Argeus the Paladin
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Chapter 17: The Demise of a God
With feverish haste, Artix, Halenro and Kuraodo made their way out of the Temple, with Robina trailing behind, but nevertheless still agile for her yet-to-heal injuries. The notion of what might happen should they fail to arrive in time for the confrontation urged them to press on even faster, as they rushed across the sandy ground under the dim moonlight. Fortunately, they didn't have to travel for too long, but when they reached where the battle was supposedly taking place, it was apparent that all had been over. There, on the ground lay the remains of very old man who had apparently died of exhaustion. His hair was as white as snow, and coupling with the various wrinkles covering his face, it could be reliable to deduce that he was at least one hundred years old. And on the other side of the field, stood a black-faced figure, clad in full Asgardian Plate, with the mystical Mjollnir in one hand and the Asgardian Shield in the other. Yet, his motionless posture suggested that something was not right with him, and as Kuraodo came closer, the Smithlord's Heir could but utter a gasp of astonishment. The standing figure had apparently been reduced to but a soulless, empty suit of flesh, with a frightening expression devoid of any emotion. Artix's approach revealed an even more astonishing fact- the figure standing there was no one other than Zeruel, the great Guardian of Battleon, whose skills were legendary even among the legends.
"Urrgghhh..." muttered the Guardian, without any visible feelings.
"It's useless touching him as of now," Artix said, totally mystified, "His soul has left his body... he's a Forsaken now."
"Forsaken?" Halenro gasped, "Is there any way we can save him?"
"Not that I can think of now..." the Lord Paladin replied in absolute blankness.
The scenario was at best too obscure for Artix and his comrades to comprehend. Who was the dead old man? Why had Zeruel been Forsaken? Who could have probably been strong enough to do that to him? And why? All clues could only lead to one single suspect... The'Galin. Kuraodo, realizing that, immediately stood up straight and cried out at the peak of his voice.
"The'Galin!" called Kuraodo, "We know you are there! Come out now!"
What happened next was quite a wondrous feat to all those who beheld. From the sky, a crooked figure dressed in bright red suddenly descended right in front of the group, radiating an extremely powerful aura that no one had ever seen before as he made his landing. As the figure finally touched the ground, the radiating aura was so strong that it was blowing sand, gravel, even smaller boulders away from its owner, generating centrifugal a wall of dust where he landed, a wondrous feat that no mortal could ever dream of accomplishing. And from the look of things, it appeared that the newcomer was extremely malevolent in his own rights.
Only when the wall of dust had settled down somewhat that Kuraodo and his comrades could take a clearer look at the figure standing aggressively before them. Artix gasped upon recognizing what he was. The crimson clothing items, the hair style, as well as the walking staff all suggested that he was Ryuusei Cartwright, or at least, what used to be the General, as his face was now blackened in a dark aura that even the general himself didn't have. His right arm had mutated a claw-like structure, as black as his own skin, and menacingly enough, was emitting dark energy from within its own fabrics. Finally, the power that he was displaying was nowhere close to that of the real Ryuusei- it was something much, much greater, something never a human could wish to get. There was only one possible explanation to that phenomenon, that being Ryuusei was Omega himself. If it was true, essentially, the General of The'Galin, Ryuusei Cartwright, had been manifested in by the god himself, and was now possessing next to infinite power.
After a beginning moment of shock, Artix drew all his courage and asked aloud.
"You... You are Omega, are you not?"
"It's better be..." the figure replied in an extremely prejudiced and sullen tone, a voice that was both loud and echoing, a voice only one of terrifying power and deathly abilities could have, "The'Galin."
"The'Galin? The Uncreator of World? Standing right here before us?" Halenro exclaimed.
"All too well..." The'Galin in Ryuusei's body spoke, his voice weighing down in utter conviction, "Little wretches like you just keep coming, won't you?"
"What is it that you would want with us?" Artix gathered all his courage, stepped up and questioned, "You have destroyed numerous worlds... killing countless people... why do this to the world you seek to protect? Why destroying the cery creation of the goddess you love?"
A glint of scorn glared in the hollow eyeballs that used to be Ryuusei's, as The'Galin went in with his conviction.
"A mother will never turn on her children. Even as her children try to kill her and rob her blind. A mother will never do what's right, because it is not in a mother's nature.
