In the center of the arena-like stadium, twin sisters with remarkably similar appearances but vastly different auras faced off, the atmosphere instantly turning grim.
The long, black-haired shrine maiden had a dignified air. Though she looked young, she possessed the majesty of a princess or an empress.
The swordswoman had a sharp aura. Her Divine Domain-level physical abilities and martial arts combined posed a threat capable of even slaying gods.
Both girls were peerless talents. Even among the pantheons, it would be difficult to cultivate successors of their caliber.
"The Kudou sisters' Divinities have been developed to such an extent?" Even Su Mo couldn't help but nod in approval upon seeing them.
The two girls were no strangers to him. One was Kudou Asuka, one of the protagonists from the original novel, and the other was her twin sister, Kudou Ayatori.
Kudou Asuka possessed the aptitude to become the leader of a pantheon, while Kudou Ayatori had the martial arts and talent to surpass most heroes.
The sisters' talents were considered rare even in the original novel, raw gems that would shine brilliantly with a little polishing. And now, under the guidance of Canary and the other mentors, they had indeed passed their fledgling stage.
Just from their stances, it was clear that Kudou Asuka had reached the level she had in the original novel after her ordeal with the Absolute Evil Demon King, and Kudou Ayatori's posture was no weaker than her original counterpart.
Leticia's earlier confidence was indeed well-founded. When it came to nurturing heroes, Canary certainly had a knack for it.
Though it was unclear why the two sisters were confronting each other, from their auras, a fierce battle was sure to ensue!
Under the curious gazes of Su Mo, Leticia, and Percher's group, the twin sisters' auras rose to their peak.
"This is a move personally taught by Master Scáthach and named by Her Majesty the Queen—"
In a duel between warriors, one should announce their move with a powerful aura and defeat the enemy with an honorable technique. However, the swordswoman, Kudou Ayatori, looked somewhat embarrassed. For a warrior, her demeanor was a bit too wishy-washy.
Normally, seeing her like this, Kudou Asuka would have already offered a biting taunt, telling her to go back and practice for a few more days before challenging her, the elder sister.
But today, Kudou Asuka's expression was also slightly off. Hearing Kudou Ayatori's words, she too spoke with some awkwardness. "This is also a move taught by Lord Shiroyasha, specifically to counter Her Majesty the Queen's power—"
Hearing this, the swordswoman paused for a moment, looking up at the long, black-haired shrine maiden.
The twin sisters exchanged a look. Though their competitive spirit was still strong, there was a rare hint of shared misery, as if they understood each other's predicament.
Under this strange, tacit understanding, they both made their move.
The swordswoman's longsword traced an exquisite arc. Though it was just ordinary steel, the skill condensed upon it was enough to easily cut through steel, even the ground itself, capable of extinguishing all life.
A Divine Domain-level technique, simple and unadorned, yet able to cleave mountains and part seas, indestructible.
The long, black-haired shrine maiden's folding fan opened slightly, the friction of the fan ribs creating a spark of fire.
This spark should have been unable to even light a match, but in the girl's hand, it suddenly blazed with the brilliance of the sun. Even the finest steel would melt into molten liquid before this nuclear heat.
Seeing this, even Leticia's eyes shone with amazement.
And just before the two Divine Domain-level powers clashed, the next second, the twins raised their voices, their auras at full blast as they shouted the names of their ultimate moves.
"No offense intended to that esteemed personage, but, please take my—Cheating Cat Killer Sword!"
"No offense intended to that esteemed personage, but, please take my—Die, Vixen Cannon!"
In that instant, the faces of both Kudou Asuka and Kudou Ayatori turned ashen. They couldn't lift their heads from the deep shame.
In that instant, both Leticia and Percher's eyes widened, and they doubted their own ears.
In that instant, even Su Mo showed a look of clear astonishment. What are these two little ones saying?
Before they could even voice their questions—
BOOM!
A violent fluctuation of Divinity swept through the entire park but was contained within the Holy Cross Group's perimeter, not spreading to Tokyo or the rest of the universe.
The two girls' clash ended as soon as it began, the conflict between their Divinities not even officially starting before the people behind them could no longer sit still.
"What did you say?! Who's a cheating cat, Queen, you bastard, make yourself clear!" A radiant sun seemed to rise slowly, the pressure of the Sun Spirit blanketing all creation. Shiroyasha gritted her teeth, her voice filled with anger, her aura menacing.
"Hah! Why don't you, you idiot Shiroyasha, first explain to me what 'vixen' means?" Another aura, rivaling Shiroyasha's, gradually swelled.
The Halloween Queen sat on her throne, a cold smile on her lips as she faced Shiroyasha across the stadium.
"Of course 'vixen' is an insult to you! I met Su Mo first. You stealing my man, what are you if not a vixen?" Shiroyasha shouted righteously.
