This is a world that does not exist in the present world.
It has many names.
The Heretic Gods call it the Boundary of Life and Immortality, the Japanese call it the Netherworld, the Chinese call it the Netherworld or the Realm of the Dead, the Persians call it the Spirit World or Soul World, the Greeks call it the Realm of Ideas or the Ideal World, the British call it the Astral Realm or the Fairy World. There are also names like the Fairy Domain, Mental World, World of Thought, Spiritual World, Reincarnation Space of the Campione, Unreal Domain, the Void Land between the Human and Divine Realms, the Crevice World of Yomotsu Hirasaka, and so on. According to region and custom, it possesses various different names.
The reason the Heretic Gods call it the Boundary of Life and Immortality is because it lies between the Domain of Life and the Realm of Immortality.
The Domain of Life refers to the present world.
The Realm of Immortality refers to mythology.
Therefore, it is the realm between life and immortality, an alternate dimension that values spirit and soul over matter.
It is a place that records everything that has occurred from the beginning of the universe to now, and all possible things that may happen in the future.
It is composed of countless discontinuous alternate spaces or barriers with no connection, gathered together to form a vast world like a spider's nest, made up of numerous independent spaces.
Each space here changes according to the preferences of its ruler.
Generally, only thoughts or souls can enter here; only beings such as magicians can arrive here in the flesh.
The beings that reside here include Heretic Gods who have grown weary of wandering the human world, great magicians or sages who have attained undying Divinity, and high-ranking fairies or spirits whose divine power rivals that of the Fairy King.
Naturally, gods who do not wish to fall into becoming Heretic Gods but also do not want to stay in the Realm of Immortality reside here as well, using this place as their base.
In one corner of this world, in one independent space, a goddess appeared silently.
That was a goddess better described as "cute" rather than "beautiful."
The goddess possessed a youthful appearance and petite figure, with long purple hair parted to both sides. She wore a thin white dress. Her first impression was more like that of a child, yet for some reason, she emitted a seductive and enchanting aura, exuding a maturity that did not match her appearance.
Her name was Pandora, and the true meaning of her name was "The Woman Who Bestows All."
She was the wife of the immortal Epimetheus, the goddess who governed the reincarnation ritual of the Campione. All those who battled gods and defeated them would be subjected to Pandora's reincarnation ritual. She would use the Black Christmas to bestow upon them the Authority of the defeated god and a body capable of contending with gods, transforming them into Demon Kings—into Campione.
Thus, she was the mother of all Campione, the sole supporter and backer of the god-slaying Campione on the side of the divine.
Yet at this very moment, this shared mother of all Campione was holding a steel disc and displaying a dumbfounded expression.
That disc engraved with a dragon head and eight swords was none other than the divine instrument that created Campione—the "Circle of Usurpation."
Pandora, having sensed that a god had been slain by a human, was just holding this disc with a joyful smile, ready to perform the reincarnation ritual for her new child, to create a new Campione through the Black Christmas and meet them in person.
But when she saw a disc identical to the one in her hand—yet radiating even more powerful divine might—appear above the head of the "new child," she was dumbfounded.
"What is going on?"
Pandora, rarely flustered, began shouting in the empty space.
"Why is there another Circle of Usurpation?"
"How can that child possess such a thing?"
"No... how can you abandon your mother and perform the reincarnation ritual on your own!?"
"This isn't according to the rules!"
Pandora raised the large disc in her hand with a furious expression as if about to smash it, but thinking of its importance, she reluctantly put it down again.
At that moment, a solemn and dignified voice echoed through this space.
"It seems this development was also beyond your expectations."
Hearing this voice, Pandora immediately calmed down.
"Isn't that Lord Odin?" Pandora smiled charmingly and said, "Have you come to my place on your way back to the Realm of Immortality to demand an explanation?"
"No." Odin replied with utmost calm, "I merely came to ask why that detestable divine artifact would appear in a human's hands. How could a mere human possess such power and such weapons?"
"But now it seems, asking you is pointless."
"It's clear you are also unaware this situation would occur. In that case, there's no need for me to waste my time."
Upon hearing this, Pandora's smile did not fade.
"Lord Odin, your visit specifically for this matter—are you perhaps worried about something?"
Pandora asked this question.
