Story 15 The One Above The Heavens Chapter 5

I looked at Erica Blandelli with a stern expression and I realized something with a bit of a pang in my heart. 'I am so different from the meek Godou from canon Campione... I literally may not even be her type by not being a weirdo who gets a nosebleed at some cleavage.' The thought was cut off as Erica with some hesitation spoke after absorbing my previous words.

My previous words clearly meant that I wasn't willing to use the Copper Black Cross as some kind of third party I would need to protect for some nebulous benefits. "Lord Yuhuang Yudi." She started and I raised a hand making her fall silent.

Along with the room as they awaited for me to speak and after a moment I then explained what I meant previously. "I inherited the will of the Jade Emperor, and in that same vein I inherited the responsibility of rebuilding the Jade Court."

I looked at my assembled court already which consisted of a few heroic spirits, and mages of great potential even if they hadn't reached that potential yet. "So unless you wish to fold your mages association into my Imperial Court, while moving here to Japan as I consolidate my rule. Then the best you can hope for, is a treaty in which your organization submits to my own for my protection."

In either case, in the view of the world, it was the same end either way. The Black Copper Cross organization would be looked as being part of my growing Jade Court whether they were seen as a subordinate organization, or truly absorbed into my court. It made no difference except for appearances.

Erica's face went stiff as she realized that. And in the end, she knew that the Copper Black Cross had too many enemies to survive for the next few years without a Campione, a True Magician or some other entity at that level acting as their champion.

She slowly nodded and said. "Lord Yudi, you have given me much to think about... May I consider this future you have opened to my eyes?" She asked respectfully still.

I closed my eyes and then waved my hand slightly as I announced. "Very well. You may consider it with my blessing, as to swear to join my Jade Court will be a life-defining thing and should you join... There will be a painful price for leaving to offset the divine benefits of joining, now go. Take rest with guest rites in effect." 

I knew Erica Blandelli was a prideful woman, a woman of strength who could probably give a Heroic Spirit like Medusa a good fight for a long while unless Medusa used her Noble Phantasms. But then again Erica had her own in Coure De Lione. Either way, I was going to try to use honey rather than vinegar in bringing the Copper Black Cross into my kingdom.

So just brute forcing her answer right now wouldn't be good.

With my dismissal, Erica gave a slight bow of respect before grabbing her handbag and stepping out with Sella and Medusa leading her out to a room. Or maybe leading her out of the mansion, I wasn't sure if Erica would actually take my offer of guest rites.

But with the outsider out of the room, I refocused on the Prometheus Grimoire before I took a breath and said. "I have already been given a letter of challenge with a handicap as well... It would be rude to decline it wouldn't it?" I asked everyone before but then my face twitched as I saw Rin Tohsaka squirming at not having been addressed or anything.

"Ah... Rin, my apologies, I was more focused on this. What have you come calling upon me for?" I asked giving her the right to ask me what she came her for.

But even as Rin Tohsaka recollected her thoughts and ended her squirming I was reminded about her haughty demeanor which would be shattered with her going into subby mode when she was forced into compromising or awkward positions. 

She visibly took a deep breath to hype herself up and I raised an eyebrow at the amount of mental preparation she was going through to do this... And then I realized whatever it was, it was going to be a pain in the ass if she was going through all these motions. And I was proven very fucking correct as she spoke strongly.

"I am the heir of the Tohsaka family! And in accordance to the heritage we have in this land, in this land being ours, this grail war draining our leylines, I wish to have your blessing in summoning a Servant before you break the Holy Grail!" She damn near shouted making my eye twitch at as Medusa came into the room and gave the heiress a queer look after looking at my blank face.

'Yup... Fucking troublesome.' I thought with a sigh escaping me before I actually looked over at Medea and after a moment I shrugged and asked. "Medea, will her summoning a Servant in the remaining Saber, Archer, and Assassin slots interfere with our plans?" 

