After it became clear that the newcomer known as "Eternal Queen" wasn't going to respond, the group eventually gave up trying to reach her and moved on.
Before long, the conversation shifted to Athena's world. The goddess began to speak more openly about her reality, offering everyone a deeper look into how things worked in her universe.
With a few exchanges, the others began to understand the roles of "Heretic Gods" and "Campiones" in Athena's world.
Raiden: "Wow… Athena's world is way more complicated than I thought. The tension between gods and humans is so intense."
Seitenshi: "Especially since Heretic Gods always have to be careful around Campiones."
Huaizhu: "That's true. Lady Athena, please be careful!"
Athena: "Thank you for your concern. But even if a Heretic God is killed, we don't really die. We return to the myth."
Athena: "Besides, once I reclaim the 'Snake,' I will restore my full divinity. At that point, no god-slayer will be able to stand against me."
Artemis: "Oof, sounds like a pain~ Just try not to die before that, alright? You're kinda fragile right now."
Raiden: "Ahem… I'm sure Athena has her own ways of staying safe."
Seitenshi: "Even if Heretic Gods can be dangerous… Athena's one of us now. I don't want anything bad to happen to her."
Rin Yuki: "It's true that Heretic Gods can bring chaos to the human world. But I don't believe Athena has ever harmed people."
Yuki spoke calmly, addressing Seitenshi's concern. He recalled how Athena, after breaking free from the myth, had focused only on retrieving the Gorgoneion to restore her power. Unlike other Heretic Gods—like Verethragna or Melqart—who caused destruction without care for humans, Athena had been more composed and reserved.
His words struck a chord deep inside Athena. She was still perched on the stone coffin, her delicate legs swaying slightly in the air. For the first time, a flicker of warmth touched her heart. She hadn't expected Rin Yuki to understand her so clearly.
For a rare moment, her gaze softened.
Athena: "Indeed. As Rin Yuki says, I have no interest in interfering with the human world. There is no need for concern, Seitenshi."
Seitenshi: "That's a relief! Aah… actually, I feel kinda silly now, lecturing a goddess like that. (embarrassed)"
Athena: "It is unnecessary to feel shame. We are all members of this group. And as the welcome message says—'Here, we are all the best of friends.'"
Huaizhu: "Mhm! We're all friends here!"
Raiden: "So now we're all on the same page!"
Seitenshi: "Oh right—where's Saeko?"
Rin Yuki: "She's in the middle of a fight. Too busy to check the chat."
Huaizhu: "Ah, that makes sense!"
Artemis: "Wait, what?! She's fighting again? Yuki, how do you even know that? …Don't tell me—you're in her world again, aren't you?! Ugh! Why don't you ever come to mine?!"
Raiden: "So Saeko's battling again? Her swordsmanship must be unreal by now."
Rin Yuki: "Pretty impressive. Want to see? I'll stream it."
[Group Notification: Rin Yuki has started a livestream! Join now!]
[Raiden has joined the livestream]
[Artemis has joined the livestream]
[Athena has joined the livestream]
...
[Eternal Queen has joined the livestream]
Raiden Ei: "Oh-ho~! Look who finally made a move! Our silent Queen was watching all along!"
Seitenshi: "Aha! So she was awake after all!"
Artemis: "Caught you lurking~ @Eternal Queen"
Yuki noticed the silent newcomer join the livestream, but he didn't push. He just smiled to himself.
It's natural. She's just cautious. She'll open up eventually…
On the screen, Athena's eyes narrowed as she watched what unfolded in the other world. The battlefield was drenched in blood and smoke. At the center of it stood a young woman with long purple hair, dressed in sleek, glossy armor that clung tightly to her toned figure. Twin blades gleamed in her hands.
In one motion—faster than thought—she unsheathed her sword, slashed, and returned it to its scabbard.
Silver arcs of pure destruction cut through the horde of enemies. The "Dead"—rotting, snarling, once-human monsters—were turned into raining chunks of torn flesh and shattered bone. Each swing tore through buildings and crushed concrete streets like they were made of paper. Even the air howled from the force of her movements.
Athena leaned forward slightly.
This girl... she's like a mortal goddess of war.
Her movements were so clean, so deadly, that even Athena—herself a divine being—felt a shiver. There were mortals out there in the multiverse who could rival gods. It was humbling.
Behind her, two other women moved in formation. One was Rika, a cold-eyed beauty in futuristic tactical armor, holding a massive rifle with casual ease. The other was Shizuka, calm and business-like, efficiently handling logistics and enemy clean-up.
But Athena barely paid attention to them. Her gaze locked onto someone else.
Rin Yuki—sitting atop a massive stone lion, relaxed, his expression unreadable.
And just like that... she couldn't take her eyes off him.
He's... beautiful.
More radiant than any god of beauty she had ever seen. His aura wasn't divine—it was something else. But it drew her in all the same. A fluttery warmth bloomed in her chest—foreign, but impossible to ignore.
Raiden: "Wow. Saeko's gotten insanely strong. Her swordplay… even I don't think I could block it head-on."
Seitenshi: "Waaah! I'm so jealous! When did she get that strong?!"
Huaizhu: "Looks like I need to train harder now. (serious)"
Athena: "She surpasses most Campiones."
That statement exploded in the chat. Coming from a goddess who'd faced god-slayers herself, it meant everything.
Athena: "Praise from me is not given lightly."
Seitenshi: "Wait, wait—does that mean Saeko could actually beat a Campione?!"
Athena: "In the right conditions, yes. While Campiones gain divine powers through slaying gods, her pure skill is enough to match their might."
Everyone was stunned.
Athena: "However... why do these mortals look so... withered?"
Seitenshi: "Ah, those are 'the Dead.' In Saeko's world..."
Seitenshi explained the apocalypse, the virus, how society collapsed, and how humanity was now scattered survivors fighting against decay. Athena listened closely, clearly intrigued by a world without gods or divine order.
Back in the stream:
The streets were quiet now. The Dead were gone. Saeko walked toward a large bank building—then, without a word, raised her blade.
BOOM.
A single casual swing erased the structure, the force so great that the entire building vanished into a wall of dust and rubble. Only the underground vault remained intact—gold was what they came for.
Earlier, she had already flattened Wall Street and the area around it for nearly 50 kilometers.
Shizuka, Yuriko, and Saya descended into the vault's depths, surrounded by black-clad shadow soldiers dragging crates of loot like obedient mules.
Saeko, meanwhile, returned to Yuki's side. Blood still clung to her armor, but her expression changed instantly. In his presence, she became soft, calm—every bit the graceful Yamato Nadeshiko.
She read through the chat, then addressed Athena directly.
Saeko: "Lady Athena, it's an honor. Your words humble me."
Athena: "Your strength is worthy of respect, mortal. Though…" she pointed to the screen "…must you destroy entire city blocks quite so… enthusiastically?"
Saeko: "Efficiency is everything~"
Just then—
[Eternal Queen]: "How… quaint."
The entire chat froze.
After hours of silence, the one they had nearly forgotten—the Eternal Queen—had finally spoken.