Read Novel Full Chapter 566 - 557
Chapter 566 - 557
Defensive Battle of All Worlds ③ I'm Just Your Friendly Neighbor, Honest
「Fuh……today, the wind is a bit noisy……」
On the highest building at Detroit――Renaissance Center's rooftop, there was a suspicious person.
It was Abyssgate-san.
He was wearing black from head to toe. He was wearing protectors like arm guard, leg guard, and breastplate, though they were at the thin side. He was also wearing a belt with multiple pouches attached. And there was the sunglasses.
He was standing right at the edge of the rooftop with his feet neatly pressed together. One hand was inside pocket while his other hand pushed up his sunglasses in a way that hid his face.
His atmosphere, was really edgy. In other words, it was just like usual.
「But it's a bit……is the wind, crying?」
「Just what have you been prattling about since some time ago?」
He bent his upper body a little to look back over his shoulder. Of course, it was the "looking back pose" that kept the little details in mind to maintain his edginess. If Rana was here, surely she would give excited praise 「Kyaaaaah, Kou-kun you're so cool!!」 while pushing the camera's shutter button nonstop.
「It seems, something unpleasant is……fuh. Apparently something is in the wind.」
The fingertips of the hand over his face slightly lowered the sunglasses. It was perfect.I'm shining bright right now! This is the appropriate move for when standing on a building!!
In contrast to the inside of the lord's heart that was like the culmination of someone singing their own praises, the person looking at him――Inspector Richard Hill, aka the leader of "Us" which was a magic organization worshipping the "gate of god", was currently lying on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. His cheeks were twitching with the eyes of someone who was looking at someone with a screw loose in their head.
「We must hurry. While the wind is still blowing……isn't that right, Hiden*ri?」
「Who's that huh?」
This guy, I really don't want to talk with him anymore. It feels like I'll become crazy……he had an expression that seemed to be thinking that.
His fanaticism toward the "gate of god", and then Hajime's "groping the brain matter around to gain information" had screwed up his mind before but, it seemed he had completely recovered now. There wasn't any sign of fanaticism from him. Right now his atmosphere was completely the same like when he was acting as a detective.
Kaori was asked to heal him before everyone departed to each place they were in charge of for the defensive battle. In addition, a powerful suggestion was also put in him so that he wouldn't do anything unwise. It was like his knowledge as a magician was left as it was but his personality was fixed as the detective Richard.
It was one of the ways for finding the "god of gate" who was cleverly hiding while making his move. Though it wasn't something that they had great hope for, it was more something at the level where it was better than doing nothing.
He also had information about the worshippers, so depending on the situation he might become some kind of help?…
…
there was also such intention. It was the mentality of using anything at hand if it seemed usable, they lost nothing by trying it anyway.
Richard himself was freed from the voice and presence of the "god of gate" that had been ringing inside his head for years, so it felt like he was basking in the feeling of liberation for a bit, though at this point of time there wasn't any sign that he would be useful.
「Our mission is to protect that "rainbow bridge" and the people of this city. Do you understand? Inspector John McClane.」
「Don't count me as one of your allies as you please, or rather oi, wait. Who're you calling the number one uncooperative man in the world! Don't tell me you're planning to toss me into a deathly situation just like in the movie!?」
「Don't worry……」
「Haah, don't fucking shock――」
「My sworn friend. This abyss lord shall protect your path of return! I won't allow anyone no matter who they are lay their hand to this soaring bridge of rainbow!!」
「Listen to what I'm saying!! This damn free-spirited bastard-」
Richard swore when he noticed that he casually got removed as conversation partner of the lord in the middle of the conversation. But the lord ignored him and turned his gaze back forward.
Visible at the far distance was a vortex of light in the sky――the "rainbow bridge".
Yes, guarding that teleportation gate was exactly one of the most important duties that was bestowed to the abyss lord by Yue.
Then why, was he taking distance despite saying that he would protect it?
That was in order to lure the "gate of god" to do some kind of contact or interference.
There was nobody on that building rooftop's anymore. However, his clones were concealed at the surrounding area in full strength invisibility, so the real lord could also rush there in an instant using "substitution teleport".
At the same time, he could look over the whole city from this spot, so he would be able to immediately realize if there was anything strange.
There still wasn't anything strange occurring and yet he had entered the abyss lord mode. It showed the height of Kousuke's vigilance despite his usual messing around attitude.
There, the golden triangle plate floating beside the lord――the "spellphone" reacted. *Pon* It made a cute star effect and became chibi Yue.
『……Report. There's no problem at Tortus with me alone. I've also grasped the planet's magic power. I'm sending it through chibi Yue so there's no need to worry about running out of magic power. However, I can't send it to each person in the converted form of their suitable unique magic energy like Hajime. In the end it's just emitted natural magic power so you'll have to absorb it on your own. In short it's possible that your consumed energy and recovered amount won't offset each other just like usual due to the conversion efficiency. Remember to watch out for that.』
Protecting a single world on her own. Supplying unlimited magic power just like Hajime although there was limitation to it.
