"How is this possible!"
Feeling the killing intent behind him, Ebisu's expression drastically changed. He abruptly turned around, but he did not see Yu's figure, and yet the sharp needle-like sensation on his back still had not disappeared.
"Gulp."
Swallowing his saliva, Ebisu cautiously looked around, but found nothing. Although there was nothing, Ebisu was certain that the feeling of danger was not deceiving him. There had to be something! There had to be!
Coming back to his senses, Ebisu suddenly turned his head toward the young man whom he had injured earlier with a sneak attack, but when his gaze fell upon the young man, he discovered that Yu's figure had already disappeared.
Moreover, even the body he had just used to attack Yu had disappeared together with him!
As he thought about it, Ebisu's expression became increasingly gloomy.
The scope of his divine authorities was extremely broad; from a small bubble floating on the ocean to various corpses drifting through the sea, all would establish a connection with him through the concept of "floating," and thus he would use them, turning them into his servants. Since those corpses were already dead, they were absolutely silent and unnoticeable for sneak attacks.
And what Ebisu had just used to attack Yu was a human corpse.
But… he had just controlled that corpse to pierce through Yu's chest, right?! But now…
Before Ebisu could continue thinking, the young man's voice rang out above his head. Hearing it, Ebisu abruptly raised his head and saw Yu holding a long sword radiating dazzling light, while his eyes were filled with a playful look directed toward him.
And beside Yu was a monstrous creature, swollen all over its body, but with incredibly thin arms and a horrifyingly pale face!
That monster…
"You must be Ebisu, right? Although you are a highly respected God among the people of Japan, you are surprisingly weak; even… weaker than Magatsu-gami."
Holding the sword Joyeuse, Yu waved his hand. Suddenly, crimson tentacles grew out behind the young man. The tentacles twisted and descended upon the corpse beside him, instantly devouring it.
After devouring the corpse, Yu revealed a satisfied smile.
His Evil Disaster Contaminated Earth could turn devoured beings into impurities under his control. Yu did not particularly like this power before because it was too disgusting, but he discovered that impurities could devour one another and continuously evolve.
The more powerful the being devoured to create an impurity, the greater its potential for evolution. Some impurities created from ordinary humans would be devoured the moment they were born.
Because of this, Yu came up with the idea of raising impurities. Although they were ugly, they could become stronger!
Although a Moon God Envoy of the Great Knight rank was usually enough, that only applied during normal times. If one day a War God capable of summoning thousands of subordinates with a single wave of the hand appeared, then although Yu could summon Moon God Envoys infinitely, their strength would be an enormous weakness.
"That power of yours is truly disgusting."
Looking at Yu, Ebisu felt that the needle-like sensation on his back still had not disappeared. His expression became gloomy, and he did not try to hide his disgust toward the power Yu had just displayed.
"Oh, you're one of the Seven Lucky Gods, right? Logically speaking, you should also hate Magatsu-gami."
Hearing that, Yu casually pretended as if he had only just realized it and said.
Ebisu was a God whom Takama-ga-hara did not like, or more precisely, whom Ebisu's parents, Izanagi and Izanami, did not like.
As the Father God and Mother God of a mythology, Izanagi and Izanami could not accept that their first child would be a deformed being. Therefore, the moment he was born, they ruthlessly cast him into the great sea.
Ironically, the child whom Izanagi and Izanami despised was deeply respected among humans and even became the leader of the Seven Lucky Gods.
As for the concept of the Seven Lucky Gods… strictly speaking, it cannot be considered mythology. It is merely a folk gathering of different gods from various mythologies who bring fortune and blessings.
Among the Seven Lucky Gods, only Ebisu is an original god of Japanese Shintoism.
As for the other six, they are Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei.
Of course, that is not the point. The point is that Ebisu, who was abandoned by his parents and worshipped by humans, now wants to take revenge upon humanity. It can only be said that very few gods in Japan are truly normal.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Ebisu did not respond and instead used his third hand to throw the large goldfish he was holding. Freed from Ebisu's control, the goldfish suddenly gained a trace of life in its previously lifeless eyes.
"Snap!"
With a crisp sound, the goldfish's tail suddenly struck the air, even producing a clear cracking sound.
Immediately afterward, the goldfish leaped, attempting to escape, but with Ebisu here, how could it escape?
An invisible thin thread extended from Ebisu's hand, instantly binding the goldfish.
Helplessly, the goldfish looked back, and its entire body began emitting dazzling golden light. The light spread, forming a shield of light in the night sky that enveloped Ebisu, and the goldfish's body also began to grow, transforming into the size of a human in only a single breath.
