Little Garden 141-145

Title: Three Another Cosmology Against One, I Have the Advantage

“Unfortunately, under Zurvan’s influence, I failed to obtain the Absolute Evil Spirit Status.” Angra Mainyu said with a smile. Though he failed, he wasn’t surprised at all.

In Little Garden, there’s also the concept of Zurvan, meaning fate or destiny. It’s the ultimate destiny that even Full Authority Domain (Two-Digit) entities cannot resist.

Like the fall of the Mother of the Good God, which birthed many Pantheons in Little Garden, or every Last Trial of Mankind destined to be surpassed by a hero.

Zurvan might be Two-Digit, an influence of human history, or an evolution of Little Garden’s Central Core.

It seems to exist, yet doesn’t. It can’t be proven or disproven. Like why Dystopia occupied the Western District for thousands of years undetected. Some gods might’ve sensed something off about Dystopia but subconsciously ignored it, as if under a suggestion.

This is also why Aslan could guess and prevent Angra Mainyu from obtaining the Absolute Evil Spirit Status.

It’s all nonsense. It’s the result of the imaginations of cunning people living in Little Garden for years. The longer gods live in Little Garden and the more they know, the more they believe in a true destiny with supreme power.

In Little Garden, even lies can become reality if enough people believe. So, perhaps there really is such a Zurvan.

“However, it’s not like there’s no gain.”

Just as Angra Mainyu took Another Cosmology: Avesta, Aslan, Kalki, and Indra—who rose from the ground, forcibly reconstructing his heart with divine power—surrounded Angra Mainyu. They formed a triangular formation, ready to encircle and kill him.

The only good news now was that Angra Mainyu wasn’t strong. His Spirit Status level was comparable to Kalki’s, still within the Four-Digit range. He hadn’t grown, so they could still fight him. If he truly grew, it would be a moment of true despair.

Now, Kalki hadn’t grown either, and Angra Mainyu’s Kali Yuga hadn’t grown. With Aslan and Indra’s help, they might actually kill him early. Otherwise, once he grew, he’d cause endless trouble.

“By the way, Uncle Indra, are you okay? Can you still fight?” Aslan asked with concern, seeing Indra’s pale face. Ahriman’s earlier attack was brutal, directly crushing Indra’s heart.

And the gap between Four-Digit levels was too vast.

When Aslan entered his body, he could only talk.

As for combat power?

Could not being killable count as combat power?

In contrast, the Mother of the Evil God, Ahriman, though Aslan’s consciousness was also in Angra Mainyu’s body, couldn’t comprehend how she counterattacked.

Indra nodded. Weakly holding Vasavi Shakti, he said stubbornly, “Just a fatal wound. I’ve had worse in the past. How could this affect my fighting?”

However, Indra was currently in his human incarnation. The heart is a vital organ. Plus, it was destroyed by a Last Trial of Mankind. The damage from such a special attack wasn’t light. Maintaining his combat power already showed his capability.

“Actually, I was going to say I still have two golden pills.” Aslan secretly pulled out the jade bottle he took from Tamamo no Mae and tossed it to Indra.

“Damn it, why didn’t you say earlier? You made me lose so much blood.” Indra unhesitatingly swallowed both golden pills at once.

After being treated with the two golden pills, Indra’s injuries improved significantly. At least they wouldn’t affect his fighting anymore.

“You didn’t ask. By the way, don’t forget to pay for them.”

“Damn, you’re shameless.” Indra couldn’t help glaring at him.

He felt Aslan now had a bit of Canaria’s style.

Did he really not know whose pills those were?

Nowadays, every pill from Chinese mythology is rare. Their prices must’ve skyrocketed to insane levels.

Could this kid afford them?

“Why be shy?” Aslan said calmly.

If he could keep them, that was his skill. If he hadn’t used spatial teleportation to reduce Kalki’s injuries, it’d be strange if he could’ve kept them.

“But, Uncle Indra, didn’t you surpass Kali Yuga once? Any clues this time?” Aslan asked Indra about the most critical issue now: how to defeat the current Angra Mainyu.

He needed to arrange for Angra Mainyu to retreat naturally and keep growing. Otherwise, he couldn’t think of a reasonable retreat in a short time.

“No way at all? This Kali Yuga is too different from the old one.” Indra said helplessly. He found it extremely difficult. He still couldn’t handle that earlier attack.

If he weren’t certain the Mother of the Evil God was truly dead, and if this Angra Mainyu wasn’t so different from the tearful Mother of the Evil God in his memory, he’d think she had revived and decided to destroy Little Garden.

But he knew the Mother of the Evil God, Ahriman, wasn’t like that and wouldn’t disguise herself. So, that possibility was zero.

If the Mother of the Evil God revived, it’d still be better. What he feared was that this was a true Last Trial of Mankind, and an extremely evil one. Indra was utterly confused. He really didn’t know what was happening.

How did the Last Trials of Mankind, from the dawn of Kali Yuga to Dystopia, Absolute Evil, and now this Angra Mainyu, keep getting more abnormal? He couldn’t imagine how absurd future Last Trials of Mankind would be.

Little Garden was about to end, wasn’t it?

Indeed, Gaia’s past argument was correct. Gods shouldn’t just take achievements from human history; they should give back. Only then could Little Garden and human history grow healthily.

But now?

Give back?

Give back what?

Little Garden had gained 17 Full Authority Domains from human history, countless Three-Digit and Another Cosmology entities.

As for Four-Digit and below, their numbers were incalculable.

How many of those did the gods truly deserve, and how many were forcibly taken? Who knows?

The only thing Indra knew was that Gaia, who advocated giving back to human history, had vanished from Little Garden.