Medea's form stilled before a hand came up to her cloaked face as though to cup her chin in thought and her voice came out with some amusement. "Yes, it will interfere... But not in a bad way, as the more Servant's slots filled, the more open the Grail will be for our interactions. So if anything allowing her to summon would suit your interests Jake." 

I thought about it for a long moment and then shrugged as in the end, I was confident in subduing the majority of singular Servant's and in the worst-case scenario. While I fight with the servant, Medea can give Tohsaka a prick with Rule Breaker to cuck Rin's servant away by stealing the contract.

So after a moment of thought I took out a gem filled with a deep amount of my power and made it float over across the room in front of Rin's sparkling eyes. "I have put enough mana into that gem that you could probably fuel your home's wards for a good century, in return for the gem that I know you want with your own lineage being focused on gem-based magecraft. I wish for you to do the summoning in front of me, as the Holy Grail is broken, and I do not want a Servant running around with the hopes of winning the broken grail which could literally destroy the world." I explained in detail.

Though as I was speaking, Sakura stood up and walked over to my chair to whisper into my ear. "Jake, don't make it so easy for her. She needs to pay for this privilege as your subject."

I looked at her who was super close to me with her eyes but inches from my own and I stared into those purple pools for a moment before nodding as I said. "But also along with the gem as a gift in that summoning. I am curious as to what you will offer me as well Rin Tohsaka?"

Rin's face twitched and she seemingly couldn't help but snap out. "This is my family's ritual!" 

The room went cold as my aura flooded the room and Rin Tohsaka shuddered as I looked at her coldly.

There was a long moment of silence before I spoke nice and slow. "Rin Tohsaka... Descendant of Nagato Tohsaka, your family has had four chances before in attempting to win the Holy Grail War. And during all four of those grail wars where plenty of innocent people die, not a single wish was even made."

I leaned in and rested my chin on my fist as I hissed out. "You people summon the heroes of legend to do battle and eventually betray them in using your Command Seals to make them commit suicide to reach Akasha for infinite knowledge and power. And did you guys never stop to think that Alaya, the guardian and keeper of the Throne of Hero's would so happily allow you to rip the legends and weapons she so jealously hoards?"

Honestly, it baffled me that Zeltretch even bothered to work on the Grail ritual, it was literally doomed to failure in its ultimate design to reach Akasha, as should anyone manage to, the Counter Force in both Humanity in Alaya, and Gaia's Apostles would come kill the person who dared to rewrite reality with access to the Akasha.

I leaned back with an amused smile as I looked at Rin and said. "Fine, you want my blessing in summoning a servant that will drain your mana, for little good due to the Grail War not continuing, that's fine. I demand the chest Zeltretch gave your ancestor." I finished with Rin's face going pale and she threw a look of blame at Sakura who blinked in surprise and said with a smile.

"Sorry, 'sister' but I haven't told my lord any family secrets, not that our father shared anything of value with me before he tossed me aside," Sakura stated bluntly making Rin's face twitch at the caustic reply and I clapped my hands to stop an argument as I saw steam building up in Rin's eyes.

With the room quieted I said more relaxedly. "Rin, go to one of the spare rooms and relax. You will do the summoning tonight at midnight as that's the hour your mana is most potent." I said dismissing her. And she actually had the gall to glare at me for being 'rude' and honestly the heat in her expression just made my chest rise and fall in amusement as I held in a chuckle at the spitfires barely hidden back tsundere reactions.

Either way, Rin made herself scarce and I took a deep breath before I continued on. "Now that all the people who haven't swore themselves to me, have left. Let's start from the top," I spoke with my arms folding under my chest as I started us as I tilted my head at Illya who was sitting with Leysritt.

"Illyasveil, and Sakura both have shards of the grail within their bodies. With Illya having hers be the lesser grail that has replaced her heart, and Sakura's is shards of the previous grail that is heavily corrupted by Angra Mainyu's presence even if I have sealed off his consciousness within the grail shards that have replaced her womb." I spoke clinically and seriously with Medea taking a thinking pose as I continued.