"Hah! First come, first served? That robber's logic won't work on me. I am the Halloween Goddess under Lord Su Mo... As for you, you idiot, well, I have to admit the term 'cheating cat' is a bit much." The Halloween Queen covered her mouth with a light laugh.
"Eh, you're actually admitting you're wrong? A change of heart?" Shiroyasha was taken aback for a moment. "If you're willing to perform a naked dogeza and become my handmaiden, I'm not entirely against forgiving—"
Her daydreaming was cut short by the Halloween Queen. "Don't misunderstand. What I mean is, you're not even worthy of being a cheating cat. You couldn't steal him even if you tried. So what if you've known him longer? Even those two vampires could sneak away right under your nose. If I were there, that would never have happened."
The Halloween Queen went straight for the jugular.
"Are you f*cking insane?! Are you looking to die?!" Shiroyasha's defenses were breached. Two stellar beasts appeared above her head, like two scorching suns ready to be unleashed.
"Getting worked up already?" The Halloween Queen showed no signs of weakness. She raised her slender hand, and five stellar beasts of equal power appeared around her, like stars orbiting the moon.
Since they were in the outside world, both had restricted their Divinities to the 4-digit level. Under these circumstances, she truly had nothing to fear from Shiroyasha.
In terms of Sun Authorities, Shiroyasha only had two at her disposal, while she, besides lending the white steed to Su Mo, still had five. She clearly had the upper hand.
In an instant, seven stellar beasts appeared in the stadium, each containing the trajectory of a sun, the Divinity of a constellation, capable of unleashing unimaginable power. The aftershocks alone would be enough to destroy the Earth, even the solar system.
A clash of multiple 4-digit level Gifts, right from the start.
Seeing this, the Kudou sisters in the center of the field trembled, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.
Even with the power they had displayed earlier, they couldn't survive the aftershocks of a battle between these two Problem Children, even with their Divinities heavily sealed.
"Queen, you homewrecker!"
"Shiroyasha, you bitch!"
Watching their two mentors, beings who transcended the universe and the mortal world, continue to curse at each other like fishwives, the Kudou sisters wore expressions of numb despair.
For the countless time, the world was once again on the brink of destruction.
Oh, heavens! If God truly exists, if there is an omnipotent being, could you please perform a miracle and deal with these two Problem Children?!
In that instant, the same wish appeared in the minds of the Kudou sisters.
The prayer had barely formed in their minds before they shook their heads and dismissed it. Impossible. What being in the world could make these two get along?
It might be disrespectful, but they felt that even the God they had believed in since childhood, the one their two mentors never stopped talking about, probably couldn't do it.
And in the instant this doubt was born, an incredibly unfamiliar male voice suddenly rang in their ears. "Shiroyasha, Queen..."
To their utter horror, not only was the male voice one they had never heard before, but it also lacked any trace of respect. It was spoken in a casual tone, as if addressing close friends or subordinates, and even carried a hint of reprimand.
"What are you two fooling around for?"
It's over!
The Kudou sisters' hearts sank, and they fell into complete despair.
If no one had intervened, their two mentors, not being entirely without sense, would have at most blown up the stadium, not affecting the ecological park outside.
But if someone did intervene, and with such a disrespectful attitude, it was extremely dangerous.
Shiroyasha aside, the Halloween Queen had no qualms about killing anyone who disrespected her. Whoever dared to speak to Her Majesty the Queen in such a tone was doomed to destruction.
Su Mo's words fell.
In the deathly silence of the arena, the Kudou sisters trembled like leaves in the wind.
Seeing the stunned and rigid expressions on Shiroyasha and the Halloween Queen's faces, just as they thought their lives were about to be reset—
"Su Mo! You're back!"
Shiroyasha and the Halloween Queen displayed an epic-level change of face before their very eyes.
The white-haired loli's face flushed crimson, her eyes sparkling. Like a rocket-powered battering ram, she joyfully threw herself into the man's arms.
The ever-dignified Halloween Queen glided forward gracefully, silently linking her arm with the man's, a gentle and demure smile on her face. "Perfect timing. Shiroyasha and I were just discussing how to welcome you back!"
"Right, right! We get along great, we haven't caused any trouble at all!" The white-haired loli nodded vigorously, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Queen like the best of sisters.
"..."
Seeing this surreal scene, the Kudou sisters were petrified on the spot. In their short fourteen years of life, this was the first time they had seen Shiroyasha and the Halloween Queen getting along so amicably.
This was more impossible than the sun rising in the west.
Subconsciously, the twin sisters focused all their attention on Su Mo. Who in the world is this person, to be able to tame these two Problem Children?
If they hadn't misheard, the name their two mentors had called was Su Mo, which meant—
"Our Lord?"
The two immediately dropped to one knee, offering a salute of allegiance to the God they had worshipped since childhood.