8. Eighth Incarnation: The Ram
Consumes a large amount of divine power to resurrect; even when grievously wounded, he can revive.
9. Ninth Incarnation: The Goat
Controls thunderclouds to unleash powerful lightning and influence human minds.
10. Tenth Incarnation: The Warrior
Uses knowledge to create the Golden Sword, which can slice through and seal divine power.
Right now, this fifteen-year-old boy is Verethragna in his Sixth Incarnation: The Youth.
Hearing Rei Ao speak his name and appearing in this place all stems from his First Incarnation: Gale.
Verethragna's eyes were on Rei Ao for a moment, flickering with surprise.
"How interesting," he muttered, then turned his focus back to Melqart.
"King of Gods Melqart, I thought you were the most interesting foe awaiting me in this world, but I was mistaken."
"What did you say?"
That was like smacking a bear in the noseMelqart bristled, his beard quivering in anger.
"You can't call someone your true foe until you've fought them!"
He swung his wooden club, and a blast of fierce wind hurtled toward Verethragna.
Verethragna inhaled slightly, his eyes sharpening.
"Even if you're not my greatest foe, a battle still demands the utmost respect."
He raised both hands as his fighting spirit flared.
As War God, he declared:
"I am the strongest, the one who holds all victories. No matter whether my enemy is human or devil, I shall crush any who stand in my way!"
At that, the two collided in combat.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared; shockwaves reverberated in every direction.
Erica paled.
"This is bad!"
Sardinia is in danger!
When a Heretic God battles another Heretic God with all their might, the aftermath alone could destroy Sardinia many times over.
If things continue unchecked, the island is doomed.
She could only turn to Rei Ao with a plea for help.
"Rei Ao-sama, please stop them at once!"
"Stop them? Why?"
Rei Ao was standing with his arms crossed, watching the fight with interest.
It's like watching two crickets in a cage matchwho wouldn't be fascinated?
Especially when both are Heretic Gods.
"But"
Erica was visibly anxious.
"At this rate, Sardinia will be destroyed!"
"Hold on, their battle doesn't seem to be affecting the island."
Utaha spoke suddenly.
"What?"
Erica froze in confusion.
"Look,"
Following Utaha's gesture, they saw that the raging winds and lightning spawned by Melqart and Verethragna near the skies above suddenly seemed to collide with some invisible force the moment they threatened to reach Sardiniaonly to be rebounded away.
Beyond Sardinia, a massive tsunami loomed, easily tens of meters high. Yet it never advanced beyond the shoreline.
"This"
It was as though an invisible protective field was shielding Sardinia itself!
~~~
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Chapter 497: Luring another Heretic God?
"With me here, this island won't be affected."
Rei Ao shrugged his shoulders.
Sardinia was enveloped by his magic, as though protected by an invisible barrier.
No matter how intense the aftershocks of the Heretic Gods' battle were, they couldn't breach his magic to damage the island.
"Thank you"
Erica was at a loss for words, but she felt a huge weight lifted from her mind.
At the same time, she couldn't tear her gaze away from Rei Ao.
He truly showed no fear of a Heretic God.
She wondered if, after slaying a god, he might become the seventh Demon King.
That thought set off a flurry of calculations in her mind.
Naturally, Rei Ao noticed the subtle gleam in her eyes.
Based on what he knew of Erica, she was probably hatching some small scheme involving him.
He let a meaningful smile play across his lips without saying anything.
Unfortunately for her, he wasn't Kusanagi Godou, the spineless turtle anyone could manipulate.
Anyone trying to weave small plots around him had best be prepared to be thoroughly outmaneuvered.
He withdrew his gaze and turned his attention back to the distant battle at sea.
Mikoto Misaka: "So this is how Heretic Gods fight? Honestlyit doesn't look like much."
Megumi Kato: "Why do you say that?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Well, it just doesn't have that jaw-dropping impact like when Rei Ao burned up an entire planet."
Yes, the battle between two Heretic Gods was ferociousexchanging thunderous close-range blows that shattered the air, unleashing storms of lightning and solar fire.
The spectacle was huge, like a relentless natural disaster.
In Academy City, it would surely terrify everyone.
Yet Mikoto Misaka felt that these gods seemed kind of slow and lacking in wow-factor.
In her mind, she found herself thinking: "Seriouslythat's it for gods?"
