The Oracle changed her physical form completely as she opened her eyes.
She went from a disgusting and ancient old hag to a vibrant and beautiful young woman. Her eyes were dark green and so was her hair. It was long and held up in a ponytail.
She grabbed her robe and pulled it off, revealing a set of normal clothing. She wore black pants with a white shirt. Over it, there was a very short cloak.
"Surprised? I would think so. Not many people know that this is what I truly look like. My eyes see everything when closed or opened. It matters not. But now I can more clearly see your form. You are dangerous... Far more dangerous than I would like to admit."
"Why do you hide your appearence?" I asked curiously.
"Because it does not command the respect that a person with age possesses. A young woman is seen as inexperienced, weak, and easily broken. But an old woman commands wisdom and authority. Now then, I have had enough of this idle chatter. I will finally be rid of you."
The Oracle placed herself in a martial artist's combat stance with her hands held flat.
Her eyes began glowing intensely with dark green energy.
I could feel an extreme amount of power coming from her...
She was ridiculously powerful. Far more than any mere god of this realm.
But I knew it wouldn't be enough at this point.
"I AM THE GUARDIAN DEITY OF EXCELSIS!!! I AM THE ORACLE!!!" She roared.
She flashed forward and struck me multiple times in an instant.
She winced from the pain and my arms began glowing intensely with crimson magic.
"Strength form four, arms of Asura. Honor form two, battle-ax. Intelligence form two, multiply."
I changed both of my weapons into large battle-axes
Then a second set of armored, crimson-energy arms grew from my shoulders as two more axes appeared.
"Willpower forms two and three, phase blades and instant weapon. Steel berserker, dragon's ferocity," I said.
Spectral axes appeared behind my current weapons.
Then I felt my defense decrease as my power increased.
Finally...I let loose with a barrage of attacks that utterly decimated the area in front of me.
The Oracle jumped back as I nearly slashed her to pieces.
I created more weapons and held them away from me in the air.
"Redemption forms two and three, hand cannon, remote weapon."
The axes became cannons that attached themselves to the ground and aimed at the Oracle.
This is...very fun...
[Stop wasting time by saying their names. Intelligence can cast spells and skills silently with more strength.]
Call it...a display of my power.
The Oracle looked shocked.
"You...how are you so strong!?"
"I'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN, ORACLE!!! YOU FACE THE OVERSEER OF THE DEUS ARMS! I AM A GREAT DISASTER!!!! I AM THE DESTROYER!!!"
She shot forward to attack again, but every strike landed on a shield that I created.
I had yet to even move.
Then my turrets fired upon her.
"Charity form three, tornado shuriken. Justice forms two, three and four. Chains of justice, guillotine, scales of judgement." I said.
I summoned hundreds of shuriken surrounded by wind as chains appeared around my arms.
Then blades appeared on the ends of the chains as a set of bloody scales appeared in the sky above.
A beam shot out of the scales and impacted The Oracle just before I began rapidly striking her again.
The scales tipped left and turned black.
As they did, my power increased exponentially.
"YOU ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH!!!" I roared.
Then I deployed wires all around the field as I began striking faster.
As we exchanged blows, she was quickly overwhelmed by the endless barrage of instantaneous attacks from every direction.
The Oracle retreated, now bloody and beaten.
"Ugh...no! Impossible..." She said.
Then her gaze shifted towards something else.
When I looked over, I saw Valtheim standing there...as plain as day.
"I am...Valtheim..." She said.
She removed her mask and looked at the Oracle.
The Oracle's face shifted to absolute terror.
"TH-THE VOID!? IT LIVES!?!?" She said.
"IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME YOU REALIZED IT, DUMBASS!" Difar yelled.
He rose from the ground next to Valtheim and glared at me.
"By the Abyss... That is going to be such a pain in the ass to kill..." Difar said angrily.
"I can't wait to execute you with it, you piece of shit," I said.
"WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMY!? HOW WAS THE VOID GIVEN FORM!? WHAT SORT OF ABOMINATION HAVE YOU CREATED!?!?" The Oracle screamed.
"And just how many damn times were you told of her existence? You're far too stubborn. She's not even the whole reason Mizik can't kill me. WANT TO SEE THE REAL REASON!? LET ME SHOW YOU!!!! I OWE YOU FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF TORMENT!!!" Difar roared.
He shot forward at blinding speed as seven shadowy dragon heads appeared on this back.
I could tell at a glance that he was already using blast radius and overdrive.
He slammed his sword into the Oracle and I teleported over to her. I unleashed an assault of attacks on her as she tried desperately to defend herself from the both of us.
Then, energy erupted from the sides of the temple as several gigantic dragon heads rose up and began firing dark-purple lasers at her.
Honestly, I knew I could handle her by myself. I didn't need Difar's help, anymore.
But I also knew that I couldn't stop him right now.
Suddenly, I felt the presence of Intelligence.
"Ah! My darling Mizik is so amazing! HIS MAJESTY, THE OVERSEER, HAS AWOKEN!" Cassandra said.