This hateful world of division needs to be cleansed. I shall be its cleanser. Now stand aside as I destroy this Temple. "
"No one would destroy the Temple of Hopes when we are still standing!" Artix replied loudly, apparently infuriated by all the condemnations. His Undead Axe flashed out from his back, and in a matter of seconds Artix had gotten into battle-ready stance. The Paladin loved his world dearly, and by no means would he let anyone touch it, even by the fingertip, if he could still live and fight.
"You are a persistent little wretch, aren't you?" The'Galin said spitefully, but a little empathy could be heard in his voice, perhaps for the brave example of Artix von Krieger, "However, it is unfortunate all of creation cannot be more like you. It might have been of some value. It may have been worth saving. I am giving you one last chance. Turn back. Things must be kep running now."
"I cannot and will not turn aside now, The'Galin," Artix replied boldly, "The world I love... the people I love... You shall not destroy it!"
"Fine. I do not wish to uncreate you. At this point, however, I have no choice," The Devourer shook his head, in what appeared to be a slight disappointment, but far from hindrance, "We must proceed. You wish to be uncreated? So be it - this time I uncreate you."
It was at this very moment that Kuraodo's rage had built up to the level of uncontainability. The culprit who had murdered his compatriots, ruined his family, cut down his civilization where it stood, and bringing the world he loved to the point of extinction was now standing in front of him, still going on with condemnations as old as the hills. He cared not what others would think about his speech. He cared not if another would applause for his speech as if it was a matter of truth. He cared not even if he was right. Twenty billion lives' destruction needed to be done justice to. He would do it, in person. Thinking so, Kuraodo reached out for his trump card- LIMIT and RECIPROCAL, ready for a quick strike.
"Stand back, Artix, and everyone," Kuraodo said, as if ordering, his voice being incomprehensibly tense and warlike, "It is my fight now. My fight alone. Those who have fallen have wept their bloody tears for vengeance."
Immediately, the Smithlord's Heir felt a cold, chain-gloved hand on his shoulder. Artix von Krieger was there, his kind smile stetching on his face, as a sign of friendship, comradeship, and a faith unshakable by any powers.
"You are not going there alone" Artix said "this fight is not yours, nor is it mine. It is ours. For those people who have died, and for those who shall live beyond this day."
Kuraodo stood silent for a second. It was at times like this that comradeship would play an important part in the outcome of the combat. It was at times like this that the bonds of comradeship could be put to test. And it was at times like this that one could see whether his friends were worthy partners. Artix and Sukaku, as far as he could know, were the best comrades he could ever have. Thinking so, Kuraodo smiled, and looked straight into Artix's eyes,
"Very well then, Lord Paladin of Lore. Even if we both loses our lives here today, I would have no regret. For having a friend like you is already the greatest blessing f my life."
As they did the last time, Kuraodo and Artix held hands tightly, and as Kuraodo chanted, spiritual flames started to form around the two warriors, until they had grown to such a size and intensity that it appeared like the two of them had been completely covered in a spherical ball of flame, lighting up the entire corner of the beach, before blowing up with an even more intense radiation, blinding everyone in the vicinity, including The'Galin in Ryuusei's form. Kuraodo and Artix's solitary, resolute cry signified the climax of the ceremony, as a huge column of light originating around the two spurted up into the sky, making it as bright as daylight for a brief second.
"Veni, veni, venias, NE ME MORI FACIAS!"
A couple of seconds later, the light finally died down, and the beach returned to its natural darkness. Miraculously, in the space where Kuraodo and Artix were standing before, now stand only one single figure, in Paladin battle armor, wielding the Paladin Axe of Light and wearing the signature crimson cape of Artix's, signifying the presence of the Lord Paladin of Lore. Yet, the spiky, blond hair and the vivid green pupil the figure had, instead of the casually combed brown hair and charismatic brown eyes to go with it of the Lord Paladin proved otherwise. But that was not the most interesting catch in the newcomer's descent. What mattered more at that particular moment, was that the new version of Artix, if it could be called so, carried in his vein much more power than the original. The power aura that the figure was generating was astounding compared to a normal human's ability, and from the look of the static electricity bolts flying around him, it could be easily understood that his actual capability was close, though not exactly equal, to a god. In any case, what power the strange being had was far more than what Artix could ever dream of, and exactly what would be needed in order to bring down The'Galin once and for all. To The'Galin's astonishment, the mutated figure took slow, but steady step towards The'Galin, before confronting him face to face.
