Chapter 253: Do you want to become a Godslayer?

Seeming to sense Erica's thoughts, Athena glanced at Erica, then ceased paying her any attention.

"How is the situation?"

Athena, who had appeared beside Su Nian at some unknown moment, asked tactfully.

"It has been successful."

Su Nian nodded with a smile.

Erica and Liliana, standing nearby, assumed they were talking about the acquisition of Authority after successfully becoming a Godslayer.

But in reality, what Athena was asking Su Nian was whether Pandora had been captured.

Now that she had received a definitive answer, Athena felt a sudden, great sense of relief.

In fact, capturing Pandora was, in Athena's view, the most troublesome part of the plan.

Although that goddess was, like her, an Earth Mother, she hid in the Netherworld in the form of a Divine Spirit; however, the Netherworld connects to countless parallel worlds and is also a world of the spirit.

Without the concepts of location or distance, hiding in the Netherworld makes one extremely difficult to capture.

Even for Athena, if she were to say she wanted to capture that woman Pandora, it would be impossible to succeed without hundreds of years of planning.

Thinking of this, Athena also said with some pride.

"As expected of the man I have taken a fancy to, though I have also successfully captured the detestable Steel God."

Although it was not without the assistance of Lancelot, that Steel Goddess, the primary effort was achieved by Athena herself.

As an Earth Mother, to defeat, counter-kill, and even capture alive Melqart, this Steel God and God King who possessed the divinity of the sky.

For Athena, this was also an excellent start, a Merit worthy of pride.

At this moment, Erica, standing nearby, saw this scene, her expression somewhat subtle.

This tone—is it acting spoiled, or seeking praise?

Come to think of it, isn't this goddess a Heretic? How is she getting along so well with the King?

But at least one thing could be confirmed: she would not be beaten up by a group of Heretics.

Although the final outcome wouldn't be any different, anyway.

Whether it was one or three, she couldn't beat them; she would just be crushed.

"Well done."

Su Nian praised her casually.

Hearing this, the smile on Athena's face became much brighter.

"However, how should he be dealt with? With the toxin I am currently infusing into his body, I can probably only control him for a few more minutes."

Athena said, looking at Melqart, who was unconscious on the ground and had been dragged all the way by Lancelot's white horse.

Killing him was simple; one only needed to replace the toxin with death.

But to capture him alive and control him, that was very troublesome, especially for a Steel God with a powerful body and vigorous vitality.

Ordinary toxins could only be effective once or twice at most, controlling him for a short period.

And just at this moment, the unconscious Melqart suddenly opened his eyes, but he was very cautious and did not make any sound.

The toxin was still in his body, and now was his weakest moment, even weaker than the heavily injured state he was in after fighting Verethragna earlier.

He carefully controlled his Magic: Divine Power and Authority to break down the toxin within his body.

At this time, Su Nian suddenly spoke to Erica with profound meaning.

"Do you want to become a Godslayer?"

Erica really wanted to say "I'm sorry, I was wrong," but the pride brought by her genius aura since childhood, becoming a Great Knight at sixteen, second only to the Saint Knight at the pinnacle of humanity.

Made her unable to utter words of begging for mercy.

Moreover, Su Nian had already been very lenient with her, and the challenge target he gave her was still an unconscious Heretic.

Who knows, she might actually have a sliver of a chance to become a Godslayer.

Why should the King of Swords be able to do it, and she cannot?

Could it be that she didn't even have the courage to swing her sword at an unconscious Heretic?

Thinking of this, Erica took a deep breath, took out her beloved sword, Lion Heart, using spatial Magic, and then gritted her teeth and charged forward.

Melqart's figure was unusually massive, fifteen meters tall, and with those muscles on his body that looked like they were cast from molten copper, it seemed that with just a little effort, he could easily crush Erica's skull.

Not to mention the surging Magic: Divine Power and the terrifying Divine Spirit pressure permeating his body.

For an ordinary person, just standing beside him would mean enduring terrifying pressure.

Even Erica was no exception; although her talent could be called top-tier among humans, she did not possess the Godslayer's talent of being fearless toward Divine Spirit pressure.

Right now, just lifting her sword required her to gather all the strength in her body.

Is this what a god is?

Erica took a deep breath and warned herself in her heart.

The god is currently in an unconscious state and will not wake up for at least ten minutes; this is her chance.

For the sake of becoming a Godslayer!

After summoning her courage, Erica chanted the Word of Power.

"eli, eli, lemasabachthani! My Lord, why have you forsaken me!"

The Word of Power of Golgotha; this is the song of calamity chanted by the Holy Son about to die, a Word of Power of hatred and despair imbued upon the sword.

"The Word of Power of Golgotha, she actually learned this?"