He couldn't help but feel admiration and relieve.
The corner of the lord's lips rose even while his shoulders shook slightly in relieve.
Surely, his friends at various other places also felt the same when they heard the report.
『……Next, I'll report the information about the void gods that appeared in each world along with ranking them based on the enemy's strength.』
Most likely, it was a notification not only to the lord but to everyone who was given "spellphone". Chibi Yue started talking mechanically without any emotion, like she was in the information transmission mode. According to her.
They repurposed the rank that was used in the calamity world for the opponents that Hajime and co faced――the humanoid void gods. Class 0 was for ranking the special grade that was above the humanoid void god, while class 4 and class 5 were for ranking the weaker void god.
Class 4 was for individual enemy like the "winged ant void god" that appeared in the "Sanctuary", and the "monster of indeterminate shape" underground Detroit.
They were opponents that could possibly be dealt with by one or several "returnees", or perhaps by a team of high ranked onmyouji, exorcist, or Shadow Monk. Fully armed Hauria could also deal with enemy of this rank.
Class 5 was enemy like "ghoul" that appeared in Banwitch, or cultists like Richard.
Enemy of this level could possibly be dealt by select troops of various organizations, like the assault squad of Britain's security bureau or USA's MCB agent who were equipped with weapons against supernatural phenomena and had real battle experience.
Also when facing an enemy that was a rank above their capability, it was possible to attempt "delaying action".
『……And it goes without saying that when facing a class 0, the greatest fighting force of that planet has to be mustered. The avatars of each world must constantly keep up their enemy detection, and be prepared to quickly send their world's greatest fighting force anywhere, and providing the greatest support they can.』
Then, chibi Yue who had been talking dispassionately while staring at empty air until then turned her gaze toward the lord.
The lord turned in place.
He guessed that from here it must be a directive for the lord himself, or perhaps for the team protecting earth's city.
『……Endou, your clones?』
「As instructed, I've finished distributing them to various places on earth using Laila-dono's shadow teleportation. Although, the current me is in Depth IV. I cannot cover the whole world with just a thousand bodies.」
Of course, he could increase the number to a total of ten thousand bodies if he submerged into the deepest depth of abyss. It was also possible to use the clones at other places as the starting point to create the clones. And so in a sense the distribution of relay point had been completed.
『……Nn, that's fine. Endou will be the one dealing with class 0 and 1 if any appear.』
「Order received. However, I think even the class 2 will be threatening enough though……」
He recalled the "humanoid void gods" that appeared from the "rainbow bridge". The class 2 that came out first……even the "returnees" couldn't deal with such enemy except a few of them like the Nagumo family or Kouki. Even if several of them faced one such enemy together, it would only be a delaying action that would surely produce casualties at the end.
Facing class 3 was barely within their capabilities. The lord thought that Yue's estimation was correct.
Was it fine to ignore the class 2 and 3?
「What of the possibility we become short of hands?」
『……Nn. Nine out of ten, it won't be enough with just Endou alone if you also have to face against class 2 and below.』
According to her, if the void gods hiding on earth realized that they couldn't make any move against the King Tree and Laila due to Shia's presence, they would surely shift their target to area with dense population――the metropolises.
『……At the present time no void god is detected outside the vicinity of King Tree. But, I believe that most likely the world with the most void gods hiding is earth. Everyone, never let your guard down no matter what.』
「But of course.」
The Worshippers and the Explorers. And then, the type of fiction mythos that they left behind for future generations.
The information from Sathla who was born between mythological creature with indeterminate shape and human.
Taking in the whole picture, it was completely unthinkable that the void gods attacking the "Sanctuary" right now were all of them that were at earth. Far from that seeing that the fiction mythos was a type of eyewitness report, based on the number and variety of the gods in it, it was only natural to hypothesize that the number of void gods lurking here was a lot more than other worlds where that kind of mythos was nonexistent or limited
Then, the place that would be the hardest to defend would also be earth.
『……The population of earth is the highest among all the worlds. The distribution of the populated areas are also the widest. That made the range of area that has to be protected on earth the greatest among all the worlds.』
The population of earth was eight billions in total. Simply considering the people distribution it was truly all over the world. The number of cities that could be called as dense population center on earth also couldn't be compared at all with other worlds.
In that sense, the world that needed combat force the most after earth would be the desert world, followed by the sky dragon world.
Even so they were far from reaching earth's need. After all the two worlds were horribly damaged worlds. Speaking of total population, those worlds' population wouldn't even reach a fourth of earth's population.
The machine world was a prime example. Mother's dystopia only allowed mankind's survival in a single city. Even the population there was controlled. It would be wrong to call it a blessing in disguise but, from the lens of security, at present there mankind only existed at Coltran as well as a facility located slight distance away so it was easy to protect them
『……Earth require the most fighting force. But from the start, Hajime has carefully selected and dispatched demons all over the world to keep a watchful eye on any unusual situation.』
「Oo! Now that you mention it that's true. We can leave any class 2 and lower to them then.」
Yep yep, as expected from my sworn friend!The lord nodded while folding his arms. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but chibi Yue also looked smug in his eyes.
