Chapter 194: Power

< Chapter 194: Power (2) >

Turn back time a bit.

The moment when the mark of the true spear was fully opened and pierced Asmodeus.

"Heavenly God!"

"I know!"

It was a signal.

A signal to announce the end of this operation.

The Dragon Lord began to act immediately.

『Spatial Freeze』

『Magical Freeze』

『Oxygen Freeze』

『Gravity Intensification』

As if trying to pour out all the remaining magic, she continuously chanted the dragon spells.

All were spells to bind the feet of the Demon God.

At the same time, the Heavenly God raised her ring.

"Emergency Transfer!"

The specially crafted artifact of the Angel clan that was shown to Kang Seo-yul.

She concentrated her magic to use the [Apellateni Ring].

"...Huh?"

However, the Apellateni Ring showed no response.

As if it were broken, it didn't even respond to the Heavenly God's magic.

"How sloppy."

Watching the flustered Heavenly God, the Demon God spoke.

A smirk lingered on his lips.

"Apellateni Ring. Its effect is [Emergency Transfer], forcibly sending those with pre-attached magic to a stored location."

The Demon God, who should not have been able to move or speak due to the frozen space, spoke with composure.

"I knew from the beginning that you would use that ring as your last insurance."

The eyes of the Heavenly God trembled intensely.

"How... did you?"

She was well aware that the same attack wouldn't work twice on the Demon God.

She had learned this the hard way over seven years of battle.

"Wasn't your magic eye... obtaining information from 'activation'?"

That's why the Heavenly God had treasured the Apellateni Ring.

If it could only be used once, she thought she would use it at a crucial moment. She cherished and saved it.

"How did you know about this ring which you should've seen for the first time..."

But to her surprise.

The Demon God already knew about the Apellateni Ring.

That's probably why the ring isn't responding now.

"Are we talking about the enemy's magic eye?"

Despite being bound by Ini's fourfold dragon spell, the Demon God gave a dry smile.

"Every day, every hour, every minute, every second. I evolve."

The Demon God, who shouldn't have been able to move, took a step.

Crackle, sizzle!

The space distorted, sparking with electricity.

"My evolved magic eye... sees through everything in the universe."

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

With each step the Demon God took, space became more distorted.

It looked as if a shattered mirror was reflecting the Demon God's entire body.

"Heavenly God! We can't hold on for long!"

Ini broke into a cold sweat and cried out urgently.

"Find a way! Figure out what he's done to that ring! That's your role, isn't it?"

Yelling so, Ini exhausted all of her remaining magical power to cast dragon spells.

『Spatial Freeze』

『Spatial Freeze』

『Spatial Freeze』

Although these spells only acted like adhesive being sprayed on the constantly shattering mirror, they could at least delay the complete breakdown.

"Hurry! At this rate, we'll be wiped out!"

Looking at the desperate cries of Ini, the Heavenly God bit his lip.

This place is now dominated by the Demon God's magic.

Teleportation spells are easily nullified with a mere gesture of the Demon God.

That's why the Heavenly God had the Apellateni Ring prepared.

It's an emergency transfer artifact that operates so quickly that the Demon God won't have a chance to interfere.

"Heavenly God!"

A pale-faced Ini shouted again.

"I don't know!"

The Heavenly God lowered her head.

"I can't tell what he's done to the ring..."

There was nothing wrong with the ring.

There was no trace of the Demon God's magic, nor any structural issues. There was absolutely no reason for it not to activate.

"Damn it!"

Ini, who was almost out of the ocean of her magic, staggered.

『Spatial Freeze!』

『Gravity Intensification!』

『Pressure Amplification!』

The power of the dragon spells had weakened considerably compared to earlier.

The Dragon Lord would be completely out of action within 30 seconds.

"Dragon Lord... please take care of the heavenly beings."

"What?"

Therefore, the Heavenly God was resolute.

She used her divine power to suppress the Demon God's actions. Thanks to that, the Demon God's movements had come to a complete stop.

"I will restrain the Demon God. Dragon Lord, lead the others and escape."

She decided to stay here alone and evacuate the others.

"If you choose a physical escape, there's little chance the Demon God will interfere."

The Demon God has no means to stop a non-magical escape.

As long as they succeed in restraining the Demon God, there shouldn't be any problems.

"You..."

With a pale face, Ini's eyes trembled.

She couldn't bring himself to say, 'Are you planning to sacrifice yourself?'

"Dragon Lord."

Looking at Ini, the Heavenly God took off the mask she was wearing and handed it, along with the Apellateni Ring, to the Dragon Lord.

"Please deliver this."

There was no mention of the recipient.

Because the Demon God was listening, she couldn't mention the name 'Kang Seo-yul.'

"I'm counting on you."

The mask the Heavenly God wore, [Sky's Cloud], was an artifact of the Angel clan that effectively concealed one's power.

