As if sensing Erica's thoughts, Athena glanced at her briefly, then ignored her.
"How's the situation?"
Athena, who had somehow appeared beside Aslan, asked softly.
"Already succeeded."
Aslan smiled and nodded.
Erica and Liliana beside them thought Aslan was talking about successfully obtaining Divine Authorities after God-slaying.
But in truth, Athena was asking Aslan if he had successfully captured Pandora.
And Athena, now receiving a clear answer, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
In fact, capturing Pandora was the most troublesome part of Athena's plan.
Though that goddess was equal to her as an Earth Mother, she hid in the Underworld in divine form. Yet the Underworld connected to countless parallel worlds and was a spiritual realm.
With no concept of location or distance, capturing her while hiding in the Underworld was extremely difficult.
Even Athena, if she wanted to capture Pandora, would be impossible without centuries of planning.
Thinking this, she said with slight pride.
"As expected of the man this servant likes. However, this servant also successfully captured that annoying Steel God alive."
Though not without Lancelot's help—the Steel Goddess—the main power came from Athena herself.
As an Earth Mother, she had defeated, even captured alive, Melqart—the Steel God and King of Gods possessing Sky Divinity.
For Athena, this was a very good start, an achievement worth boasting.
At this moment, Erica beside them watched the scene with a slightly strange expression.
(This tone—is she whining or asking for praise? Isn't this goddess a Heretic God? How can she get along so well with the King?)
But at least she could confirm one thing: she wouldn't be beaten by a group of Heretic Gods.
Though the end result was no different.
Whether one or three, she still couldn't defeat them—only be crushed.
"Good work."
Aslan praised casually.
Hearing this, Athena's smile brightened.
"But how should we handle him? With the poison this servant put in his body now, he'll only be controlled for a few more minutes."
Athena pointed at the unconscious Melqart being dragged by Lancelot's white horse.
Killing him was easy—just replace the poison with death.
But capturing and controlling him alive was extremely troublesome, especially for a Steel God with strong physique and abundant vitality.
Ordinary poison at best worked once or twice, controlling for a short time.
Right at that moment, the unconscious Melqart suddenly opened his eyes, but he was very cautious and made no sound.
The poison was still in his body. This was when he was weakest—even weaker than after being severely injured fighting Verethragna earlier.
He carefully controlled Divine Power and Authorities to break down the poison in his body.
At this moment, Aslan suddenly said meaningfully to Erica.
"Do you want to become a God Slayer?"
Erica desperately wanted to say "Sorry, I was wrong" but her genius aura since childhood, becoming a Great Knight at sixteen, the pride from a title just one step below Paladin at humanity's peak—
Made her unable to utter words begging for forgiveness.
Moreover, Aslan had already been very merciful—the challenge target given to her was an unconscious Heretic God.
Who knows, she might really have a glimmer of a chance to become a God Slayer.
Why could the Sword King do it, but not her?
Did she not even have the courage to swing a sword at an unconscious Heretic God?
Thinking this, Erica took a deep breath, drew her beloved sword Cuore di Leone with spatial magic, gritted her teeth, and charged forward.
Melqart's figure was extraordinarily massive—15 meters tall, with muscles looking like molten copper. It seemed with just a little force, he could easily crush Erica's head.
Not to mention the abundant Divine Power and terrifying Divine Might enveloping him.
For ordinary people, just standing near him required bearing terrifying pressure.
Even Erica felt it. Though her talent was among humanity's best, she lacked the God Slayer talent of being fearless against Divine Might.
She now had to gather all her strength just to raise her sword.
(Is this a God?)
Erica took a deep breath and reminded herself inwardly.
The God was unconscious now—at least he wouldn't wake for ten minutes. This was her chance.
For the sake of becoming a God Slayer!
Gathering courage, Erica chanted the incantation.
"Eli Eli lama sabachthani? Oh Lord, why hast thou forsaken me? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
Golgotha—this was the calamity chant sung by the dying Holy Son, words of hatred and despair blessed upon the sword.
"Golgotha—she even learned this?"
