I apologize to everyone who expected Soma to fight the Evil God in some unconventional way!
But, I always planned to have a serious battle for the final fight!
What I was most wary of in this battle was the Evil God ignoring me and attacking the townspeople who had gathered.
No matter how much I wanted to fight one-on-one, he wouldn’t necessarily think the same way.
This would be even more so if he realized the people behind me were empowering me.
With Altihate’s special ability, I wouldn’t be hit by long-range attacks. However, if a flash of the slaughterer were fired not at me, but at the people behind me, there would basically be no way for me to defend against it.
I needed to either draw the Evil God’s attention solely to myself, or create an environment where the Evil God would hesitate to unleash the flash of the slaughterer.
While I can’t say I fully understand the Evil God, I’ve experienced firsthand and through visions that he enjoys doing things that people dislike.
If, by any chance, the Evil God showed interest in the townspeople, I had arranged with Layla to have her make a move when I signaled by swinging my left wakizashi widely.
If Layla were to charge out at this timing, considering the Evil God’s nature of “happily doing what people dislike,” he would surely target Layla as a means of harassing me.
And once a target was identified, Mitsuki, whom I had entrusted with the “Mirror Gauntlet,” which reflects light-attribute attacks, would surely handle the rest.
No, even for Mitsuki, I didn’t expect her to pinpoint the reflected light beam directly at the Evil God’s face from that distance, but I have to admit, it was incredible.
With this, I was also able to nullify the “roaring exterminator,” another concern, so I couldn’t ask for more.
Another pleasant surprise was the possibility that his mind had also evolved along with his “growth.”
While it’s still evident that his nature is entirely evil and he enjoys tormenting people, he seems more human-like than before.
In particular, his reactions to my taunts and pain seem sharper than before.
At this rate, it seems unlikely he’ll use the flash of the slaughterer for a while.
Compared to the past when he was like an inorganic entity driven solely by innocent malice, the fact that he now experiences anger and pride might actually make the fight easier.
This might be a good example of how evolution doesn’t necessarily work to one’s advantage.
And then…
“I will not kill you for free…!”
He seems to be paying attention only to me now. Tentacles writhed from all over his body along with a murderous aura, spreading outwards threateningly.
–Those are troublesome.
If there’s a bad miscalculation, it’s those tentacles.
Compared to the previous Evil God, his arms, core, and head have simply increased in size, but the tentacles themselves have not changed much in thickness, with their length and number greatly increased.
Their range is longer than anticipated, and they’ve become considerably more difficult to deal with.
“—Crush them!!”
What follows his enraged words is a wave of tentacles.
More than ten tentacles surge towards me, enclosing me in a circle.
Each strike possesses lethal power, a barrage of tentacles that can only be described as overkill.
Their speed is also commendable, and since they are advancing in a semi-circular fashion without any delay, evasion is not easy.
But…
“Don’t underestimate me too much!”
Up until today, I have been practicing just one combo for this very day.
The timing for “True Setsuna Samidare” which was previously uncertain, can now be activated with almost 100% accuracy in practice.
And,
“True Setsuna Samidare!!”
No matter how powerful the Evil God is, I don’t believe I’m inferior to him in terms of sheer attack power!
“How’s that!”
As if to prove it, the invisible slashes I unleashed instantly obliterated the wave of over a dozen tentacles that were approaching me.
A proud smile spread across my face as I looked at the Evil God, but…
“I will no longer underestimate you.”
Seeing what lay before me, my face contorted.
“What the hell, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
It was a sea of tentacles.
Not just ten or twenty.
A swarm of tentacles, so numerous I wondered where they were hidden.
They writhed all at once, as if it were a literal sea of tentacles, directing their tips towards me.
So many tentacles that it was tedious to even try to count them, all rushing towards me.
No, it’s not just the number.
This is…
–They’re staggering the timing!!
They must have realized from our previous exchanges that my countermeasure is an area-of-effect attack.