Inori Yuzuriha: "Rei Ao is just way stronger than they are."
Bibi Dong: "Yuzuriha-san is right. These two Heretic Gods aren't particularly weak; it's just that Rei Ao-sama is too strong. He once used the body of a divine dragon to ignite a celestial body, and we witnessed that magnificence ourselves. Unknowingly, we've been using his power level as a new standard for 'strength.'"
Recalling that scene, Bibi Dong felt her heart shiver with heat, thinking even a legendary god couldn't compare to Rei Ao in the slightest.
And this unbelievably strong man was hers.
Saeko Busujima: "Bibi Dong has a point. Rei Ao's overwhelming might has raised our threshold of 'power.'"
Frieren: "Yes. Of all the people I've seen, he's the strongest."
Miko Yotsuya: "Rei Ao-nii is invincible!"
Rei Ao: "Heh, I wouldn't dare call myself invincible. At the very least, I'm sure I can't beat the Magic Gods in Misaka's world."
Mikoto Misaka: "I've never met a Magic God anyway."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Rei Ao-kun, if that's how it is, why not just destroy those two Heretic Gods right away?"
Rei Ao: "No hurry. I plan on taking them all out at once."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "All out at once?"
He suddenly turned and stretched out a hand toward Erica.
"Erica, give me the Gorgoneion you're holding."
"You want the Gorgoneion?"
Never mind how he knew she had it; the Gorgon Stone was a sacred artifact she was tasked to guard, and it was extremely dangerous.
Naturally, Erica was very cautious.
"Could you at least tell me why you need it?"
If anyone else had demanded the Gorgoneion, she would have refused without a second thought under the banner of her duty.
But this was Rei Ao, someone stronger than even the wildest Demon King.
"Of course: I'll use it to lure out another Heretic God."
"What?!"
Somewhere on Sardinia
"The two Heretic Gods are fighting," Athena observed calmly.
She felt no urge to join in; it all seemed tedious to her.
From the start, her only goal was to retrieve the Gorgon Stone and restore herself to her three-in-one divine state.
Suddenly, her expression shifted.
Her gaze turned in one direction.
"There you are!"
With a slight thrill in her eyes, she took a step and headed toward the source of her sensing.
The ocean howled, and the sky lamented.
In the clash of gods, the might of heaven and earth was on full display.
Yet in a fight between an Invincible Warrior and a King of Gods, one side was bound to outmatch the other eventually.
Under the authority of Verethragna's Ten Incarnations, King of Gods Melqart finally began to show signs of fatigue.
Again, using the colossal power of the "Bull" form, Verethragna slammed Melqart's giant body back.
And as he did, he spoke words designed to provoke Melqart's fighting spirit:
"King of Gods, is that the full extent of your strength?
If so, I can take no satisfaction from this victory."
"Hmph! An Invincible Warrior who awakened himself just to battle the strongyou think I can ignore such a challenge?"
Though Melqart halted his backward slide like a solid rock, his words, despite their lofty, imperious tone befitting a King of Gods, also matched Verethragna's fervent battle lust.
That was the nature of a god.
He still hadn't gone all out.
"I've been looking forward to this!"
Verethragna's smile was practically boiling with excitement.
In the form of a youth clad in white robes, he closed his eyes and raised his right hand to the sky.
"BZZZZ!"
A tremendous storm flared up around him, linking heaven and earth.
"Guhguhguh"
Illusory goats raced across the dark clouds, galloping through the tempest.
"Chirp!"
A crisp birdcall rang out as a crimson phoenix soared across the sky, then vanished into the raging vortex.
Behind Verethragna, one could make out something like a revolving wheelone large central wheel encircled by ten smaller wheels, each bearing a distinct emblem.
This was the reason for the War God's invincibilityhis Ten Incarnations, Ten Authorities.
Verethragna's eyes were profoundly focused.
"King of Gods, now you shall witness the true extent of my might. Answer me: do you have the courage to stand against it?"
"Hahaha! Invincible Warrior, don't underestimate the will of a King of Gods!"
Melqart raised both arms high. In each hand, he brandished his divine clubs "Driver" and "Chaser."
He issued a divine proclamation:
"By Melqart's true name of Baal Hadad, I summon! O Storm, listen to the calls of the cloud rider, make haste and come!"
His massive body fragmented into roaring winds.
