Chapter 350 - Last Resort

[Eh? It’s gonna be troubling if you don’t explain it to me though?]

[Eh? Who is it that’s gonna be troubled? I don’t understand.]

[I will be troubled, and so is our Chief God.]

[Even if you say they’re troubled, when Chief God themself didn’t come…… They aren’t really troubled, are they?]

[If the Chief God moves, it will consume a lot of Prime Origins to correct the distortion———– Not like you don’t know that already. Besides, things up there have gotten messy, and we and our Chief God are in a lot of trouble.]

[Ara~~ Is that so~~ That’s what you said, but you and Vanargadia sure are free.]

[The increase in interference value had been too much after all. Even if it’s a bit unreasonable, it was decided that two Deities will be sent. All this for someone the likes of Vysis.]

[I see? Sounds rough?]

[I mean, Vysis…… Are you properly protecting the people of this world?]

[Fufufu, can’t you see it for yourself?]

[We Deities will defeat the Root of All Evil. At the same time, it will also protect these creatures. Aren’t these creatures something like children to us? And yet, since back then, I’ve always been uncertain if you really loved these creatures———– the humans. I always disliked you for that.]

[Eh? I would be troubled if you just arbitrarily questioned my love…… Hmmm, it feels disgusting being doubted just for a person’s emotional movements. In the first place, why is it that I need to hold love for them……?]

[Then, what are humans to you?]

[Hmmm, the conversation isn’t really connecting.]

[You yourself said creatures are like our children, right? In that case, Vysis, from my point of view————–]

Loqierra slightly tilted her head……

[You seem to me like an abusive parent to your children.]

[Ehhh…… What’s with that now? Venturing into someone else’s family affairs, t- that’s just unreasonable! Please give me a break~~ Keep your family matters to yours, keep it out of mine!]

[Yaaa…………….. You sure don’t change.]

“Good grief”, Loqierra shrugged her shoulders.

Thereupon, her eyes narrowed like a fox.

[For the time being, that disturbing Sacred Treasure behind you…… I’m gonna break it, okay?]

[Huh? Please don’t do that.]

[And what if I say no?]

[Loquera.]

[Unnn.]

[I’ve always hated you too~~ Ah, I’m not kidding.]

[I knew that.]

[Loqierra…… Stop with the idle chatter.]

The one who called out was the huge, white and silver werewolf.

Smiling at that werewolf, Vysis spoke.

[Ara ara, Vanargadia, for the quiet you to actually interrupt the conversation. Are you really that free?]

[Vysis…… No statement or explanation regarding the interference value…… We can take this as your answer, right? In the first place, just looking at the Sacraments lined up outside this room————–]

Hearing Vanargadia’s words, Vysis responded, as if to gently admonish him.

[N- Now, now……. Don’t be so angry, Vanargadia. Do you really think I can win against you…… you who overpowered that Wormungandr? Uuuu…… It’s fine if it’s just Skullbanger, but I’m not really good against the Wolf God. Oyoyo…… I understand. I- I will give it…… an explanation……]

As I thought, that werewolf Vanargadia is also a Deity.

Moreover, judging from the way Vysis spoke, he seems to be quite strong even among the Deities.

And this situation———— doesn’t seem to be something a human can intrude in.

There’s no way one can defeat them.

For the likes of humans, against beings like them.

I can feel sweat pouring out of my entire body.

Cold sweat.

Extremely cold sweat.

[That’s enough of that too, Vysis.]

Loqierra said with a cold, inhuman smile.

[Don’t think we need any of your explanations. Unnn, the explanation isn’t needed anymore, Vanar and I will conduct it, Vysis’ execution. As for that human beside you, I think we can disregard her. Turmuk, Thaeron, destroy that Sacred Treasure.]

[No, no, no, please don’t do that! No!]

With her back turned against her device, Vysis spread her hands wide as if to protect it.

[If you destroy it…… A- All my efforts all these years! The crystallization of my sweat and toil will……! Stop!]

[ ? ]

Thereupon, Loqierra lifted her chin, her gaze darting up through the air.

[Vysis……? Those standing over the railing on either side of that Sacred Treasure, are those your Divine Servants……?]

[Uuuu…… Someone please help me……]

Only after Loqierra’s words did I first notice the presence of “those two”.

Behind the railing on the left-hand side————, …………..

A knight-like figure in white full-body armor was standing there.

On the front of the helmet, which completely covers the head, a cross was depicted.

