The deepest part of the underworld.
A dark red gate filled with auras of death and destruction.
The group stood before it.
"Alistair."
Enma said softly, "This is it.~"
Alistair glanced at it and said, "Let's go."
Enma said no more. She lifted her slender finger and gently touched the gate.
The sealed gate slowly opened, accompanied by a burst of dim light.
The next moment...
An endless surge of divine power erupted.
Alistair merely looked and strode in boldly. Persephone, Enma, Albedo, and Higanbana followed.
As the five entered, the gate closed instantly.
Everything returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.
Alistair's pace wasn't fast; it felt like walking down a dim corridor.
In truth...
This was a dimensional passage. The group continued deeper.
Soon, it opened up.
A dark red sky.
Dark red earth.
Here...
It seemed soaked in blood, even the air thick with its scent. As the group entered...
Dark red chains extended from all directions, binding something.
"Hmm~~~"
Alistair glanced and proceeded deeper.
Soon...
As the group followed Alistair into the depths, they reached the chains' core. The figure bound by them revealed itself—a tall silhouette crucified in mid-air, her raven-black hair flowing freely, clad in a pitch-black long dress.
The dress resembled black silk fabric, glossy and shining, with matching arm sleeves.
Upon closer inspection, amid the flowing black hair, glints of blood-red light appeared. Dragon and serpent patterns adorned the black dress.
"Hmm~~~"
Sensing arrivals, the beauty slowly opened her eyes. Those dark eyes, encompassing everything, swept over everyone present. Her flame-red lips curved into an amused smile.
"Such dense darkness!"
"This darkness..."
"Why haven't you been devoured by it?"
"Why is it like this?"
She stared deeply at Alistair. On him, she saw endless darkness, but she couldn't understand why Alistair hadn't been consumed by it.
It was far too strange.
Alistair, however, smiled with interest at the bound goddess.
"Alistair..."
Persephone and Enma seemed to realize something simultaneously.
Alistair raised his hand, merely shaking his head.
She could see it only because he had released a trace of his essence. Otherwise, how could she perceive it?
This...
Was simply because Alistair wanted her to see. Some things couldn't be discussed properly without seeing them firsthand. Only upon truly seeing would one understand the outcome.
Alistair looked at her and said, "Izanami, why would darkness devour its holder? If the holder is strong enough, can't they master the darkness instead?"
"Is that truly so..."
Izanami stared deeply at Alistair. She parted her red lips, wanting to refute, but couldn't. She fell silent, for the man before her had indeed achieved it—he hadn't been consumed by darkness.
In that moment...
Izanami lapsed into silence, unsure of what to say.
"Destruction Goddess."
"Creation Mother."
"Izanami."
Alistair regarded Izanami without wasting words, saying directly, "Do you desire freedom?"
The Land of Yomi!
Sealed here was the goddess embodying both destruction and creation.
Izanami.
To be precise...
In this world, Izanami was the Destruction Goddess and Creation Mother. This was why the world corresponded only to the Takamagahara pantheon, not the full Japanese mythology.
It lacked many key elements.
"..."
Izanami listened to Alistair's words in brief silence.
Moments later...
"Hehehe~~~"
Izanami couldn't help but chuckle lightly, with an amused expression. "God of Darkness, are you willing to release me? Or rather, what do you gain by setting me free?"
Alistair wagged his finger casually. "To be accurate, it's not releasing you, but from today onward, you become my possession."
"Like this new Taizan Fukun?"
Izanami shifted her gaze to Enma. As the goddess of destruction and creation, she could tell at a glance that Enma had transformed into a true Taizan Fukun.
Taizan Fukun.
She was the deity in Japanese mythology and the Takamagahara pantheon who truly governed life, death, and reincarnation.
Taizan Fukun's status, in a sense, corresponded to Amaterasu, the sun goddess.
Because of this...
With Taizan Fukun present, the underworld equaled Takamagahara in status. Without her, the underworld became Takamagahara's subordinate.
"Hmm~~~"
Alistair rubbed his chin, considering. "Something like that. Enma is indeed my possession. To be precise, all my subordinate gods and dependents are my possessions."
Alistair hid nothing.
The women didn't mind.
"Is that so..."
Izanami scanned everyone present, especially lingering on Persephone with extreme gravity in her dark eyes.
Very strong.
Very strong.
Izanami could confirm: even if she reclaimed her released power, she still wouldn't match Persephone.
They weren't on the same level; the other surpassed her by a dimension.
And...
Such a being was this God of Darkness's subordinate god?
Moreover...
Izanami knew Enma well. By her potential alone, Enma had no qualification to become Taizan Fukun. Yet now she had succeeded—undoubtedly due to this God of Darkness.
"..."
The atmosphere fell into quiet.
Alistair didn't mind. With a wave, a sofa appeared behind him. He leaned back, embracing Persephone and Enma on either side. Albedo and Higanbana stood to the left and right.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea!"
Albedo even brewed tea, handing cups to Alistair, Persephone, and Enma.
Alistair took the tea, savoring its flavor quietly.
Finally...
As the pot neared empty, Izanami spoke again. "God of Darkness, if I refuse, what happens?"
Alistair said casually, "I'm not sure about your contingencies, but they're irrelevant. Next, I'll claim the entire world, bring it under my banner, then imprison you in the underworld or hell—or rather, the Land of Yomi, which is equivalent in position to the underworld and hell."
"For now, I lack a suitable manager for the Land of Yomi."
