Divine Right of Various Anime and Manga

"Fly, Hermes' Boots!"

Erica activated the flying magic, her body light as she swiftly retreated backward.

At the same time, Roy, while battling the Angel Legion, chanted a new Word Spirit:

"Your sins cry out to the Lord; brimstone and heavenly fire shall consume all!"

This was the complete form of Roy's second Authority, "Sodom's Sin."

It was a city-level Authority that could only be used once every three days, capable of annihilating a city of sin in a single strike.

Chapter 22: Meeting the 'Foster Mother' Again

As if volcanic ash and smoke had blotted out the sky, crimson flames hovered atop the burning embers, twisted vortexes appearing one after another in the high heavens.

Above the sea, bubbles and the stench of sulfur erupted from the island's land, as if this earth had connected to the legendary hell. An atmosphere of slaughter, destruction, and oppression filled the space.

Dozens of light angels formed from ether were still harassing Roy. At this moment, Roy realized the troublesome nature of this Authority—while these angels couldn't defeat him, they could temporarily entangle him, drain his stamina and focus, and allow their summoner to flee at any time.

Just as Metatron was doing now.

"Perish, sinful Sodom and Gomorrah!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh——"

Heavenly flames brimming with solar power rained down from the sky, countless firebolts like a meteor shower in the cosmos. The sulfurous stench of the earth grew thicker, and surging magma and scorching subterranean fire erupted from hell, from the planet's core, gushing outward.

It was heavenly fire that could burn away all evil, and earthly fire that would drag everything into hell. When the flames of heaven and earth converged and merged in the mortal realm, it was the day of annihilation for all things.

The burning sea and the erupting sulfurous fire surged skyward with immense force, blasting Ponza Island into gaping holes and shattering it completely. The natural rock formations and beautiful beaches, the modern cities and man-made structures carved out by humanity, were reduced to rubble under the god's wrath. The solar flames descending from the sky then crushed those fragments again, turning them utterly to ash.

Erica dared not look back. She could only feel the roar of the sky, the fury of the earth, the raging waves of the sea, and the scorching light that left no evil hidden.

The Great Knight of the Bronze Black Cross recalled the story recorded in the Bible—Lot's Wife had looked back out of longing for Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt. Erica didn't know if Roy's Authority, which reenacted the myth of the burning city of sin, possessed a similar power, but she dared not test it. She could only close her eyes and fly in the opposite direction, terrified that even a glance from the corner of her eye would bring divine punishment like Lot's Wife.

The angels surrounding Roy silently burned into ether particles under the fusion of heaven and earth's flames. Metatron, still fleeing, was violently struck by the devastating heavenly and earthly fires. Endless meteors smashed into Him, and the sulfurous flames of hell seared His soul. Amid the earth-shaking roar, Roy seemed to hear Metatron's screams, and also His cries of something.

"It's over. Return to myth, you heretic!"

Roy's raised left hand clenched into a fist. The final flames of heaven and earth erupted with a sudden bang. With a rumbling tremor, the sea was scorched into a massive void, and where the destroyed Ponza Island had vanished, a colossal whirlpool hundreds of meters in diameter appeared.

The anomaly in the Tyrrhenian Sea triggered a chain reaction in nature. At that moment, a tsunami struck the western coast of Italy, a disaster humanity could never have predicted in advance.

"Hiss... What the hell happened on Ponza Island? Even Italy's west coast is affected."

On the western shore, tourists were gone. Dozens of magicians and knights had long been waiting here. Seeing the oncoming wave, they directly activated a prepared magical ritual to block the tsunami, preventing it from causing too much damage.

Fortunately, this wasn't a tsunami caused by an earthquake. After Roy, the instigator, ended his Authority, the tsunami that had stirred Italy's west coast gradually lost its power, turning into ordinary waves.

Many magicians and knights gazed at the scene beyond the sea with awe and fear. Even from here, they could sense the abnormal surge of magical power and the apocalyptic omen on the horizon, like the Day of Judgment.

"Lord Paolo Blandrata is truly Italy's strongest knight, having fought Divine Beasts and stood alongside a Campione. If Lord Paolo hadn't predicted that the 'King's' battle with a Disobedient God would cause natural disasters, this coastline would be severely damaged now."

A knight sighed in admiration. They were ordinary magicians and knights, aware of the 'King's' tyranny and the natural disasters brought by Disobedient Gods, but this was their first time witnessing a battle between the two firsthand.

No, this wasn't even firsthand—it was merely watching from across the sea. Yet even so, even across the Tyrrhenian Sea, the battle could still affect the Italian mainland. The descriptions of Campiones and Disobedient Gods in the ancient texts were no exaggeration at all.

