Saint Seiya: Heretic Athena?

The Kotodama Binding of the Lord of the Spoken Word is a technique that uses the power of a master's words to bind the actions of a target who serves a god. It originates from the Shinto belief in the power of words (kotodama) and requires the chanting of a specific incantation to be activated.

In the "Transfer of the Land" myth from the Kojiki, the god Kotoshironushi, who was the son of Ōkuninushi, "transferred" the land to the heavenly grandson through his "words." This is the earliest manifestation of kotodama interfering with reality in the primitive Shinto religion of Japan.

Seiya raised an eyebrow. That sounded nice. "But it's not that simple, is it? Just say whatever else there is."

Sayanomiya Kaoru bowed her head. "The Great Lord sees things as clearly as if observing a fire. Ena has already been overcome by madness. If one is not a person with the 'qualifications' of bearing certain duties or a certain destiny, they cannot become the master of the highest-ranking Hime-Miko. And in this world, even those of the level of a divine ancestor or demigod are only equal to the sword-wielding Ena Seishuin."

Hearing this, Seiya already understood. Above divine ancestors and demigods, there were only the seven God-slaying Rakshasas, or... Heretic Gods.

Most of the seven Godslayers were fellows with some personality issues. A king like Doni was already a dream come true for many magicians. Marquis Voban was a tyrant who had ruled Europe with cruelty for two hundred years; the name "Demon King" for a Godslayer had come from him. Luo Hao of the Eastern Continent was no less formidable. Lady Aisha was compassionate and loving, but even her fellow Godslayers were unwilling to get too close to the Authorities she held. The Black Prince of Divine Speed, Alexander, was too much of a schemer and was currently entangled in a conflict with the descendants of the snake god alongside the Royal Factory and the Sage's Council. The Lord of the Underworld in America, John Pluto Smith, was a suitable candidate, but she was currently in a heated battle with the Lord of the Flies.

Adding to that the bond he already had, he was the only suitable candidate at the moment.

"To become the master of the Sword Miko, you must first prove that you are stronger than the sword. Without the resolve to shatter gold, how could one be a master to the God of Steel who can withstand a thousand blades? But for a God-slaying Rakshasa, this shouldn't be a problem, right?" Sayanomiya Kaoru said, standing up.

Seiya didn't speak, just narrowed his eyes and watched the Tachi no Hime-Miko whose face was gradually being covered by a purple, mad aura. Sayanomiya Kaoru bowed her head, understanding that the Saint had already agreed to her request.

—In the spirit world, in the boundary between life and death, an old man's soft laughter could be heard.

"It seems that young Rakshasa Lord has made contact with Ena."

"What will he do? Break the sword, or become the sword's master?" the archmage in black said.

The old man smiled. "Either way, he will eventually face the deity of the southern barbarians. Oh, but whether that southern barbarian deity will make the first move is still unknown. For now, let us savor the talents of this new God-slaying Rakshasa."

—Tokyo, Ginza. The Ritz-Carlton.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel, situated in a magnificent, towering building in Tokyo, had always been famous for providing high-end luxury hotel services to its customers. On the forty-fifth floor of the hotel, large floor-to-ceiling windows framed the entire skyline. From here, one could see everything from the Tokyo Tower to Mount Fuji in a single, unobstructed view.

A goddess looked down upon the deity who had already brought this country under her preliminary control, then turned her head to look in the direction of Bunkyo ward.

"That old thing underground has already lost the madness a Heretic God should have, to actually enlist the help of a new God-slaying Rakshasa." She made no effort to hide her derision for the god in the spirit world. "To think that as a Heretic God, he would need to borrow the power of a Godslayer. A creature of that caliber is no longer a threat."

But then, a breathtakingly bewitching smile appeared on her face. "But this Pegasus is also one of this humble one's targets. To turn Athena's Pegasus into a sharp blade that will pierce her... I can hardly wait to see the look of pain on that arrogant face of hers!"

In the shrine in Bunkyo ward, the incantation to release the seal was reaching its end.

