by Heretic God
It was the same a while ago, when they had to use a lot of effort to escape the area of darkness.
To walk under faint traces of moonlight, guided only by keeping a hand on nearby walls and railings, even a completely normal path would seem distressing.
People huddled closer together with one another during the dark night regardless of where they came from.
"See, we can still do something as long as there's some light."
Suddenly, a warm, orange light ignited.
Amakasu had used his lighter, but the flame was immediately extinguished.
"To give off light—that meant the fire lost strength, right?"
"Correct, a frighteningly powerful darkness trait... as expected of a [Heretic God]."
Regardless of the era and country, humans will always bestow names and mythology upon gods.
Powerful gods not only threatened man, but also belittled people.
They were still nameless during prehistoric times.
But mankind soon found the presence of gods between heaven and earth, viewing hurricanes and floods as the gods' anger, and worshiping powerful, dangerous beasts as their incarnations.
Over the passing of the ages, people would name the gods and weave all sorts of myths around them.
For example, the earth creator El; the war god Ogmios; the goddess of wilderness Artemis.[1G 8]
Or the battle and blacksmithing god Ogoun; the berserker god of destruction Tezcatlipoca.[1G 9]
There was also the heavenly wanderer Susanoo; the god of twelve incarnations Vishnu.[1G 10]
They were as numerous as the stars.
All of them originating from the hands of man.
One could say that this was a ritual created by man to ward off the overwhelming might of the gods.
The gods who received names and mythology should not stray too far. Whether it was granting favors or taking revenge, these gods should not exceed the scope of their authority.
Thus, it was possible for people to respond to the threats and blessings of gods.
However, if a god wanted to exceed their name or the meanings behind their mythology.
If they returned to their original form, before they were bound by the limitations of mythology.
Such a god would be named a [Heretic God].
After turning their backs on the mythology given to them by humans, they would descend upon the world. Some circulated between the nations that granted them their name, while others drifted to faraway lands.
Regardless of which, [Heretic Gods] would bring disaster upon mankind.
If a sun god descends, the world would become unbearably hot.
If a sea god descends, the world would be swallowed by the ocean and sunk underwater.
If an underworld god descends, pestilence will spread through the world, bringing death to every city.
If a judgment god descends, the people will receive all sorts of penalties and punishments.
Bringing forth unbalance and change merely by journeying across a world, these gods of calamity acted on their whims and sought to create their own status—they were the [Heretic Gods].
"But the darkness just now didn't just snuff out light, it even stopped the vehicles; how did that happen? Thankfully there were no catastrophes, but..."
Yuri prompted her earlier question once again.
Motor vehicles traveling across an expressway that suddenly lost all lighting were bound to cause accidents.
If every district Athena went across became like this—just thinking about it was scary.
"Lucky break caught within this misfortune. The darkness banished both light and fire, so everything relying on these two stopped working. Athena's power shut off not only the lights, but also vehicle engines; some car accidents are still inevitable, but thankfully they aren't tragedies."
Amakasu then listed all the items still capable of releasing light or fire—in addition to lighting, equipment that used gas or oil were also unusable.
However, phones, wireless equipment, and devices like air conditioners could still function normally.
The darkness had already swallowed between one-third to half of Edogawa, Koto, and Central Tokyo districts, and was now expanding into the port district.
Under its influence, Tokyo's east city metro had also been stopped.
"...Even though this was to be expected, isn't this a little too exaggerated?"
"Since Athena isn't a hateful, evil god, even though she brings trouble upon us, nothing catastrophic should happen. With her power, spreading mass destruction won't be hard at all... so it's only a matter of time how long this will keep up."
Amakasu's worries were spot on.
They needed to resolve this quickly.
However, Yuri's inner doubts were growing.
Several hours ago, Kusanagi Godou had left to meet the goddess Athena, but he still hadn't returned. Instead, Athena had come to Tokyo.
She not only revealed herself, but was also wreaking havoc.
Her actions were far too careless. What if there was a godslayer nearby? Shouldn't she be a little more careful?
"Unless, Kusanagi-san had already lost to Athena?"
Yuri felt uneasy, worried that something like that might have happened.
Even though he had the power of the devil king, he didn't seem reliable at all—Godou merely looked like a student of her age, with nothing special about him.
Before she met his true face, she had felt anxiety, fear, and even the urge to run away.
But afterwards, forget anxious, she had felt relief instead, and even ended up lecturing him, telling him to be more cautious.
Towards the opposite sex, no, even to those of the same gender, she had never spoken words like that.
When she was with Godou, her emotions felt inexplicably relaxed, and then become careless—maybe there was something similar between her and Godou.
Thanks to her sixth sense, Yuri could usually tell if she could get along with someone upon their first meeting.
As soon as she thought of that, she started shaking her head.
He already had such a lowlife for a lover, so she definitely shouldn't get close to him. Yes, definitely, even if the world was flipped upside down.
