Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows / With a Mortal Body, Ascending to the Divine Realm! ...

Aiwass carefully considered his words, trying to explain things in a way Roy could understand, lest he speak in some higher-level language again and leave Roy hearing nothing but noise.

"In other words, it's like Severing Heaven and Earth. As the mysterious faded away, the ancient gods returned to the heavens and separated themselves from the human world. That way, the heavens could no longer have any connection with the human world. This place is something like the heavens... More accurately, it should be the underworld."

Roy looked around at his surroundings, took a deep breath of the scent of death, and shook his head.

"That's exactly what I mean, Roy... So be careful. Since this place has already separated from the Material World, the beings capable of living here must have surpassed the Material World. They're things like true gods and demons. This is extremely dangerous for you!"

Aiwass rarely spoke in such a serious tone. She had no desire for Roy to truly end up in mortal danger.

"As that strange life-form said, this is the Outer World, the kingdom of the dead, my kingdom—the Shadow Land, where no one should be able to enter or leave without my permission!"

"...An extraterrestrial? No, you should be an otherworldly person. Why have you come to my kingdom, and why have you come to this world?"

"Clang—"

A metallic sound, like a machine scraping against the air, tore through the silence. Roy felt the hair on the back of his head stand on end as a deathly chill spread across his neck. He was certain that if he did nothing, his head would be smashed like a watermelon the next second!

A Campione's instinct for danger saved Roy's life. At the critical moment, he tilted his head to the side. From the corner of his eye, he saw a red streak seemingly cross space itself, brush past his cheek, and plunge straight into the dry ground ahead.

Roy saw what the red streak was. It was a long spear radiating a demonic aura. In this dim, deathly world, the dark-red spear was dazzling and captivating, seizing the eye and tearing the soul apart.

He touched his face with one hand. A wound had been left there, and blood slowly flowed from the split skin.

Roy spun around and saw the proud, deep-purple queen standing atop the towering rock, watching him with haughty, icy eyes.

The Queen of the Shadow Land, Scathach

She was a queen who could only be described as "purple." Her long hair was dark purple with a red tint, smooth and lustrous as silk. Her beautiful crimson eyes held the arrogance of self-confidence, yet beneath that arrogance lay ripples across a calm surface, as clear as autumn waters.

Those eyes alone were enough to leave anyone stunned. Yet as one's gaze moved downward, regret arose instead, because this incredibly charming woman wore a mask that covered the lower half of her face, preventing anyone from glimpsing a beauty capable of making even the deathly air around her come alive.

The woman was tall and voluptuous in all the right places, with a full, rounded figure. She wore a purple bodysuit so revealing it could only be called erotic. Aside from the vital areas, which were covered in leather, the rest consisted of translucent gauze. Even the perfect roundness that left Roy astonished showed faintly through it.

The outfit revealed a great deal, yet exposed nothing. Roy did not know whether to call it bold and uninhibited or conservative and restrained.

But she was undoubtedly a beautiful woman born with an air of nobility, lofty and above all others, yet with a strange gentleness running through her very bones.

Yes, although the woman before him looked proud and cold, Roy sensed a trace of warmth within that chill, like that of a big sister next door.

"The Shadow Land?"

Although Roy was dazzled by the half-veiled beauty before him, he did not dare relax his guard. That earlier spear thrust had truly carried killing intent. If he had not been strong enough to evade it, his head would already have been shattered.

"The Queen of the Shadow Land, Scathach?"

Roy had crammed himself with mythology and history in the Campione World. After seeing that scarlet spear and learning that this was the Shadow Land, he had already deduced the woman's identity.

More importantly, Roy had found information about this woman in his memories from his previous life. Thus, although he phrased it as a question, his expression and tone were filled with certainty.

During my earlier battle with Athena, my lack of martial skill made me want to find someone who could teach me. I remember that Scathach was the Shadow Land's warrior woman in mythology, one who taught several great Celtic heroes. She herself was an exceptionally outstanding teacher.

But I merely thought about finding a teacher, and before long it actually happened. This luck is a little too outrageous!

Roy's gaze flicked toward his right hand. By now, he had guessed the cause and effect.

It had to be connected to the mysterious space within his right hand that had allowed him to cross worlds—the strange "ship." Roy clearly remembered that both of his transmigrations had occurred through wishes. He could no longer clearly recall the wish he had made in his dream the first time, but it had definitely been related to crossing worlds.

The second time, when he made a wish in the mysterious space he had named the God Ascension Stairway, he had possessed a clear consciousness. His wish had been to "go to a world that could make him stronger." He had then gone to the Campione World and truly grown stronger at tremendous speed.

