Okay. From now on I will be hosting an additional hurdle for you. So don't be reserved and display it all before me Croix Baron ……for I too, want to have a look at the enormous strength that you were gifted with by the world with my own eyes---!"
In a flash, the 'man in a tailcoat' dissolved into a black shadow that sprinted along the vehicle lane.
Grabbing Izayoi who was late in reacting, the shadow forcefully flung him towards the floor by the neck.
"Bastard……!"
Izayoi grabbed the wrist of the 'man in a tailcoat' as he attempted to twist it upwards to counter his opponent's pressure that pinned him to the ground. However, his opponent had dissolved into an intangible shadow once more and had gotten behind Izayoi's back.
"Haha! Aren't you very kind?! You'd only tried to neutralize the attack when a god had already attempted to take away your life. It's really hard to find these kind of people nowadays!"
The 'man in a tailcoat' laughed mockingly as he lifted his leg to send Izayoi flying with a strike at his blind spot.
Izayoi's body danced in mid-air as he continued to fly in a straight line into the sky before smashing through the roof of a large building that was diagonally across his original place on the ground.
And after breaking through several layers of reinforced concrete, the noise finally grounded to a stop.
Having dissolved into the shadows again, [Baron Croix] rushed to catch up by following the carnage that was caused by Izayoi's collision. In fact, the building looked as if it had been shot by a cannon as it was crumbling from inside.
"……Oops,was it too heavy-handed a blow on him?"
[Baron Croix] muttered as he tugged on his bowler hat while furrowing his brows. However, it wasn't out of self-reflection that he had said those words. In fact, it's only because he didn't want to end it all before he could even start enjoying himself.
---On one hand, [Baron Croix] might be known as the God of Life and Death, but at the same time, he is also known as the god of love and lust.
And he was one that loved to hold a bottle of rum in one hand while messing around and simply engaging in intercourses, a God of love character that was violent and downright despicable.
Savoring pleasure was in his element[6]. But it would be very unsatisfying and unfortunate if the game were to end due to an accidental lack of restraint, before he could even have time to open a bottle of rum.
[Had Canaria's worry come true? Even if she were to send this sort of youth to the world of Little Garden---]
"---Oi! Megane[7] Bastard!"
"What?!" He turned around in surprise. This is because the trail of destruction was still extending before him while the source of the voice had come from his back. And it was definitely not due to his reaction from being called a 'Megane Bastard'.
However, all his surprise and anger were thrown aside immediately.
That's because behind him--- a building traveling at speed of the third cosmic velocity was heading towards him.
"This---!"
It was the first time in the long span of his existence that [Baron Croix] had the facial description 'dazed till his jaw hung loose' used for his current expression.
That outrageous speed was so fast that it gave him no time to respond with his technique of shifting into a shadow.
Immediately, [Baron Croix] raised his right hand and released a darkness that was shimmering like a hot pocket of air.
The building that was hurled and traveling at the speed of the third cosmic velocity had only needed to touch the dark shadowy mass to be broken into fragments before disintegrating. The remainder had also crumbed into rubble that showered down upon the other buildings below, causing them to collapse as well.
"---Oh? To actually use a defensive stance……Then may I presume that the previous attack might have given you a fatal wound?"
Izayoi's voice echoed in the area. And what was more surprising was that he did not sustain any injuries. Though his appearance might have been more dusty and dirty, there was no sign of a fatal injury. Even so, his facial expression had undergone a dramatic change.
The light smile showed more confidence than before and a pleased look had begun to emerge from his gaze.
"That's good. Very good. In fact, it was great! You sure have some nice moves! I wonder how long has it been since I had my blood boiling inside me like that…? Haha. Due to the wide gap between then and now, I sure can't remember it at all! As expected from a guy claiming to be a Kami-sama[8]! Even the extra hurdle is unique and interesting---!"
*Boom!* Izayoi started forward at a sprint that was similar to that of a cannon being shot from its barrel and the driveway beneath the contact points with his feet started to develop depressions that were similar to craters left behind by small meteorites smashing into Earth. [Baron Croix], slow to react once more, was grabbed by the neck by Izayoi's hand and forcefully flung towards the ground.
"Oof!"
And subsequently, a kick sent his whole body flying into the air and crashing through 12 buildings.
Izayoi stood on the rooftop as he spread his arms.
"---Let's fight to the end! Kami-sama, I request for you to accompany me in this game and play to my heart's content! Having prepared this special stage for me and having prepared the extra hurdle for me……and for being the stand-in agent whom Canaria prepared for me! Since that's the case, your job should be to continue putting up with me until I'm tired of the game!"
[Baron Croix] stood up from the pile of rubble.
Adjusting his swallowtail coat and dusting it a little as he replaced the bowler hat back onto his head, he was full of smiles as he replied:
"Very well. If that's your wish……Then I will thoroughly be your opponent as the stand-in for the Host."
"But---" He hesitated for a while.
"Lad! This game is already mine. If my hit is too hard and it kills you……please don't hold it against me---!"
Spreading his arms, he started to release the shadowy darkness, which shimmered like pockets of hot gas, into his surroundings and gradually expanded it.
While [Baron Croix] was releasing his powers that marked him as a Death god……Izayoi used that time slot to shift his gaze towards the digital watch on his hand.
"……Nn. What a headache……will I be able to make it in time like that?" He had said it in a low mutter that wouldn't have been heard by others.
Just when his mutter seemed to disappear like the pop of a bubble, the two began to engage in their fierce battle.