"Taking care of the corrupted grail shards within Sakura will need to be done first as she is on a shorter timer than Illya, to say nothing of replacing a reproductive system for her will be far less strenuous then replacing Illya's own heart along with my own thoughts for fixing Illya's state as a homunculus," I spoke.

And from there Medea took off with her own thoughts becoming verbal. "Indeed, the seal of Heavens that you used to seal off the corruption within her is strong. But in turn, it will violently erupt should the bindings be broken by her own mental will or some outside force, so it would be for the best if we take care of her as soon as possible." 

I looked over at Sakura and said softly. "Then in that case... Sakura, are you willing to put your life in my care so I can help you again?" 

She looked into my eyes for a long moment before she slowly nodded and then she said with a core of steel in her pools of purple that were her eyes. "I am ready... Let's do it then." 

'Whelp no time like the present, literally no reason to draw this out when I know Verethragna is probably camping out in the city waiting for me to come answer his challenge... And knowing him, he will certainly want to make a spectacle out of it. So he will give me a couple of days to set up whatever event he wants.' I thought as I stood up and took Sakura's smooth hand into my own as I said.

"Come into my alchemy room then. The ritual should already be prepped right Medea?" I asked and the Greek sorceress gave a quick nod and fell in behind us silently as I led Sakura away with Medusa saying with clear reluctance.

"As much as I want to watch her, we need to keep someone watching Rin Tohsaka, and Erica Blandelli along with keeping a watch of the property." 

I gave a nod of understanding as Medusa faded into her spirit form while I headed toward the basement workshop to perform the rituals. 

"Alright Sakura, please strip down while get things ready and Medea give her a sedative to make her sleep." I spoke as I turned my back to Sakura to allow her to get undressed in peace while I collected a couple of pills, and liquid elixirs I had made that would do a variety of things.

Medea was kind to Sakura and gently helped the young woman relax as she laid down on a padded surgery bed where I would be working on her and I could feel Medea drawing on her magic as she put Sakura into a deep sleep without the need of heavy chemicals or otherwise physical medicine.

'Alright... So let's just hope. That the extraction of Sakura's womb won't act as a sort of birthing process to reincarnate Angra Mainyu.' I thought wryly as I put my hands into a magical flame to rid it of any germs and such.

"Yuh- No, Jake do you have any experience in mundane and spiritual surgery?" Medea asked seriously.

I shook my head and but said with a shrug. "Not particularly, but I am a Campione, and a good portion of my domains fall into the manipulation and enhancement of the human body to untold levels which allows to deal with removing and augmenting parts of the body." I spoke as I took a breath and shut down any thoughts as I inspected Sakura's semi-nude form that had her stomach exposed.

Medea made a noise before she sighed and said. "Well... We are removing shards of an evil god, it's not like I myself know exactly what I am doing. Either way, I have the homunculus-grown womb harvested and ready for implantation in Sakura after the grail-shard-infested one is removed."

I gave a silent nod as my eyes lasered in on Sakura's body and my flying sword floated out of my sleeve with it shrinking down to only a few inches short and I used my spiritual energy to with laser accuracy begin cutting Sakura open.

And with Medea's help I cut and moved the muscles and such surrounding the clearly glowing purple womb with streaks of smoking black veins that was coursing through the reproductive organ. "The vaginal tract isn't cursed thankfully," Medea said blandly as she checked for any other signs of corruption besides just the womb that was just screaming a cursed and evil divinity to my senses.

My senses of disgust only grew as the cursed womb glowed brighter in warning as I swiftly cut the surrounding blood vessels, muscles and other things attached to the womb with Medea used her magic and some of the liquid elixirs to stem the bleeding as she carefully put the vat-grown womb in place while reconnecting the nerves and blood vessels. "This is going to take-" Medea started as she was working but I cut her off with a grimace as I grabbed the cursed womb with my gloved hand and shot through the vent for my alchemy chamber and into the air.