『……In addition, before Hajime went to the calamity world, he severed the connection from his "treasure warehouse" to the "miniature garden".』
It went without saying, the "treasure warehouses" in the possession of Nagumo family were spatially connected. And, "miniature garden" was a world inside "treasure warehouse".
But, it didn't mean that all the "treasure warehouses" were directly connected with "miniature garden". Naturally. If not the tools stored inside "treasure warehouses" would fall down and scattered inside the "miniature garden".
Right now the "miniature garden" was a world inside an independent "treasure warehouse". The "treasure warehouses" in possession of each person so to say was like the entrance between the external door and internal door of a mansion.
In order to store items the space was vast unlike an actual entrance, and it wasn't like the items went through that space physically. But, they were functioning as a type of door from their contact with the "miniature garden". And so sensation-wise it felt like directly entering the "miniature garden".
Also, the same like an entrance's key, even someone other than Nagumo family could enter through their "treasure warehouse" if they had permission.
Of course, that was in case there was no spatial gap between the "treasure warehouses". Which was to say it was only in case they were in the same world.
But, right now……understanding flashed inside the lord's head and he hit his hand *Pon*.
「I see! If it's now where worlds are connected we can keep the "miniature garden" and "treasure warehouse" connected! With that we can send the residents of the miniature garden to where they're needed as reinforcement!」
『……Nn. Of course, I've also requested reinforcement from the manly goddess(Blau).』
「Excellent!」
The hell world and the fairy world were filled with arrays of powerful beings. Surely it wouldn't be a problem even if they sent some of their force to other worlds.
Fumu,the lord continued with a pondering face.
「After that is the star spirit world……if I remember correctly, the people there should have lost their fighting strength. There are divine spirits and spirit beasts so their fighting strength is completely satisfactory but……」
There was no guarantee. There was precedent of even goddess defeated. The population there also wasn't at all inferior compared to the desert world.
In that sense, that also applied to the hell world and fairy world. There was no guarantee that void god with hard to resist ability exactly because the opponent was demon or apparition wouldn't appear there.
Against such worry,
『……You just need to think about protecting the people of earth Endou.』
Chibi Yue cut it down resolutely.
Through the sunglasses, he could see chibi Yue looking straight at him. There was definitely emotion in those eyes. Those words came from the actual Yue.
『……You're Hajime's right hand. You're stronger than the average gods and demons. That's why, you're worthy to be entrusted with the protection of not only Hajime's path of return, but also our world, and all the people living on earth.』
Actually Yue must wish to protect earth herself. It was the birthplace of her beloved, and family that she treasured more than her own life lived there. It was only natural.
But, Yue left earth behind, because she understood in her rational mind that it was necessary.
She was able to do that because of Kousuke's accomplishment that had continued to answer Hajime's trust on him.
『……Leave the other worlds to our allies. You are earth's hero, right?』
Surely the people leaving to reinforce other worlds, and even Hajime who was doing what he had to do in the calamity world right now were feeling the same.
No matter what kind of world they went to, no matter what they were doing.
There was Endou Kousuke on earth.
They could turn their back on their home due to that one factor. They could focus on what they themselves had to do.
Everyone was giving him that unmatched trust.
That intention was certainly conveyed. Those words that came from the one person who could be said as the representative of Nagumo family's heart made him felt really itchy.
「Fuh. That's true. From the start I've known to obey the command of our grand commander. That was an unnecessary worry that I had!」
He pushed up his sunglasses. He also turned on the spot.
『……Appraising the enemy force and transporting the defense force will be done by Laila in general. But, I leave it to your judgment for the situation at the field. Give order to Laila if it's necessary. I've also told the gods and demons of the command priority.』
Just what kind of trip that he had before this? This was the gods and demons that they were talking about, beings with strong ego. In the end would they easily accept being told something like having to obey the order of a human when at the field? Depending on the situation they might even go "The highest right of command should be mine though?", and so Yue had prepared to do her patented smash on the various things of anyone who tried that but……
The majority of the gods readily accepted. It wasn't simply because they didn't want to lose the people at the places where their legend originated from. Yue could clearly see their intention of obeying if it was an order from the "Lord Abyssgate".
『……Also』
Yue was about to say something. It was at such timing.
It was coincidentally right after Shia blew away the group of void gods at the "Sanctuary" along with atmosphere and Laila broke into tears.
『!! My detection net show reaction――no, show empty reaction!! It's from twelve places!!』
A tense voice was transmitted from Laila.
It was just as Yue predicted. The moment the "Sanctuary" was confirmed to be impregnable thanks to the martial god(bugged) rabbit, holes got opened through Laila's detection net that covered the whole earth.
That was to say, "beings that couldn't be detected", "void gods" appeared there.
「Fuh, it looks like my turn has come. The location? If there's only twelve then I alone――」
『Endou Kousuke!』
「Goddess, please, feel free to call me Aby――」
『Behind you!!』
「GEEEE!?」
Call me Abyssgate,he definitely wanted to say that. If only a large hole didn't get opened in his stomach.