I could see the cloak of the mastermind over her body. It looked similar to mine.
Good. She killed Abbadon.
"Stay back, Cassandra!" I said.
"Of course! I wouldn't dare get in his Majesty's way!"
The Oracle began darting around quickly and actively avoiding me.
She began rapidly striking Difar and trying to kill him.
"IF YOU JUST DIE, I DON'T EVEN NEED TO KILL MIZIK!!! DIE CORRUPTED SOURCE!!!" The Oracle screamed.
Her strikes actually did damage to him, surprisingly... Unfortunately, it was only the force of the impacts and magic she used.
They held no real killing power since they lacked purified divine energy.
"MIZIK!!! SET ASIDE YOUR GRUDGE FOR ONE MOMENT!!! KILL HIM!!! HE'S RIGHT HERE!!!" The Oracle shouted.
"I CAN'T BECAUSE YOU KILLED ME, YOU BITCH!!! I'M UNDER A CONTRACT!!!" I screamed.
At once, the Oracle's expression darkened to further despair.
"NO!!! I WILL NOT BE BEATEN HERE!!!"
Difar and I continued our assault and I noticed something odd.
The passive, Unending Rage...
It gradually increased my power as the battle went on. My strikes had become heavier and more destructive.
I smiled.
"Hope forms two, three and four. Blast radius, overdrive, limit break."
Difar looked at me and scowled.
Then the Oracle leaped straight up into the air. Difar and I followed.
That's when I noticed the pillar of energy I had created upon awakening Vengeance's fourth form caused the sky to turn red...on top of the numerous Void Eyes still firing legions of Corrupted soldiers into Excelsis.
My storm had evolved into something far more wide-reaching and destructive. On top of the black lightning changing to red, rain and hail now fell from the sky as tornados ravaged everything in sight.
This realm had been utterly decimated. Everything was in chaos. So many things were burning and the screams of countless divine beings and Excelsis soldiers could be heard.
It was glorious.
Exactly as I'd planned it.
We chased the Oracle through the air around the immediate vicinity of the temple and I began launching an assault of gunfire from several airborne turrets I'd made.
It seemed that I could use complex creation magic with the use of Faith.
Difar actually had to back away due to the ferocity and extreme area-of-effect from my attacks.
When I closed the distance to the Oracle, she tried in vain to deflect my blows using the energy glowing around her hands.
But my attacks had transcended anything she could ever hope to resist.
The speed, power, and intense frequency were enough to shatter every form of defense she had.
I knew deep down that she would have been a serious threat under normal circumstances... But with Fury Form, she was a joke.
This form was made to obliterate every kind of threat. Any type of enemy I could imagine would fall before its ultimate power.
Vengeance...Overseer of the Deus Arms, and Omni-Weapon.
It was beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. Calling it a weapon of mass destruction was an understatement...
Eventually, I changed all of my axes into large warhammers using Strength's second form. I also used the third form, Force Impact.
I teleported myself behind her and used one of Strength's skills.
"Assault Buster!" I said.
I impacted her with all four of my arms at the same time. Several times in an instant, actually.
She was sent crashing back down into the temple as Difar and I followed.
The impact caused the supporting pillars on the sides to shatter and crumble.
Difar and I followed her back down.
The Oracle slowly stood up and stumbled as she did. I used Mind Break on her as she began to manifest more energy and she fell to her knees.
Then, I bound her in place with my chains of justice.
"You're not going anywhere..." I said in a low tone.
I also wrapped her in wires from my Cloak of the Mastermind.
She fell to the ground and winced in pain as the spikes from the chains as well as the wires dug into her flesh.
"You can't do this... I'm the messenger of the Creator! The Guardian Deity of Excelsis! I HAVE THE VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY ONE!!!" She shouted.
"Who the hell cares? This idiotic plan to reset time whenever I die has gone on long enough. You made me suffer for far too long, Oracle. Maybe you should have just done your damn job!" I said.
"I can't just...die this way... Please...have mercy, Chosen Hero! I beg you!!" The Oracle said.
"That title is meaningless. I have no mercy left to give. If I forgive you, I forsake everything I've worked so hard to achieve with this sword. You will pay with your life."
Difar stomped on her head.
"How adorable! She's begging for her life! After the MADDENING RESETS!!! ONE THOUSAND TIMES!!! I HAD TO REPEAT IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!! I hate Mizik, don't get me wrong, but in all honesty, at least he isn't an insufferable little bastard on purpose. YOU, HOWEVER, DID IT INTENTIONALLY!!!!" Difar roared.
"Because we had no choice! You appeared so suddenly and we didn't have a way of dealing with you! We simply cannot allow creation to be destroyed!" The Oracle said.
"That's too bad. I might've been wiling to listen before all of this started, but now... I'M GOING TO CONSUME EVERYTHING!!!!" Difar said.
"Chosen Hero...please... Have mercy! I beg of you!"
"Mercy forms two, three, and four. Death scythe, plague bearer, death's embrace," I said.
One of my swords changed into a scythe as an aura of disease manifested around me.
