[V1/C19] SILVER LINING

'Just a minute left before the rune disappears.'

The symbol etched onto the monster's body only has 10 minutes of effectiveness. The Forbidden Manual #33. Invisible Chains of the Styx. A chain bathed in the river Styx for countless centuries before fully giving birth to an indomitable artifact.

Though this artifact is a dangerous instrument. That's where the time of 10 minutes limitation sticks out. To avoid those who might use it for their benefit.

The scythe which is being used by Izanami is one of the Unique Forbidden Manual. #7 Sacrificial Scythe. Just as the name suggests, the scythe can only be formed through a sacrifice. It only works if there are at least 3-5 Gods above or currently at the Void Rank and if the other party agrees to take part in it. If even one of both sides were to disagree, the merge would be cancelled.

There are also four notable restrictions from this scythe, and that is. If the scythe were to be broken, the Gods which were used as the ingredients to craft it will not be able to recover and will forever be lost and forgotten.

If the user of the scythe dies. The transformation will be undone. Lastly, if one were to suddenly have second thoughts while merged, the God who refused would be obliterated. The allotted time of use will only last for half an hour at most. A Unique and Normal Forbidden Manual have a slight difference between them.

Now, there are at least two types of artifacts. Firstly, an artifact that can be used for an unlimited duration of time just like the fan of Tsukuyomi, Tsuguri. Which ranked 237th in the Forbidden Treasures. This kind of artifact doesn't have any restrictions except for choosing its wielder.

And there's also the second type. A consumable artifact with a restriction. The artifacts are called Forbidden Manuals. It can be used by any Gods who have a faction of their own and depending on the number of the used Forbidden Manual. The user will undoubtedly be fined with a penalty.

There's also a hidden Unique Forbidden Manual that is only known to have existed and given to a few Gods. Sacrificial Scythe is one of the living examples. The details of its creation are unknown. The manual for it cannot be seen by any other except its chosen master and to those to who that individual gives permission.

Back to the penalty, what penalty a God will receive will depend on how and what it was used for. If a God harboured I'll intentions and have used the Manual to do something unrighteous, then the God at fault will be put on trial for immediate execution. If one were to use it without the permission of all the Ruling Gods, then the user would receive a hefty penalty of being scorched alive for 10 centuries or, more likely, a thousand years unless a powerful God is willing to help alleviate the penalty; there's no chance of escaping that penalty. The same is applied to those of the Evil Gods.

In Izanami's case, she only had a few ruling Gods of the Underworld who were willing to let her borrow it. The penalty that awaits her is unknown. For now.

After eliminating all of the miniature-sized demonic beasts, Izanami flashed right at the eyes of the beast.

Aiming for its vision, the Goddess has successfully rendered it useless with multiple slashes. Due to the black flames burning right through its body, the regeneration effect of the demonic creature has been cancelled.

"GROAAAR!"

With 53 seconds left, Izanami didn't stop, she then proceeded to the other eye and continually slashed her way through its entire body like a pig being grind down to bits.

*SLICE*

The same sound kept repeating as the timer slowly went down before eventually reaching 0.

The body of the demonic creature kept creaking as if it was beginning to regain back its freedom from the Invisible Chains of the Styx.

'36 seconds.' She inwardly thought as she counted the time she had left."This should be enough."

The Goddess stopped slicing through the body of the creature and stood on top of it. She murmured.

"I offer this sacrifice."

All of the skeletons that have already devoured a certain amount of flesh, along with chunks of flesh that were dropped off from its body, have started to disintegrate and, in turn, turned into black powder.

Her Sacrificial Scythe has also conjured a mouth at the tip of its blade. Its mouth looks so alien-like, adding along its sharp teeth and long twisted tongue.

The scythe then started its suction. Devouring the scattered black powder.

As the scythe kept on swallowing the powder, it started to beat, beating back and forth three times faster than a normal beating heart.

The flowing black liquid started to solidify itself as it kept devouring the remains of the disintegrated skeletons and flesh of the demonic beast, continuing its rapid physical growth.

