Simulate the universe, starting with speedrunning Greek.

If that's the case, you'll die at the hands of a hero.

Kukonos: "Yes, I know."

He knew he could never defeat Griffith. In the previous tests and battles, he had discovered that the legendary warrior was far more powerful than he had imagined.

Even with his proud immortal body, his opponent not only possessed it, but also a divine spear wielding the sun's fire, enough to instill fear in him.

His body might not be able to withstand the continuous burning of those intense flames.

He didn't know how long he could hold on before dying, and he couldn't see any hope of victory.

Even so, he would be satisfied as long as he could severely injure and weaken his opponent, creating an opportunity for the goddess to capture Griffith.

If you're lucky, you'll continue to fight for Eris after you die, and be 'resurrected' in another form.

Eris's lips curled into a slight smile: "...Very well, then."

Go forth, Cygnus. You know, what I love most about you is your straightforwardness, and your unwavering obedience to me. (Like a little puppy.)

"Yeah, you look adorable again today. But this might really be the last time I give you orders."

Chapter 167 Crimson blood flowed through my colorless body; then die!

Eris: "Let me ask you a question—have you ever doubted me, Cygnus?"

The goddess's pupils gradually turned a divine golden color, gazing at Cygnus with a bewitching and demonic coldness and cruel indifference.

A mirror appeared in his heart.

The mirror reflected the haggard, aged face of Cygnus beneath his armor, much like the Yangtze Knight next door after his corruption, looking like he had been drugged and was suffering from kidney deficiency.

Kukonos looked at his ominous purple eyeshadow in the mirror, then at his reflection in the mirror of his back and shoulders, and stared coldly at his goddess in the mirror.

At this moment, Eris seemed to have given Cygnus the answer through her actions.

She had never actually hidden it—

but--

Eris asked again, wondering if this man had ever hesitated even now. Could there really be such a fool in the world? "Your trust in me created this situation. I mean, have you ever doubted me?"

As everyone knows, I'm a con artist goddess. Deceiving, exploiting, and manipulating others is in my nature. Just like what I've done to others…

What if I deceived you from the very first day we met? What if I used manipulation magic to indoctrinate and brainwash you from the very beginning, thereby taking advantage of you?

even--

"That scarlet bird you chased all day, wasn't it from the very beginning my trap that plunged your life into the abyss of corruption?"

With each word Eris spoke, Cygnus grew paler.

He remained silent for a long time—

Finally, he still spoke: "...Red blood flowed through my colorless body. Goddess. My faith is as self-evident as the truth."

What the truth behind it all is no longer important.

"Where my faith in you comes from is no longer important. The goddess's blessing has fueled my flames of vengeance."

...The only helping hand extended in my despair allowed me to achieve my final redemption. That alone is enough reason for me to fall in love with you from the bottom of my heart.

All I know is that my kingdom truly perished at the hands of the Greeks. Given their cruelty, they would have their eyes on my land sooner or later.

This was an ending predetermined. But you—my goddess—showed me the path to continue living and moving forward, and after that—I was yours. That is the only fact.

Eris: "Is it still the only answer?"

What a boring man... The goddess of chaos prefers to see something more chaotic, whether it's resistance, violence, or even mercilessly turning into a divine spear to shatter her chest and heart.

She enjoys conflict—even if she gets caught up in it herself.

That's why, even though Griffith made her look so pathetic and hurt her several times, it only made her masochistic tendencies more and more intense.

However, Kukonos's sincerity was completely misdirected in his strategy.

"Then—Cykenos—! Die!" In the mirror, Eris spread her wings, which were not black as before, but an ominous crimson.

Just like the incredibly beautiful, bright red feathers of the bird on that day.

As red as blood, it was one of only two vibrant colors that Cygnus had ever seen in his life.

One instance was during a hunt that morning, when the dappled sunlight filtering through the treetops shone on the bright red wings of a bird.

Another time—now is the time.

Like a brand, the red magic emanating from those crimson wings wrapped around Cygnus's body, rapidly draining his soul and flesh to forcibly enhance his power in an extremely inhumane way.

Goodbye, Cykonos... I will miss you.

Cooknos: "…………"

As if pondering Eris's last words, Cygnus quietly closed his eyes.

"That's enough, my goddess..."

"...Now it's time to die. Everything will go as she wishes."

boom--!

Outside, astonishing changes suddenly began to occur in Cooknos.

It's like the second phase of a boss battle in a Souls series game.

