The human head, as large as a mountain.
Seeing it directly made Ul flinch in disgust at its sheer grotesqueness. It was too far removed from the brain’s perception of human size, causing confusion. Though the facial features appeared refined, a primal sense of revulsion overwhelmed him.
Furthermore, the pupils of the Waste Hole were unnervingly large and distorted compared to the creator’s head, making it even more sickening.
Those pupils then peered down at them. While it looked somewhat foolish, as if only the lifeless eyes of the severed head were moving, it was far from over.
“………”
“W-Whoa!?”
The earth began to shake. With violent pulsations, the fleshy spears that had previously pierced Zain erupted from the ground in a massive barrage, aimed at impaling Ul and the others. Ul grabbed Zain and leaped away, but the spears continued to multiply.
“This is insane…!”
He blew them away with the power of lust. However, the pulsating did not cease.
“Hmph!? This is bad!!”
Gronzon shouted. Ul understood his meaning.
The vast, lowest layer of space was rapidly churning and shrinking. A wall of flesh was surging like an landslide, approaching Ul and the others. The space itself was trying to crush them. The ceiling, walls, and ground were all closing in, intent on crushing them from all directions.
“Seriously?! What do we do—”
“Garuda!!!”
Before Ul could even finish his desperate cry, Grayre, who had been lying prone on the ground, moved. He raised his palm and shouted. In response, the circling Mechanical Bird plunged headfirst toward the ground. At the same time, Grayre yelled,
“Everyone, gather beneath Garuda!”
There was no choice. Everyone present, fleeing from the encroaching flesh wall, scrambled towards Garuda’s feet.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
“…Is everyone alright?”
“Yes.”
“Somehow we managed…”
“《That was super close!》”
“Please keep your distance.”
“It’s tight.”
“Indeed! We somehow made it!”
“Moo moo!!”
“Ul! Are you okay!?”
Amidst the chaos, everyone chattered away. But, they were thankfully alive. Judging by their faces, everyone who had reached the deepest layer had managed to escape to this place.
“………”
Ul and the others were now taking refuge within the wings of Garuda, who had descended from the sky. The mechanical wings spread out protectively around them, creating a magic power barrier. Beyond that, it was pitch black. There was no light. But, hearing the pulsating sounds, it seemed the surging flesh wall had pressed in until it was packed tightly.
“This is a temporary shelter deployed by Garuda. Well, it pays to be prepared, doesn’t it?”
Grayre explained, rubbing his neck with a popping sound. Diz responded to his explanation with a “I see.”
“Are the other shelters like this too?”
“So we’re safe even if the Ark itself breaks?”
“So, what exactly happened here?”
Ul asked further, and Grayre shrugged with a sigh.
“Babel and *that guy* have become one… He’s hijacked our plan and altered it? Honestly, how many centuries did it take me to complete that…”
Grayre’s plan, the idea of modifying the very structure of the Ark by altering the Waste Hole itself, was essentially a hijacking of his concept. Babel itself had become his physical body. Diz’s brow furrowed upon hearing this.
“…Does that mean that creator has become like the Waste Hole?”
“The work to alter the Ark’s blueprints itself wouldn’t be completed overnight, no matter how much of a genius *he* is. The amalgamation of gods is still the vessel for his soul.”
It was impossible to fight if everything was allowed, but if there was a clear weak point, they could still find a way to fight. Even so, it would undoubtedly be a cliff-like opponent with no discernible starting point, even among the battles they had fought so far.
“But, what do we do now? We can’t stay here forever.”
Grayre nodded immediately at Gronzon’s question.
“Don’t worry. The space-time of this shelter is synchronized with the outside world.”
“Please explain that more simply.”
“It means we can Teleport to the outside, is that correct, Sua? No, perhaps it’s more appropriate to entrust this to your Queen now?”
He shifted his gaze not to Sua, who was clad in the same gray flames as Ul, but to Echel, who was behind Sua, puffing her cheeks slightly and pulling them. Echel then composed her expression and nodded immediately. Simultaneously, she conjured the Mirror of Night onto her palm.
“Don’t worry, I can do it.”
“Very well, then ‘You four should escape on your own.'”
“…And you?”
Shizuku tilted her head at the phrasing. Grayre chuckled with amusement.
“I have things to do. As I mentioned earlier, Babel is now inside him, so it’s only a matter of time before the Starstone is completely snatched away.”
The Starstone, the energy source to maintain the Ark, and the very origin of this world’s current state. Indeed, if it was in Babel, it would be easy for Israelia, who had become Babel itself, to control it.
“Therefore, I must stop him, mustn’t I? Conveniently, this place is inside him. It’s easier to interfere from the inside than the outside!”