Diana, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but exclaim.

"At the age of sixteen, this kind of talent has likely already crossed into the realm of Miracle."

"Talent?"

Athena turned her head and glanced at Diana.

"A Miracle?"

Su Nian also turned his head.

Diana was suddenly unable to say anything.

At this moment, Erica, holding her sword and resisting the Divine Spirit's might, finally reached in front of Melqart, arriving within the range where she could attack Melqart with a Curse Word of Power.

She raised her sword high and slashed down with force.

"A superficial memory, but that Word of Power is indeed capable of harming a Divine Spirit."

Athena said with some surprise.

Although it was thanks to the Saint's Word of Power, Erica was indeed quite worthy of pride.

Perhaps if Erica trained for another few hundred years, she could face a god and kill them like Luo Cuilian?

"However, since when can a Divine Spirit be killed so easily?"

Athena said with a cold expression and a flat tone; the current Erica merely possessed the qualification to harm a Divine Spirit.

Just as Erica was rejoicing that Melqart was still unconscious.

Melqart sensed danger and subconsciously raised the Exile in his left hand, blocking Erica's sword, which contained the Word of Power.

"Is that it? You want to harm this old man? Even if you want to kill a god, you should at least send someone with courage!"

Melqart couldn't help but mock Erica, and of course, he also took the opportunity to mock Su Nian as well.

He just blocked with a light, forceful movement, and Erica was sent flying directly, smashing through the wall of the temple.

"Wah—"

Erica struggled to stand up, a sweetness rose in her throat, which she forcibly swallowed back, and she bravely raised her sword once again.

"Fly, Hermes's Boots!"

At Erica's call, a magic circle appeared in mid-air and converged on her boots, making her body exceptionally light.

At the same time, Su Nian frowned upon hearing the Word of Power, but he said nothing, instead watching Erica once again overestimate her own abilities and raise her sword to kill a Divine Spirit.

Such conviction was something even Su Nian had to praise.

At this moment, Erica was like Icarus, who flew toward the sun with wings held by wax.

"It's just a pity, you aren't the protagonist; courage and conviction won't bring about any power-up!"

Su Nian watched Erica, who had charged in quickly only to be hit back and fly even faster, and subconsciously quipped.

And to think he had actually believed he might see a Miracle.

As expected, for a supporting character, there are no Miracles in this world.

Watching Erica, who had been sent flying by him again, Melqart revealed a cruel smile; he had already dispelled the toxins that Athena had used a scheme to instill in his body.

Step by step, he walked toward the heavily injured Erica with a terrifying sense of oppression.

But even under the dual pressure of the Divine Spirit's might and her own injuries, Erica stubbornly braced herself with her sword, stood up, and even attempted to raise her sword once more.

Until Melqart swung the Exile and smashed it heavily toward Erica's head.

Is this what a Divine Spirit is? Feeling the Exile smashing down toward her head.

Erica had a sudden realization; even a Divine Spirit that was heavily injured and unable to move possessed such immense power.

Erica only felt how ridiculous her previous arrogance had been.

A sixteen-year-old Great Knight, having mastered the Word of Power to kill gods, with one foot stepped onto the pinnacle of humanity.

This was Erica's pride, and the source of her self-confidence.

And now, in front of a true Heretic, what did this pride count for?

Is this the kind of monster that the Kings face? Is it truly possible for a human body to kill a Divine Spirit?

At this very moment, Erica finally realized how ridiculous her previous words and thoughts had been.

To actually think that she could kill a heavily injured Divine Spirit.

Watching Erica, who had lost all her sharpness and become composed.

Su Nian's mouth curled slightly; now was the time for him to act, as he did not want to lose an obedient Knight Servant.

"Petrification Beam!"

The next moment, Melqart was petrified by the Petrification Beam released by Su Nian, leaving only Erica, who had closed her eyes and was waiting for death to arrive.

After a long while, Erica, feeling that she was still alive, looked up at the petrified Melqart.

Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed directly.

"She can be considered to have some courage; after this bit of training and tempering, she can be of great use."

Before losing consciousness, Erica heard Su Nian evaluate her this way.

Erica then breathed a sigh of relief; had she been acknowledged by the King?

Erica closed her eyes with some gratification, and before she fell, she was caught by Liliana.

After all, Erica was a girl who looked quite good, and keeping her to look at was better than watching her be killed by someone else.

Not to mention, she was merely a bit too arrogant.

As long as she was properly trained, someone like Erica would be exceptionally obedient.

At this time, Su Nian glanced at Melqart, who had been petrified into a statue, turned his head, and said to Liliana.

"Alright, your best friend is left to your care; by the way, remember to take this statue with you."

(End of this chapter)