'Fucking knew it.' I thought as I yeeted the cursed womb into the air away from me as it had expanded from the average size of a human womb to more than thirty percent larger with its divinity growing in power. "As the Samadhi fire cleanses the soul, In its embers, let compassion console. Evil dissolves like mist in the dawn!" I chanted sending the soul and evil purging flames into the cursed womb.

"Screee!" An unholy screech of agony and pleasure hit my ears... No it hit my very soul as the tiny shard that connected Angra Mainyu in the Greater Grail that was below Mount Enzo to Sakura was exorcised and destroyed. 

'Hmm, it wouldn't have birthed Angra Mainyu, but it would have probably lead to some kind of explosion of cursed flames and mud again that would taint the surroundings like when Artoria nuked the previous Greater Grail.' I thought as I carefully made sure to burn away any shards of the corrupted grail that weren't immediately burnt away by my flames.

And the corrupted gold of the grail shards melted down into black smoke that broke apart into the air leaving me taking a breath as I looked over the surrounding city that thankfully didn't seem to notice my actions of throwing flames around due to it already being in the afternoon with the sky shaded a darker color with the setting sun.

'Plus if people see the flames, they will just think it was fireworks or something.' I thought shrugging as I flew back down to the Matou Mansion while wondering what else was on the agenda now. Until I tilted my head to the side as I felt a presence enter my area.

"Hello there." I said turning around easily and facing the edge of the property and who was standing at the opened front gates of the heavily enchanted entrance that opened with the wards shattering gently by the entity's simple will of entering the property.

The person entering looked to be young. More of a young teenager with somewhat darker skin but whereas I expected him to look upon me with a challenge or even prideful amusement, he was looking at me seriously with his hands folded over his chest. Even though I didn't expect him to have darker skin than the pale skin he was shown to have, but he was actually Persian so it made sense.

I tilted my head to the silent god and spoke with my spine going stiff. "Verethragna... I expected you to make our battle more of an event, maybe even setting up some great event and even invite another god from the Reverse Side of the World to make it a battle worthy of song and legend."

There was a silence before Verethragna spoke with his voice cold and with no amusement in it. "I am Verethragna, even with the alterations and mental changes humanity has forced upon me with the changing of times and perception. But I am Verethragna, god of war and victory. I served my God-King Ahura Mazda against the evils of the world and banished them into the deepest darkest depths of reality." 

He visibly clenched his fists and he snarled out. "So why... Why is the true form of Ahriman, Angra Mainyu who isn't even a Heretic God like myself in this world!"

I paused as the thought honestly never struck me and I couldn't help a burst of laughter escaping me as it was just such a perfect thing. In one of the strongest Persian gods running straight into the Persian God of all the world's evils.

And Verethragna knew my laughter wasn't directed at him, just the situation, so although he didn't look remotely amused at my own laughter. He didn't take offense. 

"Where is Ahriman, where is the evils of the world made manifest young Campione." Verethragna demanded clearly out of patience and my laughter died off as I tilted my head to the side with a grimace coming to my face.

'I don't want him to rush off and blow up the Grail and cause another tidal wave of cursed mud to kill multiple thousands of people...' But my thought was cut off as the Persian war god said bluntly. "I am well aware that you know of mine quarry location. Now out with it, where is my fated enemy!"

At his demanding tone my eyes tightened on his form and I could feel my desire for battle rising as I mentally reviewed his domains. The great many domains that made him one of the strongest gods in Campione as well as a contender for the title of 'King of the End'

Verethragna actually smiled seeing my judging eyes and he likewise relaxed with his hands going to his sides as he asked with some joy. "Hoh? You would rather fight me instead?" 

And in response, I pulled out the divine Grimoire of Prometheus from my expanded bag at my side. "You put your domain or Warrior Aspect into the Prometheus Grimoire... Why? It's your strongest Aspect and ability?" I asked with some honest confusion.

