章 85: The Heretic God Kurumi Tokisaki
It was like a scene from the depths of a hellish slaughterhouse, with a tower of bones and blood beneath her feet.
Filled with hatred and vengeance, this was a goddess who had returned from the inferno.
This was the epitome of the Avenger skill, a fitting description for the special effects that played out like a cutscene as soon as she descended upon this world.
Kurumi slowly turned her head, her gaze falling upon the trembling little girl.
With a snap of her fingers, the scene of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood dissipated instantly.
Kurumi moved with a light, almost playful step, walking towards Erica.
There was no doubt—only the Heretic Gods from legend could cause such a spectacle.
Standing before Erica was a real, goddess.
Her stunning beauty was almost intoxicating, exuding an allure that bordered on the bewitching.
The right eye, as vivid and resplendent as a rose, reflected the heavens, while her left eye was an empty, inorganic clock face.
She continued to approach Erica step by step.
Erica was terrified. The worst-case scenario had come true—it was indeed a Heretic God, and one who seemed incredibly dangerous, not someone she could easily deal with.
All she could hope for now was that this god could be reasoned with, that she was approachable, not particularly interested in young girls, and wouldn't turn Erica into something even more helpless.
Closer... closer...
Facing a Heretic God alone for the first time, Erica's large, beautiful eyes were brimming with tears.
What should she do? What should she do?!
Erica's breath came in short gasps, but the very air felt frozen. In the face of the goddess's overwhelming presence, Erica felt as though she were bound and strangled by death's thorny vines.
"Steel... the Lion of Steel, and the Lionheart of its forefather..."
Erica began reciting a grim incantation, as if chanting poetry.
"Hello there," Kurumi greeted Erica.
"Ah!" Erica's chant was interrupted, and she immediately crouched down, holding her head in her hands.
It was extremely effective against Kurumi.
No matter how stubborn or talented a girl was, in the face of such overwhelming power, fear would eventually set in.
Under the influence of the mystic Thousand Languages, Erica fully understood Kurumi's words without issue.
As the shadow drew closer, Erica, still crouching on the ground, could only see the slender legs in black stockings and the perfectly shaped ankles before her.
The Heretic God crouched down, her cool hand resting on Erica's head.
Erica had never been so nervous in her life, terrified that in the next second, there would be a burst of energy and her head would explode, leaving her nothing but a puff of steam.
Frantically, she racked her brain, trying to recall any records of this Heretic God in front of her.
Associated with the power of time... with vengeance... with seduction...
And carrying an aura of supreme defiance...
But no matter how much Erica searched her memories, she couldn't come up with any conclusive answers from the records in the grand library.
The suffocating feeling, the sense of imminent death, swallowed her whole.
Then suddenly, Erica remembered a scene from her dream.
...
The goddess before her smiled, cupping Erica's cheeks in her hands.
"Hey, hey, how about you meow like a cat?"
Was this god fond of cats? Perhaps an Egyptian deity? But the most pressing matter was...
Erica, with teary eyes, looked up.
"M-m-meow!"
...
Kurumi was momentarily stunned. This child... could be quite fun to keep around.
Such quick wit.
But... so cute.
——
With her divine aura fully restrained, Kurumi seemed no different from an ordinary girl.
Just like in Tengu City, when the Astral Dress: Third Form was hidden, Kurumi appeared to be nothing more than an overly seductive fairy.
However, locking eyes with those mismatched eyes still gave off a sense of divine majesty.
Kurumi gently combed through her jet-black hair like a waterfall, covering the Zafkiel clock face in her left eye. The fragrance from her hair was as intoxicating as a poison.
Erica, her expression complicated, followed behind Kurumi as they climbed to the roof of Milan's cathedral, admiring nearly two thousand marble statues.
Many of these statues had inscriptions of medieval secrets, hidden spells, or other arcane knowledge etched into them with magic.
Thanks to Kurumi, Erica now had the chance to examine them more closely.
...
This was Italy.
Milan.
Ever since her arrival, Kurumi had realized this fact, for the world's largest Gothic cathedral was simply too conspicuous.
