"Kid, as much as I'd like to beat you up right now, there's something important I need to ask first." The Lord of the White Night's eyes sharpened as she stared Riku down, but in the end, she spoke with a calm tone.
"Beat me up? If you think you can, go ahead and try. I'd actually like to see how much of your authority as a king you have left," Riku replied with a slight smirk, showing no hesitation.
"Tch." The Lord of the White Night snapped her folding fan shut, frowning in irritation. Was this guy really treating her as if she had that much patience?
"You don't seem like you're from Little Garden. Nor do you look like someone summoned here, or made manifest due to achievements." But, remembering her real purpose, she put aside the banter for now and spoke seriously. "Otherwise, there's no way I wouldn't sense the movement of the Solar Authorities at all."
"Out with it, kid. How did you manage to make the Solar Authorities vanish and then sneak into Little Garden without anyone noticing?" Her eyes bored into Riku, as if she could see right through him.
"So, I get caught right after arriving in Little Garden, huh? You really play dirty, don't you?" Riku frowned, pursing his lips.
"Hmph. That's my privilege and Little Garden recognises it, dirty or not," the Lord of the White Night replied smugly. Seeing Riku's annoyed face gave her a little satisfaction. Yeah, it was all his fault for being so aggravating.
"So, what do you want from me? To confess how I took the Solar Authorities out of Little Garden? Or are you here to say someone like me shouldn't have them and try to take them back?" Riku asked, playing with the situation.
The importance of the Solar Authorities was self-evident. They could lead to the birth of powerful deities or the Final Trials of Humanity. If it were the [Twelve Heavenly Generals], they'd definitely try to get the Solar Authorities away from him.
"I have no interest in snatching your Solar Authorities," the Lord of the White Night replied, frowning. "But if you could explain how you made Leo and Sagittarius disappear right under the noses of the Twin Goddesses and so many gods, that would be for the best."
"As for that, no comment," Riku said, spreading his hands, calm as ever. At the same time, his golden eyes flashed; he'd more or less figured out the current timeline. He'd planned to ask Juntan about it, but then the Lord of the White Night showed up directly.
"Knew you wouldn't say," she grumbled, but wasn't surprised by the answer.
"Whatever. I won't push further into your business. There's something else important to notify you about." Her tone grew more serious. "It's about the Solar War."
With that, an invitation appeared in front of Riku.
On it was not the [Thousand Eyes] Twin Goddesses, but the [Sun Never Sets] emblem, symbolising the Lord of the White Night.
Riku's eyes flashed as he took the invitation from the air.
[Gift Game Name: Solar War]
Participants: [Disboard] Riku Dola
Participation Requirement 1: Regardless of equator or ecliptic, possess at least one Solar Authority.
Participation Requirement 2: Be a direct descendant of a sun god or have achievements related to the sun.
Notes: The first Solar War will begin when all Suns appear. The rules will be revealed at any time; all participants must be ready at all times.
[Victory Conditions]
1. Defeat all other participants.
Within the time limit, possess the most Solar Authorities. Obtain all Solar Authorities.
Declaration: The Solar Authority War Operations Committee guarantees the fair hosting of the above game.
[First Solar Authority War]
Head Organiser: Laplace, the Little Demon.
"So it really is the Solar War," Riku muttered, eyes glinting with excitement. "Now this is something worth looking forward to."
"My only reason for coming to you this time is about the Solar War," the Lord of the White Night said with a shake of her head. "If you hadn't made Sagittarius and Leo disappear, the Solar War would have started and ended long ago."
"Heh, you can't blame me for that," Riku replied lightly. The meaning was obvious: if they couldn't figure him out, that was on them.
The Lord of the White Night glared. This guy was as aggravating as ever.
"The Solar War will begin soon. Before that, Lord of the White Night, let me ask you one more time: has your authority as 'Heliocentric Theory' truly faded away?" Riku suddenly asked, this time extremely serious. "As the Final Trial of Humanity, you're working alongside gods and even serving your enemies. Isn't that a joke? Those gods didn't kill you because they couldn't, not because they didn't want to."
"Kid, are you trying to provoke me?" she growled, her voice cold, a murderous aura flaring. "What do you know, as an outsider? The Final Trials of Humanity are harbingers of Little Garden's destruction."
"Looks like not only was your 'Heliocentric Theory' authority split, but your dignity as the Lord of the White Night has been shattered as well. You've truly fallen, even denying your own existence," Riku said mercilessly.
