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...
Haru, carrying Lancelot's battered body, walked through the passage of the underground temple beneath the Bay of Naples.
In the center of the temple, Guinevere was bound to a Hermaic pillar by several thin, black ropes. Upon closer inspection, the ropes were revealed to be slender black snakes.
A faint black mist, the aura of death from the underworld, emanated from the snakes. These ropes, imbued with the power of the underworld, held Guinevere firmly against the pillar.
Athena, in the form of a young girl, stood before the pillar, wielding a black whip. She repeatedly lashed Guinevere, tearing bloody gashes in her black evening gown. Guinevere was long unconscious.
Thud! Haru tossed Lancelot onto the ground.
"Ugh..." Lancelot stirred, slowly opening his eyes. He looked around in confusion, his pupils constricting sharply when he saw Haru standing beside him.
"So, I lost. A complete and utter defeat," Lancelot said, recalling the overwhelming battle against Haru. No, it wasn't even a battle; it was a one-sided thrashing.
Athena, who had been whipping Guinevere, turned around. Seeing Haru and Lancelot, she nodded slightly and looked back at the Hermaic pillar. "Haru's here. I can stop this pointless charade now."
A childish voice echoed from the pillar. "How can you call it pointless? This is a just punishment for a traitor! Don't stop, Athena. You must whip her with all your might."
Haru looked at the pillar and spoke tentatively. "Pandora?"
"Hi! Hi! It's me, Haru-chan! Surprise! I worked really hard to project my consciousness into the mortal realm," a cheerful voice replied from within the pillar.
"But just projecting your consciousness here isn't very useful, is it?" Haru shrugged, his tone indifferent.
"That's so mean, Haru-chan! I went through so much trouble just to see you, and you say I'm useless?!"
"Hee hee hee, come inside the pillar, and I'll show you just how useful I can be with my body," a lecherous, creepy voice whispered from the pillar.
Lancelot, lying weakly on the ground, turned his head with difficulty, staring at the Hermaic pillar. "So, it was you behind all this, Pandora? No, Gaia, the Primordial Earth Mother!"
"Oh my, who is this? Oh, I remember now. You were one of that disgusting man's subordinates. I have a vague recollection of you." Pandora's childish voice echoed throughout the underground space, a murderous intent seeping into her playful tone.
The Last King, while being the strongest Steel, was also the Earth Mother's sworn enemy. His subordinates were naturally marked by the Earth Mothers.
If given the opportunity to eliminate these individuals, almost all Earth Mothers wouldn't hesitate. The Last King and those associated with him were that detestable to them.
"Haru-chan, kill them. Destroy this Steel and this traitor. That will delay the Last King's revival by decades," Pandora's sinister laughter echoed from the pillar.
"There's no need for that," Haru said, looking at the pillar impassively.
"Hmm?" Both Pandora, within the pillar, and Athena turned their attention to Haru.
"I need them to awaken Rama," Haru said, his voice firm and resolute.
"Haru-chan, are you serious? The Last King, Rama, isn't easy to deal with. He's…" Pandora's voice became urgent, trying to dissuade Haru from his reckless plan.
"Immortal, wielder of the Authority of the Covenant, the Holy Sword of Salvation, Sacred weapons, and a body temperature that can trigger tectonic shifts," Haru recited Rama's formidable abilities with a calm expression.
"...You know all that. If you know how powerful Rama is, then why...?" Pandora's voice was filled with concern.
"Because I've found a way to nullify his immortality!" Haru said excitedly as he cast a summoning spell.
The holy Sword, Excalibur, radiating a faint white light, appeared in Haru's hand. Then, it was annihilated inch by inch by the egg within him.
Athena, witnessing the destruction of the holy Sword, forged from Rama's remains, wisely decided against voicing her objections. A faint smile played on her lips.
Pandora's ecstatic voice reverberated through the underground space. "So that's it, Haru-chan! I agree. Hurry up and kill that disgusting man. I've been waiting for this day for a long, long time."
Lancelot stared in shock at the destruction of Excalibur. This man is a monster. That was the ultimate Holy weapon, indestructible since the age of mythology.
"Wake Guinevere up," Haru said, turning to Athena.
Athena nodded, her normally calm face radiating pure joy. With a trump card capable of defeating Rama, the day the Earth Mothers regained their glory was within reach.
The Hermaic pillar glowed green, channeling the earth vein energy of Naples. The energy flowed into Guinevere's body, gradually restoring her battered form.
Shortly after her injuries healed, Guinevere slowly opened her crimson snake-like eyes.
"Where am I? Uncle!" As Guinevere's eyes fluttered open, the scene of the underground temple registered in her mind.
Lancelot, the battered Steel Goddess, lay on the ground. Beside him stood the Primordial Earth Mother and the most formidable and vicious Devil King, the Elusive King, Kasugano Haru.
"So, I was careless. I underestimated my opponent because she was an Earth Mother, forgetting about the Devil King lurking behind me," Guinevere sighed, realizing she was likely doomed. It was a shame her long-cherished wish remained unfulfilled. She couldn't face the underworld with such regret.
"Rama is sleeping in the Far East," Haru said casually, seeing that Guinevere was awake.
Guinevere and Lancelot's pupils constricted violently.
"Why? Why would you tell me about my Lord?" Guinevere asked, her brow furrowed as she looked at Haru with unease.
Could it be an act of mercy from the Devil King, informing her of the thing she cared about most before her death, allowing her to face the underworld with peace of mind?
Guinevere looked at Haru with gratitude. "Thank you for telling me. Now, please, end my suffering."
"Wait, why do you want to die just because you know about Rama? I need you to wake him from his slumber," Haru said, perplexed. Hadn't she been desperate to revive Rama?
Guinevere stared at Haru with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"
Haru shrugged helplessly and turned to Athena, gesturing with his eyes.
The snakes binding Guinevere slithered back into the Hermaic pillar and vanished without a trace.
Thump! Guinevere jumped to the ground, stretching her limbs after being bound for so long. She walked over to Lancelot and stood before Haru.
"I thank you for your mercy." Guinevere wrapped her arms around Haru's neck and kissed him deeply.
At the exit of the underground temple beneath the Bay of Naples, Haru held Athena in his arms, with Brunhild standing beside them. They watched as Guinevere, supporting Lancelot, walked away.
Haru looked down at Athena's small head and whispered, "I have a better idea now. For dealing with Rama."
"I eagerly await your explanation."
...
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