[Weapon: The Golden Sword of Victory, a weapon symbolizing the warrior's very nature. This sword can cut through enemies on the battlefield according to his will, and, after fulfilling innate conditions, can seal and cleave the enemy's divinity—fear my name, for I am the one who breaks all obstacles; neither the strong nor the unjust can defeat me—fear me, Golden Sword of Victory!]

Combat Techniques: Empty Punch, Boar Charge, Boar Charge Punch, Wheel Tornado, Combat God Pressure (Wrath of the Gods)

This is the Divine Armor, and also the name of power.

Seiya did not usurp a single incarnation, but rather his image as Verethraghna, a Zoroastrian deity from the Tang Dynasty.

Vereslana is a relatively young deity compared to Athena and the King of the Gods.

His image is depicted in a statue carved on the mountainside, with Vereslana riding a horse, tall and imposing, accompanied by two attendants dressed in white and green. In the Northern Dynasties of the Eastern Continent, the third relief on the wall of Yu Hongshi Hall depicts a haloed deity riding a camel, looking back and drawing a bow to hunt a lion; this deity is also Vereslana.

Veleslana was originally a wandering god who drifted to Persia. There, he was chosen by the king of the gods to bring blessings to the people (before this, he was completely unruly and devoid of good or evil). He was not only granted power and responsibility, but transformed from a wandering god into a guardian deity. His legend is similar to that of the heroic gods; he was given trials: to find the right sword among a mountain of swords, to choose a crown from seven for the king, to persuade the laziest to work, the most foolish to understand the law, and the most cowardly to fight. With each task completed, he gained a new form. This led to the nine forms that Seiya later became familiar with.

In contemporary times, he is often seen as the one who gains the upper hand, and is revered as the 'most heavily armed among the gods,' the 'most aggressive,' and the 'most radiant.' He is imagined as a deity constantly battling enemies, demons, wizards, and pagans.

Just then, Seiya seemed to sense something and raised his head.

The moonlight overhead was like a curtain, and a pair of hands gently cradled her cheeks.

"My steed, you have indeed brought this ancient snake back to me. You have worked so hard."

The sound was like a cool night breeze, not disturbing the unusually quiet night in the slightest.

Seiya looked up and saw the young goddess gently cupping his cheeks, as if about to kiss his forehead.

Bathed in moonlight, the goddess appeared slender and graceful, yet exuded an unusual and powerful aura. The night breeze ruffled Athena's hair, but the scene itself evoked a strange feeling.

Each shimmering, silvery-white strand of hair looked to Seiya like a snake dancing in the night wind.

"To act on the will of the goddess and reclaim the power that is rightfully yours—this is the mission of the Pegasus Saint." Seiya clenched his right fist and gently pounded it against his chest.

As young Athena gazed at the Pegasus before her, her heart filled with even greater joy; this was truly her other half. At such close range, the stone box in Seiya's arms could no longer sever its connection to his true form. As the stone box slowly weathered away, the divine artifact known as the Gorgon Stone floated on Athena's chest.

"My other half—I have finally found it. Now I can transform back into the triune goddess of the past. Pegasus, tell future generations about my awakening and reappearance as the triune queen."

Athena smiled slightly.

Although he was in darkness, Seiya could clearly feel the joy that Athena was sharing with him.

Then, the goddess looked up to the sky and sang loudly:

I sing, I sing the hymn of the Triune Goddess. Connecting the sky, the earth, and the darkness, is the cycle of life and wisdom.

I sing, I sing the song of the goddess who has been degraded. To be seen as a forbidden serpent, even though she is a queen, is the queen's lament.

I sing, I sing the songs of a goddess whose body and soul are torn apart. To be humiliated by my noble father is the humiliation of a loving mother.

My name is Athena, daughter of Zeus, patron goddess of Athens, and eternal virgin.

In the past, she was Mother Earth, the mother of all things! In the past, she was the lord of the underworld, the ruler of darkness! In the past, she was the wise queen, versed in the wisdom of the heavens! I swear, Athena will soon return to the original Athena!

--------

Note 1: Introduction to the prototype of the God of War and the God of War.

His past as a guest god has been recounted in the main text, but at this time he was not yet a benevolent god. He continued to misuse his divine power, without a fixed form. The chief gods could not bear it and advised him: "My brother, you came here and moved me with your wisdom and strength, but I rebuke you. Although you bring blessings to the people, you do not distinguish between good and evil. People both like you and fear you."

Behold the calamities you have sown! I demand that you swear to be cautious with your power. Veleslana, disobeying the advice of the chief gods, brought disaster and enemies upon himself. He fought the chief gods for eight hundred days and eight hundred nights, finally being persuaded by force (beaten to his knees) and granted the form of a powerful warrior. He swore to use his divine power cautiously, which explains why Godou had to pay a price for using his power, limiting it to once a day, and why the restriction to using two forms at once was so painful. Later in mythology, he became known as a guardian god, a god of war, respected and worshipped. He also became the god of kingship, admonishing a king of proper virtues.

