The scorched, blackened earth stretched to the very edge of the horizon.
Flames still licked across the land that had once been a forest of black cedars.
The air shimmered with a heat so intense that a single breath would scorch a human's lungs.
Countless demonic beasts, some fully formed and others still in their larval stages, had been incinerated by the extreme temperature, leaving behind nothing but ghastly black stains upon the ground.
Everything the eye could see was a scene of desolation and terror.
---o---
"Haaah~"
As if he had just completed some monumental project, the young man, golden chains appearing in his hands, hauled the Queen of Demonic Beasts out from the deep crater she was embedded in. Her entire body was covered in soot, and her aura was faint.
"What a pain."
The youth, who had simulated the Might of An-Utu and beaten the goddess known as Gorgon into unconsciousness, wore a troubled expression as he looked down at the barely breathing queen.
He then reached out, made an incision in Gorgon's body, and collected a single drop of fresh blood.
Immediately after, the power of the Herrscher of Reason manifested once more.
Comprehend. Reconstruct.
The Divine Key known as Black Abyss White Flower appeared in his hands.
The 6th Divine Key, Black Abyss White Flower, was a weapon forged from the core of the Previous Era's Sixth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Death.
By inverting the Herrscher of Death's abilities, it became a lance possessing the ultimate power of "Creation."
Outwardly, it appeared to be a pure white knight's lance, but it was actually composed of two parts: the outer white lance, "White Flower," and the inner black sword, "Black Abyss."
Li Zihan casually infused the drop of Gorgon's blood into the white lance.
As the Key of "Creation," an inversion of the Herrscher of Death's power, Black Abyss White Flower possessed the abilities of both decomposition and creation.
When its destructive power was unleashed, its target would automatically deconstruct from the inside out, descending into a state of greater chaos and disorder.
And while Black Abyss White Flower could decompose anything, its "Creation" ability was only suitable for repairing damage to living organisms.
To use the white lance's restorative power, a genetic blueprint was required.
Having taken Gorgon's blood, Li Zihan activated the lance, which had now analyzed her genetic blueprint, and infused a sliver of life force into the goddess who looked moments away from death.
If she kicked the bucket right here and now, Tiamat, whose senses were linked to hers to some extent, would awaken immediately.
And it was clearly not the right time for that.
Perhaps because he was confident he could outrun any consequence, the certain someone, after confirming Gorgon wouldn't die on the spot, nonchalantly raised a hand. He simulated the Authority of the Herrscher of Sentience and delivered a sharp chop to Gorgon's head.
Then, he snapped his fingers.
A spatial gate, framed by an orange border, tore open.
From within—
Massive Honkai Beasts emerged one by one, grabbing hold of the goddess who was bound tightly by the Chains of Heaven and dragging her toward the gate, which connected directly to the ruined capital of Babylon.
Having finished his work, Li Zihan swiftly returned to his temporary mount.
There, he saw Miss Guda, a look of complete bewilderment on her face.
She had been worried sick that he might get injured fighting the Queen of Demonic Beasts after giving up the Triumphant Bow.
She had been anxious for quite some time.
After all, according to Li Zihan, the demonic beast goddess who possessed the divinity of the primordial mother goddess Tiamat was supposed to be the most ferocious member of the Three Goddess Alliance.
Even a chief god would face a bitter struggle against a demonic beast wielding the power of a creator goddess.
After all, that was a monster with the authority of a creator goddess.
And then…
And then she witnessed what could only be described as a one-sided beatdown.
So, this is how terrifying chief gods are?
Miss Guda couldn't help but suck in a breath of hot air.
Yes, hot air.
It wasn't that she didn't want to take in a breath of cool air; it was that after a single blast from the Might of An-Utu, the temperature of the surrounding air had risen so high that there was no cool air left to breathe.
"Li-kun… you were always this strong?"
"I guess I'm alright," the youth, whose power came almost entirely from his Herrscher authorities rather than his divinity, stated breezily. "Although I'm a late-comer among the chief gods, and my combat experience can't compare to those old-timers, I am a chief god, after all. It's only natural that I'm not weak."
So this is a chief god?
A flicker of envy flashed through the girl's eyes.
If she possessed that kind of strength…
Then, throughout this long journey, so many fewer people would have had to be sacrificed.
With every Singularity she entered, she formed bonds with countless Servants, only to watch a portion of them die. The girl's expression grew crestfallen.
"Alright, we should get going."
Li Zihan reached out and waved a hand in front of her face.
"S-Sorry, I was spacing out, Li-kun."
The girl, slightly envious of his power, snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream.
"There's nothing to complain about," the youth said with a light chuckle. "Besides, between lovers, there's no need for a distant word like 'sorry.'"
He was completely different from the aloof, godlike being who had torn Kingu apart and subjugated Gorgon. He was as gentle as the big brother next door.
"By the way, what were you thinking about just now?" the youth asked, his gaze shifting slightly, having clearly noticed her momentary sadness.
"I was just… a little envious of you, Li-kun."
The girl, who had made and lost so many friends, recalled each of their faces, and the smile on her own became forced.
"If I had the same power as you, I think… the path to restoring the Human Order would be a lot simpler."
"So, you're upset because you lack power?"
The youth, who just a few months ago was barely as strong as an average Servant, pondered this for a moment before speaking with great seriousness.
"If it's just a lack of power, I can help you with that."
Help me?
The girl stared blankly.
Could getting stronger be something another person helped you with?
"Have you ever heard of Verethragna?" the youth asked, naming the invincible god of war who, when in his right mind, was unbelievably arrogant.
Miss Guda nodded.
She was, of course, familiar with Verethragna—the war god of Zoroastrianism who possessed ten incarnations and had once single-handedly fought the Persian gods, including his own master Mithra, for eight hundred days and nights.
"For certain reasons, I can use his Authority. Specifically, through his sixth incarnation, the Youth, I can share my power with others."
Wait, Verethragna's Authority?
Miss Guda looked at the youth, whose divinity was clearly that of a sun god, her face a mask of confusion. Why would a sun god possess the authority of a war god?
However, now was not the time to dwell on that.
Something else was far more important.
The girl, who had always wanted to protect others but could only ever be protected, felt her heart begin to race as she looked at the youth who claimed he could grant others a blessing.
"Um, excuse me, but… would granting someone a blessing cause you great harm?"
"Sharing my power with my lover is no loss at all," Li Zihan said with a smile, looking at the girl who was truly in need of strength.
Lover?
A bright blush bloomed on the girl's lovely cheeks.
"Alright, close your eyes. Now, I will give you my blessing."
The girl, desperate for power, obediently closed her eyes upon hearing his reply.
And then—
Lips, radiating an intense heat, pressed against her own.