The Freeshooter was Annie Charlton's greatest weapon—her most destructive Authority.
Like many of Roy's own Authorities, The Freeshooter came with limitations, it could only be used five or six times a month under normal circumstances.
But in exchange for that restriction, it granted absolute devastation. The sheer explosive force of her arrow could shake the heavens and shatter the earth. Had she not fired it into the ocean, its impact alone could have reduced all of Manhattan to rubble.
"Hah… Finally, it's over."
Annie exhaled a long breath, her sharp gaze fixed on the floating figure in the sea, Asherah. Her body was riddled with wounds, her strength completely spent. She could barely keep herself afloat, her once-magnificent form now reduced to exhaustion.
Restoring her serpentine dragon form had temporarily granted her the power of a heretic god. But it came at a cost, it stripped her of the immortality of a Divine Ancestor. And with her mind set on death, she had fought like a beast cornered, throwing herself at Annie with reckless abandon.
The battle had dragged on far longer than it should have, and only because Annie had been forced to fight cautiously, knowing that Asherah was ready to die at any moment.
But in the end, when Asherah attempted a suicide attack. Annie finally found her opening. And with one precise shot, she pierced her enemy through.
"Damn you! Damn you! Damn you, Campione!!"
Asherah roared, her voice echoing across the sea. Her upper body still retained its human form, but from the waist down, a colossal white serpent coiled in agony.
She bared her fangs in fury, hissing out curses. But despite her vicious thrashing, her divine power was fading fast. Her breath grew weaker.
"That's right," Annie replied coldly. "I am a Devil King. I am a Campione. And, Divine Ancestor Asherah, this is where you meet your end."
Annie ignored the venomous wrath in Asherah's eyes. Instead, she drew a revolver from her hip.
The Gun of the Dwarves, a Nordic artifact, forged by reclusive dwarves in the Netherworld. When wielded by a Campione, its bullets could wound even a god. (T/N: I thought Freeshooter/Artemis Arrows was the only gun, wtf is author cooking or are my facts wrong?)
On the other hand, Asherah was on the verge of death and was clinging to life with sheer force of will.
One shot. That's all it would take.
One shot to rend her flesh. One shot to destroy her soul.
Asherah did not flinch. She merely glared at Annie, waiting for the moment of execution.There was no fear in her eyes. Only hatred, defiance and contempt.
She refused to beg. And she refused to plead. If she had feared death, she would never have walked this path.
"Spare her life!"
A sudden voice cut through the air.
Annie's finger froze on the trigger. It was because the one who had spoken was someone she couldn't ignore.
She turned and saw his- Roy's- figure walking across the sea like it was solid ground. Beside him, Athena and Alice followed in his stride.
Annie slowly lowered her gun and turned toward him.
"Mr. Roy. What happened in the city? I sensed a Heretic God's presence earlier."
Even during her battle with Asherah, Annie had felt it. The unmistakable presence of another god. Had Roy not been in the city, she would have been forced to choose between two very hard choices.
Stop Asherah? Or stop the Heretic God?
But now, Manhattan still stood. So she assumed that Roy had dealt with it.
And so, her voice carried genuine gratitude towards her fellow kin.
"It was the Divine Ancestor Guinevere and her guardian, the Heretic God Lancelot." Roy spoke as if it was nothing of concern. "Oh, and Alexander Gascoigne showed up too."
Annie raised an eyebrow.
"The English Campione?"
Her voice carried curiosity, but at the same time, a sense of unease.
Too many Campiones… Too many Heretic Gods… Too many Divine Ancestors…
North America had become a battlefield. Even a nation as powerful as the United States might not survive this chaos.
"Is he still here?"
She asked cautiously.
Roy's response was utterly indifferent.
"You'll never meet him in this life. Since he was in my way, I killed him."
Annie felt her blood run cold. A chill crawled up her spine.
He… killed him? Just like that?
Another Campione… A peer… One of his own kind…
And yet, Roy had executed him without a second thought.
"B-Because… he was in your way?"
Annie's grip tightened around her revolver. Her palms felt clammy. She had faced many gods before. But not once had she felt fear.
That's because to fight a god was her purpose.
But this? This was different.
If she had ignored Roy's command to stop? Would he have turned on her next? Would he have killed her, too, just as easily?
Her mind raced. She was confident in her own strength, but against Roy?
A man who had slain both Voban and Gascoigne? She didn't even dare to consider victory.
Her only thought was 'Could I even escape?'
"So… So he's dead, huh?"
Annie forced out a dry laugh.
She was a Campione. And yet, she felt an unnatural fear.
A Campione Fears No Gods. Against a Heretic God, they would fight to the last breath, with no hesitation. Even if it meant death.
But against one of their own kind… Against a Campione who kills without hesitation…
They couldn't help but feel fear.
That's because at the end of the day, a Campione is still human.
And humans fear monsters.
"Mr. Roy, why are you asking me to spare Asherah?" Annie Charlton quickly shifted the topic, her voice cautious.
Roy didn't answer her immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Asherah. (T/N: Oh no, I think I know where this is going. Damn it!)
At this moment, the fallen Earth Mother Goddess had completely reverted from her white serpent form to that of a human girl. Now, she was truly defenseless.