This was the Demon King on earth and the moving calamity. No wonder Campiones could do as they pleased on the land, and no wonder only Campiones could fight Disobedient Gods. Battles of this magnitude were simply beyond the reach of ordinary magicians and knights.

What kind of miracles had those Campiones, still in their mortal phase, relied on to accomplish the feat of killing a god!

At this moment, Roy had no idea about the sighs of the magicians and knights on the Italian mainland. Even if he did, he had no time to care.

Roy's spirit and will once again condensed into an astral body, appearing in Pandora's domain within the "Realm of Life and Death."

"We meet again so soon, my dear son."

It was like a continuation from the last departure. When Roy's consciousness dimmed for an instant and then cleared, he smelled that seductive scent like poppies, and felt the soft, delicate thigh beneath his head.

'Another lap pillow.'

The thought flashed through Roy's mind.

This second god-slaying brought him back to this space, and Roy was almost completely free of the daze. Unlike the first time, when it took him a long time to regain consciousness after the kill.

Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was a goddess with an extremely slender, frail figure, looking only twelve or thirteen—hard to tell if she was a loli or a maiden. Though her appearance was youthful, the smile on her lips was alluring and mature. A girl who should have been innocent instead exuded a tempting charm.

Then, Roy's gaze fell on Pandora's thin yet seductive red lips, recalling the intoxicating, wine-like fragrance of her mouth he had boldly tasted the last time he left.

At this moment, Roy had only one thought: Would Pandora angrily retaliate by refusing to hold the dark ritual of god-slaying? Though Roy wasn't particularly interested in gaining new Authorities—his "Divine Right" was already very comprehensive. Instead of acquiring new powers, it was better to find a way to make this existing Authority stronger, remove its limitations, or even evolve it.

Quality over quantity; quality always outweighs quantity.

"Oh, are you longing for 'Mommy's' kiss again? What a greedy 'son' you are. Wanting 'Mommy's' reward isn't impossible... But you really are quite peculiar, my youngest child."

Pandora parted her red lips, speaking in a playful, youthful yet seductive voice.

But her gaze at Roy held curiosity and probing: "...To be able to retain memories of this place after leaving Yomi—that's a bit unbelievable."

Roy's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm, as if he had no idea about his own 'oddity.'

Chapter 23: Types of Gods

Roy was a bit uneasy inside, but his demeanor was very composed, as if he didn't understand his own 'strangeness' at all.

He didn't know if Pandora was testing him.

In truth, even if Pandora harbored doubts about him, knew of Aiwass's existence, or even refused to hold the Dark Ritual of God-Slaying for him anymore, Roy no longer cared. He had already obtained the best, most suitable Authorities, and had no interest in pursuing new ones. What he and Aiwass were studying now was how to raise the upper limit of Authority ranks, not chasing after their quantity.

But if possible, Roy still hoped the Dark Ritual of God-Slaying could continue. Every time Pandora performed it, he and Aiwass could observe once more, accelerating their progress in analysis.

Just as Roy was lost in thought, Pandora's delicate finger tapped her red lips, a hint of puzzlement in her voice: "...To leave memories here, only those 'Enlightened Ones' among humans who have achieved great awakening can do so. But such a person could never become a Campione. How did my little Roy manage it?"

Pandora seemed to truly regard herself as Roy's mother, calling him by his nickname with affection. The finger that had touched her own lips now landed on Roy's forehead, tracing circles there, as if looking at a mischievous child. In a voice brimming with maternal love, she said: "...Well, that's not important. That you can retain memories here is actually a good thing—it means I can tell you some things."

Roy had no objection to Pandora treating him like a 'son.' His parents from before his transmigration had long passed away, and he had no memory of his mother after transmigrating. Adding both worlds together, Roy had only lived for a little over thirty years. Compared to Pandora's age measured in millennia, calling her 'mother' was no loss to him.

The only thing Roy couldn't quite figure out was whether this goddess who created the Campione was deeply calculating or genuinely innocent and carefree. She was a woman he couldn't yet see through.

"Is there something you want to tell me, Pand—"

"You should call me 'Mom'!"

Pandora seemed very interested in this mother-son game. Her slender fingers pinched Roy's nose, her tone a little dissatisfied, as she adjusted her position to let Roy lie more comfortably on her lap.

"...Alright, 'Mom.'"

In a sense, Pandora truly was his second mother, granting him a new, powerful life. So Roy didn't mind the address.

"Heehee~ What a clever, obedient, and well-behaved child."

Pandora giggled, her smile enchanting and seductive, like a poppy luring hearts. As if rewarding him, she lowered her head and gently kissed Roy's forehead, then her expression suddenly turned serious: "...A sweet and lovely child like you—I don't want you to be in danger. So I'll tell you some important things about the gods, so you can prepare in advance."

