The draconids nodded in resolution.
Then, their concealment magic was lifted, and a lot more soldiers than before appeared on the spot. There were so many of them that they covered the entire hill.
『O devout believers! Make sure you follow the divine message. Eliminate a thousand lives and offer them to the Selection God Arcana. Then you shall be invited to the realm of the gods, and will obtain salvation.』(Ahid)
The draconids drew their swords in unison.
“As the Almighty Radiance wills.” (Draconid A)
They thrust their swords into their own hearts and impaled themselves.
“As the Almighty Radiance wills!” (All the draconids)
Their blood gushed out, then they cremated themselves with the flames of their own fire breaths.
They killed a thousand lives without leaving any survivor, just as the divine message dictated.
Perhaps their passing truly did increase the power of the order of creation, as Arcana managed to cast the <Transition Gatom> spell and vanished from the scene.
Even though Shin remained vigilant, she seemed to have completely retreated from that hill.
“My apologies, my lord. I let her escape.” Shin told me via <Thought Communication Leaks>.
“Not to worry.” (Anos)
I looked away from the projection and turned toward the crucified Ahid.
“I’m stunned that you would go so far as to let your own people commit suicide just so your divine message would come true.” (Anos)
“I do not allow you to insult them. The devout followers of Jiordal gave their own lives to defend the words of god. Their noble intentions, their absolute faith in god, these are their salvation, and they are the most honorable people.” (Ahid)
I sighed at the sheer insincerity of his statement.
“No matter how much breath I waste on you, I don’t think I can ever understand you.” (Anos)
I drew a magic circle and pointed it at Ahid.
“Where did you send Arcana?” (Anos)
“What sort of believer would tell a heretic like you the whereabouts of their own deity?” (Ahid)
“Then let me give you a divine message of my own. In three seconds, she will appear right here.” (Anos)
A jet-black sun slowly emerged from my magic circle and shot out toward Ahid.
He had no way to avoid it now that he was crucified, and a direct hit would reduce him to ashes, without leaving so much as a single bone.
“By the terms of our pledge, I demand that you appear. Selection God, impart your judgment between me and this man.” (Ahid)
With a clamorous sound, my <Hell Flame Annihilation Mortar Jio Graze> fireball closed in on Ahid’s nose, but the next moment, it vanished in a flash.
A single lunar snowdrop fell on the spot.
“<Selection God Summon Guala Nateh Forteos>.” (Ahid)
Along with the light of the summoning, the silver-haired girl, Arcana the Selection God, stood before me.
With one glance from her, the magic sword I had impaled Ahid with fizzled out as a speck of ice.
The light of restoration enveloped him, and his wounds were instantly healed.
“Hmm. I see. I wondered where she was going, and it turns out that she was headed for the Sword of Three Races.” (Anos)
In Arcana’s right hand was the Sword of Three Races, which she had probably retrieved from the Royal Dragon, and in her left hand was the God Slasher that had pierced her chest just a moment ago.
“Anos Voldigoad the Misfit. You were convinced that you had successfully overturned all the divine messages I received. But everything is in the palm of god’s hand. No matter how far you go or what you try, you cannot escape from it.” (Ahid)
Spreading out his hands, Ahid spoke up.
“Now, at last, I have received the divine command to judge you. Now I no longer have to remain passive.” (Ahid)
“Ohh?” (Anos)
That sounded as if he had been losing on purpose until now.
“So what you’re saying is that you’re ready to beat me this time?” (Anos)
“Fighting in the Holy Seat Hall is forbidden by our pledge. Shall we change places?” (Ahid)
“Anywhere is fine with me.” (Anos)
Arcana cast <Transition Gatom> on herself and Ahid.
I anticipated that and used <Transition Gatom> as well to follow them.
When my surroundings regained their colors, I found myself in the center of Everastanzetta.
I was on a huge circular balcony where I could see the canopy of the Underground World.
“Lo and behold, the light of creation that illuminates the depths of the earth. That is the true form of Altiertonoa.” (Ahid)
Arcana slowly raised both hands and turned them palm up to the sky.
Floating near the canopy was the Moon of Creation.
It was Altiertonoa, who had changed from a crescent moon to a half-moon.
“Though I may be a draconid, our bodies are not suited for divine possession. Therefore, god gave me the command to remodel my own into a divine body. And the Moon of Creation shining in the sky is the miracle that will make it happen.” (Ahid)
A dazzling light poured down from the Moon of Creation and gently enveloped Ahid.
His body was transformed by the power of creation.
Strong enough to withstand divine power.
Robust enough to contain divine magic power.
His hair was dyed a golden color, and the eye that was hidden behind his bangs wasas exposed.
“<Possession Summon Azept> : Arcana the Selection God.” (Ahid)
Arcana thrusted the two swords into the floor.
She turned into countless glowing lunar snowdrops, and was then absorbed into Ahid’s body.
She, the Selection God, had descended into Ahid’s body, which had been strengthened into a vessel by the Moon of Creation.
A tremendous torrent of magic power swirled around Ahid.
He turned his composed expression my way.
“Do you see now? This is my rightful destiny. This is the miracle that I, Ahid Alovo Agatz, the oracle chosen by my Selection God, will obtain once I eventually reach the gods. This is what it means to become their proxy.” (Ahid)
Ahid quietly pointed at me.
Countless lunar snowdrops descended from the Moon of Creation, transforming this place into a snowy landscape.
“There is no daytime in the Underground World. It is impossible to take away the night and eliminating Altiertonoa. Snow will fall, and light will fill the air. You will soon breathe your last in this glowing cold air.” (Ahid)
The lunar snowdrops falling on the castle emitted a divine cold air, taking away my magic and strength.
“As these lunar snowdrops pour down, those who do not have a divine body cannot move even a finger. Come on. Keep freezing and fall into an eternal slumber.” (Ahid)
“Hmm. Unfortunately for you, I don’t mind the snow.” (Anos)
While staring at the scenery in front of me with my Magic Eyes, I took a step forward.
Then, the lunar snowdrops that had fallen on the ground melted and disappeared. When I took a second step, the snow around my footprints melted as well.
“…Freeze to death…” Ahid chanted, but I kept walking without a care.
The composure on his face faded away, replaced by a growing sense of frustration.
“…Freeze to death, you godless, foolish heretic…!” (Ahid)
I walked slowly in this world where the momentum of the lunar snowdrops increased and all life seemed to come to a halt.
And so it was that I reached and stood right in front of him.
“…All are helpless before the power of a god…! Freeze to death, I say…!” (Ahid)
“So this is your ‘rightful destiny’?” (Anos)
I grabbed him by the head.
“How…?! O my deity! How can your snow be thawed by this heretic…?! Please give me your divine message…!” (Ahid)
“Who are you even praying to? Aren’t you supposed to be a god right now?” (Anos)
I drew a magic circle and engulfed his whole body in a <Hell Flame Annihilation Mortar Jio Graze> fireball .
“GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH…!!!” (Ahid)
When I shot my jet-black sun straight out at the wall, it blew Ahid away with it, and burned him with its black flames.
“Did you delude yourself into thinking that you had become stronger after gaining a divine body, you crook?” (Anos)
I turned to Ahid, who had crashed through the wall and rolled into the building.
“The true power of the Moon of Creation was far greater than this.” (Anos)
