On the second day after Hades dealt with Verethragna and Melqart, the magical associations of Italy were in an uproar. Having received news that the Heretic God Verethragna and the Heretic God Melqart had been defeated by Hades, King of the Underworld, the magical associations now placed great importance on matters concerning Hades.
Some wanted a God Slayer to go and kill Hades, some wanted to pledge allegiance to Hades to seek peace, and some even fantastically considered going to kill Hades themselves.
At the Lucretia residence, Kusanagi Godou and Erica were also present. Lucretia sat in a recliner, looking at the painting Hades had made for her with a serious expression, and said:
"I never imagined that young painter was actually the famous Underworld God Hades. I truly didn't expect that Lord of the Underworld to possess such exceptional painting skills. It's not an exaggeration to call him a God of Art."
"I had no idea Allen was such a famous god. Even a Japanese like me knows the divine name Hades," Kusanagi Godou said, his face filled with astonishment.
Erica, wearing a red dress, lowered her head and said nothing, as if she was pondering something in her heart.
Then, as if having made up her mind, Erica lifted her skirt and ran towards the place Hades had told her about.
"Erica..." Kusanagi Godou reached out, trying to call her back, but she had already run out the door.
Seeing Erica leave, Lucretia showed a teasing smile and said, "I never thought the day would come when the 'Crimson Demon' of the Copper Black Cross would fall in love. Ah, youth."
At this moment, Hades was sitting amidst the Roman ruins on the other side of Sardinia. This beautiful site, with its clear waters and green mountains, was perfectly suited for painting.
"You've finally arrived, one of the six current God Slayers, the 'Sword King' Salvatore Doni," Hades said, continuing to paint without turning his head.
A young Italian man with golden hair, a pair of sunglasses perched on his head, wearing a T-shirt with an open chest and jeans, carried a long backpack on his right shoulder. His appearance gave off a modern and unrestrained feeling.
"Oh~! You know me. So you're that Underworld God Hades? It's hard to imagine the cold, stern Great God described in the magical associations' tales having such a refined hobby as painting," Salvatore said to Hades, his attitude like meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in years, yet his tone and eyes held a barely concealed fighting spirit.
Hades continued painting and said, "Have you come to challenge me?"
"That's right. As one of the most well-known deities, your strength must be formidable. I don't want to miss such a great opponent," Salvatore said, his smile unchanged, as he took the backpack off his right shoulder and opened it, revealing a sword inside.
Unlike Erica's Leinhart, a sword meant for combat, the one in Salvatore's hand was a two-handed sword that looked like a work of art.
Powerful curse power erupted from Salvatore's body as he began to chant the incantation for his Authority:
"I swear here. I shall not allow anything I cannot cut to exist. And this sword is an invincible blade that can sever and cut everything upon this earth!"
[The Silver-Arm that Rends All]: An Authority Salvatore Doni usurped from the celtic God-King 'Nuada'. A terrifying yet unadorned Authority. When activated, the flesh-and-blood hand transforms into a silver metallic arm, enveloping the weapon with immense curse power, granting it the mighty strength to perform miracles like splitting the earth to alter terrain and parting the sea. It is a demonic sword possessing the ability to cut through anything.
"I hope you don't disappoint me! Hades!" Salvatore said with a mad laugh, then swung his sword at Hades.
With a single thought from Hades, the expression on Salvatore's face and all his movements froze instantly as he charged forward. Facing the mystery, Hades smiled faintly, holding a paintbrush coated with a layer of his own Cosmos.
Hades flicked his brush towards the sword in Salvatore's hand. "Snap!" It cleanly severed Salvatore's sword.
"Dark Meteor Fist." Hades extended his left palm and spoke calmly. Dark energy bullets continuously flew from his palm, as dense as a meteor shower, all striking Salvatore and sending him flying backward.
"Cough, cough, cough—!! This guy is really something," Salvatore said painfully, covering his chest and coughing up a mouthful of blood. Moreover, he had just used [Steel's Protection].
[Steel's Protection]: An Authority Salvatore Doni usurped from the Norse hero 'Siegfried'. When used, nearly a hundred runic letters manifest around the user. It grants the body the hardness and weight of steel, a power that protects oneself. Ordinary collapses are less than rain to him. The Authority is unparalleled in both weight and hardness, preventing Salvatore from being easily blown away, and his movements do not become sluggish despite the increased body weight. This super weight can also be utilized in attacks, making strikes with such a body highly effective.
Hades stepped forward and said, "I recall that among the two gods I killed were two of my nephews: the God of Wine, Dionysus, and the God of Fire and Forging, Hephaestus."
"Well then, I shall personally send you to the Underworld."
The painting Hades was creating flew to his side. "That's! Me!!" Salvatore exclaimed in shock upon seeing the painting floating beside Hades, for it depicted himself in a vivid pose of swinging his sword. However, the painting did not show his eyes.
"Correct. And this will also be your posthumous portrait," Hades said, looking at Salvatore with a smile.
Hades gripped the paintbrush with both hands, dipped it in the blood flowing from Salvatore, then turned and drew an 'X' over Salvatore's portrait.
"Truth in Red."
"Urgh..." The moment the final stroke fell, Salvatore's eyes rolled back, he lost consciousness, his skin turned deathly pale, and all signs of life vanished from his body.
Truth in Red: Using a brush dipped in human blood to smear a completed painting. The victim dies instantly, finally falling into the Underworld, bound by its laws.
Although God Slayers possess strong resistance to curse power, making them immune to all magic in this world, all of this depends on the strength of the gods in this world. Hades's power far surpasses that of the gods of this world, so his techniques naturally take effect.
From then on, there was one less God Slayer in the world, leaving only five.
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