"Playing dumb," Odin snorted coldly with some displeasure and said, "Mother of Fools, I am merely concerned whether you are scheming something again."
"Though you are a god like us, you chose to side with humanity and even created the God-Slaying Beast for their sake..."
"I cannot help but consider whether you are secretly doing something to bring us down."
These words, filled with hostility, were met with Pandora's continued smile.
"Lord Odin is overthinking. I am merely one who bestows. I am not like you, a god who excels at using wisdom."
These words only drew a sneer from Odin.
"You think I am a fool?" Odin said in a deep voice, "I have not forgotten. Before the gods of Olympus took over Greece, you were the great Earth Mother Goddess with tremendous authority and wisdom."
"I am still the goddess who bestows blessings to both the celestial gods and humans, not one who flaunts her intellect," Pandora said with a smile. "For wisdom and cunning goddesses, Lady Athena is more than enough."
"I prefer reckless challenges. I like fools."
"That's why I stand by those children."
Pandora's seemingly sincere explanation made Odin fall silent for a while.
Then, Odin spoke again.
"Whether or not this is your doing, that human's uniqueness is unquestionable."
"Now that he has obtained my power and become a God-Slaying Beast, I fear he will become a great enemy to us in the future."
"Pandora, mother of fools, don't be too proud. The hero who will exterminate the Demon Lords is about to awaken. These Campione you created with your own hands will all eventually be defeated by him."
Leaving behind those words, Odin's voice and presence gradually faded.
He still had to return to the Realm of Immortality to inform the gods about that human.
A man who possessed another Circle of Usurpation, held many mysterious weapons, wielded unfathomable power, and could slay gods even before becoming a Campione...
Odin had already foreseen that he was merely the first prey to be claimed as a trophy by that man.
He would continue to challenge the gods, continue to summon gods to descend.
He must not be allowed to succeed.
"Wait! Lord Odin!"
Sensing Odin's fading presence, Pandora seemed to realize something and hurriedly called out.
"May I ask, what Authority did that child take from you?"
When a human successfully slays a god, they obtain only one divine Authority.
This Authority is determined by the personality of the Campione. There is no fixed standard, and it is also influenced by the Campione's disposition and ability. What kind of power is ultimately obtained is purely a matter of luck.
If the gap between the Campione and the slain god is too great, the Campione might even obtain an Authority vastly different from that god's original power.
Therefore, even Pandora could not guess what kind of Authority that extraordinary child had gained.
If the reincarnation ritual had been performed under her, she might still know a bit.
But since the other party had used another mysterious Circle of Usurpation to become a Campione through self-reincarnation, Pandora truly did not know what kind of Authority he had now.
Even divine Authorities vary in strength. Some are useful, and some are not.
Like Odin—he was also the god of poetry. If someone had acquired an Authority related to poetry, it would definitely be far inferior to one related to combat.
This made Pandora extremely curious as to what kind of power that extraordinary child had received.
"......"
Odin's fading presence paused for a moment.
Then, his voice drifted faintly.
"He obtained my spear."
With those words, Odin departed.
And Pandora was utterly shocked.
After a while, the Woman Who Bestows All began to laugh.
"What a clever child."
In the empty independent space, the girl's laughter was especially joyful.
And in the present world, the strongest Campione of this world was quietly being born.
......
"Zheng..."
Above the city, where no one could observe, the steel disc spun rapidly, transforming an immense divine power into energy and infusing it into Kaiser below.
Odin was gone.
His body, his power, and all his Authorities had become a sacrifice, offered to the Circle of Usurpation, and transferred to Kaiser by the Circle of Usurpation.
Kaiser kept his eyes closed, feeling the immense power pouring into his body, and immediately activated another artifact.
That artifact was the Hōgyoku.
He was using the power of the Hōgyoku to modify himself according to his will with the divine power infused into him.
The Hōgyoku possesses the ability to absorb the desires of those around it and materialize them, realizing the scene people hope to see in their hearts and allowing things to develop according to one's inner wishes.
It can protect the host's body from death or destruction. When the host's abilities reach their limit or their life is threatened, it can also evolve the host to the next stage.
Now, Kaiser was using this power to modify himself according to his will with the divine power infused into him, prompting his own evolution.
(End of Chapter)
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Author's Note: Sorry for the delay...
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