At one point in the battle between the God Realm and the Human Demon Allied Forces is raging… the battle was beginning to head
towards a stalemate. Considering the pure power difference, it would
have been difficult for this battle to reach a stalemate.
This is because, although they have been fighting well here and there,
the God Realm side is still far superior in terms of strength. However,
through the effort of the Six Kings and their executives, as well as the
reluctance of the God Realm to initiate in fighting, putting emphasis on
stalling for time, have come together to gradually bring about a
stalemate.
The one who benefits from a stalemate in the war though is the God
Realm. The Gods' purpose has always been to buy time so that they
won't interfere with Shallow Vernal. Therefore, some of the strongest
members of the Human-Demon Allied Forces, who had begun to notice
the flow of the war, began moving to somehow break past the flow and
bring it to their side.
And taking the lead to change the flow of the battle, wearing a long
white headband on her forehead and a sword in hand was the First
Hero… Neun.
Only a few people knew that she was still alive, so the First Hero's
appearance, without her helmet, shook quite a few people in both the
Gods and the Human-Demon Allied Forces' side. That's how significant
of a being she is to the people of this world.
Not missing their reaction… Neun ran towards the place where the
high-ranking Gods gathered.
Simply speaking, her strength is only around mid-tier Count-ranks…
and in a battle like this, although she may not slow others down, her
strength isn't sufficient enough to be counted as a war potential.
However, this isn't the first time that a situation like this happened.
She… Kujou Hikari has never been the strongest. She isn't stronger than
anyone else, nor is she smarter than anyone else.
However…
[One-sword flash… Cherry Blossom!]
There was something different about the way she wielded her blade
with her eyes filled with strong determination. Of course, it was
currently not possible for her to match the physical abilities of a highranking God, as the blade she brandished was blocked and she was
struck with a counterattack.
However… she didn't fall. No matter how many times she was attacked
and no matter how many times her attack was blocked, she kicked the
ground again and headed towards the Gods.
With each of her failures, little by little, her blade became keener… and
after several attacks, she finally made a faint cut on the cheek of one of
the high-ranking Gods.
It was a wound that couldn't even be counted as a damage. But for some
reason, the high-ranking God looked slightly flustered as she swung her
sword towards Neun.
[Like I'd let you!]
However, her sword was blocked by Laguna, who intervened with her
large spear.
[Don't think we'd let you take down our general so easily! Fors!]
[I know.]
Following Laguna's words, Fors activates her magic and restrains the
high-ranking God. Strangely enough though, both Laguna and Fors are
more powerful than they usually are, and they succeeded in defeating
the high-ranking God.
[Hahaha! This really feels great. It's really the best fighting with you,
Hikari!]
[Will-power isn't really a word fit for a researcher such as me… but
indeed, well, it isn't that bad.]
It wasn't just the two of them. It was clear that the Human-Demon
Allied Forces were beginning to gain momentum. The flow of the battle,
which had been on the verge of a stalemate, began to move as if it had
come to life again.
Repeating once again, she… Kujou Hikari wasn't called the Hero
because she was strongest. In terms of combat power, there are many
who can surpass her.
However, the way she takes on challenges… gives courage to those who
follow her. Her unbreakable back gives people the strength to never
give up.
On the path she trodden upon… many people gathered. As her small,
yet extremely great back was burned into their eyes, they roused
themselves and with blades in hand, they fought together.
She gives courage to those who follow, energy to those who fight with
her, and hope to those who see her.
That is why, yes, that is the reason why… Even though she isn't a King or
a God—— but a Hero, she's the only person in the world who is extolled
even up to this day.
Glancing sideways at the Allied Forces that were gaining momentum
thanks to Neun, Vier, who had once fought her as the Demon King,
slightly smiled.
[…Hikari really is amazing, isn't she…]
[Yes, we can't afford to lose to her now, right?]
Agreeing with Vier's words, Ein glared towards Chronois in front of her.
With the assistance of her three family members, they managed to fight
with minimal risks.
However, if they didn't manage to defeat the Supreme Gods, which
includes the woman in front of them, they would never achieve victory
in this battle.
[…Good grief, that's seriously quite the feat. Even against us who have
been reinforced by Shallow Vernal-sama's power, you still managed to
bring a good enough of a fight. However, I won't let you do as you please
any—— What!?]
