— — — — — —

Renzo chuckled. "Master, if you really want to get stronger, you don't have to rely on killing rogue gods. I can teach you some of the techniques I've mastered—they'll help you grow even further."

Luo Hao shook her head. "Let's be honest: the gains from normal training don't even come close to what you get from slaying gods."

Sure, slaying rogue gods gave her a massive boost in power—fast. But in the end, it wasn't a power she earned entirely on her own. It felt... borrowed. A shortcut.

But if she wanted to keep growing her Authorities and Divine Power killing gods was really the only viable path. Not training.

Renzo smiled faintly. "Are you sure my methods count as normal training? Don't forget, you've killed multiple rogue gods... and still couldn't beat me."

He wasn't being cocky. Just honest.

He knew just how powerful Divine Power was.

But his techniques—his entire system—were something even more rare.

After all, his multiversal counterparts hadn't just passed on cheat skills for fun. The energy system he used, "Origin Force," had absorbed and fused with the frameworks of many worlds. Over time, they refined and created new techniques that blended multiple power systems.

Mind, body, and spirit—his methods covered all three.

Some of the paths he had access to could push a person to literal godhood.

Luo Hao's eyes lit up slightly as she heard this. "You're right... Your stuff isn't from this world at all. But are you sure it'll work for me?"

If she could get stronger through training rather than just slaying gods, of course she was interested.

As a Campione, her lifespan was already incredibly long. If there was a way to grow stronger on her own terms, she'd absolutely give it a shot.

"Uh... well," Renzo scratched his head. "When it comes to body and mind techniques, yeah—I can teach those right now. But I need to fully understand Divine Power first then I'll be able to adapt my methods accordingly. So... one step at a time."

"But if you're down to learn some martial arts and mental techniques, I can pass them to you right now."

"Of course! What are you waiting for?" Luo Hao said without hesitation.

"Alright then."

Renzo raised a hand and lightly tapped her forehead.

Immediately, a flood of knowledge poured into her mind—various body methods and high-level meditation techniques.

"Huh?" Luo Hao blinked as she digested the information. "This Breathing technique method is... fascinating. And this 'Six Styles' thing along with 'Life Return'—it massively boosts bodily control. Very impressive."

She paused, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "And the mental techniques—those esper powers? Way more advanced than I expected."

Luo Hao gave Renzo a look of genuine admiration. "This doesn't feel like any power system from our world."

Renzo gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, as long as you get it. I can't really explain the rest just yet."

"You planning to start training now?" he asked.

"Nope," Luo Hao replied. "No rush. Didn't you say you had info on more rogue gods? Let's deal with them first—before someone else gets in our way."

"And besides, once you've killed your first god and gained your own Divine Power, you'll be able to create some new methods as you promised. I'm very curious now."

If just the body and mind techniques were this incredible, she could only imagine how powerful real stuff would be once Renzo refined it.

"Fair enough," Renzo nodded.

At that moment, someone nearby let out a frustrated sigh.

"Uh... am I invisible to you two?"

It was Lu Yinghua, standing off to the side looking utterly fed up.

Renzo gave him a quick side glance. "Bro, maybe just stay home this time. I'll pass you the training methods too, how about that?"

Before Lu Yinghua could protest, Renzo tapped him on the forehead too.

A few seconds later, Yinghua's face lit up with excitement. "Holy crap! Thank you, little bro! You're the best!"

He lunged in for a hug—

—and was promptly kicked across the room.

"Train, big bro. Just train," Renzo said flatly. "Master and I will be right back."

"Damn it! That's cold!" Lu Yinghua shouted from the floor, picking himself up with a groan.

"Seriously, you're not even cute anymore..."

"Can't I at least come with you guys? Let me help slay a god or something!"

He was definitely interested. Who wouldn't be?

"Nope.."

Before Luo Hao could even answer, Renzo raised his hand and opened a glowing spatial rift, locking onto Sardinia as the destination.

He gestured to her like a gentleman. "After you, Master. Just step through—our target's on the other side."