The inner area of the cross is black, making it appear to be hollow.

And…… In the center of the cross of that helmet was a single golden eye.

On the other hand, behind the railing on the right-hand side———– was a huge man.

He is also wearing armor and his face is also covered with a helmet.

However, the armor he was wearing was a unique one that I wasn’t familiar with at all.

Compared to the other man, his armor was strikingly different.

The face part of his helmet, was it perhaps shaped to resemble an expression of anger?

Above the mouth area of the helmet was this…… white mustache-looking part.

Also, the forehead of the helmet is decorated with a half-moon horn.

For a moment, his dark eye sockets———- seemed to glow a dull, golden light.

But the next moment, the eyes had already returned to their earlier deep darkness.

[Heehhh…… You properly produced yourself Divine Servants as your guards huh? Well, guess it ain’t that strange. It’s Vysis after all.]

[Ars-san, Yomibito-san…… Uuuu…… Please save me…… These people intend to destroy my device, which is the most important thing next to my life……]

[ ” Leave this to me! ” ]

A sonorous, lively voice emanated from cross helmet.

[ ” I promise, I’ll definitely save you! ” ]

However, it was a strange-sounding voice.

It seemed to hold emotion within them———- but at the same time, not.

It felt somewhat inhuman.

Somehow……

How should I put it……

It was a voice filled with a sense of contradiction.

Also……

[……Crisis, Vysis, assist, battle———-, ……………. ————-Battle, assist, Vysis, crisis……]

The voice resounding from the horned man on the right-hand side……

This one had a low, muddled, distorted voice.

It’s a quietly resounding voice, but it has this intimidating, gut-wrenching intimidation to it.

Watching the two of them, without a hint of timidity, Loqierra lightly snorted.

[Thaeron…… Before the destruction of the Sacred Treasure, I leave dealing with those to you. Don’t let your guard down.]

The white humanoid being who looked like a heavily armored knight, holding a warhammer in hand……

[Understood.]

——-responded so to Loqierra.

The one called Thaeron then leaped beyond the railings and landed on the mezzanine floor.

There should be no wind in this place.

At least, there was no strong wind blowing around.

However, Thaeron’s cloak was flapping wildly.

Only the cape was flapping along with some sort of strong wind.

————Bachichiiiii————

Thaeron is surrounded by sparks of electric shocks.

Thereupon, a translucent axe-blade sprouts from the side of his warhammer.

Facing Thaeron is cross helmet————- The man who was called Ars earlier.

As Thaeron takes his stance on the battle……

[Turmuk, you take on the other one. Be on your guard.]

The white man with a blade at the end of his right arm————- Turmuk, also leaps.

He landed softly on the mezzanine floor on the opposite side from Thaeron.

Landing on one knee, he remained as such for a moment before holding out his left hand before him.

Thereupon———— a white greatsword adorned with divine ornaments appeared.

Turmuk firmly grasps the hilt of the sword.

The man with the horned helmet————- Yomibito, stands in front of him.

Vanargadia didn’t look at his companions, who leaped in both directions.

The Wolf God just kept his eyes on Vysis in front of him———–

[And then————- Me and you will take on Vysis. Is that okay, Loqierra?]

[Unnn, fine by me. Ahh…… One of the reasons why the interference value showed a strange increase is probably those Divine Servants. Those Divine Servants were created outside of Heaven, so I guess that isn’t strange…… Moreover, she even created two of them. Rather, that Vysis has also come to make Divine Servants huh. Ahh, this is just the worst.]

[I don’t think I need to tell you this, but don’t let your guard down, Loqierra. It is well-known that Vysis isn’t a Deity with a strong inclination towards combat but……]

[Me, losing against Vysis? How in the world can that even happen———— If you were to say that, ahahaha, does it look like I’m setting up for my own defeat? You know, Vysis……. You don’t have to do that boring act anymore.]

Vanargadia stands behind Loqierra.

His long, beautiful silver mane swayed behind him.

Even though he was keeping his silence……

Even though he hadn’t taken up a stance or any preparations of sort……

I’m feeling a tremendous sense of pressure from him.

I felt as if I could hardly breathe.

Even if I wanted to escape———— Such a thing isn’t even possible for me.

It was as if……

As if my legs were sewn to this place by the weight of the Wolf God.

[Uuuu, how cruel…… ganging up on me with two people. A- At least fight me one at a time…… This isn’t faaaaaair……]

[Vysi————]

Just as Vanargadia tried to call her name though, that happened.

