As the energy level of the High-Energy Pulse Cannon continuously increased, cracks gradually appeared in the dimensional barriers of Takamagahara and Yomi.
"It's over, the dimensional defense can't hold on much longer!"
Amaterasu Omikami collapsed powerlessly onto her throne. Years of pampered living had made her lose the composure a Pantheon leader should possess. At this critical juncture, instead of rising to the challenge, she was utterly distraught.
But time would not stop for her. The cracks on Takamagahara's dimensional barrier spread rapidly.
Snap!
Like a balloon being pricked, Takamagahara's barrier shattered with a bang.
In Japanese mythology, Takamagahara, symbolizing the Celestial Realm, was exposed to the world.
Amidst the clouds, magnificent and splendid palaces shimmered into view. The palace gates were crafted from gold, inlaid with dazzling jewels, like countless stars, radiating brilliant light.
It was worthy of being a divine abode, the Sun Goddess's sanctuary.
It was beautiful, luxurious, yet also filled with tranquility and peace. It evoked longing, yet one dared not easily disturb its serenity.
The next instant, the High-Energy Pulse Cannon, condensing the light and heat of a star, passed through the dimensional channel and bombarded Takamagahara, shattering its tranquility and peace.
Clouds were torn apart, palaces were destroyed.
Boom!
Roaring and explosive sounds emanated from the bombarded palace.
Immediately after, the High-Energy Pulse Cannon pierced through Takamagahara. From the point of penetration, cracks rapidly spread throughout Takamagahara.
Lucas waved his hand, closing the portal.
Boom!
Another explosion sound came from Takamagahara. Amidst the explosions, the entire Takamagahara was pulverized and crashed down from high in the sky.
The sky, too, darkened at this moment.
Looking up, the sun had become dim and lusterless. It seemed even it was mourning the fall of the Sun Goddess.
On the helicarrier's deck, Natasha murmured, "Is this what a god is like? Even the celestial phenomena change when she falls."
Bruce scratched his head. "Perhaps I can explain. The sun is approximately 500 light-seconds away from Earth."
"Just now, the time Lucas used the sun's energy to bombard Takamagahara happened to be 500 seconds."
"Because Lucas gathered all the sunlight heading towards Earth, the sky darkened. It has nothing to do with Amaterasu Omikami's death."
"Mm, yes, that's right." Tony affirmed.
They were knowledgeable and easily understood the reason for the sun dimming and the sky darkening.
"If a god in their prime were to fall, it would indeed cause changes in celestial phenomena. But such changes would only be localized, rarely affecting the entire planet."
A portal appeared out of thin air, and Loki's voice preceded his appearance.
Immediately after, Loki and Thor emerged from the portal.
"I just sensed a very strong energy fluctuation here, and then the entire sky darkened. Is Lucas fighting someone? Ancient One."
"Ancient One?"
The Avengers followed Thor and Loki's gaze, which landed on an empty spot on the deck.
Light distorted, and the Ancient One dispelled her invisibility spell, revealing herself. Although she could fly, there was no need for her to fly if there was a place to stand.
The Ancient One first greeted everyone with a smile, then answered Loki's question, "The Japanese Pantheon violated the agreement made with Kamar-Taj five hundred years ago, and Lucas is currently attacking them."
Thor, delighted by the prospect of battle, asked, "Ancient One, do you need our help?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, Thor. But no, Lucas can handle it himself."
On the helicarrier, the sudden appearance of the Ancient One, Thor, and Loki became the focus of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention.
Nick Fury secretly pondered how to approach the Ancient One and the others. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip away.
In Yomi, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, witnessing all this, had a face full of sorrow and worry.
In a short time, he had lost his elder sister and younger brother, with whom he had been for many years.
Of course, what made him sorrowful and worried was not the death of his sister and brother. Instead, it was that he would be next.
"Embed Yomi into the Earth! Quickly!"
Coming to his senses, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto quickly instructed his guards.
"Yomi's defenses alone cannot withstand this sorcerer's magic, the attack must be diverted to Earth."
At this moment, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto was immensely grateful.
He was the God of the Underworld, in charge of death. His Yomi was underground, not in the sky. Otherwise, what would have been shot to pieces just now would not have been Takamagahara, but his Yomi.
Hmm?
Lucas was surprised, Yomi's dimensional barrier had suddenly stabilized.
Without needing to observe closely, he discovered the truth.
"Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto is diverting part of the attack onto Japan."
Not only Lucas, but everyone on the helicarrier, and even the Japanesd populace in the Mirror Dimension, noticed the anomaly.
Japan was sinking, it was moving!
As a chain reaction, multiple places on Japan experienced major earthquakes almost simultaneously.
Volcanoes everywhere erupted.
Tsunamis swept in.
The entire Japan seemed to have transformed into a living hell, a scene of doomsday everywhere.
"Is this… to push the entire Japan into the Mariana Trench, to sink it into the sea?"
The knowledgeable Bruce noticed something was wrong.
"Japan is moving towards the Mariana Trench, two hundred kilometers away, and its speed is continuously increasing."
High above, Lucas's expression was calm. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto's action of diverting the attack aimed at Yomi onto the land of Japan was indeed unexpected.
But how long could Japan help Yomi endure?
Once Japan was gone, Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto wouldn't have the ability to divert the attack anymore.
Time was passing little by little.
Japan continuously moved towards the Mariana Trench, and the island was constantly being submerged by seawater.
Good news, the fire covering the entire island was extinguished. The escaping sunlight and heat burned the sea, and water vapor rose.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a huge tremor spread across the entire island.
The Mariana Trench had been reached. Under the force of gravity, the entire island accelerated its slide into the Mariana Trench.
As it plunged into the Mariana Trench, the island fractured at points where the force was uneven.
The earth was torn apart with an intensity far exceeding any previous earthquake.
The sea surface also churned, raising layers of giant waves. If these giant waves were not dealt with, they could very likely cause tsunamis along the coastlines of other regions.
High above, Lucas activated his talent, absorbing the kinetic energy of the giant waves and calming them.
A moment later, the entire Japan plunged into the Mariana Trench.
The sinking of Japan, an event considered possible tens of thousands of years later, was now unfolding.