Hundreds of lightning bolts converged from every direction, all zeroing in on Verethragna.
Sworn to his title as Dragon-Slayer, he sought to accomplish the ultimate feat: killing another god!
~~~
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Chapter 498: You want this? Here you go...
Melqart, the King of Gods, was clearly using his most formidable authority.
Faced with hundreds of lightning bolts fired from every direction,
Verethragna showed no trace of fear.
In his eyes burned only fervent battle lust.
"Hahahaha, excellent!"
He laughed.
It was excitement, thrill, and hunger for combat.
"This is the level of power a King of Gods should show me. In that case, I shall repay you with a battle worthy of such grandeur!"
Verethragna likewise invoked his divine authority in a godly proclamation:
"Come forth to me in the name of victory!
Immortal Sun, grant me your shining steed!
Spirit-Stallion with swift hooves, bring along the wheel that symbolizes your master!"
With that declaration, the wheel behind Verethragna blazed with brilliant light in the shape of a horse.
This was the authority of his White Stallion incarnation.
In stellar atmospheres, eruptions known as solar flares occasionally occur.
Now, from the eastern sky, white flames akin to solar flares shot forth.
Verethragna's voice resounded as though roaring straight into the heavens.
The radiance pierced the darkness of the dense clouds, casting its glow upon the land beneath.
A second sun slowly rose!
"Neiigh!"
A horse's cry reverberated across the land from that new sun in the eastern sky.
A majestic White Stallion emerged in all its glory.
And then, a sun seemed to fall from on high!
From that sun, which soared up amid the turbulent skies, the White Stallionwreathed in golden flames hot enough to scorch the skystreaked through the air, descending from above.
Wherever the divine steed passed, space quaked, and even the air temperature surged dramatically.
Like a living flame, the White Stallion dove earthward, its goal: to meet those countless lightning bolts head-on.
The White Stallion that carries the sun would confront the storm's lightning with the sun's flames.
Boom!
A massive shockwave erupted.
Returning to his usual form, Melqart looked none too pleased.
His lightning was no match for the sun's fire.
Verethragna's expression turned resolute:
"Steed of the sun, bring me victory!"
The authority of the White Stallion continued to shine.
Enveloped in blazing golden flames, the White Stallion galloped across the void at extreme speed toward Melqart.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between them vanished.
And as it charged, the torrential rain around it evaporated instantly under that solar heat.
"Hah It's so hot"
Kasumigaoka Utaha panted, crystalline beads of sweat slipping down her face.
Ever since the White Stallion appeared, the world's temperature had skyrocketed. As an ordinary human, Utaha was struggling.
"Here, take my hand."
Rei Ao offered his right hand to Utaha, his left still holding the Gorgoneion.
Instinctively, she took it.
At once, a penetrating coolness washed over her, body and mind, banishing the scorching heat.
"Rei Ao-kun, there must be plenty of ways to cool her offmagic or whatever. You didn't need to hold her hand."
Eriri's gaze was fixed darkly on their joined hands.
"Heh."
Rei Ao merely chuckled, without further explanation.
If there was a way to get a little closer, why bother with anything else?
""
Utaha also realized exactly what was happening.
Yet despite knowing she was being taken advantage of, she felt no angeronly a faint gladness.
She didn't show it outwardly, merely sneaking a glance at Rei Ao's profile.
She failed to notice Eriri grinding her little canine tooth in jealousy.
She was jealous!
Seethingly jealous!
Seeing the way Utaha was staring at him, Eriri sensed that this flirting vixen was scheming to seduce her man!
Eriri had once been a "loser," but nowevolved into a main heroineshe picked up that cunning minx vibe right away.
Just as she was about to intervene in Utaha's little fantasy:
"Could you return that to me?"
A voice spoke.
Athena had arrived!
Rei Ao's eyes lit with interest.
Simply by glancing at her, he confirmed her identity.
Erica also reacted swiftly:
"Rei Ao-san, that's!"
"A Heretic God. Athena."
Rei Ao named her openly.
"Oh?"
The girl-form Athena had been fixated on the Gorgoneion in his hand, but at that statement, she turned her gaze upon him, curious.
"Human boy, have we met?"
"In a manner of speaking," he answered vaguely, drawing her interest further.
"Since you know I am Athena, you must realize I'm a Heretic Godjust like those two over there, equally fearsome. Why don't I see the slightest fear on your face?"
