Humans live in the realm of the living, known as the mortal world.
Gods exist in the realm of immortality, known as the divine realm.
Between the realm of the living and the realm of immortality lies the boundary.
In Japan, it is called Yomi (the Underworld); in China, it's the Netherworld or Youmingjie. Persia refers to it as the Spirit World, the Greeks as the Ideosphere, and in Britain, it is the Astral Plane, Fairyland, or Spiritual Realm.
This is a dimension where will and spirit transcend the physical body. All information since the birth of the universe is recorded here. For gods, this place allows for unrestricted use of their powers.
However, the air of this realm is "toxic" to humans. A mortal who steps into this domain will perish instantly.
Only those who maintain a pure and focused spirit can enter, for in this realm, a single thought can reshape reality. Here, one could achieve a limited form of omnipotence and omniscience. If one's mind is clouded with distractions, the overwhelming "memory of the world" would tear their soul apart in an instant.
Through a portal, Artoria stepped into the Underworld.
Before her lay a lush and vibrant forest. The scent of fresh earth and trees filled the air, and in the distance, the soft murmur of a stream could be heard.
The landscape was unspoiled, untouched by human civilization—pristine and pure.
Perhaps influenced by the serene environment, Artoria felt a faint sense of her usual inner turmoil easing.
Or maybe, she thought, it's just an illusion.
There was only one thing she found disappointing.
"The sky is so gloomy…"
Her expression carried a trace of irritation as she glanced up at the overcast heavens.
But the next moment, rays of sunlight pierced through the dense clouds, casting warm light across the landscape. The thick clouds dissipated swiftly, revealing a vast, clear sky.
In mere seconds, the oppressive stormy skies transformed into a sunny paradise. Artoria blinked silently, momentarily taken aback.
"I see… So this is a realm governed by thought. Fascinating."
The instant she set foot into the Underworld, a torrent of information and memories surged into her mind with an almost violent force.
It was akin to being hit by the [Infinite Void].
Since thought dictated movement here, one could not walk in the traditional sense. Instead, envisioning the destination in one's mind would allow instant travel to that location.
As this was her first time in this space, Artoria was still familiarizing herself with its mechanics.
But before she could fully adapt, the space around her suddenly began to shatter like fragile glass.
A violent storm erupted, hurling her into a maelstrom of sharp spatial fragments. The tearing winds and crushing forces attempted to drag her into a bottomless abyss.
From behind a tree, a figure stepped into view. Watching as Artoria's silhouette was swallowed by the void, the figure let out a long sigh of relief.
"Whew… That should do it. Even for her, getting caught in a spatial storm would mean death. At the very least, she won't be able to return here. She's probably been thrown into another world by now."
Susanoo smirked, a satisfied expression of triumph spreading across his face. He had clearly been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
Japan's mythology is a complex amalgamation of various cultural influences, which gave its deities intricate and multifaceted divine natures.
As one of the three noble children of Takamagahara, Susanoo was not only the god of the sea, storms, and war but also the god of schemes and thievery.
His weapon, the [Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi], embodied his "thieving" nature. In Kusanagi Godou's hands, this sword had stolen powers from gods and Campiones alike.
Earlier, Susanoo had used his "god of theft" ability to conceal himself from Artoria.
As the god of schemes, Susanoo rarely fought without preparation. Determining that a direct confrontation with Artoria was unwise, he had laid this elaborate trap instead.
From within the Underworld, Susanoo could glimpse fragments of the future. He had "seen" Artoria's actions and intentions, using that knowledge to create his ambush.
"The most troublesome one is out of the picture. Now it's just the other two… Mordred, was it? The rebellious knight is surprisingly obedient. Who knew she got along so well with her mother?"
"Her mother—the so-called Witch of Ruin, the one who destroyed Britannia—and yet she's helping that Divine Ancestor awaken the Last King? What on earth is that woman thinking?"
Susanoo frowned deeply, troubled by Artoria and her group's sudden arrival.
Artoria, in particular, had completely derailed his plans. From what he had glimpsed of the future, there was no scenario where she would accept a truce. She was determined to kill him.
"That crazy woman! What did I ever do to her to deserve this grudge? Why does she want me dead so badly?"
"It's all her fault! She's ruined the plan I spent over fifty years setting up… Though it's not entirely destroyed yet. As long as I can find a substitute for Verethragna and a replacement for the [Prometheus Grimoire], I can still turn Kusanagi Godou into my puppet Campione. Then I'll plant Ena and another shrine maiden by his side to control him, using him as my figurehead…"
Susanoo paced back and forth, muttering. "I'll deal with the details later. There's still the matter of those two heading to unseal the Monkey King."
"While the Monkey King can't compare to the Last King, he's still an incredibly powerful [Steel]. Though his essence as a [Steel] deity is impure, blended with other aspects, his strength is undeniable—among the strongest of his kind. That's why I chose him as a 'cleanser' in the first place."
"If those two end up fighting him, this country will suffer catastrophic damage. Worse, regardless of who wins, they'll eventually come for me…"
Susanoo had no desire to face such an outcome. Neither Mordred nor the Monkey King was an opponent he could confidently defeat, so he wanted to avoid that scenario at all costs.
As a god of war and storms, Susanoo was a bloodthirsty and fierce combatant. Yet as a god of schemes, he was also deeply cautious, reluctant to take risks without a clear advantage. Even in his legend, he only defeated Yamata-no-Orochi by getting it drunk first.
In short, he was the quintessential schemer.
"Perhaps… I could lure that Chinese Campione over here to finish off a weakened Mordred and the Monkey King after their fight."
Susanoo worried less about Japan's future than his own survival. Since the Chinese Campione was unaware of his existence, he felt safe exploiting her.
"Ha! Yes, that's it! If everything goes well, I might even deal with that pesky Campione at the same time."
"If the other side of the sea loses its Campione, there'll be so much more we can do there…"
Chuckling darkly, Susanoo stroked his chin, his sinister grin widening.
But then, his smirk froze.
His expression shifted to one of pure shock and disbelief as his gaze snapped toward the black void where Artoria had disappeared.
"No… That's impossible!"
He whipped around, his eyes widening as terror flooded his features. Staring at the pitch-black rift, he seemed to see something that defied all logic.
From within the abyss, a single foot emerged, stepping into the light. A suffocating surge of mana radiated outward.
"Nothing is impossible," came a calm, cold voice.
Artoria stepped out of the spatial rift, completely unharmed, her expression serene. The storm that could rip apart space itself seemed to her no more than a gentle breeze.