"...Listen carefully. I'm going to talk about the origins of the gods and their nature."

"In the distant past, humanity was still in a matriarchal clan society. Women were the primary bearers of production and possessed the ability to give birth. In that era of scarce resources, when humans struggled to reproduce, women were the rulers. Thus, the gods born from humanity's bestowed faith were mostly exalted goddesses."

Roy said nothing, just listened to Pandora's words. Lying on the lap of his adoptive mother, who looked like a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old loli, listening to her 'tell stories,' he had no reason to refuse this contact.

After all, he knew he was only a Mental Body now, and time here was different from the outside world, so there was no rush.

"As Human Civilization developed, as humans learned to make tools—especially the smelting of metals, which gave them weapons of 'steel'—the threat of beasts diminished, resources became abundant, and men's physical strength and combat ability became essential for survival and development. The matriarchal clan gradually became patriarchal."

"...In the realm of myth, this meant the status of goddesses declined while male gods rose. The goddesses who once reigned at the pinnacle of myth became wives, daughters, and other appendages of male gods. The most tragic goddesses were directly degraded into demons and monsters—the Dragon-Serpents."

"Little Roy must have heard many myths about slaying Dragon-Serpents. Marduk killed Tiamat, Susanoo-no-Mikoto killed Yamata no Orochi, Perseus killed Medusa, Siegfried killed Fafnir, and even Michael imprisoned the Ancient Dragon Satan. These myths all symbolize the rule of patriarchy. Heroes used their 'steel' to defeat and suppress the once-exalted goddesses, becoming 'Steel Heroes.'"

"...The gods can be roughly divided into three categories: the ancient Earth Mother Goddesses with 'Dragon-Serpent' attributes, the 'Steel Heroes' who overthrew the goddesses' rule with 'steel' attributes, and the other gods born from the conflicts between these two."

Pandora's fingertip gently stroked Roy's cheek, her sorrow and worry growing heavier: "...I created the Dark Ritual that births Campione. And the gods, to prevent the earthly kings from becoming too unruly, used the Covenant's Blessing to elevate the 'strongest steel.'"

"...He is the 'Last King,' the enemy of all Dragon-Serpents and kings. Whenever the number of Campione becomes irredeemable, the 'Last King' awakens. He sacrifices the ancient Dragon-Serpent goddesses to gain the power to annihilate all kings. Over thousands of years, many Campione have been born, but not one of the ancient ones has survived to this day—they were all destroyed by the 'Last King.'"

"In this era, seven Campione have already been born, a number surpassing any previous age. The 'Last King's' awakening is inevitable. Little Roy, against the 'strongest steel,' even I have no solution. All I can do is cheer for you from behind. You must be careful of Him. Though I know caution may be useless, I still have to tell you this."

Pandora spoke as if gazing at a child about to suffer, her voice turning bitter.

Roy, meanwhile, recalled the myths about Pandora. Perhaps Pandora, tracing her origins, was also an ancient Earth Mother Goddess, a goddess symbolizing the Dragon-Serpent. She hated the Steel Heroes, even hated all gods, which was why she created the Dark Ritual of God-Slaying.

"Why do you care so much about me?"

Roy asked a question that puzzled him. Pandora's concern seemed excessive.

"Because you are my child."

Pandora said, full of maternal love.

"You must have many children. In this era, including me, there are seven Campione. And over the past millennia, there must have been more than ten, maybe twenty?"

"That's different. A child as clever, cute, obedient, and not troublesome as you—even for a mother like me, it's a first~~ Come, close your eyes obediently, and remember what Mom says. If you do, Mom will give you a reward."

Speaking softly and seductively, Pandora hugged Roy's head and lowered her cicada-like head.

The ritual that used gods as sacrifices began again...

Chapter 24: Divine Speed Authority, "Lord of Light"

" 'King'!"

Erica flew over the ruins of Ponza Island using magic, her clear voice carrying anxiety and panic as she shouted.

No, this could no longer be called the ruins of Ponza Island. The Italian tourist island had been completely submerged, along with all its natural scenery and human traces, erased from the face of the Earth. From today onward, the world map could permanently delete this island.

A massive whirlpool on the sea surface had yet to fully dissipate, its immense force capable of instantly grinding any living thing into pulp. Erica gritted her teeth, pursed her lips, and flew downward, trying to search for Roy beneath the sea. But as she neared the surface, a flash of pain crossed her fair face. She grunted, gathered her magic power, and tried to push deeper.

But then, blisters appeared on the skin of her slender arms, emitting hot steam, as if the moisture in her body was evaporating. Even her delicate skin felt the sting of burns.