"Well well," Luo Hao smirked. "Looks like you've got a few more tricks up your sleeve than I thought."

Without hesitation, she stepped into the portal, not even the slightest bit wary.

That's how much she trusted him.

"We're off! Later!" Renzo waved to Lu Yinghua, then followed her in.

The portal snapped shut behind them.

"…Rude," Lu Yinghua muttered, still pouting. "Fine, I'll just train. But next time, I'm definitely tagging along, you hear me?!"

---

After traveling through the kaleidoscopic chaos of the spatial tunnel, Renzo and Luo Hao arrived on Sardinia.

Luo Hao scanned the entire island with a quick pulse of divine sense and raised an eyebrow.

"This is Sardinia? Our targets are here?"

"Yep. Verethragna, the God who slays other gods... and Melqart, King of the Gods. I already sensed them. They're on their way here as we speak."

Renzo nodded, then frowned slightly.

"But we've got an extra complication…"

"Oh?" Luo Hao narrowed her eyes.

She also sensed the approaching aura—one she knew very well.

"Tch. That bastard Voban's coming too. Of course he is. This is his turf. No way he'd let a god-slaying opportunity slip past him."

She looked to Renzo. "So? Want me to keep him off your back? I don't mind."

There was no way she'd let that old dog interfere with her disciple.

And if Renzo didn't succeed in slaying the gods, she sure as hell wouldn't let Voban take the prize.

Though, honestly? She didn't think Renzo could fail.

"No need," Renzo said calmly. "Voban's just noise. I'll deal with him. I plan to wrap this up quick."

Just then, three figures streaked through the sky from different directions.

Verethragna and Melqart arrived first, landing a few meters apart and locking eyes—tension thick in the air.

"Round two?" Verethragna smirked.

Melqart nodded. "Yeah. This time, we settle it."

He glanced down, then frowned slightly at the two unfamiliar presences on the island.

"…Looks like we've got company. If we don't deal with them, we're not getting our rematch today."

"One each. Let's make it quick," Verethragna said, already preparing to strike.

"Ha! Hahaha!"

A loud, arrogant laugh echoed through the sky as Voban descended like a storm, landing near Luo Hao.

He gave her a sidelong glance. "Well, now this is unexpected. I didn't think I'd find you here, Luo Hao."

"When did you sneak onto my territory? Are you picking a fight?"

"Oh, please."

Luo Hao snorted and rolled her eyes. "You're not even worth my time."

Voban twitched.

Dammit, he hated this woman.

If he were confident he could win, he would've crushed her long ago.

"Whatever. Since those two rogue gods showed up on my turf, I'm claiming them. You've got no problem with that, right?"

He shot a glance at Verethragna and Melqart, then turned his full attention back to Luo Hao.

If he didn't think she'd interfere, he would've attacked already.

"Not happening. They're both my targets."

Before Luo Hao could respond, a calm voice interrupted. Renzo strolled over toward the gods without a hint of urgency.

"Huh?"

Voban blinked, surprised. Then he scoffed and gave Renzo a dismissive look. "You? A brat like you? Aren't you Luo Hao's disciple or something? Who gave you the nerve to talk to me like that—was it her?"

As he spoke, his aura exploded outward, crashing toward Renzo like a tidal wave.

He was clearly trying to intimidate him, maybe even knock him down a peg—and, in the process, humiliate Luo Hao too.

Unfortunately for him, it didn't work.

The overwhelming pressure he unleashed washed over Renzo like a spring breeze—soft, harmless, completely ineffective.

"You made the first move. So don't blame me for what happens next."

Renzo's face didn't change. He simply raised his hand and struck the air with an open palm.

"Spatial Shockwave."

The moment his palm moved, the space around them rippled outward like waves, crashing toward Voban like a living tide.

Voban's danger sense went off like a siren. He immediately leapt back and activated his Authority—Lyceus Authority: Wolf—transforming into a giant wolf and lashing out with a powerful claw swipe to deflect the spatial chaos.

But he'd clearly underestimated Renzo's power.

Crack! Crack!

The spatial waves shredded his wolf claws instantly.