Instead of attacking all at once, they deliberately staggered the speed of their tentacle attacks so that I couldn’t shave them all off with a single strike.
…In other words, a pincer attack with a large number of tentacles.
It’s nasty, but it’s certainly an effective strategy.
“Gah! Setsuna Samidare!!”
Still, there is no other skill that can cover this range.
I had no choice but to counter with True Setsuna Samidare.
Certainly, this number of tentacles is a threat, and it’s troublesome.
However, saying it’s impossible to deal with is different!!
“Setsuna Samidare!!”
“Wh-what…?”
From deep within the sea of tentacles, I sense the Evil God’s bewilderment.
With my second Setsuna Samidare, I cut through the wave of tentacles.
“Setsuna Samidare!!”
With my third Setsuna Samidare, I swept through the wave of tentacles beyond.
“Setsuna Samidare!! Setsuna Samidare!! Setsuna Samidare!! Setsuna Samidare!!”
I continued to cut down all the tentacles coming my way – those beyond, and those even further, and even further still…
“You… fool…”
Finally, I broke through the sea of tentacles and leaped before the Evil God.
“What’s wrong? Is that all?”
I grinned, brandishing my sword at the stunned Evil God.
This is the ultimate form of the strongest combo I had been relentlessly practicing for the past ten days.
–It’s Setsuna Samidare Cancel Movement!
What makes this possible are the special abilities of Soul Eater and Pegasus Boots.
Soul Eater’s special ability, which absorbs one Stamina with each hit, isn’t very useful in its normal application but is highly compatible with multi-hit techniques.
Setsuna Samidare unleashes hundreds of slashes.
Even tentacles of this size can easily hit a hundred times if they are within range.
Currently, the Stamina consumption for Setsuna Samidare has been reduced to about fifty due to consecutive uses and increased proficiency.
Furthermore, Setsuna Samidare uniquely performs hit determinations all at once, so even if the first hit is blocked or fails, the remaining attacks will not miss.
As long as there is an enemy within range, more Stamina will be absorbed than consumed, allowing me to repeatedly use Setsuna Samidare without worrying about Stamina.
The other key player is Pegasus Boots.
I had obtained them to deal with fragments of the Evil God, but they had never seen the light of day due to fatal falls and drownings until now. They possess the special effect of allowing skills that cannot be activated in mid-air to be activated.
And, perhaps due to Nekoneko’s extreme laxity, they have a secondary effect: “When a skill that cannot be activated in mid-air is activated in mid-air using the boots’ effect, even skills that normally wouldn’t combo can be linked.”
What I’ve maximally utilized from this is “Setsuna Samidare Cancel Movement.”
Godspeed Cancel Movement is repeatedly performing steps, canceling them with attack skills.
True Setsuna Samidare is canceling the steps with Setsuna Samidare, delivering its effects first. Setsuna Samidare Cancel Movement mixes these.
It’s a greedy technique that attacks while moving, charging forward at the same speed as Godspeed Cancel Movement, clearing away enemies, allies, and obstacles in front of you. This is the strongest and most sinister technique.
One major reason I distanced myself from my companions was actually for this very reason.
The biggest drawback is that I have to successfully chain the cancellations of Setsuna Samidare, which are already difficult to execute. Even if Stamina isn’t an issue stat-wise, it drains my concentration considerably.
Theoretically, it’s a skill that can be used infinitely, but doing so would shatter my nerves.
That’s also why I didn’t pursue the Evil God after breaking through the sea of tentacles.
“Impossible. Impossibleeeeee…!”
However, the Evil God wouldn’t know about such circumstances.
As I mockingly smiled at him again, the Evil God, flustered, stumbled—
“…Huh? Huh?”
—And turned tail and fled!!
I couldn’t comprehend what was happening due to the sheer absurdity of it all.
“D-damn it!”
By the time I snapped back to my senses and gave chase, the surprisingly fast Evil God had already gotten far away.
“I can’t believe the Evil God would run away!!”
It seems to be an unforeseen side effect of gaining emotions.
