You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

He intended to use the special glasses to analyze his surroundings, but suddenly a large amount of chaotic information entered Iori's mind through his five senses, causing him to frown and even make a distressed sound.

"This is so chaotic... This amount of information... I see, this is the so-called 'Netherworld'... If you recklessly try to perceive your surroundings here, you will be overwhelmed by a massive amount of information..."

Iori's reading these past few days hadn't been in vain; she quickly realized where she was.

If we call the real world in which humans live the "realm of life" and the mythical world inhabited by gods the "realm of immortality," then this place is the boundary between "life and immortality."

A world dominated by spirit rather than matter, it brings together the possibilities of the past, present, and even the future. It can be said that there is a vast amount of information everywhere, recording all kinds of information from the entire universe.

Iori's soul strength is high enough to withstand the information overload; an ordinary person might have been lost forever in the sea of ​​information after just one glance.

"Let's take off our glasses for now."

Iori put away the props, revealing a hint of sharpness in her unmasked eyes.

"If I remember correctly, this is Susanoo's secluded place, and he actually took the initiative to invite me to meet him?"

Interesting... There seem to be a lot of Susanoo in this world~

Chapter 361 Heavenly Clouds? It seems like nobody has one?!

Snapped!

A thunderclap suddenly resounded in the sky, followed by a change in the color of the surrounding mountains and forests, and a light rain began to fall for no apparent reason.

Iori looked up and observed carefully. This was not a real downpour, but rather because she had entered the abode of a certain deity and entered a spiritual realm influenced by its divinity.

This is not a trap set by humans, but a rule inherent in the "Netherworld".

If the foundation of the present world is "matter," then the foundation of the underworld is "spirit." As long as the spiritual power is strong enough, it can distort this world and create all sorts of supernatural phenomena.

"Thunder and Storm...it seems I was right."

Iori was not surprised. The reason he climbed Mount Fuji was precisely to use this "sacred mountain" in Japanese culture to attract the attention of certain people and force them to come out from behind the scenes.

Although he was just climbing the mountain and did not do anything destructive, the fact that such a powerful individual was lingering on the summit of Mount Fuji was a very dangerous signal in itself, and those people clearly understood Iori's meaning.

He squinted and looked around, quickly spotting a small house that hadn't been in his sight before. Without hesitation, he walked over. Even in this place, he still knocked on the door quite politely—and then opened it without waiting for a response.

They didn't care whether there were any traps or anything, and walked in without any hesitation.

"Wow, this deputy commander is even more heroic than I imagined."

Inside the room was a traditional earthen stove, a common feature in old-fashioned farmhouses. Two ropes hung from the roof beams, suspending an iron pot that appeared to be cooking something inside. The entire setup exuded a sense of the era, making one feel as if they had traveled back to ancient Japan.

Sitting cross-legged beside the stove was an old man dressed in a coarse cloth kimono, his chest open in a bold manner, with ruddy skin and thick hair and beard.

"You've really kept this old man waiting... You're younger than I expected, but heroes have always emerged from among the young!"

Welcome to Japan, Your Highness whose name I do not know~

His well-developed muscles were completely at odds with his aged appearance, and his rough skin had the texture of rock and metal. Beneath his ordinary coarse cloth clothing lay a robust body worthy of the name of a war god.

Even when face to face with Iori, the old man showed no sign of anything amiss, his breathing was calm and long, and his expression was composed.

This is the Japanese God of Steel, the war god who once slew the Yamata no Orochi—

"Susanoo?"

Iori sat cross-legged opposite him, calmly straightening her clothes before looking at him: "You didn't call me here just for drinks, so get to the point."

"...You've been seen through. You're no ordinary person after all."

Sorry, sir. The little trick I used earlier was just an invitation, not a show of force or a trap. You don't need to be so wary.

I can only move within the Netherworld and cannot enter the mortal realm, so this is the only way I can meet you.

Susanoo wandered the earth for a long time, and no one was able to defeat him. Later, he grew tired of being a disobedient god and went into seclusion in the underworld, taking the name "Go-o-o" (meaning "Go-o-o"), and continued to influence the mystical side of Japan from behind the scenes.

Although he is an unruly god, he has a very close relationship with mankind, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is the uncrowned king of this region!

This great man, however, did not act like a god when facing Iori, but instead adopted an attitude of being equal to Iori!

The reason is simple:

He couldn't see through Iori either. He could only sense a divine essence that was extremely similar to his own, but he couldn't get any more details out of her. This proved that Iori's strength was no less than his, and she was definitely a god-level powerhouse!

