Just as Satsuki was preparing to remodel Progenitor Goddess Angela within her sea of consciousness...
In the northernmost reaches of the Philippine archipelago lay a place known as the Batanes Islands.
At the very tip of that island chain stood an uninhabited islet called Yami Island.
Yet now, upon the beach of that lonely island, a child stood waiting.
Her features were clearly not of Southeast Asian descent, but those of a very standard Caucasian girl, around twelve or thirteen years old.
Golden curls fell in elegant arcs around a delicately beautiful face.
However, in stark contrast to her soft appearance, she wore a black formal dress that exuded a faintly seductive aura wholly mismatched with her age.
If one had to describe it, the feeling bore some resemblance to Progenitor Goddess Angela.
In truth, she did share a certain connection with Angela, for this girl was the legendary Progenitor Goddess Guinevere.
Her appearance here was due to an agreement she had made with someone.
But that agreement had been disrupted by the sudden emergence of Satsuki and Erica's group.
Although the beautiful girl forced herself to appear calm on the surface, her mind was in utter turmoil. Again and again, she replayed the scene from several days earlier—when her fellow clanswoman, Progenitor Goddess Angela, had been instantly defeated by a mysterious Godslayer and her allies.
Of course, though she too was a descendant of the Serpent God, Progenitor Goddess Guinevere had never intended to help Angela in the first place. Her original plan had been to wait until the revived Angela and the possibly-not-dead Smith fought each other to mutual ruin, then take this clanswoman away to fulfill her own objective.
But now everything had spiraled beyond her expectations. Even as a witch whose wisdom surpassed ordinary human intellect, she found the current situation difficult to handle.
Still, she had already notified that person in advance. Even if she arrived empty-handed, she would never dare to stand that individual up. The consequences would be far worse than stirring upheaval across Britain.
A moment later, she seemed to sense an approaching power. The small figure suddenly knelt upon the sand. Rarely seen, she murmured in somewhat clumsy yet barely comprehensible Chinese.
"Welcome, Sect Master. I, Guinevere, sincerely pay my respects to you."
Yet before her lowered head, no one appeared. There was only the vast ocean connected to the Pacific.
And still, within this desolate emptiness, a voice responded from somewhere unknown.
"Progenitor Goddess, there is no need for such excessive courtesy. Let us dispense with these tedious formalities and proceed directly to the matter at hand."
A beautiful, pure female voice rose from the waves. It carried an archaic elegance, reminiscent of the clear resonance of a traditional plucked instrument.
Before the girl, the deep blue seawater slowly gathered together, forming the figure of a peerless beauty.
"The report you sent to the Lu Mountain hermitage piqued my curiosity. Yet judging from your expression, it seems circumstances have changed."
The beauty formed from converging seawater possessed delicate features and a shy, graceful bearing. Her black hair, smooth as silk, was neatly bound. She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a white Hanfu that wrapped elegantly around her form as she stood poised amid the waves.
"I would not dare conceal the truth from you, Sect Master. I originally intended to offer the Serpent of Deviance to you as a sacrifice to awaken your destined rival. However, Angela was taken away by another faction."
Progenitor Goddess Guinevere prostrated herself upon the sand, explaining respectfully to the tranquil beauty standing within the sea.
"So you have come empty-handed this time?"
The peerless beauty addressed as Sect Master spoke those plain words without emotion. Yet the surrounding air transformed into an unimaginable gale. In an instant, a shockwave rivaling a typhoon surged forward, striking the kneeling girl.
Guinevere was violently blown away, her small body smashing through several coconut tree trunks before finally coming to a halt.
Guinevere called herself a Progenitor Goddess. She indeed possessed the bloodline of the Serpent God and formidable curse power.
But that depended on whom she faced.
Before this person, the strength she relied upon was laughably insignificant.
It was simple.
The beauty within the waves bore the surname Luo, given name Cuilian, courtesy name Hao. She stood at the pinnacle of martial arts and served as the Sect Master of the Five Prisons Sacred Sect. The Martial King of Jiangnan in China, she was more commonly known as Luo Hao Sect Master.
Two hundred years ago, she had defeated a god through the ultimate principles of her own martial path and usurped divine Authority.