Even the bandages she had once wrapped around herself had vanished, leaving her entirely exposed. (T/N: DAMN IT ALL!)
Her petite frame, her flawless porcelain skin, the delicate curves of a young maiden's form. She appeared no older than twelve or thirteen, yet her presence carried a forbidden allure, a paradoxical mix of innocence and ripe temptation. The kind of contrast that would make even the most composed man hesitate. (T/N: Facepalm)
"Annie, do you know which Heretic God Luo Hao has been searching for?" Roy's voice broke the silence as he turned back toward Annie. Since everyone present was already aware of the situation, he did not bother with formalities.
"…I don't." Annie furrowed her brow beneath her mask, then shook her head.
Roy smirked.
"The god Luo Hao has been hunting is the 'Monkey King.' Or, more famously known as 'The Great Sage Equaling Heaven.' Long ago, he was betrayed by other Heretic Gods and sealed away in Japan. Luo Hao believes that 'a god of her own homeland, imprisoned in a foreign land, is an intolerable disgrace.' So she seeks to break the seal and slay him with her own hands.
"However, even she cannot break the seal alone. One of the key conditions required is the presence of a serpentine dragon." (T/N: Okay I guess I overreacted a bit)
Roy gestured toward Asherah.
"And her being a Divine Ancestor who has manifested as a serpentine dragon fits that condition perfectly. With her blood as a sacrifice, the seal can be undone."
His explanation was short and precise, but the implications of it were massive.
"So… you plan to give Asherah to Luo Hao?" (T/N: Going after Senior Sister huh? I won't complain since she is actually my favourite)
Annie quickly pieced things together. Roy nodded.
"Exactly, Luo Hao has the method to unseal the Monkey King. And with Asherah, all the conditions are now met. Like her, I'm also interested in that god. Or more precisely, I'm interested in his steel body, his invulnerability to weapons." His crimson eyes gleamed with ambition.
"I provide the serpentine dragon. She provides the unsealing ritual. Then we compete to see who can kill him first. I imagine Luo Hao will be… quite eager to accept my proposal."
His tone was calm, but the danger in his words was undeniable.
"Campione!!" Asherah's voice erupted in a shriek. Her emerald eyes burned with rage and despair. "Even if I must take my own life, I won't let you use me!!"
She gathered the last remnants of her divine power, preparing to self-destruct. Even if it meant erasing herself completely, she refused to become a pawn of a Campione.
"Stop, Asherah."
A cold, commanding voice cut through the air.
It was Athena. The moment Asherah heard that icy tone, her body stiffened. Her eyes widened in shock.
"L-Lady Athena…?"
Her voice trembled.
Athena's golden snake-eyes bore no warmth.
"Even if you wish to die, you will wait until Roy has finished his task." Her tone was merciless. "Only then, are you allowed to throw your life away."
Asherah shuddered. She did not understand why Athena was siding with a Campione. But as a former Earth Mother Goddess, Athena's command was absolute.
"…I-I understand."
Her will crumbled. She lowered her head, submitting without resistance.
This exchange had caught Roy's attention. He turned toward Athena and smiled, giving her a silent thank you.
The loli goddess merely huffed, turning away. But the slight upward curve of her lips didn't escape Roy's notice.
Then, Roy turned back to Annie. His expression was entirely serious… until it wasn't.
"Once this serpentine dragon has served her purpose. She will be greatly weakened." He grinned. "And as it happens, my villa recently had a new aquarium installed."
Annie blinked.
Roy continued, completely with a straight-face.
"I think I'll keep Asherah as a pet. Let her swim in the fish tank during the day. And at night…" His gaze drifted downwards toward the petite, exposed Asherah. "Well, then I can take her out and… appreciate her in other ways." (T/N: Of f**king course)
Annie stared.
Athena stared.
Alice stared.
Even Asherah, despite her despair, looked stunned.
"…Mr. Roy, if you say it like that, what can I even say?" Annie finally sighed, exasperated.
Roy had been completely reasonable up until now. If she refused, she wouldn't just offend Roy. She would risk angering Luo Hao as well. She had no choice but to go along.
"Thank you for your generosity, Annie."
Roy smirked, a rare moment of genuine respect flashing in his gaze. Despite being a Campione, Annie still upheld her duty to protect the people. That deserved both his respect and acknowledgment.
"MASTER, SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED!!"
A sudden cry pierced through their conversation. Roy turned. A flustered, breathless figure was rushing toward them.
"Madame Aisha?" Roy raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Aisha's face was pale and her voice was shaking.
"M-My Authority, it's about to go out of control!!"
Roy blinked and then waved a hand dismissively.
"Is that all? Don't worry. I'll handle it."
Aisha stammered.
"N-No, you don't understand!! It's not Queen's Curse that's going berserk. It's Fairy's Corridor!!!"
Silence.
A beat passed.
Then, Roy's eyes widened.
Annie's breath hitched.
Alice's smile vanished.
Aisha's desperate cry echoed in the air.
And in that moment, they all realized that they f**ked up.
***
T/N: The cover will finally make sense!!! And yeah I memeified that last line but the meaning from the original line was pretty similar.