Before she became a Spirit, Kurumi had even visited here as a tourist.
But something felt strange—this world... was devoid of people.
Everything was cast in a layer of black and red. The sky resembled a burning lotus, reflecting a dim, suffocating glow.
It seemed as though Kurumi could paint the world in whatever colors she desired.
That is... until a little girl intruded here—twice.
With Kurumi's interactions with her, some essential qualities began to seep out, altering something.
...
Luckily, this goddess was quite approachable.
Erica's large, beautiful eyes sparkled as she began to regret her earlier cowardice and timidity.
The two of them wandered and conversed, with Erica trying all sorts of ways to glean information from Kurumi.
"My, I'm not a goddess at all, Erica," Kurumi said, her lips curving into a smile, her hands clasped behind her back. Little Erica's entire background had already been exposed to Kurumi's probing.
The little girl was no match for Kurumi when it came to extracting information.
Kurumi's smile was captivating. "I'm a Spirit."
A Spirit. Erica silently noted the term but grew even more confused.
Kurumi had first greeted her in Japanese, with a typical Asian appearance, but now she was speaking Italian.
And now she claimed to be a Spirit?
What... what is going on?
...
Finally, Erica worked up the courage to ask for Kurumi's name.
She did so with trepidation, for failing to know the name of a Heretic Godby now might be considered a great offense.
"Kurumi Tokisaki," Kurumi responded with a smile.
"Kurumi Tokisaki," she repeated, bowing slightly, her bare, flawless skin flashing in front of Erica's eyes.
Hmph... what's so impressive about that? I'll grow up and have it too.
Erica thought to herself bitterly, then softly repeated Kurumi's name.
"Tokisaki... Kurumi?"
As Erica whispered her name, it was as if Kurumi had been acknowledged in some way. With a light snap of her fingers, the black and red haze receded like a tide, and the world became lively once more.
A deity must be given a name by humanity; otherwise, in their original, ancient form, they would be known as a Heretic God.
At that moment, Kurumi suddenly turned her gaze sharply toward the square below.
A steadfast, steel-like man was approaching.
He resembled a living statue of David—firm, resolute, and muscular. At that moment, he was fixated on Kurumi, his body tense, magic coursing through his veins, ready to attack at any moment.
"A Heretic God..."
Kurumi stood on the roof of the world-renowned Milan Cathedral, gazing down at the square like a god.
Her charm was on full display.
Anyone who happened to meet Kurumi's eyes, whether by coincidence or drawn by some mysterious attraction, gazed at her in awe.
It was only natural for humans to gaze upon gods.
It was only natural for humans to worship gods, to pray to them, seeking blessings.
And it was also only natural for humans to lose themselves, fall into madness, and act out of character when they encountered a Heretic God walking the earth.
——
[You will join the revelry between Campione and Heretic Gods in your form as a Heretic God. But remember, your 'enemies' may far exceed your expectations.]
That familiar, ethereal, emotionless voice echoed in Kurumi's ears.
Kurumi paid no mind to the voice, only curling her lips playfully as she watched the holy knight stride heavily toward her.
Though the man had a noble appearance, there was a roughness beneath the surface, with his resolute eyes and disheveled hair.
The black T-shirt he wore stretched tightly over his well-developed muscles, exuding a powerful, explosive force. His well-honed steel body radiated a strong sense of valor.
As expected of a knight with the highest title, a man capable of facing divine beasts with his human strength.
But now he was extremely tense, the powerful magic coursing through his body ready to explode at any moment, as if preparing to unleash divine extermination in the center of Milan.
The girl before him was unmistakably a Heretic God, and undoubtedly one with terrifying origins and formidable powers.
She was an existence that only a Campione could challenge.
But... who was she?
Identifying the origins of a Heretic God was crucial for repelling them, but Paolo had no way to discern Kurumi's identity.
He didn't even know why she had descended.
And yet, his niece was following behind this Heretic God. There was no way Paolo could leave her.
[Your being is the third sephira on the kabbalistic Tree of Life—Binah / Understanding.]
