Akuto's reason for being so casual with Nyx was simple: he knew he had already passed the so-called "goddess's trial."
Halfway through the kiss, the system notification rang out beside his ear.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the story quest — Nyx, Goddess of the Night's Trial.]
[Quest Requirement: Pass Nyx, Goddess of the Night's trial.]
[Quest Rank: Gold.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining reward: Weapon Concept Imbuement — Sever Fate (Gold).]
[Weapon Concept Imbuement — Sever Fate: As the name implies, it can grant your weapons the ability to tear apart fate. It is highly useful when facing Fate-type goddesses and Fate-type skills.]
Normally, to sever fate, one would at minimum need to use the host's chess pieces or endure the host's bloodline infusion method. However, after obtaining the conceptual ability of Sever Fate, the accuracy of severing fate-lines instantly dropped in a geometric progression.
Note: The more fate-lines of Fate Goddesses you sever, the more this trait will be strengthened.
…
"Hm. In my view, this conceptual ability is a bit… chicken-rib."
To Akuto, most people didn't need him to "sever fate" for them.
For those with a sufficiently intimate relationship with him, as long as they became his dependents normally—or formed a substantive relationship with him—they could break free of their original fate-lines.
And for those who weren't close enough, Akuto had no interest in helping them break their fate-lines.
For example, the Nyx right in front of him.
Akuto was very clear: Nyx's interest in his "fate-breaking" constitution far exceeded her interest in him as a person.
The reason she valued him so highly—borderline obsession—was purely because of that special trait.
Even though, in theory, because of the succubus bloodline, that "love for his constitution" would gradually transfer onto his person, even so, Akuto would only tell Nyx this—
If she wanted to break her own fate-line, there was only one path: offering him the purity of her flesh. There was no other road.
Using the conceptual ability "Sever Fate" to help a Fate Goddess break fate… had never once been in Akuto's considerations.
"Still," Akuto thought, "it's not completely useless."
"If I run into an enemy who's a Fate Goddess later, I can use this to break her skills. Or if I encounter someone being controlled by a Fate Goddess, I can remove the restriction in the shortest possible time."
At that, Akuto's mind immediately produced the image of an obvious great hero—yet also an unlucky bastard who was being controlled by a Fate Goddess.
…
In any case, Akuto had already confirmed through the system that the fact was settled: he had "passed the goddess's trial."
After confirming Nyx's attitude, Akuto made a judgment—
From now on, and in the future, they would be enemies.
That was why Akuto had the interest to "educate" this overly coquettish goddess.
"Hmph."
"You want me to beg you? You've got some nerve."
"Don't think that just because you passed my first trial, you can do whatever you want with me."
Nyx puffed out her cheeks. She had obviously seen through Akuto's intent—he wanted her to ask first.
But as the former Goddess of the Night, the primordial Goddess of Nature, the primordial Goddess of Fate… how could she possibly soften toward anyone?
Even if that person was the "unseeable-by-fate one" she had been searching for, it still wouldn't do!
Even though her eyes were already damp from the influence of the succubus bloodline, she still maintained the pride befitting a goddess.
…
Unlike Nyx, Akuto was the type who actually analyzed what every sentence meant.
"Hm? First trial? You mean…"
At that moment, the system notification chimed again.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering the story quest — Nyx, Goddess of the Night's Trial: Part Two.]
[Quest Rank: Red.]
[Quest Description: Nyx, Goddess of the Night, has confirmed the host's identity as the "unseeable-by-fate one."]
[Through intimate contact with the host, Nyx has also confirmed the fact that the host can allow others to break free of fate.]
[Without a doubt, this is extremely important to Nyx, Goddess of the Night—indeed, to the entire world.]
[Therefore, Nyx's trial has smoothly entered its second process.]
[Quest Requirement: Pass Nyx, Goddess of the Night's Trial: Part Two.]
…
"Sukechang guessed right. I've prepared a second stage for you too~"
"When your strength reaches the very peak of Chief God-class, you can come find me anytime and start the second stage~" Nyx replied playfully.
Akuto's answer was—
"Hahaha. I'm not going."
"Nyx, why do you think I'd agree to your trial when I've already gotten Shuri's soul jewel and it's in my hands?"
Even with a red-rank system quest right in front of him, Akuto didn't show much interest.
Because tomorrow night, the countdown for his third dungeon instance would end.
According to the system, after completing the third instance, he would be able to fuse low-tier system rewards into high-tier ones.