I don't understand the mechanism of that mysterious space very well, but thinking about it now, it should be connected to wishes. I don't know how, but my wish during my battle with Athena must have activated that mysterious space again.

Roy realized that he had probably blamed Lady Aisha unjustly. The thing that had truly caused Lady Aisha's power to run wild was likely the mysterious object in his right hand. Using Lady Aisha's power as a medium, it had helped him fulfill his wish.

However, although he had found the teacher best suited to instruct him in martial arts and his wish had been fulfilled, the wish had also not been fulfilled. Finding a teacher did not mean that the other party was willing to teach him!

It was like Roy's crossing into the Campione World. Although it was the world in which he could grow stronger the fastest, how he became stronger still depended on himself. If Roy had not become a Campione, it would have been useless.

In other words, the mysterious space fulfilled wishes by giving him all the necessary conditions, but it would not directly produce the result. He had to work to achieve it himself.

Thinking of this, Roy became even more curious about the mysterious space. What was its true purpose? Who had created it? Questions like these emerged in his mind.

But Roy quickly forced himself to set them aside for the time being, because he was facing an even greater crisis.

When the proud, deep-purple queen heard Roy's words, her slender, sharp eyebrows lifted slightly. In an exceptionally weathered voice, crisp as jade yet carrying lonely coldness, she said, "...To think of an unknown person like me merely upon hearing 'the Shadow Land.' It seems you are a learned man as well."

A trace of praise mixed into her lifeless yet melodious voice.

Only some people studied Celtic Mythology, and it was not especially widespread. The most famous figure in Celtic Mythology was King Arthur. For someone like Scathach, whose appearances in Celtic Mythology were not particularly numerous, to be recognized by name meant that the other party had studied mythology deeply.

But then the Queen of the Shadow Land's expression darkened. Doubt and certainty mingled in her questioning tone. "...Otherworldly person, since you know of Scathach, the Queen of the Shadow Land, that means legends of Scathach also circulate in your otherworld. It seems that even the worlds of the otherworld share connections with this world's history and mythology."

From a single sentence by Roy, Scathach had inferred a great deal. She felt a trace of curiosity toward that otherworld she could neither observe nor understand.

Roy frowned. His greatest question now was—

"Why do you know that I'm from another world?"

After arriving in the Shadow Land, Roy had gone nowhere and done nothing. He had not even said a word. Yet Scathach had determined at first glance that he was from another world. That was rather unfair.

"This is the Wisdom of the Demonic Realm, the abyssal wisdom gained by surpassing humanity, slaying gods, and placing oneself outside the world. I told you that this place is the Shadow Land, where no one from this world can enter or leave without my permission. Yet you broke that rule and appeared here."

"...Then I can only deduce that you are not from this world. Since extraterrestrial beings exist and parallel worlds exist, the existence of other worlds is nothing surprising. As expected, all I had to do was ask, and you admitted it yourself."

Scathach's eyes narrowed slightly. A hint of amusement appeared in her wine-red eyes, reminding Roy of the phrase "bright and alluring eyes." Even her lifeless voice became livelier.

Roy felt rather depressed. Did I just get tricked? Was I really tricked that easily?

"Do not worry or feel dejected. In truth, the Wisdom of the Demonic Realm had already told me your true origins. Even if you had refused to admit it or said nothing at all, I would still know everything, because you possess a connection—a 'fate'—with this world!"

Scathach spoke as if comforting him. Beneath the proud queen's aloof bearing truly lay a hint of gentleness capable of intoxicating anyone.

At that moment, Roy finally confirmed what had the greatest compatibility with him.

It was—wisdom!

First, there had been Solomon's Wisdom and Athena's Wisdom. Now there was the Wisdom of the Demonic Realm. He truly was being drawn in by wisdom!

"It doesn't matter what you came to this world to do, otherworldly person. I only need to determine it with the long spears in my hands. You bear an aura identical to mine. Although the gods you slew were all Disobedient Gods, the scent of a Campione cannot escape me!"

Scathach raised both hands. Two blood-red long spears appeared in her hands, covered by purple gauze gloves. Her voice rang with force, and her eyes blazed with battle intent.

The Celts had never used words to understand a person or a matter. They had only one way of understanding the world—that was through killing and battle!

A flash of cold light arrived first, followed by a spear thrust like a dragon!

Roy remembered how, when he had still been an ordinary person, he had played games with several friends in a group chat. They had always laughed and chanted nonsensical lines. Back then, Roy had merely thought that this line sounded imposing and cool. He had never gained any other insight from it.