The lord looked down on himself while trembling.
A hole as large as a basketball was opened there. But he couldn't see it. He knew that something pierced his torso from behind but, he didn't know what it was. It was transparent. He also didn't feel any presence. There wasn't even a shred of that foreign presence.
There was just something behind him. It approached undetected even by the lord, and then pierced the lord with something thick.
It was clearly a lethal attack. Chibi Yue's eyes opened wide. Richard who was lying on the floor behind was also speechless.
The lord pressed his palm on his stomach with an expression that was screaming "Unbelievable", and then he turned his trembling palm, stared at it, and yelled.
「What the heeeeellll!!」
What a waste. There was nobody here who knew about a certain famous detective drama. There was nobody who knew about that famous line of the famous actor!
In any case, there was no problem if he could still screw around like usual.
There wasn't even a single drop of blood. Not on his stomach, or even on his palm.
It was only natural. Because,
「I said, an unpleasant wind is blowing didn't I?」
It was a clone.
*Giiiii* A discordant sound like metals scraping each other resounded.
From diagonally above behind the invisible void god who stabbed "a clone that was made and camouflaged especially seriously" that deceived even chibi Yue, the real body that was under full powered invisibility using all the techniques the current lord could employ appeared like he melted out of thin air.
His hand was holding a short sword. His posture was like someone standing on the shoulders of a human while the short sword swung down to stab the crown of the head.
「So it's blocked!」
The short sword's tip made sparks to scatter from hitting what looked like empty air in a glance.
「Tsu!!」
Instantly, the lord's instinct whispered to him. It was the sensation of chill running through his spine.
He quickly leaped away. He activated the gravity magic "Black Vortex" that he had prepared beforehand, and with the power that pulled him aside he distanced himself from the enemy with all his power.
His instinct was correct.
Something felt like mowing the space that he was at just a moment ago. There was also the sensation of the air getting split apart with astonishing smoothness.
「S-seriously?」
His actual self unconsciously came out. This time he felt a shiver in his spine in a different meaning. He felt relieved from the bottom of his heart that he launched his surprise attack from above.
The cloud floating in the sky was split into two.
It was a slash with godspeed that flew until vast distance. He didn't know whether it was a spatial slash or a slash with different principle. But, its sharpness definitely could cut through even steel. He mustn't let himself get hit by it fully. His experience was yelling that to him loudly.
「It's fortunate that we're currently at the highest place.」
He was aware that he was letting out cold sweat.
If, that attack was unleashed horizontally on the ground? It would definitely cause a catastrophe.
He wasn't standing by on the rooftop just to fulfill his chuuni heart. ……No, it wasn't like he didn't have such intention at the slightest but……anyway!
The reason he was standing by in this spot wasn't just to monitor the city. It was also to move the battlefield to the sky. After all it would create a lot of victims if he went wild on the ground.
Seeing that they didn't know the method of how void god absorbed soul, there was also the possibility that they would kill indiscriminately with no question asked. His wariness was natural, and it was the correct thing to do.
「O-oi! Just what is going――」
Richard was dumbfounded by the abrupt occurrence and raised his voice. But, before he could finish speaking, the lord moved to Richard's side in an instant, grabbed his neck and tossed him backward.
「My bad but, I don't plan to play hide-and-seek with you!」
Metallic sound rang out once more. The invisible void god just targeted Richard. The lord warded off the opponent's attack with his short sword's attack swinging to scoop it up.
A slash was flying right to the side where there was only empty air.
It was a feat that couldn't be done unless he could see it reliably.
The implicit words of "I can see you" wasn't a bluff or anything. The lord was in fact, able to see.
「It isn't the type of skill you apply on yourself. It's the type that interfere with the opponent's mind isn't it?」
Apparently it was the same type like Kara. Therefore there was no problem. There was no way Hajime hadn't prepared any countermeasure while being targeted in various senses by that twisted archdemon. There was also no way he didn't supply his comrades with the item.
"Abyss Lord's sunglasses" had been upgraded! He could see the opponent's form through the glasses from the start!
「Unfortunately my "eyes that see through the aby――"」
He wasn't allowed to finish his sentence. Because the enemy attacked as though to cut off the lord's nonsense, which actually really cut off his nonsense.
Nnn,the lord somersaulted to dodge while letting out such voice. Then he reused the "Black Vortex" that he activated before this to forcefully blow away the opponent to the sky.
The lord also immediately went to the sky. He moved the battlefield to further above where there was nothing. Of course, he did that while also launching follow-up attack.
Twelve kunais cut through the sky toward the unseen enemy accurately.
In the air *gin gin gin* the sound of the kunais bouncing away resounded. Sparks scattered. Meanwhile the lord too position above the enemy and looked down on it once again.
「I doesn't really look like a void god. So there's also this kind of type huh……」
It was an old man. He was riding a hideous creature that looked like the alien of a certain famous movie. His upper body was laid bare, but in contrast to his appearance the old man had an extremely tough looking body. His right hand was a silver prosthetic, and his left hand was holding an extra large spear.