“That sounds quite reckless, though?”
“Of course, it does. But someone has to do it, right? And at the same time, we need someone to pierce the heart of the gods from the outside.”
With that, Grayre pointed at Ul. His usual smirk was gone.
“You all attack from the outside. Let’s make it a pincer attack.”
“But…”
Remaining alone, inside the body of a being akin to a god, was an undertaking whose danger Ul, despite his lack of knowledge, could easily imagine. Leaving him alone was akin to abandoning him to die. Everyone present understood this, yet they were rendered speechless by Grayre’s resolute expression.
“Then, I will remain as well.”
As if sensing everyone’s unspoken thoughts, Zain, who was receiving treatment from the True Persons, pushed himself up. His complexion was indeed worse than usual, but better than when his body had been pierced.
“Master.”
“The wound has closed. Don’t worry. I’m quite sturdily built.”
“The strongest guard to protect that genius, after all! Kahaha!!”
“Then, we will too.”
Zero, leading the True Persons, also raised her hand. Like Zain, her complexion was poor. However, it wasn’t due to injury or anything similar. Though she hid it, her expression clearly showed fear. But, more prominently, there was a resolute determination.
“Zero.”
“That is what we are here for. That is why, everyone, we are ready—”
Brushing aside the hero’s concerned words with a decisive declaration, Zero spoke—
“Munyaaー!?”
“That won’t do, you lot!! If you all die, I’ll be so sad I’ll die too!?”
From behind Zero, a man appeared within the confined space as if embracing her. The man who gently held Zero was—
“Master!?”
“Yo, Zero! Everyone! It’s good to see you again!!!”
It was Krawlan the Creator.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
“Whoa, it’s cramped in here!!” Krawlan stumbled slightly as he made his way to the center of the barrier, exclaiming. Everyone was surprised, having not expected this, but Zero, the True Person, was the most astonished.
“Master, why are you here!? No, how!?”
“There’s a connection between True Persons, you see. I sensed your presence from the outside, so I asked them to transfer me here!!”
He smiled brightly, and Grayre nodded, understanding.
“Inside Garuda’s barrier, when the phase synchronized with the outside?”
“And I understand the situation. I’ll handle my dealings with Zain and Grayre. You all go outside.”
Krawlan said firmly. Zero’s large eyes widened even further. Meanwhile, Zain and Grayre exchanged a look of resignation, as if to say, “As expected.”
“If this is inside his body, then the human body is my specialty. I have the knowledge. It should be useful!”
“I don’t doubt your knowledge or skills… but are you sure?”
“Of course! After all, we’re not at the stage where we need to be overly cautious, are we?”
With that, the two gazed at each other. That was all, but they didn’t press Krawlan any further. On the other hand, Zero, looking uneasy, flustered and shook his body.
“Master! It’s impossible! You fall just from walking!!!”
“Don’t worry! I’m leaving the fighting to Sain, and most importantly, I have absolutely no intention of dying!!!”
While being shaken, Krawlan opened his robes. Beneath them was—
“Woah, so much stuff.”
Diz remarked with a hint of exasperation. A plethora of talismans, magic tools, and magic potions were affixed, enough to be considered excessive. It certainly didn’t look like the attire of someone heading to their death.
“I’ve brought all the rewards the children earned as adventurers! I’ll give you some Divine Medicine as well!!”
He said, handing Diz several Divine Medicines. Then, he patted Zero’s head, who still looked worried.
“So don’t worry! I came here precisely to prevent them from dying! Since they’re going to do reckless things anyway! Grayre is quite indifferent to his life, and Sain will do something reckless too!”
“Well, given that I used the resurrection magic right away, I can’t argue with that, but you’re pretty similar.”
“I’m a guard. It’s inevitable that I’ll get hurt.”
Krawlan nodded, pointing at the two who were arguing defensively.
“See? If I’m not here, these two will probably die!!!”
“…That seems like it might be for the best.”
Ul was convinced.
He then made eye contact with Echel, who nodded and unfurled the Mirror of Night.
“Alright, we’ll leave the rest to you—”
“Ul.”
Just as he was about to move, Zain looked at Ul. Ul tilted his head and approached him. Zain, looking strangely tired for a moment, met Ul’s gaze.
“I apologize, Ul.”
“Huh? For what?”
“I determined the way you live your life. And that’s what has driven you to this place now.”
Upon hearing this, Ul froze for a moment, then burst out laughing as if he’d heard a joke.
“What are you talking about? Don’t say something so unlike you.”
It was truly, completely unlike him. He had never imagined Zain would feel guilty about something like that.
“Yes, this path has been fraught with difficulties. If I just wanted to survive, I’ve shouldered many things that might have been unnecessary.”
