Chapter 520

The name of this Ōwatatsumi means the god of the sea, and he is revered as the ruler of the sea.

Therefore, it would be extremely difficult to defeat him and reach the Tokoyo, as this is his territory. That's why Izanami said the probability of death was too high. No matter how she thought about it, she didn't believe that Erice was capable of defeating Ōwatsumi, whom even Susa-no-O wouldn't dare to say he could win Ōwatatsumi.

However, to her surprise, Erice pulled a model surfboard from her inner bag and threw it into the sea.

In an instant, it transformed into Erice to surf alone.

"... ah?!"

This aura, could it be...?

Before the stunned Izanami could react, Erice crossed her arms and shouted smugly:

"This is the Heavenly Raft of Rama, Sukunahikona, Pod Boat has crossed the Dark Sea to reach us. Traveling between the Tokoyo and the Present World, tearing apart the dawn, this swift ship leaps through the waves, in the name of Eight Thousand Spears, propelling me forward!"

Suddenly, the fierce sea calmed down, the waves subsided, and the Great Sea God Ōwatatsumi before Erice.

He bowed deeply to Erice, gesturing for her to enter.

I didn't expect to be fooled...

This ship was given to Erice by the Demon King. According to him, he found it at a second-hand market, Erice believed him without a doubt. However, it was actually borrowed by another Sukunahikona during the 'Revolution' incident.

So Erice smiled and started surfing.

"Ha! Well, sorry then, I have to go now!"

The scent of the sea intensifies once more. Dazzling sunlight streams down from the clear blue sky, and the distant horizon Gilgamesh brilliantly. As far as the eye can see, there is only the vast ocean, and a soothing breeze gently caresses the skin and hair.

That vast ocean, its color like an abyss, made it seem as if some Monster might emerge from the seabed at any moment, but Erice found it quite beautiful.

The sound of the waves rose again and again.

Sometimes near, sometimes far; sometimes near, sometimes far.

Then--

"This is Japan in Tokoyo, and also the Dragon Palace of Ryukyu... It's been a long time, Utsumi. I hope you are well, and that you sail my ship safely."

Standing at the entrance of the magnificent building was a literary woman with reddish-brown hair, exuding an intellectual Sukunahikona.

The Ryukyu Dragon Palace Faith shares the same etymology as the Land of Roots of Japan.

In Ryukyu Shinto, there are two types of deities: "Visiting God" from the Dragon Palace and the Heaven Realm, and "Guardian God" who Protection the souls of the deceased in Ryukyu.

The highest god in the Heaven Realm is the Great Sun God, and the highest god in the Dragon Palace is the Great Lord of the East.

"Well, I was called here by my mother..."

"Was it not voluntary, but forced? That doesn't matter. Since you're here, that's enough. It has nothing to do with whether your divinity has already accommodated you."

Sukunahikona's expression was somewhat Sorrow. "... You should know this. Since the end of the Age of Gods, you, who were born in this world, are the God of Japan who will walk among the gods of Japan. Perhaps other worlds have not yet reached this point, but in this world, you who have come here are the founders of the Fourth-Generation Divine System of the Japan, and a symbol of exploring the stars together with the current Primate."

This kind of thing...

How could I possibly know? I only recently found out that my mother was Izanami...

No matter what, it's all too chaotic. While mysterious events are often like this, there should be a limit to absurdity.

The Inner Sea of Stars is one thing, but to call me the founder of some pantheon? I'm just someone who doesn't even have Servant...

Erice felt a strange sound as her mind went blank, and at the same time, something impossible happened: the waves of Tokoyo began to surge.

Beyond the surging waves lay darkness that seemed to have waited for thousands of years.

The Tokoyo, or perhaps the Dragon Palace, is gradually changing; life is being quietly and subtly diminished.

The surrounding turbulent sea became devoid of any life, resembling the darkness of Universe Space.

"Kotoamatsukami, Amatsukami, Kunitsukami, you survived eight million kalpas and tribulations in this world."

"To ascend from the earth to the heavens, and then from the heavens again, gaining the power above and below."

In this darkness that resembled the Universe, a dazzling white light descended upon Erice.

"You will possess the glory of an image— Utsu."

Once upon a time, there were gods in the wind.

Once upon a time, there were gods in the water.

In the past, there were gods among all things.

Once upon a time, there was Underworld beneath the earth, Land of the Gods between the sky and the Universe.

Now, all of that is gone.

The gods of the world knew long ago that the age of gods would one day come to an end.