As for the power of the ten incarnations, it is likely that they come from the 14th chapter of the Asht, which is a hymn specifically to Verethraghna/Bahram. The chapter begins by describing the ten incarnations in sequence: a fierce whirlwind, a bull with golden horns, a white horse with golden ears and hooves, a camel in heat, a boar, a fifteen-year-old boy, a Vareghna bird, a ram with curved horns, a wild goat with sharp horns, and an armed warrior.

My design for the War God is based on the novel *Avesta*. In *Avesta*, he is described as possessing all the characteristics of an ancient war god, an embodiment of power that crushes and overcomes any resistance and defense, a force that displays its overwhelming and irresistible power in attack.

The fighting techniques and power effects of the God Armor I designed are based on this sentence.

In simple terms, the external manifestation is the destruction caused by wild boars, and the special attacks and victory of the warriors.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Incarnation of Wrath, Destroying the Wild Boar

From Athena's mouth came a resounding hymn of divine power.

It is like a hymn, like a prayer, like a hymn.

As the chanting continued, Athena's form began to change.

She grew taller, and her arms and legs lengthened, transforming from a pitiful young girl into a dignified and virtuous lady.

The childishness on her face vanished. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked like she was seventeen or eighteen years old, and her clothes had changed from modern attire to a white robe with an ancient style.

“Pegasus, I have waited for this moment for far too long.” Athena smiled and sang softly, her words as beautiful as poetry. “I have many names. Whether it is Gorgon or Medusa, they are just some of the names I have held in the past. But they all represent the same meaning. They are honorific titles that praise the Holy Trinity who once ruled the Mediterranean.”

The Gorgon Stone, a wise artifact that seals away the ancient Earth Mother Goddess.

Having reclaimed the Gorgon Stone and become Athena, the goddess who rules over darkness and the earth, she reveals a smile that is completely unlike that of the earth mother goddess. This is another aspect of her divine nature—the smile of a war goddess who looks down upon everything.

"Now that I am whole again, it is all thanks to you." Athena, with her bright eyes, looked at the young man before her.

But the Saint Seiya before him simply shook his head. “I have always been searching for a reason not to lose myself. Whether it is endless darkness, battles against evil gods, or the smile of a goddess. My dream is to bring smiles to the faces of all humans living in the present, so that we can affirm the meaning of life for each other and keep moving forward. Just like the help you gave me back then, I will let you continue to be yourself.”

“That’s so typical of you, Pegasus.” Athena was finally able to reach out and stroke Seiya’s face in a more appropriate manner. “But as the Pegasus who has completed my life, you can be even more proud.”

Seiya gently grasped the goddess's hand that was stroking his cheek, without saying a word. Athena, too, gazed at Pegasus before her, the deep darkness that had emanated from the other side of Gorgon gradually being replaced by a compassionate one.

“However, as my child, I will naturally reward you,” Athena said.

Seiya didn't quite understand; he hadn't thought of any reward for doing all this. Then he saw his goddess chanting a new incantation.

"Earth, know my resolve! Darkness, understand my soaring spirit! The goddess, descended from the Great Mother, here bestows upon me the wisdom of the Pegasus. The one who summons storms to ravage the earth... is Gugalana!"

If we were to ask which deity has the most mythological origins and story evolutions, Athena would definitely be at the top of the list.

Goddesses with names similar to Athena are numerous in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean coast, primarily Turkey and Syria—a number so many it seems almost unnatural. These include Athena, Yatana, Yatona, Yanotha…and deities from Semitic mythology such as Asherah, Asset, and Yato Anna. Even Baal, who has a battle pact with Seiya, has a sister named Anathapindika, also a goddess of war. This is another example of a similar name.

However, when it comes to closeness, aside from the Roman myth of Minerva, which is almost a direct copy of the legend, the Babylonian myth of Isista is also a prime example.

Countless pieces of knowledge flooded Seiya's mind, but what truly made his eyes narrow was the face of the other person approaching. The goddess Athena slightly tiptoed and kissed Seiya's forehead.

The dark power, carrying devastation and rage, is now being transferred into Seiya's body through a kiss—a ritual that originally connected people. Combining with the power he already possessed, it rapidly evolves into a new form.

[Combat techniques have been updated. Please check your inbox.]

[Rage, transformed into a destructive boar, has been obtained. Please check your inventory.]

Seiya instantly understood what he had gained: the power of the goddess, the authority of the laws. If the correct way to obtain power is to kill a god, there are other ways to acquire power besides killing a god.