Behind the Wolf God’s back……

The wall on the left-hand side burst open.

What came out of the wall was……

[……You still have another Divine Servant huh.]

Vanargadia turned around.

When he looked back, at the end of his gaze———–

A white man with a huge build, looking like he was coated in wax.

Several horn-like protrusions of various sizes were visible on the surface of his body.

It also looked as if there were black fissures on his skin.

No———– In fact, they really looked like cracks.

Just like cracks in a salt kiln.

A salt kiln that was on the verge of cracking open.

Its physique is comparable to Vanargadia.

However, he’s slightly shorter than the Wolf God.

His shoulders are visibly broad.

His arms are thick———– no, too thick.

It isn’t that the distance between us made my perspective distorted.

His arms and fists were literally abnormally large in relation to the rest of his body.

This may be the reason why he looked somewhat short, yet stocky.

His eye sockets are deeply sunken and hollow.

Then, just like the depths of the icicles that line up in a frigid cave……

Just like an eerie light in the depths of such darkness……

Gazing intently from the deep sockets———— were golden eyes.

[Yooo…… Vanargadiaaa……]

[ ? ]

Somehow———– There was this familiarity in the tone of his voice.

He talked as if they were old friends.

Seeing his arrival, tears appeared in Vysis’ eyes.

[Ahh~~ You came to save me!? Thank you!]

[Gyehahaha…… The heck are you saying, Vysis. You truly are an ill-natured Goddess…… Even though you were intending on having me attack Vanargadia right from the start.]

[I- It can’t be helped…… Uuuu, I’m just a Deity with a weak inclination towards combat…… I’m very frail…… Uuuu……]

Vanargadia faced the waxwork giant.

As a result, the humanoid Wolf God and Loqierra were now covering each other’s backs.

[You are also a Divine Servant, but the way you speak…… You seem to know me. Who are you?]

[You were the one who defeated me. Or perhaps, have you completely discarded your memories of those you defeated?]

[Someone I defeated? No, that arm…… Don’t tell me……]

Vanargadia, however, wasn’t confused by his words.

He indifferently spoke the name of the being before him.

[So you haven’t been vanquished at that time, Wormungandr.]

[I’m glad you finally remembered me, Vanargadia. Well…… After being nearly killed by you lot, fortunately or unfortunately, I was saved by Vysis. And now, I’m a Divine Servant who has been given Vysis’ essence. Well, when you compare that to my original fate of being vanquished…… This isn’t all that bad.]

[Heehhh…… So you didn’t get vanquished, Worm?]

[Yo, Loqierra. You’re as beautiful as ever. I look like this because of you lot though. Gyehahaha. Well, once you get used to it, my current appearance isn’t so bad.]

Saying this, Wormungandr scratched his forehead with his thick fingers.

Meanwhile, the people on the other side of the railings are still staring at each other.

As if they are waiting for the signal to start.

[Hey, Vysis.]

Loqierra called out.

[You could have surprise attacked us with these Divine Servants. For all these farce of introducing them like this, are you setting us up for something?]

[A- After all…… I can easily win like this……]

[Hmmm, so you’re confident huh?]

Hearing Loqierra’s voice, still as casual as before, Vysis greeted her teeth.

Pointing at Loqierra in a way that seems overexaggerated……

[L- Loqierra……! Fight me!]

[Fine by me? I mean, I honestly thought you were a Deity that needed to be cut down…… Geez, our Chief God is naive. Quite naive. As I thought, you’re still evil in every way———— Vysis.]

Snap.

Loqierra snapped her fingers.

[Let’s begin.]

Thaeron……

Ars……

Turmuk……

Yomibito……

Vanargadia……

Wormungandr———–

Almost at the same time, they began to move.

▽

[……………………..]

Cross helmet———- Ars’ blood ran down the white floor under the railing.

Blood was gushing from all over Ars’ body.

His white armor was scorched by Thaeron’s white lightning.

No———— What appeared to be Ars’ full-body armor was apparently not armor at all.

Looking at the way he bleeds…… It’s probably that his body itself looks like armor.

In other words, that armor is also part of his “main body”.

I suppose I could say that it’s an armor made of flesh that takes the form of full-body armor.

Consequently, that helmet on his head———— As expected, it’s probably also part of his main body.

[ ” I will…… definitely…… not lose…… I will…… not give up…… ” ]

Saying so, Ars’ body leaned towards Thaeron.

