God was defeated.
It's a simple sentence, but the weight of it is beyond words.
"Does this mean that at this point, Denver had already lost control over Jormungand?"
It wasn't just that Denver, the god, had abandoned humanity.
"It was already like that."
It's not something that hadn't been considered at all.
Jormungand resurrected too easily and quickly, swallowing everything in an instant.
But a question arises here.
"If so, why is the divine power still…"
"Well, you could think of it like this."
The woman sighed softly as she spoke.
"Denver hasn't been destroyed. The 'snake' is also not moving yet. If you think about the relationship between these facts…"
"Denver is unable to reveal his form but is somewhere restraining the snake?"
"That's right."
As if she didn't like it, the woman scratched her head lightly.
"Of course, this is just a highly probable guess, not something I can be certain of."
"Still, it's not without hope."
At that moment, the woman raised her head slightly.
"…But, your tone has changed a bit since earlier, hasn't it? It feels disrespectful towards me."
"But you're not Denver."
"But I am acting as his representative. I think you should respect me as a necessary equal?"
"I think a relationship as equal colleagues is better than that."
"…!"
As if she had heard unexpected words, the woman widened her eyes and stared at me.
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"Well, how should I put it? Your words were a bit unexpected. As equals… well…"
The woman chuckled and continued.
"It's been quite a while since I've heard such words… well, it doesn't matter. It's not a bad idea to think of it that way."
The woman nodded and naturally returned to the main topic of the conversation.
"What was the world like in your future?"
"It was destroyed."
"Then that means Denver was ultimately defeated. Do you remember when that was?"
Of course.
I could never forget the day the world collapsed.
It wasn't like any other apocalypse, filled with fear, despair, and evil.
A giant pupil appeared in the sky, and the world flashed once.
Crack.
With just that one sound, the world was destroyed.
I was lucky to escape from Jormungand's jaws…
"Wait a minute."
It's strange when I think about it now.
Is it possible to simply survive by luck in a situation where the world is collapsing?
Perhaps my survival was…
"I remember. About ten years from now."
I postponed that thought for a moment and replied to the woman.
"Then let's set a deadline for those ten years. We must completely block the possibility of the snake's resurrection by then."
"That seems to be the case."
I was already planning and moving in that direction.
"I might need a lot of help from you in the future."
"I have no intention of avoiding what is necessary from my perspective."
As the woman stood up from her chair, her long coat draped over her shoulders fell to the floor.
She approached me and extended her hand.
"I'm counting on you, Kyle Grave. From now on, call me Abel."
"Abel?"
"It's a title I've given myself without much meaning, but from now on, it seems appropriate to call me that."
A title for humans…
Of course, if she wanted to be called that way, I would comply.
"Alright, Abel."
I said so and shook her hand.
—
It's warm.
Abel felt a special feeling in the hand of a person she had not held hands with in a long time.
Yes, a human being is a being with such warmth.
Lost in such thoughts, she thought for a moment.
"In the future, this child will face many trials."
If Denver continues to fight, even if he survives, Kyle's presence will be necessary for him.
In that case…
"I must give him the most valuable thing I can."
To help him overcome the trials that lie ahead.
Among the things Denver left behind, there was a special power that he had not given to anyone.
With that conclusion in mind, she asked Kyle.
"Is there something you desire?"
"I have something in mind."
As if he had been waiting, Kyle opened his mouth.
"A stigma."
"A stigma…"
She knew.
A stigma of favor given to the most favored followers of a god.
The types of stigmas are very diverse.
But they all have meaning and provide tremendous divine power.
Certainly, a stigma would be of great help to Kyle.
Then, what kind of stigma would be best?
It would be better to give him the most valuable thing she could offer.
After a moment of contemplation, Abel made a decision.
It was clear from the beginning what the "most precious stigma" was.
"If it's a stigma, there is something that suits you better than anything else."
"If it suits me…"
"The stigma of the haven."
A stigma that is closest to the god and has the potential to approach him.
Because of its tremendous potential, it could cause disaster if it fell into the hands of the wrong person.
That's why Denver had never bestowed this stigma on any of his apostles.
"I'm not sure if it's right to bestow such a stigma, but…"
But the situation now is more serious than ever.
The resurrection of the greedy snake, the disappearance of the god.
A future destined for destruction…
Every available means must be used to solve this miserable situation.
– Don't worry. My world welcomes you.
Thinking briefly of the voice of an old friend, Abel hardened her resolve.
"I will bestow upon you the stigma of the heven."
"I will accept it gratefully."
Kyle said so and knelt down on one knee. It was customary to do so when receiving a stigma.
Oom.
The power emanating from Denver, which had been embedded in Abel, began to resonate.