The most typical examples are powerful divine artifacts like the Prometheus Tablets, and the second is power bestowed by the gods through certain magical rituals. Athena, through her mythical connection with Pegasus, transferred a portion of the power that perfectly matched her newly acquired authority as the God of War into her own body.

The concept of destruction, which was originally only used as a means of enchanting attacks, is given a real, manifestable entity.

"The wisdom of darkness tells me that this power is most suited to you. Look forward to tomorrow, Pegasus. I only wish that you will always be by my side."

The goddess was like a fleeting shadow in the night, vanishing with the slightest breeze.

Seiya was already used to Athena's elusive style, but he couldn't help recall the sadness and resentment on her face at their final parting. For some reason, at that moment, his god-slayer instincts were subtly triggered.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day.

—Narita Airport, Fusang, the far east of Japan.

There were no usual procedures or checks. As soon as Seiya landed, he saw a black car parked not far away, with more than a dozen men in black lining up in front of it. Before Seiya could even confirm their identities, they bowed deeply and shouted at him.

"The name of the wise and courageous Rakshasa King will live as long as heaven and earth, and never perish. Your martial might is boundless, and your wisdom and compassion shine throughout the world. May Your Majesty live a thousand years."

Seiya frowned deeply. At that moment, he felt like the leader of a demonic sect in a martial arts novel. He was leading a bunch of hapless underlings, waiting to be kicked out of a circle of friends by the protagonist, who also shouted about love and justice.

He could only pinch the bridge of his nose, while the man standing at the front instantly understood that this young god-slayer wasn't someone who cared about such things like the leader of the Luo Hao Cult. He quickly waved for his boastful subordinates to get out, then opened the car door and greeted Seiya.

"Are you a local official organization?" Seiya asked.

“Indeed, we are the Onmyō-chō (Yin-Yang Bureau), an organization that follows the laws of Yin and Yang, performs exorcisms against spiritual disasters, and monitors shrine maidens, ninjas, and onmyōji throughout the country. Our headquarters are located near Akihabara,” the man replied quickly. “Upon learning of your arrival in Narita, we came here specifically to welcome you.”

Seiya asked in confusion, "Shouldn't the Onmyo Hall be the Committee for the Compilation of Official Histories? Are you a subordinate organization of it?"

The man gave a fawning smile and respectfully handed over the postcard. But before Seiya could even reach out to take it, he abruptly turned to look out the window. His expression quickly changed.

A fiery bird adorned with white ribbons suddenly appeared from the side of the road—a familiar, or what should be called a shikigami in this land. It traced a chilling arc through the air before completely blasting the road ahead into a chasm.

Even Seiya was taken aback at this moment. What on earth is Japan doing?

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Rebellion of Fusang, the Priestess with a Tachi

It was a riot, an attack, but Seiya sat calmly inside the car, as steady as a mountain.

The firebird that blasted through the road was just the beginning. Soon, attackers drew their guns, all equipped with laser sights. The air was filled with the sound of chanting incantations, and grenades were being thrown.

"Watch out for the shadows!" the man sitting next to Seiya shouted.

Several beams of light simultaneously pointed to the ground, and a silent shadow rapidly approached the king's chariot. Its original target was the guards seated inside, but its movements were detected by the man sitting next to Seiya. The attack quickly intensified, and it immediately turned and swam into the darkness.

Gunshots rang out, incantations rang out, and the papers fluttering in the air quickly transformed into animal shapes as the guards opened fire. Those who were willing to fight in broad daylight could no longer be described as merely vicious; the two sides seemed like sworn enemies, sparing no expense with talismans and bullets. However, both attackers and defenders deliberately avoided the vehicle where Seiya was located.

Until the next instant, everyone stopped attacking.

The oppressive force of divine wrath emanating from the Divine Armor descended equally upon this land. The immense pressure indiscriminately weighed on everyone, forcing their knees to bend, and some even uncontrollably prostrated themselves on the ground, unable to even perform the simple act of raising their heads.

At this moment, Seiya slowly opened the car door and stepped into the sunlight, surveying the chaos before him.

"What are you doing?" Seiya asked.

No one spoke, only the burning flames and the soft groans of the wounded. Even the Yin-Yang Doctor, who had reached a certain rank, could not raise his head when faced with the divine pressure symbolizing Veleslana. Seiya pursed his lips and released the pressure belonging to his God Cloth.

The man from the Yin-Yang Hall who was traveling with him immediately stood up, but someone else spoke first.

"—Please wait a moment."

Suddenly, someone spoke up from the side. The one who called out was a figure seemingly sliced ​​from the darkness—a man in a black suit and sunglasses. Seiya recognized him as the shadow who had tried to approach him earlier, the ninja who had initially followed Sayamiya Kaoru.

