Episode 961 Divine Power – 5
A considerable amount of time had passed since I climbed the blue mountain range. With no way to access news from the outside world, I had no idea what had become of the international community or what the situation was like in the Federation of Ternetia.It felt as if I had been left in a world completely cut off from reality.
Tap, tap, tap.
Haenel carved wood using the simple carving skills he had learned from Jose. Since excellent specimens were scattered all around, his dexterity improved just by trying to imitate them.
The snowstorm is still raging outside.Inside, it is still warm and cozy.
I put prepared firewood into the stove, got up with Renard and Faye with disheveled faces, folded the bedding, and cooked stew over the stove fire.
Jose would go back and forth between this cabin and the summit of the mountain range at intervals ranging from a few hours to several days, and if the timing roughly coincided with meal times, they would huddle together to eat.
This is nice, too.
Haenel, the daughter of a count, used to yearn for such an idyllic life.
Here, she was nothing more than an ordinary woman. No, actually, since she had left home to become a priest, perhaps it would be fair to call her a poor nun, as a joke.Although she was a heretic, Haenel did not deny that she was one.
Haenel, having become almost one with the carving knife, contemplated the life Jose must have lived here alone.
The child, who had never even learned to speak, died of illness… … and the wife, who tried to treat the child, was branded a devil worshipper and executed… … .
How devastated must Jose’s heart have been, having to watch every single moment unfold?Yet, Jose’s character—living in seclusion in the blue mountains to honor his wife and children without scattering hatred—was certainly not that of an ordinary person.Had he been in Jose’s situation, Haenel would surely have either killed himself or killed someone else.
“Haenel, big sister…….”
Ultimately, I cannot become a person like Jose. Nevertheless, I intend to embrace a heretical faith. Forsurely, the life that should have faded has risen again for this very reason.
“Oh, unnie.”
She repaid Jose and the God he served with faith. Her heart is filled. In this way, she compensated for her lacking heart.
Tap, tap.
Haenel was awakened from his thoughts by the weak touch of a hand gripping the hem of his skirt. Faye was standing beside him with her head bowed low, looking weary.
“What’s wrong, Fei? I can’t sleep…”“You’re, acting strange.”
Haenel suddenly lifted his head.
Lying in bed, Renard closed his eyes tightly and let out a faint moan.His face was quite flushed.
A cold? I felt fine before I went to bed.
It was the moment I carefully pushed Faye away and was about to check on Renard’s condition. The palm that touched Faye’s forehead was too hot.
“……Pay?”
Pei, leaning weakly against her, gasped for breath and let out hot air.Her body temperature had skyrocketed abnormally.
Haenel, whose mind went blank at the sudden situation, immediately regained her composure like a noblewoman and moved Faye onto the bed.
The symptoms are similar, no, exactly the same. It’s too severe to be just a cold. An infectious disease? Could it be that the aftereffects of the Blood-Crying Plague are finally manifesting?
I can’t just carelessly give a potion when I don’t even know the diagnosis.However, leaving it like this is also a big problem.
I can’t solve this on my own.
Haenel hurriedly put on thermal gear to go outside.
Only Lord Jose can treat the children—
dump.
Haenel staggered, feeling dizzy, and slumped to the ground. He felt lightheaded. Suddenly, he realized that his own skin had become strangely hot.
Symptoms that struck at the same time.No.I have to pull myself together somehow.
“Mr. Jose…….”
Haenel reached out desperately toward the doorknob before losing consciousness.The sound of sparks flying from the stove could be heard.
The cabin became quiet.
A blizzard raged in the darkness.
* * *
Quite some time had passed since he arrived at the rift between worlds.Probably.He could not guarantee that his sense of time matched reality. There was absolutely no way to gauge exactly how many days or weeks had gone by.
I was worried about the guys outside. The more I felt that way, the more I focused on meditation. For reaching a higher state as soon as possible was the shortest path to my return.
Thump.
While handling a small amount of divine power, Verden attained enlightenment as a god.Since divine power is born from the abstract concept of faith, it has no limitations on form, even more so than magical power.
This is power directly connected to will.
As I observed and tested divine power time and time again, I felt a sensation very similar to the feeling of manifesting magic through the magical realm of
That’s right.