"It's disappointing that you'd discard the meaning of the Final Trial of Humanity so thoroughly." He shook his head in disappointment.
"Heh, you're arrogant, talking about the Final Trials in front of me. What do you even know?" The Lord of the White Night gripped her fan, her tone icy.
"Is there a problem with that?" Riku raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly.
With that, he revealed the existence of the Third Perpetual Motion Engine within his body.
"——!" The Lord of the White Night's pupils shrank, her expression twisting in shock. As someone who had once been the Final Trial of Humanity, her senses couldn't be mistaken; this was the aura of a fellow trial. Riku really had the potential to become the Final Trial of Humanity. "Perpetual Motion Engine…!" she finally muttered, face grave.
"That's right. The Perpetual Motion Engine." Riku replied coolly. "Now, can you still say I don't understand the meaning of the Final Trial of Humanity?"
"You really are an infuriating brat," she grumbled. "But if you show off your potential to become the Final Trial so openly, aren't you worried the [Heavenly Army] will come for you?"
In Little Garden, the Final Trials of Humanity were taboo. No god wanted to see another one born. If one were discovered, they'd go all-out to destroy it at the source. The [Heavenly Army]'s duty was to observe and guide human history, and prevent the birth of any new Final Trials. They absolutely would not allow it.
If they learned Riku had the potential to become a Final Trial, they would definitely come for him...
"[Heavenly Army] comes after me? I'll just crush them. If I become a Buddha, there will be no demons in the world. If I become a demon, there will be no Buddhas in the world." Riku spoke with effortless calm.
The Lord of the White Night's body stiffened at his words, her gaze growing complicated, as if seeing her past self in him. "You really dare to say things like that, huh."
"There's only one reason I've said all this," Riku said, his golden eyes locked onto hers, his voice grave. "The god clans are not where you belong. You belong with us. Leave [Thousand Eyes] and join [Disboard]. I'll take back the Heliocentric Theory Authority from the [Buddhist Sect] and return your kingly might as the Heliocentric Theory."
"You're really lawless, aren't you? Not only ignoring the [Heavenly Army], but treating the [Buddhist Sect] as nothing, and now you're trying to poach people from [Thousand Eyes] right in front of them. That's a surefire way to offend all three top communities in Little Garden." The Lord of the White Night gave Riku a strange look. "How do you expect to survive here with all of them as enemies?"
"Right now, you'd die a thousand deaths before you ever got a chance," she added, folding her fan and speaking seriously.
"Let me give you some advice, as one of your own kind: hand over the Authority of the Perpetual Motion Engine now, and I'll keep you safe. That thing can't be allowed to exist in Little Garden."
Riku shook his head, his voice cool. "Lord of the White Night, you haven't just lost the Heliocentric Theory's Authority and your Demon Lord's might, you're helping your enemies oppress your own kind. Truly disappointing."
"So, we're done talking, huh." The Lord of the White Night's tone turned annoyed. "If that's the case, don't blame me for taking it by force."
"Oh, you're going to try and take it by force?" Riku smirked, eyes glinting. "Go ahead, if you think you can. Let's see how much strength you've got left, don't let me down."
"Kid, you better be ready to get beaten until you question your entire existence." The Lord of the White Night's face grew cold, and she snapped her fan down.
The ground beneath Riku suddenly collapsed. She was once the Heliocentric Theory, the Primordial Star who governed all the mass in the universe. Even though she'd been weakened and had lost her Heliocentric Theory Authority, she was still at the level of a three-digit being.
That said, right now, her Authority was that of a sun god, not a gravity lord like Juntan. If she still had the Heliocentric Theory Authority, Riku would have been flattened. As it was, she still wasn't nearly enough.
Riku's expression didn't change. He tensed his muscles, and with a burst of force, he shot out from the pit like lightning, throwing a punch straight at the Lord of the White Night.
Clang!
Unfazed, she opened her folding fan and blocked the punch with ease, not even a scratch. With the support of her Authority, that fan was far tougher than it looked.
"This is a real headache. If even Juntan's gravity can't keep you down, then I definitely can't, either," the Lord of the White Night said, shaking her head.
"Which is why I said you should reclaim your Demon Lord's might," Riku answered calmly.
"Heh, don't get cocky, kid. From what I saw of your fight with Juntan, you're not my match." The Lord of the White Night let out a cold laugh, her fan suddenly erupting with white solar flames.
Riku's eyes narrowed, and he immediately leapt back.
The flames from the sun ignited, making the entire White Night world grow scorching hot.