“Ah, so even you have no way?” Aslan sank into thought. As expected, he had to figure out a retreat himself.

“It seems there’s only one way.”

Aslan took a deep breath, as if making a decision. He looked at Angra Mainyu with determination.

“You have a way?” Indra looked at him in surprise.

The only way he could think of now was to fight all-out, then find a way for Kalki to surpass Kali Yuga.

But the difficulty… it was like asking a baby to fight Mike Tyson, with him, Tyson, helping from the sidelines.

Yes, that’s the level of absurdity. Indra had little confidence.

Before Angra Mainyu got Another Cosmology, there might’ve been a sliver of hope to win. But now… better to sleep; maybe he could keep a whole corpse.

“Three against one, the advantage is mine.”

They had three Another Cosmology: Vasavi Shakti, Void Star · Tai Sui, and Avatāra, while the opponent had only one. It wasn’t certain who’d win.

“Three moves.” Ahriman said in Aslan’s mind. In just three moves, she could kill Aslan, Kalki, and Indra.

After all, she was the Mother of the Evil God. Another Cosmology: Avesta was her creation. No one knew it better or could unleash its power perfectly like her.

Even Indra’s Vasavi Shakti couldn’t compare. In her hands, she could even temporarily mimic Aslan and the others’ Another Cosmology.

Ahriman’s meaning was clear: Aslan should find another way. This retreat plan was a bit foolish and risked exposing secrets. Instantly, “Three against one, the advantage is mine” became “The advantage is my death.”

Was this the power of one of the four original truths that founded Little Garden? It made Aslan want to give up.

After understanding Ahriman’s message, Aslan immediately changed his plan.

“If there’s no other choice, there’s only one way: exile.” Aslan sighed.

It was the method used by the Demon Lord who attacked Arcadia to deal with Canaria and others—exiling them to an unobservable area of Little Garden. Though they’d return someday, wasn’t stalling better?

Out there, Angra Mainyu couldn’t gain achievements or grow. Meanwhile, they could train Kalki. Maybe when Angra Mainyu returned, he could surpass him?

“At least it’s still the era of Absolute Evil, not yet the Iron Age.”

“Kali Yuga hasn’t truly been born, right?”

Indra paused, then looked at Angra Mainyu and said helplessly, “It seems this is the only way we can use.”

Stalling with exile? It was the last method they could think of. If this were Kali Yuga’s era, even if exiled, he’d be summoned back soon. They could only be grateful he was born early.

-

Title: Huh? What’s That? The Mastermind Is Shiroyasha?

“Done deliberating? So, can we start?” Angra Mainyu looked at the three surrounding him, neither attacking nor speaking, with boredom.

He was eager to test Aslan’s strength. They’d been discussing for so long; they must’ve made thorough preparations, right?

“Of course. How could we disappoint a Demon Lord?”

Aslan stepped back, kicking the still-unconscious Azi Dahaka toward Uesugi Kenshin, asking him to handle and seal him.

Without his Another Cosmology, Azi Dahaka’s threat level dropped significantly. Combined with his severely injured body, Absolute Evil was no longer a concern. Kenshin was more than capable of dealing with him.

As for Aslan, Indra, and Kalki, they were truly up against Angra Mainyu, possessed by Ahriman. They had to exile Angra Mainyu from Little Garden within three moves—a massive challenge.

Ahriman wasn’t someone who’d hold back just because Aslan was her master now. She’d always use her full strength. Just like when she faced Indra, who once followed her, every attack aimed to kill, ensuring the opponent was dead or gravely injured.

Ordinary people, even gods, wouldn’t be fine if their heart was instantly crushed. Extraordinary wounds might heal with some effort, but the heart, such a vital organ, was different.

“Ten Radiant Cycles! Avatāra!”

A pillar of pure white energy appeared in Kalki’s hands, merging into an unimaginable attack. Another Cosmology: Avatāra contained ten different worldviews, making it an extremely powerful Another Cosmology.

Unfortunately, Kalki was only a few days old.

Ten worldviews?

He hadn’t even fully grasped his own worldview. How could he wield ten different abilities?

He could only unleash Another Cosmology with the purest energy, releasing an Aurora Pillar that could pierce everything!

Such a pure and brutal attack was often the strongest. But its consumption was immense. Kalki was already panting after just one attack.

After all, Kalki wasn’t like Izayoi, who had the Third Perpetual Motion Machine in his blood, functioning like a nano Perpetual Motion Machine.

Of course, though he could unleash an Aurora Pillar of energy that pierced everything, he couldn’t use it like a normal attack as Izayoi did. This was the least efficient way to use Another Cosmology.

But inefficient was still better than ineffective.

“Avesta activated – Counter them in sequence!”

Angra Mainyu also activated his Another Cosmology… no, the Another Cosmology he’d just taken from Azi Dahaka.

Almost the moment he activated it, Aslan, Indra, and Kalki retreated. They left Angra Mainyu alone to face the Aurora Pillar of pure energy.

The first move: consumption!

Using Kalki, they unleashed the purest energy attack, forcing Angra Mainyu to use Avesta to neutralize Kalki’s Aurora Pillar. Then they retreated as Angra Mainyu activated his Another Cosmology, leaving this outer gate to prevent him from mimicking Aslan and the others’ Spirit Status, Gifts, and worldviews to replenish his consumption.

It was a way to drain Angra Mainyu’s Spirit Status and energy.

As Aslan expected, Angra Mainyu used Avesta to unleash an identical Aurora Pillar to neutralize Kalki’s.

As for dodging?

How could an Another Cosmology attack be easily dodged?

