"Ahh…" Hikigaya's face twitched as he looked at the gray space and the delicate goddess smiling sweetly at him. He said, "Isn't this happening a bit too frequently…?"
Seriously, enough is enough. He had clearly forgotten, but after coming here, the mories just ca flooding back.
What the hell is this? If you've forgotten, then just stay forgotten, damn it!
"It's probably because you used a power you shouldn't be using right now. The sun, while sacred, is also very dangerous. If you're not careful, you really might burn yourself to death—so badly even the power of a god-king wouldn't be able to save you."
The girl, looking like a young version of Pandora, said with a bewitching smile,
"But this ti there's no problem. The resurrection went perfectly. Your life is just like the waters of the Nile—constantly gathering strength, waiting for the mont of flood and explosion."
"You say it so poetically it actually makes feel kind of badass…"
Hikigaya chuckled, though inwardly he sighed—Osiris really was a pro when it ca to resurrection!
Lately, he'd started to grasp the deeper aning: the true purpose of the flood authority was actually resurrection. This authority likened oneself to the Nile Valley, and the floodwaters flowing down the river were a taphor for the eruption of life force.
When life hits its lowest point—death—this authority begins to accumulate life energy, and when it peaks, it bursts forth like a flood, sweeping away everything in its path. Even if Hikigaya's body were reduced to ashes, under the force of this overwhelming power, a perfect resurrection would still occur.
Just like the spells carved into pyramid texts: the god who controls the flood is worshipped by Ah (spirit forms) in the water. If he wishes to live, he shall live. If he wishes to die, he shall die.
"Well, go ahead and be proud of yourself. You did a great job teaching that rude guy a lesson." The goddess grinned like a kid, "Such a good child—Mama's good child. If you weren't about to go back soon, I'd love to pamper you a little. Now enjoy the power you've stolen from that guy."
"Oh? Since I still have so ti, can I ask a question I've been wondering about?"
"What is it?"
"Is there really a difference in strength between gods?"
After fighting Poseidon, he started to feel that maybe there really wasn't a matter of one god being stronger or weaker than another. Their status in mythology didn't necessarily reflect their power, but rather their domain and authority.
Poseidon's swift fall from grace after the Mycenaeans was a pri example. Once a fertility god, he lost his role as a god of the land in Greek territory. His association with fertility shifted from agriculture to fishing, but in an era where fishing wasn't yet developed, he naturally beca a god-king with fa but no popularity.
So using mythological status to judge whether a god is easy to fight or not is basically aningless. Every god he'd faced so far—aside from Kuafu—had involved bitter, life-risking battles. Even killing Kuafu easily had required deep understanding, and tricking him into dying by his own solar powers.
If he hadn't acquired Di Jun's power earlier, he wouldn't have been able to end things with Poseidon that way either.
God slayers really were strange beings. Thinking back now, it was crazy how he had unhesitatingly used that suicide-like move at the ti. He honestly wasn't sure whether he'd just lost his mind or what.
That move could seriously have killed him, too…
"Hehe, looks like you've already realized quite a lot." Pandora's stunning face suddenly leaned in close to Hikigaya's, startling him from his daze. "But let tell you one more thing. Gods who descend into the mortal realm—if they lose or fulfill the purpose they resisted—though their power won't weaken, they will beco fragile."
She gave a strange smile, then pulled her face back.
"Alright, ti to say goodbye again. You must train hard and try not to forget about this place next ti, okay?"
Hikigaya didn't reply. He could feel it too—he was about to leave.
Soon, everything disappeared, and he felt his own existence returning from the darkness.
The back of his head was soft, and soone's fingers were massaging his temples. A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Anyone with normal intelligence could figure out what was going on.
So, when Hikigaya opened his eyes, sure enough, he saw himself lying on the ground, his head resting on a pair of smooth, fair thighs.
In this godforsaken place, the only girl who'd offer this kind of service—it didn't take much thinking—was definitely Liliana Kranjcar.
Hikigaya always felt she probably didn't fully understand the implications of this behavior.
"You're awake?"
Upon opening his eyes, he saw Liliana's face.
Hmm… he felt a murderous aura. Was he imagining things?
"If you were going to co back to life, you could've told first." Liliana leaned down and looked at him as she spoke.
Hikigaya swore—even though her actions could easily be misunderstood, her expression absolutely could not. She was seriously serious. He rembered back before all this, back when he was a kid at a boarding school, one ti during pri-ti ani hours, his math teacher had called him to the office and said sothing like, "What are you doing watching ani? Get over here and finish your howork!" That teacher had the exact sa expression.
Such a sharp, sharp gaze…
"Sorry…" He swallowed nervously and thought for a mont—yeah, he probably hadn't said anything.
Co to think of it, this was actually the first ti he'd used this kind of large-scale resurrection in front of soone else.
"Ah, my dearest friend, have you forgotten ?"
A rather familiar voice ca from nearby.
When Hikigaya heard it, an unwelco mory instantly popped into his head. A mory he really didn't want to recall.
It could be summarized in one word: streaking…
Screw your "dearest friend"! Get lost! I'm currently enjoying a legendary lap pillow from a beautiful girl! Are you sure those two things on your face are actually eyes and not, like, pigeon poop?
In pure agony, Hikigaya turned toward the source of the voice with eyes full of murderous intent.
"Oh, such sharp eyes! As expected of my dearest friend!" The scumbag being glared at seed completely unaware and instead wore an expression like, "Relax, let's just sit and chat for a bit," as he continued, "My dear friend, I know you're itching for action, but since you've just been resurrected, you should rest well. Since we've both received new authorities on this island, we ought to be in our best shape for the next battle."
"..."
Hikigaya turned his head away in frustration.
Ah, he really wanted to just bury his face into the girl's chest and rub all over…
Wait a minute. Did that battle maniac just say he got a new authority?
So he turned back again.
Totally unaware that he was now rubbing against soone's thighs, and equally oblivious to Liliana's increasingly red face—and her eyes that seed to say, "Should I introduce you to a nice rock to snuggle instead?"
"Who did you kill?" Hikigaya Hachiman, blissfully unaware, asked Salvatore Doni—the veteran god slayer before him.
That's right—the guy casually lounging nearby in full rest mode was none other than Salvatore Doni, aka the Sword King.
When Hikigaya seriously expanded his magical senses, he could feel that Doni's magical energy was indeed more powerful than before—a difference only a fellow god slayer could detect. Humans wouldn't sense anything at all.
"Haha, funny story. Not long after I arrived on the island, I ran into a guy who also used a sword, so naturally we had a duel." As he spoke, Doni sat up and grinned proudly at Hikigaya, "Then I got a power that made my sword even stronger, so now I don't have to worry about it breaking anymore. We can go all out next ti!"
Listening to all this, Hikigaya was utterly dumbfounded.
Oh hell… this plot developnt—first it was lqart getting wrecked, and now it's you who took down the war god?
Co to think of it, that war god must've lost at least two incarnations by now—maybe three or more—his power was definitely weakened. Running into soone like Doni, who's all brawn and no brain, yeah… he'd totally get taken down.
And to think you still get a power boost like this… The war god must have a really crappy relationship with Pandora, huh?
And that sword enhancent power… could it be that golden sparkly kissing sword?
If that's the case, things are about to get very interesting…
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