Episode 962 Divine Power – 6
I got caught.
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I took a step. I should have denied that the traitor had come, but the words would not come.
God was already convinced.
I don’t know how you knew, but… now that things have come to this, no matter what Cranbel says, he would not dare to deceive God.The gaze felt from behind pressed heavily against his shoulders.
Excuses won’t work.
However, we absolutely cannot send our god to the place of death.
If you go a little further, you can escape the rift in the world.
Cranbel stood in place.
[Please do not look back.]
“…….”
[Only when our God is safe will the Demon of the Rift be safe.]
Verden said.
Are you telling me to use you guys as shields to escape?
I will only look forward to the future.
Cranbel slowly turned his back.
[The traitor is so powerful that even if all the demons in the rift were to come together, they would be powerless. Our God still has a long way to go. That is why the traitor is desperately trying to destroy God. Because he knows that once God is complete, He will be difficult to handle.]
He bowed his upper body and head, gathered his four arms together, and pleaded earnestly.
[Resistance for our God is our choice, not forced by anyone.]
Cranbel.
[Oh God, please do not risk staking the future for the present. As long as you do not give up, time is on our side. That is truly compassion for the devils.]
Cranbel carefully wrapped his hand around Verden’s hand.
[Now is the time to step down… … Please consider what is more important.]
* * *
Caw! Caw!
A loud metallic sound was heard from near a cliff close to the summit of the blue mountain range.Although an angry blizzard was raging, the sound and vibrations of the rock being carved were not drowned out at all and echoed across the snow-covered area.
“Haaah…….”
Breath rose from inside the cave.
Clothed in the magic robe bestowed by Verden, Jose shrugged his shoulders slightly and caught his breath. His newly acquired work tools had also worn down considerably before he knew it.It was thanks to the blue divine power that Jose’s body was able to endure the arduous work so well.
It’s almost finished.
On the day the heavens and earth were turned and an avalanche poured down, Jose established the snowy mountain cave where Verden had reached the realm of transcendence as the base of his temple.
I went into a deep cavity and carved, and carved, the solidly frozen wall.
Lost in the sound of hammers and chisels clashing, I couldn’t even eat on time. I even nearly collapsed from starvation. It was only natural, considering I hadn’t eaten anything for over ten days.Honestly, I would have been in danger if I hadn’t tucked the finest jerky Haenel had prepared into my pocket, and if Faye and Renard hadn’t brought me water.
He was engrossed in sculpture to that extent.
Jose’s hands had become so rough that the skin peeled off. With a grip so thick that even the calluses had fallen off, he grasped the chisel and struck it repeatedly with a hammer.With his two hands, his sculpting tools, and his faith, he molded a small temple.
It is not painful.I wouldn’t even call it penance.
It is nothing compared to the affairs of the world, which are full of horrors and tragedies.Could it be greater than the pain of a child who left my side after suffering from a high fever? Could it be greater than the pain of a wife who was condemned as a devil worshipper and executed?
Do not feel petty pride.Do not consider yourself a great being just because you have borrowed the power of God.Remember why you have faith.
Doing something for someone’s sake isn’t like that.Doing something for someone’s sake is… … .
“ah…….”
Suddenly, the hazy memory came back vividly.
The wife, who had made a deal with the devil to cure her son’s fever, was captured by the inquisitor of the Ruas Church and made to kneel in the city square.
Both hands were severed as if to show off, anda sacred blade hung over his neck.
The fog covering the face of the wife, facing death, lifted… Despite the excruciating pain, her expression did not contort in the slightest.Finding Jose in the crowd, she looked straight at him and parted her lips.
Please take good care of my son.
As if having no regrets.As if making the same choice again and again, even if time were rewound.
The wife’s head rolled to the floor with a final smile.The people cheered.
and.
What Jose saw when he returned home was the corpse of his child who had not recovered from the illness.
A pathetic head of the household who ultimately failed to protect his family and couldn’t even grant his wife’s request. That was the kind of man Jose was.
In the memories he had turned away from because they were too painful, his wife left behind love. She taught the Jose of today what it means to care for someone.
“……Oh my God, please look upon my departed wife and son even beyond death.”
I offered my usual prayers toward the temple built with massive stone pillars from a snowy mountain cave.
I can feel it. That the moment this task is finished, it will be of great help to God. As long as it isn’t too late, everything will go smoothly.