An Another Cosmology attack is a pure clash of worldviews. How do you dodge an attack from a world?

“Uncle Indra, now!” Seeing Angra Mainyu neutralize Kalki’s attack with his own Aurora Pillar, Aslan showed a sly smile.

Now was the time to deliver a fatal blow, when Angra Mainyu had no energy left.

“Vasavi Shakti! Pierce everything and bring me victory!”

Another Cosmology containing the truth of victory was fully unleashed, locking onto Angra Mainyu, and a massive golden spear shot forward.

When hit by the fully unleashed Vasavi Shakti, even the Mother of the Evil God needed time to break its truth of victory. And this was the moment Aslan sought.

“Mirror reflecting the sky to the equator! Void Star · Tai Sui!”

While Angra Mainyu was entangled with the truth of victory, Aslan immediately unleashed his Another Cosmology: Void Star · Tai Sui, sealing him into a fictional world within it. Then, as he was sealed, Aslan took Void Star · Tai Sui out of Little Garden, to the outer world.

“…”

At the same time, Little Garden fell silent. Both Indra and Kalki were too exhausted to speak.

Especially Kalki, facing two Last Trials of Mankind in a row, he was the spearhead. Though a savior, he couldn’t be used like livestock. Especially since he was just a poor child born a few days ago.

“Is this a Last Trial of Mankind? They’re too hard to defeat, aren’t they?” Seeing Angra Mainyu, Kalki seemed to have found a reason to fight.

He also knew his mission was to lead humanity to surpass the Iron Age and defeat Kali Yuga. Though this Kali Yuga likely appeared due to his premature birth, it gave him a stronger reason to face this Last Trial of Mankind born because of him.

“By the way, where’s that Arcadia kid? Why hasn’t he returned?”

“My Vasavi Shakti is still stuck in Angra Mainyu’s body.” Indra muttered.

As for worrying whether Aslan would survive after exiling Angra Mainyu? Though they’d only met briefly, Indra could see this kid was slippery. If there was the slightest problem, he’d escape faster than Indra.

It could only be said that he was worthy of being a spatial domain user. His escape speed was extraordinary. With this signature move, Indra was certain that as long as Aslan was in Little Garden, even he couldn’t catch him unless he used Another Cosmology to fully lock him. If he used it, Aslan could still slip away before it was fully unleashed. He was too slippery, like an eel.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other side, Shiroyasha scratched her face in confusion. She stared blankly at Aslan, who left Little Garden with Angra Mainyu, looking at the spot where he’d stood.

“…”

“Is this what that kid called a ‘grand performance’?” Shiroyasha muttered in disbelief, still not recovered from her shock. “A grand performance? This nearly turned Little Garden upside down.”

Shiroyasha only realized after Aslan openly left Little Garden. Or rather, since Aslan stood holding Arcadia’s flag, using his spatial abilities to lead a group of heroes and gods against Azi Dahaka.

Shiroyasha was too shocked to speak. She nearly prepared to forcibly take Aslan. But he led them to defeat Absolute Evil and almost surpassed Azi Dahaka.

It wasn’t too bad, just a bit shocking. But since Angra Mainyu jumped out, her heart leaped to her throat. Even when she fought her two bosses back then, it wasn’t this thrilling.

“This kid, he’s truly shocking when he acts.” After a while, Shiroyasha finally recovered. “I’m just worried—will I still see a living, healthy Aslan years from now?”

Shiroyasha muttered anxiously. Aslan’s troublemaking nature could be both good and bad.

The good part was that Aslan could grow quickly, but the downside was the immense risk. As the only one in Little Garden who knew the truth, Shiroyasha could see the benefits Aslan gained.

The Last Trial of Mankind Kali Yuga Spirit Status and Another Cosmology: Avesta were Angra Mainyu’s gains.

As for Aslan, it was obvious. He directly held Arcadia’s flag.

In some gods’ eyes, in just minutes, he faced two Last Trials of Mankind consecutively and played a crucial role. Aslan’s role might already rival Canaria’s.

Especially since Aslan also held the Perpetual Motion Machine Spirit Status, plus a crippled Azi Dahaka who lost his Another Cosmology. Surpassing Absolute Evil only needed one human hero.

What did this mean?

It was an unimaginably massive feast of achievements. Other Pantheons might fight tooth and nail for this human hero candidate.

As for Aslan and Arcadia, even he himself would gain unimaginable benefits. Now, Shiroyasha just needed to wait for Aslan to return and claim it all.

“Almost forgot, that kid seems to have three Another Cosmologies? Damn it!”

Shiroyasha, who’d lived so long, hadn’t even touched an Another Cosmology! She’d only been thoroughly beaten by one.

Otherwise, where did she get the experience that only fully grown pure dragon species or top-tier Star Spirits could directly face an Another Cosmology?

She gained that experience by stubbornly enduring it as the White Night Demon Lord. After all, as an Original Star, Shiroyasha might not know much else, but in terms of HP thickness and skin durability, she was Little Garden’s best.

When Aslan returned, she’d have to borrow one to play with. She also wanted to feel what it was like to have an Another Cosmology.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the other side, at an unknown small river in the Celestial Realm, a young man in a straw hat cast his fishing line into the river. The hook fell straight into the sun’s reflection.

“Huh? What’s that? The mastermind is Shiroyasha?” Krishna showed an expression of doubting life itself.

A joke?

Even if it was the Halloween Queen, the Double Goddess, or even Jesus, Kalki, or the Mother of the Evil God risen from death, Krishna wouldn’t be this skeptical.

Even if it was all Canaria’s plan, Krishna could accept it. But now, telling him the mastermind behind it all was Shiroyasha?