"Watashi wa..." said the figure, his voice, strangely enough, resemble both that of Artix and Kuraodo, with the sole difference being the larger, more resounding echo, "Kuriaaga no Ajisu desu."
"Full synchronization," The Devourer said amusedly, "What an interesting catch of unity. Another proof of your worthiness of redemption. Yet I cannot waste time with you any longer..."
With a surprise movement of his palm, The'Galin shot a bolt of divine godly power at the Artix/Kuraodo combination, the same attack that killed both Nightbane and almost destroyed Zeruel. Surprisingly, all what the combination did was just shrugging, before raising an arm to block. To The'Galin's absolute astonishment, something he was very rarely thrown into, the attack he carried out was deflected completely off the warrior, before hitting a nearby oak tree, ripping it into a million fragments.
"What!" The'Galin said, his voice denoting a sharp instance of surprise.
"There is no use casting that on me..." the combination answered, "After all, you are not the only one with godly power in this place now..."
It was at this moment that the two opponents lunged at each other for a volley of melee attacks. The clashes between the two godly powers were, in its own rights, a beautiful sight to behold. As The'Galin's hideously deformed staff imbued with the darkest of dark powers smashed into the beautifully crafted Holy Axe, multitudes of bolts of deadly energy were shot out from the two weapons' surface, lighting up the area and further demonstrating the innate strength of the two entities. In addition to that, their respective auras were also discharged from each and every attack that either of them made, in the form of destructive, invisible wind slashes, in themselves a destructive force that could cut down trees and level buildings in no time. The continuous melee attacking went on for about almost half an hour, and Robina and Halenro were subsequently treated with a visual feast they had never dreamt of. The two fighters crossed weapons across the beach, and anything that got into the round of combat would be ejected from it a couple of seconds later, totally destroyed. As bolts continued to rain and shockwaves kept blasting out of the two fighters, the surrounding vegetation were totally devastated, and sooner than enough a cloud of sand dust began to form around the two opponents. The most imaginative of all beholders could compare the awesomeness of the combat session with the sheer devastating power of a full-scale tornado, looking at all the fallen trees and smashed boulders along the shoreline that the duo had created in the relentless struggling.
"Very interesting," The'Galin remarked, as he performed another boulder-cleaving smash with his staff, "What was it in this wretched world that made you this much stronger?"
"Why must I explain to the likes of you?" the Artix/Kuraodo combination replied coldly with a retaliating uppercut, effectively throwing The'Galin aside. And as soon as a distance was made, the combination then swirled his axe around, smashing it into the ground with a huge slam, subsequently lighting the blade on fire with another good amount of mana flare. At that performance, the Devourer smirked arrogantly, before lunging in at his opponent once again. At that moment, the axe had been fully charged, and the Devourer came in just at the right time for a good beat down.
"Veni, mi fili, veni, mi fili," chanted the combination, climaxing in a mutual cry, "HIC VENI DA MIHI MORTEM ITERUM!"
There was a huge crash, followed by a blinding flash, as the two fighters hit each other, or more like it, the Artix/Kuraodo combine's axe cleaving into the Devourer's staff. What happened next was a sheer wonder- The'Galin was thrown about fifty feet into the air with the following uppercut. but being a god, The'Galin was not to fall that easily, and the next of his action was able to turn the tide of the battle- a sudden dive from that height down at his opponent with the peak of his power resulted in a terrifying collision with the Artix/Kuraodo combination, which would account for the most devastating single blow that the face of Deren had ever seen in just one day. Its magnitude far outmatched Kuraodo's own example, as this time, the god's charge was able to blast off a large crater on the face of the earth, blasting off a huge cloud of dust and debris that could be seen from a good mile away, pushing his opponent down with an almost totally shattering force, and in fact, had succeeded in cracking the foundation of Artix's extremely durable plate. Then, with a smirk and an overturning of his staff, the Devourer was able to literally lift the combination out from the crater, and another swipe ended up tossing him a good dozen yard along the sandy beach, carving another canal on the beach, literally breaking off a good portion of Artix's plate with the impact.