It was the residual Magic Power from Roy's Authority, turning this sea area into a hellish inferno of lava. Until the power fully dissipated, no magician could approach—not even a Great Knight like Erica.

Realizing that diving into the sea would not only fail to find Roy but might also get herself scalded to death, Erica had no choice but to fly back into the sky, anxiously scanning with her eyes.

Campione didn't all know how to fly. 'Flight,' a human dream, seemed simple but was actually a very advanced magic in the world of mysticism. Ordinary magicians couldn't learn it, and Campione's innate abilities didn't include 'flight'—only special Authorities could grant it.

Most Campione were Ordinary People before slaying a god, completely incapable of such advanced magic. And after becoming Campione, these earthly kings almost never studied magic. So while Campione possessed immense power, they were all ignorant fools.

Among the known Campione, only the Eastern Patriarch had reached the pinnacle of martial and magical arts before slaying a god. Even without becoming a Campione, she was already a legend in the mystical world.

Erica believed that with Roy's robust Campione physique and his overwhelming advantage in the fight against the Heretic Metatron, he couldn't possibly be killed by his own Authority or drown in this sea.

At this moment, the 'King' must need help the most—someone to pull him out of the sea. But as the 'King's' knight, she was too weak to break into this sea area and rescue him. Such an unworthy knight shamed the title.

Thinking this, Erica felt even worse. She recklessly poured out her magic power, flying over the sea area, searching for any sign of Roy.

Suddenly, beneath Erica's feet, the sea covered by abnormal Magic Power erupted with a thunderous roar like a cannon shot. A wave dozens of meters high splashed up from the surface.

Erica's heart tightened, thinking the enemy had not yet died, and she warily gripped the 'Lionheart' in her hand. But the 'enemy's' speed was far too fast, utterly describable as 'Divine Speed.' Erica could sense that their speed definitely exceeded the speed of sound; it was only due to some mysterious power at play that no physical sonic boom occurred.

Almost without any time lag, that lightning-like figure appeared before Erica. Such speed was simply beyond the limits of human neural reaction. Yet Erica showed no fear, gripping her beloved sword as she prepared to face the enemy.

It was only when that figure spoke that Erica's taut nerves finally snapped. The sudden shift from extreme danger to absolute safety left her body and mind overwhelmed with an unbearable fatigue.

"The timing calculation was slightly off. I didn't expect to end up falling into the sea."

The warm voice was somewhat casual, yet carried its own authority and solemnity. Erica focused her gaze and was astonished to see that Roy's external form had undergone a massive transformation.

Behind him had sprouted a pair of enormous wings resembling blazing flames. Above his head floated a halo imprinted with the sacred symbols of Christianity. Flakes of feathers formed from energy drifted down from the sky, scattering across the sea's surface, blending a sublime beauty with radiant holiness.

From every angle, Roy now looked like an angel.

This was the fourth of Roy's seven Great Authorities—"Lord of Light"!

The title 'Lord' signified a prince, a ruler.

This Authority recreated the battle form of the Archangel Michael as recorded in the Bible. He had once annihilated the 185,000-strong Assyrian Army that invaded Jerusalem in a single night. As the Vice-Lord of Heaven and the Lord of Light, He had led the angels into a great war against Belial, the ruler of darkness.

Recreating this battle form granted Roy the ability to fly, along with 'Divine Speed.'

However, this Authority had its limitations. It could only be used once per day, and its duration was only ten minutes. Within Divine Speed, Roy could easily surpass the speed of sound and the limits of human reaction.

Among the Campione, there was a 'Black Prince' named Alexander Gascoigne. He had once defeated the Fallen Angel Remiel and obtained the 'Divine Speed' Authority. Gascoigne's Divine Speed had no time limit, but during ultra-high-speed movement, this Campione had to bear the side effects of Divine Speed with his own body. As a result, he could only use the Divine Speed Authority intermittently.

Roy, however, had no such worry. Once he activated the Authority, he didn't need to concern himself with his body's endurance for ten minutes. Michael's battle form was enough to offset it. The Divine Speed Authorities of the two each had their own pros and cons: Roy's burst was more intense, while Gascoigne's endurance was stronger.

Still, in typical battles between Campione and Disobedient Gods, fights were usually decided within a few moves. So for Roy, the limitations of this Authority were sufficient for now.

Although Campione possessed vast amounts of Magic Power, killing gods did not increase their Magic Power cap, and using Authorities consumed a great deal of Magic Power. Thus, after fully unleashing a few Authorities, a Campione generally had no Magic Power left to continue fighting. Most Campione lacked strong sustained combat capabilities.

"Lord Erica, you look quite disheveled right now."