Huh??????

Shiroyasha, forced to stay in the lower layers as a Four-Digit?

Shiroyasha, who’d face divine supervision even if she reclaimed her Sun God Spirit Status and returned to Three-Digit?

Shiroyasha, who held Sun Authority but still had to live like that?

His prophecy shouldn’t make such a massive mistake, right?

Krishna, usually supremely confident and thinking he controlled everything, showed a bewildered expression for the first time.

-

Title: Offer a Gift for the Birth of the Fourth Primogenitor!

“It’s finally over.”

Aslan happily withdrew Angra Mainyu and let out a sigh of relief.

That performance was truly too thrilling. Especially for a rookie like him, who’d only been “in the game” for a few months.

Deceiving the gods of Little Garden, and even many Two-Digit entities, was incredibly intense—akin to dancing on the edge of a blade. One misstep, or if he got caught, Aslan might have to truly abandon Little Garden and start over at a “second table” or flee to another world to grow.

Though risky, the rewards were immense. Aslan grinned excitedly, looking at the three Another Cosmology in his hands. Though he’d have to return Vasavi Shakti to Indra after returning, and Void Star · Tai Sui might only be borrowed temporarily, Avesta was truly his. That alone was already highly profitable.

Avesta was one of the strongest Another Cosmology. Once unleashed, it could instantly copy an opponent’s Spirit Status, worldview, and Gifts, adding them permanently, not temporarily. That was its most terrifying aspect.

“It’s just that unleashing an Another Cosmology in the outer world is too difficult, isn’t it?” Aslan sighed, storing the three Another Cosmology and shaking his head helplessly.

As a secret treasure capable of destroying a universe when activated, in Little Garden, its range was limited to one outer gate, so the energy cost to unleash an Another Cosmology was low. But in the outer world… its range covered an entire worldview or multi-universe level.

An ordinary single universe couldn’t withstand the shockwave of its activation. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be considered a Pantheon’s core. This was a true secret treasure used by Pantheons to counter Two-Digit entities, both inside and outside Little Garden.

Every fully unleashed Another Cosmology had the power to challenge Two-Digit beings.

Of course, the difficulty of unleashing an Another Cosmology was also immense. The energy required to activate it was naturally greater. In Little Garden, things like Sun Authorities or Pantheon achievements could charge an Another Cosmology. Full activation was impossible, but partial activation was feasible.

Even if only partial, an Another Cosmology was still an unimaginably powerful Gift. Its utility, however, was reduced.

For Aslan now, its usefulness wasn’t significant. At best, it could help him face Three-Digit beings, and only the weaker ones. It was far from enough to challenge seniors like the Demon Gods in Toaru Majutsu no Index.

Normally, as long as Aslan’s luck wasn’t too bad, he wouldn’t need to worry about meeting such seniors.

“So, return now? Or go to another world for some fun?” Aslan rubbed his chin, sinking into thought.

He felt it might be too soon to return. What if he waited for the dust to settle before going back?

【Don’t forget, you still owe me one achievement.】

Little Garden’s Central Core didn’t forget to remind Aslan.

Did he really think his many maneuvers left no traces or suspicions?

Two-Digit entities and old-timers who’d lived for who-knows-how-long—erasing their suspicions about Aslan and removing him from the suspect list required subtle influence and significant energy from Little Garden’s Central Core.

Little Garden’s Central Core was the nominal “sky” of Little Garden. Naturally, it could guide others by sending various information and even subtly influence the evolution of Little Garden’s fate.

In Little Garden, fate did exist. Since enough people believed in it, even if it didn’t exist, it would manifest. Even Two-Digit entities would seek clues through prophecies or other methods when faced with unknown information.

It wasn’t very accurate, very metaphysical. But combined with this metaphysics, vague fate, Little Garden’s Central Core, divine history, human history, the Akashic Record, and the omniscience and omnipotence of Two-Digit entities, it often ended up highly accurate or at least provided some clues.

Some Three-Digit beings could even predict Two-Digit movements through prophecies. However, such Three-Digit beings were rare, and most didn’t dare prophesy recklessly. Even if Aslan left no clues, there was still a chance he’d be exposed under these metaphysical methods.

But it was fine—Little Garden’s Central Core could subtly interfere, influencing outcomes through achievement transfers and other knowledge authorities. This was the benefit of having an insider.

Of course, this service wasn’t free. Aslan now owed another massive achievement, roughly equivalent to what he’d gain from saving the world once.

【So, young man, it’s time to earn achievements.】

Little Garden’s Central Core said with slight urgency. Honestly, it didn’t like Aslan lingering in Little Garden. It was boring and left it with nothing to do.

To avoid detection by the Two-Digit group, it had to play dumb. Observing other worlds and gaining new information was also highly beneficial for its growth.

“Alright, then I’ll head to another world to avoid trouble for a bit.” Aslan stretched, happily making his decision.

He’d go to another world for fun and growth. He’d also see if there was a way to break Algol’s seal without using Athena’s method, forcibly breaking the seal she created.

Honestly, it was a bit challenging, but Aslan liked things that were slightly challenging. Consider it a breather after that big stunt.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Gozo Island, underground mausoleum.

Sleeping in an ice coffin was a girl with radiant golden hair, a beautiful face, and slender, delicate limbs, like a dream. She wore a tattered white robe. Her frail body was locked in the ice coffin.

“Is this… a sealed Vampire Primogenitor?”

Aslan looked at the golden-haired girl in the ice coffin, sensing a familiar aura.

Having interacted often with Leticia, who now belonged to him, Aslan was more familiar with vampire and Primogenitor auras. Though this wasn’t a Little Garden Vampire Primogenitor, with similar concepts, he could still recognize her as a vampire.