It was true that the path Zain had taught him was never an easy one. Ul wouldn’t deny that. Disciplining oneself to follow the righteous path was never simple. In fact, he had failed multiple times trying to do so, and had been needlessly injured. But,
“But, Grandpa, you never ordered me to ‘do this’, did you?”
Zain, who had taught him this, had never forced anything upon Ul.
Even when teaching him about how to live or think, he always left the final decision to Ul. He always made sure Ul could think for himself and make his own choices.
Zain had never tried to mold Ul into his own image.
That was precisely why his teachings had taken root in Ul’s heart to this day.
“And I chose it.”
Ul knelt slightly. Unbeknownst to him, Ul had now surpassed Zain in height. He gently touched the old man’s body, as if to comfort him.
“I’m only grateful. I don’t resent you. Grandpa.”
“……Is that so.”
Zain closed his eyes, as if savoring Ul’s words. Then he opened them and patted Ul’s shoulder.
“I’ll leave the rest to you, Ul. Please, grant him your forgiveness.”
He was his usual self again. Ul smiled with relief and turned towards Echel’s mirror. But he added a final warning.
“So I’m telling you, don’t die! I really don’t need your death as atonement!”
“Master!! Me too!!”
“Grayre, you too. I have so many questions.”
Zero and Diz also called out from beside Ul.
Thus, everyone teleported away, leaving Zain and the others behind. What remained were Zain, Grayre, Krawlan, and Garuda, who had protected them all. Grayre turned his gaze to Garuda.
“Well, Garuda, you’ll be joining us.”
“………”
“Good boy.”
The crystal crystalizing in place of its eyes blinked in response, and Grayre smiled. Garuda then slightly raised its body, pointed the Dragon Fang Spear forward, blasted through the flesh wall, and began excavating. While its barrier protected it from the splatter of blood and flesh, it advanced with heavy, deliberate steps.
“Zain, Grayre, were you able to speak with him?”
During their movement, Krawlan asked. Zain sighed at the question, and Grayre offered a sarcastic smile.
“We managed to, at least.”
“It’s hardly what I’d call a conversation.”
“So, he’s in his prime again, then…”
From their reactions, Krawlan seemed to grasp the situation. He scratched his head with a troubled look.
“At that time, he wouldn’t listen to reason.”
“I see. Still, I’d like to talk to him.”
“Shall we try speaking to him from here?”
“Let’s not. I’ve spoken with the real him enough already.”
Exchanging such small talk, the three, and the one entity, advanced through the darkness obscured by blood and flesh.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
And, on the other hand…
“The vessels have fled… Zain and the others are after the Starstone… but.”
Within the darkness of the deepest layer, the creator, the man, understood the situation. Though the barrier was obscuring their location, this space was already a part of his body. Any movement, he could easily detect.
“There is no place to flee… Ark.”
The pupils of his own eyes, also the Waste Hole, began to glow. Simultaneously, the surrounding space churned even more. His head, like a severed head, was gradually swallowed by the flesh wall. As everything began to recede—
“Just as I said, Shiro.”
He whispered softly.
“None of you can ever defeat me.”
With those words, he too was swallowed by the darkness.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
“Whoa!?”
Startled by the bizarre sensation and sudden change in environment, Ul landed on the ground, nearly stumbling. The ground was hard. Unlike the unsettling flesh of the deepest layer he had just been on, this was clearly artificial. Everyone else was teleported behind him.
“W-Where is this…”
“Inside Uuga, at the top of the Command Tower.”
Echel’s explanation finally allowed them to understand. Intense fighting must have occurred within Uuga. It was in quite a chaotic state, but they were indeed on top of the tallest structure within Uuga.
Beyond the defensive wall, they could see the outside landscape. Uuga seemed to be flying near True Babel even now—more accurately, it was “former Babel.”
“That’s…”
Ul was momentarily speechless.
Once the core of the Ark world and the symbol of all humanity’s faith, it was later hijacked by Shizuku and transformed into a magic tower entwined with a seven-headed dragon. Now, it was changing form once more. Blood was gushing from the bottom of the earth. It was immediately clear that it was the same as what existed in the deepest layer of Babel. It poured out like a reversed waterfall, engulfing the tower. Bubbles frothed, and it changed shape as it transformed.
Then, blood and flesh gradually took form.
The head they had seen in the deepest layer.
Six arms spread and extended.
The complex and bizarre halo born behind its back bore a resemblance to the one created by the dragon of greed—no, not resemblance. That was the original.
“……The Creator.”
【Impossible Mission – Grey King’s Decree: Planetary Destruction】
【Final Battle】
【End Disaster / Israelia Granstar – Transcendence Begins】