Seiya raised an eyebrow, realizing he appeared to be on the attackers' side.

“I am very sorry to offend the Rakshasa King, but seeing you being taken away by these rebels, I had no choice but to resort to this measure.” The man nodded respectfully, seemingly unaware of the reaction of the guards beside him.

"Great Lord Rakshasa, that's absolutely not true! The official history compilation committee only wants to use you, but only we truly want to serve you and offer this land to you!" The man next to him immediately retorted loudly.

Seiya waved his hand, indicating he had no intention of listening to their ramblings for the time being. He gestured for the ninjas who had followed him to arrest them, then got back into the car, which continued driving forward as usual.

----------

----------

When discussing the shrines of Yushima in Bunkyo Ward, one cannot overlook the Yushima Tenjin.

The famous Kanda Myojin Shrine is also nearby, but it is not in such a large shrine. Instead, it is a small shrine built beside a path on Yushima Island. It is a small shrine that is usually not staffed by a chief priest or shrine maiden and is managed by believers living nearby on a rotating basis.

But this happens to be the destination of this trip, and the priestess who freed herself through spiritual vision lives here.

Seiya turned to look behind him, and a strong gust of wind began to blow. The howling of the wind grew louder, as if it wanted to blow away the swaying little shrine. Dark clouds filled the sky, and it was about to rain.

The ninja named Ma Mei opened the elegant doors to the shrine's main hall, and then, like the other ninjas, stood bowed at either end. Seiya stepped into the main hall, but they didn't enter either. Seiya instantly realized that this seemingly unremarkable little shrine might be a sacred place they were forbidden to set foot in.

Sayamiya Kaoru, whom I had seen before, was also here, but now she was dressed in a red kimono and white hakama, no longer the beautiful woman in men's clothing she had been before. After changing into the kimono, she exuded an aura of detachment from the world, and her slender figure had not an ounce of excess fat.

"Rakshasa King, you have indeed come as promised." Saya Miyako bowed her head, revealing a refreshing yet alluring smile.

"We encountered a minor setback on the way, you know?"

“They are just ignorant rebels who have disturbed the king’s entourage and deserve to die.” Saya Kaoru smiled at Seiya. “Although I am also a priestess of Musashino, I have not received divine revelation and am not qualified to receive your guidance. Please come with me; the person who wants to see you is still inside.”

Seiya had no doubts and followed the priestess.

From the main hall to the rear hall, the aura surrounding the shrine grew stronger. Even his body couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement; Seiya naturally understood the significance of this. Until the red doors were pushed open, a shrine maiden, also dressed in a red kimono and white hakama, knelt before the shrine, a cloth bag resting on her lap, her eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought.

Her long, thin black hair flowed smoothly and beautifully like water, and her face was just as elegant as her beautiful hair. Although she looked petite, it was obviously because of her clothes that made her figure appear slender.

But what truly drew attention to her was the long, slender cloth bag resting on her lap. Perhaps this bag contained a stick-like object over a meter long, possibly a sword or something similar. But it was precisely this object in the bag that was the very essence of the aura permeating the entire temple, and the very source that triggered Seiya's constitution.

"The person who wants to see you is Miss Ena. She is one of the four great families, the only daughter of the Seishuin family. Like me, she is a priestess and the best tachi (Japanese sword) priestess of the generation. Her specialty is spirit summoning. She formed a bond with you three years ago," Saya-miya Kaoru introduced.

Three years ago? Three years ago, I was still in the Fairy Realm.

"She's not in good shape," Seiya said.

It wasn't just not good; it was downright terrible. Anyone with clairvoyance could see the surging spiritual energy surrounding the kneeling shrine maiden, a clear indication that she couldn't control herself.

Saya Miyako gave a wry smile. "The Rakshasa King has discerning eyes. Miss Ena is the most talented priestess in the history of the Seishuin family. She was even able to see through the underworld and communicate with the gods at the moment of her birth. It was because of this that she received the blessing of my husband. However, the spirit summoning technique and Miss Ena's constitution were too dangerous. Forty-three days ago, she went berserk for unknown reasons and destroyed half of Bunkyo Ward."

Forty-three days ago? Wasn't that the day he killed the Eastern God of War? Seiya didn't reply, but listened quietly as Saya-miya Kaoru continued.

“Although Miss Huina’s condition is not very good, this problem can still be solved. The most mysterious level of spells, such as the Susanoo Mantra, still require the master’s permission. So if she cannot control herself now, then we will find her a master and let her act on that person’s command. This is called the Word Binding.”

Chapter 40: If a child misbehaves, a good beating will do the trick.

The "Words of the Lord" binding technique uses the power of the master's words to bind the actions of the divine servant. It originates from the belief in divine words and requires the chanting of specific incantations to activate.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like