“But what’s in her body? A fairy? A beast? A ghost? Or something else?”

“A vampire, a monster in the blood? A Beast Vassal.”

“So it’s this world.”

Aslan quickly realized what kind of world he’d entered.

Strike the Blood, a world dominated by vampires, a highly chaotic world. However, the vampires here differed from those in Little Garden.

Little Garden vampires were created by the World Dragon, coming to Little Garden from a distant future at the dawn of time, but they couldn’t withstand sunlight.

Even a little sunlight could easily kill them. They could only stand under sunlight beneath Little Garden’s canopy.

The vampire royal family led by Leticia was destroyed because someone attacked them and opened the canopy. Apart from immortality and the ability to turn others into vampires, they had no other abilities.

In contrast, vampires in this world weren’t afraid of sunlight, only instinctively disliking it. They also had Beast Vassals in their bodies. Each vampire could summon a Beast Vassal to fight for them. However, their physical bodies were relatively weak. They were almost in the state most envied by Little Garden vampires.

As for the girl before him, locked in the ice coffin, Aslan also guessed her identity.

“Sealed within her body is the soul matrix of the twelfth.”

“Looks like I came at the perfect time.” Aslan couldn’t help but smile.

It had to be said, his timing was impeccable—before the Fourth Primogenitor was born. If the Fourth Primogenitor had already been born, Aslan might’ve met Akatsuki Kojou, already a vampire. If that happened, Aslan might’ve needed methods to strip Kojou of that power.

Aslan planned to gift the vampire Spirit Status and the Fourth Primogenitor of this world to Leticia, while also helping Little Garden vampires break the curse of not withstanding sunlight.

But now, with the Fourth Primogenitor not yet born, Aslan had much more room to maneuver. If lucky, he could also obtain the twelve vampire maidens and their twelve Beast Vassals.

Even the possibility of breaking Algol’s seal in this world wasn’t small.

It was the Cleansing, the ultimate curse that could change the world and its laws. Perhaps it could break Athena’s seal and free Algol?

Aslan then drew a strangely shaped dagger, a Gift he’d bought earlier: the All-Breaking Talisman. He gently stabbed the anti-magic dagger into the ice coffin.

*SHIIIII—*

In an instant, the ice coffin shattered, and mist rose. The girl lying in the ice coffin, like a prisoner, suddenly opened her clear, water-like eyes. But perhaps because the All-Breaking Talisman from Little Garden was too potent, Aslan not only broke the seal on the twelfth soul matrix but also the seal on the true Fourth Primogenitor’s soul within the twelfth’s body.

The moment she awoke, the true Fourth Primogenitor took over Aurora’s body.

-

Title: Well, Now There’s No Need to Be Saved Anymore

This was due to the Fourth Primogenitor’s original soul exerting strong control over its Beast Vassal. Matrix No. 12 had no ability to resist the newly awakened original soul and fell back into slumber.

After adapting to the body, the Original asked in a cold tone:

“Who are you?”

“Did you force me to awaken?”

This sudden awakening clearly displeased the Original. Having been sealed in the ice coffin and bound to Aurora’s body, it deeply resented its current state. Naturally, it harbored significant malice toward Aslan, who forced its awakening.

Aslan glanced at No. 12, or rather the Original, and sighed.

“As expected, it’s got morning grumpiness.”

Aslan had anticipated this. He could sense various things within No. 12’s body: a Beast Vassal and a sealed soul filled with malice. It was only natural that the All-Breaking Talisman’s effect was so potent that it instantly shattered the seal on the original soul.

As for how he confirmed it? No other method was needed. The tone of voice alone made it obvious.

Based on Aslan’s limited knowledge of Strike the Blood, Matrix No. 12 currently didn’t even have a name. It was more or less like a child with amnesia. Though “amnesia” was too extreme, it was like a child with few memories and experiences.

How could a child speak with a tone full of malice yet mixed with majesty?

Hearing Aslan’s words, the Original frowned and continued staring at him coldly.

At that moment, Aslan considered the situation and thought for a moment.

“How about we make a deal?”

After all, he had little information about the Original. As the original soul of the Fourth Primogenitor created by Cain, it might hold much information about the Cleansing. Aslan preferred making a fair and honest deal.

Looking at the Original, it didn’t seem like someone easy to talk to. A simple and direct deal would be more pleasant.

The Original observed Aslan’s body, its eyes showing a hint of excitement.

“What deal do you want to make?”

Seeing this, Aslan shrugged and said:

“I’ll set you free and ensure you regain power no less than in your prime. In return, you give me everything about the Fourth Primogenitor.”

In this world, even the Fourth Primogenitor was at best Five-Digit level, and that was with their Beast Vassals. Without them, even a Primogenitor had nothing but great magical power and immortality.

For Aslan now, granting someone Five-Digit power was easy. He just needed to buy a Five-Digit Divinity. At most, it would cost a few million Thousand Eyes coins.

The Divinity he granted would provide a comprehensive boost, which would surely be highly beneficial for the Original.

“…”

Across from him, after hearing Aslan’s words, the Original suddenly narrowed its eyes, hiding a rainbow-like gleam. At that moment, it chuckled softly.

“Interesting, very interesting. You came at the perfect time. I can give you everything about the Fourth Primogenitor right now.”

“Oh?” Aslan raised an eyebrow, catching the malice in the Original’s words.

At that moment, the Original, sitting atop the ice coffin, suddenly smiled.

“I’ll give you everything about the Fourth Primogenitor now, so you… help me take back all my power!”

