To put it simply, this is a type of projection magecraft, but one supported by a higher-tier divine magic from the Age of Gods. Using mana to materialize the mirror image or replica of an object that exists (or once existed) in reality, this magecraft—often considered highly inefficient—has been elevated to a whole new level. While it cannot replicate true Noble Phantasms for actual use like a certain high schooler hero of justice, all Alaric can achieve is a super-hard block of mana for striking. Yet, its power is in no way inferior to an actual Noble Phantasm.
As the pitch-black Chains of Heaven dissolved into the nebula, Alaric slowly climbed up from the ground, using the Holy Lance as a crutch.
The crimson blood flowing from his seven orifices evaporated under the surging mana as if it had never existed.
Alaric, who paid no attention to this, took a deep breath. The corners of his mouth curved upward, revealing a faintly pleased expression.
Having abandoned the pursuit of deeper insights into his soul, Alaric focused his mind on experiencing the rapid growth of his body.
The mana flowing from the ley lines was the planet's Great source, the pulse of the stars. Normally, the amount of mana a magus can convert from this source at any given time is limited by their magic circuits, so no matter how much is available around them, they cannot use it infinitely.
But Alaric was different. Possessing the heart of a red dragon, Alaric, whose core was comparable to that of dragonkind, had an exceptionally advanced mana reactor. Coupled with the presence of the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad, his efficiency in converting the Great Source was unparalleled.
Additionally, with his mana reserves already reaching A-level, though inferior to deities like Ishtar, Alaric's mana capacity could still be considered among the highest.
At this moment, Alaric was like a vampire, greedily sucking the blood of the stars, transforming it into nourishment for his growth.
Though it couldn't bring about a qualitative change, the sheer increase in quantity was enough to give Alaric significant growth.
A dragon's unrestrained plundering of Gaia resembled that of a sinister dragon perched upon the stars, an enemy not only of humanity but also of the celestial realm itself.
After dozens of seconds, as the surge of mana subsided and Alaric successfully adjusted the output of his bracelet artifact, this extravagant feast of devouring finally came to an end.
Crackling!
Alaric stretched his body indulgently, savoring the surging vitality within him and the continuous mana supply from the earth.
It was an indescribable feeling of comfort.
The pitch-black nebula that had shrouded the peak of the mystic mountain gradually dissipated, not merging back into the Great source but being entirely expelled from the star's domain.
As the dark nebula vanished, Alaric finally noticed the devastation around him.
"This… might be a bit of a problem."
Staring at the now-vanished Temple of Ishtar, Alaric scratched his head.
Although he wasn't keen on admitting it, the disappearance of the temple was indeed a direct result of his actions. Under the overwhelming release of mana, the temple had been crushed and reduced to dust.
It wasn't just the temple. Starting from where Alaric stood, the entire mountaintop had suffered catastrophic damage, looking completely different from when he had first arrived.
"What the—!"
The dramatic exclamation that followed was both theatrical and entirely genuine.
The moment he heard the voice, Alaric twisted his head sharply.
The feminine voice that rang out unmistakably belonged to the mistress of Mount Ebih, the goddess Ishtar—or rather, Tohsaka Rin.
Suspended in mid-air, Ishtar descended to the ground in disbelief, her mouth agape as if by instinct.
Rustle.
Ishtar's pristine, bare feet touched the ground covered in fine sand, producing a soft sound as she walked past Alaric, carrying a faint fragrance.
She then stood still, staring blankly at the spot where her newly built temple once stood.
Her expression remained one of disbelief as she gazed at the area where a grand temple should have stood—now nothing but an empty field of dust and debris.
Watching Ishtar's back, Alaric silently activated his Presence Concealment, retreating noiselessly.
If Ishtar's actions had been unpredictable before, Alaric now had a clear idea of what was coming next.
And just as he expected, an emotionally charged scream suddenly erupted—
"W-What… What in the world!!!"
Ishtar clasped her hands to her head and let out a wail to the heavens. Alaric couldn't quite empathize with how devastated she felt, but he could imagine what kind of response she would have.
"You bastard! Just look at what you've done—"
Still wailing to the heavens, Ishtar spun around abruptly, her tear-filled eyes glaring at Alaric. She pointed furiously at the empty field and shouted, "You destroyed my temple while I wasn't here?!"
Ishtar was incredulous. In the short time she'd left to fetch something, her home had been ransacked?!
Had she not sensed the anomaly atop the mountain and rushed back early, who knows how much more destruction Alaric might have caused!
Normally, she was the one causing destruction—how could someone else destroy her things?
It was completely unacceptable!
As the goddess most beloved by the gods in Mesopotamian mythology—the goddess of beauty, harvest, and war—Ishtar simply couldn't accept this reality!
Seeing Alaric's calm and nonchalant expression, Ishtar ground her teeth in frustration.
"I'll make you taste the punishment of a goddess!"
As Ishtar's words fell, she broke free from the constraints of gravity, ascending toward the skies.
Seeing that Ishtar was about to attack, Alaric—who had been waiting for this—decisively sprang into action, breaking through the air with a thunderous crack.
Boom!
With a sound like a thunder flash, Alaric vanished from his position and, before Ishtar could summon the Heavenly Boat Maanna, grabbed hold of her ankle.
And yanked her from the sky!
"What—"
Caught completely off guard, Ishtar had no time to resist and instinctively covered her head.
But the expected impact never came. Instead, several streaks of pitch-black light flashed before her eyes.
Clink!
The unfamiliar sound of chains colliding echoed in her ears. Before Ishtar could discern what those dark streaks of light were, she felt the cold sensation of metal wrapping around her body.
Chains, slithering like snakes, wound their way from beneath her arms, looping around her chest before snaking toward her abdomen. They moved like living creatures, binding her delicate body, restricting her arms and legs, and rendering her entirely immobile within seconds.
Though the scene looked somewhat erotic, Alaric had successfully restrained Ishtar.
"Y-You, you, you—"
Bound by the Chains of Heaven, Ishtar sat on the ground in a duck-like posture, her entire body wrapped in dark chains. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she glared at Alaric with unwillingness.
For her, being defeated so quickly was a hard pill to swallow.
No, it wasn't even a fight—it hadn't even begun.
"Hey, Goddess Ishtar, I came here to have a chat with you."
Having successfully drained the mountain's leyline mana, Alaric finally started negotiating with the rightful owner.
But Ishtar didn't respond.
The sky had darkened.
It was only then that Alaric noticed the change in lighting. The surge of leyline mana had distorted his sense of time. What felt like just a few dozen seconds had stretched out into several minutes or even hours.
'If it's dark now, then doesn't that mean—'
Alaric recalled the events of the previous night, and a rather bold thought emerged in his mind.
"Ah… good evening—"
A sleepy, golden-haired goddess mumbled drowsily. She attempted to stand but immediately noticed something unusual about her body.
A blush spread across her cheeks.