Half an hour later, they finally exited the labyrinth. Outter space looked exactly the same—colorful, yet wrapped in an atmosphere of darkness and melancholy. Menrva took out the celestial map and pointed everyone to the left.

  “Weren’t we supposed to go to the right, Menrva?” Epona asked, confused.

  “Oh no! Sorry, I made a mistake. You’re right, we should go to the right,” the Etruscan goddess replied, embarrassed.

  “Don’t worry, I mix up directions too,” Ana said with a smile.

  However, Epona felt something strange. As faint as it was, she sensed the presence of something—or someone—on the left. She tried to ignore the thought and continued flying toward Asgard with the others.

  The gods flew at full speed for about an hour, traveling through wormholes. Rodrigo was amazed by everything he saw in outer space: galaxies, black holes, massive suns, thousands of planets, and light phenomena he had never imagined. The universe was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in existence.

  “They’re all so beautiful, aren’t they, Rui?” Ana said as she flew closer to Rodrigo.

  “I never thought there were so many colors beyond Earth. When I used to look at the sky, I imagined it all completely dark, like a vast ocean—and above it, Heaven, where God lived,” Rodrigo replied.

  “Do you still believe in God, Rodrigo?” Tania asked curiously.

  “When Athena said you were El’s daughter, I didn’t know how to process that. Now, after seeing worlds I never knew existed and living alongside other gods and angels… honestly, I don’t know what to think anymore,” Rodrigo admitted.

  “To be honest, Rui,” Ana said, looking straight into his eyes, “even we don’t know what exists beyond the multiverse.”

  “And you shouldn’t think of this ‘El’ as the god of everything. He didn’t create life—no god did,” Tania added.

  “So… the gods didn’t create humanity?” Rodrigo asked, intrigued.

  “No. We’re… similar species to humans, but born on other planets,” Tania replied.

  “Humans are actually very different from the rest of life in the multiverse,” Ana explained. “Even if they can’t fly or emit divine energy through their blood, they can create faith, which becomes energy for us.”

  “They’re a unique species. In all our exploration of this vast universe, we’ve never found another like them. I’ve even heard that the encounter between humans and gods happened purely by chance,” Tania added.

  “Still, humans created technology. We often don’t need it, but we’re curious about what they make, so we replicate it. That map Menrva is using, for example, is based on human cartography,” Ana said.

  “So it’s like a complement to humans, since they can’t control their energy,” Rodrigo commented.

  “Exactly,” Ana replied. “But that doesn’t mean humans can’t awaken their dormant divine power.”

  Rodrigo was intrigued. Could ordinary humans reach divine levels? He remembered Anpiel’s words about never underestimating anyone.

  “Athena once told me,” Ana continued, “that in Olympus, the realm of the Greek gods, there are human groups who’ve learned to use divine powers. They form a very powerful army.”

  “And in Asgard,” Tania added, “the realm we’re heading to, there are humans who awakened divine powers after death.”

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  Rodrigo was stunned. Humans might have the greatest potential of all.

  “And unlike the world of the gods,” Tania continued, “humans, despite their wars and violence, know how to cherish moments together and love one another more deeply.”

  “That’s why you love them so much, right?” Rodrigo asked.

  “Yes… I want to be human,” Tania confessed.

  “Me too,” Ana said with a big smile.

  Meanwhile, Susanoo flew beside Menrva as she carefully examined the celestial map.

  “Tell me, Susanoo, why did you join Orniskem? I doubt Yamato is in danger of being invaded by Christians or Muslims right now,” Menrva asked.

  “For the very same cause that once bound me to the Keres of Ares: the pursuit of greater strength, Menrva-san,” Susanoo replied.

  “So if another group interests you more later, will you abandon us?” she asked, slightly annoyed.

  “No, I should not. This fellowship possesses that which the Keres did sorely lack. I beheld how those gentlemen fought—not merely with strength, but with their very hearts. And in my duel with Rodrigo-san, I felt once more that which I had not known since my days in Takama-no-hara. In former times, I was as Khonsu or Sekhmet—seeking only the defeat and slaughter of mighty foes. Yet my contest with Rodrigo-san granted me understanding of the words my sister once spoke,” Susanoo said.