In this world, she alone had reached the realm of invincibility under heaven, yearning only for defeat.
If compared to Satsuki's former world, she would be akin to a Godslayer version of Dugu Qiubai.
Gazing at the blown-away Guinevere, she spoke.
"You do not resist? Have you prepared yourself for death? Or do you possess some other bargaining chip sufficient to compensate for your broken promise?"
"It was I who broke the agreement first. Your punishment is only just, Sect Master. Yet to speak honestly, I have not come prepared to die. I am here to provide you with another piece of information."
After steadying her tumbling body, Guinevere maintained her prostrate posture as she replied.
"If I am not mistaken, it concerns those who caused your plan to fail..."
Majestic and beautiful azure eyes turned toward her.
"Yes. Although two Campiones appeared during the battle, neither was the one who truly acted. The one who seized Angela was a woman with an Eastern appearance. Moreover, her aura was not that of a Campione."
"Oh?"
A flicker of interest rose within Luo Hao.
"Not a Godslayer, yet capable of abducting a God in full view of all? And a woman with an Eastern face? Interesting. If you possess information about this individual, I may overlook your failure."
"Many thanks for your magnanimity, Sect Master."
Guinevere lifted her head at last, relief flooding her heart. She knew her life had been spared.
"According to the intelligence gathered, that Eastern woman is an associate of the newly emerged Campione in Japan—Erica Blandelli. Angela is currently in their hands."
"Among the Campiones of my standing, another new name has appeared?"
"Yes. There are also rumors that the Demon King of Eastern Europe, Marquis Voban, was defeated by this Erica not long ago."
"Oh?"
This information caused a sharp gleam to flash through Luo Hao's eyes. She stared intently at Guinevere for a long moment before finally speaking.
"If that is truly the case, then the information you have provided carries considerable weight."
"I swear upon the Holy Grail that every word I have spoken is true."
Guinevere answered solemnly.
"Very well. Since the opposing party so conveniently happens to be a Campione of Japan, I shall dispatch my subordinates first. They will make all necessary preparations before my arrival."
"As you command."
...
The flight was dull and uneventful. During the journey, Satsuki remained in a state of light sleep as she handled matters concerning Progenitor Goddess Angela.
As a result, Metis and Erica chatted the entire way. At first, Erica had maintained vigilance and suspicion toward this suddenly appearing "goddess."
Yet for some reason—perhaps because friendships between "girls" can deepen at astonishing speed over shared topics—by the end of the two flights, Metis, now dressed in modern attire, and Erica had become fast friends.
The return of a Campione was no small matter. Although this particular Campione was not Japanese, dozens of men in suits were already waiting in the arrival area, holding up placards that read Welcome Our Campione—Erica.
An ordinary person unaccustomed to such a scene might have felt embarrassed.
But Erica walked forward with a confident smile.
"I didn't expect to gain a fan club in Japan so quickly. Who's your organizer?"
The suited man standing at the front cleared his throat awkwardly.
"My ladies, you misunderstand. We are not a fan club support group. It is our first meeting. I am Hikohiko, heir of the Kuhōzuka family, guardian of the West Heavenly Shrine in Nikkō. It is an honor beyond measure to pay my respects to Campione Erica."
"Oh? The Kuhōzuka family—I've heard of them. One of Japan's Four Great Houses, if I recall correctly."
The Sayanomiya family and the Seishuin family, together with the Kuhōzuka family before them and the Rengjō family, were collectively known as the Four Houses.
Erica nodded, indicating she remembered.
"Then what brings you here?"
"It is like this," Hikohiko of Kuhōzuka explained. "Because our family's West Heavenly Shrine has long lacked a Hime-Miko, we hope to entrust that position to Mariya Hikari. However, we have heard that Miss Hikari's elder sister is Yuri Mariya, who is very close to Your Majesty. Therefore, we believe this matter must be discussed with you first."
"Although a Hime-Miko is a high-ranking shrine maiden, there shouldn't be such a severe shortage. If the position has remained vacant for so long, is there a special reason?" Satsuki asked suddenly from the side.