While giving words of praise to the Human-Demon Allied Forces,
Chronois' relaxed expression suddenly changed. And it wasn't just
Chronois, as Ein and her team's expression changed as well.
While the girls were facing each other, the thing that suddenly flew in
and stopped while half destroying the floating island they were in…
[Impossible… God of Fate!?]
[…Guh… Haahhh… Haahhh…]
When she sees Fate on one knee, breathing hard, with glowing spheres
of many colors around her body, Chronois looks disconcerted.
Her reaction isn't really that strange. Fate is the strongest among the
Supreme Gods… That is to say, she should be the greatest asset of the
Gods. And yet, not much time has passed, but she clearly looked as if
she suffered a great amount of damage.
That means… There's someone who can overwhelm her who was
supposed to be even more powerful than usual.
[Guhh… Not yet…]
Not reacting to Chronois' disconcerted voice, still sitting on one knee,
Fate extended one of her hands forward. And then, as she was
attempting to invoke her authority…
[Like I said, you're way too slow!]
[Gafuu!?]
[God of Fate!?]
In the next moment, she was punched away by Alice, who appeared in
front of her.
[…Don't think you can catch up with me with that carefree fate
manipulation of yours.]
Alice, who has just appeared, doesn't have any noticeable scars, and
even her robe was almost spotless. Seeing this proof that she really is
overpowering Fate, Chronois immediately stopped time.
(This is unbelievable. I really did assume that Phantasmal King would
be the most troublesome. However, my evaluation of her was still naive.
For her to be even more powerful than the current God of Fate… I have
to take care of her as soon as possible!)
With the time stopped, Chronois went behind the timestopped Alice
and after her fist hit the back of Alice's head, her time stop was
released.
The fist, which contains Chronois' intent to kill, "pierced" the back of
Alice's head, "annihilating" her.
[Wha… I- It's a clone! This is b—— Gaaahhh!?]
Realizing that Alice had somehow swapped with a clone too late, a
sharp kick was slammed to Chronois' side, sending her flying.
Bouncing on the ground a few times, making big craters on the floating
island, Chronois regained her stance halfway and landed on both feet,
holding onto her side where she was kicked.
(That's ridiculous, what the heck is with that power!? For the current
me to take this much damage…)
Strengthened by Shallow Vernal, Chronois has nearly ten times the
magic power of her normal self. Her physical power that comes with
that magic power is overwhelming, and even if she were to be attacked
by a strike that held enough power to wipe out all in this space, she
wouldn't take much damage.
In fact, the current Chronois doesn't even suffer a scratch even when
she is attacked by Ein, who is comparable to the Six Kings.
However, Alice managed to deal damage to such a Chronois with just a
kick. That means, Alice can easily penetrate the magic defense of the
strengthened Chronois…
Shuddering upon realizing such a fact, the damage to her side
disappeared as a green light fell on her.
[…God of Life huh, thank you.]
Life, who had been fighting elsewhere, seemed to have realized how
dangerous Alice was, as she created a cavalry of over 10,000 soldiers to
charge towards Alice while she healed Chronois and Fate.
She never expected that cavalry to be able to do any damage to Alice.
However, she's hoping that they buy them some time. As if to ridicule
Life's thoughts though, Alice's body blurred out and turned into two,
and one of them changed forms.
[I'm counting on you, Iris.]
[I know. Widespread annihilation is my specialty after all… Roaring
Cages of the Underworld, Open! The Madness of Nightmares, Swallow
all Creations—— Εφιάλτηςπύλη!]
(T/N: Nightmare Gate.)
When Iris, who had emerged from Alice's body, completed her magic,
an ominous gate appeared in the center of the cavalry, sucking in the
over ten thousand soldiers like a black hole.
Then, after confirming that the cavalry had been annihilated, Iris
returned to Alice's body.
(…Combat power that overwhelms the God of Fate, ingenuity that
surely outstrips ours, and an unlimited amount of cards in her hand…
She's too strong. This is bad, if Phantasmal King can pin us down… This
would be really bad for our side.)
Alice's power overwhelmed the Supreme God, who was supposed to
have been strengthened. Shuddering at her power, Chronois pondered.
If all three Supreme Gods were to be suppressed by Alice, the HumanDemon Allied Forces would gain momentum, and if that happened, the
tide of battle would completely turn towards their direction.