"Not going to use that artefact?" the Lord of the White Night asked, eyeing Riku's right hand. "Without it, you have no chance of winning. If you fought me like you fought Juntan, maybe you'd stand a chance."
"Whether I have a chance or not isn't for you to decide," Riku replied, cool as ever. "But using it against you would be a pain."
Although the Lord of the White Night had lost her Heliocentric Theory and was now merely a sun god, she was far from an ordinary three-digit powerhouse. She wasn't quite at the very top, but she definitely wasn't weak. The fact that she wondered about Riku's hidden trump card was proof enough.
Riku's fight with Juntan, after all, had only been partially observed by her.
"In that case, it's been a while, but let's use this," Riku said quietly.
Suddenly, a golden aura erupted around him. His hair and brows turned gold and stood on end, while his eyes shifted from gold to emerald green.
An overwhelming power surged outward, shattering the ground beneath his feet. Even the fabric of space seemed to tremble from the energy.
The Lord of the White Night's expression froze in shock. With this transformation, Riku's power skyrocketed a hundredfold.
Normally, gods and Buddhas unleashed their power by releasing their Authority. Yet Riku's strength soared without releasing any Authority at all, as if his power was simply swelling on its own.
"Well then, let's begin round two." Having activated Super Saiyan Full Power, Riku grinned with fighting spirit, fixing his eyes on the Lord of the White Night.
He vanished instantly, pure speed carrying him before her, and threw a punch.
Boom!
Before she could react, Riku's fist slammed mercilessly into her abdomen. The Lord of the White Night's eyes widened in shock as she shot through the sky like a meteor, smashing through mountains.
Not letting up, Riku formed a golden energy blast and hurled it after her.
Seeing it coming, the Lord of the White Night's face fell. She braced herself, intercepting the blast with her fan and diverting it off course, sending it crashing into a distant mountain.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the entire realm like the end of the world, mountains and forests obliterated, leaving behind a gaping, smoking crater. Cracks spread through the Lord of the White Night's game world as it trembled from the impact.
"At least show some mercy, I'm still a beauty, you know! You didn't hesitate for a second to punch me in the stomach," she complained, clutching her aching belly as Riku approached.
"Showing mercy to the Lord of the White Night would be an insult, and a sign of arrogance," Riku replied without changing expression.
He attacked again, every blow packing monstrous power, never holding back in the slightest.
The Lord of the White Night, fan infused with her Authority, met his fists head-on.
Two figures clashed at instant speed in this white world, exchanging blows over ten thousand times in a single second. The violent shockwaves and bursts of energy rippled out from where they fought, shaking the entire game world with each exchange.
Fortunately, their fight was taking place in this special world. If it were happening in a lower-level world, or even on the lower levels of Little Garden, the resulting shockwaves, let alone the unleashed power and authorities, would have caused catastrophic natural disasters.
'This guy's power is in a constant state of eruption, and yet there's not even a hint of decline… as expected of a perpetual motion engine.' Blocking Riku's attacks again with her fan, the Lord of the White Night was knocked back, her thoughts racing.
Right now, she was just a sun god, not a war god or a pure brawler, so in this head-on fight, Riku had the clear advantage.
"Hey, Lord of the White Night, is this all you've got now? If you were still the 'Heliocentric Theory,' it would never go like this!" Riku taunted, a playful grin on his face.
As he spoke, he gathered an enormous energy blast, about the size of a basketball court, and launched it straight at the retreating Lord of the White Night.
"Tch, still trying to provoke me at this stage? You really are unpleasant." Her eyes flashed as she opened her fan to block the red energy sphere.
But the moment she made contact, the pressure skyrocketed, and her expression changed.
"Oh, by the way, the power in this energy ball is enough to blow up a galaxy." Riku didn't press the attack, but instead smiled as he watched the Lord of the White Night struggling to hold back the blast, her feet digging furrows into the ground.
"Damn it, what an annoying guy…" The Lord of the White Night's face was grave. Her arms felt heavier and heavier, and even her fan began to smoke, the solar flames on it slowly devoured by the destructive attribute in Riku's power. 'Destruction? Just how many powers does this guy have…? What a troublesome enemy.'
Her heart churned.
The weakest three-digit beings could destroy galaxies at full power, but no one in Little Garden actually opens a fight with that kind of move; it would leave them defenceless if it failed. Such an all-out attack takes time to charge up, too.
And yet, Riku was just casually hurling such devastating power, with a touch of destruction mixed in, without even breaking a sweat. This made things extremely difficult for her.