But now, Roy truly experienced the profound meaning conveyed by those grand words.

After saying that, Scathach leaped lightly into the air without warning. Her movements were as nimble as a flood dragon emerging from the sea, while the two Magic Spears in her hands whirled fiercely, as if she intended to stab this world into complete upheaval.

Starless black night, tearless candlelight, raising a cup to ask the wine, drunkenly dispelling a thousand sorrows; drifting snow, whistling cold wind, blades dancing across the sky, spears thrusting like dragons!

Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!

Caught off guard, Roy could only retreat again and again. Only then could he barely avoid injury amid the stormy barrage, but his posture had already become disheveled.

"Otherworldly person, I do not care why you came to this world. I only want to see how much courage you possess!"

The peerless, aloof queen shouted harshly. Her beautiful eyes widened, and battle intent and killing intent that chilled the heart bloomed from her wine-red pupils. Combined with the deathly aura of the Shadow Land around them, that cold battle intent and killing intent made Roy's entire body turn cold, as though he had fallen into an icy inferno.

If Scathach had previously seemed to Roy like someone who concealed unforgettable, ultimate gentleness beneath her pride, then the Scathach before him had completely cast that gentleness aside. She had become a true weapon of war, dancing her spears and battling her enemy amid surging blood and boiling glory, sharing in the extreme pleasure of slaughter.

Whether it was the enemy's blood or one's own, whether it was the enemy's severed arm or one's own shattered bones, all of it could plunge one into feverish excitement. This was the Celts' bloodlust and love of slaughter.

A defense maintained for too long was bound to fail, to say nothing of Roy's completely unstructured evasions. After relying on his reflexes and physical abilities to barely avoid several of Scathach's thrusts, Roy's step finally slowed for a moment. His center was left wide open, and Scathach found the opening.

For a monster like Scathach, who had slain countless Divine Spirits and whose victims included gods, demons, undead, and humans beyond counting, such an opening was fatal.

The spear in her right hand swept Roy's hand aside. At the same time, the spear in her left hand transformed into a red streak and easily pierced through Roy's right shoulder.

"Ugh—ah!"

Roy groaned in pain. The pain of having his body pierced made all his Magic Power roar. Then immense Magic Power erupted from his body, transforming into a pure magical strike. With a thunderous boom, the ground beneath his feet was blasted into a crater. But Scathach had already withdrawn her spear before Roy's Magic Power began to surge, performed a graceful backflip, and landed steadily atop the rock where she had stood before.

"Hiss... That hurts..."

Roy sucked in a cold breath and glanced at his right shoulder. The flesh there was a mangled mess, with blood pouring out. The veins on his forehead bulged from the pain, and his right hand trembled faintly.

During his earlier battles in the Campione World, he had defeated powerful enemies such as Marquis Voban and Athena. Yet he had not suffered much injury in either battle. The battle with the Marquis had only left him somewhat exhausted. Although he had been covered in blood during his battle with Athena, those injuries had merely been ruptured capillaries and had caused little pain.

This time was different. He had truly been pierced through by a spear, leaving a gaping hole in his body. The Magic Spear seemed to possess a special demonic quality as well. The wound it had created was excruciating, painful enough to make his soul tremble.

At this moment, Roy suddenly felt afraid.

He had merely been an ordinary person. During the more than twenty years of his life as an ordinary person, he had never even undergone surgery, let alone experienced the pain of a severed arm or leg. In his fifteen years in the Magical Index world, his life had been poor, but he had never suffered any serious injuries. In the Campione World, aside from when he slew Michael—when the agony throughout his body had numbed his pain nerves—he had gained power soon afterward and never again experienced pain he could not endure.

Now, for the first time, he felt what ultimate pain was and what a terrifying injury was.

From Roy's life history, it was clear that he was merely an ordinary person who had lived in a modern, peaceful society. He was neither a soldier who had fought on a battlefield nor an assassin who had undergone arduous training in secret. Becoming a Campione had strengthened his body, but it absolutely could not strengthen his will.

Because human will was the symbol of the strong, humanity's greatest power, and a realm that could only be broken through by oneself!

She isn't a god!

Roy was certain of it. Scathach was definitely not a god. If she were, then as a Campione, Roy would have fallen into the fanaticism of the Child of the Fool without deliberately suppressing it. He might even have forgotten what fear was.

But now, Roy had developed a sense of fear just like Anne Charlton had earlier. This proved that Scathach was not a god. She might even be a Campione like Roy.

As a fellow Campione, Roy could see the curses of the gods drifting from Scathach's graceful, lithe body, which possessed the ultimate feminine charm. Those curses were proof that she had slain too many gods and thereby aroused the fear of the gods.