Diana watching couldn't help exclaiming in admiration.
"At sixteen, talent like this might have stepped into the realm of miracles."
"Talent?"
Athena turned and glanced at Diana.
"Miracles?"
Aslan also turned.
Diana suddenly couldn't speak anymore.
At this moment, Erica raised her sword, fighting Divine Might, and finally walked before Melqart, reaching a distance where she could attack him.
She raised her sword high and slashed down with all her strength.
"Shallow memory, but that spell can indeed injure Gods."
Athena said with slight surprise.
Though thanks to the Holy Son's spell, Erica was indeed praiseworthy.
Perhaps if Erica trained a few hundred more years, she could frontally slay Gods like Luo Cuilian?
"But when could Gods be killed so easily?"
Athena said coldly and flatly. Current Erica only qualified to injure Gods.
Just when Erica rejoiced that Melqart was still unconscious—
Melqart sensed danger, unconsciously raising Yagarish in his left hand, blocking Erica's Golgotha-infused slash.
"Just this? Still want to injure this old man? Even if you want to slay a God, you should send someone brave, right?"
Melqart couldn't help mocking Erica—and of course, mocking Aslan too.
He only used slight force to parry—Erica was immediately thrown, crashing straight through the temple wall.
"Wah~"
Erica struggled to stand. Her throat felt sweet—she forcibly swallowed and bravely raised her sword again.
"Fly, boots of Hermes!"
At Erica's call, magic circles appearing in the air gathered at her boots, making her body extremely light.
At the same time, Aslan hearing the spell frowned but said nothing—instead watching Erica raise her sword again without knowing her place, to slay a God.
This kind of conviction—even Aslan had to praise.
Current Erica was like Icarus with wax wings, flying toward the sun.
"Too bad she's not the protagonist—courage and conviction won't bring power-ups!"
Aslan unconsciously sighed, watching Erica charge quickly and get thrown back even faster.
Too bad—he thought he could see a miracle?
As expected, for supporting characters, there are no miracles in this world.
Seeing Erica thrown again, Melqart showed a cruel smile. He had already purged the poison Athena planted in his body through deception.
Step by step, he walked toward the severely injured Erica with terrifying pressure.
But even under the double pressure of Divine Might and bodily wounds, Erica still stubbornly supported her sword, stood, even tried to raise it again.
Until Melqart swung Yagarish hard, slamming it toward Erica's head.
(Is this a God?)
Feeling Yagarish slamming toward her head, Erica felt enlightened. Even a severely injured God, even one unable to move, possessed such immense power.
Erica only felt how ridiculous her previous arrogance was.
Great Knight at sixteen, mastering God-slaying spells, half a step to humanity's peak.
This was Erica's pride and source of confidence.
And now, before a true Heretic God, what did all this pride mean?
The Kings actually faced monsters like this? Could mortals truly slay Gods with mortal bodies?
At this moment, Erica finally realized how ridiculous her previous words and thoughts were.
How dare she think she could slay a severely injured God.
"…"
Seeing Erica who had lost all sharpness and become calm.
The corner of Aslan's mouth slightly curved. Now was the time for him to act. He didn't want to lose an obedient knight.
"Petrification Ray!"
The next second, Melqart was petrified by the petrification ray Aslan released, leaving only Erica closing her eyes, awaiting death.
After a few moments, Erica, feeling herself still alive, looked up at the petrified Melqart.
Her eyes rolled back, and she immediately collapsed.
"Not bad courage. After this forging and refinement, she can be useful for great purposes."
Before fainting, Erica heard Aslan comment like that.
After that, Erica felt relieved. Acknowledged by the King?
Erica closed her eyes with slight relief. Before collapsing, Liliana had already caught her.
After all, Erica was quite a beautiful girl. Keeping her to please the eyes was better than seeing her killed by others.
Moreover, she was only slightly arrogant.
With proper training, someone like Erica would be very obedient.
At this moment, Aslan glanced at Melqart petrified into a statue, turned, and said to Liliana.
"Alright, your close friend—I leave her to you to take care of. By the way, remember to bring this statue too."