That's the threat of a perpetual motion engine.
He could keep unleashing such attacks, never running out of power, just wearing his opponent down. And this was Riku before falling to the status of a Final Trial of Humanity. If he actually became one, it would be terrifying.
He'd become, just as she once was, a calamity that could destroy Little Garden.
The Lord of the White Night loathed the gods and buddhas, wanted nothing more than to wipe them out, but she didn't want to see Little Garden destroyed.
"There's no other way, then." She shook her head, and her gaze sharpened. She raised her voice in a sudden shout: "[Solar Authority] release!"
With those words, her aura and power surged. Waves of burning solar fire erupted around her.
Then, in her delicate, pale hand, a column of pure solar flame formed, burning with billions of degrees, and instantly burned through Riku's destructive energy sphere.
The flaming pillar ripped open space itself and shot straight for Riku.
Taking that head-on, even for Riku, wouldn't end well…
Yet he remained unruffled, and under the Lord of the White Night's watchful gaze, he simply said:
[Phoenix Flames]
In an instant, golden flames, brimming with vitality and terrifying heat, erupted from Riku's body, forming the shape of the legendary phoenix and smashing straight into the Lord of the White Night's solar fire.
The two divine fires were like they would burn through the world, twisting space, roasting the land, turning the world into a furnace.
"Phoenix Flames?!" The Lord of the White Night's eyes widened. Her already-damaged fan froze half open. She stared at the golden phoenix flames in disbelief.
Phoenix Flames on par with the Sun Crow's fire, a divine flame capable of burning through authorities and even consuming souls until nothing remained.
But compared to the Sun Crow's pure destructive power, Phoenix Flames were about boundless life force. The story of the phoenix rising from the ashes was famous even in Little Garden.
In fact, the phoenix was even harder to deal with than the Sun Crow, because it was almost impossible to kill. Its power never ran out, its flames never died, it simply wouldn't die. That was a phoenix.
Now, Riku was wielding Phoenix Flames, truly shocking the Lord of the White Night. This level of authority was rare even in Little Garden.
Phoenix Flames combined with the infinite energy of the perpetual motion engine, and that explosive power, it was a perfect combination. The Lord of the White Night seriously doubted if any other three-digit could kill Riku. Maybe only a two-digit being could manage it.
This guy… was just too dangerous.
Her eyes grew even more solemn. If Riku became a Final Trial of Humanity, he'd be so bugged that even the appearance of a hero wouldn't make defeating him anything close to easy.
"This power… not bad at all. You're starting to show some real majesty as a king." Riku said with a calm smile, his own gaze sharpening. "But compared to my flames, you're only a sun god now, it's still not enough. Without your 'Heliocentric Theory' authority, you just can't match up."
The Lord of the White Night's solar flames were instantly devoured by the phoenix fire, which then dispersed into the sky.
With both fires gone, the moisture in the world had almost completely evaporated. The air was dry and heavy. If she still possessed the Heliocentric Theory authority, the Lord of the White Night's solar fire would have been the most terrifying thing, eclipsing even the Phoenix and the Sun Crow. But now, she was just an ordinary sun god.
Among the three-digit beings, she was strong, but to Riku, who was taking things seriously, she was nothing special.
"Stop going on about the Heliocentric Theory...! You really are making me angry, you brat. Even if I'm a benevolent god now, you've pissed me off; there will be serious consequences! I'll wipe you out so completely that not even your soul will remain!" the Lord of the White Night snapped, thoroughly provoked. "Don't think just because you have Phoenix Flames, you can do whatever you want. I have plenty of ways to finish you off."
"Sorry, but with Phoenix Flames, I really can do whatever I want. After all, you're not the White Night Demon Lord anymore, and there's nothing you can do to kill me. All this tough talk just makes you look less like a king," Riku shrugged nonchalantly.
"...!" The Lord of the White Night's face twitched; she glared at Riku with undisguised fury. This guy really knew how to push her buttons!
"Hmph. Let's see whether I can destroy you or not! You may be a participant in the Sun War, but before that, I'll make sure you remember pain so you don't get the idea you're invincible in Little Garden just because you have a little power." Her face was blank as she snapped her fan shut, the air around her instantly charged with murderous intent.
Her silver hair flew wildly, her purple robe billowing to reveal flawless pale skin, and the sun flames grew into towering pillars, her aura growing more and more intense. This was far beyond what ordinary three-digit beings could manage.