It was the large spear that stabbed the lord, but what split the cloud was the silver arm that should be unarmed. The cloud became like that just from him swinging his arm like a sword. It was also this arm that blocked the lord's surprise attack at the start. Rather than a prosthetic, it would be more accurate to perceive it as a sword in the shape of arm.
He could certainly sense "martial art" from there.
Putting aside the foreignness of the creature he was riding, the old man himself had the form that could stand comparison with human. Or perhaps calling him a humanoid demon or apparition would be more fitting.
But however, there was just one point, one point only that allowed him to be classified as a void god.
「That foreign presence. The overwhelming out of place feeling like the world is rejecting your presence. You're suppressing it but it leaked out at the same time with the battle! You can't deceive me anymore! With this present from my sworn friend, the "eyes that see through the aby――"」
He wanted to say "abyss". But, as expected the enemy wouldn't allow him to finish!
The old man void god bent his body like a bow. He threw his great spear at the lord.
The great spear flew with a horrific speed that was unthinkable coming something thrown with only the strength of the upper body.
The lord easily dodged it but,
「Muu!?」
He quickly kicked on the air and leaped to the side.
In a hair's breadth, the great spear that had just passed him, passed through from behind with its tip pointed toward him.
It ignored inertia and turned sharply like a light that was reflected by a mirror to violently assaulted him from behind. Furthermore, right after he dodged it even subtly corrected its trajectory to aim at him. It was like Hajime's bullet.
It would be dangerous for him if the clone that he positioned to protect the ground from the battle's after effect didn't warn him with its shared sight.
「Fuh, it looks like evasion in a hair's breadth isn't advised――uo!? Let me finish speaking a sentence! That's rude!」
The abyss lord finally protested.
That invisible and godspeed slash flew at him. The slash itself couldn't be seen, but the trajectory was clear based on the swing of the arm so he dodged. The slash that passed him by only ended up splitting a cloud straight once again.
In that opening four clones closed in from the back, left, right, and the front from diagonally below. The front clone targeted the alien ride from the front, the clones at left and right pinned down the void god's silver arm and great spear, while the clone at the back made a backstab. It was that kind of formation.
But, it couldn't be that easy. As expected, this void god was a warrior who was well versed in martial art.
The great spear twirled lightly. The tip and the handle blocked the left and back at the same time. And by swinging the silver arm, the right and below clones were blown away together by his herculean strength.
But, the lord was also a fearsome fighter.
The left and back clones unsheathed their second short sword for the first time in this timing. Furthermore they did it like performing a quick draw. The unsheathed short swords were naturally in the state of their spatial cutting edge activated.
As expected even a void god didn't have enough hands against this. His body was harder than even steel, but his side and nape were cut apart with the same smoothness like a heated knife going through butter.
The grotesque horse slightly turned and prevented the wounds from being lethal thanks to the shift in positioning.
But, it managed to shifted their focus.
The two clones who were blown away were throwing their kunai even while in that state. Using substitution teleportation they appeared right beside the void god.
「「「「Fuhahahah, what an incredible martial god! There's no doubt that you must be someone widely known during your life!! But howeeveerr!!」」」」
The old man's expression didn't move at all like a doll. Rather than calling him expressionless, it was more like a mask that was modeled after human's face. But, even so, somehow it was like……the old man really looked like he was saying 「This guy is reeally noisy」. Was it just the imagination of chibi Yue who was observing the fight near the main body?
「This I is the faster one!!」
「Something like your attack won't hit anymore!!」
「I've seen through you completely!!」
「「「「In shoooooortt」」」」
Chibi Yue's eyes were clearly becoming really reproachful.Annoying……it was a face that seemed to think that. Apparently her main body's will was still reflected in there. It must be for gathering information on void god as much as possible but, the abyss lord who entered her sight was just totally a bother……her face seemed to say that.
It couldn't be helped.
Because, the clones surrounding the void god from four directions and swinging their short sword were,
「「「「This I, is super cool」」」」
For some reason they were all feigning composure and attacking with one hand while their other hand was brushing up their hair.
Furthermore, to match the movement of the alien horse that was moving to every direction to escape the encirclement net, the clones kept it surrounded with "Black Vortex" to move together with it, so it painted a sight that was the peak of surrealism of clones moving midair while brushing up their hair.
Of course, what the clones were saying also wasn't really comprehensible, and the real lord was also brushing up his hair like them so the annoyingness was doubled. The lord's expression was like someone who was enjoying bathing in the sunlight……he was also spreading out one arm meaninglessly, so it made him looked even more annoying.
As the result.
「「「「Fuh」」」」
The grotesque horse fell. It was chopped up and dispersed out.
It seemed the old man void god could fight midair by his own capability. He was readying his great spear while staying in the air. Black mist was leaking out from the wounds that were carved on him here and there.
But, none of them was deep. It also didn't look like that he was in pain or even inconvenienced by them. Rather it felt like the pressure he was radiating was increasing.
Above all else, this time a clear look of dubiousness could be felt from his eyes.
Was it because the four clones were making an edgy pose each?
