"What... what?"
"She has strength to contend with Campione?"
Hearing Phoenix's words, Erica and Liliana turned to look at the young girl beside them - a child who appeared no different from any ordinary girl, constantly munching on chocolate.
Could this girl truly possess the strength to contend with a Campione?
Feeling as if Phoenix were joking, the two women wore expressions of utter disbelief.
"As for Campiones and such, I've never met any except for Phoenix-nee, so I don't really know. But I'm definitely not a match for Phoenix-nee," Higokumaru replied with a cute demeanor, opening another box of chocolate while observing Liliana and Erica's astonished faces.
Upon hearing this, Liliana and Erica immediately let out relieved sighs. It seemed the girl wasn't as powerful as a Campione after all. However, Higokumaru's next words would shock them anew.
"But when it comes to the Heretic Gods you mentioned - like the angel Phoenix-nee killed last time - I should be able to handle that one," Higokumaru stated with such calmness that it nearly left Liliana and Erica speechless.
Could she defeat Michael? Could she overcome a Heretic God?
It was a well-established truth that ordinary people and mages stood no chance against Heretic Gods or Campiones - a truth proven through countless bloody lessons.
Now a young girl was claiming to possess the strength to defeat a Heretic God?
"Higokumaru isn't human. She's a Herrscher. You can think of her as a different kind of god... well, more like a Demon God. She has powers and strength similar to a god. But... she's not a Heretic God."
Seeing the two disbelieving knight girls beside her, Phoenix offered an explanation.
Herrscher and Heretic Gods did share some similarities.
These Heretic Gods were essentially manifestations of Honkai, although they only passively caused harm to human civilization.
When facing a Heretic God, ordinary people have no means to resist. Similarly, when facing a Herrscher, they also lack any means to resist.
If an ordinary person defies all odds and succeeds in killing a god through some miraculous means, they can obtain the god's powers and become a Campione, ascending to heaven in a single step!
And if one successfully kills a Herrscher, they can obtain the Herrscher's core and create a divine key. A Valkyrie who perfectly masters this divine key can also ascend to heaven in a single step, gaining the strength to rival a Herrscher.
It's just that the conditions are somewhat different...
As for which is stronger, a Heretic God or a Herrscher, that's hard to say... But one thing is certain: a Herrscher will never be inferior to a Heretic God. Here, the term "Heretic God" doesn't refer to ordinary gods, but rather more powerful ones.
From a conceptual standpoint, the Herrscher are inherently more powerful. All they need is a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Basically, destroying the world wouldn't be difficult for them.
Unfortunately, most Herrscher lack proficiency in these subjects. The authorities they wield are employed through brute force rather than refined understanding.
Their true potential may not even reach ten percent of what's possible. Yet even this limited capacity grants them power rivaling that of the strongest gods.
Imagine if each Herrscher were a scientific prodigy - or better yet, a Dr. Mei specializing in authority-related fields. Their power might multiply a hundredfold or more...
Unlike the rigid, dogmatic authorities of those gods, the Herrscher's powers are malleable. They can evolve, strengthen, and adapt in countless ways.
Take the Law of Thunder, for example. Her domain extends beyond mere lightning... It encompasses magnetism, and can even transform into radiant energy! Thermal energy! Chemical reactions... Mechanical forces...
With proper experimentation, her authority transcends simple electrical phenomena.
This is because the Herrscher's powers are fundamentally "physical" in nature, grounded in tangible principles rather than mystical abstractions.
This adaptability and enhancement potential defines the Herrscher Authority's true nature.
However, the power of Heretic Gods is fixed. Their strength is set in stone - the strong remain strong, and the weak stay weak, with no room for change.
The power of Campione and Heretic Gods is singular - each entity possesses one distinct ability.
In contrast, a Herrscher's single power can manifest in countless forms.
All it requires is exceptional aptitude in mathematics, physics, and chemistry! A sharp mind is their true weapon.
Yet Heretic Gods possess one advantage over Herrscher - their immortality. As long as myths and legends about them persist in the world, they shall endure forever.
Their only downfall comes when humanity forgets both their existence and the stories that sustain them.
"Is she... a god?"
Hearing Phoenix's words, Erica and Liliana were even more shocked. The cute little creature who had been by their side all along, just there to be adorable—was Phoenix telling them she was actually a god?
"Not exactly..."
Higokumaru scratched her fox ears.
"Well, it's something like that. But she's not a Heretic God, and she won't passively cause any disasters. You'll understand the details later."
"All you need to know is that I possess absolute power."
Phoenix showed no intention of explaining Higokumaru's situation further.
"Oh..."
In that moment, Erica suddenly understood why Phoenix was so fearless. If she could treat a god like a younger sister (or pet), what was there to fear?
Though still somewhat suspicious, Erica chose to believe. After all, Phoenix had no reason to deceive her.
"Phoenix, where will we stay tonight?" Liliana suddenly asked.
"Let's find a decent hotel in London. There's so much to see here, we couldn't possibly cover it all in one or two days."
"Understood. I'll make arrangements immediately!" Liliana nodded promptly.
"Go ahead."
By evening, the four companions—having exhausted their playful energy—arrived at the hotel Liliana had meticulously arranged.
In a certain sense, Liliana's knightly demeanor proved comforting; she handled every detail with military precision.
-
Days passed like drifting sand. After touring London's most intriguing sites, Princess Alice's progress remained slow yet steady.
Having secured her objective, Phoenix wasted no time lingering. She departed London with Higokumaru and the others, their destination not Italy, but Africa.
When Erica inquired about this sudden change in plans, Phoenix simply replied, "We hunt Heretic Gods."
The question of how Phoenix obtained intelligence about Heretic Gods in Africa hung in the air. Erica's curiosity burned, but Phoenix offered no explanation.
Nor did she need to. Erica's loyalty bound her to her knight. Phoenix's silence became law. After all, Phoenix was no Godou Kusanagi.
Besides, the truth might prove too complicated...