"—F-first we should try to reach that person. Amakasu-san, could you lend me your cell phone please."
"Of course, go ahead. If possible, could you request him to help us defeat Athena? Eh, we already don't have any other solution left."
He didn't even wait for a response before putting his rectangular cell phone in Yuri's hands.
It was uncertain if it was due to Athena's influence, but the LCD screen seemed bleaker than usual. But according to Amakasu, its talk functions should work normally.
When they separated, Godou had written his cell phone number down on a piece of paper and given it to Yuri.
Since she had already memorized it, dialing it had been quick... after a few rings a response came.
[Eh~~?]
"It's me, Mariya. Kusanagi-san? Where are you right now!?"
Yuri called out after hearing a familiar voice.
[Eh... around the Kasai Arakawa area. All cars and metro have stopped. Oh yeah, something I need to report, Athena is moving towards the Gorgoneion, and any place she passes by will render light and fire unusable, so be careful.]
"I already know about that. What are you doing right now? Is Athena already in the port district!?"
[....It's a shame but, Athena had gotten the better of me; I have just returned from death's door.]
"Death's door!? Are you okay? If you can't move, I'll go get—"
Yuri was distraught over the sudden and serious development.
Yuri's intuition told her this wasn't a joke, that Godou wasn't the type to make jokes at moments like these. She wasn't sure why, but that's what she believed.
[Ah, I'm alright, don't worry. Did you know? My body is unbelievably tough; there's no way I'd die that easily. Besides, I could
use this to lie to people.]
"Lies—please stop saying stupid things. After receiving such a serious injury you still run around all over the place; that's way too reckless, even if Kusanagi-san's body was stronger than usual..."
Yuri couldn't help but get worried, and ended up divining him.
She had a feeling that something might happen if she left this guy alone. Yet, Godou's next comment had eased Yuri's worries.
[Kay, it should be fine since I'm no ordinary human, so you don't need to worry. But there's something I need your help with. It's fine if you want to refuse, but please hear me out first.]
"...What is it? Is it something I can do?"
[Yes, more like I can only rely on Mariya-san for this. But it's really dangerous, so I really should ask for your answer—but if you could, please wait and ambush Athena.]
"Ambush!?"
Ambush the powerful [Heretic God] —Athena.
That was simply suicidal. Just what did Godou Kusanagi want from her?
[If Athena gets near your place, just call my name. This way, I should immediately fly to where you are—I think.]
"Fly?... Is that another one of Kusanagi-san's powers?"
[Yea, should be. If someone who knows me by face calls for me, then I can fly to that person's side—I think that's how the power works.]
"...You keep saying uncertain words like 'should' or 'I think', did I hear wrongly?"
Since Yuri felt odd about it, so she asked Kusanagi.
[Eh, actually I'm not sure, since the conditions still need to be verified, and even then it may not work every time. But it seems to be that we need to know each other's appearance, realize that the other has fallen into danger, and both be exposed to the outside winds... I think satisfying these conditions should allow me to use it.]
"You sure?"
[I think so... I just don't know how much danger the other side has to be in, but I think meeting a god should qualify.]
"Why would anyone agree to such a dangerous and uncertain thing!"
[Yeah, I thought so as well. Sorry for making an unreasonable request. It just doesn't seem like we can catch up to Athena, so I've been trying to figure out another way... are you in any danger? Forget the Gorgoneion, just get away from there and leave Athena to me.]
Godou gave a straightforward reply just as Yuri became anxious again.
Kusanagi-san didn't want to do this either.
But if they didn't use such a method, it would be very hard for him to catch up to Athena, Yuri just realized.
If it was something that must be done, and it was something that only she could do—
Then didn't that mean she had to do it?
"I understand; I'll wait here with the Gorgoneion until Athena comes... I'll definitely call your name; you have to come; I don't want to die in a place like this."
Death, that wasn't an exaggeration at all.
Meeting such a powerful [Heretic God], who knows what could happen. It was possible Yuri would lose her sanity just by meeting her eyes.
Such was the difference between humans and gods.
[...Really? Mariya-san, even though I requested this, please don't make any rash decisions.]
"There isn't any other way, right? If there is, you wouldn't make such a request. Even though you're a frustrating person, you aren't the type to play this kind of cruel joke."
[Eh, I'm happy that you can say that, but we only met today. Is it alright for you to trust me like this?]
"I am a hime-miko of Musashino after all. I know these kinds of things—I'm only going to help you this once, so you better get here quickly."
Yuri hung up the call without waiting for a reply.
If she heard any more arguments from him, the firm resolution she mustered might start to waver.
Would Godou Kusanagi keep his promise? Yuri's intuition didn't have an answer.
Yuri suddenly raised her head.
She just noticed that Amakasu and everyone in the shrine had gathered around her.
"...Yuri-san, when did you get so close to Godou Kusanagi?"
