Maria and Adams, who were watching the battle on the ground, were approached by a small fallen angel. It was Kuromel, who was supposed to have evacuated with the other angels.
“Huh? You came back?”
“Y-Yes! I was worried about Papa and Mama, so I came back…!”
“Hmm, quite a bold daughter to break her parents’ orders. Are you sure? You might get scolded later?”
“I’m fine! I’ll be scolded as much as you want, and I’ll reflect on it thoroughly! But still… I feel like I need to see Papa and Mama now! That’s why…!”
Kuromel’s voice and expression were filled with an intense aura. At the sight of her, Maria and the others couldn’t help but smile.
“Hehe. She’s just like my daughters, quite considerate of her parents, isn’t she? I like that, I’m weak to parental love. What do you think, Adams-chan? I don’t think it’s a problem, do you? Look, Rukil now has the power of both me and Adams-chan, so it’s practically like 3 vs 2.”
“I see, so we’re finally on equal footing. Hmm… Well, if our beloved daughter is just watching, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If something were to happen, we’d just protect her. My daughter, watch to your heart’s content. You won’t get to see a battle of this level often.”
“Yes, I definitely won’t miss it…!”
Whether Maria and the others understood the meaning of allowing Kuromel to be there was unclear, but they seemed to have accepted it. Not only that, but they even declared their intention to protect Kuromel.
“Papa, Mama, let’s show your true power! … It is!”
—”Monster Parent,” this Unique Skill held by the beloved daughter Kuromel, activates when those she recognizes as family are within her sight. When this condition is met, the target’s abilities are greatly enhanced, especially for those Kuromel recognizes as her parents, reaching their all-time peak. In other words, it brings them to the level of strength that defeated her in the decisive battle against the Black Goddess Kuromel.
“…Wonderful.”
Kelvin and Mel, who had regained power equal to gods, just like himself, stood before Rukil, who unconsciously murmured those words. The goddess she revered most in this world, and the grim reaper she hated most, had been on the brink of death just moments ago. They were supposed to be mere beings, wallowing in the mud, covered in blood. But now, they were enveloped in a divine aura, radiating unfathomable strength from within. Even she, who had become “The Great Sage,” couldn’t hide her joy at this situation.
“Haa, that Kuromel. I told her to evacuate, but she went and broke our orders. … Honestly, she’s grown into such a good girl!”
“Yes, thanks to her, it seems like we can finally have a proper fight. Ah, no, we intended to win even in the previous situation. Anyway… Rukil, I apologize, but we are now something completely different from what we were just moments ago—think of it as the difference between a wet fried rice and a fluffy fried rice?”
“…Heh, I’m looking forward to it (What is fried rice?).”
Although various questions arose for Rukil, from big to small, she continued to smile with a benevolent smile. Setting aside the small questions, she had a certain degree of prediction for the larger ones.
(Yes, you would do that. I believed you would.)
As proof, Rukil, whose vision had expanded through her authority, had caught sight of Kuromel’s appearance on the ground and understood that she had given power to the two of them. She also probably knew that if she eliminated Kuromel, this supernatural phenomenon would end. However, for Rukil, the “Great Sage,” such an option did not exist from the beginning. To break the power of the gods head-on, fair and square. That was precisely why it had meaning, she concluded.
“I offer my utmost gratitude to your courageous daughter. After all, I can witness the true power of my revered Melfina-sama firsthand.”
“Oh, you speak as if you knew this would happen?”
“No, wouldn’t you rather not ignore me? I quite like your attitude of trying to maximize your opponent’s power, Rukil.”
“Yes, I can see clearly now. Now then, it’s time for the understanding I’ve been waiting for.”
“Hoo, although I have already retired from being a Reincarnated Goddess— I will finish my last unfinished business!”
“Ah, is this a prompt for me to make you turn around through my own strength? Ah, I finally understand. Alright, I’ll do just that!”
Even as they exchanged lighthearted banter, a mass of killing intent collided between the two factions. And then, these began to take tangible form.
“Black Flame Sword of Death.”
What Rukil manifested was a longsword formed from black flames. It exuded a pressure that seemed to gather burning black flames and condense them into the shape of a sword, and it was also merging with her right arm as if to swallow Rukil herself, its rightful wielder. This encroachment was steadily expanding its domain, and combined with the black flame wings on her back, she herself was beginning to turn into black flames. With a heart like water and a body like fire, she may have reached the most battle-ready creature in this world.
“Great Wind Black God Scythe.”
Against Rukil, who was about to embody the pinnacle of firepower, Kelvin chose a jet-black scythe as his weapon. Unlike previous scythes, the blade was dyed black, making it easier to see. However, such a visual change was a trivial matter. The truly noteworthy aspect was the unusual unease that made one instinctively believe that this would not be a mere unblockable, absolute slash. His magic had evolved to become something more fitting for a grim reaper’s scythe, something that could reach the neck of a higher being.
“Purifying White Dragon.”
Finally, Mel unleashed a flow of white water, larger than that of “Purifying Hot Water.” Its total volume was enough to swallow a small island in one gulp. The great stream, while swimming in the sky, took the form of an Eastern dragon, radiating divinity, majesty, and beauty. If Rukil and Kelvin’s weapons had steered in a negative direction, Mel’s magic could be said to have advanced further on the righteous path.
“Oh, what’s that, a sword of fire? That’s nice, it looks cool. The part where it’s merged with your arm is romantic. And it looks like the firepower is on another level.”
“You too, your new scythe has quite changed its image. It’s overflowing with all sorts of miasma; even I feel like I’m losing my sanity. Ah, this means I’m falling for you again, you know?”
“This is Melfina-sama’s true power… Ah, how wonderful. The completion level is different from before. I can feel it on my skin, no, it transcends my skin and resonates in my very brain…!”
Comparing the magic they had created, Kelvin and the others showed three different reactions. While they were generally praising each other, the three had already assumed combat stances, looking as if they were about to pounce—
“Ah, no, talking is a waste of time! Let’s go, Rukil, show us the power of that sword!”
“If you are going, I shall accompany you. Yes, wherever you go!”
“Melfina-sama, please leap into my arms! With your magic, I will make you understand!”
—It seemed they had reached the limit of their patience. The three stomped on the air and began to advance forward.