As soon as the words were spoken, No. 12’s body emitted a translucent soul with a faint blue glow, which lunged at Aslan in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Aslan looked startled. He stood still and muttered:

“Hmm… so how did it interpret its own words?”

“And how dare it try to take over my body?”

“Has it been locked up so long it’s lost its common sense?”

Aslan said, slightly stunned. He didn’t even have time to react.

The original soul was instantly incinerated by the Dog Sun Authority within Aslan’s body. Naturally, the Sun Authority was intelligent. It only burned harmful trash, like the original soul with zero IQ. The Fourth Primogenitor’s power, useful to Aslan, was perfectly preserved and not burned.

The original soul’s speed in causing trouble was truly unexpected for Aslan. If it had been a bit slower, he could’ve turned it into a creature card. That would’ve at least been salvageable. Now, there was no need to save it. It was directly diagnosed as beyond help.

Still, there was at least one good thing. The Fourth Primogenitor’s power and status were successfully obtained. Now, in this world, even observed by Little Garden, Aslan was the Fourth Primogenitor.

Then Aslan looked at Matrix No. 12 beside him. The girl stared at him with curiosity but also a hint of fear.

“You… are you going to absorb me?”

As the twelfth Beast Vassal Matrix and the one sealing and monitoring the original soul, No. 12 had her own consciousness. But she didn’t want to lose her form and become a Beast Vassal so soon. The artificial vampire girl looked at him anxiously.

“Absorb? Why? Why would I give up a cute girl just to get a big Beast Vassal?”

“Besides, compared to a Beast Vassal, I prefer you like this.”

Aslan stroked No. 12’s soft hair and said. Looking at her, he recalled she didn’t have a name yet.

“By the way, do you have a name?”

“Name? What’s that?”

No. 12 looked at him, confused. Her only memories were her mission as the twelfth Matrix and vessel for the Primogenitor. She knew nothing else. Her general knowledge was severely lacking. It seemed she’d need to learn a lot.

“Then your name will be Aurora Draculea.”

Draculea was Leticia’s family name. The Fourth Primogenitor was something Aslan planned for Leticia. However, due to the original soul’s “wise” actions, that power ended up with him. But Aslan wasn’t short on Fourth Primogenitor power. No big deal—he’d just share it with Leticia when he returned to Little Garden. Not a problem.

So, giving Leticia’s family name to someone else before her wasn’t an issue, right? Even if it was, who cared? Leticia was his now anyway.

In truth, sharing Spirit Status was something only those very close and trusting did. It also held symbolic meaning.

Like Hera, the Queen of Gods in the Greek Pantheon, who shared Spirit Status with Zeus, jointly controlling the authority of the King of Gods.

As for giving Leticia’s family name to someone else… this wasn’t something a casual relationship could do.

The name Aurora came from the original Strike the Blood story, meaning Sleeping Beauty Aurora. It perfectly fit Matrix No. 12’s traits, the Sleeping Beauty who’d slumbered for who-knows-how-many years.

“Aurora Draculea?”

The girl lowered her head, thought for a moment, then nodded at Aslan.

“I accept your suggestion. I am now Aurora Draculea.”

One second she was fearful, the next she agreed. This kid—maybe she could be taken home and raised like a pet. Of course, that was Aslan’s initial plan. All twelve little girls—he wanted them all.

“Alright, Aurora, come back.”

Aslan reached out, stroked Aurora’s head, and pinched her cheek.

The next second, Aurora turned into a stream of light and flew to Aslan’s back, igniting one light wing behind him. Twelve light wings represented the twelve Beast Vassals. Each time a Beast Vassal returned, one wing would light up.

Feeling Aurora, or Beast Vassal No. 12: Alrescha-Glacies, return to his blood and absorb his power to grow, Aslan moved his mind, using the Fourth Primogenitor’s power to summon Alrescha-Glacies.

A mermaid with wings on her back appeared, holding a vase. Her stunningly beautiful face and unusual owl-like body unleashed terrifying power around her. Layers of ice covered the ground.

“Top-tier Five-Digit power?”

Aslan muttered, estimating Alrescha-Glacies’s current strength.

How to put it? It was definitely far stronger than the original Fourth Primogenitor’s Beast Vassal. After all, Aslan was now a Four-Digit being. How could his summoned Beast Vassal be weak?

“But it hasn’t reached Four-Digit. Maybe because the Sun Authority in my body isn’t from the Zodiac.”

If it were a Zodiac, especially Pisces, Aslan estimated Aurora might instantly break through to Four-Digit. She might even inherit the Pisces Sun Authority.

Unfortunately, Aslan only had the Dog and Dragon Sun Authorities, which didn’t match the Zodiac at all. Perhaps the twelve Beast Vassals could take over Shiroyasha’s Sun Authority?

It was decided—when he returned, he’d show off to Shiroyasha, flaunting his twelve little Beast Vassal girls.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

As Aslan freely unleashed Beast Vassal No. 12: Alrescha-Glacies around him, the entrance to the underground mausoleum suddenly creaked and vanished.

Inside the mausoleum, Aslan, controlling the Beast Vassal, turned and looked at the entrance curiously.

At the entrance, several figures stared at him, mouths agape, saying in shocked voices:

“The Fourth Primogenitor, he’s really awakened!”

-

Title: Natsuki-chan, Time to Clean Up the Mess

Gozo Island, a fully equipped ruin excavation team.

Akatsuki Kojou led his younger sister, Akatsuki Nagisa, following their father, Akatsuki Gajo, an archaeologist, into the underground tomb.

As they walked through the newly opened path, Kojou’s face was filled with anger.

“Gajo, why did you deliberately bring Nagisa here?”

