While the grasshopper men were ravaging the Evil Army, a gathering of goddesses observing the battle from the rear—the members of the Goddess Coalition—watched with their mouths agape. Their eyes were glued to an image projected in midair, showing the black grasshopper man unilaterally slaughtering the avian evil god Malphas.
"Wh-What kind of joke is that?!"
Athena, a young girl with her blue hair styled into buns on both sides, let out an incredulous cry.
"Those movements are completely unnatural. He is undoubtedly interfering with time, wouldn't you say?"
Nemesis, a beauty clad in a revealing crimson outfit, muttered to herself with a grim expression.
"Time... One of the Seven Moments, just like Norn's. Does that mean that grasshopper man is an Authority holder like us?"
At Athena's words, the surrounding goddesses could be felt catching their breath. And naturally so, for her realization carried immense weight.
Here, the Seven Moments referred to the seven miraculous abilities existing in this world: Time, Space, Gravity, Destruction, Creation, Mind, and Mimicry. These seven overwhelmingly powerful abilities were the accidental byproduct of countless souls being integrated and processed through registration in the Subjugation Compendium.
Kai Heinemann, who governed and controlled these seven abilities, had unknowingly transmuted these miraculous powers and incorporated them into his own swordsmanship, structured to be fully unleashed whenever he got serious.
They were utterly insane powers that twisted the very logic of the world. Those who possessed them were rare even within the Subjugation Compendium, and such powers were known as Authorities.
"Top-class martial skill within the Subjugation Compendium, drastically enhanced physical capabilities, complete elemental cancellation, and to top it off, a build specialized for time-based combat... Just how much of a cheat can you get?!"
In response to her agitated voice, so uncharacteristic of the usually composed Nemesis, a sphere of darkness suddenly manifested, and the long-nosed monster Girimehkala appeared.
"Agreed! That can hardly be called a mere grasshopper man anymore! He could well be considered one of our kin!"
Placing both fists on his hips, he boomed with pride.
"As for Forneus... there is hardly any need to ask, is there...?"
"Naturally! In accordance with the divine will of our God, I granted him an exquisite ruin!"
He bellowed in a voice that seemed to shake the very air.
Nemesis shrugged, her expression turning dead serious.
"That black grasshopper man is also a member of Bushin. Which means Nemea now commands military might exceeding the Twelve Zodiacs. If that happens..."
She gave voice to the outcome they feared most.
"Ah-ha! Without a doubt, the current balance between our factions will completely collapse!"
Watching Girimehkala gleefully shout through half-closed eyes, Athena pointed out in sheer exasperation:
"Girimehkala, you seem awfully delighted about this."
"Of course I am! The power supporting our God has been drastically augmented, after all!"
"Excuse me, but do you truly realize that a formidable rival has appeared at the absolute worst possible time?"
To become the vanguard vassal of the primary faction serving their master, Kai Heinemann—that was the ultimate dream and ambition of every pillar across each combat faction. It was for that very honor that every faction exerted such desperate, tearful efforts day in and day out.
"Hah! We shall yield that position to no one! The only ones who will attend by our God's side from here on out are we, the Evil Wickedness Myriad Realms!"
As Girimehkala threw out such an absurd declaration toward the heavens, his three eyes gleaming ominously, another voice cut in.
"You're running your mouth quite freely, aren't you? In the first place, we never acknowledged you bastards as the primary faction!"
A dragon-headed man roared as he materialized before them.
"That's right. We haven't been training this hard just to let a bunch of wicked trash call themselves the top faction. Take that back, damn you!"
The sanpaku-eyed fierce god, Shuten-doji, appeared with the broad blade of his sword resting over his shoulder, aiming its tip toward Girimehkala as he barked his demand.
"I agree. The honor of being that Great One's primary faction rightfully belongs to us!"
Phoenix, the vermilion-winged youth, shouted in accord.
"Don't go getting all worked up without me! The one closest to my darling is me, you hear?!"
At the sudden assertion from Nine-Tails, the silver-haired maiden boasting nine fox tails, Athena fired back furiously:
"Hey! What kind of nonsense are you trying to slip in amidst the chaos?!"
While the faction leaders stood face-to-face, glaring daggers at one another, a mass of black descended from overhead. The moment they realized who it was,
Great One!
Every single one of them dropped to the ground in unison and bowed their heads.
"Good work, Nemea. You're doing quite well. Especially that black grasshopper man—I believe you called him Chrono Grasshopper? That was rather entertaining."
Kai offered words of appreciation in good spirits to the lion-faced War God Nemea, who had dropped to one knee before anyone had even noticed.
It was extraordinarily rare for Kai to praise a subordinate so directly, and intensely jealous glares from all the surrounding factions converged on Nemea. Amidst the tension,
"It is my greatest honor!"
Nemea's voice trembled with pure, unadulterated joy.
"Great One! I, too, shall join the fray at once!"
At Girimehkala's desperate plea, Kai nodded.
"Right. It seems you handled that business with Forneus well. I expect great things from you."
"Ohh... It is my greatest honor!"
Seeing Girimehkala clasp his hands together as massive tears poured from his three eyes, the others scrambled to speak.
"We shall go as well!"
"W-We volunteer too!"
"Count our crew in as well!"
One after another, the faction leaders stepped forward to stake their claim.
"Very well. I expect great things from all of you."
At Kai's simple, ordinary words of praise, wild ecstasy erupted across the ranks.
"I shall be the one to slay Lieutenant General of the Evil Army Ose!"
"Don't flatter yourself! That honor belongs to me, Phoenix!"
"Don't you dare steal a march on us!"
The faction leaders charged toward the battlefield, each desperately vying to be first. It was the exact moment the most terrifying, atrocious monsters in existence were truly unleashed upon the field of war.