It took the combination a good couple of seconds to get up bruised and bloody, and when he had gotten round, The'Galin was already standing there, gazing sadistically at him.
"You have been wasting my time all too much now," The'Galin said, "Death, in that case, would be too good for you."
With that word, The'Galin struck at the combination with his full force, which he subsequently, albeit difficultly, warded off with the axe. The melee fighting resumed, but by this time, The'Galin was certainly winning. Not only was the Artix/Kuraodo combination injured, but also because The'Galin was constantly becoming stronger, as if tapping into a mysterious, infinite power source. As a result, the combination found it harder and harder to avoid or block the Devourer's attack, while exposing his vulnerability more and more. In the end, what should come would eventually do, and within a matter of minutes, the Artix/Kuraodo combination was totally subdued, being flung into the base of a large tree nearby, with his armor shattered to the core. The'Galin proceeded, and quickly impaled him on the shoulder with the claw-like formation at the tip of his staff. With that kind of injury and concussion, it was highly impossible for the combination to even stand up, let alone continue the fight. Infuriated by his inability to continue the battle, while being able to do nothing more, the Artix/Kuraodo combine could but eye his opponent, The'Galin, with an enraged stare of disability. That action seemed to have amused the Devourer even more.
"Very, very well, little excuse of a hero," The'Galin said, "Before me, you stand as a remarkable enemy, but in fact, you could have made a great servant in your own rights..."
"I shall be damned if I ever choose to serve you!" The combination said furiously, correctly reflecting what both Artix and Kuraodo was thinking.
"Never knowingly... and that is why you served me best," The'Galin went on, "Had there been more like you in this world, I would not have to purge it over and over. Yet it is a matter of fact. This chaotic world must be purged. To the core."
That word was conceived as a great shock to both Artix and Kuraodo, an for good reasons. Artix loved the world he called home so much that he could never see anyone bringing harm to it. And Kuraodo's love for his people seconded to none, but his everything was consistently and systematically brought to a fiery end by the god. Neither of them would like to see that destruction taking place again. Simultaneously, the image of those nearest and dearest to the two of them started appearing in their subconscience, with such a degree of vividness that they thought they could actually feel their presence, talk to them, even to embrace them. The imagery of Robina Hood and all of Artix's friends and relatives, as well as that of all of Kuraodo's nearest and dearest emerging was like a hidden incentive, giving them strength. For that brief moment, Artix's desire to protect those he loved and what he held dear, as well as Kuraodo's thirst for vengeance for those he loved and what he held dear destroyed by The'Galin was able to wake up the hidden beast within both of them, a strength they had never known before. The resonance of those two extremely passionate and violent emotions had given rise to a surprise The'Galin could never believe, even in his wildest dreams.
With that newfound power, the combination quickly soared into action, pulling the spiny staff head off his shoulder and tossing its owner aback with ease, slightly startling the god. But the Devourer's astonishment didn't last for too long, as he lunged in for a final blow. It was this moment that the combination stood up with all his might, and at the peak of his voice, cried out aloud.
"You are an idiot, Devourer! Even now, don't you understand that..." the combination's voice raged, "There is nothing in this world that I feel worth uncreating, you know that? Nothing at all!"
The Devourer turned a deaf eye to the combination's words, and sooner than enough, the mighty father of Uncreation had to regret that hasty judgment. As soon as The'Galin was just two yards away from the opponent, the Artix/Kuraodo combination's whole form started to flare up in an intensely burning spiritual flame, so that he started to glow in a sort of strange, inhuman ray of light. Taken slightly aback by the change, the Devourer nevertheless continued his charge, and when he heard the subsequent battle cry on the part of his opponent, it was well too late to turn back.
"Riimitto Burakku," exclaimed the Artix/Kuraodo combination, signifying something grave yet to come, "NANATSU NO HORII MAITOSU!"
