As if sensing Karyou's gaze, Aslan turned and met her eyes, responding with a smile.
To show that he already knew and there was no need to worry.
After seeing Aslan's smile, the worry in Karyou's heart lessened slightly, and she felt relieved.
"Why is this Four-Digit Outlier so hard to achieve."
Karyou sighed helplessly, watching Asura's back slowly disappear.
"This final step is too difficult to surpass."
She had been stuck at the Four-Digit Legend position for hundreds of years. Her Burning Heat Authority had also been perfected to its limit, just one step away from becoming the Supreme Burning Heat Authority.
But this step had held her back for hundreds of years. Golden Wing Flame was very helpful in developing the Burning Heat Authority, but useless for the step from Authority to Supreme Authority.
This final step could only be leaped by her herself.
However, this step had held back who knows how many heroes and geniuses.
Otherwise, when facing Ouroboros, she could definitely play a key role on Aslan's side.
No one would dare provoke Arcadia. Situations like Ares wouldn't happen.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At that moment, as the center of everyone's attention.
Athena with a friendly face, a smile on her lips, slightly tilted her head, and whispered in Aslan's ear.
"It seems you're targeted by Ouroboros. Do you need my help?"
However, this whispering attitude, in others' eyes, looked too intimate.
To others, Athena was really kissing Aslan's cheek.
"No way! Goddess Athena wouldn't kiss him!"
"Let me go! I'll die together with the man who defiles Goddess Athena!"
"No one's stopping you..."
The crowd immediately became noisy, and Aslan's mood also soured.
This was clearly Athena whispering to him. Athena seducing this innocent youth, right?
At that moment, Algol showed a sly smile, as if she found the perfect opportunity to annoy Athena.
She suddenly mimicked, kissing Aslan's cheek, which directly made Aslan's face truly touch Athena's lips.
This time... it was really a kiss, though only on the cheek.
Aslan was stunned for a moment, his gaze slightly blank.
Feeling the crazed, jealousy-nearly-exploding stares from many Gods and Goddesses around.
The corner of Aslan's mouth twitched slightly; he turned to Algol.
(No, what are you doing, damn it? Do you still think I'm not attracting enough attention?)
However, Algol's face was full of victory. She sent a telepathic message.
"How's the surprise? How do Athena's lips taste?"
"Very soft... eh, wait, why are you asking this?"
Feeling his left hand gripped tighter, Aslan quickly reacted and hurriedly changed his answer.
(Damn, I forgot Athena is still standing beside me.)
Seeing Athena's face still smiling softly, but her whole body tense.
Aslan truly felt bad and didn't dare say anything. He feared if he said something else, Athena would change her face in an instant.
However, even so, Aslan had to say in his heart: Algol, good job.
(Who told you to cling shamelessly? Since you're clinging, leave something behind, okay?)
"Tch, coward. Not even daring to describe the taste."
Algol hissed displeased.
(Wait... what's with Athena's attitude? Eh... don't tell me, that just now was the ugly woman Athena's first kiss?)
(I almost forgot, that ugly woman is a Virgin Goddess. First kiss and everything must still be there.)
(Oho~~)
Instantly, Algol became excited. What was more fun than seeing Athena's embarrassment?
That is, the embarrassment she caused herself. Algol didn't expect her small push could cause such great damage to Athena.
"Ugly woman, you're nervous. This is Al-chan's great victory!!"
Algol said mockingly, if ignoring Athena's increasingly forced smile.
Feeling the increasingly dangerous aura from her side, Aslan could only shake Algol's hand, reminding her not to overdo it.
Don't let Ouroboros come, only to fight with Athena first.
Then the problem would really become big.
Indeed, at any time, vigilance toward Algol must not slacken.
The only thing to be grateful for now was that Athena seemed still able to control her emotions.
After the initial panic, Athena quickly calmed down. Even her tense body became more relaxed.
But the more like this, the more Aslan worried.
Athena must have already thought of a way to deal with Algol.
(Hope it doesn't affect me.)
Aslan sighed helplessly in his heart.
"So, do you need my help?"
The corner of Athena's lips showed a faint smile, as if she didn't care much about the previous incident.
On the contrary, she returned to the topic she wanted to discuss with Aslan. As for Algol?
Sorry, what does her communication with Aslan have to do with the familiar, pet, Algol?
And why should she care about the words of the former loser under her?
Feeling Athena building a new communication channel and proactively blocking Aslan's contact with the previous channel.
Aslan's left eyelid couldn't help but twitch. He could only mourn for Algol for three seconds.
While hoping Athena wouldn't dump this problem on him.
Athena seemed to see Aslan's worry and said with a light laugh.
"Rest assured, this is enmity between me and Algol; it won't drag you in."
Even without reminder, Aslan felt relieved.
(Thanks to Al-chan, the best tank, drawing all the attacks.)
(Seems Athena really doesn't intend to make a fuss about this.)
"But Algol's avatar appearance is quite interesting. Is this the latest avatar technology?"
Athena asked Aslan in a very flat tone, as if casually chatting.
(Heh heh, still wanting to escape prison via avatar, restore your original appearance?)
(You're too hopeful.)
Athena sneered in her heart.
She planned to block Algol's last escape route from prison. Want to come out? Then come out with the ugly monster appearance.
However, this Algol avatar was interesting. She could maintain Four-Digit power while keeping her original appearance.
After she cracked this avatar technology, wouldn't she add a few more seals?
"This is Algol's Heroic Spirit Avatar, created through Gifts and faith."
Aslan didn't hide it and revealed the truth about this Algol avatar.