There was a pause as Verethragna looked at me in stunned silence before he actually burst into laughter with him holding his chest making my own eyebrow twitch at the role refusal of being the one being laughed at for a situation that I didn't foresee or understand.

But Verethragna after calming his laughter happily explained with his voice having a tired confidence in it that made my lips curve up in amusement. "Young Campione... I came to Earth to die in glorious combat, and after beating down your sibling Sasha Voban, and that goddess of the owls and shattering her divine core, I realized I am just too strong Haha! So with you inheriting the power of someone I consider to be at the same level as my master Ahura Mazda, and giving you a handicap. I know you will give me at least a damned good fight and maybe... Just maybe you will give me the glorious death I so yearn for." 

His voice became wistful as he said almost weakly. "After all... How pathetic is it for a Wargod to die forgotten and fading with the passing loss of faith and thought by the humans he rightfully thinks of as mere ants. Instead of dying in glorious combat with hot blood escaping his veins as his glorious opponent stands over him for a change."

There was a moment of silence and I felt Medusa and Medea on the edge of the property watching this interaction in silence as they rightfully stayed away and out of Verethragna's direct view. Even though I knew that the god could feel their presence at the very least.

Along with Erica who was watching from her window.

But after a moment of thought, I exhaled and said. "Verethragna, the evil god Ahriman is basically synched up into a batter of damn near infinite magical power... Directly attacking it, would only make Angra Mainyu explode with his curses flooding into the world and probably killing everyone in this city."

The young teenager's head tilted to the side as he looked at me in confusion before sneering and saying with a cold smile. "I am a heretic god, little Jade Emperor... I was blessed by Gaia to slaughter humans and cull their influence on the planet's texture. I literally couldn't care less about human lives."

And in that moment I blinked before nodding and saying evenly. "Alright fine... Ahriman is sealed under-" And just as Verethragna listened in as to where Ahriman was sealed in the Greater Grail and its location I struck.

My Imperial Seals, one of Yin and Yang with tremendous speeds slammed into the godling like a baseball bat as they greatly expanded with Verethragna being smashed off the property and into the air.

"Tell what's his face to evacuate the city!" I yelled to Medea as I flew up to meet Verethragna in the air with him flying under his own power with his aspect of the Raptor being active.

Before Verethragna could speak though I flew off at high speeds out of the city in the direction of the Einzbern mansion to get away from the city and I heard Verethragna laugh as he said happily. "Fine! You wish to fight away from your people so you may fight without their consideration. I will allow it!"

'Fucking shota war god.' I thought with annoyance and then I swirled through the air as I dodged the casual bolt of lightning that Verethragna used from his Goat Aspect with him chuckling before dipping down in the air to avoid my flying sword from slamming into his forehead.

After we got out of the city I heard him chanting out. "O lightning. I am the conqueror who vanquished a thousand with a hundred. Release bright and shining brilliance, and grant me divine power!"

And in turn I raised up my hands as my Imperial Seals grew greatly in size as I likewise chanted out. "Gravity's might, a cosmic decree, Bind the foe, by imperial decree. Celestial whispers, ancient and bold, Imperial Seal, their stories suppressed!" 

His form wreathed in lightning attempted to fly into me at great speeds to do melee combat but instead, he was slowed and then sucked away by the train-sized imperial seals that were glowing a deep powerful purple as their great powers of suppression drew the unruly god towards them.

"Haha! Great, but this shan't hold me as not even my master could control me properly Haha!" Verethragna roared with joy as his form ballooned with power and size as he turned into a mass of huge light.

And then a primal screech rang out before I grimaced feeling my Yin Imperial Seal get blasted off into the distance and visibly dimming as a Divine Bull bigger than skyscrapers escaped the light of Verethragna's true transformation into the Boar and he didn't waste any time in charging across through the air with his massive bull body attempting to rush me down to crush, and gore me on those divine tusks.

