To Hazama, the body was not a fixed entity, but something that constantly transformed and had superior things added to it. What was produced as a result was a free form unbound by shape—for him, it was proof of strength, and in a sense, his way of life. Thus, in the case of this particular change, the circumstances seemed to be different.
“…Hmph, is this it?”
What was completed there was condensed meat, a black humanoid form with bulging muscles. It was the same in that one arm was missing, resembling Hao’s form before he was absorbed by Hazama, but roughly one size larger than at that time, with remnants of a monstrosity visible at the joints of his body. Although it mimicked a humanoid form, the impression was strong that numerous life forms had been mixed together and forcibly shoved into a human vessel.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. An unexpected interruption occurred, but I can finally continue now.”
“…Is Hao-chan okay to call you?”
“Ah, honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would work, but luck seems to be on my side.”
Hao (?) repeatedly clenched his fists as if confirming his movements.
“Even though I’m saying this as the enemy, for now, it’s good… or should I say, is it? In that body, besides Hao-chan, is there another one of the Ten Authorities too? Judging from your previous words and the situation, you seemed to be one of the Three Authorities of Authority?”
“Ah, I don’t know how much meaning that title holds, but he, the consciousness of Hazama, the ‘Barbarian God,’ is indeed coexisting in this body. However, I’ve restricted his ability to speak, so he can no longer talk.”
“Oh, how unfortunate.”
“Hmph, you are compassionate beyond measure. Towards someone who used such cowardly tactics, one normally wouldn’t harbor such feelings. …However, it’s unknown how long my consciousness will last. If Hazama’s previous statement is true, my consciousness will eventually disappear. Naturally, at that time, he will be released from my Authority.”
Hao continued to clench his fist so tightly that blood flowed from his palm. Eventually, the blood dripping from the gaps in his fist was not red but a murky green.
“…Is it my imagination? It sounds like you want me to defeat you, doesn’t it?”
“Ah, it’s probably your imagination. No one among the Ten Authorities takes Hazama’s words seriously, and even if they did, I have no intention of losing to him in terms of mental strength. However, I want to fight you with all my might, intending to kill each other. If you use the conversation just now as a catalyst for your compassionate nature, I would be most grateful. How about it, does it seem like it could be one of your reasons for not being able to lose?”
“Well, I wonder. I intended to win with all my might from the start—”
“Um, excuse me. Did a strange lump of meat pass by here?”
“—Araaa?”
A sweet voice was suddenly heard, seemingly from above Gordiana and the others. There stood Dorothy, her arms transformed into wings, exuding an extremely displeased atmosphere.
“Well, isn’t it Dorothy-chan. You seem very displeased, did something happen?”
“Yes, well. There’s a Ten Authority who is good at escaping and has a terrible personality, mouth, and face, and I followed him… Haa, I see. It seems to be a rather complicated situation.”
Dorothy sighed deeply upon seeing the transformed Hao, his appearance altered.
“Let me tell you first, he’s not the Ten Authority you were chasing. Well, he has the same body though…”
Gordiana carefully explained the situation: how she was ambushed during her fight and Hao was absorbed, and how she subsequently regained her body using the Authority’s power. Meanwhile, Hao nodded several times during her explanation. Dorothy’s mind buzzed with a new question: why did Hao from the Ten Authorities seem to be participating in the explanation? However, for now, she decided to let it slide.
“N, I see. No wonder I didn’t sense Hazama’s wicked presence, despite him possessing the same body. Even so… I feel like you’ve gotten considerably stronger than when we fought.”
“Hmm, you are strong as well. It seems to be a different vector of strength than ours, but I am a person who doesn’t play favorites. If you hold a grudge against this body and wish to settle it, I don’t mind indulging you.”
“…Haa, please don’t say such things so happily. Is this world only filled with battle maniacs?”
Dorothy uttered these words with a weary sigh, but she herself wore a belligerent smile. If she could destroy that hateful body, she didn’t care about its contents at this point.
“Hey, hey, Dorothy-chan? Hao-chan is my opponent, you know? I have personal ties, so I can’t let you steal him away.”
“Yes, I understand. However… Reincarnated Goddess Gordiana, if he has incorporated Hazama’s meat lump, you have no chance of winning against him now. You must have been engaged in a fierce battle until now, but he has obtained a new body and has returned to a state with almost no damage. Likely, he has also inherited the life stock that Hazama possessed. As for you, I don’t need to tell you, do I…”
“Mon, you’re good at pointing out things I don’t want to be told. But, well, you’re right. I can probably manage one more all-out attack at most. I was intending to settle things with the previous exchange, wasn’t I?”
“Well, that’s probably true. In fact, I was also thinking the same. It’s truly regrettable.”
Hao replied calmly, without being particularly flustered by Gordiana, who gave him a wink. Also, Hao didn’t seem to intend to attack, remaining standing in mid-air and waiting for their conversation to end.
“I see. Although your appearance is a little… unlike Hazama, you seem quite upright. Reincarnated Goddess Gordiana, I have a proposal for you.”
“What is it? Ah, and please don’t call me so formally, feel free to call me Pritia-chan (heart).”
“…It’s fine for you to fight him. However, would you entrust me with the role of backup for the battle?”
“I feel like I’ve been ignored, but that’s fine. Backup, you mean using Support Magic?”
“Yes, something like that. I will apply Time Magic tailored to your fighting style to make the battle more favorable. Well, if there’s even a slight opening, I might use some offensive magic… Since he’s like a fusion of Hao and Hazama, it won’t be a fair fight unless we both go at him.”
“Hmm, that’s reasonable. Rather, it’s exactly what I want.”
“You’re too understanding, it throws me off…”
In any case, Gordiana and Dorothy decided to team up, and Hao seemed to agree.
“Well, yes. To aim for victory, that might be the only way. But, is it okay? It will be a coordinated effort without any practice beforehand, right?”
“No problem. I have him with me.”
“Oh?”
“Mmph.”
At that moment, Gordiana and Hao sensed something from behind Dorothy. They couldn’t articulate it well, but a strong sense of foreboding washed over them.
“I can’t explain my abilities here, so I’ll introduce him after we win the battle. You might feel his gaze on you a bit, but I promise full backup. Reincarnated Goddess Gordiana, please concentrate on the fight.”