Therefore, many Deity did not slack off in preparing for that era. Although many Deity resisted, the transition was generally smooth. In an extremely wise manner—with minimal damage—the throne of Primate was handed over to humankind.

The Deity disappeared as a matter of course, leaving behind only their legacy, generously giving everything to the next Primate.

Even so, Deity were still reluctant to part with the next group of Primate they had spent so much time with. Thus, the miraculous Fourth-Generation Divine System was born. These were not legends of gods spread by humans, but legends about humans spread by the gods.

After all, the Age of Gods has passed, and only humans can walk alongside humanity.

Utsumi, or Utsu Gods, is a pantheon imagined by the gods of Japan long before the complete end of the Age of Gods. They are gods who can walk alongside humans, or in other words, gods who are Prototype humans and are the rulers of New Era. As the name suggests, they are gods or humans who can be seen in the Universe. In other words, they are gods who explore the Universe with humans.

Therefore, Utsumi Erice's birth in the Fr World was destined; the only difference was her origin—

Will the spirit portion or the Utsu portion take the top position?

The distinction between the two leads to different endpoints for Erice. If she is a spirit, she is the Lord's Mind Poimandres, in Alchemy mythology. If she is the ruling god of the four generations of the Japan, she is equivalent to the Dragon Palace and the creator Goddess of Ryukyu, Ame-no- Heavenly Prince or the Great Lord of the East, in Ryukyu Faith.

In terms of scale, the former is naturally far superior to the latter. However, as an existence manifested through Alchemical Theology, the former is inherently incompatible with the Great Lord of the East who explores the Universe. This is because the Poimandres is an existence that knows everything and exists everywhere, and is inherently opposed to the unknown. On the other hand, the Great Lord of Utsu, as a god Prototype on human beings, is a 'dream' god who, together with many humans, becomes Hero at the forefront of opening up the frontier, leading people to sail towards a new world once again.

The New World Beyond the Sea, the distant horizon and the boundless Universe, the conceptual land where the Deity once stood, and the real, unknown space that humans have explored time and time again, the magnificent dreams that people once depicted, the dream of exploring the Universe, is the source of this Utsu.

Of course, it's not to say that the two could coexist.

Walk.

Erice walked in the dazzling white light, silently moving through this wondrous space, as if slowly and endlessly continuing on.

The girl's mood constantly shifted between sadness, grief, and misery, but right now, her strongest feeling was loneliness—the loneliness of walking alone on this endless road.

In some ways, it is a despair more terrifying than death.

Finally, Erice came to a crossroads with two paths. Although both paths were shrouded in mist, one path offered a glimmer of light, like a pure white glow, while the other led to a pure darkness like Universe Space.

Which one should we choose?

Humans yearn for light, so Erice really wanted to choose the path with light, but she also felt that if she made that choice, she might regret it.

Just then, the surrounding space suddenly shook, and a roaring sound rang out in the distance.

Erice looked towards the source of the sound, where a Throne seemed to have suddenly appeared in the radiant place, yet it also seemed to have stood there since time immemorial. Sitting on it was a silver-haired person whose face was obscured; the mere presence of that person could distort the surrounding time, space, and even Causality.

Without a doubt, if she headed this way, Erice felt that her power would definitely reach a point where she could turn the tide of the battle.

But...

She was still somewhat conflicted.

The silver-haired person appearing in this situation is, unsurprisingly, Novia.

He himself was somewhat bewildered. He had just arrived in Rushana, and suddenly, uncontrollably, he found himself here... How to put it, this somewhat familiar scene reminded Novia of how Rome, after many trials, finally met Yahweh.

However, he was now seated in Yahweh's throne, while the one who had stood there was now Utsumi Erice for some time and whose eyes had become sharp. Driven by a strange feeling, Novia sat motionless on the Throne, her hand supporting her chin, and softly spoke to Erice, who stood at the crossroads:

"Listen up, you!"

Chapter 532 Dove: It's a sure thing!

Erice heard someone calling her.

Is that your father?

A gentle voice, a captivating sound, and a majestic, trembling chest.

"... Who are you?"

Erice said to herself, her face blank.

The figure that appeared behind the dazzling Path of Dawnlight seemed to surpass everything in the world, and possessed an ethereal quality.

Beneath his Throne seemed to be Snowy Mountain Range, with the most majestic peak reflecting the sunlight in a blinding way. It looked so white and beautiful that it was cruel, as if the world was under its sway. Yet, the aura it exuded was surprisingly peaceful, which was incongruous with its enormous presence.

