s own existence or have a Uniqueness requirement.

It was just a matter of time.

However, Aslan suspected that when the Cosmo System began absorbing, it’d likely start at the Super God realm to absorb Uniqueness.

A more representative existence was Zeus. Saint Seiya’s Zeus was far stronger than Athena, nearly Omniscient and Omnipotent.

But he vanished one day, pursuing the mystery before the Big Bang, the True Cosmo Mystery.

Yet Little Garden’s Zeus was still normal, not absorbed.

Likely, Little Garden’s Zeus was warned when preparing to become Two-Digit.

Athena might not be the first unlucky one.

“With the Trinitarian Athena Spirit Status as a base, combining other possibilities, stacking a majestic Spirit Status enough to support Two-Digit, wouldn’t that be easy?”

As he spoke, Aslan shared his understanding of this world with Algol.

Algol pursed her lips slightly upon hearing it.

She’d lived in Little Garden for years. The number of worlds she observed wasn’t small. Even worlds with mythological worldviews, she’d seen plenty.

But this was the first time she saw a world with such an abstract worldview.

What the heck? Hundreds of Earth Spirits supporting an entire mythology system? Every God averaging dozens of alternate identities…

Wouldn’t this make Little Garden’s Gods fight until their brains spilled out? Until Two-Digits intervened.

But it must be said, using this world for experiments and verifying possibilities was fantastic.

Creating several Two-Digit paths wouldn’t be surprising. What’s a God Genealogy? That’s a little brother before the God Slayer world.

Honestly, if she hadn’t set her path, she wouldn’t know where to direct her excitement.

“But this is too cheap for that ugly woman.”

Algol said with slight displeasure. Wasn’t she Aslan’s first counterpart?

And she’d bet everything on Aslan.

Yet now, Aslan was preparing to help that ugly Athena become Two-Digit first?

“Relax, how could I let Athena get such a bargain?”

Aslan waved casually, smiling.

“Know this, this world’s mythology was woven by human Ancient Sages to bind those Earth Spirits, the current Gods.”

“What’s called a Heretic God means a God heretical to Mythology.”

Algol paused, looking at Aslan.

After a long time, she spoke.

“Sometimes, AI-chan really thinks the Problem Child title should go to you.”

“Compared to you, AI-chan even feels like a good girl.”

Algol thought about what happened in Little Garden since Aslan arrived.

What Problem Child? Aslan was the true Problem Child, the Master of Trouble Making.

And this guy hadn’t been exposed or beaten to death yet.

If this world’s worldview was observed by Little Garden’s Central Core, and related possibilities absorbed by the Gods, the question of whether Humans created Gods or Gods created Humans wouldn’t need an answer—it’d be resolved directly.

This paradox… hmm, can’t call it a paradox, right? In short, Little Garden shamelessly made this a paradox to scam… no, to gain Merit and Faith from Human History.

That’s false propaganda.

But once this falsehood was exposed, what would happen? Sorry, Algol couldn’t imagine it.

The more likely outcome was that this world would be obliterated by Two-Digits once observed by Little Garden’s Central Core.

If not handled well, future Three-Digits would only have Star Spirits and Dragon Species left.

Gods and Buddhas all wiped out, none escaping.

This was far fiercer than the Last Trial of Mankind.

The Last Trial of Mankind still had to eradicate Pantheons one by one.

“Hehe.”

Hearing Algol’s praise, Aslan smiled innocently, looking slightly shy.

“You think AI-chan’s praising you?”

Algol snapped, knocking his head. Aslan’s胆子 was truly huge.

Humans in this world wove mythology to bind Gods, plus the previous world where humans defeated Gods.

These two possibilities combined… Algol didn’t dare imagine how many lives Aslan had to spare for death.

Could Shiroyasha really bear this responsibility?

“AI-chan, did you forget what we did in the previous world?”

Aslan pulled out his Unofficial History, waving it before Algol.

How could a shy, cautious person like him take such a huge risk?

Look, when had he ever been caught?

Now Little Garden still saw him as the last hope against Angra Mainyu.

Though his status in the Gods’ hearts wasn’t as high as Canaria’s, it wasn’t far off.

After all, he’d altered history once, so doing it again was no big deal.

But the issue was, Aslan seemed to have heard this world was a multiverse worldview.

The Unofficial History might not suffice.

Though the Divine Authorities Gods wielded in this world, compared to Little Garden’s Authorities, were mere fragments.

But Fragment Authorities were still Authorities. Could any Authority evade Unofficial History’s modification?

So Aslan decided to study it a bit before causing more trouble. He’d just obtained two Authorities from Krishna.

Might as well see if he could upgrade the Unofficial History, refining it into a Divine Authority Artifact.

“Whatever you want…”

Algol’s mouth twitched. This time, she had to keep a close eye on him. The trouble Aslan caused was just too big.

She didn’t want Aslan, whom she’d bet everything on, to end up like her, sealed.

“What do you think of the Sole God • Trinitarian Athena Spirit Status? Does it qualify for Two-Digit?”

“You want Athena to kill you?”

Aslan really wanted to offend Athena to death.

Hearing this, Aslan rolled his eyes, glancing at Algol.

“As if this Foolish Adina wouldn’t be killed once exposed.”

“I don’t think Athena will stay calm and maintain an alliance with me after seeing Foolish Adina.”

Still, Aslan felt a bit bad for Athena; after all, she’d been pretty good to him.

But as he said before, he and Athena really weren’t compatible. Even Fate showed this.

Otherwise, how could he meet this Trinitarian Athena?

As for why Sole God? Because he wanted to use a fictional mythology to replace this world’s original mythology.

That way, only a handful of Gods might survive.

Wouldn’t the survivors become Sole Gods?

No way it’d be Sole God Arthur, right?