It was at this point that the peak of the wonder started to realize. Artix's war axe blazed on fire, as the combination grew in size just as in the Order's most powerful offensive attack, Holy Might. When he had grown twice his original size, the combination immediately lunged at the charging Devourer, and what happened next was not one the Devourer could ever dream of. The giant sized combination immediately launched an attack, but unlike the normal attack any seasoned Paladin could carry out, this time, as the hammer raged on fire, the combination repeatedly launched six consecutive blows at the Devourer, with speed and might well surpassing the limit of even a god, effectively giving the Devourer the slashing he deserved for all his actions. The'Galin gasped as each attack went home, cleaving through the flesh of his communicant. But that wasn't yet the end. When the sixth attack concluded, the Artix/Kuraodo combination leaped into the air, with the badly hurt Devourer standing right beneath, and miraculously, the silhouette of a familiar, pale-skinned, blond warrior with an oversize hammer detached from the combination's back, firstly in a misty, ethereal form, before finally materializing into a solid Kuraodo. It was then that Kuraodo stepped on the shoulder of his comrade, leaped in the air, before doing a full triple somersault, and with all the might he had newly acquired, planted a solid blow of his hammer on the Devourer's head. The blow was so hard that it technically pushed the carcass of the Communicant deep into the ground promptly after the slam.
The attack concluded with a acrobatic leap, as the two comrades held hand and somersaulted back on their feet. Overjoyed, they realized that other than a broken armor and a slightly wounded arm, neither of them had suffered from any injuries too grave. However, it appeared that The'Galin, or more like it, his communicant did not enjoy such luck. While the six-hit strike on Artix's behalf was able to almost cleave Ryuusei into six equal pieces, Kuraodo's final slam was more than enough to consistently smash his skull open. Without even being able to give a final gasp, Ryuusei Cartwright, the evil General of The'Galin, the power hungry Communicant, murderer of Galrick and the one responsible for countless deaths of many others, had finally been brought to justice with a horrible end. Now, when the deed was done, Kuraodo and Artix gazed at the scene for a few seconds, before turning to each other.
"Have we done it?" asked Artix at last, "Have we finally killed The'Galin?"
"I'm afraid not..." Kuraodo said. He had good reasons for his pessimism after all, as from the bloodied remains of Ryuusei Cartwright, a huge cloud of blood-redish substance began to churn up, billowing into the air like a huge chimney. Before long, the mass of gas had garnered itself together, forming a similarly huge, circular sphere bearing strong resemblance to the Red Moon in Granemor, with a menacing pair of eyes and a similarly threatening, savage mouth to signify the malevolence. Obviously, Ryuusei's untimely death had forced The'Galin to leave his body, but this time, the angry god was determined not to go unless he could complete the preset task.
"YOU HAVE PROVOKED ME FAR ENOUGH." The'Galin's true form spoke, "IT IS HIGH TIME THIS JOKE WAS BROUGHT TO AN END."
As the immensely powerful aura of the god in his true form could be felt, The'Galin was officially into action. Almost immediately, the background was seized by an extremely powerful gust, beyond the imagination of any mortal, and as it swept past the ground, both Kuraodo and Artix were blown away a good hundred yards, before landing on the ground with a loud crash, seemingly impossible to stand up again. A closer look at the surrounding would reveal an even more terrible fate of the vegentations and all the inanimate object that hadbn't yet been destroyed in the last combat round- All the trees and boulders had been efficiently thrown off the ground and scattered all over the place randomly. The effect was much more terrifying than a real tornado in question.
"Urgh..." Artix groaned as he scrambled up, "What... on Lore..."
"The full force of a god," Kuraodo said in an enlightenment, "And that is why a god would never appear without a proper communicant... his existence alone would be sufficient to blow entire worlds away..."
Another horrendous gust was hurled towards the two, and this time, had it not been for the huge boulder nearby that cut off part of the effect, the two of them would have well been blown away even further. All attention then came to what they could do to defeat the final form of the god, as Artix turned to his more knowledgeable companion to ask.
"If so... how could we defeat him?"
"Relax, Lord Paladin. LIMIT and RECIPROCAL are made for that sole purpose," Kuraodo said confidently, drawing the twin blades out from his fatigue straps, exposing their exquisite blue and red glints, "They are the only thing I know that could bring a god's true form to an end."
As another gust went by, Artix and Kuraodo were once again swept a good distance across, and by then, it was certain that if the Devourer went on, there would be no way they could stand the charge for much longer. An action plan must be drawn out, and quickly.