The Lord of the White Night was technically responsible for protecting participants before the Sun War began, but at this point, she was too angry to care about rules. Even if she couldn't actually kill Riku, she'd beat him to within an inch of his life. She had to get this anger out or she'd choke on it.
"That's more like it! Worrying about rules and appearances isn't the Demon Lord's style. Unleashing your authority with nothing held back, ready to tear your enemies apart, that's what a true king does." Even as that immense pressure came crashing down on him, Riku showed no fear. Instead, he grinned and offered genuine praise.
"Prepare to taste the ultimate pain," the Lord of the White Night declared, her voice thick with murderous intent.
Once, as the Heliocentric Theory, she had torn through countless gods and buddhas. Even if her power had waned, her killing intent was undiminished, strong enough to cow any divine king.
Even Riku paused for a moment, as if he were witnessing the legendary scene of the Heliocentric Theory crushing the gods at the dawn of Little Garden. The thought sent a thrill through his heart.
Suddenly, everything changed.
The stars above the plain shifted; the suns running along the horizon dissolved into a sky full of stars. From the far side of the world, amidst the realm of the stars, a silvery-white sun was summoned!
This was a cosmic law that had existed before the heavens and earth took form as a primordial star encompassing the mass of the entire cosmos!
Around the Lord of the White Night, the stars began to ripple. From the horizon, fish and sailing ships emerged among the stars.
Atop the fish and ships, colossal beast kings with blood-red eyes and overwhelming killing intent glared down at Riku, their roars shaking the heavens.
These beast kings were the star spirits of the Sun Authorities. Each one was a "Strongest Species," all at the pinnacle of the three-digit class monarchs, even the greatest demon lords would struggle to match!
Although she had lost the "Heliocentric Theory" authority, as a primordial star, the Lord of the White Night could still summon the star spirits of the Sun Authorities, putting her right at the peak of three-digit beings.
"So, human brat, you've forced me to go all out and reveal my former kingly might. How do you plan to handle it?" she asked, eyes sharp.
The star spirits of the Sun Authorities had made their name in legend when she was still the Heliocentric Theory, helping her rout armies of gods. "Buddhist Sect," "Heavenly Army," "Olympian Twelve," "Norse Pantheon," "Thousand Eyes," "Celtic Gods", all the top communities of Little Garden trembled at the majesty of the Lord of the White Night!
Even the Halloween Queen, her only equal today, never dared challenge her head-on!
The Lord of the White Night, together with her Sun Authority star spirits, was the terror of the gods.
Back in the Age of Dawn, as the Final Trial of Humanity, the Heliocentric Theory had not only possessed the highest two-digit power, but also commanded twenty-four star spirits at peak three-digit level. That was why the gods feared her so, needing to unite all of Little Garden and wage a million-year war just to defeat her three times.
Even now, though the star spirits were not as mighty as they had been, thanks to the loss of her authority, they were still beyond the reach of ordinary three-digit beings; anyone weaker would be torn apart instantly!
At this moment, Riku felt real pressure for the first time in Little Garden. Facing the Lord of the White Night going all out, there were only a handful who could face her easily. "Not bad, not bad now this is more like it!" Even under such pressure, Riku was smiling, nodding in satisfaction, his fighting spirit surging. This was the kind of opponent he wanted to face!
"Hmph! My kindred tear the enemy to pieces!" The Lord of the White Night's brow rose as she gave her majestic command.
...
Though she was often annoyed by Riku's provocations, the Lord of the White Night couldn't deny his strength of will. Even under the pressure of her authority, he showed no fear, but only joy at the chance for battle, a true warrior.
Compared to that, the gods were laughable. Even after she'd lost her authority as the Heliocentric Theory, they still trembled in fear, plotting endlessly for her destruction.
So, faced with such a fighter, the Lord of the White Night's anger faded, replaced only by the urge to fight to her heart's content!
As her order rang out, one of the star spirits let out a roar, shaking the world. It became a blood-red shadow and charged Riku, its enormous claws blotting out the sky as they swung down.
BOOM!!!
Faced with the star spirit's strike, Riku grinned and didn't even try to dodge. He channelled all his power, golden energy surging, and threw a punch that shattered space itself, clashing head-on with the massive claws!
CRAAAASH!!!
A thunderous sound split the world as fist and claw collided, shaking the entire realm of white night. The ground beneath Riku's feet caved in, cracks racing out in all directions.
At the same time, the golden energy cloaking Riku and the blood-red aura of the star beast clashed, fighting for dominance, neither willing to yield!