Gakun!

Ars dropped to his knees, seemingly not even having the strength to stand up anymore.

However———— Ars clung to Thaeron’s body, and as if to exert the last of his strength, Ars hugged Thaeron.

Seeing his opponent trying to keep him from attacking the others……

“You did your best.”

Thaeron said in a tone that even showed respect for a good battle.

[It ends here, Vysis’ Divine Servant.]

[ ” I…… can not…… lose……” ]

Meanwhile, horned helmet Yomibito———– had his back caving against the wall.

Yomibito is holding in both hands a katana that he himself brought forth.

With that katana, he had been in battle with Turmuk not long ago.

However, he lost the battle.

Yomibito’s current result was the end of having finally been pushed completely over the edge and driven close to the wall.

[………………..]

Turmuk, looking at such a Yomibito, wasn’t careless, and did not let down his stance at all.

And behind Loqierra, who was confronting Vysis……

A short time ago, Wormungandr struck the preemptive blow first.

Receiving his attack, Vanargadia was sent flying and broke through the wall.

Even now, beyond the wall, the thunderous roars of their battle still echo.

As for Loqierra and Vysis————–

They were still staring at each other, not moving.

[Did you really think you could beat us, Vysis?]

[Despair, you see……]

[ ? ]

[When you thought you could win, at such a moment……]

Swoosh!

I reflexively looked in the direction of the sound.

There, I suddenly saw several white blades piercing through Thaeron’s entire body.

The sharp blades appeared to have been released from Ars’ body.

While Ars was clinging to Thaeron’s body, blades were unleashed from his body.

Was it perhaps Thaeron’s body being torn to shreds from the inside————

A sickening sound filled the room.

[Ghaakk…… Khaaa……]

[ ” I…… will win! I will not give up…… I will never give up! Everyone———- I will protect everyone————! ” ]

[Ghafuuu……!?]

It was as if his insides were being devoured by countless vicious creatures.

As he stood in Ars’ hold, Thaeron’s body squirmed.

(That is……?)

I saw something strange.

Thereupon, like a reverse current, it flowed back……

The blood that Ars had spilled.

It was flowing back into the wound.

Even the burn marks on his body faded and disappeared.

And then, Ars’ wound eventually closed.

Completely closed.

On the other hand———— Thaeron had dissolved.

[ ” Haahhh…… haahhh…… I told you…… I will protect everyone…… That’s why, I won’t let myself…… be defeated here…… ” ]

Ars seemed to have won…… unscathed.

A moment later————-

Gyaaaaain!

There was the sound of two extremely hard metals colliding.

This time, my gaze reflexively flickered in that direction.

Two huge white columns were floating in the air.

Then, I saw Turmuk leaping backward to keep his distance from those columns.

Looking as if he had just avoided a critical moment of some sort……

Yomibito was still stuck in the wall.

The katana Yomibito had earlier wasn’t held in his right hand.

In his right hand, which is not holding anything———–

Yomibito moved his thumb and forefinger.

Both fingers, separated from each other, were brought closer together.

Thereupon……

As if waiting for Turmuk to leap backward————

Without warning, white columns appeared on Turmuk’s left and right.

I did not know when those things appeared there.

No, it seemed as if it had been there before I knew it.

As if being pulled towards one another, those two columns rapidly closed the distance between each other—————

Bang!

Turmuk, caught between the two columns approaching from both sides————– was crushed in between.

Turmuk did not escape.

He turned the greatsword in his left hand sideways and used it as a “wedge” to prevent being caught in the middle. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He must have had considerable confidence in the hardness of the sword he had created.

However———– immediately after the rounded surface of the columns made contact with the tip of the sword and the base of the hilt……

The greatsword miserably shattered, and just like that, Turmuk was crushed by the two columns.

For a moment, he seemed to be thinking of retreating.

However, it was already too late.

[…………………..]

Before I knew it, the columns were gone.

Lowering his head for a moment, Vysis spread his hands out to the left and right.

[Despair is something that only rises in its highest form…… when their certainty of victory is smashed……]

Yomibito extracts himself out the wall and turns to Vysis.

Seeing this, Vysis waves her hand with a smile.

[Thanks for the hard work, Yomibito-saaaaan. Thank you~~ Thank you very much~~]

Yomibito’s armor should have been damaged in his sword battle with Turmuk.

And now, just like Ars, the wounds that should have been there were gone.