He was actually very curious about Iori's real name, and even suspected that she was a god with the same origin as him... so he was already extremely vigilant in his heart.

When Susanoo first wandered to Japan, he succeeded in becoming the deity by defeating the local gods of Izumo Province.

Judging others by his own standards, he suspected that Iori's search for the Monkey King was just an excuse, and that his real target was him!

After a slight pause, Susanoo opened his eyes, which held a restrained divine light, and gazed intently at Iori: "But there's one thing that needs to be made clear—"

It wasn't that I contacted you first; you came with ill intentions!

"I?"

"Your Excellency is the deity served by the Council of Sages, isn't that right? Although I don't see much madness about you, your powerful divinity is obvious. I've long been tired of fighting and had no intention of confronting you."

But you want to defeat the monkey god who protects this land?

I don't know where you got this information, but it's destined to bring disaster to the world!

Furthermore, having barely set foot in Japan, they were already eager to conquer the sacred mountain symbolizing divine authority and suppress the local mystical forces—isn't that malicious?

Susanoo said in a deep voice, "Many things are negotiable. If we can come up with a sound solution for the aftermath, then I will allow you to summon the Rebellious Gods and may even provide some support."

But before that, to increase mutual understanding and trust... shouldn't you at least give your real name?

—This may be Susanoo's true purpose.

Clearly, this old man was very suspicious of Iori's identity. He must have sensed something but was not sure, just like Rama back then.

To be fair, Susanoo's request was quite reasonable, and his attitude was not arrogant, but Iori couldn't help but smile after hearing it.

"Why are you explaining so much? Do you want to argue with me about who is right and who is wrong, who is reasonable and who is unreasonable?"

When disobedient gods bring disaster to the world, do they ever discuss right and wrong with humanity? Do god-killers drive magicians like servants because they are justified?

As Japan's guardian deity, and having remained defiant for so long, have you always ruled this country based on reason rather than force?

"...So you're refusing to negotiate with us?"

Susanoo emphasized "we" in his tone, and as soon as he finished speaking, ripples appeared in the air. Two people emerged from the void and sat down on either side of Susanoo, subtly displaying a controlling posture towards Iori.

"Humph!"

"..."

Of the two new characters, one is a emaciated ascetic dressed as a monk. Although he looks like a demon or ghoul, Iori is surprised to find him to be a "human".

The one who could appear in this "Netherworld" could not possibly be an ordinary person. Judging from his appearance, he should be an "immortal" who had cultivated his body and spirit to a transcendent level. Although he was definitely no match for the gods in terms of power, he had achievements in certain areas that would make even the gods take notice!

Compared to this gaunt "fairy," the other one was much more striking, possessing a beauty that was impossible to look away from:

Wearing a gorgeous and brightly colored twelve-layered kimono, she resembled a court noble from the Heian period.

Her pupils were a clear, glassy color, and she had long, waist-length, tea-brown hair and smooth, delicate ivory-white skin.

The girl possessed an exquisitely beautiful face, as if meticulously sculpted. Even without makeup, she far surpassed the beauty of humans in this world, giving off a sense of perfection that seemed unreal.

Naturally, her magical power far exceeds the limits that human magicians can reach, and its fluctuations are restrained, indicating that she has extremely strong control and is not just a pretty face.

"It's a little embarrassing to admit, but although I have also caused harm to people, I have spent a long time in this country and have some feelings for this land."

Normally, a few old folks and I, who also live in seclusion in this world, keep an eye on the present world, guiding the younger generation in dealing with all sorts of problems. It's partly to pass the time in our boring lives, haha... But if we encounter problems they simply can't handle, then we have to pay more attention.

Susanoo picked up his sake cup and said meaningfully, "I am no longer a hot-blooded and impulsive young man, and I have no interest in fighting to the death... However, if it really comes down to it, I will not lose."

Young man, let's calm down and discuss this. Although we are supporting a disobedient god, he bears a very important mission that cannot be entrusted to you casually.

Moreover, as a powerful steel hero, if he were to gain his freedom, no one in the world would dare to say they were certain of victory!

However, if you can abandon this operation, then as compensation, I can also have my subordinates fully cooperate with you to search for other disobedient gods outside of Japan... How about it?"

Susanoo has brought out his best lineup, including a former god who enjoys the highest level of worship in the area, and two assistants who are subordinate to the gods but each has their own abilities. Although he did not make any threats, his intentions were clear.

Moreover, objectively speaking, the conditions he offered were quite good.

Unfortunately……

Iori raised an eyebrow, looked the three of them over a few times, and kept a faint smile on her lips.

