The Central Sea Region.
Power surged through my entire body. Looking at my hands, they were enveloped in a beautiful blue and white light that illuminated the surroundings, a light that symbolized Melfina, the Reincarnated Goddess. Just the illumination of this light brought warmth from the depths of my heart, filling me with an utterly peaceful feeling. My allies around me, Gerard, Sera, and the others, were also clad in this light. Boga and Mudoph, too… Huh? EFIL isn’t? Nor is my father-in-law. Are some people bathed in light, while others are not?
“Melfina, you’re descending from the throne of God yourself…!”
Suddenly, Kuromel spoke, her expression one of displeasure. Descending from the throne of God. Naturally, this referred to Melfina.
“…Mel, what does this mean? Is this light the blessing you were talking about earlier? What on earth did you sacrifice to grant it, hey!?”
As Mel placed a hand on my shoulder, I felt her presence fading slightly, as if she were becoming more ethereal. No, she was actually becoming transparent. The moment I saw her state, I imagined the worst.
“Please do not worry. It will not be as you fear, with me disappearing. I have merely resigned from being a god.”
“Y-, you resigned, but for what reason…!?”
“To use the final resort to escape the crisis of the world’s destruction.”
“…This is a phenomenon where apostles are temporarily deified, implemented in anticipation of the Evil God’s revival. It’s a drastic measure that redistributes the powers of a Reincarnated Goddess by relinquishing the throne of god. I never expected Melfina herself to take such action. Are you alright with this? This is a double-edged sword for this world, you know?”
“I am fully aware of that.”
Kuromel still looked displeased, as if she had forgotten her composure from just moments ago. I was convinced there was something else at play that I hadn’t anticipated.
“Please listen. I will not disappear, but the situation is a matter of utmost urgency for reasons I cannot yet fully explain. From here on, I will open the communication line to everyone capable of telepathy and explain this light I have ignited.”
“…Tell me.”
“As Kuromel just said, what I have done is to grant my apostles a limited ascent into the divine realm. This time, the apostles have been replaced by your subordinates, and their effectiveness is being exerted.”
My subordinates… So that’s why EFIL and my father-in-law, with whom I haven’t formed a summoning contract, are not bathed in light.
“To ascend to the divine realm means granting those bathed in light power equal to my own. Think of it as an extension of the effect of your Status, which my Golem was borrowing through the Unique Skill ‘Absolute Resonance,’ but now done with my divine body. Normally, this is an excessive power that one cannot wield, but it should now be possible to handle it perfectly, as even the sensory level has been improved.”
“Your explanation is so thorough, I’m almost scared to hear what comes next…”
“That’s not all. Just like Absolute Resonance, as long as I, the origin, am safe, you will not suffer from status ailments or ability reductions. Even if you touch Kuromel’s tentacles, there will be no harm at all right now.”
“That’s incredibly broken, like cheating. But doesn’t that mean if something happens to you, everyone is in trouble?”
“Yes, that is correct. Therefore—”
Melfina’s summon was released, and she became a mana body, residing within me.
“—Like this.”
“I see, that is certainly the safest way.”
Even when Melfina was a Golem, her Status was not altered when she was in her mana body state. In other words, even if Mel is in a mana body state, this light’s power will be maintained.
“I’m cutting into the conversation. I understand that this power is amazing. However, I’m bothered by the phrase Kuromel mentioned earlier, ‘a double-edged sword for the world.’ And Mel also seems to be in a hurry. There’s something else, isn’t there?”
Sera said everything I wanted to say. Yes, that’s it.
“Frankly, if things continue like this, the world will collapse.”
“……Huh?”
I think everyone on the telepathic line asked that question.
“Therefore, the world will collapse. Because the god who governs the world is absent. Some form of ancient evil god will revive, and the gods will grant power to their apostles to subdue it. If, by some chance, that fails, this is a dark ritual to destroy the Evil God along with this world. To put it simply, um… Ragnarok? In any case, I cannot turn back now! I! For my comrades whom I believe in! I will throw away everything I have!”
“Eh, no, just a moment… Eh!?”
Confusion spread. However, the light’s effect immediately suppressed the fluctuations in emotion. This light is incredibly convenient! It’s clean despite being a dark ritual, too! …It seems impossible to force oneself to feel heightened emotions.
“Fufu. Judging by your hurried manner, you seem to understand the situation.”
“Kuromel, you knew about this?”
“Of course, as you’d expect from me. However, neither I nor my other self would desire the collapse of the world. …Or so I thought, but it seems the white me was quite the gambler. Honestly, I never imagined she would resort to such a move at this critical juncture.”
A single, black, great spear formed in Kuromel’s hands. Its appearance was strikingly similar to Luminary and Eclipse, but it was of an even more colossal scale. To be able to create a weapon of that caliber herself.
“Very well. By ascending to the throne of God, I shall halt the collapse and save this world, as befits a goddess. You, there is no time to dawdle. You don’t want this world to disappear either, do you? You wish to enjoy an eternal battle with me, don’t you? Then, take up your weapon. Synchronize with your allies and fight together. With that divine power, I shall satisfy you!”
With her rage, a malevolent magical power and killing intent erupted. Once again, I initiated communication. Without words, I only grasped my comrades’ feelings. …I see, our feelings are the same. Despite being declared something so incredible and facing the formidable enemy that is Kuromel, no one felt confusion or fear anymore. It was probably thanks to the light surrounding us, but this existing feeling was undoubtedly something we had shared from the beginning.
“Efil, please take Father-in-law to a safe place. Mudoph will be primarily sniping, so you can take him with you.”
“…Understood. I regret that I cannot fight alongside you. At least, please accept this.”
“Ah, I will.”
Efil chanted the spell for “Explosive Fire” and briefly returned to a tangible form from her partial mana body state, bestowing it upon Mel, who had also partially reverted. This would double the power of our first strike for all of us.
“May your battles be fortunate…!”
Efil, riding on Mudophalac, prepared to leave this place with Father-in-law. I expected him to object, but surprisingly, he followed meekly.
“Don’t make that face. I know my own capabilities. My foolish son, I entrust Sera to you. For now, you are the only man who can protect my beloved daughter.”
“F, Father-in-law!?”
I never expected such words to come from Father-in-law… The impending collapse of the world indeed seemed to be true. Well, I can’t afford to lose this.
“Kuromel currently possesses multiple lives. The Light Dragon King Sankures, the Divine Machine Deus Ex Machina, the energy-supplying Zildra as its core, and Kuromel herself, who forms the core of it all— To defeat her, it is essential to destroy these four lives.”
“Princess, what specifically should we do?”
“Destroy Kuromel’s main body rooted in her head, the crimson mandala deployed on her back, the divine machine’s prime mover, and the core, Zildra. Even if we annihilate everything else, if even one of them remains, she will regenerate. In that sense, this is also a race against time.”
“In short, it’s an all-out war. Excellent, this is interesting!”
The decision was made. However, even at a time like this, Kuromel still waited. She’s truly a fine woman.
“…Alright. Shall we, Kuromel? This is the final, blissful moment we’ve both awaited.”