"But if he keeps doing that, how are we supposed to get a hit in?" Artix asked anxiously, as he scrambled back to balance.
"There might be a way. If we can turn his focus away from the wielder of the weapon while he carries out the attack, the success rate would be well above 60%, if my calculations are correct..." Kuraodo said, "In that case, we would need a decoy."
Upon saying the last word, the Smithlord's Heir rolled his eyes in disbelief and dismay. From the looks of his expression, Artix could understand what his partner meant, but was unable to spit out. Knowing that it was impossible to keep lingering around in that manner and be The'Galin's food, Artix decided to speak for his partner.
"I see..." said Artix boldly, "In that case, I would take up that task. I'd be the decoy."
"You are not going anywhere!" Kuraodo blurted, "I shall not allow another life to be lost because of me!"
"Look, Kuraodo. We have gone so far on this journey. We have to be decisive now. I am ready to give up my life to ensure a brighter future to the rest of my countryman. And you, your mission is to avenge your people. If we don't do it now, there will be no more chance, ever!"
The Smithlord's Heir looked at his comrade. His face showed nothing but a very strong determination to save his people, to bring happiness to the world he loved, and to simply let life go on as it should- the most noble of feelings. "We are so... alike... even more so than I had previous thought". For that reason, Kuraodo would never want him to die, never. Still, the fact that an incoming storm was on the way meant there was no choice other than radical ones.
"Alright then..." The Smithlord's Heir nodded in approval as the decisive moment drew close, "Let's get ready. He's coming."
With those words, the duo finally split, with Artix going right before The'Galin's full assault, while Kuraodo quietly scrambling behind. Normally, with a god's full conscience, that plan wouldn't even have even the slightest chance for a success, but in that one time, The'Galin had been so maddened, evident in his careless appearance in his true form, that he barely paid any attention to the surriounding any longer. As Artix slowly rising up to the god's rage, slowly and challengingly, The'Galin's fury had finally peaked.
"ARE YOU NOT AFRAID OF DEATH, MORTAL?" The'Galin's voice boomed loudly with unspeakable fearsomeness.
"I am not going to give up until you are banished from the face of this earth," Artix said calmly, gripping his war axe tightly as he feigned a direct assault at the god's immensely powerful form.
"VERY WELL THEN. YOU HAVE ANNOYED ME FAR TOO MUCH TO DESERVE FORGIVENESS."
When the god said something, he would usually mean it, and that instance was the case. A multitude of godly fireballs went home, hitting Artix in a direct collision, igniting the Paladin and tossing him backward, producing enough power to essentially kill off a battalion-size combat group. Although his final bit of arcane power was able to douse the flame, the impact alone was more than enough for a coup de grace.
"Robina... You had better live well... without me... I wish we could have more time..." was the last thing that came up in his mind. And so, it was then reliable to say that, with that attack's reception, the Lord Paladin of Lore had finally reached the end of his 29 years long, eventful journey through life.
At the sight of the horrible attack, Kuraodo's heart almost stopped at the thought of another who died for him and his people, but then he stood up bravely again. Artix's demise was just about another reason for him to press the attack, and he did what he thought fit. Before The'galin had the time to recover from the volley he had just thrown up, the Smithlord's Heir of Nanatsu, Kuraodo Isaac Gaean, had made his way right behind him, and when the Devourer realized how he had fallen prey to a simple trick, it was already too late. The Smithlord's Heir had already discarded his war hammer in due time, before brandishing LIMIT and RECIPROCAL in each hand, before leaping into the air, bringing himself to the level of the Devourer. Kuraodo's feeling at that moment could barely be described in words- only those who had waited his while life and afterlife seeking vengeance for the loved ones could fathom the feeling of satisfaction and release that Kuraodo was experiencing. It was only a matter of seconds before the two blades sank into the fabrics of the Devourer's true form, just as planned in the fateful briefing session fifty five years ago in Blizzard's Howl- the RECIPROCAL struck first, followed by the LIMIT's finishing up move.
