"Second round, ready?"
"Come on!"
Athena felt threatened, but as a God, she wasn't afraid to face death. Wielding her scythe, she charged towards Abel.
Abel held his spear, and phantom images appeared beneath his feet. The bull that breaks through obstacles, the raptor of ultimate speed.
With his Mangekyo activated, Abel tracked Athena's position.
Athena's scythe, accompanied by a whistling wind, was about to strike Abel. Abel tilted his head, his scarlet eyes fixed on Athena.
Athena felt a bad premonition.
Ohirume!
Suddenly, a gravitational force pressed down on Athena, and at the same time, a feeling of dread came over her, causing her to widen the distance.
But Abel's figure flickered, followed by the spear striking out, aimed for Athena's throat. Athena hastily swung her scythe to block.
Spear and scythe collided fiercely, sparks flying.
Although Athena was temporarily suppressed by gravity, as a Goddess, her battle instincts allowed her to quickly adjust her state.
Abel stood in the air, looking at Athena and asking, "What's wrong, Athena? Can you continue?"
"Of course, I have no habit of surrendering."
As Athena spoke, the purple phantom from earlier appeared behind her, a pair of eyes staring at Abel. Immediately after, light bullets shot towards Abel. Athena charged towards Abel amidst the light bullets.
Abel smiled slightly at this scene, and lightning shot out from behind him, colliding with the light bullets.
"Athena, I want to end this quickly, so I apologize."
As Abel spoke, the Spear of Longinus was covered in the sun's flames.
"Oh White Stallion, with the power of the sun, illuminate the darkness, dispel the darkness, and with this spear, pierce through this curtain of darkness! This is the Spear of Flame!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Athena's pupils constricted. Abel had vanished from his original spot.
So fast!
The moment Abel disappeared, a shield made of divine power enveloped Athena.
"Useless! No barrier can stop the sharpness of my spear!"
The Spear of Longinus pierced the shield, making its way through.
Athena's expression changed. The shield shattered before her eyes, and Abel's spear rested against her neck.
"You lost."
Athena found this result incredulous. She had actually lost. She loosened her grip on the scythe, and it vanished.
Athena smiled, her gaze turning to the Golden Sword stuck in the ground.
"This is Verethragna's authority, isn't it?"
"That's right, the incarnation 'Warrior'." Abel nodded in response.
Looking at the Golden Sword, Athena nodded slightly. If he had used it directly, this battle would have ended long ago.
Athena didn't believe that Abel didn't know her origin. After all, he had called out her name on their first meeting.
"Then, I will fulfill the promise between us."
"Haha, just kidding... Mmm!"
Athena looked at Abel, embraced his head, and then kissed him.
Abel hadn't expected her to actually do it.
As the two kissed, golden light emanated from their bodies.
Athena chanted a spell in her heart, 'This is the master-servant contract of defeat. Pandora above, I, Athena, from this day forth, shall submit to the devil who defeated the Gods—Abel Astaroth. I shall be his servant, and he shall be my maste. My authority can also be used by him.'
The contract was formed.
While Athena was somewhat engrossed in the kiss, a black phantom peeled away from her body.
It was Athena's mother—Metis.
Abel didn't stop it. Later, with one black and one white, it would be double the happiness.
After a while, the two separated.
Abel definitely profited this time.
However... why was he getting so sleepy?
Thinking this, Abel's body went limp, and he fell onto Athena.
Athena smiled slightly, then knelt on the ground, letting him rest his head on her lap.
As Abel fell unconscious, his authority was automatically lifted.
Outside, Liliana and Erica looked at Abel, who was unconscious on Athena and drew their swords.
"Athena! What did you do to our King!" Erica stared at Athena, speaking indignantly.
"I have done everything I should and shouldn't have done. I have to say, your King's lips were delightful."
Upon hearing this, they knew that the Heretic God in front of them had defiled their King.
...
Abel was completely unaware of what was happening outside.
He had returned to the Netherworld and just like before, he was resting his head on Pandora's lap.
Abel slowly opened his eyes.
Familiar place and...
"My dearest child, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Are you missing mother?"
"Being able to think of mother, mother is truly happy."
And the familiar Pandora.
Seeing Abel wake up, Pandora became happy. After all, she was the only one in this place. She hoped that these Godslayers would come in more often to see her, so she wouldn't be bored alone.
Abel rubbed his brow, then sat up. He was now curious why he had come here again even though he hadn't slain a God.
"Pandora, I clearly haven't slain a God, so why am I here?"
"You should call me mother." Pandora said, dissatisfied.
"Of course, it's because you have been followed by a Heretic God."
"Followed?"
"That's right."
Facing Abel's confusion, Pandora explained, "The so-called 'following' means that you have defeated a Heretic God and gained the favor of that Heretic God, and then the Heretic God made a contract with me. Athena has already contracted with you and become your subordinate, and her authority can also be used by you."
"I see."
Abel understood why he had come to the Netherworld after hearing this. Due to the contract, he could also use Athena's authority. So, the reason he came here was to strengthen his authority.
"Then, I'll trouble you."
"Why be so polite with mother? This is what I should do, but how about chatting with me before strengthening it?"
It wasn't easy for someone to come here, so of course, she had to have a good chat. Abel wasn't like the previous six rebellious children who ignored her. Indeed, there was a difference between children.
Abel "willingly" chatted with Pandora.