Moreover, the gods she had slain could not be compared to the Disobedient Gods Roy had killed.

True gods were like information on the "Throne," while Disobedient Gods were incarnations of that information. The relationship between gods and Disobedient Gods was like that between Heroic Spirits and Servants. However, because gods stood at a higher level than Heroic Spirits, Disobedient Gods were also far stronger than Servants.

The gods Roy and the other Campiones had killed were only Disobedient Gods. They could not affect the gods' "Thrones" in mythology. That was why, in the Campione World, even after killing a Disobedient God, the same god might appear again later. It was also why Marquis Voban and Lady Aisha could kill gods of the same type more than once.

This was because the death of a Disobedient God only meant its return to the "Throne," not the true death of the god. As long as the information of that god remained in mythology, the god could continue to descend.

Scathach was completely different. The gods she had slain were true gods residing upon the "Throne." With the body of a mortal, she had toppled them from their divine seats and killed them completely, leaving not even a trace behind. She was a true Campione.

Why had Scathach slain so many gods without leaving behind any records of her achievements? It was because the gods erased from the "Throne" had ceased to exist. Their myths naturally developed gaps, making it impossible for them to continue circulating among mortals!

With the body of a mortal, she had ascended to the realm of the gods. At this moment, Roy finally understood what a terrifying enemy Scathach truly was. She had reached the limits of mortal flesh through her unmatched martial arts, slain gods, reached the Peak of Humanity, and even stepped halfway into the realm of the Demon Gods. She was an ultimate powerhouse.

No wonder her Shadow Land is located in the Outer World. If a powerhouse like her entered the Material World in her true body, a single spear thrust would nearly pierce the entire Material World!

The more Roy understood Scathach's true strength, the more his heart pounded and the heavier his spirit became.

He should not be fighting an opponent like this—not in his current state!

The so-called Outer World, according to Eastern Daoist theory, meant existing beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements.

"Is that all, otherworldly person? Where is your courage? Where is your strength? A little pain has made your hands weak, and a mere powerful enemy has made your heart fearful. If you cannot show me your courage and strength, then I shall take your life here!"

Scathach spoke in disappointment, almost dejection.

At long last, she had encountered a living person in the uninhabited Shadow Land. At long last, she had encountered an otherworldly visitor whom even her Wisdom of the Demonic Realm could not completely see through. At long last, she had encountered someone like herself, a law-defying person cursed by the gods for slaying them. Scathach had thought that these three joys combined would fill her with vitality once more after her withered, desolate heart had long fallen silent.

But now it seemed that her opponent did not meet her standards, leaving her utterly disappointed.

Since he could not satisfy her body, she might as well kill him here!

I Am the King, I Am the Overlord, I Am the One Who Slays the Gods!

(Please support the author with subscriptions and full subscriptions!)

"Make me satisfied, otherworldly person!"

Scathach was serious.

Roy was certain of it. If he could not satisfy her, the Queen of the Shadow Land would definitely kill him here.

Scathach and Roy's father, Aleister Crowley, stood at the same level of power. Scathach possessed the ability to kill Aleister with one spear, while Aleister likewise possessed the ability to shatter Scathach with one spear.

But neither of them was an opponent Roy could handle at present. Both were at the Peak of Humanity, ultimate powerhouses infinitely close to the realm of the Demon Gods.

One was an ultimate magician who could have become a Demon God but had abandoned that path. The other was the strongest warrior, reaching the divine realm through unmatched martial arts. No matter what world they were in, beings like Aleister and Scathach would become dazzling figures who drew everyone's attention. No one would dare ignore them.

I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm definitely going to die!

Scathach had not used her full strength. No, "slightly serious" was probably the most accurate description of her current battle. If this Queen of the Shadow Land truly used her full strength, Roy believed he would be reduced to ashes without even being able to withstand a single move.

If only she could really use her full strength. At least then, I might have a chance to die together with her...

Roy bit down on his lip and let blood trickle from the corner of his mouth. He had never experienced killing intent so heavy it inspired despair. The killing intent radiating from Scathach could only be described as a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, bones piled endlessly high. That killing intent alone made Roy's teeth chatter and his soul tremble with fear.

Just how many people has this woman killed?

It was not that the gap between Roy and Scathach was so immense that he could not withstand her killing intent. The main reason was simply that Roy's will was not as steadfast as he had imagined. In some ways, he was merely a nouveau riche who had suddenly gained powerful strength after living as an ordinary person, and he had yet to experience a true trial of death.