Chapter 202 : The Selection Gods
Without hesitation, I slowly walked toward Ahid and Arcana.
“…’The power of a mere god’, you said?” Ahid said angrily.
“So what if I did?” (Anos)
“All living beings, no matter where they are or what country they hail from, believe in a god. They fear them, respect them, and offer their prayers to them. And consequently, they briong salvation to us followers.” (Ahid)
Arcana moved in front of him, blocking my way.
I stopped and addressed a few words to Ahid.
“It may be the case for the religion of that Geordal country or whatever. But from the beginning, not only in Dilhade, but even in Azesion, there aren’t many people who worship gods that passionately. Whether one believes in gods or not is all up to them. Don’t force your own beliefs on anyone or even the country.” (Anos)
“Incorrect. Azesion does believe in a god. The fact that the humans believe in the Hero, the one who can pull out the Sword of Three Races Evansmana, is akin to believing in a god.” (Ahid)
“What a foolish explanation.” I said, dismissing Ahid’s claims.
“That argument is nothing more than sophistry, but even if it were true, is that little girl here the god of your country? I’m pretty sure she and Evansmana have different sources. Even if you use the term “gods” loosely, it doesn’t change the fact that we all believe in different things.” (Anos)
Ahid immediately responded to my statement.
“Gods represent the concept of salvation that will come in due time. All the gods of this world are the saving hands of Eques the Almighty Radiance. Both Evansmana and the mighty Arcana serve as Eques’ hands, the number of which is said to be infinite. Believing that the truth could be otherwise is a misconception of the shallow.” (Ahid)
“Kuhaha! I see. You see gods in just about everything. So what you’re saying is that everything is in the palm of Eques’ hand, right?” (Anos)
When I laughed, Ahid stared daggers at me.
“And so? What do you want me to make of that?” (Anos)
“I was curious to see what sort of fellow could be labeled as a misfit by way of the Selection Trial, and you turned out to be a much more arrogant man than I had expected. The Almighty Radiance Eques will never tolerate a godless heretic like you, I am sure.” (Ahid)
Ahid pointed his ring at Arcana and channeled his magic power into it.
“I suppose this is why you were invited to the Selection Trial. To receive God’s verdict.” (Ahid)
Cold air instantly emanated from Arcana’s entire body.
The amount of lunar snowflakes descending from the sky increased, and the ruins quickly turned into a snowy landscape.
“Hmm. What a condescending thing to say. If you want to believe in gods, Eques, or whatever, be my guest. But you won’t tolerate anyone who doesn’t share your belief, you say?” (Anos)
I took a step forward and headed straight for Arcana.
“Who the hell do you think you are, you lackey?” (Anos)
“Likewise, do you think this is any attitude to take in front of Arcana? Know that a god’s miracles are not so lenient that they can be prevented twice.” (Ahid)
In conjunction with those words, Arcana silently clapped her hands.
In an instant, the lunar snowdrops formed a pair of giant hands that lunged at my body.
Both snow hands slammed down on me from both sides with great force, scattering around a large number of white flowers.
“May salvation come to this poor, sinful lamb.” (Ahid)
Ahid wrapped his left hand around the ring on his right hand and prayed.
“Hmm. I have to admit, destroying this Goddess of Selection or whatever will be a bit of a pain.” (Anos)
Ahid turned around at the sound of my voice.
Then I instantly stabbed him through the heart.
“Gah…?! Bfuu…!” (Ahid)
“Even so, you shouldn’t expose such a glaring weakness.” (Anos)
I crushed his heart and destroyed his source with my hand coated in the <Source Kill Vebzud> spell.
“No matter how powerful a god is, it doesn’t mean anything if their summoner dies.” (Anos)
When I pulled my right hand out of him, Ahid collapsed on the spot.
However, even though her summoner was gone, Arcana remained unconcerned.
She silently pointed her palm towards the sky.
Then the moonlight poured down, illuminating somebody’s figure in an empty space.
The one who appeared was Ahid, whose source I had just destroyed.
“Hmm. The miracle of the Moon of Creation Artiertonoa, I presume. You use the power of the moon to constantly regenerate so that your source can never be completely destroyed.” (Anos)
After coming back to life, Ahid gave me a sharp glare.
“Oh, but I have seen through your own ruse myself. Judging by the fact that you were fast enough to evade the lunar snowdrops, it appears you are using a possession summon. For you not to believe in gods even though you house the power of a god in your body, your arrogance truly knows no bounds.” (Ahid)
Possession, huh. What an exasperating delusion to hear.
“Quit making me repeat myself. How is it so hard for you to understand that I’m simply faster than a god?” (Anos)
“Spare me your flimsy excuses. The successful possession summoning of a powerful god provides the candidate with their power, giving them a considerable advantage in the Selection Trial. On the other hand, a vessel imbued with divine power will not last long. Hence, I have an inkling of what you are thinking.” Ahid declared, as if he had completely read my mind.
“You are thinking that the regenerative power of the Moon of Creation is more potent than you imagined. But if you do not finish me quickly, you will eventually die to your own divine power.” (Ahid)
And he was completely off the mark.
So much so that I was starting to feel embarrassed listening to him.
“With all the nonsense that comes out of your mouth, you could build a career as a clown.” (Anos)
I drew a magic circle and fired a jet-black sun from it.
“May the gods offer their blessing.” (Ahid)
When Ahid prayed, a snow wall blocked the <Hell Flame Annihilation Mortar Jio Graze> I had fired.
Arcana had thrusted her hand forward to form a shield.
“A god’s blessing is an absolute barrier against all spells. And yours are no— WHA?!” (Ahid)
The wall snow created by Arcana scattered on the spot like mist.
I had concentrated jet-black lightning bolts from the origin spell <Magic Black Thunder Emperor Jirasd> on a single point, and pierced through her wall with them.
“Pay attention.” (Anos)
I once again moved behind Ahid, and was about to run my black hand through his abdomen.
But before I could, Arcana grabbed my hand from the side.
“Oh-ho. As expected from a goddess, you’re quite powerful. Nonetheless, this deadweight is beyond your help.” (Anos)
When I fired <Hell Flame Annihilation Mortar Jio Graze> at Ahid at close range, Arcana instantly deflected it with anti-magic.
Taking advantage of this opening, I dyed my left hand black with <Source Kill Vebzud> and thrusted it into Arcana’s left chest.
Although she avoided a direct hit by leaping away, blood seeped from her chest.
“Ahid, run.” (Arcana)
Ahid responded to her words with confusion.
“As you are now, you still cannot defeat the Misfit. I will handle this.” (Arcana)
