Chapter 4: Heretic God

"N-no... I don't want to be roasted! I don't want to be a grilled fox..."

The sight of Phoenix's flames terrified Higokumaru. Even as a Herrscher, being burned by this fire would be unbearable.

"If you don't want that, then behave properly. How did you return to your original form?" Seeing Higokumaru's fear, Phoenix extinguished the flames. She had merely meant to scare the fox, not actually harm her.

"I heard someone important calling me, so I transformed back."

"..."

"What about your power? What level of strength do you possess now?"

Phoenix pondered, uncertain how much power Higokumaru had retained.

"Strength... probably about a third of my peak power..." Higokumaru scratched her fox head with her fox paw, answering uncertainly.

"A third... that's not bad. Can you transform into a big fox?" With Phoenix's current power, she could defeat any opponent except the Herrscher of Finality. Even Sirin... would be no match for her, let alone Higokumaru.

Though perhaps suitable as a pet!

The Red Kite Immortal originally had a divine bird Jingwei as her companion, but now... the young girl beside her lacked that Jingwei. Higokumaru would serve as a suitable substitute.

A Herrscher's dignity matched Jingwei's quite well.

"Of course. Transforming between sizes is instinctive, requiring little energy."

"Is that so? That's good..."

Now she had a ready-made mount...

Though as the Phoenix Immortal, riding a fox might not match her dignity as well as a divine bird. But she'd have to make do for now!

If necessary, she could capture a Vermilion Bird or Phoenix - Heretic Gods - as a mount.

Or even venture to the Netherworld to seize the true form of a divine beast... rather than settling for mere Heretic Gods.

"So... Higokumaru, can you transform into a human form? You know, the type that's... well... cute... with fox ears and a fox tail... like a adorable little girl..."

"Higokumaru?" At Phoenix's voice, Higokumaru's mind immediately conjured an image of the half-human form she had seen Higokumaru take before.

"Exactly, just like Higokumaru. Can you do that?"

As a pet, what use would there be if she couldn't become a kemonomimi?

"I should be able to manage that," Higokumaru nodded.

"That's good. But don't make yourself exactly like Higokumaru - she might get upset..."

"Then I'll make myself even cuter than her!"

With those words, flames erupted around the little fox, completely engulfing her body. When the fire dissipated, a super adorable... and slightly resembling Phoenix's kemonomimi girl stood naked before her.

The kemonomimi girl appeared to be about five or six years old, completely unclothed. Her pink fox ears twitched occasionally on her head, while four fox tails swayed behind her. Two of the tails instinctively moved to cover her sensitive front, shielding it from view.

Since she was a little girl, there were no curves to speak of. Her flat chest didn't need covering anyway.

"Is that so, Phoenix...?"

Higokumaru floated before Phoenix, her large eyes blinking innocently.

"Correct, but... where's your clothes?"

The girl before her was indeed slightly more adorable than Higokumaru.

Though Higokumaru was charming, Phoenix felt no particular interest in her. After all, she was just a child - completely bare... not even beginning to develop yet.

Phoenix wasn't some pervert, after all.

"Clothes... Do I need clothes?" Higokumaru looked at Phoenix with confusion.

"What do you think?"

"Alright!"

At these words, a garment materialized around Higokumaru's body. It was a traditional Japanese-style kimono that accentuated her cuteness.

"How's this? Cute, right? I based it on Yae Rin's most adorable outfit!" Higokumaru twirled before Phoenix, clearly pleased with herself.

"It is cute..."

Phoenix ruffled Higokumaru's head, messing up her hair.

"Phoenix-nee, where are we? A desert?" After they had re-introduced themselves, Higokumaru finally looked around.

"Mhm. Feel it. What's different here?"

"Something's... This world's rules... They're completely different..." Higokumaru's eyes widened as she stared at Phoenix. "This isn't the old world!"

"Exactly. You're quick. This is indeed another world."

"We're in another world? But..."

"Don't dwell on that now. Try using your Honkai energy."

Each world had unique rules and elements. Phoenix, aided by the System, could fully unleash her power, but... others couldn't.

Especially Higokumaru, who differed from Higokumaru. This wasn't a System reward, but something she'd brought from the previous world.

"Honkai energy..."

Higokumaru spread her hands, and a black crystal appeared in her grasp.

"It can be used, and... the Honkai's power is more active here than in the previous world. This realm is at the very beginning of Honkai's corruption..."

She could... she could activate the Herrscher Authority. She...

Higokumaru gazed at Phoenix with mounting excitement. Though her power had dwindled to a third of its original strength, the Box that had contained it had vanished when she transformed into the divine key alongside Phoenix.

Now Higokumaru possessed only a third of her former might, yet this diminished power proved stronger than what she'd wielded in the previous world.

"Don't... don't use the Herrscher Authority..." Phoenix urgently restrained the eager Higokumaru.

The Honkai's activity likely manifested through the arrival of this world's Heretic God...

Every Heretic God's descent brought humanity irresistible calamity.

If the Sun God were to descend, the entire world would burn in searing heat.

If the Sea God descended, the entire world would be engulfed by waves and swallowed by the ocean depths.

If the Netherworld God descended, plagues would spread to every corner of the world, transforming it into a city of death.

If the Judgment God descended, those dwelling here would suffer various punishments.

This was uncontrollable, a natural disaster halo carried by the Heretic God's descent. Judging by Higokumaru's behavior, this... was clearly also a manifestation of Honkai.

After all, anything hostile to civilization is Honkai.