But in reality I burst into laughter as I actually had a spell completely dedicated to sealing and suppressing a great demon boar from story of Wukong as the Jade Emperor sealed away Zhu Bajie after the pig went after his fairy wives.

"In realms untamed, where darkness breeds, Imperial Seal, attend to our needs.

Great Boar Demon, fierce and wild, By this decree, be reconciled.

Imperial power, ancient and true, Bind the beast, as I will it to.

Boar of shadows and heaven, strength unfolding, In Imperial suppression, let your story end.

Seal the tusks, staunch the roar, Imperial authority, forevermore."

My remaining Imperial Seal grew greatly in height from the size of a train to a massive tower that was as wide as a mountain with the seal was slammed down onto the unstoppable charging boar with divine authority restricting motions creating a stalemate as the boars divine energy flared with great power pushing up the seal while the seal with disdain emanating from it sought to crush the 'Pig' under it's weight and authority.

And in a split moment his Divine Boar collapsed with a bird screech and I raised both my arms to block the drop kick as Verethragna all but teleported to me using his Godspeed in his Raptor form to drop kick me into the ground before my seal could suppress his boar form.

'Did he use his Gale aspect as well?' I thought as I thought he couldn't use multiple Aspects at once unless he was riding the Aspect as a mount or something. But the Persian war god just laughed joyfully as he slammed down into the ground beside me as I dodged as the ground cratered deeply as he glowed with gold energy as he activated his Bull Aspect that gave him super strength.

I pulled at the golden core of condensed spiritual might within myself and I fell into the martial arts I had downloaded into my mind by being the Jade Emperor and being a cultivator in all but name.

Our fists met together and although his fist easily overpowered mine with his enhanced strength with the divine Bull aspect elevating his own strength above my one. But I sent a wave of power through my fist into his and he grimaced as his wrist visibly bulged and then exploded with divine ichor spattering our bodies as the inner power violently erupted in his body.

"Not bad! Should that fist hit my chest that would all but cripple me haha!" He laughed and then I parried a brutal sidekick from him with a palm and I took a breath before a loud bang rang out as I exploded my mana and ki beneath a foot to drive my form forward with my knee slamming into his chest.

But instead of my knee hitting his chest, Verethragna blocked the knee with both hands as his heels dredged dense lines as I roared and emerald green energy flowed powerfully from my feet behind me and Verethragna was shoved back ten meters and slammed through a tree with me pushing him before he quickly yelled out. "O lightning. I am the conqueror who vanquished a thousand with a hundred. Release bright and shining brilliance, and grant me divine power!"

I instantly disengaged as he called upon the Ram's divine lightning and in this melee fight my Imperial Seals had already flown back to me so I threw them into the beam of condensed lightning that attempted to fry me under it's power.

But as the lightning drew back and I grimaced as his divine lightning did a great deal of damage to my Yin seal... Though on the other end, his lightning did actually strengthen and refine the Yang seal. 

'What the hell is she doing...' I thought as I could feel Erica's magical signature coming closer to our battle.

Either way, I slammed the seals back towards Verethragna with a raptor screech ringing out as he used Godspeed to avoid the seals and as he exited Godspeed already in my personal space I gagged as this time he did actually use the Camel Aspects power to kick me in the chest and I was sent skipping across the ground but I took the blow with a grin as in turn my flying sword flew out from my sleeve and carved open his stomach a good bit as he spun with the kick.

"You do realize with my Camel Aspect I feel no pain? And with my Ram Aspect, I am all but immortal as well?" He taunted and I shrugged as I stood up with a cough as I took out a divine elixer and Verethragna's face twitched as my dented broken chest audibly healed as the divine elixer went to work.

"Yeah well fuck you. I got the power of money!" I laughed as I held out a hand full of pills that weren't healing pills... But he didn't know that. 

Either way seeing his face curdle and look at me in disgust made me happy with how stupidly overpowered this brat was. As I could literally see his stomach sealing up from where my sword had cut him open.