There is no need to project pure divine power outwardly when it is incapable of causing any phenomena. Therefore, I attempted to concentrate on my inner heart and bind it to my body.This was to use my current physical body itself as a medium and means to utilize divine power. Furthermore, I induced union with magical power.
Verden’s magical power was pure enough to reside within another person’s magical circuits, so perhaps it could even encompass divine power.Eventually, after some trial and error, Verden’s hypothesis proved correct.
Divine power and magical power,they stayed together.
It’s not quite at the level of harmony, but the repulsive force is virtually non-existent. Is it because both forces originate from me?
My heart pulsated.My divine power also responded regularly.
What should I do now?
Divine power is like a kind of clay. It is essentially unmolded pottery. Ultimately, it is up to Verden to decide what to build.
My worries are deepening.
Through what process was the miracle of light wielded by the Luas religion completed, and how did Ishur shape the miracle of the desert?
There are a few things that come to mind, but…
Verden emerged from the solitary darkness before he could finally decide on an answer. A presence was approaching. A demon wearing a beast’s skull was waiting for him.
Is the preparation finished?
[Yes, our God.]
“What do you have to show me?”
[It is difficult for me to explain in detail with my limited eloquence, but Lord Hardras said this: “At the end of the shadow, there shall be an entrance.”]
Cranbel politely pointed to Verden’s side with his four arms.The pitch-black darkness of the south flickered.
[I will serve you.]
* * *
The presence of God moves toward the other side.The distance has widened.The darkness within the shadows of the layers of gaps will become a wall and obscure the view.
[Grrr… …]
[Kyaaaaaa!]
After welcoming the new god, the true nature of the demons, who had been living like docile animals, gradually awakens. Ferocious howls and brutal murderous intent.Truly grotesque monsters formed irregular formations.
[Hehe… You’re coming in such a hurry…]
Hadras’s mouth parted wide.Sharp teeth were exposed.
[The reason we have existed until now… … is here… … .]
All the killing intent turned toward the darkness of the north.
[Welcome the uninvited guest… … .]
The demon legion rushed out in unison.
* * *
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
A king and the twelve nobles surrounding him gallop on their respective horses. The light that illuminated the rift in the world gradually fades.Facing the darkness of the forest, the twelve nobles trembled instinctively.
It was not fear.It was extreme disgust.
Soon, a space completely devoid of light… filled with hideous darkness unfolded. The moment I stepped onto that boundary, the air currents twisted violently.
The nobleman at the forefront of the ranks drew his sword like lightning.
Whoosh!
The beast demon was split in half and flew away just as it had charged. The demon’s utterly base blood soaked the noble’s armor.Subsequently, countless eyes were felt from the shadows of the gap, devoid of any glory.
The first king of the human world held a giant sword in his hand.
Destroy evil.
Twelve nobles let out a mechanical roar and sped up, colliding with the demon army.
Blood and organs were scattered everywhere.
The lower demons who had constantly craved Verden’s love were indiscriminately slaughtered, yet no one was intimidated by death.On the contrary, they felt ecstatic about the sense of duty to sacrifice themselves for God.
“……!”
The demon, its body split in half, swung its spiked arm before dying. Making a piercing sound like a whip, it smashed the horse’s head.The horse tumbled over.The nobleman, who had been flung forward due to inertia, regained his balance by performing a fall break.
Crunch!
The wedge pierced the helmet.
The demons who had torn the headless noble to shreds from head to toe stepped into the darkness.The high-ranking demons of the crevices.
[The Emperor who united humanity, and the Twelve Knights of the Round Table who, together with him, built the largest human nation in history. It is just as Lord Hadras said.]
[They’re weaker than I thought. Those Twelve Knights.]
[Because they are humans. Corrupted. by. Fate. Their original strength. Was lost. Long ago. They are. Nothing. But. Puppets. Who. Repeat. Only. Orders.]
[Not 12 knights, but 12 nobles. That must be the difference.]
[Let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill, let’s kill.]
Hadras is the only demon who experienced the Battle of Destiny in the Rift of Worlds. The other demons are entities that were born later.To them, too, the story of the Battle of Destiny was nothing short of a legend and a myth.