The Apellateni Ring would be handy on a battlefield without the Demon God.

Both would be of some help to Kang Seo-yul.

"As for other relics..."

The Heavenly God gave a bitter smile as she looked at the armor and sword she currently had.

"Regrettably, it seems I can't give those to you."

"Heavenly God, you..."

The Dragon Lord was at a loss for words.

Looking at her, the Heavenly God forcibly handed over the artifact.

Zzzzt-!

The electrical discharge caused by the misalignment of magic around the Demon God intensified.

"Go now."

"..."

In a short while, the Demon God would regain his complete freedom.

"Hurry!"

Ini bowed her head with a frustrated expression.

"Don't worry too much. Fate has already changed."

The Heavenly God gave a faint smile.

The eyes of the Heavenly God, the 'Heavenly Eyes', see fate.

With those eyes, she saw her own fate.

She saw a fate where she would join forces with the Demon God in the 10th year of the war.

According to that fate, the Heavenly God shouldn't die here.

"...Or, has fate changed?"

If the Heavenly God dies here, it would mean that fate has changed. Her death would be the proof.

"..."

Ini's expression became graver, a face that could not be more broken. Her face was steeped in sorrow as she murmured.

『Sound Barrier』

Exhausting all her magic, she formed a sound-blocking barrier around herself and the Heavenly God.

The Heavenly God immediately realized what that barrier meant.

"Mr. Seo-yul... No, Apostle of Adam."

He had provided an opportunity for the Heavenly God to deliver her last words. So she could call Kang Seo-yul's name without hesitation.

"From the moment he appeared, fate might as well have changed. So, don't worry too much if I die about three years earlier than expected."

The Heavenly God gently closed her eyes, picturing Kang Seo-yul, and smiled faintly.

"In the not-too-distant future... we will defeat the Demon God and surely triumph."

Kang Seo-yul.

The Apostle of Adam.

As long as he, the beacon of hope, exists, this world will not perish.

"The biggest regret is that I won't be able to see that victory with my own eyes."

The realization that, even within this altered destiny, she was still fated to die was a bit saddening.

"Ini."

"You...!"

For the first time, the Heavenly God called the Dragon Lord by her name.

"I've been grateful all this time. It felt good... to have made a friend."

With that smile, she fully turned away from Ini and stood before the Demon God, who seemed ready to leap out at any moment.

"Ah, one last thing before I go."

Infusing divine power into her armor and gripping the sword in her right hand.

"Please convey this to him."

Utilizing her most powerful trait, her identity of sorts, she invoked 'Creation' and formed all sorts of relics.

"Yu Hwa..."

For some reason, a dream came to mind.

Perhaps because it was the first dream she ever had since being born as an Angel.

It just felt like something she had to say.

"Please tell him that she seemed to have a soft spot for him."

With that as her final word, the shield created by the Heavenly God's 'Creation' grabbed onto Ini, and they began to plummet to the ground.

"Hmm."

The Demon God, having completely released the barrier, looked calmly at the receding Dragon Lord.

"As expected, it's come to this."

He smiled as if everything had gone according to plan.

"I won't be chasing the others."

The Heavenly God surrounded the Demon God with the relics she created.

It must have looked to the Dragon Lord that the Demon God was thinking of following her.

"I have no intention of chasing."

But that was a misunderstanding.

"My goal was always you."

As long as the Demon God could deal with the Heavenly God, he didn't care about what happened to the others.

Boom!

A sound echoed as if the Dragon Lord had crashed into the earth.

Using that sound as a cue, the Demon God waved his hand filled with magic.

Wooom!

With that simple motion, he restrained all the relics created by the Heavenly God, then stepped right up to the Heavenly God's face, getting uncomfortably close.

"Once you're gone... I don't care about the others."

Whether it's the Dragon Lord or anyone else, without the Heavenly God, the Savior will fall. The Demon God knew this fact better than anyone.

Of course, the Heavenly God likely knew this fact even more than the Demon God did.

"...Why aren't you in despair?"

Yet, the Heavenly God's expression remained remarkably calm, even hinting at hope.

"I believe in the others."

"..."

The Heavenly God answered, meeting the Demon God's gaze directly.

A peculiar silence lingered between the two.

"...I can't understand."

The Demon God squinted, clearly irritated by the Heavenly God's unexpected response.

"Well, it doesn't matter. All I need to do..."

The Demon God showed his sharp teeth with a smirk.

"...is to kill you."

With those words, light and darkness exploded.

The sharp sound of metal clashing, sparks created when contrasting powers collided.

The gods of light and darkness clashed at an impossibly rapid pace.

"Is this the end for you? The Goddess of Light who once mirrored me! Is this all you got?"

"Ugh!"

As time passed, the light was being consumed by darkness.

Like a bulb with a broken filament, it wouldn't be surprising if the light was extinguished at any moment.

'Not yet... I can't fall yet...'