Cygnus's body began to swell, like a bloated human pus. Then his armor could not withstand the enormous internal pressure and shattered. What emerged from half of his broken helmet was not a human face.

Instead, it is a life form resembling a parasitic beast, like black venom.

It was an embryo, a monster, that grew from the blood of a goddess, malice, and the killing intent of war, fueled by the conflicts and discord on the battlefield!

Soon after, this half of the cerebellum grew, eventually becoming an enormous head resembling that of a giant baby.

The loyal soldiers of Cygnus were terrified by this horrific scene.

"Your Majesty—!!" The knights, who were not immortal warriors but still living people, all showed grief upon seeing this scene and kept calling out to their king.

"how come?"

"The king has been...turned into a monster by the goddess?" Sensing the crimson divine power rising from his body, having already come into contact with it several times—the soldiers knew without a doubt that it was the power of the goddess Eris.

It will enhance their physical fitness and even control their minds to a certain extent, influencing their emotions and making them more bloodthirsty and brutal.

But until this day, the soldiers, like Cykenos, had never doubted Eris's purpose, and even, for the same reasons as Cykenos, regarded it as a belief—

Even if he wasn't as profound as Cygnus, he was still willing to die for the goddess.

But that doesn't mean they can tolerate dying in such a monstrous form.

To die with dignity as a warrior—this was the highest honor for the Greeks.

It was agreed that the divine power would only be used to squeeze out the body's life force to enhance physical fitness. How could it have turned their beloved king into such a state?

Just as the soldiers were incredulous and felt a deep chill and shivering.

Roar! ! !

Its body began to grow huge and grow scales, becoming a stone monster as tall as Mr. Gundyr.

The weapon that Kukonos was holding also grew enormous, and was wrapped with many bright red brand-like flesh and blood that merged with his arm.

The next moment, it was as if they had agreed at the same time.

Cygnus and Diomedes, a demigod enhanced by divine blood and a top hero, launched an attack on the night simultaneously.

Thud! Although Ye knocked Diomedes away this time, he was quickly knocked away by Cygnus.

My body felt as if it had been hit by a tank.

Well, that's just an adjective. If it were really just a tank impact, it would only be a tickle to Ye's current physical condition.

"What a strong force!"

Chapter 168 The Moon Goddess's Plan to Overtake on a Curve! Athena, You've Fallen for It!

"So how was this attack?" Facing the greatly increased power of Cygnus, who had transformed into a monster, and Diomedes, who was attacking like a wild beast, Night Flash did not approach. Instead, he placed Artemis's Arrow on Hercules's Bow again and pulled it back.

Bang~! !

The atmosphere was torn apart and roared, and this time the terrifying moonlight was released in a diffuse explosion.

It wasn't aimed at anyone; the moment the arrow hit the ground, it unleashed a burst of chilling magical energy.

Diomedes was knocked away again, while Cygnus's body was shattered, but it quickly began to repair itself.

Although Ye also wanted to continue using the power of the Sun Spear to fundamentally annihilate the monster before him.

But I could sense that faintly oppressive aura.

Although he could not yet match the overwhelming power of the supreme god he had faced, it undoubtedly surpassed all the demigod heroes he had ever encountered.

Surpassing a demigod—does this mean that Cygnus's current strength has reached the level of a god?

Even the weakest deity is still a god.

Night did try to burn the monster to death with the sun's fire, but failed.

Relying solely on the attributes attached to the divine spear, rather than the power of the sun that he himself controls, his current strength does not seem capable of killing this already deified enemy at the atomic level.

As long as you can't defeat your opponent to the point where they can't even regenerate, you can be resurrected indefinitely by Eris's power.

If only I could use the Sun God Spear's liberation again and unleash a Sun Wheel attack on the enemy...

Monsters that cannot be killed completely, including even controlled allies like Diomedes, who can be killed but not truly killed.

This is really putting people in a difficult position.

This was the first time he had ever fought so restrained and restricted.

Night was temporarily using ranged area-of-effect attacks to continuously repel the enemy...

This is not a solution either.

I need to let Chryseis and the others go first. It will be easier for me to run away or unleash my power later. If all else fails, I'll just have to wait until dark!

The moon's blessing will give him a continuous source of restorative power in the darkness.

In terms of endurance—he wouldn't be intimidated even if a true god came.

Just then, a clear, ethereal sound, like the trotting of a deer, rang out from the sky.