“Aaaah, aaaaahhhh!”
Letting out strange cries, the Evil God fled from me relentlessly. A pathetic sight, unlike his former majesty.
But if I let him escape now, it would be disastrous.
At least, I am undoubtedly the only one who can defeat him in this country. The thought of him attacking people in a place I can’t reach, or powering up with some ability, sends a shiver down my spine.
The Evil God, using all his tentacles and two arms, moved with agility unbefitting his massive body, crossing the swamp.
Still, my speed using Godspeed Cancel Movement was faster than the Evil God’s full speed.
Slowly but surely, the distance was closing…
“Nngh!”
In a desperate move, the Evil God fired tentacles while fleeing.
“This!”
Though the barrage was much sparser than the previous one, even a single hit could be fatal.
I had no choice but to use my trump card.
“—Setsuna Samidare Cancel Movement!!”
I shifted my movement from the regular Godspeed Cancel Movement to Setsuna Samidare.
Of course, this requires concentration and wouldn’t last long, but…
“Gotcha!”
The Evil God blinked first.
By using his tentacles to intercept my attacks, their number decreased, and his movement speed slowed down.
The Evil God has the ability to regenerate tentacles, but they don’t grow back immediately.
“Just a little further!!”
Desperately, I scattered the last tentacles the Evil God launched with Setsuna Samidare Cancel Movement…
“Eh? Stopped…?”
Finally giving up, the Evil God stood there, completely exposed with all his tentacles gone—
…And that’s when I noticed.
*Thump.*
Strength drained from my body.
“Wh-why…?”
It wasn’t that my Stamina had run out.
But it felt like something that had been propelling me had been… completely removed.
“—Fu, fu, fufufufufufufufufuf!”
The air creaked.
The ground screamed with the Evil God’s laughter.
And that’s not all.
“Fog…”
Something bad was happening.
Realizing this, I braced myself, preparing my unstable stance by putting force into both legs…
“Ah…”
It was only then that I noticed I was in a place where I could put force into my legs.
I realized the ground beneath me was no longer a swamp.
And the Evil God did not miss that moment of hesitation.
His last remaining thick and large arm.
It approached me with a terrifying roar.
In my haste, I couldn’t intercept it.
I instinctively chose to evade with a Step—
“Shit! Step—Eh?”
And then, I was sent flying by his massive palm.
“Guh, Ah!”
A piercing impact shot through the core of my body, and I rolled across the ground multiple times.
“D-damn it! Why…”
I managed to regain my posture and searched for my left wakizashi.
But…
“…Looking for this?”
It had slipped from my hand and lay rolling behind the Evil God, who looked down at me with a smug expression.
–Worst case scenario.
I suppressed my inner panic and glared at the Evil God. In contrast, he shook his massive body as if utterly delighted.
“…Hmph. Did you think you had won?
A mere insignificant being like you truly believes they can defeat me?”
The Evil God spoke in a moist, unpleasant, clinging voice filled with glee.
“It was humiliating. For a lowly creature like you to turn your back on me.
But that is also over. …Look.”
The Evil God’s arm pointed to the field, enveloped in a thin mist.
A curtain of fog had surrounded me, blocking the boundary with the swamp.
“You were reckless. And unfortunate.
But the games are over.
Your companions, your skills, your weapons—all have been sealed.”
As I listened to the Evil God’s words, I desperately tried to understand the current situation.
Indeed, I recognized this fog.
–The Dense Fog of Severance.
The ability used by the fragment that revived in the Capital City, which prohibits entering or leaving the Field.
The Evil God lured me away from the townspeople to this Field and nullified my buffs.
I understood that much.
But why did I fail my Step just now?
When it was used in the Capital City, this fog didn’t have the effect of sealing skills…
Thinking that far, I suddenly realized.
“…It evolved!”
Even at this point, I had underestimated the malicious ingenuity of the Nekoneko staff.
The factor I overlooked was the evolution of the Evil God’s abilities due to his growth!