"Amakasu-san, please don't joke like that. Just when did we sound 'close' during that conversation. Anyhow, I must bring the Gorgoneion to outside the shrine."
Facing the surprised Amakasu, Yuri faintly countered.
"Kusanagi-san has the power to return here, but I have to become his guide. However, we can't lure Athena here; we have to draw her towards somewhere with less people—so everyone, please take care of things afterwards."
Yuri ordered with all the dignity of a hime-miko.
Although she said it respectfully, it was still an order. There was no room for refusal.
"That's way too risky; let me lure Athena in."
Amakasu suggested.
Under Yuri's powerful glare, everyone had kept their silence, with the exception of this man.
"No, Amakasu-san won't be able to call Kusanagi-san here. Only I can fulfill this condition, therefore I must go alone."
Since the opponent was Athena, it was useless to bring more people; going alone should at least avoid any unnecessary casualties.
Yuri smiled faintly as she tried to reassure Amakasu.
"Everything will be fine; Kusanagi-san promised he will come. That person will only keep his promises in this kind of situation, that's what my intuition says."
Part 3
Yuri hurried through the streets enclosed by darkness.
She could only rely upon the moonlight, starlight, and her eyes, which had finally gotten used to the darkness.
Normally it would be bright even during the night.
Along the commerce streets, there would always be light pouring from the windows of high-rises, as well as many street lamps lighting the way.
But now, there weren't any man-made lights.
Utter darkness had overwhelmed the entire area.
Looking down at the hands of her watch, it was already 11pm.
There wasn't a single person around.
Without any night shift workers, the number of people wandering around shopping streets late at night would be far less than those around during daytime. But there were also residents living nearby, and there should also be some people still on the way home from overtime jobs.
It shouldn't be this lifeless and desolate.
Everyone had stayed within their homes or their workplaces, awaiting the arrival of morning.
Even if they came outside, only an endless abyss of darkness awaited them.
In these conditions where not even flashlights worked, the only person who dared wander around outside was only Yuri herself.
These streets were supposed to be familiar.
Normally, there would be no way to get lost here, but tonight was different.
Yuri kept her hands on the structures and railings to ascertain the situation before her, advancing under conditions where she wasn't even sure of what was just a few meters ahead.
Under these circumstances, her sense of direction was completely useless.
It was no longer possible to grasp just where she was.
Yuri continued to walk like a blinded insect. Her goal was a place with even less people than the commercial street - Tokyo Bay.
Within the bag in her hands she carried the Gorgoneion.
Just carrying that already made it impossible to escape the pitch black city, which had already fallen into Athena's grasp.
But Yuri wanted to bring the fight between Godou Kusanagi and the goddess to a sparse area before they begin. She focused all of her thoughts on this, and it was the only thing that kept her going through these dark streets by herself.
Since Yuri still wore her miko outfit, many curious onlookers would have focused their sight on her during any normal night.
But right now, there wasn't a single pair of curious eyes.
Yuri suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness, just as she was about to cross the road.
The situation had caused everyo
ne to abandon their cars and flee, so there was no need to mind traffic laws.
Yet, someone called Yuri to a stop from behind.
"—Thou miko who servest the unknown gods, hand over the relic of the [Serpent]."
The night lay quiet.
The night was surrounded by unnatural stillness and silence.
The voice was like the night wind, leaving the silent night undisturbed.
"Athena is my name. Daughter of Zeus, traveler of the side, coming to retrieve the [Serpent] in thine hands. For disrespect toward followers of foreign gods, one must apologize now."
Filled with an aura of divinity, the overwhelming presence closed in one step at a time.
She looked around.
One glance was all she needed to realize that the slowly approaching girl was Athena.
Immersed by the moonlight, the goddess looked thin and slim, yet emanated unusually powerful might.
Her hair billowed in the night breeze, pouring off the sense of ill-fortune.
Strands and strands of sparkling silver hair seemed like countless snakes within Yuri's eyes.
"Ancient [Serpent]—finally found; with this one can return to being the old Athena, the defiant Athena. Miko, take one's story of three goddesses awakening within one and carry it down to the ears of future generations."
Athena merely extended her tiny palm forward.
With just that, the bag in Yuri's hands sprang open, the Gorgoneion inside flew to Athena's hands.
"Such is the ancient [Serpent], one finally retrieved one's past."
Athena smiled faintly.
Albeit the engulfing darkness, Yuri could clearly sense her joy.
Then, the goddess sang towards the skies:
One sings, the carol of the trinity goddess. Connecting skies, earth with darkness, reincarnation with wisdom.
One sings, the melody of the demoted goddess. Born as queen yet seen as snake of forbiddance, to the queen's grievance.
One sings, the ballad of the traumatized goddess. Disgraced by the esteemed father, fell to humiliation as the mother.
One named Athena, daughter of Zeus, patron of Athens, maiden of eternity.
Past, is the nurturing earth mother of all things!
Past, is the dark mistress of the underworld!