Seeing this, Yu raised an eyebrow and experimentally swung his sword. The sword light, carrying an unstoppable force, slashed toward the enormous goldfish.
"Clang!"
However, just as the sword light struck the enormous goldfish, it produced a clear metallic sound. Immediately afterward, the sword light shattered, but the enormous goldfish remained completely unharmed.
"Campione, I cannot defeat you. I am very aware of that, but you also cannot kill me."
Hidden within the shield formed by the enormous goldfish, Ebisu saw that Yu's attack had not even slightly shaken the shield. A smile immediately appeared on his distorted old face. Extending his branch-like finger toward the young man, his tone was incomparably confident.
Hearing that, Yu did not act rashly but instead carefully observed Ebisu's turtle-shell-like shield, narrowing his eyes.
The shield carried the aura of Steel. How could this Ebisu… possibly be connected to Steel?
Could it be… steel ships?
No, no, impossible. It must be like Prometheus; Ebisu surely has a hidden story within Japanese mythology that is deeply connected to Steel!
After thinking for a moment, Yu could not recall any story connecting Ebisu with Steel, but that was not a big problem.
It is only Steel, right? Ebisu has it, and so does he!
Thinking of that, the corners of Yu's lips curled into a smile. Looking at Ebisu, who had completely retreated into his shield like a turtle, his eyes shone with a strange silver light.
"I swear here and now!"
"I do not allow there to exist anything that I cannot cut, and this sword is an invincible blade capable of slashing and severing all things upon the earth!"
Yu's Words of Power echoed between heaven and earth. When the Words of Power fell, Yu's hand radiated dazzling silver light. As the light gradually faded, Yu's hand transformed into a silver hand, shining with a steel-like luster and appearing incredibly hard at first glance!
Looking at Yu, Ebisu's expression became gloomy. He did not believe that Yu could break the shield protecting him, but just in case, he still had to protect himself.
As he thought about it, the empty fishing line in Ebisu's hand floated upon the Wind, continuously causing destruction below. The schools of fish fighting against the Moon God Envoys, whether struggling against them or wandering in search of prey, seemed to receive a summons.
No matter what those schools of fish were doing, all of them stopped and turned their gazes toward the gloomy high sky, where two figures could vaguely be seen.
Needless to say, those two figures were naturally Ebisu and Yu.
Casting a glance toward Ebisu in the high sky, those schools of fish flew toward the sky without hesitation. Summoned by Ebisu, they were returning to his side.
The reason Ebisu wanted to call back those schools of fish was actually not to rely on them against Yu. Those schools of fish came at his summons, and even with his blessing, their power was still weak. Only a few deep-sea fish possessed strength at the Great Knight rank.
Such weak power, no matter how numerous, would not pose a threat to Yu.
But were those schools of fish truly useless?
No!
Ebisu is the God of Commerce and the God of Wealth, but he is also the God of Fishing. Remember, fishing, not fish.
The word "fishing" simply refers to hunting fish and creatures from oceans and lakes.
Therefore, thanks to his divine position as the God of Fishing, Ebisu can turn fish into bloody mist and pour it into his weak body, allowing himself to gain immense power comparable to the three main gods of the Three Noble Children!
As he thought about that, the smile on Ebisu's face suddenly froze, and coldness spread through his heart.
Ebisu abruptly raised his head and saw several rapidly moving flickering stars in the night sky.
However, when Ebisu clearly saw what those stars actually were, his expression drastically changed.
What stars?! They were clearly Steel demon swords, wrapped in flames and possessing the power to split heaven and earth!!!
For a moment, Ebisu even forgot to flee. By the time he finally reacted, the meteor-like demon swords had already arrived nearby.
"Boom!!!!"
Looking at the demon swords, Ebisu's eyes suddenly narrowed. The Steel demon swords heavily slammed into the goldfish.
Immediately afterward, golden waves and fiery light continuously spread outward, and space began twisting and distorting under that influence.
"Bang! Bang!"
Two more dull impacts echoed as several demon swords summoned by Yu violently struck the golden shield emitted by the goldfish.
The sudden pressure frightened the goldfish. Without hesitation, it began struggling, then violently swung its tail. The goldfish's tail, decorated with red and golden patterns, struck the demon swords.
"Snap!"
With a crisp sound, a wave of water spread around, and the previously tyrannical Steel demon swords suddenly disappeared, as if they had never existed.
Seeing that, Ebisu sneered mockingly. The Steel demon swords truly were powerful, but what use was strength if they could not hit the target? It was all nothing but empty talk!
However, just as Ebisu thought Yu's attack had ended, the young man's Words of Power echoed once more:
"O sword that can pierce through all enemies with a single swing, dwell within the radiance that strips away all life!"