"Yes, Lady Satsuki," the young master of Kuhōzuka replied respectfully. "Although our family has guarded the shrine in Nikkō since the Edo period, the position of Hime-Miko serving that shrine has been vacant for a very long time. The reason is that the Hime-Miko of that shrine must possess a special aptitude."
"So among all the Hime-Miko in Japan, only Mariya Hikari possesses this suitability?"
This information clearly piqued the trio's interest. Yuri Mariya herself possessed remarkably powerful Spirit Vision. As another daughter of the Mariya family, it was not impossible that her younger sister possessed some equally special ability.
As the Campione, Erica did not immediately express approval or refusal. Instead, she said, "If it's Yuri Mariya's younger sister, then she should still be in elementary school, correct? This matter must depend on her own wishes and those of her guardians. In a few days, I will meet her in person."
"Understood."
...
The day after returning from the airport.
Having just come back to the country, the group headed straight to the Shichio Shrine where Yuri Mariya resided.
After climbing the long flight of steps and passing beneath the solemn torii gate, they saw Yuri sweeping fallen leaves from the path.
Through brief conversation, they learned that she had long been aware of the Kuhōzuka family's proposal—something akin to poaching talent. However, as Hikari's elder sister, she had been unable to make up her mind about allowing her younger sibling to leave Tokyo and shoulder alone the responsibility of becoming an apprentice Hime-Miko in Nikkō.
"So what the young master of Kuhōzuka said was true?" Satsuki asked perceptively.
Yuri nodded.
"The West Heavenly Shrine is located on Mount Nikkō in Tochigi. The Hime-Miko there must possess a particular rare qualification. Because this power is extremely uncommon, the position has been vacant for nearly a century."
"So your sister is a once-in-a-century prodigy?" Erica teased lightly.
"It's only that she happens to possess this ability. She is far from mature," Yuri replied softly. "The Kuhōzuka family has known about my sister for a long time and has repeatedly insisted she be sent to the West Heavenly Shrine. But she is still a child, so until recently we have not discussed anything concrete with her."
Although it was recognition from a prestigious house, Yuri's expression was unmistakably troubled.
"That said, I recall that at this age, leaving family to train independently is not unusual. Take Ena Seishuuin, for example—she was practically left to train on her own. In that case, isn't it fairly common among Hime-Miko to leave home for training?"
"Yes. Ena, Kaoru, and I once trained together as shrine maidens," Yuri replied, mentioning several familiar names before quickly adding, "But serving as Hime-Miko at the West Heavenly Shrine is entirely different from ordinary training. Because a Hime-Miko there appears only once in a century, once she assumes the post, she would scarcely have time to leave. She likely would not even be allowed to return home. She might remain in Nikkō for decades."
"Speaking of which, we've talked about this girl named Hikari for quite some time, yet we haven't met her."
Satsuki shifted the topic and addressed Yuri.
"There may be another solution. The Kuhōzuka family values your sister's special talent. If that talent is not truly unique, then it need not necessarily be your sister."
"Satsuki makes sense... Yuri Mariya, won't you introduce your sister to us?" Erica added.
Yuri answered quietly, "Actually, Hikari is inside the shrine."
—"It's a pleasure to meet you, elder sisters..."
A lively girl's voice sounded from within the main hall. Under everyone's gaze, a petite and adorable girl stepped out, dressed in white robes and red hakama. She had the same chestnut-colored hair as Yuri, cut slightly above shoulder length.
"My name is Mariya Hikari. I am currently an apprentice Hime-Miko."
Though her steps lacked elegance, they carried a bright, carefree innocence that made anyone who saw her smile unconsciously.
From that first impression alone, everyone present understood that this girl indeed possessed extraordinary talent.
After carefully scanning Hikari's body with her Tenseigan, Satsuki spoke first.
"It is clear that Miss Hikari possesses excellent shrine maiden qualities. However, the reason the Nikkō shrine insists on you must go beyond that, correct?"
"Yes, Lady Satsuki."
The girl bowed politely toward Satsuki and replied,
"It is because I can use Misogi of Calamity. Only someone proficient in this power can serve as the Hime-Miko of the West Heavenly Shrine."