At that point, not only red-rank rewards—even purple-rank rewards could be fused.
…
From Nyx's requirement that he "reach the peak of Chief God-class" before seeking her out, Akuto inferred that the second trial might require combat.
At this stage, Akuto had no intention of revealing his full combat power in front of Nyx.
Because Nyx originally belonged to the late-story antagonist organization, the "Hell Overlord Alliance."
Even if she regarded him differently due to his fate-immune constitution, Akuto still wouldn't expose everything before he had completely subjugated her.
It was a "two ends blocked off" problem.
Since the trial required him to be at the peak of Chief God-class, the difficulty would certainly be high. Even if Akuto were to take this so-called trial, he would only do it after his strength reached at least sub-Dragon God-class, or even Dragon God-class.
…
"Really? Sukechang won't come?"
"If I said that as long as you pass the trial, the entire Greek pantheon will bow at your feet, what then?"
Nyx lowered her head, and the abundant curves on her chest swayed deliberately as she tried to entice him.
"The Greek pantheon's loyalty? Sorry. I'm not interested."
From Nyx's words, Akuto inferred even more intelligence about the trial.
If passing it meant gaining Greek myth's loyalty, then the worst-case scenario was that the trial required clashing with the gods of Greek myth.
Right now, Akuto only wanted to develop quietly on his own. Conquering Greek myth would have too much impact, and it could cause him to get targeted ahead of schedule.
…
Of course, Akuto wouldn't paint himself into a corner by speaking too absolutely.
If he could pick up an entire pantheon without exposing his strength and without causing massive ripple effects, he would still be very willing to accept a free gift.
But Akuto was the kind of person who knew exactly how big a pot he could eat from.
At this stage, turning just the Underworld into his own backyard was already impressive.
Turning the Greek pantheon into his backyard as well would have to wait until he fully subjugated the Underworld.
…
"Nyx, if you're willing to wait, then at the latest—three years from now—I will come find you. But that time will be decided by me."
In the end, Akuto chose a middle path. He didn't intend to speak in a way that completely sealed off either option.
"Huh? Only three years? That fast?"
Nyx's red lips parted in astonishment.
Akuto was saying that in three years, he had confidence he could rise from mid-tier god to the peak of Chief God-class?
For a deity, that kind of growth speed really was… far too fast.
Akuto: "…"
Silence.
…
Akuto realized he might have been overthinking.
He had assumed that since Nyx wore a school uniform, her worldview would be modern.
Who knew her sense of time still operated on an ancient scale?
"Alright. If it's within three years, I can rest easy~"
Nyx patted her chest with relief, wearing a sly smile.
It was obvious: despite being both tsundere and a smug little-goblin type, this goddess had suffered none of the typical "flat-chest debuff" those traits seemed to come with.
"Oh right—take this Gate of the Underworld. If you want to contact me, you can do it anytime through it~"
Pulling out a black card interwoven with blood-red hues from her chest, Nyx handed it to Akuto. The card was printed with the image of the "Gate of the Underworld," and it gave off faint waves of milky fragrance.
"Alright. I understand. I'll contact you when the time comes."
With a subtly complicated mood, Akuto stored the Gate of the Underworld into the storage space where he also kept Leila More's cosplay outfit.
"Mm! Then I'll go back now. Bye-bye, Sukechang~"
Nyx licked her red lips, savoring Akuto's taste, and flew back into her own Gate of the Underworld.
"Boom—!"
The Gate of the Underworld closed.
"Woom—"
In the next instant, a massive circle expanded from Akuto's body, cleansing all nearby traces of aura in one sweep.
"Next… is reviving Shuri."
Akuto looked down at the soul jewel in his hand.
…
Over the next day, Akuto reviewed everything that had occurred across the different phases of his three dungeon instances.
As for Shuri, Akuto did not choose to revive her in the DxD world.
Instead, he revived her in the Akame ga Kill world.
After being revived, Shuri instinctively believed she had, after dying, crossed into some other world.
What delighted Shuri most was that in this other world, she also seemed to be a natural-born Fallen Angel—and she also had a daughter named "Akeno Himejima."
Yes.
That was exactly Akuto's method.
Akuto and Akeno made the decision together—
They would make up for the regrets between Shuri and Akeno.
What they needed to do was simple:
Let Shuri be Akeno's mother once.
Let Akeno be Shuri's daughter once again.
As for Akuto…
His identity, naturally, would be Shuri's suitor.
(End of Chapter)
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