If she fell here, others, including the Dragon Lord, might not be able to escape safely.

Biting her lip, the Heavenly God mustered all the strength she had.

But she soon reached her limit.

Against an opponent she couldn't win against even with a 2:1 advantage, there was no way she could hold out in a 1:1 battle.

"...How disappointing."

After a brief 30-second battle, the Heavenly God lay in ruins.

The Demon God, holding up the battered Heavenly God by the hair, cast a cold gaze upon him.

The war of the gods ended with the defeat of the light.

'Not yet... just a bit more...'

Could she not endure just 10 more seconds?

Even 5 seconds would be good.

For every extra second she holds on now, one more person might be saved.

"What are you doing?"

With that thought, the Heavenly God bit into the Demon God's forearm with a desperate glare.

"...A woman called the God of Light, debasing herself by resorting to such primal tactics upon descending to earth."

Of course, it was to no avail.

The Heavenly God understood that too.

It was merely a tactic to momentarily halt the Demon God's advances.

"It's painful to watch."

Indeed, this action delayed the Demon God's movements by about 3 seconds.

"Now, die."

But that was the limit.

The Heavenly God was about to meet her end.

'...'

As the impending blow of the Demon God neared, the Heavenly God closed her eyes peacefully.

'If I were to be reborn... I wish to live like that woman in my dream.'

Harboring such a fleeting thought, she closed her eyes.

Just then...

ZAAAAAP!

A massive beam of light pierced through between the Heavenly God and the Demon God.

"What's this..."

The beam struck with such force, that it seemed to rip the hand holding the Heavenly God and shot up into the sky.

Caught off guard, the Demon God released his grip on the Heavenly God.

The beam, which surged skyward, caught the falling Heavenly God.

"Are you okay?"

Feeling embraced by someone, the Heavenly God slowly opened her eyes.

"...?"

She saw a familiar mask.

The mask, named [Sky's Cloud], that the Heavenly God always wore, the Angel artifact she had given to the Dragon Lord.

"Luckily, I wasn't too late."

The man wearing the mask looked down at the Heavenly God with a warm gaze.

"Who are you...?"

Looking at the masked man, for the first time, the Demon God seemed taken aback.

"Why?"

The warm gaze disappeared in an instant, replaced by eyes filled with hostility and enmity, as they glared at the Demon God.

Then, with a mocking smile that was clearly visible despite the mask,

"Are you surprised to see this ring responding correctly?"

He lifted the ring on his left middle finger.

The [Apellateni Ring] was glowing with divine power, seemingly ready to unleash its effects at any moment.

"..."

The Demon God's eyes narrowed.

"Ah, sorry. I just wanted to show you the ring. I didn't mean to be rude."

In this timeline, flipping someone off is considered a grave insult.

"You've even gifted me this ring and I'm insulting you... I really am quite tactless."

"Gift?"

"Yes. Gift."

An awkward silence filled the space between them.

"You don't understand, do you?"

The man smirked.

"I'm talking about the [condition] you [bestowed] on this ring."

"...!"

For the first time, emotion disturbed the Demon God's expressionless face.

"Who would have thought to use the Rewrite Ring like that, huh?"

The effect of the Rewrite Ring is to 'modify' the ability of an item as its name suggests.

"Most use the Rewrite Ring to 'enhance' items. But you used this ring for 'attack'."

"Who would have thought you'd add a 'condition' to disable the special ability activation itself by adding restrictions to wear the ring?"

"...!"

The Heavenly God cradled in the man's arms, shuddered at the revelation.

Both the Demon God and the Heavenly God were astounded.

Even the Demon God, it seemed, had his limits.

"Under what conditions are you using that ring?"

"This one?"

It was inconceivable for the Demon God how the man could use the [Apellateni Ring].

"You were smart, but a bit unlucky."

Behind the mask, the man's pupils gleamed. They were like those of the Angels, engraved with a mystical pattern.

"Of all the conditions you could have added, you chose 'Demon race'?"

The man's right pupil began to change.

"Then again, you didn't know about my existence. So you stamped both [Angel race] and [Demon race] conditions on it."

The mystical pattern disappeared, and the color gradually darkened.

"...That eye."

The Demon God's eyes quivered slightly.

"The eye... of a demon?"

The blood-red irises contrasted with the pitch black. They were characteristic of demons.

"Yes."

The moment the man smiled,

SWOOOSH!

From the man's back, four pairs of wings unfurled.

Half pure white like the Angels. The other half, pitch-black like the demons.

"A hybrid of Angel and Demon."

Two sets of wings, each embodying opposing forces, fluttered with their distinct power.

"I'm an Angel-Demon. That's who I am."

The man,

Kang Seo-yul, flashed a radiant smile.

If someone familiar with Seo-yul saw this smile, they would call it:

A scammer's smile.

< Chapter 194: Power (2) > End.