'He has his own regeneration... One I cannot actually match, so I need to force this fight to end quicker.' I thought as I hadn't had enough time to truly make piles of pills to take advantage of my greatest asset in my crafting ability. "Verethragna," I spoke cracking my neck as my Yang seal flew in front of me and spun menacingly.

The Persian war god tilted his head to the side in curiosity and then grinned with a feral glint in his eyes at hearing my thought being brought open. "I have this Yang seal and its my strongest treasure and offensive ability... Let's test this seal on your strongest authority, I want to see if I can seal the sun of your master Ahura Mazhda!" 

And Verethragna with a grin raised up his hands as he chanted out in answer to my desire for us to throw our greatest offensive abilities.

"Hail to thee, majestic one, Underneath the blazing sun,

White Stallion, carry us forth, In thy glory, we find our worth!"

From beneath his form formed a glorious silver and golden stallion that burned my eyes to look up and began charging at me as I spoke my own divine chant as I called upon the Jade Emperor's true essence. As the although the Jade Emperor didn't give me an Authority that required chants to activate them.

Within the knowledge granted by his domain as the Jade Emperor and being the core of the Taoist Trinity, I had a great many of spells that augmented my abilities and armaments that I could create.

"Seal the heavens, seal the stars,

In your presence, none shall resist.

All divines are beneath your might,

Imperial Authority, suppress all within my sight!" 

My massive jade seal grew to a massive size, now equal to a floating mountain that completely obscured Verethragna's burning sun of a form that was rushing toward me. And seeing the massive Yang attribute and absorbing Imperial Seal about to smash headlong with an incarnation of a literal... I did the smart.

I used an earth escape spell and like diving into water from a diving board my body sunk into the ground instantly as I threw myself a good thirty meters into the ground before I vomited blood as the ground above me compressed smashing me as a tremendous explosion rang out.

'Fucking crazy war god.' I coughed out as I swam back up to the surface after a few seconds and froze seeing the terrible devastation surrounding me as I only had to dig back up a good three or four meters at most.

As where I was previously and all around me for a good mile was nothing but a bare crater with the ground being burnt almost to fucking glass, as my boots crunched the brittle ground as I properly stood up.

"You bastard Kheh!" A cough rang out and I looked at Verethragna who was heavily burnt as well with his chest and head visibly managed from where my seal still smashed into him in the midst of the explosion.

As the Yang seal was the very antithesis to all things Yang attributed so his powerful authority actually fed more power to the seal as they clashed. And my face twitched seeing his form glow as he finally used his last Aspect. The aspect of the Ram that he used to all but resurrect himself.

But then as he fully healed himself in but moments I hadn't been idle standing around as I had pulled a trick out of the book out of the Jade Emperor's most despised foe as I used the blood I coughed out previously and with a loud crunching noise, three clones shot up out of the ground behind Verethragna.

"Pathetic spell clones really!" The war god roared with annoyance as he used the Bull Aspect to easily kill the far weaker incarnations of myself along with kicking me away when I charged in to fight with the clones but I just smiled as from the holes my clones left in the ground in their exit, my flying sword flew through the holes at godspeed in a blur even to my own Campione eyes.

And Verethragna couldn't react quickly enough as my sword slammed home and pierced through his throat making his eyes widen with fear... And anticipation as he couldn't chant a greater authority now!

'I wonder if he regrets this now.' I thought while holding a pained expression as Verethragna snapped my flying sword making my blood backlash inside my body as the spiritual connection I had with the sword was violently shattered.

Even as Verethragna looked up at me grinning with bloodlust, his eyes widened as he looked at what was now in my hands. Within my hands was a very familiar Grimoire. The Prometheus Grimoire!

"You can have this back Verethragna," I said exhausted as my shattered spiritual connections had greatly hurt my mental and spiritual will. But with a flex of my will, the Prometheus Grimoire glowed with Verethragna barely managing to stand up from how I had repeatedly broken his body with my Imperial Seal.

