[Ancient Talisman: Contains a powerful Binding Spell capable of restraining high-ranking spirits like Shuten Doji. Created by the famous Onmyoji master Abe no Seimei during the Heian period. This one-time-use talisman was intended for his disciple. Unfortunately, before the disciple could activate the talisman, he was killed by the high-ranking youkai Ibaraki Doji.]
This is the strongest magical artifact Ren possesses before obtaining Brahmastra and the piece of chalk containing a strand of Sun Wukong's hair.
However, even with the power of this talisman, he knows—it won't be enough to restrain Hou Yi for even five seconds.
'I've already provoked Hou Yi. He'll kill me if he manages to break free.'
But this sensation... the tension between life and death... it's so thrilling!
Ren doesn't waste any time. He immediately plucks a strand of hair from the piece of chalk, which he has modified for easy access.
Without hesitation, he throws the strand toward Hou Yi and shouts loudly to activate the Divine Authority of Shapeshifting.
"Transform into the Chains of Heaven!"
*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*
In an instant, golden chains adorned with sacred engravings emerge from the air, shooting forward like a giant serpent coiling around Hou Yi's body.
The chains capable of binding the gods of Uruk finally appear for the first and last time in Japan.
As the chains tighten around him, Hou Yi lowers his gaze to his bound body.
"The higher the divinity, the tighter the chains bind the target."
Hou Yi calmly analyzes the situation.
On the other hand, Ren has no intention of engaging in idle chatter. Most villains fail at the last moment because they talk too much!
'I don't know how long this strand of hair can maintain its transformation into a divine weapon like the Chains of Heaven.'
Not wanting to take any risks, he opens the bag he always carries, takes out a portable bow, nocks an arrow, draws the string, and aims directly at Hou Yi.
Meanwhile, Hou Yi remains silent, observing Ren with a look of interest.
"Very interesting. You want to kill an archer with an arrow?"
Even in this critical situation, there's not a trace of panic on Hou Yi's face.
Instead, he smiles faintly.
"Go ahead, young man."
"Sorry for using such a dishonorable method. If I can win without fighting, why bother risking a life-or-death battle?"
Seeing Hou Yi stop resisting, Ren doesn't mind chatting a little. Just a little, though—if he notices any signs of the Chains of Heaven weakening, he'll fire the arrow immediately.
"Dishonorable? That's called tactics. No need to apologize, young man. Just like burning the enemy's food and livestock to cut off their supply lines during war, or raiding the enemy's camp at night—all of these are tactics used to secure victory. In war, only the victors write history."
"You took advantage of my carelessness. That was a brilliant move. Mortals cannot defeat a Heretic God head-on. Every human before becoming a Campione is an ordinary person in the eyes of the gods. The influence of luck is the greatest factor that allows humans to successfully kill a Heretic God."
"Congratulations, luck is on your side."
Among the humans he has encountered, Hou Yi feels that Ren is one blessed with greater fortune than most. It's not wrong to consider him a Child of Destiny.
Hou Yi's attitude is generous, not accusing Ren of his underhanded methods.
"A good name. Ha Ha Ha... You've won, Rokuhara Ren! Take my Divine Authority!"
The next moment, Ren releases the bowstring amidst Hou Yi's laughter.
"Woah... You even have Brahma's arrow. Don't die before our next meeting." Hou Yi's gaze is filled with admiration.
He doesn't resist. He simply stands there, accepting his fate.
Brahmastra pierces his body effortlessly, as if nothing can resist the power of the divine arrow. A moment later, his form begins to disintegrate into golden dust, carried away by the cold night wind.
At the same time, Brahmastra returns to Rama's Mandala Formation, returning to its origin after fulfilling its purpose.
And with Hou Yi's death, the ritual of Divine Authority Plunder begins.
Ren feels his body grow heavy, an invisible force surging into him. His consciousness quickly fades. Unable to resist, he loses consciousness and collapses.
Ren's consciousness slowly returns, as if his mind is rising to the surface from the depths of an ocean. A gentle sensation brushes through his hair, a soft motion that feels unfamiliar yet comforting.
He blinks his eyes, still slightly dazed, and the first thing that comes into view is the face of a girl.
Her voice is light and melodious, like the chime of a small bell in the silence.
Ren finally opens his eyes fully. The girl's beautiful face fills his vision—mysterious shining blue eyes, a small mouth curved in a playful smile, and purple hair tied in twintails.
"Welcome, my beloved child~"
Her tone is cheerful, almost playful, but there's something strange about it—something that makes the hairs on Ren's neck stand on end.
Reflexively, he backs away, pushing his body backward.
Once he's put some distance between them, Ren realizes something even more unsettling about the girl's presence—the surroundings.
This space... is empty.
There's no sky, no ground, no boundaries. All that can be seen is a gray expanse stretching as far as the eye can see. It's as if this world is just a rough sketch, not yet filled with the colors of life.
Ren shifts his attention back to the only other inhabitant of this dimension.
The girl isn't just beautiful—she also carries an odd aura that's hard to describe. Her stature is petite, almost like a living porcelain doll. Yet, despite her small frame, she doesn't entirely seem childlike. There's something in her expression, in the way she looks at him, that feels far older than she appears.
"My name is Pandora. The goddess who brings all calamities and a glimmer of hope—that's me!"
Pandora introduces herself with a cheerful voice, her hands raised to strike a cute pose.
Ren remains silent, observing her cheerful demeanor with a flat expression.
Pandora blinks, then lets out a long sigh.
"Sigh... You're just like the other children, no fun at all."
She pouts, like a child who's just been denied a new toy.
Ren stays silent for a moment, letting his mind work quickly. He remembers the battle against Hou Yi, Brahmastra piercing the god's body, and then...
"How mean of you to push me away. You can't be rough with your mother!"
Pandora sulks, her face pouting like a child throwing a tantrum.
Ren tilts his head, trying to process the statement.
Of course, he knows in theory that every Campione born is a 'child' of Pandora, as she is the one who oversees the Divine Authority Plunder Ritual. But... still, it feels strange to think of this petite girl as his mother.
Now, he understands how Makabe Masamune must have felt when dealing with his mother, who looks like an elementary school girl and acts childishly.
"I am the goddess who oversees the reincarnation ritual of Campiones. Since you've been reincarnated as a Campione, you are my child, and I am your mother."
Pandora places her hands on her hips, nodding confidently.
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"...No. That makes sense."
Ren can't argue with the logic. Even though Pandora's way of speaking is utterly ridiculous, her statement is undeniably true.