“Kojou, I told you, this is the helplessness of adults.” Gajo chuckled in response to his furious son.

Explaining to Kojou that the investors behind the archaeology team issued a do-or-die order, threatening jail or massive fines otherwise? That wouldn’t work. Kids with a black-and-white worldview didn’t care about money. They wouldn’t understand the stench of adult money.

“You!” Kojou was clearly enraged by his father’s shameless attitude.

His overflowing anger made Nagisa, already a bit scared, tug at the hem of Kojou’s jacket and say, “Kojou-kun, I’m fine.”

“Nagisa-chan is truly the most understanding.” Seeing his daughter so considerate, Gajo felt both relieved and sad.

At that moment, a blonde Caucasian girl in an elaborate dress looked at the wall at the end of the path and said, “Gajo, get ready, we’re about to start.”

“Oh, I understand, Liana-chan.” Gajo smiled as if the girl beside him was his lover. In truth, she was one of the investors behind the archaeology team.

Though she didn’t hold many shares, she was a major reason he was forced into this excavation. Annoyed, he teased her. This was Gajo’s way of interacting with women.

Liana Caruana glanced at Gajo, ignoring his words, and shifted her gaze to Nagisa.

“Can this kid really handle the wall ahead?”

The wall sealing Matrix No. 12 of the Fourth Primogenitor. Liana, who had nearly spent her family’s entire fortune to find the Fourth Primogenitor and restore their family, knew exactly how thick that wall was.

It was an iron wall that even high-explosive missiles or a Vampire Elder’s Beast Vassal couldn’t penetrate.

But unlike the worried Liana, Gajo was very confident.

“Relax, when it comes to Miko talent, no one’s stronger than Nagisa.”

“A high-level Miko?” Liana was slightly shocked, looking at Nagisa, the girl with a slightly anxious face. This high-level Miko was this man’s daughter? What a waste.

At that moment, Kojou, listening nearby, grew even more uneasy and asked, “Gajo, what exactly are you trying to do by bringing Nagisa here?”

The closer they got to the underground tomb, the more uneasy Kojou felt. It was as if a terrifying beast below was opening its eyes. That restlessness and fear made him almost want to flee.

At that moment, Gajo, also sensing the strange aura, showed no particular reaction. He calmly explained, “Kojou, have you ever heard? The strongest, noblest vampire with all their kin, a monster appearing at every turning point in history, bringing slaughter and destruction.”

“You mean the Fourth Primogenitor, Lord of the Night of Flame Light? Isn’t that just a story teachers use to brag?” Kojou asked, puzzled.

“Brag? It’s not bragging, it’s fact.” As he spoke, Gajo stared at the black wall ahead. “The legendary Fourth Primogenitor is behind this wall.”

(…And only Nagisa can open that wall.)

Gajo didn’t say the last sentence aloud. He didn’t want his son to worry too much. And this strange, uneasy feeling also concerned him greatly.

At that moment, Liana beside him suddenly frowned and said, “Gajo, your daughter…”

Hearing this, the Akatsuki father and son turned and saw Nagisa’s eyes widen, staring blankly at the wall, slowly floating in the air.

“Ah… she’s been possessed by the builder?”

High-level Mikos could be possessed by the lingering will of a ruin’s creator. Gajo knew this, and it was key to his success in archaeology. Though he felt sorry for his daughter, this might be the helplessness of adults.

By being possessed by the creator’s lingering will, the tomb could be opened. After all, no locksmith was better than the creator.

“Nagisa!” Kojou looked at her anxiously, wanting to approach, but Liana stopped him.

“If you don’t want your sister hurt, don’t touch her now.”

Hearing this, Kojou suppressed his unease and waited anxiously in place.

Nagisa then walked with blank eyes toward the wall. After a few seconds of silence, she waved her hand. The wall vanished soundlessly from everyone’s view.

At that moment, Gajo, as an archaeologist, realized the key to opening the door.

“So that’s it, the way to open it is by moving the door to another dimension? Meaning the tomb was originally in another dimension? Those ancient scholars were too bold, weren’t they?”

But before he finished speaking, an extreme chill suddenly hit. The ruins, clearly in a tropical area, now felt like the frigid North Pole.

“What’s going on? Why’s it suddenly so cold?”

Gajo couldn’t help but shiver, hugging his arms. But no one answered. When he reacted, he looked up into the ruins.

In a world of ice surrounded by layers of frost and snow, a black-haired, black-eyed man in casual clothes, strikingly handsome, leaned against a pillar, looking at them curiously. Behind him, a demonic bird with wings, like a mermaid, held a vase, staring at everyone.

“The twelfth Beast Vassal, Alrescha-Glacies, I’m not mistaken—it’s the recorded Beast Vassal of the Fourth Primogenitor.” Liana said, her voice trembling.

“Whether it’s true or not, the Fourth Primogenitor really broke free from the seal and is standing there waiting for us to open the door.”

The world’s strongest vampire was casually waiting for them. They’d rather never encounter such excessive treatment.

“…”

As for Aslan, he rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. He seemed to slightly understand the timing and world he’d entered. If he remembered correctly, this point seemed to be the story’s start, when the Fourth Primogenitor was released, and when Kojou gained its power.

As for the people before him, honestly, if they hadn’t arrived at such a coincidental time, Aslan would already be on Itogami Island.

“No mistake, the one controlling Alrescha-Glacies must be the Fourth Primogenitor.”

After a brief shock, Liana quickly composed herself and knelt on one knee.

“Liana Caruana, sixth head of the Caruana family, greets Your Excellency the Fourth Primogenitor.”