A bright light rushed towards Kyle like a waterfall, and he calmly accepted it.
Watching this scene, Abel thought.
"What will happen next?"
There had never been a human who accepted the stigma of the haven in the history of mankind.
What changes would this first human to accept the stigma bring about?
As she waited in anticipation…
"Cough!"
"…?!"
Suddenly, Kyle coughed up blood and bowed his head.
And then…
Twist.
Unexpected changes occurred in the stigma that was supposed to be inscribed deep in Kyle's soul.
And at the moment she witnessed the cause of this change, Abel instinctively stepped back.
"This… can't be!"
An ominous and unprecedented force in this situation.
Consuming and consuming again.
It was nothing but a power of devouring.
It was an unexpected disaster even for the great Denver's representative.
—
"Something is wrong."
I could instinctively feel it the moment I accepted the stigma.
"Darn it!"
The power of an unknown identity that I had reacted to when facing Kelsen.
It began to confront the stigma, and my body was torn apart by the collision of the two powers.
Splat.
"Cough!"
Blood flowed from my mouth in an instant.
I was aware to some extent that something was lurking in my body… no, in my soul, related to Jormungand and the regression.
But I didn't
—
"I can't just sit here and complain."
"So what should we do then?"
He calmly recalled the hardships he had dealt with in the past. The many difficulties he had researched and dealt with to resist Jormungand. However, the unidentified force causing chaos now was unlike anything he had faced before. Fortunately.
"It's not hostile to me."
It didn't intend to harm me. Instinctively, he was sure of that. It was just his rebellion against the stigma engraved on his body.
"Don't be hostile to me, just rebel against the stigma."
Perhaps if he kept quiet, he might completely destroy the stigma he had finally obtained.
"That's not the way."
He couldn't be sure of the exact nature of the force raging inside him right now. But it didn't matter which side it was.
The master of my soul and body is me. You are just a guest passing through.
Then.
"Abel…!"
"Tell me!"
"Can you assist in supporting the stigma you just gave me…?"
Even at this moment, everything inside him was turning upside down. One thing was clear, he had to suppress whatever was raging inside him right now.
"How?"
"Through the stigma."
The grace bestowed by God. Among them, the stigma I received were said to be special. Denver had never given such a scar to a believer.
Then I believe in the power of the stigma. And if I add my experience and improvisation through the battles I've been through so far, it'll work somehow.
Thump!
Abel moved immediately. Countless circles filled with complex ancient characters began to appear around her, enveloping me. At the same time, the stigma engraved on me began to shine.
At that moment.
– Kaaah!
Something that had been inside me like a shadow suddenly sprang out, screaming in pain. Sharp fangs and a long body that could be seen in silhouette.
"No, what… what have you been holding in your soul?"
"It's unfair. I just saw it for the first time too."
I had noticed its existence, but this was the first time I had faced it so clearly.
Seeing it like this, it was a bit…
"Really… it's a snake."
"Wasn't it exactly that shape when it came out of your future?"
"…Yeah, that's right."
If it were just a silhouette like that, it might become Jormungand if it grew to an enormous size…
I can't be sure just by looking at that silhouette, but…
"Abel, what about the stigma?"
"I'm giving them as much power as I can. You must have felt your body getting better."
"…I see."
Thanks to Abel's continuous support of divine power, my condition had improved somewhat. I wiped away the blood that had stuck to my lips and slowly began to draw upon the power of the stigma.
"Abel, since you said you're a proxy, you can use almost infinite power, right?"
"That's true. But… what are you planning to do?"
"Just something I used to do before."
I answered briefly and reached out my hand. I already had the enlightenment perfectly. It was just that the body to reproduce it hadn't been completed yet. But now it was different.
With Abel, who was almost like a divine being, providing me with unlimited power, I could use it.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, but feel free to try whatever you want."
"Excellent choice."
Then permission from the host was given. Now let's use that enormous power without hesitation. One of the means he used in the past to confront Jormungand.
Kwaaa!
The stigma surged fiercely. And a bright light rose, creating 11 circles.
"This is…!"
Abel watched in astonishment at the sight. I could only use it for a moment, but I had missed it. The comfort of being home. "This is it."
The stigma that flowed through my whole body began to move exactly as I intended, quickly rearranging Abel's divine power.
Kwung!
"
A magic that transcends even magic.
Magic that becomes a myth in itself.
For convenience, it is called the 11th level, but it is completely different from the 10th level.
"
Coo!
In the air, twelve long, thin spears rose up, breaking the space.
In mythology, Gleipnir is a weapon said to have been used to subdue the wolf that ate up day and night.
The spear was struck straight at 'something' containing the power of Jormungand.