"We revere the spirit of Amenotorifune, the bird-rock-camphorwood-boat god! The mists swirl, the god of the small island, out of fear... closes his eyes, seals his heart—may our voyage be a safe one!"

At this moment, Seiya could roughly see that the so-called Hime-Miko was essentially a witch, a special power system passed down by bloodline and innate talent. As Sayanomiya Kaoru loudly chanted the incantation to release the seal, Ena Seishuin, who had been sitting before the statue of the deity with her eyes closed in meditation, finally opened her eyes.

Semi-transparent white paper talismans burned away from the girl's body; they were the spells that had bound her. As the spell was released, the girl regained the ability to move. Without any hesitation, she looked at Seiya, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard. It was a smile completely devoid of the grace of Erica's, a smile full of the wildness of a vagabond.

But the first thing she did was not to loudly chant an incantation. Ena picked up the cloth bag that had been resting between her legs, opened the seal, and took out what was inside.

It was a tachi, three-shaku, three-sun, and five-bu long, housed in a jet-black scabbard.

An intense magical power was released from this divine artifact. Sayanomiya Kaoru felt a wave of dizziness.

—Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi.

In Japan, it was a divine sword of the highest order. It was impossible to estimate how much power was hidden within it.

She suppressed the fear and dread in her heart and took the initiative to retreat outside the gate. The awakened Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi was equivalent to a god in itself. And Ena Seishuin, her true self now covered by madness, was a demigod wielding an unparalleled divine weapon.

Even when facing a Heretic God or a God-slaying Rakshasa, she had the qualifications to contend with them. Otherwise, she would not have been sealed here by the mages of the Tendai school.

Although she had personally witnessed the great feat of this Rakshasa Lord, it would not be an easy task to suppress Ena Seishuin. At this moment, she already held the sword in her hand. Facing the Godslayer, facing the Saint Seiya, she still chanted the incantation of the divine sword in a loud voice.

"Susanoo-no-Mikoto is here! Leading a thousand evil gods to raise an army and steal the country! Ten-span swords are planted in the earth, using them as castle walls and shields to resist the enemy! A thousand swords are lost, but Susanoo-no-Mikoto obtains a sword from the tail of the great serpent! This is the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi! The steel that breaks a thousand blades! The might of the divine sword, shining brilliantly! A single stroke reveals unparalleled dominance!"

The incantation was sung from the mouth of Ena Seishuin.

It was a whisper that was both ethereal and devout. And what dwelled in her pupils was a fierce fighting spirit and killing intent. It was not the gaze of a swordsman who gambles their life enjoying a battle, but the eyes of a demon who vows to strike down all enemies who stand in their way, to annihilate them completely.

This was the gaze of one overcome by madness. Her expression changed, and Ena raised the jet-black divine sword with a stiff motion.

Just looking at it with the naked eye was incredibly straining. If one were to perceive it with their spiritual sense, their head would feel as if pierced by needles. Sayanomiya Kaoru already regretted not having immediately retreated outside the shrine. To still be spectating this battle of gods in the courtyard was a bit too arrogant.

But when she turned her head to look at the Saint, Seiya, the armament that was suspected to be a divine armor had not been summoned by him. Was he that arrogant? His expression didn't even change, allowing the Sword of Ame-no-Murakumo to erode Ena's body, allowing her fighting spirit to reach its peak. Until she raised the jet-black divine sword, he finally made his move.

A single slap. A slap faster than Sayanomiya Kaoru could react, faster even than Ena Seishuin, who was possessed by the divine weapon, hit her across the face.

—Pegasus Mega Slap.

The world spun, and Ena Seishuin was planted headfirst into the ground. The madness that had originally possessed her eyes even cleared up partially. She trembled, propping herself up on her arms to stand. "I..."

"You really are quite tough. One slap doesn't seem to be enough," Seiya remarked with admiration, and then raised his hand again.

"Wait, I..." Ena Seishuin finally managed to speak her first words, but her reaction was still too slow. Because a loving slap landed squarely on her other, yet-unslapped, left cheek.

—Pegasus Double Mega Slap.

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