Rumble!
A black storm raged across the open space, seemingly symbolizing pure darkness and death.
The next moment,
The storm dissipated, revealing a petite figure.
It was a young girl whose height was only half of Ayato's, like a child playing.
But her aura was extremely striking.
Her eyes seemed to contain countless stars, holding infinite wisdom.
Her silver long hair was as striking as moonlight.
"She is the Heretic God, Athena?"
Rias and the others looked surprised.
They never expected that the legendary goddess would appear as a young girl.
"Nice to meet you, most special Campione."
Athena looked at Ayato and smiled. "Something of mine is in your possession. Would you be willing to return it to me?"
"Giving it back to you is no problem. It's useless to me anyway."
Ayato played with the Gorgoneion. "But I wonder, what benefit would it bring me?"
"This is quite an unexpected answer."
Athena was slightly stunned, then smiled. "Then what do you wish to obtain from me?"
"I want all of you. Everything about you belongs to me."
Rias: "..."
Akeno: "..."
Koneko: "..."
'Good grief. He was setting his sights on Athena?'
'He truly was... audacious beyond belief.'
"Haha, what a bold answer, Campione."
Athena's gaze sharpened, her eyes filled with wildness and delight.
"Do you want to seize my Authority?"
"Then try it. As a Goddess of War, I would be truly joyful to compete with a strong enemy."
"Are you misunderstanding something?"
Ayato said helplessly. "I'm not interested in your Authority. I meant it literally."
"Huh?"
Athena was stunned for a moment, then realized. Her gaze became even more dangerous. "I see... so that's your intention?"
"Campione, don't you think that's too offensive?"
"No, I'm just facing my desires directly."
Ayato said seriously. "You've been my target for a long time."
"I will obtain you no matter what."
'This guy truly wasn't lying.'
Feeling that unguarded gaze, Athena felt a brief trance.
Being openly confessed to like this... was a first in her countless years.
"By the way, this is my sincerity."
Just as Athena came back to her senses, she saw the ancient medallion flying toward her.
"Th-This..."
She instinctively caught it in her hands, her pupils contracting sharply.
'I... got it?'
'The thing I had sought for a millennium... I had obtained it just like that?'
She found it unbelievable.
Then,
The change began!
Boom!
A black tornado completely enveloped Athena, eventually shooting into the sky.
Crack! Crack!
The entire sky seemed to churn.
Rolling dark clouds instantly shrouded the entire city. Countless thunderbolts churned within them, like divine punishment descending.
Before long,
The black storm dissipated.
A tall, slender Athena, dressed in ancient Greek style clothing, appeared once more before Ayato's eyes.
Compared to her earlier young girl form,
The current her radiated a breathtakingly mature aura.
Her delicate features were like the most perfect creation of the world, without a single flaw.
The divine power emanating from her had increased more than tenfold, seemingly vast as smoke and boundless as the sea.
"I have indeed accepted your sincerity."
Athena looked deeply at Ayato, then suddenly laughed with delight. "But are you truly confident that you can bear the love of me, the Queen of the Divine Realm?"
"How can you know without trying?"
Ayato smiled gently.
"Fine. Then I will give you this chance."
Indescribable terrifying cursed power rose from Athena's body.
"Devil who slew a god, prove your caliber. Show me your power, and let me see if you are worthy to take me into your possession."
"A fight?"
Ayato nodded. "But this isn't the place for battle."
"How about we change locations?"
Hearing this, Athena frowned, but still spoke. "Though I would prefer not to change locations, since you have shown sincerity, I will comply with you this once."
"Then I thank you."
Ayato snapped his fingers, and the glow of a magic circle enveloped the entire area.
Rias and the others were even included.
After all, watching a battle of this level would be beneficial for them.
...
Outskirts!
A flash of magic circle light appeared.
Rias and the others soon materialized.
Upon appearing, they immediately looked up.
There,
The figures of Ayato and Athena floated into the air.
Between them, cursed power as tangible as a hurricane pressed against each other, causing the ground to continuously collapse and shatter.
"Now, we can begin."
Ayato's Devil wings unfurled behind him, radiating a strikingly sinister aura. "After this battle, you will belong to me."
"Devil who slew a god, you sure have a big mouth."
Athena's eyes were filled with wildness and fighting spirit as she slightly raised one hand.
Hum!
Black mist surged from Athena's body like a tide, converging into the palm of her hand, forming a black scythe.
Swoosh!
The void shattered.
The entire space seemed to be cut.
Athena's figure flickered, and the black scythe slashed out.
Just by watching from distance, Rias and the others felt as if they were seeing the legendary Death.
And in fact, that was exactly the case.
Athena is the legendary ruler of death and darkness,
So under her Authority, this was the true scythe of Death.
Incarnation of the Gorgon!
Facing this strike, Ayato raised his right hand and clenched it.
Bang!
The air of the entire sky exploded, as if crushed by this invisible force.
The next moment,
Ayato's figure shot forward like a shooting star, throwing a punch.