Before all these, Loqierra’s emotions were hard to read, the expression on her face close to emotionless……

[……Vysis.]

[Haahhh…… I’m so glad. I feel so relieved……, ———Ara?]

Behind Loqierra……

Along with a foot that had stepped through the large hole in the wall……

———was a torn right leg————- and Vanargadia’s head.

The foot that emerged from the hole belonged to Wormungandr, holding those two things in both hands.

The head was gripped by the hair on the back of the head, and the eyes had been gouged out.

However———– it seemed like Vanargadia was still alive.

[Loq…… erra…… These…… lot……]

Vanargadia’s head spoke.

Hearing his voice, Loqierra looked back at him……

[Vanar……]

From the position I stood in, it prevented me from seeing the expression on Loqierra’s face.

Wormungandr dropped Vanargadia’s head to the floor.

And the next moment———-

Gusha!

Wormungandr stomped down on the fallen head.

[Gyehahaha. Even if their heads are crushed like this, Deities aren’t beings that would just die. They won’t die unless their very existence is erased. You have to kill them again and again and again———– Kill them until they die. If there’s even a small amount of their existence left…… Though it takes time, on rare occasions, they can still slowly regenerate from even the smallest piece of their flesh. Well, most of them disappear just like that. That’s right. I was lucky enough to survive. That’s why———– So that that doesn’t happen, we’re going to thoroughly deal with them, right, Vysis?]

[Yes, let’s do that?.]

Loqierra turned to Vysis again.

[…………………..]

[Fufufu…… Did you really think I didn’t anticipate this situation? If the interference value significantly increases, it’s only natural that Deities will be sent over, right? Therefore! I had my trump card, Anti-Deity Augmented Entities, “Vysis’ Younglings”! As you can see, these three aren’t just Divine Servants who received my essence. Incidentally……]

Vysis turns her palms up and indicates toward the door of the room.

[The majority of those lined up outside, they are Anti-Deity Augmented Sacraments.]

[Anti-Deity Augments? I’ve never heard of such a———]

[Of course, you’ve never heard of it. After all, it’s something I developed.]

[…………Vysis, you’re properly returning the otherworlders to their world, right? No———- Have you not repatriated them?]

[Hmmm, maybe. However, don’t you think you’re at fault for just relying solely on that crystal and hadn’t come to see the situation with your own eyes for hundreds of years? You’re just suffering the consequences of your own actions?]

[If you’ve created this much, including the trials and errors, it should require you a huge amount of Prime Origins…… That means, you haven’t repatriated them———— stashing away all the Prime Origins, in order to create that number of Anti-Deity Augmented Entities.]

[If I don’t return them and leave them in this world, the interference value will increase, but I found that the interference value won’t be affected if I kill the Hero. Well, since I couldn’t do it directly and had to choose another method, it had been rough until I found a way around it. Fuuu, those were exhausting days.]

[In that case, that means the essential Prime Origin needed to open the gate is also in your hands huh. You…… Could it be, you intended to destroy Heaven?]

[Eh? In that case, what of it? In that case, what will you do? Please say it. Come on, won’t you tell me? Are you alright? Oiii, you alright there?]

[…………………]

[Ah, how about you get down on your knees?]

[……Huh?]

[No, like I said…… get down on your knees. Both hands and knees on the floor, rub your head on the floor with sincerity and apologize. “Lowly being that I am, I apologize for having attacked Vysis-sama” or so. Down on your knees———– English, do you speak it? You still speak it up there, right? Please tell me that your comprehension is alright.]

Watching all these happen, Wormungandr guffawed.

[Gyehahaha. Vysis sure is a Goddess with a very ill-natured personality, isn’t she? Oh…… Drop it, Loqierra. There’s no way you’d win against the three of us Divine Servants who got strengthened with the Anti-Deity Augment and Vysis. Without the augments, Loqierra certainly might be stronger…… You’re now at a disadvantage. Well, either way, Vysis would———–]

[Ah, Worm-san, can you be silent? We’re in the middle of negotiations.]

At her words, “Yes, yes, my bad”, Wormungandr shut his mouth.

[Now, take the stage~~. Get down on your knees~~?]

[……………………….]

[Ara? Do you not want to? Come on, get down on your knees, I said.]

[……………………….]

[Down, on, your, knees.]

[……………………….]

[Loqierra~~ On your knees~~ ?]

[Vysis.]

[Kneel.]