Aslan waved casually, unconcerned. He looked up at the long staircase, sneering.

“Beast, who allowed you to direct malice at me?”

A disgusting malice had locked onto him since the door opened. Aslan felt a bit helpless.

Was his deterrence weakening? Or what?

The original soul was like this, and now this unknown Beastman. Were they all so bold, radiating such strong malice?

However, this Beastman wasn’t a cute girl. Naturally, Aslan wouldn’t hold back at all. Of course, even if it was, he’d only be gentler, letting it die painlessly.

As Aslan’s voice fell, a figure slowly emerged from a dark corner. It was a black-haired Beastman with bulging muscles and a wolf’s head.

“Worthy of the Fourth Primogenitor. You actually saw through my sophisticated disguise?”

At that moment, Liana quickly stood and said angrily:

“This appearance? Golan Hazaroff, from the Black Death Emperor faction defeated by the Snake Charmer, dares to come to this sacred tomb!”

Golan glanced at her and sneered.

“Oh? The homeless dog of the Caruana family? Whose territory was taken by trash vampires without Beast Vassals, losing noble status, and now groveling before the Fourth Primogenitor?”

“You!” Liana was instantly furious.

Losing noble status was a great humiliation, and having her disgrace exposed before the Fourth Primogenitor was worse than a father’s revenge.

She’d spent her entire fortune to regain noble status and prevent the Caruana family’s end. Now, with Golan Hazaroff’s words, the chances of the Fourth Primogenitor accepting her plummeted. How could this not enrage Liana?

“You!”

Liana couldn’t hold back, summoning her Beast Vassal to kill this insolent fool.

Two Beast Vassals flew with blazing flames, charging at Golan.

At that moment, Golan grinned horribly, leaped, grabbed both Beast Vassals by the throat, and crushed them. The two vanished instantly.

“I’m not interested in playing with trash like you here.”

“Ugh!” Liana groaned in pain, kneeling on the ground, staring fearfully at Golan, now fully transformed into a giant wolf. “Divine Bestialization?”

This was Divine Bestialization, usable only by rare Beastmen with ancestral bloodlines.

“Next, it’s your turn!”

Golan, now a giant wolf, turned to Aslan, baring his sharp-toothed maw and grinning horribly.

“Killing one of the Fourth Primogenitor’s matrices, even the First Primogenitor won’t sit still, right?”

Then Golan stomped heavily, preparing to pounce on Aslan and end his life.

*THUD!*

He seemed to step on an unknown piece of flesh.

“What’s that? It’s actually…”

He collapsed before finishing his sentence.

“…”

Meanwhile, Aslan shrugged helplessly, looking at Golan’s body on the ground, with no wounds except some blood and flesh on his claw.

“I was going to tell you your heart fell.”

“But before I could, you stepped on it yourself.”

Aslan, who’d just developed a technique mimicking the Operation-Operation Fruit from One Piece, was testing if the original owner was affected after he took their heart with spatial power. He accidentally forgot to move the heart, and it fell to the ground.

Who knew Golan was so careless as to step on his own heart? Truly unfortunate.

(So, that was his heart?)

Kojou couldn’t help but gape at Aslan. If he remembered correctly, it seemed like the moment the Beastman jumped out, his heart fell?

So, that powerful Beastman was already dead from the start?

Was this the power level of the Fourth Primogenitor, the world’s strongest vampire? Kojou was utterly shocked.

Liana, beside him, still felt it was unreal, looking at Aslan and Golan’s body. She muttered, “A Beastman capable of Divine Bestialization, dead so easily?”

Hearing this, Aslan glanced at Golan’s body and couldn’t help sneering.

“This is Divine Bestialization? It doesn’t even compare to an average Six-Digit monster. At least a Divine Beast wouldn’t die from a fatal wound like losing a heart.”

“Just an ordinary ancestral Beastman.”

As he spoke, Aslan turned to a spot with spatial fluctuations and waved his hand.

A petite girl holding an umbrella, wearing an intricate black Gothic dress, was flung out of a spatial rift and fell to the ground.

“Ouch, that hurts!”

Minamiya Natsuki clutched her sore backside, glaring around, especially at the Fourth Primogenitor with a mischievous smile.

“You did that on purpose!” Natsuki couldn’t help but widen her eyes angrily, staring at him and questioning.

She’d used Spatial Manipulation magic for years; it was ingrained in her instincts. She couldn’t have made a mistake.

As for splitting space? Was that something a little witch like her could do? So someone else must’ve been messing around, just to see her embarrassed!

“Ahem, Natsuki-chan, time to clean up the mess.” Aslan coughed lightly twice, pointing at Golan’s body on the ground.

“Hmm?” Natsuki looked at the body and couldn’t help frowning.

Golan’s corpse on the ground, the frozen terrain, the strange magical power lingering in the air, and that massive, terrifying demonic bird—all were seen by Natsuki.

Then, she sighed, holding her umbrella.

“So I came for nothing? Well, this counts as mission complete.”

Natsuki had been tasked by Dimitrie Vatler, a Duke of the Warlord’s Empire, to track Golan’s whereabouts. Now Golan was dead. Bringing back his body would earn her a big reward for free. This seemed like a huge profit.

However, Natsuki looked at the demonic bird and Aslan, who was watching her with interest. Her heart grew more helpless.

“Is that a matrix of the Fourth Primogenitor? I’ve really gotten into big trouble.”

Though she found it odd why the Fourth Primogenitor’s matrix was male, the Beast Vassal behind him couldn’t lie. Especially its overwhelming aura, with magical power so vast it could freeze an entire ocean in an instant.

A Blood Servant couldn’t control such a powerful Beast Vassal.