When I think about it, it’s only natural.
If this guy is a boss designed by them, he shouldn’t be a mere being that “grows as much as he’s defeated.”
I should have considered the possibility that he could acquire new abilities based on his enhanced state, regardless of how he was defeated!
“You understand now?”
And then, the Evil God approached me.
“You cannot defeat me.”
He raised his intact, sturdy arm—still formidable despite the loss of his head and tentacles—high…
“—Farewell. You were a respectable toy.”
Along with these parting words, the Evil God’s giant hand descended upon my head, which had been sealed of its skills…
“—Hiiiii!”
My arm, brandishing Shiranui, cleanly severed the Evil God’s arm and sent it flying.
“Wh-what!?”
A surprised cry arose, but I couldn’t care less.
“There!”
With a light exclamation, I quickly moved closer and swiftly cut off the Evil God’s other arm.
“Gaaaaahaaahaaaah!!!!”
As it seems he could feel pain after all, the Evil God, having lost both arms, let out a roar of agony and fell to the ground.
“Why! All your power is sealed!
No matter what divine sword power you possess, to do… this… without any support…”
The Evil God’s voice was filled with surprise rather than anger.
In response to those words…
“………Divine Sword? What are you talking about?”
For the first time, I realized that when I am too surprised, words suddenly fail me.
“Wh-what…? Even if you’re trying to trick me again…”
What do you mean? That’s what I should be saying.
“The Divine Sword is Altihate.
And if so, look, it’s rolling behind you.”
At his word, the Evil God dutifully made a move as if to look behind him.
What lay there was the “Wakizashi: End,” which had the “shape” of a wakizashi but was embedded with the “performance” and “special abilities” of the Absolute God Sword Altihate.
“Besides, I brought Altihate to defend against long-range attacks.
And I also received the buffs to improve my Endurance and to utilize the HP recovery bug…”
The buffs that increase maximum HP and maximum MP, unlike Nekoneko’s usual style, are beneficent specifications that restore HP and MP by the amount that the maximum values were increased.
And by exploiting… no, by effectively utilizing this, if I toggle the buffs on and off, my HP and MP would continuously recover.
Most buffs that raise HP or MP have long durations and small increases, making them generally impractical techniques, but with Altihate’s incredible increase, it was different.
Therefore, as a failsafe, I had asked the townspeople for their assistance.
“And besides, who would use a weapon that weak with an attack power of 999 as their main weapon?”
At these words, the Evil God cried out in agitation.
“I don’t understand! I don’t understand!! What, what are you talking about!”
“What am I talking about, you ask? …Just the facts.”
Though it seemed to be lost on the Evil God, who lacked game knowledge, seeing the faintly glowing blade of Wakizashi: End, he probably realized his mistake.
I could feel his body trembling.
“Impossible… Impossible, impossible, impossible…!
Th-then, then what is that…?
Something that can easily cleave my body, which once withstood even a Divine Sword’s strike, is impossible…”
The Evil God’s body, still lying on the ground, writhed and retreated.
His attitude, as if encountering a monster he couldn’t comprehend, made me offer a wry smile.
“…Like I said.
You, who cannot understand the human heart, cannot comprehend the passion and sorrow imbued in this weapon.
That is why, no matter how many times, no, even if you were reborn hundreds or thousands of times, it would be futile.”
And then, slowly.
“Don’t come! Don’t come!!”
I approached the pitiful creature who had lost his head, tentacles, arms, and even his pride, confidence, and dignity as an Evil God.
“Know this! This is the miracle born from ‘the human heart’ you scorned.
This is the power of ‘True Shiranui’, no—”
I raised my right hand, the weakest yet strongest katana, with all my might towards the Evil God’s core, and—
“—The power of Fingerless Gloves!!”
With that blade delivering an estimated attack power of over 20,000, I shattered the Evil God’s core. I never dreamed, back then, that it would take four and a half years to resolve this foreshadowing…
Next update is today! …I hope.