Of course, in reality, Aslan had transformed the Demon Star on his wrist into a Heroic Throne. The Algol inside was a Heroic Spirit seated on the Throne of Heroes, and the created avatar was a Servant summoned through Aslan's magical energy.
The Servant's power and Noble Phantasm depended on the magical energy provided by Aslan and the power provided by Algol.
"Interesting. So this is a Heroic Spirit from the Nordic side?"
Athena muttered two sentences, saying nothing more. With her wisdom, this hint was enough to create a seal targeting Algol.
Aslan could only silently mourn for Algol.
"But Goddess Athena, forget help. Currently, the Ouroboros attack is still within my control."
Aslan suddenly said, which could be said to reject Athena's offer of help.
Currently in Ouroboros, the only object he needed to watch was the former third alliance advisor, Mithra, who called himself "Prophet."
It's just, was Ouroboros overestimating him too much?
To deal with him, a Four-Digit Elite, they shouldn't need to send Mithra, the top God King known as the Holy Child Avatar, right?
Nevertheless, Aslan wasn't intimidated at all. As long as he was in the Lower Layers, he absolutely wouldn't have issues.
Unless the other side was truly unreasonable and insisted on cheating.
But this was Little Garden's Central Core and Decadence of Wind territory. In a certain sense, Aslan's connection to Little Garden's Central Core was far tighter than Kurousagi's.
Kurousagi only had ears connected to Little Garden's Central Core, while Little Garden's Central Core's gaze was on Aslan.
Daring to cheat under Little Garden's Central Core's supervision? Thanks, Decadence of Wind, time to work.
If daring, let's see who cheats more?
(Want to flip the chessboard and attack people? Then, it's fine if I place an immovable stone on the chessboard, right?)
The only regret for Aslan was that he couldn't yet be the one flipping the chessboard.
He could only rely on the rule-maker and referee to enhance rule enforcement power.
This really isn't cheating at all, right?
"Alright then."
Athena sighed, saying with slight regret. She hoped Aslan could owe her a favor and draw closer to her.
Not able to offer help in tough times, but offering the finishing touch should be fine, right?
After carefully understanding Aslan's growth trajectory, Athena was surprised to discover something.
That is, Aslan's growth trajectory was very similar to a certain Queen. Both were boundary ability users and appeared when danger was about to occur.
It's just that the Halloween Queen was summoned by the Celtic Pantheon, while Aslan was secretly prepared by Canaria.
And the Halloween Queen was born in the Upper Layers, while Aslan in the Lower Layers.
Meaning, Aslan was fully capable of becoming the Lower Layers' Halloween Queen, becoming a giant force like the Greek Pantheon in the Lower Layers.
Of course, the prerequisite was Aslan able to withstand pressure from other Pantheons. But yesterday Zeus told her very interesting information.
The White Night Demon Lord had recently fought with the Dragon World.
Thus, the meaning he represented became very interesting.
Shiroyasha would make Arcadia a pawn, preparing to join Little Garden's grand chess game.
No wonder Aslan rejected her invitation. Following Shiroyasha was far more promising than following her.
This was also an opportunity for the Greek Pantheon.
If they seized this opportunity, the Greek Pantheon could fully take great advantage from the turmoil when Arcadia rises and Shiroyasha joins.
There was even a small possibility to ally with Shiroyasha.
"But I think there's one more thing you definitely need."
The corner of Athena's lips lifted slightly, showing a confident smile.
"What is it?"
Aslan looked at her slightly surprised, showing an interested expression.
"May I ask, do you need the Blessing of the Goddess of Victory?"
Athena smiled slightly, tilted her head a bit, and whispered in Aslan's ear.
Just like the incident Algol caused earlier.
It's just that this time it was no longer an accident, but Athena proactively giving a kiss on Aslan's ear.
"The Blessing of the Goddess of Victory, please receive it well."
Aslan was truly stunned, even the banquet hall seemed silent for a moment.
"Hey, hey, hey, Prithvi, I'm not seeing wrong, right?"
Kenshin, who reduced his presence, nudged Prithvi who was holding a camera and photographing beside him, asking somewhat incredulously.
"Athena really stepped forward and kissed him?"
They knew the previous Algol chaos was just a minor accident. Athena smiling and letting it pass was already good.
But now, stepping forward and proactively kissing him, what kind of situation was this?
Beside him, Prithvi, the brown-skinned silver-haired Earth Goddess, also hadn't reacted, her mouth slightly open in shock.
"You're not seeing wrong; Athena really kissed him."
"Aw~~, too bad I forgot to photograph such an important moment."
Prithvi said with slight regret, but soon she seemed to get an idea.
"Eh, Uesugi, how about I just edit the photo? The effect should be almost the same, right?"
Kenshin paused, didn't answer, just silently distanced himself a bit from Prithvi.
Prithvi, Athena's gaze is directed here...
Seeing the shocked reactions of the banquet crowd, Athena showed no particular attitude, just stood beside, calmly embracing Aslan's arm, smiling softly and wisely.
In her view, sunk costs shouldn't affect any role. Since something was lost, don't care too much about it.
Better to use it for greater gains. This was maximum utilization, not wasting sunk costs.
Just a kiss, after all not a lip kiss, and not the first kiss anymore. Just give it.
(Just kissing the cheek, it shouldn't count as losing the first kiss, right?)
Athena thought with slight uncertainty.
As for the use of the blessing she gave, perhaps to enhance Aslan's luck, so everything Aslan does leads to victory.
And the blessing contained part of her power, which could help Aslan in emergencies.