At this point, they must be prepared to sacrifice one of our Supreme
Gods and do everything in her power to stop Alice alone. Even the
strengthened Supreme God wouldn't be able to stop Alice without using
all of their strength.
This isn't something Life, the cornerstone of this battle, absolutely
shouldn't do… and it wasn't just Chronois who thought about this.
[Aaaahhhh!!!]
[Mnhhh…]
Fate, recovered by Life, lunges forward with a shout, and grabbing
Alice's hand, she rapidly accelerates away. Pulling Alice away, far from
the center of the battle, she seemed to be planning to fight Alice one on
one.
(…Sorry, God of Fate. I would have to push this disadvantageous role to
you.)
Fate's decision to take on Alice by herself was a welcome choice for
Chronois. If she were to speak honestly, she finds Fate's actions today as
completely lackluster. Even putting aside the fact that she was facing
Alice, the strongest among the Human-Demon Allied Forces, she
seemed to be somewhat unfocused on the fight.
Chronois doesn't know the reason why… but as long as she had chosen
to stand by Shallow Vernal's side, Chronois wouldn't outwardly criticize
her for it. But even so, she was slightly doubting Fate right now.
It's a cruel choice, but thinking that she can be revived later anyway…
Fate was the right sacrifice to suppress the Human-Demon Allied
Forces' strongest card.
Thousands of kilometers away from the floating island that was at the
center of the battle, Fate and Alice engaged in battle once again. The
spheres floating around Fate unleashed numerous powerful attacks, but
none of them managed to reach Alice.
(…Amazing, Shall-tan. Before I knew it, you've become this strong…
20,000 years ago, I was barely on par with Shall-tan when she's using
Ἑκατόγχειρες. But now, I'm "being overwhelmed when she isn't even
using it". I can't catch up with her with my fate manipulation at all, and
even when I did catch up with her, she would completely twist the law
of causality.)
Yes, Alice currently has combat power that even her long-time friend
Fate couldn't have imagined.
(Or rather, seriously, how did she get so strong? I wonder how is it
possible for Shall-tan, who originally was completely strong already, to
grow so rapidly? No, perhaps, did she not seriously fight 20,000 years
ago?)
Even as such questions popped up within her mind, there was
something even more than that that Fate was questioning about.
(…No, rather than that… Why is it that Shall-tan "shake off" my suicidal
attack earlier? No, before all that, why won't she use her Ἑκατόγχειρες?
If she's already overwhelming me like this, it should be easy for her to
defeat me if she uses her Ἑκατόγχειρες…)
Yes, so far, Alice had not used her trump card, Ἑκατόγχειρες. This shows
her confidence that she can win without using it… isn't the case at all.
In the first place, considering that Alice's goal is to save Kaito, she will
not spare anyone nor show any mercy. This is something that Fate, who
has known her for a long time, understands.
If Alice is holding herself back, it means she has some reason why…
[…That's an ugly look on your face, Fate-san.]
[…Well, that wouldn't have happened if Shall-tan isn't beating me up.]
[That's not what I'm talking about… Good grief, you're still
underestimating me, is what I'm saying!]
[Eh? Wha!?]
Alice's speed increases even more. She was currently moving at a speed
that even the current Fate couldn't follow with her eyes…
[With such a tattered mind filled with indecision, there's no way you
can ever beat me, is what I'm talking about!]
[ ! ? ]
At Alice's words, Fate's eyes widened. Yes, Fate was still wavering. For
she currently stands… as an enemy of her beloved Kaito…
[…But… I…]
[Boo hoo, cry me a river. You used your position as an excuse and
looked away from the consequences of your actions! And now, your
mind is all uncertain… How long are you going to pretend like you're
some tragic heroine!?]
[Uwaahhh… Guuhhh…]
Blown away by Alice's fist, Fate's body pierced through several floating
islands before stopping, buried under the ground.
She received significant damage, but it isn't that serious. It's just
something she can recover from instantly with her power. But Fate…
couldn't move.
Even though the damage she received wasn't that serious, Alice's words
brought Fate face to face with the fact that she had been looking away
from.
(…Kai-chan… Kai-chan… Tell me, what am I supposed to do? I don't
want to lose you, Kai-chan. But I can't betray Shallow Vernal-sama…
This… hurts.)
With her face lowered down, a streak of something shiny ran down her
cheek.