"You seem to have misunderstood."

"what?"

"When I had the Council of Wise Men contact magic societies in Japan, my meaning was already very clear—"

This is a notification, not a request for your opinion.

"Humph!"

The black-robed monk immediately snorted coldly and stood up arrogantly.

Just as he was about to speak, Iori suddenly raised his head, and a pair of indifferent eyes reflected the figure of the monk. The atmosphere in the room froze instantly, and the monk, who had already transcended worldly life, once again felt the fear he had felt in his mortal days.

Having cultivated to this level, his intuition and perception are naturally extremely sharp. Just from that one glance, he sensed his own death!

Princess Liuli Tong remained silent throughout, quietly gazing at Yizhi from the moment she appeared. For some reason, she seemed lost in thought, her beautiful eyes sometimes filled with sadness and sometimes with panic. She had even drifted off in such a solemn setting!

Susanoo frowned slightly upon seeing this, the princess's reaction deepening his suspicions.

Iori glanced at the monk and then looked away indifferently: "I don't want to explain anything, nor do I need you to understand. This matter is very simple. You either agree, or I will give you a reason that you cannot refuse."

"Not negotiable?"

Susanoo's brows relaxed, as if he had made up his mind, and he smiled.

Iori laughed too: "There's no room for discussion."

If he only wanted to become a god-slayer, then with the stone tablet in hand, he could simply go to Europe and wait for his prey to come to him.

But he had already accepted the "savior's sword" and promised Rama that he would be free, so his ultimate goal for this journey was to "eliminate all disobedient gods and god-killers in the world".

If this can be achieved, then the "Last King" will have no reason to descend, the power of destiny on Rama will be weakened to the minimum, and Iori can then try to free him from the "Last King's" shackles.

Susanoo has hidden in the Netherworld, which is outside Iori's hunting range, but the imprisoned "Sima-un" is in the mortal world, and Iori certainly won't ignore such an obvious target!

Moreover, Susanoo is portrayed as a cunning and scheming character in the original work. He even tricked the Monkey King into becoming the nemesis of dragons and snakes in Japan, specifically to guard Rama like a gatekeeper... This alone disgusted Iori so much that she didn't want to have much contact with him, and she wouldn't even mention cooperation with him!

(Incidentally, even the goddess of fate only gives missions to disobedient gods, but cannot control their thoughts.)

In other words, Vereslana's whim was something no one could have predicted, and the fact that the original protagonist, Kusanagi Godou, became a god-slayer probably had no element of conspiracy and had nothing to do with Susanoo.

But after he became a god-slayer, he was indeed targeted by Susanoo...

From Susanoo's perspective, however, he had no idea that Iori's goals were so ambitious; he simply thought Iori was deliberately causing trouble.

This is clearly aimed at him!

Although there is no concept of gods fighting over territory, there is internal competition among them.

On a grander scale, the Earth Mother (Dragon Serpent) and the Steel Hero are irreconcilable enemies. Whoever defeats the other can absorb their power and become stronger.

On a smaller scale, the gods known as "Steel" are almost all passionate about fighting, and sometimes they can start fighting without any reason at all.

And if they encounter someone with a similar divine status, needless to say, they only need to argue about who is the "original"!

"Young man, you know my real name, but you don't seem to have introduced yourself yet."

Susanoo patted his belly, picked up a fire poker beside him, poked around in the fire, and asked Iori through the flying sparks.

"It must be a familiar name, right?"

Iori was quite straightforward: "Aizen Iori... but since we're in Japan, you can call me 'Susanoo'."

"Isn't it 'Your Highness (Rama)'?" Princess Liuli Tong was momentarily dazed upon hearing this.

As the progenitor of the gods (the reincarnation of the Earth Mother Goddess), she has lived for an unknown amount of time, and in this long life, she is most familiar with the two gods Rama and Susanoo... Incredibly, she was able to sense the auras of both of them on Iori at the same time...

its not right!

Prince Rama is one thing, but Susanoo himself was right next to her!

Moreover, although these divine qualities and divine essences are similar, if you look closely at them side by side, you can still tell the difference between them.

But if we put aside our preconceived notions... Princess Ruri inexplicably felt that Iori on the other side was more like the real Susanoo—it's unbelievable!

"Haha, although you are very powerful, it's best not to use the name Susanoo casually in this country."

After a burst of light particles dissipated, the fire poker in the burly old man's hand revealed its two sides as sharp blades, and a jet-black divine sword made its official debut!

"Otherwise, no matter how magnanimous I am, I wouldn't be able to tolerate it!"