Surely that wasn't it.
『…
…
How about attacking normally?』
Chibi Yue was sending a dubious gaze at the clones.
The clones who should have seen through the void god completely, which was why they were doing something like acting composed and attacking with one hand &
brushing up their hair, slowly stopped making pose.
And then, with trembling hands they looked down on their own body and patting it all over.
A second passed. The clones turned toward the void god who was overflowing with wariness in various senses for some reason, and then they slowly raised their head.
They spoke, with shaky voice.
「「「「…………It, it huuurts………」」」」
It wasn't anything complicated. They had simply gotten hit by counterattack because of acting so openly composed.
Just from looking, it was plain to see, that their torso was in tatters.
By the way, sensation of pain could also be set up in the clones. Their senses would be sharper that way rather than setting them to not feel pain, so that was how they got set up.
Was it just her imagination? That the void god seemed to be looking bewildered seeing the clones crying. In reality, he wasn't moving. She thought that perhaps, he was just simply being on guard but……
In any case.
「It's time.」
The objectives of "buying time" and "making him stopped moving at the sky" had been accomplished.
Yes, the preparation to unleash the greatest and strongest attack magic was in place.
「Enter the embrace of the abyss and fall asleep――"Black Sky Destitution"!!」
The absolute magic that sucked in anything and everything and annihilated them swallowed the void god just as planned.
「Fuh, know that nobody can win against the abyss……」
The lord performed turn &
cool expression &
cool pose &
sunglasses push. He maintained the "Black Sky Destitution" until the void god was completely annihilated while looking over the ground.
「However, even knowing beforehand……as expected, this will be hard to hide.」
Through the clones he could sense how the ground below was covered in commotion.
It was only natural.
A huge whirling black sphere suddenly appeared at the sky. As expected something like that couldn't be explained away. There was also how the news had just reported not long ago that officially there was a suppression f a terrorist organization here.
『……Nn. I had told you at the start though.』
「Umu, I know that commander. You said, don't worry about keeping things secret in the defensive battle.」
Nn,chibi Yue nodded even while her gaze kept looking at the "Black Sky Destitution". Even though she should know about the absolute power of the gravity magic's secret art better than anyone, she was giving it the eye of observation that looked exactly the same like the look that Hajime sometimes showed.
Even while making such look, Yue once again stressed what she said before leaving for the defensive battle with a tone like she was notifying everyone once again.
『……It'll be pointless to worry about concealment if it cause damage in the process. Either way, these are opponents that can appear anytime anywhere on earth so the eyewitness report will be impossible to hide.』
This was an era where individual would post what they recorded in the internet.
Dealing with every single one of that kind of thing would be the exact thing that allowed the void god to cause harm.
『……We have to be resolved for some chaos and damage to spread.』
Abandon the thought of protecting everything without sacrificing anything from the start.
Thinking that such thing was possible was naivety. That was Yue's thought. The battle would be something that far surpassed such level, and so she was hardening her resolve earlier than anybody else.
『……It's fine, I'm taking measures so that even death won't be a problem as long as the void god doesn't devour your soul.』
The best action to protect life was not only ignoring secrecy, but also preparing for some level of damage and also prioritizing the extermination of void god.
『……Even if the "changing world" today became the "changed world" tomorrow』
The appearance of awakened people, the increase of cult organization, the change in international situation and power balance between countries. The international community was starting to change bit by bit in order to respond to those, but today might become a historical turning point for them.
『……Even if it caused a great commotion and the way we live until now become difficult to continue』
A rapid change would surely bring about great chaos between people.
Of course, perhaps it could be dealt with after everything was taken care of.
But, that wasn't something that they should think about right now.
What they had to prioritize first was "life" before anything else.
『……There's no need for reservation, or even mercy. Fight in order to live, in order to allow others to live.』
The command of Yue, their queen resounded.
The lord whose clones had consigned four of the twelve void gods that appeared all over the world into oblivion nodded deeply.
He was aware of the naivety "if possible I want to defeat the enemies secretly without causing chaos to the surrounding" that was still remaining somewhere in his heart.
Because of that he was having a bit of hard time against the remaining void gods. But now he harmonized with his clones all over the world and all the clones slapped their face with their hands to fire themselves up once again.
Right after that. The "Black Sky Destitution" that he was adjusting the power in consideration of the ground below,
「Wha-」
*Crack crack* Was cracked all over.
The "Black Sky Destitution" was going to break. Although its power was narrowed down in consideration of the effect it might have to the ground, it was literally a sure-kill technique. Once someone got captured in it they wouldn't be able to escape for the second time. They would be crushed to death or perhaps even annihilated to nothing.
How could someone survive after getting inside that? As expected even the abyss lord couldn't help but feel astonished.
『……As expected, there's also something like that.』
Chibi Yue muttered. The lord gasped hearing that and focused on her. He questioned what she meant with his gaze.
『……Do you understand the difference between "Severance Calamity" and "Black Sky Destitution" Endou?』
He got asked a question instead. The lord became slightly confused by what he was asked, even so he answered 「One is "crushing" while one is "annihilating"……?」.
