Leviathan and Guinevere

"John Pluto Smith, the Campione! Why are you here?!"

On the open waters outside Manhattan Island, a girl who appeared no older than thirteen or fourteen glared at the armored figure in front of her, her voice filled with shock and rage.

The girl was petite, her face possessing a natural charm that should have radiated innocence. Yet, her expression was brimming with ferocity, exuding a wild, untamed aura. Her body was barely covered, with only a few simple bandages wrapped around her slender frame. Her young and underdeveloped figure lacked any defining curves, but it carried the allure of an unripe fruit, tempting others with an inexplicable desire to pluck it. (T/N: Goddammit)

Asherah had a body that could easily captivate a twisted mind, but unfortunately for her, the Campione standing before her, though outwardly presenting as a man, was in fact a woman beneath the armor.

"Divine Ancestor Asherah, why I am here is irrelevant for now. What you need to know is that I am here to stop you and ensure that no harm comes to the innocent civilians of America."

Annie Charlton, dressed in her characteristic suit of armor, spoke with the practiced politeness of someone confident in their power. Her words carried the unique blend of casualness inherent to Americans, alongside the unmistakable personal heroism that her country was known for.

To an ordinary woman, her bold and heroic demeanor would be magnetic, exuding a strength and charm that could easily captivate hearts. But Asherah was no ordinary woman.

"Haha…haha 'zero to hundred' hahahaha!! Although it's a little different from the plan, no matter what, since you are here too, let me destroy you and this island together. Do you feel it? Do you feel the surging divine power in my body? Come on, John Smith, this is where you will be buried!"

The Divine Ancestor Asherah screamed with a twisted expression, her once-beautiful eyes now filled with cruelty and hatred.

"I am the heavens; tremble before me!

I am the earth; curse my name!

The head of Enlil is mine,

The visage of midday light is mine!

O gods who once protected me, drive away the vile curse from my being!"

Drawing upon the essence she had stolen from the earth and the sea, Asherah chanted the incantation to reclaim her identity as the heretic snake. Amid the hissing of a serpentine dragon, her petite body began to undergo a terrifying transformation. Scales grew across her skin, her legs turned into a massive snake tail, and her head became that of a serpent. In an instant, the beautiful girl transformed into a monstrous snake—over twenty stories long, covered in silver-white scales, and exuding a terrifying yet divine beauty.

This was Leviathan, the envious serpent. While it might not rival the Gorgon Athena could transform into, it was nonetheless a creature no mere mortal could hope to withstand.

Boom!

The enormous snake tail slammed into the sea, sending waves crashing skyward. Leviathan submerged itself into the waters and surged toward Manhattan Island like an unstoppable force of nature.

Annie Charlton's expression was solemn beneath her helmet. Magical energy burned across her body as she fearlessly threw herself against the monstrous serpent. Upon closer inspection, her form had shifted as well, no longer fully human. This was the power of the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca—the authority she had usurped as a Campione.

The clash between Asherah and Annie Charlton caused widespread panic across Manhattan Island. Rescue helicopters roared through the skies, broadcasting evacuation orders. The sea itself seemed to transform into rain, falling heavily over the canals. Despite the chaos that engulfed the city, the area where Roy and Athena strolled remained eerily quiet.

"Guinevere, the witch who bears the name of King Arthur's wife—it was you who manipulated Asherah, urging her to absorb the essence of the earth and sea so violently and to abandon her plans on the west coast in favor of this sudden assault on the east."

Roy turned his attention to the young girl standing before him. Despite her apparent age of only fourteen, she exuded an elegance that was hard to reconcile with her youthful appearance. Few would believe that this poised and graceful girl was the infamous Guinevere from the legends of King Arthur.

"Lord Roy, surely you knew this all along. Under your eyes, no secret can escape," Guinevere replied with a sweet, unhurried tone, lifting the hem of her skirt in a perfect display of noble etiquette.

"Don't think I haven't figured you out," Roy continued, his tone tinged with amusement. "You used Asherah as a pawn, deliberately forcing her to change her plans. Your goal was to throw John Smith into disarray and compel him to seek my assistance. That way, you could test whether my 'eyes' are truly as the Assembly claims, capable of seeing all the secrets of the past."

Roy spoke as if chatting with an old friend, his expression calm and familiar.

"You are absolutely right. I simply wanted to test whether your eyes have the legendary power they're rumored to possess," Guinevere admitted with a smile. "Now, it seems incredible. You didn't even investigate Asherah. With just a few pieces of information, you pieced together all of her plans. Even as a Divine Ancestor, I am in awe of your ability of clairvoyance."

Her soft, shining eyes glimmered with a youthful admiration, a look that could easily make men feel flattered in her presence.

Roy's smile deepened. "Then, Guinevere, do you know why I went along with your scheme, even though I knew it was your trap?"

Roy placed his right hand in his pocket and tilted his head slightly as he asked.

"You already said it yourself," Guinevere replied, lowering her head slightly in a pleading gesture. "You are interested in me, and naturally, you must also be interested in the Last King. That's why I appeared before you. Since both of us are curious about the Last King, why don't you use your wise eyes to show me where the 'King' sleeps?"

Her tone was soft and imploring, her movements graceful yet humble, as if she were truly supplicating Roy for his help.

"Goddess Guinevere, I didn't expect you to fall so deeply. A traitor to the Earth Mother Goddess, a rebel loyal to the Last Steel—do you even comprehend how many of our kind have died because of you? How dare you show your face before me! I should crush you into dust this very moment."