[For our God.]
[For. The. Devil’s. Salvation.]
The high-ranking demons prayed with their own hearts and drew upon their power.A deformed, ununified ability manifested.
BANG!
A colossal demon reaching 40 meters in height swung a flaming sword. The monstrous demon that had carried Verden and Hadras in Rendibhar charged forward. A one-eyed demon shot out hundreds of tentacles.The nobles, who had built a small hill of demon corpses, clashed head-on with the high-ranking demons.
No dialogue.Filled only with hostility.Completely devoid of compromise or the will for peace.
In the midst of such a battlefield, two ancient beings faced each other. Although the surroundings were noisy, only the space where they were was silent.
“Where is the Destroyer of Fate, O Hadras?”
[Your arrogant eyes… … are still the same… … Asah.]
The Wise King,the first king of the human world.’Your’ second apostle.The exterminator of the demon race.The one who turned his back on resistance.
King of Destiny───Arthur Tarenfold.
[Do you think there is room for dialogue for us now?]
“Have you still not given up resistance? I gave you time to think, yet you haven’t changed at all. It is truly ridiculous and regrettable.”
Arthur placed the great sword on his shoulder.
“The wheel of fortune will be rebuilt, so do not harbor vain hope. Haven’t you realized it, too? That resistance without an alternative is worthless.”
[… … .]
The opportunity of destiny is open. Though you cannot become an Apostle because you are a devil, you may survive. I, yourself, guarantee this promise. As a former comrade.
A laugh echoed.
[You followed ‘you’… and your tongue has grown as long as it can… Comrade… To think those words would come out of your mouth… And… you gave me time to think…? Don’t babble as if you were showing generosity.]
Hadras patted his chest.
[Even if your body dies… … this ‘mind’ alone will not disappear… … you dare not destroy it… … this mind is indispensable to you as well… … isn’t that why… … you left this place abandoned… … because even if you kill me… … I won’t die in the end.]
“…….”
[Our resistance… … is worth it.]
Hadras asserted.
[Our God has affirmed us… … Our God is our alternative.]
“Did you worship the Destroyer of Fate as your god? How foolish you are. After endlessly yearning for faith, even your eyes have gone blind.”
The space became rigid.
“I ask you once again, Hadras.”
Arthur’s gaze dwindled.
“Where is the Destroyer of Fate?”
Hadras answered.
[The abominable traitor… … has no right to know.]
What a pity.
As the shadow of the rift turbulently, the great sword sliced through the horizon. Before the surrounding demons could be annihilated, Hadras raised his arm to block the path.
Arthur’s grip seized Hadras’s neck and pressed down. The tip of the greatsword’s hilt plunged vertically into his face.The headless body of the old demon soon turned into black smoke.
[Are you impatient… … Stop.]
The black smoke coalesced again, forming Hadras’s true form.A massive physique comparable to Arthur’s. A ring of darkness adorned his head like a crown. Darkness scattered around him like cherry blossoms.
[Take it easy… … just like you did in the past.]
The right-hand man of Noxias, the Archdemon of Darkness who played an active role in the Battle of Destiny. A demon of the front lines who led one of the five demon legions.
Commander of the Legion of Sin───Hadras.
Sharp fingertips aimed at Arthur.
[There is plenty of time… … .]
* * *
The surroundings of Cranbel, as he headed toward the edge of the shadow in the gap, were calm. Thanks to the darkness acting as a curtain, the situation inside the shadow could not be detected at all.
Just a little more…
If we go just a little further, we can send our god out through the rift of the world. For that, it does not matter if all the demons of the rift die.Our god’s safe survival was the condition for the demons’ victory.
However, Cranbel overlooked one fact.
Verden has accumulated countless experiences regardless of the years he has lived.
In the Great Forest, I conversed with the World Tree; in my memories, I faced Oldark; in the desert, I confronted ‘your’ surface will; and in the prison of the defeated soldiers, I encountered the primordial dragon.
As he encountered beings of higher status, his senses were bound to develop acutely.In other words, Verden was quick-witted.
Cranbel.
Verden stopped.
“Has the traitor arrived? The first king of the human world.”
[… … !]
Cranbel’s heart sank.