Frankly speaking, it was certainly just as he said.
"Severance Calamity" sucked in the target and compressed them with super pressure, crushing them in the end. Object crumbled, and even magic would be dispersed when the "core that formed magic" was broken by the pressure. But, the target didn't vanish. Therefore, there was capacity limit that the magic could suck in.
That was why, when the limit was crossed, or in case the target couldn't be turned rubbish from pressure, the sucked in target would come out like it had burst when "Severance Calamity" was dispelled. That was the point that the user had to be aware the most when using "Severance Calamity".
But, there was none of that with "Black Sky Destitution".
The crushing phenomenon using super gravity was the same with "Severance Calamity" but far stronger. But, even if microscope was used the rubbish of the crushed object wouldn't be found. Therefore the magic had no capacity limit.
Then, what was the "annihilation" phenomenon of "Black Sky Destitution" specifically meant?
『……Our gravity magic is something inherited from Miledy. Domain that is beyond Miledy's understanding is also unknown for us. But, I formed a hypothesis when hearing Mercurys's story.』
「That's……don't tell me!」
The lord created several clones that hurriedly attempted to strengthen "Black Sky Destitution" by activating multiple of it while looking toward chibi Yue with widened eyes.
Chibi Yue nodded.
『……Perhaps, "Black Sky Destitution" is a magic that open a very very small hole.』
A magic that interfered with planet's energy. That was to say, a magic that interfered with "that planet's unique origin flow".
It was said that origin flow didn't just connect between worlds but also connect to "void".
A user of gravity magic from birth. A monster that laid her hand on the planet's energy while still in her teen age and obtained endless magic power.
A genius among genius that carriedThe detailed principle? Who knows! I can do it when I tried!into real practice.
If she sought a magic that surpassed "Severance Calamity" and arrived at a spell that ejected the target into the "void" at the end of it.
『……Perhaps Hajime and I, had seen "void" before.』
There was no respond from the lord. Because he was directing his focus into maintaining and reinforcing "Black Sky Destitution". But, the cracks didn't stop spreading. "Black Sky Destitution" was starting to creak like it was screaming.
Chibi Yue stared at that while the real Yue recalled.
Their time at the "Holy Precinct" at the end.
The complete blackness that was like nothingness that appeared in the crumbling pure white space.
If, if that thing that approached them while swallowing everything was "void".
That "void" was crushed along with "Holy Precinct" and erased――no, Miledy herself might simply wanted to annihilate the "Holy Precinct" but, because the "Black Sky Destitution" formula's nature was "opening a small hole to void, ejecting the target there, and then closing the hole", as the result she succeeded in blocking the "hole that connected to void". If that was the case,
『…
…
"Black Sky Destitution" boasted pressure strength that is several times from dozens of times of "Severance Calamity". Being that can endure that in itself is rare. But, in the end it's just gravity magic. If it's a divinity with authority of controlling gravity, originally, escaping from it shouldn't be that difficult.』
In fact, there were beings that could endure "Black Sky Destitution" or perhaps even destroying it. But, due to simple difference in output, even powerful being with ability to meddle with gravity would be forced to go through difficulty to escape.
The cause of that was none other than the annihilation effect. The annihilation effect obstructed endurance and activation of opposing magic considerably.
But, if the true identity of that annihilation effect, was the "vpid" by any chance?
『……I don't believe that it's "void" itself. But, I also cannot say with confidence that the influence is nonexistent.』
The essence of "Black Sky Destitution" was "crushing with pressure" in the end. The annihilation phenomenon was nothing more than for disposing the aftermath. The crushed object was annihilated, and the result was a magic formula that eliminated the limitation of capacity limit.
If the true form of that annihilation effect was expulsion to "a hole that connect to the void", and from that "hole" some influence of "void" was formed inside the "Black Sky Destitution".
If that resulted in lowering resistance and making obstruction against opposing magic.
The astonishing binding force of "Black Sky Destitution" that made escape difficult for even owner of authority that interfered with gravity could be explained.
「Tsu, in that case, that's!」
『……Nn. "Void god" might be able to wield their strength sufficiently even inside "Black Sky Destitution". Perhaps, with simple difference of strength――』
In the first place "void god" was a being who became like that because they had endured "void".
*BAAM* Sound of rupture thundered. The "Black Sky Destitution" was broken.
The old man had cracks all over his body. His shoulders was heaving as he breathed while liquid that looked like black tar covered his smoking body. Even so he was hovering in the air.
He looked heavily injured all over, however, it didn't change the fact that he was still going strong even after being hit by "Black Sky Destitution".
Even those wounds were healing right before their eyes.
「……Good grief. To think that "void god" might have resistance against "Black Sky Destitution". Things just can't go as planned.」
In the first place being that could endure compressive force that was out of this world was practically nonexistent. But, conversely if one could endure even such super compressive force, it was possibly enough that they could break through it before they ran out of strength……maybe.
Chibi Yue sent him a gaze that warned him to not let his guard down just because he could bind him with "Black Sky Destitution". He nodded.