As more and more skeletons kept on disintegrating back and forth, the more the beast's flesh was exposed from the outside, showing the black flames burning through its entire body.

Purplish black blood drenches its body. Every drop of blood evaporates the barrier below. Due to the seal still taking its effects, it just constantly regenerates.

"17 seconds."

The scythe which she holds has now overshadowed half of the beast's body and is still continuously growing.

"16...

15...

14...

13...

12...

11...

It's time."

She closed her eyes and envisioned a beast stepping out of the gate of life and death.

"Mad Eater."

*HOWL!*

She once again opened her eyes and upon opening her eyes. A red-inked wolf that is made of her scythe appeared howling violently. Its size is almost the same as the demonic beast and is still continuously growing.

Izanami then slammed her left palm mid-air right below the demonic creature, imprinting a mark the size of her palm.

Right as she bestowed upon a mark of target to the demonic beast. The red ink wolf dove right through it like water.

As the wolf went right into the mark. It disappeared completely.

"5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

Disengage."

As the Goddess spoke of this word, the entire colony of black skeletons vanished completely, along with the rushing skeletons coming out of the black fog.

The black fog also slowly dissipated right after the skeleton's disappearance.

Along with everything else, the barrier and the Invisible Chains of the Styx have also vanished. The only thing which remained was the gathering dark clouds and thunderstorms.

With its freedom back, the demonic beast, looking like a burning corpse, opened its humongous mouth and uttered.

"Well Played..."

Izanami coldly looked down on the beast as it exploded in red ink.

"... Come out, Hades."

She turned her head slightly to the right and saw a gentleman's black-brown leather shoes.

"Ah... So you knew?

I apologize if that made you uncomfortable. You see~ while I was watching you fight. I saw a rat escaping to the south."

Izanami coldly replied. Her voice and face were still emotionless.

"Rat? You?"

"Ah... Izanami... That's no good. We only agreed for you to use one forbidden manual but. To think that you also have a Unique Forbidden Manual under your care.

The other Gods and Goddesses might take it negatively. But before that. You must go back to the underworld with me and tend to your wounds.

No worries, I'll have my wife treat your wounds."

Drenched in the rain of blood, slowly Izanami loses her strength and vision.

She started fumbling yet still acting strong.

"Ha... You're still as chattery as ever..."

*SLUMP*

"Haa. You have pushed yourself hard this time around."

Before Izanami loses consciousness, Hades goes in and catches her, still tightly holding her scythe. He then carried her in his arms as he looked back north with a neutral expression.

"Should I leave that thing be? Nevermind. I'll just put a tracker on it for now."

A reddish ball of wisp suddenly appeared on his forehead and started its pursuit almost immediately after it popped up.

"Hel."

As soon as the wisp disappeared, Hades called out a name similar to Hell.

"You called?~"

The Goddess answered his call with a low tone and eloquence, appearing right in front of him.

On the right side view of her, Hel appears as a gorgeous and tall young woman, with silky black hair and cold-greyish blue eyes. On her left side, however, is a decaying, horrific image, hair white with age, and her bones and skull exposed.

The being in front of him has the full image of a gorgeous and tall young woman.

"Are you still using your Divinity to mask that left side of yours?"

"Why would you care?"

"Haa... I've told you countless times that it's a waste of Divinity."

"That's why your wife is always angry with you."

Hearing her reply, Hades irritatingly replied.

"You...! Haa... Here, take her back to my wife."

As soon as he handed Izanami over to Hel. He whispered to her ears with a serious expression.

"Be extra careful. Avoid having any interactions."

"Why? Is she that important?"

"This is just between you and me as fellow Rulers.

She's the 7th Holder."

"??!!"

Hel was quite taken aback by what Hades shared with her and so decided to adhere to his words to act cautiously when returning to the underworld.

Hades turned his gaze further below as if he was looking for something.

"Hurry now and return. Remember, just act normally, and if someone asks why, she's all beaten up. Tell them this.

She wrestled someone."

"Won't that make more misunderstandings?"

"That's her problem. Plus, it's much more enjoyable this way. I'd like to have a look at Izanagi's hilarious face when he hears of this."