Moving up and down, carving stone pillars to make stairs, constructing columns, and carving murals… … Now, finally, if only the face of the statue of the god is carved out, the temple where the god will descend will be completed.
I intend to go to the hut and bring back Renard, Faye, and Haenel. Together, we will bring the finishing touches to the work.As a reward for those who followed us all the way to the rugged Blue Mountains, and for the prospective priests who waited until the temple was sculpted.
It has already been four days since we came back into the cave. Let’s hurry down.
Whoooooooh───
Having emerged from the snowy mountain cave, Jose strode through the blizzard. The mere fact that someone was waiting for him wrapped his heart in warmth.
A cabin that emits light in the darkness.
Jose brushed the pure white snow off his robe and opened the door. Smiling as always. Until he discovered Haenel collapsed on the floor.
“……?! Miss Haenel.”
Jose hurriedly held her in his arms and checked her condition.
I’m breathing. But what on earth is this body temperature… … What happened in the last few days?
Then, Renar and Faye, who were suffering in bed, caught my eye. They have the same symptoms as Haenel. It might be an infectious disease similar to the Blood-Crying Plague.
Jose was instantly breathless.
My shoulders trembled violently.
“Hmph, huff, gasp.”
The image of his son, who had died of fever, overlapped with these people. Jose, who had stumbled and fallen, hurriedly unleashed a blue divine power.The symptoms did not seem to be worsening, but unlike the Plague of Blood-Crying, there was no sign of improvement.
“Oh, God… why, why won’t it get better….”
I can’t even speak properly.
My dead son keeps flickering before my eyes. I cannot maintain my divine power for long because I have already poured all my energy into building the temple.
If things continue like this… … .
The moment he had buried his son with his own hands flashed through Jose’s mind.
‘no.’
In that case, you must choose.
Taking them down the Blue Mountains as quickly as possible to seek help… it would be barely possible if I squeezed out every last bit of my remaining divine power.Besides, I had thermal equipment to block the cold of the Blue Mountains.
however.
If we leave the blue mountain range like this, we will not be able to build the temple. We will miss the opportunity. Our faith is urging us to build the temple now.
Do you prioritize reality?Or do you rely on faith?
Jose soon smiled with a confident look on his face.
“Right, if I finish building the temple first, my divine power will grow even stronger, and I will be able to cure the illness. My god will surely reward me.”
A blazing fireplace.
“Even if I go down the mountain range, there is no guarantee that I can be cured. The only one I can trust is God. Only God… .”
Fanatic faith gleamed.
“…….”
Jose stared intently at Renard, Fay, and Haenel for a moment.Then he gazed at the ceiling.
The reason I came to have faith is to protect those I wish to protect. Faith and conviction. I have not forgotten which of the two comes first.
The end must not become the means.
also.
At one time, Jose prayed to the goddess Luas for the well-being of his family.He hoped for his son’s recovery.Having clung only to the god because he felt powerless, he ultimately failed to protect anything.
On the other hand, what is it like now?
He possesses divine power. He can do anything. For instance, he could lead three people down the second-highest mountain range on the entire continent.Since God has already granted him this strength, why would he rely solely on Him again?
Do not entrust even your ego to God.Make your own choices.Do not repeat the past.
Bwaak.
Immediately, Haenel, Renard, and Faye were wrapped in security equipment and thick blankets.A wooden box for stacking firewood, which had been made a long time ago, was brought in, the three were loaded, and secured with sturdy ropes.
I will come back next time to finish building the temple. Together with everyone. Please forgive me.
Jose immediately descended the mountain range, pulling the box carrying everyone like a sled. He strengthened his body with divine power while simultaneously protecting them to ensure their condition did not worsen even the slightest.He moved along the slope of the blue mountain range at the fastest possible speed.
A person of pure faith, not a fanatic.
Jose’s heart did not waver even in the face of ‘trials’.
* * *
“I suppose I should step down when the time comes.”
Cranbel lifted his chin, thinking he had succeeded in persuading God. However, before him stood only unwavering, straight blue eyes.
But, that is not now.
[Please keep the stock… … .]
“I promised to watch over you as a god. But to think you fled out of fear of that traitor, leaving only a promise to return later. Do you want to believe in such a god? If I were a believer, I wouldn’t even be able to lift my head out of shame.”
Verden smiled lightly and gripped Kranbel’s hand tightly.He asserted.
I will not put you to shame.
Cranbel could not bring himself to stop him any further.