Lastly, my weapons were imbued with the power of death as hourglass sigils appeared on them.
"You see, Oracle? Mercy is one of the Deus Arms. It symbolizes death. I plan to make you suffer, but ultimately, you will be shown the mercy of death."
"I am seriously dreading the day I have to fight you for real again... By the Abyss, that weapon is an abomination..." Difar said.
And it made me genuinely happy to hear him say that.
Vengeance was truly an amazing weapon.
I could use every form of the thirteen Deus Arms at the same time if I wanted. There wasn't an incredible strain like before and it felt natural.
"Well, without further ado, I'm going to get started on torturing you to death for all the hell you've put me through, Oracle," I said.
Suddenly, Difar smiled.
"Oh? Hahaha... See...as much as I want her to suffer as well, I don't care about such things. I have an entire creation just waiting to be Corrupted and I don't want to be your ally for another second. So..."
Before I could react, he stabbed her through the heart.
"GAH...NO...!" The Oracle said.
Then, all seven of the shadowy dragon heads from his back bit into her and blasted her body with Corrupted energy.
Moments later, she went limp.
"Difar...YOU BASTARD!!!!" I yelled.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT!? THE CONTRACT IS FULFILLED!!!" Difar roared.
Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation on my neck as I saw the mark on Difar disappear.
"THE ORACLE HAS BEEN SLAIN! THE BINDING CONTRACT IS COMPLETE!" A voice said.
"AND NOW, A PARTING GIFT!" He said.
Difar readied himself to strike me, but...
I unleashed a barrage of attacks at him instantaneously.
He was forced back.
"Gah...by the Abyss... I didn't expect you to have that much power... Dammit!!! DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!!!" Difar yelled.
His wounds began to regenerate.
Suddenly, I felt Blessing of the Creator activate in full force.
All of my weapons glowed with divine light. They blazed like a roaring inferno.
I smiled.
"That doesn't bode well... What a pain in the ass..." Difar said angrily.
Truthfully, I wondered if I could actually take him right now.
Then I realized he still held Hope.
"Kneel," I said.
"What? What the fuck did you just say to me, you little shit!?" Difar said.
"I SAID KNEEL, HOLDER OF HOPE!!!" I shouted.
But nothing happened.
[A Corrupted and reforged Deus Arma cannot be reached by my power. Bravery was still very much the same weapon, just tainted by the Oracle's cursed magic. Extinction is not bound by my authority. Slay this false wielder and be done with it. His power is immense, but my power and your blessing are enough to overcome it.]
"Tch...fine..." I said.
If nothing else, I would try to take that sword from him. Holding Extinction made Difar much more dangerous.
But if I could actually kill him here, I planned to do just that. I could erase my two biggest problems on the same day.
I shot forward and unleashed a barrage of attacks on Difar.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Cassandra prepare for battle as well.
"FILTHY CORRUPTED ABOMINATION!!! PAY FOR INSULTING HIS MAJESTY!!!" She roared.
Thousands of daggers appeared and blasted him as wires began slicing into him.
Then I was blown back by an incredible amount of power.
Difar dropped to one of his knees.
"Gah...that damn skill... THIS IS NOT HOW I GO!!! DAMN YOU!!!"
Difar readied himself as I began manifesting cannons, shurikens, and daggers to attack him.
"I GUESS IT'S TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, THEN! GET READY TO DIE, YOU INSUFFERABLE BASTARD!!! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU IF IT'S THE LAST THINNG I DO!!!" I roared.
He frowned and looked at me.
"No... Not today. I think I'll be going, actually. Now that I know what you're capable of, I should retreat for now and-"
Suddenly, there was a flash in the center of the room and Vakra appeared.
"She's already breathed her last? Splendid! This makes things so much easier," he said.
"What do you mean, Vakra?" I said.
"I WAS TALKING, YOU DAMN SKELETON!!!" Difar screamed.
"Kekekekeke... Sorry, Mizik. I had my own reasons for helping you. I'm sure you can understand, but I don't have an infinite amount of time to do this," Vakra said.
Damn it all... I don't know what you're trying to pull, but I'm not about to let you!
I prepared myself to attack Vakra just as he pulled some of the residual power from the Oracle's body into his own.
He quickly absorbed it and took his mask off.
I saw his skin regrow immediately.
"Ahh...much better! I can't do this forever, but I truly miss my full power. Now then, no hard feelings, Mizik. This isn't personal, but I want to bring Delvandal back. In order to do that, I'm going to merge this timeline with the previous. Goodbye for now," Vakra said.
My eyes went wide as he snapped his fingers.
Everything began to violently distort around us.
Suddenly, I felt the familiar floating sensation as before. Only this time, my memories weren't torn from me.
When I opened my eyes... I was standing before the Oracle's throne.
Just as I had been before she killed me.
The Oracle was nowhere to be seen...
And in my head, I felt the constant dull pain of the curse Difar had laid on me once again.
"VAKRAAAA!!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!" I screamed.
END OF PART 4: THE RESET OF EXCELSIS