"Continuing your imprisonment here is no issue."
"Until you agree."
Alistair accepted a darkness cigarette with a lip print from Persephone, calmly inhaling and exhaling. Strands of dark divine power were absorbed by him.
Enma watched, seeming to learn something.
"Eternal sealing until willing to become your possession."
"Of course."
"After all, you're a must-have for me. You have no right to refuse or leave."
Alistair was determined to claim Izanami, especially after confirming her position as Destruction Goddess + Creation Mother.
Joking aside.
Even if Izanami's position didn't reach absolute god, she was at least a top-tier ancient god—or even beyond.
Once she signed the subordinate god contract and became his subordinate god, her life, origin, and position would transform.
She could absolutely evolve into an absolute god!!!
At that point...
As long as he collected the complete Japanese mythology's divine canon, he could cultivate Izanami into the mythic lord of Japanese mythology.
In the [Saint Seiya] world, he could deal with the creation absolute gods—the three creation gods—from Japanese mythology.
Then...
It would equate to taking over a complete multiverse.
Alistair's plan was thorough. Izanami refusing? Absolutely impossible. He had plenty of time to slowly make her his possession.
"Such strong possessiveness!"
Izanami seemed to sigh, but her lips curved into a smile. "However, I don't dislike it, nor am I annoyed. Just..."
"God of Darkness."
"Before I give my answer, will you listen to a story?"
Alistair raised his hand: begin your performance.
Normally...
Alistair had no interest in backstories.
But...
Izanami was a must-have subordinate god. If listening made her obedient, then so be it.
"Once, before the world was born..."
"The Sea of Nihility devoured all that came into being; everything was consumed by it."
"A pair of siblings was born."
"The brother governed creation, the sister destruction."
"And!"
"With their birth, the brother irrigated many worlds with his blood. As the creation god, he treated each world gently."
"Even as..."
"With more worlds irrigated by his blood, he grew weaker."
"Approaching death."
"But..."
"The brother didn't care; he only hoped his created children could grow safely."
"At that time, the sister brought back a crimson fruit. After the brother ate it, he recovered much and even had a chance to grow further."
"However..."
As the story unfolded, Izanami's voice shifted from elegant and noble to soft. Her dark eyes filled with reminiscence, as if recalling the past.
Finally...
Izanami's tone turned cold and indifferent. "The brother discovered the crimson fruit's origin: it was based on worlds, plucked when they matured."
"This was unacceptable to the brother."
"After that..."
"The brother and sister waged a prolonged war."
"In the end..."
"The brother defeated and sealed the sister."
"And!"
"The already weakened brother reached his end, his limit. He entrusted his destruction to the sister and dissipated completely from his origin."
"After that..."
"To escape the seal, the sister released part of her power, becoming an evil god, quietly awaiting her seal's release."
"God of Darkness."
"In this story, who do you think was wrong?"
Izanami looked earnestly at Alistair, awaiting his answer.
"Tsk."
Alistair smacked his lips, almost instinctively retorting, "This is some altered version of the Otsutsuki legend, huh?"
Izanami corresponding to Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Yamata no Orochi corresponding to Black Zetsu.
Good grief!
Aside from being sealed by a brother instead of sons...
It was practically indistinguishable.
It was the same story, wasn't it?
Alistair refrained from further commentary, collecting his thoughts as he looked at Izanami. "From my perspective, of course it's every man for himself. To grow stronger! Mere worlds—discard them if needed. As for right or wrong?"
"Obviously, you were right."
Alistair had no hesitation.
"Could you tell me why?"
Izanami's voice trembled slightly. She had never been acknowledged. As the Destruction Goddess...
She was innately rejected, feared, and opposed by all life.
Alistair said casually, "What's there to say? I'm interested in you, not your brother. I'm the type who sides with kin over reason."
Persephone covered her mouth, chuckling lightly—typical of her Alistair.
Enma's interest deepened. For Higanbana, it brought a strong sense of security.
Her Majesty sided with kin over reason—that was the best.
"I see!"
Upon hearing Alistair's answer, Izanami seemed to realize something. A smile emerged. "In that case, it seems the best answer. True or false doesn't matter; it sounds heartwarming!"
Alistair wagged his finger. "What true or false? I have no need for lies. I'm the God of Darkness, not some saint. Would I sacrifice my subordinate gods or dependents for others' lives?"
"That would be a joke!"
Alistair spread his hands—pure comedy, right?
Alistair's words brought a smile to Izanami.
Yes!
Why would he lie? It was meaningless. For him, he could act as he pleased. Sacrifice his own for irrelevant lives?
Obviously...
Alistair wouldn't do that.
Hmm~~~
If this were someone overflowing with justice, they'd probably condemn Alistair: sacrificing one to save countless worlds—isn't that good?
Unfortunately...
No such person was present. Persephone was the Underworld Queen, Enma was Taizan Fukun, Albedo was a succubus, Higanbana a great youkai.
Come to think of it...
Who here was good? At minimum, chaotic neutral—no one from the order alignment.
Alistair continued looking at Izanami. "Alright, Izanami, I've listened to your story as wished. Now, give your answer. What's your choice: agree or refuse?"
The story was over; Alistair had no intent to waste more time. It was time for Izanami's final decision.
Afterward?
He had much to do.
The Sea of Nihility!
Alistair had big ideas about the Sea of Nihility from the story, pondering if he could utilize it, if it could serve a purpose.
***
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