Yusei now had a clearer idea of what could be summoned from the Netherworld Legion. Admittedly, the power of the underworld was formidable. While perhaps not the absolute peak in individual strength, its sheer numbers were overwhelming.
It could be said this Authority was the most practical, far more useful than Melqart's other abilities.
Yusei never expected that Kaguya, through her random 'draw', would uncover the true application of this Authority.
He had originally never considered using this Authority for serious combat, thinking it was just about summoning a horde of skeleton soldiers to throw at the enemy, not expecting them to have real fighting capability.
But in reality, the Netherworld Legion summoned more than just skeletons… there were other species, and most terrifyingly, they possessed intelligence.
Intelligent beings were fundamentally different from mindless ones.
Watching a gleeful Kaguya practically dancing on the spot, Yusei turned his gaze to Asuna. Though he didn't see any particular expression, he offered comfort anyway.
"Verethragna's Authority is also incredibly powerful. Especially with the [Ram] present, no matter what injury you suffer, it will heal within a certain time."
"Mhm, I know. I'm not envious. Honestly, I'm already very grateful that you gave me this power, Yusei-kun."
"What's there to thank me for? We're husband and wife," Yusei said softly, stroking Asuna's cheek.
Kaguya, who had been studying her Authorities, overheard this and her face immediately fell. Abandoning her research, she rushed over to Yusei and latched onto his arm.
"Thank you for giving me this power too, Yusei!"
Yusei gave Kaguya a deadpan look, amused internally but feigning disgust as he pulled his arm free, "First, it's too hard. Second, don't you know you're supposed to perform a proper, formal dogeza when expressing gratitude?"
Kaguya, who had been expecting sweet words, widened her eyes, glaring at Yusei with a dangerous expression.
"Oh? With Asuna it's 'husband and wife', but with me it's 'too hard'?" When she said 'too hard', she practically spat the words through gritted teeth, clearly understanding his implication.
And indeed, compared to Asuna's ample curves, Kaguya was rather flat-chested.
She had secretly tried many remedies, like drinking papaya milk, but nothing worked, causing her no small amount of frustration.
When others didn't mention it, it was fine. But the moment someone did, especially when that someone was her fiancé, she was clearly ready to explode.
"And is it not?" Yusei said, his tone slightly weaker. He hadn't expected Kaguya to transform like this. His intended teasing seemed to have ignited a powder keg.
Kaguya didn't reply with words. Instead, she tightly hugged his arm again and looked at him with a sweet smile. "Hard?"
"...No, very soft."
Asuna watched their banter, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, showing not a trace of jealousy or anger at her boyfriend being clung to by another girl.
After staying a while longer and testing Kaguya's other two usable Authorities, the group returned to the Shinomiya Residence.
The school was essentially on lockdown, forbading students from leaving.
With the outside world so dark, even with streetlights, younger students might easily have accidents in such conditions.
Thus, the entire Tokyo metropolitan area had entered a sort of 'curfew' state.
This curfew was, naturally, due to the pitch-black, thunder-roaring sky.
At the Shinomiya Residence, after calling his own home and his parents, Yusei stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, feeling somewhat helpless as he looked out at the darkened sky.
Although he was the one who started it, he genuinely didn't know how to fix it.
Kaguya's Sun Authority could dispel darkness, but it was a drop in the bucket. She was still a 'newbie'… firstly, she couldn't maintain it for long, and secondly, the range was too small.
While lightning continuously flashed and thunder rumbled over Tokyo, two gods residing in a newly built shrine on Youkai Mountain in Gensokyo, located in the Hokkaido region, were also feeling rather uncomfortable.
As gods with a long lineage, they still had followers on Earth whose faith had been passed down for generations. For instance, in the village where Utaha's family originated, most residents were descendants of their followers from the Age of Gods.
When Tokyo experienced this 'wonder' suspected to be 'divine wrath', the first thing these theistic believers did wasn't to go home, but to gather at the shrine of their faith to pray, beseeching their gods to safely see them through this 'calamity'.
The sincere prayers of these followers traveled through the shrines associated with Yasaka Kanako and Suwako Moriya, reaching their ears.
Along with the faith energy came the content of these prayers.
Hearing the prayers of their followers from the comfort of Gensokyo, the two gods were deeply puzzled.
"A God of Thunder?" Suwako, who had been comfortably napping, sat up and looked at her drinking buddy, "Kanako, are there any Thunder Gods from the Age of Gods still around?"
"I heard the believers' prayers too," Kanako said, taking a sip of sake, "But thinking about it, it's probably impossible. What Thunder Gods could still be alive out there? It's probably just a normal natural phenomenon in the outside world."
"You're probably right. Ah, wait a minute... what about Him? Even though he doesn't classify himself as a God of Thunder, his Authority is undeniably the ultimate lightning."
"One of the Three Noble Gods? But that's not something we can know about. Besides, we've never even met Him. Now, the god Takemikazuchi... that guy's pretty good. I feel his Thunder Authority could compare to that one of the Three Noble Gods."
At this point, both fell silent, as if they had touched upon a forbidden or sorrowful topic.
Kanako seemed to realize she had said something wrong. Looking at her friend's somber expression, she didn't know what to say.
Finally, she took a large gulp of sake and exhaled heavily. "I'll handle the reply to the believers. You rest properly for now. Don't think too much."
Suwako nodded silently, lost in her thoughts. She stood up alone and went outside.
The shrine maiden, Kochiya Sanae, who was sweeping the grounds, saw one of the gods leaving and was about to greet her, but was interrupted by Kanako.