Athena's voice rang out sharply, filled with righteous fury that threatened to erupt at any moment. Her amber eyes had shifted into cold, slitted snake pupils, her gaze fixed on Guinevere with icy contempt, ready to unleash her Mystic Eyes of Petrification at any second.

"Lady Athena, all of that is ancient history," Guinevere replied with a calm smile, her tone unwavering. "And even if I had not acted, the fate of the Earth Mother Goddesses was already sealed. In truth, when I saw you, I briefly wondered whether I should turn you into nourishment to awaken the 'King'."

After a brief pause, Guinevere's soft, charming smile remained unchanged, yet her words carried a cruel and venomous edge. Her lack of fear toward Athena was evident as she added,

"Even if you kill me here, I will revive thanks to the immortality of the snake. It would only take some time."

"You…"

Athena's anger burned brighter. Her fists clenched tightly, her slender frame trembling with rage. But Guinevere was right. The witches who had fallen from their position as Earth Mother Goddesses to become Divine Ancestors could not truly die unless they willingly abandoned their immortality. They would continue to reincarnate, shedding their skins like snakes.

Roy reached out and gently placed a reassuring hand on Athena's shoulder, urging her to relax. Turning to Guinevere, he raised a brow and said with a smirk, "Guinevere, I'm a Campione and the sworn enemy of the Last King. Why should I help you awaken an enemy of mine?"

"Please forgive my impertinence," Guinevere said, her tone respectful but steady. "Upon hearing about your mystic eyes, I've been secretly following you. However, you have never gone to the location where the 'King' sleeps. If you truly feared the 'King'—having witnessed his feats of slaying countless Campiones in the past—you would have tried to keep him dormant, perhaps even seal him away permanently…

"...But you didn't. So I dare to guess that your goal is the same as mine: to awaken him. After all, someone like you, Lord Roy, wouldn't back down from a powerful adversary. The Children of Fool are all the same. Knowing full well that they face an enemy capable of killing them, they would still foolishly and courageously confront their death head-on."

Guinevere spoke with precision and logic, each word striking a chord as she analyzed Roy's intent.

Roy chuckled lightly. "You're clever, Guinevere. I won't deny it. You've guessed part of my reasoning. I wouldn't waste my time sealing him away out of fear. Instead, I'll focus on figuring out how to defeat him completely—once and for all.

"I've promised Athena that we'll cut down the Last Steel together. Whether we succeed or die trying, I will not break that promise!" Roy's voice was clear, resolute, and powerful, carrying a commanding weight that left no room for doubt.

Athena, hearing this, looked at him with a rare softness in her gaze. Her voice softened, though it remained tinged with pride: "Roy, just those words alone have made me decide. Even if you do fall into the Underworld one day, I will accompany you as the Queen of the Underworld, ensuring you're never alone. Consider it an honor. You, the God-Slayer who defeated me—unlike those so-called heroes of Greece whom I saw as mere toys or insects for the gods' amusement—are someone I hold in the highest regard."

The goddess, radiant as a proud phoenix, delivered her words with regal strength, her cherry-colored lips curling into a graceful smile. Her amber eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, carrying a brilliance that stirred admiration.

"I must say, Lord Roy, I'm a bit envious of you," Guinevere said, her voice tinged with genuine awe. "To share such intimacy with the goddess Athena is a privilege that no hero throughout history has ever enjoyed.

"So, since our goals align, please, Lord Roy, share with me the location where the 'King' slumbers."

Her tone remained sincere, her posture demure as she once again made her request.

"Heh, Guinevere, you understand the concept of equivalent exchange, don't you? If you want to know the location of the Last King, what will you offer me in return?"

Roy's tone was casual, but his words were pointed, his interest evident.

"That depends entirely on what you desire, Lord Roy," Guinevere replied, her voice sweet and accommodating.

"Then how about…you, Guinevere?" Roy suddenly stretched out a finger, pointing directly at her.

"Me?"

Guinevere froze for a moment, pointing at herself with an incredulous look. Her expression quickly shifted into a coquettish laugh.

"I didn't expect you to be interested in someone like me, Lord Roy. Truly, you are a domineering demon king—commanding women at your whim and taking what you desire. But if sharing the location with me is what you want in exchange, then I, Guinevere, am willing to offer you this body of mine for your enjoyment."

The ancient goddess, now a Divine Ancestor, spoke with a gentle, sultry tone, her half-lidded eyes brimming with an irresistible allure that could make any man falter.

Athena, meanwhile, cast a sidelong glance at Roy, her expression tinged with subtle displeasure. She had just made an earnest declaration of her willingness to share life and death with him, and now he was seemingly "confessing" to another woman. As a proud goddess, she felt this was nothing short of an insult.

But Athena, ever wise, knew better than to act rashly. She wouldn't react like an ordinary woman, filled with jealousy or despair. Instead, her intelligence told her that Roy must have a deeper purpose for his actions.

And so, while intelligent women might make men wary, they also made them far more effective partners. Sometimes, a wise woman can even turn the tide of fate.

******

(Important Announcement: So guys, this is important so don't skip. Anyway, since I have some real life stuff to be busy with (I am shifting). I won't be able to access my files for a while on my laptop where I keep the chapters. So I most likely won't be able to upload chapters for the rest of the week. I will come back soon, hopefully by next week things will calm down enough for me to post more chapters.)