[Darkness and shadow shall become your veil, pearls will grant you a bewitching visage, lead shall serve as your unbreakable shield, and Saturn will shelter you from the sky.]
...
This holy knight was not an 'enemy.'
Kurumi had this instinct. In this world, some of her powers seemed to be interpreted and given deeper meaning.
In this world's terms, they would be called Authorities.
She didn't want the common people to get involved. Simply by thinking this, the ordinary mortals seemed to ignore her presence entirely. They soon found various reasons to leave the vicinity of Milan Cathedral.
[You shall become the symbol of feminine perfection, bearing the divine name Elohim, with the Angel Zaphkiel by your side. The power of Time rests in your hands.]
[Some powers in this world hold greater significance for you. Challenge their owners, slay them, and seize their powers!]
...
[Enjoy your journey.]
——
As the area cleared, Paolo grew increasingly tense.
Heretic Gods rarely descended without reason. If a rogue Perseus came to slay a dragon, or if rogue Circe continued to seduce heroes...
Paolo lowered his stance slightly, appearing both submissive and ready to strike.
He performed a perfect knight's salute to Kurumi, paying his respects.
"Oh Goddess, what purpose brings you to Milan?"
Avoiding battle was the best outcome. This was Milan Cathedral, one of Italy's greatest spiritual symbols. A battle here could result in a catastrophe for Italy's magical societies.
Luckily, the Campione who hunted Heretic Gods was not present.
Otherwise, tomorrow's news might report that Milan Cathedral had been destroyed by a hurricane or gas explosion.
The eye more beautiful than blood gazed at Paolo mockingly.
To his surprise, Kurumi reached out and gently lifted Erica's chin with her finger.
Kurumi smiled with a seductive, witch-like expression. She pulled Erica into her arms, holding the girl tightly and playfully teasing her chin as she spoke softly.
"You see, I don't have many hobbies."
Kurumi's eyes narrowed slightly. Erica, one of Milan's two greatest knights-in-training, was indeed exquisitely beautiful. Her youthful face was already showing signs of becoming a stunning beauty.
"But... I do have a bit of a fondness for cute little kittens."
Kurumi's smile was full of mischief.
"Mm... is this little kitten yours? She seems quite delightful."
...
Her target was Erica!
Paolo's heart leaped in alarm. Gods often had their own sense of pride. Aside from those known for trickery, most gods—even Heretic Gods—would not speak casually.
She was serious.
Seeing Kurumi's teasing smile, Paolo's magic roared inside him.
He was a knight of the highest order!
If the one who reigned supreme atop the martial world of Mount Lu could slay gods with his strength, then as one of the strongest holy knights, he, too, could repel the Heretic God before him.
"Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthan?i!" (My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?!)
From the very start, Paolo had no intention of holding back. He chanted aloud the most despairing of incantations, the most powerful of spells.
Even as a mere mortal, a magician, Paolo was determined to face the goddess before him.
This was the hymn of calamity sung by Christ in His final moments at Golgotha.
Even in broad daylight, a hateful cold wind swept up from the depths of the earth, and in Paolo's hand appeared a sword of despair. The scorching summer air began to cool.
But... Kurumi had no intention of letting him finish his chant.
"Zafkiel!"
Merely thinking it, the massive golden clock, two people tall, appeared from the black and red shadows, suspended behind Kurumi.
My Angel shall protect me.
Zafkiel was now fully interpreted as an Authority.
The sound of the turning clock hands.
The world fell silent, as if nothing remained but the ticking of Zafkiel.
"Aleph—First Bullet."
Kurumi smiled as a short pistol spun up from the shadows, landing in her hand. Black and red shadows flowed from the I position on Zafkiel into the gun's barrel. Kurumi lifted her chin, gently pressing the gun against it.
In the instant she pulled the trigger, her figure vanished from where she stood.
Paolo was still chanting, but something felt wrong. He swung his sword of despair to strike back.
But Kurumi was faster.
With a weight like lead, her presence crashed down on Paolo's back, forcing him to the ground.
"My, my, Sir Knight," Kurumi teased, looking down at him.
"It seems... I'm a little faster."
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