So the girl, who was choosing a path, watched the snow-white light come and go, go and come again.

My vision blurred as I saw this seemingly endless repetition.

Even though Erice had crossed the sea by trickery to reach Tokoyo, she still didn't know the meaning of her arrival.

"Gah, I am Poimandres,"

Novia said, "Mind of Sovereignty, I know what you desire, for I am with you everywhere."

The reason she calls herself this is because Novia, having arrived here, has come to understand the possibility that Erice was born from her own blood within Izanami.

Poimandres, who holds the same position in Alchemical Theology as the Hermes Trismegistus.

Just as Hermes, the legendary Magecraft was Prototype on a god and transformed into a human, was Trinity of the Greek God Hermes, the ancient Egypt god Thoth, and the Rome god Mercury, and a trinity of the human being—the grandson of Adam Trinity the Great Flood, the Babylon, the teacher of Pythagoras, and the Egypt philosopher— Poimandres also Prototype.

The Prototype of man comes from the Egypt Pharaoh Amenemhat III, while the Prototype of god comes from Jason's grandson Charisilaus and Stratonice's son Poimandres; in another theory, Poimandres comes from the Coptic Orthodox Church phrase 'understanding or knowledge of thunder,' and the name can also be translated Pasture of Men.'

In short, in Alchemical Theology, Poimandres is an attribute of God, a manifestation of intellect or mind.

Upon hearing this, Erice blinked involuntarily.

She certainly knew that title; after all, Dee had called her that not long ago.

So... it's actually me? If it's me, then there shouldn't be any major problems, right? Besides, I used a verbal tic that both I and my mother are used to using.

A moment later, a look of relief finally appeared in Erice's eyes. From her even breathing, Novia could no longer sense the slight wariness she had initially felt towards his sudden appearance. It was precisely because of this that he continued to speak:

"I'm asking you, Utsumi Erice, do you think you can defeat me?"

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered over the world, a violent storm swept around, and torrential Torrential Rain poured down from the sky as if being hammered on the head. Lightning flashed and struck Erice again and again, as if trying to completely shatter her human body.

His single word could destroy the heavens and the earth; he was truly the ruler of the heavens.

What are you doing?!

Erice shouted and activated the Wicked Spirit Medium Demon King, transforming her hands into large black shields to resist the Thunderbolt descending from the sky while simultaneously dodging backward. However, an unexpected tornado sucked her body into the sky, then slammed her heavily to the ground.

There can be no overly powerful beings in the Present World, only Servant. As long as one is Servant, as long as one's Spirit Core is hit by my bullet, there is absolutely no way one can still move freely. Such confidence and arrogance naturally made the trembling girl stop.

"... asshole!"

Erice wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, narrowed her eyes angrily, and unleashed the bullets and Pistol of the 'Magic Bullet Shooter'. These were Magecraft replicas of the Demon Samiel's bullets from the Bohemia Inheritance, capable of hitting any target. They were also the power generated from her displeasure at the disappearance of the Demon King from the Kuonji residence years ago.

Erice watched the figure of the man sitting on the Throne, her right hand silently gathering Od to swiftly and repeatedly pull the hammer of the Pistol.

All six bullets were fired at the man in an instant.

If the target is Servant, its power is enough to completely shatter their Spirit Origin and return them to the Throne of Heroes.

Because the bullet was so powerful, Glen was thrown backward after firing it, rolling violently on the ground.

"Strike! Magic Bullet Shooter!"

However--

Novia was prepared before the bullets were fired; he simply sighed and utterly shattered the six bullets fired by the Magic Bullet Shooter.

The six bullets that Erice took a month to prepare couldn't withstand that sigh that was almost imperceptible if one wasn't careful.

As for the seventh attack, since the Demon King couldn't find her, Erice also used it, but the price was that she self-destructed inside her body and it took her a month to recover.

"You've come at a bad time."

The light emanating from the silver-haired figure noticeably increased in density, unleashing countless arrows of light towards Erice, but all of them narrowly missed her.

"... Huh?"

Erice instinctively tried to dodge, but her mind was already blank, and she stood frozen in place with a dazed expression.

This guy... has strength far surpassing mine. He deliberately missed all those shots so that I would know there was a hopeless gap in strength between us. If he had a sudden urge, he only needed to let one of those shots hit me, and I would have been dead on the spot.

How can we defend against it?

Even if Erice tried her best, she couldn't achieve that now.

"... What, are you kidding me! That name... aren't you me?!"