――＊＊＊＊＊＊＃＃※ッッ!!
Fury exploded. The old void god raised a roar that ought to be described like that.
He was able to escape but perhaps the experience still left him rattled. It was like the fuse of his emotion was lit up.
Heavy thunder surged from his whole body. It seemed that he could also use the power of lightning.
The people on the ground screamed and cowered seeing the thundering dreadful lightning.
At the sky, dark clouds gathered in the blink of eye. Even flashes of lightning started to run aberrantly. The people were looking up to that in a daze.
『…
…
Endou, full power. That's class 0.』
「Acknowledged!!」
Turn &
sunglasses, *kui*.
「My new power that is granted to me by my sworn friend, at the end of the hero's noble sacrifice, I shall allow you to relish it from the front row! Now, witness i――」
『More void gods appearing! Seven places! Three with the aura of class 1! Send clones to nearby shadow! I'll order the demons and apparitions to deal with the others!』
「Thank you! But please let me finish my sen――」
――※※※ッ、＃＃＃＃＊＊ッッ!!
I won't let you finish!The old man void god snapped and expressed his fury as though to say that. It seemed the dark clouds also functioned as a gate. Countless fresh troops were coming down.
Wings that were like bat, twisted horns growing from the head, long tail that was like whip sword, sharp claws. Their skin was jet black and glistening like they had oil slathered on them. They truly were the figure of devil.
They seemed to be low class but hundreds of void gods were descending from the sky.
One of them transformed into that alien-like horse and then hovered reverently beside the old man.
The rest scattered. Their aim might be the people on the ground. If they could absorb soul, then perhaps they might be planning to offer them to the old man to increase his strength.
Then, he would oppose number with number.
「LELIGOO!! AIAARONMAN, ABYSSUGAAAAATO!!」 (TN: It seems to be reference from Freeze (Let It Go), Iron Man, then screaming his name Abyssgate. All said in bad English)
Translation: Depth VI, activate.
*DOOOON* Black shadows multiplied like tsunami. The clones that were produced from the main body had numbered more than a thousand in the blink of eye.
The same thing also happened all over the world.
The people on the ground were in pandemonium.
It's demon! It's a multiplying black demooon! It's the end of the world!
It felt like he was causing more panic than the appearance of the demonic looking void gods but, of course, the lord paid it no mind.
Because, their demon god's first wife-sama had told him 「Don't worry about it」!
「What kind of hero the earth possess……kukuku, Ai ammu goingu to teachi yu (I am going to teach you)!!」
In order to protect the people on the ground below, clones appeared here and there while making the same pose.
Popping out from behind the shadow of street light.
SayingExcuse mewhile popping out from below the manhole.
Eh? I've been beside you right from the start you know?
Taxi driver, follow the car in front――it's fine you don't need to! Sorry for getting in as I pleased!
When they talked about the veteran window cleaner they talked about mii!
Miss, one cafe au lait to go please.
Hey, policemeen. Mii ammu a hero of justice yeah! Can you spare me the handcuff!
Eh? You asked me who I am?
Fuh, then you better listen carefully.
Appearing from the thin air right beside you like I've always been there.
The noble of darkness who is born from the abyss.
The dark hero who protect earth.
Yes, my name is――
「The Abyss Lord, also known as Kousuke E Abyssga――」
Super loud thunderclap that drowned even the introduction of a thousand lords struck.
The people all became 「Eh? What did he say?」.
The abyss lord who was not allowed to finish his sentence became a bit teary and glared at the old warrior void god.
Also, the fact that people were more scared of him rather than the void god wouldn't change even if he managed to reintroduce himself.
.
AN: Thank you very much for reading this every time.
Thank you very much too for the thoughts, opinions, and reports about misspelling and omitted words.
※Meme introduction
–
The wind is noisy &
This wind, is crying
From Hidenori &
Yoshitake &
literary girl of [The Daily Life of High School Boys].
–
Inspector John McClane
From the movie [Die Hard].
–
What the heeeeeeelll
From the jeans detective played by Matsuda Yusaku of [Roar at the Sun!]
–
The hair brushing move to 「It huuurts」
It's from Zen'in Naoya of [Jujutsu Kaisen] but and DP of [Deadpool 2]. The former is from the scene of Naoya VS Itadori &
Choso, and the simultaneous attack from four directions is from VS awakened Maki. The latter is from the scene of getting shot from close range by rapid firing gun and DP blocking it with two swords. The shots hit normally and yet the enemy got confused 「Hm? It doesn't hit? Hm?」. I love that scene.
–
Your friendly neighbor
From [Spider Man]. The affinity level right now might be minus.
–
The image model of today's void god
The old man void god is Nodens of [Cthulhu Mythos], but only in appearance in the end. The devil-like void gods are [Night Demon: Night-gaunts].
※I revised the explanation for Black Sky Destitution. Actually I just thought up its relation with "void" at the day I posted this chapter. And so I might revise it again depending on the situation but, Shirakome's chuuni heart is at work huh……it will pleases me if everyone can think of it like that.