Surrounding our burnt area, a field of endless golden swords formed and from within the swords Verethragna laughed as his regeneration continued as he smashed aside and shattered the golden god-killing swords that sought to destroy him under my will. "Haha! You don't understand my history, what makes my domains and Aspects! The Warrior's god-killing sword cannot kill the divine without total wisdom of the target!"

Instead, though a different voice spoke up. One that was not, myself chanting a Taoist, Buddhist, or Confucius spell. Nor Verethragna's powerful but youthful voice as he drew upon his stupid amount of authorities with his Aspects.

"But wisdom can be gifted, war god Verethragna!" I turned around stunned and realized that Erica had some method of concealment that had hid herself during the resulting battle with my Yang Seal, and his Stallion Aspect exploding and causing so much damage.

Soft lips met mine as I turned towards Erica and I stilled as her hand wrapped around my neck with a hand gripping the front of my robe. Her eyes were closed with a deep flush crossing her face and then my mind dulled as infinite information was downloaded into my brain. No into my very soul.

As Erica used the one way to bypass a Campione's insane durability and magical resistance in a tantric-like ritual with the kiss connecting our vastly different souls together. Allowing her to download the literal years of studying divine beings into my soul and incorporate that knowledge as true wisdom.

The glow of the golden deity slaying swords grew greatly, as I now had the wisdom of what Verethragna truly was laid out before me. I saw the changes in humanity's view of him and other figures that could be attributed to his mythology had forced upon this shard of himself that had descended to the mortal world. 

With our souls connected with my enhanced perception, I could feel Erica's emotions... Her intentions towards myself and honestly as I felt the spitfire of a woman's soul and what made her, herself. I couldn't help but grow enamored with her as never before had I seen the truth of someone in their entirety like this.

In the core of Erica Blandelli was her pride, as a warrior, a mage, and the pride of her own greatness which... To be fair she was amazing for a modern human, but beyond that. She loved easily, she cared for others, and I could feel her happiness and some form of affirmation to something towards myself that was being shared with our connection.

As our connection was a two-way street. She knew I was open to being friends... Maybe even more, as I definitely appreciated her beauty which made that 'pride' of hers flare with smugness, but she could also feel that I was actually worried for her well-being in this fight. And that care and worry I had for her. Well...

She wore it like a blanket to smother herself with as she indulged in my emotions.

My eye was naturally drawn to Verethragna as the kiss was naturally broken and as our eyes met I saw a smile of acceptance in his eyes before he shouted out as a one of the flying golden swords slammed home into his chest and ignited his divine core using his own divinity as the fuel to kill him. " Yuhuang Yudi... No, the Jade Emperor, I will see you again." He shouted proudly with his voice coming out more weakly as he continued lightly. "You won this round... But let us see how you fare agaisnt my own Warrior Aspect next time my rival."

Verethragna's body broke down into ashes as his Heretic Body broke down under his own divinity revolting inside himself and my vision darkened slightly in warning of what was to come so I smiled slightly and accepted Erica's arm to lean my weight upon her.

With Erica saying softly. "Go on ahead Lord Yudi... Go to Pandora, I will protect you with my life." 

I relaxed against her with her slowly bringing us to a sitting and laying down position with my head resting in her lap, and staring up into Erica's soft eyes above me just past her ample breasts I spoke tiredly but with a good-natured smile. "You stole my first kiss, Erica... You don't get to call me lord anymore, my name is Jake." 

And with that, I let go of my body with my consciousness drifting away into the void as I heard a female voice squealing. "Why are you back already!? You are going to give this poor mother a heart attack you crazy... Ugghhh!" 

I then gifted the petite pink-haired goddess Pandora a smile with me raising my fingers up in peace signs as I said cheekily. "I am your best son after all! So I need to kill a god like at least once a week so I can come to visit you plenty haha!"

Pandora worried screech would fill my heart with joy for years to come honestly.