Guide the traitor.
As God wills.
* * *
Hadras’s entire body, composed of the darkness of the universe, clashed with Arthur. Space vibrated. A part of the shadow in the rift shattered like glass.Then, a battle of offense and defense ensued at a speed that even high demons could not follow with the naked eye.
Although Hadras wields darkness bestowed upon him by a former Archdemon of Darkness, he is fundamentally a supreme demon who boasts only a formidable physique.Ruthless hand-to-hand combat, without the slightest thought of the rear, is Hadras’s specialty.
If you give it a break, it’s over.
Hadras’s outstretched grip grazed Arthur’s cloak. He dodged the sword strike flying at close range and grabbed the man’s wrist.He concentrated the darkness on the hollowed-out side of the armor and gnawed through the inside.
It is meaningless resistance.
Arthur’s gauntlet, rushing in in an instant, struck Hadras in the solar plexus. As he was sent flying, the moment he managed to brake using only his legs, Arthur rushed in at a speed faster than that.
Jegwang
A massive red sword energy severed vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.
The high-ranking demon barely survived the aftermath with only his arm severed, but hundreds of surrounding demons dared not survive and turned into corpses.Even though they were not hit directly, almost no demon could withstand it.
Pitch-black blood gushed out.
Crack!
His head snapped back with a shock that felt as if his neck were being torn off entirely. Arthur immediately countered Hadras’s counterattack.It was useless even if he tried to turn into black smoke. Each time, Arthur’s ki interfered with the Great Demon’s power.
Qi is the power of humanity.The first king of the human world is the progenitor of the martial arts world, having been the first to awaken Qi.
Quaddd
A massive blade hung low over Hadras’s neck as he lay pinned to the floor.The hands gripping him gradually split apart.
“This is your last chance. Where is the Destroyer of Fate?”
[Hehehe… …]
Hadras let out a sneer.
[If it were the you of the past… … you would have killed me more than enough by now.]
“…….”
[You’ve weakened… Arthur.]
When I first encountered the Destroyer of Fate, I broke a taboo established by the World Tree:not to harm the Elf race.This was the price for becoming a contemplative being under the World Tree’s watchful gaze after its defeat in the Battle of Fate—in other words, a taboo stemming from a promise made with ‘you’.
The Destroyer of Fate was treated as an elf even though he was not.That was the taboo’s judgment.
Arthur was completely unaware, but ignorance does not allow one to escape taboos. He who had attacked the Destroyer of Fate had to be punished.
───As a contemplative being, I will execute punishment against the taboo violator. I will reclaim half of the ‘you’ power you possess, and additionally, I will enforce a forbidden commandment.
Arthur’s spirits subsided.Weight was placed on the sword.
There is no problem with tidying up the shade.
[But… … it will take time.]
The Crown of Darkness flashed.
Kwaaaaaaah!
Beams of darkness bursting from Hadras’s hands stained the vision. Pushed back by a strong repulsive force, Arthur tensed his legs and raised his greatsword to strike.
The darkness split apart.
Arthur’s energy surged as he gripped the massive sword held above his head with both hands. His presence, enveloped in a red light, overwhelmed all the demons.
The pinnacle of skill, a special technique.
Darkness obscures the presence of the Destroyer of Fate. If this space is a hindrance, it will simply be destroyed. It does not care about the impact on the Rift of Worlds.In response, Hadras has amplified the power of the Archdemon to its maximum.
The King’s sword moves.
“……!”
Boom!
The technique was interrupted midway by the unexpected shock of the sword strike. It was magic. And incantation magic at that. Arthur snapped his head.The nobles following Arthur also cast their gazes in the same direction.
One of the lower nobles of the 12 nobles, who was slaughtering lower demons at the edge of the battlefield, was dragged along with his abdomen pierced by magic and his neck held captive.
[Oh, God.]
Hadras clenched his fist and spoke in a low voice.
[Cranbel… … What are you doing… … !!]
I said I would come, so don’t say anything.
[but…….]
The conversation comes later.
Verden twitched his eyes as he saw the fragments of demons filling the surroundings. His emotions stirred. The death of a believer dealt a greater shock than expected to Verden, who had just become a god.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way.
Vengeance.The source of Verden.
Arthur said.
“Destiny Destroyer.”“That mouth.”
Verden snapped the neck of the lower-ranking noble he was holding in his hand in an instant.
Shut up.