With death breathing down his neck, Voban didn't hesitate. He activated another Authority—Osiris Authority: Undead Servant—and just as his physical body was torn apart, he vanished and reappeared thousands of meters away.

Then he ran.

"Hey!" Renzo smacked his lips in annoyance.

"See what I mean? That guy talks big, but the second things get dicey, he runs faster than anyone. He pretends to be ruthless, but he's really just an old fox."

"Anyway, with him out of the way, no one's interrupting your little god-hunt. If you don't get started soon, I might not be able to resist jumping in myself," Luo Hao said with a smirk.

Her tone practically oozed disdain for Voban.

Typical old coward.

"No worries. This'll be over soon."

Renzo nodded and turned to face the two Gods.

Verethragna sneered. "So you think you can take us down quickly, huh? Where'd you get that kind of confidence, human? You're not even a Campione."

"Seems like humans have forgotten the name of the King of the Gods," Melqart muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, please. Cut the dramatic posturing already," Renzo said flatly. "Be good and hand over your power."

"Takamagahara: Authority Sealing Field!"

In an instant, a divine world unfolded—Takamagahara wrapped around the Verethragna and Melqart, completely trapping them inside.

Their faces darkened immediately.

They could feel it: their Authorities were sealed off. Even their divine power and magic had become hard to access.

"Impossible…! Is this a divine realm? How does a human possess a domain this powerful?!"

The two gods stared at Renzo in disbelief.

"It's not a god realm exactly," Renzo replied casually. "But if you want to think of it that way, go ahead. Makes no difference to me. Now, be good and die already."

He snapped his fingers.

Snap!

In the stunned silence, both gods gave bitter smiles as their bodies shattered into fragments and began to fade.

"Hah. A human… commanding a realm on par with a divine kingdom. Looks like we really underestimated you. Hopefully, we'll meet again someday."

Those were Verethragna's last words before he vanished.

"Not bad."

Melqart said nothing more before dissolving into nothing.

Once it was over, Renzo began scanning his small world for traces of divine power.

"Just as I thought. No Authority or divine energy left behind. Looks like you really do need Pandora's ritual to claim it."

He sighed, slightly disappointed.

He'd hoped Takamagahara could help him steal their power directly—but that was probably wishful thinking.

He dismissed the realm.

Back outside, Luo Hao blinked and asked, "That's it? It's over?"

"Yep."

Renzo grinned.

"You brat. So you were holding back during our match."

Luo Hao's expression was complicated.

Her disciple had completely surpassed her—and while part of her felt proud, another part couldn't help but feel a bit defeated.

"I—"

Renzo was just about to say something when his vision blurred. His consciousness was suddenly pulled into a dark, unfamiliar space.

He looked around, then spotted a little girl standing across from him.

"Ah! Another child has slain a god! Mama is so proud~!" the girl said, beaming like an overjoyed auntie.

"Uh…"

Renzo's face twitched. "So you're… Pandora? And what's with this whole 'Mama' thing?"

"You're being so rude, little Renzo! How could you call Mama by name like that? All god-slayers are my children!"

Pandora puffed her cheeks out in mock outrage.

"Yeah, right. 'Mama,' my ass. You're just a loli. Anyway, can we skip the drama? I want my Authorities."

Renzo rolled his eyes.

"Hmph! Mama's very upset right now!"

Pandora pouted dramatically, but then her expression shifted as she got to the point. "Still… seems like you know quite a bit already. Alright, I'll grant you your Authorities. So—what kind do you want?"

"This time, you'll be getting two. That's extremely rare in the history of Campiones. Maybe even unheard of."

She clapped her hands in delight.

"You really are something special, my child. Maybe you'll be the one to handle what's coming in the future…"

To be honest, even Pandora was stunned that Renzo had managed to kill two rogue gods at once—especially since he hadn't even been a Campione before this.

That had basically never happened before.

Most impressive feats like this usually came after someone had already become a god-slayer.

But Renzo? He'd pulled it off beforehand. And that… was on a whole other level.

.

.

.