  “And what was that?” Menrva asked.

  “I was never truly esteemed within Takama-no-hara. Oft was I threatened with exile, yet my sister stood ever in my defense. She held that honor dwelt within my heart, though it was a truth I must needs uncover by mine own hand,” Susanoo explained.

  Menrva looked at him uncertainly. How could someone as polite and serious as Susanoo have been a pariah?

  “I did not cherish her affection as I ought. In a most shameful fit of wrath, I laid waste to her rice fields, slew one of her attendants, and even… defecated in her palace. The countenance of sorrow and loathing she cast upon me is an image I shall bear unto my final breath,” Susanoo continued.

  “You… defecated in her palace?” Menrva said, amused. “I can’t believe you were that kind of person.”

  “I beg your pardon. Yet such is the truth. Her words yet resound within my kokoro—my very heart—from the eve of my exile: ‘One day thou shalt cross blades with one whom thou shalt honor so profoundly that thy sword shall break. Then shalt thou perceive that, whilst thou dost feign cruelty and bring harm unto others, thou woundest thyself alone. On the day thou findest such a soul and contendest with them, I shall gladly call thee my brother once more.’”

  “And that person is Rodrigo?” Menrva asked.

  “Hai. I once believed she spoke of proving myself through the slaying of some legendary bringer of ruin. Yet now I comprehend her meaning—she spoke of one such as Rodrigo-san,” Susanoo replied.

  “So why don’t you return to your kingdom?” Menrva asked.

  “For I desire to stand in battle beside Rodrigo-san and the others, and to grow in strength together with them,” Susanoo said, smiling.

  “Then let us grow stronger together. I fight for my idol—the goddess Athena,” Menrva replied proudly.

  “Hai, Menrva-san,” Susanoo said.

  Farther back, Epona and Anpiel flew side by side. Anpiel wore Orniskem’s malak armor: a red chestplate, white skirt, golden sandals and bracelets, and pale pink wings.

  “I can’t believe it. You haven’t complained about being tired, demanded I carry you, or thrown one of your usual tantrums,” Anpiel said in surprise.

  “That Epona died when you left, Anpiel,” she replied smugly.

  “But now you’re boring,” he teased.

  “Are you the kind of person who enjoys being bullied?” Epona asked.

  Anpiel laughed.

  “So you liked being treated as inferior and ordered around?” she continued.

  “Epona, you never noticed, did you? You were always the one getting things done. Maybe it was your defense mechanism, but our relationship was never like that. We were just friends,” Anpiel replied, still amused.

  “Really?” Epona asked.

  “Of course. We teased each other—that was how we bonded. Honestly, it was more fun than dealing with arrogant goddesses who never spoke to me,” Anpiel said.

  “Well, if you want me to keep teasing you, I will!” Epona said mischievously.

  “And I’ll gladly ignore and humiliate you for it. By the way, what happened to your drunk-farmer vocabulary?” Anpiel asked. “You don’t swear anymore.”

  Epona sighed.

  “Rodrigo rubbed off on me,” she said with a smile.

  “Are you in a relationship with that boy?” Anpiel asked.

  Epona shushed him with a wink.

  “You’re a pervert. Aren’t you supposed to be a virgin goddess?” Anpiel said.

  “And I still am. Or are you jealous, Anpiel?” she teased.

  “Sorry, Epona, but I have to confess something,” Anpiel said sadly.

  “What? Do you secretly love me?” she asked eagerly.

  “Well… I couldn’t have anything with you.”

  “Because I’m a goddess and you’re a malak?” she asked.

  “No. Because I’m not a zoophile, and I’d never date a mare,” Anpiel said, bursting into laughter.

  “You bastard son of a bitch!” Epona shouted, trying to punch him. Anpiel dodged, still laughing.

  “And there’s the Epona vocabulary I know!” Anpiel replied, evading her blows.

  Takama-no-Hara is the realm of the Shinto gods.

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