"After the ritual is complete? Naturally, I'll return to myth!"
Verethragna immediately answered Ryuga's question.
"Who returns to myth?"
Ryuga asked again, as if he hadn't understood clearly.
"Of course it's me... wait!"
At first, Verethragna thought Ryuga simply hadn't heard his words clearly, but soon he realized Ryuga's true meaning.
After formal defeat, his divine power had already dispersed into heaven and earth, and his divine core was about to be transferred to Ryuga through Pandora's Dark Christmas.
In common understanding, all of a god's fundamentals remained in this world.
So the question was—what exactly was the existence that would "return to myth"?
And who was this "me"?
Noticing Verethragna's silence, Ryuga deduced that he had thought of this point and continued speaking.
"Consciousness cannot exist independently. Even without physical structure support, it needs at least spiritual structure support. Do you remember the question I asked you?"
"You mean—what makes one a god?"
Verethragna immediately reacted.
"Exactly."
Ryuga nodded.
"From current observations, in the present world, Heretic Gods are energy-based life forms founded on true ether. Heretic Gods who lose all divine power cannot manifest in the world, and Heretic Gods who lose their divine cores return to myth."
"If we say that divine power's operational method is determined by the divine core, then what determines the divine core's structure?"
"You mean this unknown core structure is the true essence of divinity?"
Verethragna followed Ryuga's reasoning.
If Ryuga's theory was correct, then a god's complete structure should be like an onion, with several inner and outer layers.
The outermost layer of divine power was the material and energy foundation, determining whether gods could exist in the world;
The middle layer's divine core was the conceptual foundation, determining the god's nature and divine power's operational methods;
The innermost unknown structure was what determined the divine core's concepts and carried consciousness.
If so, then the process of Heretic Gods descending would be like Russian nesting dolls—first the core structure donned the divine core, then the divine core descended and absorbed divine power, and only then truly manifested as a Heretic God.
The mechanism of Heretic Gods returning was exactly the reverse.
"Correct."
Ryuga nodded.
"If one could master this core structure, then mass-producing divine cores would be possible. Compared to so-called Authorities, this core structure is the true source of power!"
Every time a Heretic God descended, they would regain a divine core. This phenomenon itself indicated that divine cores were things that could be mass-produced.
It was just that ordinary people hadn't discovered this obvious point.
"If it's truly as you say, then this core structure must be related to myth."
After pondering for two seconds, Verethragna said thus.
Divine cores and divine power were both additions after descent; only the unknown core structure came from myth and returned to myth.
Thinking of this, Verethragna's tone paused slightly, then he said with a smile.
"If you want to research it, how about visiting the Divine Realm?"
Since it came from myth, the Immortal Divine Realm was naturally where this structure existed in greatest quantity.
This was meant as a jest.
But unexpectedly, after hearing this, Ryuga directly nodded.
"If necessary, I'll go take a look."
Verethragna was immediately stunned.
"Have you forgotten that you're about to become a Campione! As the Demon King of Godslaying, the death enemy of all gods, you actually want to enter the Immortal Divine Realm where all gods gather?"
Wasn't this suicide?
"Let me remind you in advance—not all gods are as easy to talk to as I am. I know you're strong, but you can't possibly plan to single-handedly challenge an entire pantheon, right?"
Faced with the Zoroastrian War God's warning, Ryuga simply looked up calmly.
"What's impossible about that?"
Without any intent to boast, and without any plan to retreat, Ryuga, confident in his growth rate, spoke lightly.
"If one cannot face ten thousand enemies alone, what kind of Demon King would that be!"
With these words, the entire white space fell silent.
Several seconds later.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
The War God burst into a series of bold, hearty laughter.
"Worthy of being the strong one who defeated me head-on and seized victory from my hands! Yes, this is exactly the spirit needed to have the bearing of a Demon King!"
"Worthy of being my child—such ambition!"
Pandora also stared with shining eyes, clenching her fists in front of her chest in a fangirl pose.
If Ryuga hadn't rejected her earlier, with her personality she probably would have hugged him directly.
Hearing Pandora's voice, Verethragna immediately addressed her.
"Witch! Quickly activate Pandora's Dark Christmas! I never expected that my first defeat would be to someone who makes me so thoroughly convinced! In that case, as Zoroaster's War God, I cannot be stingy!"
"As the defeated, I want to entrust my true power as spoils of war to the victor!"
"Quickly activate the great secret ritual!"
After saying this, Verethragna used a tone filled with admiration to give Ryuga his final message.
"Take my power and climb to whatever peak you wish to reach, hero from another world! I'll wait for you in the Divine Realm, looking forward to you growing strong enough to match an entire pantheon single-handedly. I really want to see what expression the gods will have then! Hahahaha!"
After his hearty laughter, Verethragna's voice completely disappeared.
Ryuga had wanted to ask what this so-called "true power" was, but it was too late.
Really, riddle-speakers were such a major obstacle to the flow of knowledge.
To be continued…
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