After studying it for a while longer and realizing it would be difficult to fully grasp in a short time, Pandora didn't waste any more time. Compared to boring techniques, Su Mo was much more interesting.
Although the improved technique could also help other God-Slayers, Pandora had no intention of asking Su Mo for it.
In her view, this technique was entirely Su Mo's own achievement. Being allowed to see it was already a great sign of his trust.
To share Su Mo's achievement with other God-Slayers, even just the idea of it, would undoubtedly be a betrayal.
Even biological parents couldn't truly treat all their children equally. For Pandora, she naturally favored Su Mo, the special case who could remember her.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Su Mo suddenly shake his head, Pandora immediately leaned closer to him, asking with concern.
"It's nothing. I was planning to use a conceptual Spirit Armament to simulate the effect of the Ring of Usurpation, thereby solidifying the technique for usurping Authority. But it seems a divine tool possessing divinity isn't so easily replaced." Su Mo shook his head.
Even with high insight, it was difficult to continue deducing things he didn't understand. It seemed he would need to properly study divinity next.
Hearing the first half of Su Mo's sentence, Pandora's expression grew tense. It was only after hearing the second half that she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Phew~ Good thing it didn't work."
"?"
A question mark popped up above Su Mo's head.
"If it had succeeded, you wouldn't need me to gain Authorities, would you?" Pandora pouted, her cheeks puffing slightly. "In that case, you definitely wouldn't come looking for me! Do you hate Mommy that much that you don't want to see me?"
"...You're overthinking it." Su Mo shook his head.
He had no issues with Pandora. The only reason he wanted to replace the divine tool with a technique was for the convenience of maintaining this characteristic in other worlds.
If he could also gain Authorities by slaying gods from other worlds, it would be much more convenient.
"Eh? You mean you don't hate me? Does that mean you like being with Mommy?" Hearing Su Mo's denial, Pandora's spirits lifted.
Seeing her pushing her luck, Su Mo closed his eyes, choosing to ignore the witch.
At this moment, the Pandora's Dark Rite had just ended. Su Mo had officially become a God-Slayer. He could clearly feel the massive amount of mana surging within him, its scale even surpassing that of the ley lines.
At the same time, a new power was stirring within him.
If it were an ordinary God-Slayer, it might take up to a week before they gradually understood the use of their newly acquired Authority. But Su Mo didn't need that long.
With his profound attainments in magic, he only needed a simple self-examination to generally perceive the changes in himself and detect the nature of the Authority he had mastered.
"It's still the Ten Incarnations?"
Su Mo opened his eyes, not too surprised. Verethragna only had this one Authority; there was no room for selection. He just didn't know what the "true power" he had mentioned was. Could it have been just empty words?
"If you haven't discovered anything now, you can wait until a battle to see," Pandora suggested from the side. "A God-Slayer's greatest talent lies in battle. Only in battle can your perception become its most acute."
"Battle, hmm..." Su Mo nodded thoughtfully.
"That's right! The God King Melqart happens to be on Sardinia, too. That guy isn't too bright. You can use him for some practice later!" Pandora made fists with both hands, cheering Su Mo on.
Although Su Mo didn't need the encouragement, he still graciously nodded. "Mhm. I can also test the effect of the Rite after the restriction has been lifted."
If Melqart were here and heard the two of them underestimating him so, he would probably explode with anger.
---||---
Campione! World, Present Day.
Erica: "Lord Su Mo isn't back yet!"
Erica: "I wonder if he's become a God-Slayer."
Rin Tohsaka: "I did a quick divination, and Lord Su Mo will be back very soon!"
Madoka: "Rin-oneechan knows how to do that? That's amazing!"
Rin Tohsaka: "Hmph! Who do you think I am?"
Kanae: "I think I can guess that too."
Kanae: "You just have to look at Lord Su Mo's level."
Hearing this, Erica blinked, immediately realizing what she meant. She opened Su Mo's profile and saw that, indeed, Su Mo had successfully advanced from Tier 2 to Tier 3. This meant he had successfully become a God-Slayer. Rin's prediction was likely based on this data.
As it turned out, her guess was correct. Not even half a minute had passed before a spatial rift opened in front of Erica, and Su Mo's familiar figure stepped out.
"Lord Su Mo!"
Seeing the familiar figure, Erica's heart leaped with joy. Then, without a moment's hesitation, she knelt on one knee before Su Mo, holding her knightly sword with both hands in utmost reverence, and raised it above her head.
Seeing Erica's sudden action, the others in the group were a little confused.
Kanae: "What does this mean?"
Madoka: "Kneeling on one knee... is it a marriage proposal?"
Although it felt unlikely, Madoka really didn't know what else this gesture could mean. Among those present, perhaps only Rin had some idea.
"Damn it! That vixen really knows how to latch onto a powerhouse!"
After a slightly envious and resentful comment, Rin explained it to the other two.
Rin Tohsaka: "It's not a proposal. It looks like the old ritual of a knight swearing fealty."
Rin Tohsaka: "According to medieval customs, once someone accepts a knight's oath of fealty, the knight follows them for life and is absolutely forbidden from betraying their master, no matter what happens."
Just as Rin explained, Erica, having made her decision, slowly spoke.
"Erica Blandelli, Great Knight of the Copper Black Cross magic association, hereby swears fealty to Lord Su Mo. From this day forward, I will surely uphold the virtues of a knight, obey my master's commands, and become my master's most trusted blade! I will be loyal to you, until the last moment of my life!"