As the antimatter crystals in the RECIPROCAL blade broke off the sword and entered The'Galins' body, a huge explosion ensued, followed by another loud blast when the LIMIT was inserted. The Antimatter-matter synthesization-induced explosion, and the follow up effects of the LIMIT were powerful enough to toss Kuraodo higher up into the air, before letting him on a free fall from an established height of two hundred feet, concluding in the loud thud when the hero of Nanatsu found his way back to the ground. Still somewhat dizzy from the fall, Kuraodo looked at the sky as soon as he was able to get back on his feet. What was happening there, after all, was a wonder that would not happen every millennium. After the two astounding explosions, the only thing that could be heard from the Devourer was a shriek, a scream of pain and terror, one that no one would expect to hear from a supposedly all-powerful entity. After that, the events unraveled quickly, and the reddish circular sphere that was The'Galin's true from started to distort, discolor, and shrink down at a horrifyingly rapid rate, before shifting back to a humanoid shape of a human, a man in his late middle age with a sizable share of grey hair and wrinkles, and fell to the ground with another thud. The human that used to be The'Galin, ironically enough, was as defenseless, puny and vulnerable as any of those he had readily annihilated and uncreated in Nanatsu.
Calmly and triumphantly, Kuraodo Isaac Gaean, with the two broken sowrds in both hands, stepped forward and confronted his blood enemy for the last time. And as far as he realized to his amusement now, the notorious Devourer still didn't know what had happenned to him.
"What... no way... what has.. happened... where is all my strength..." muttered the Devourer as Kuraodo drew closer, "How could this... be... I am the... The'Galin... I am... supposed to be invincible..."
"If you could do the math, you would have realized that your invincibility was still subject to a mathematical formula so simple that even a child could overlook," smirked Kuraodo at the Devourer's pitiful sight now "And you, murderer, you have now been stripped of all the power that we all know you didn't deserve in the first place."
"What... are you... " The Devourer's weak human self spoke weakly, apparently still not knowing why the ghastly man confronting him was holding that grudge.
Kuraodo tossed a small badge from his jacket pocket at the human that used to be The'Galin.
"Don't you dare tell me you don't recognize this badge," the Smithlord's Heir said firmly and sternly.
"This is... it... can't be..." The'Galin spoke weakly, but astonishment still showing on his sorrowful expression clearly, as he took a good look at the signature insignia of the Nanatsu Craftsmans' Council laid before him, "You are one... of those people..."
"Kuraodo Isaac Gaean, son of Garret Nordin Gaean, Grand Smithlord of the Confederate of Nanatsu," Kuraodo said clearly, "The son of the tragic father who created the Pyrosform Project. A citizen of an innocent race destroyed to the last by your judgment. And the person left in charge of your destruction by the twenty billion lives you have ruthlessly terminated with extreme prejudice."
As it came to pass, The'Galin was yet to cope with even the notion of being completely demoted, let alone being foercely accused. At that moment, the once vicious Devourer was at a complete loss for words.
"Now, you, good sir, I could say I have no qualms with your business. I have no grudge against your job," Kuraodo asked sarcastically, "But why did you go on and destroy the world I love? Why would you strip my parents from me, deprive me of the family I used to have? Why make me the sole survivor of a once glorious civilization? What have we done to deserve this? Just what?"
"Your people had committed the worst of crimes," The'Galin gathered all his remaining concentration and strength to defend himself, "Had you not planned to drain the energy of the very essence earth to fuse your own greed and ambition, never would I have to destroy it all. You would have destroyed the planet yourselves had I not intervened"
"Oh really?" Kuraodo smirked, as if ridiculing a schoolboy who knew almost nothing, "Who gave you the information that we were going to drain the life out of the planet? Who was the pitiful fool who told you that? Who? Tell me!"
There was a long, pregnant pause as The'Galin, or the grey, old man who used to be the god, dwelt on his reminiscence on the tragic happenings a millennium before. It was at that time that his expression slowly changed from a defiant shade to a more regretful and guilty one.
"Myself," The'Galin stated, "It was from my judgment that I carried out the deed."
"And you destroyed the entire civilization, without even giving us a chance to explain. Had you only asked, we would have been able to rain down proofs of the project's harmlessness on you," Kuraodo condemned, "Just what kind of god do you think you are? I think you know better than me that gods and deities are there in the first place to care for their children, not to annihilate them at the slightest provocation."
"I admit..." The'Galin said in confession, "It was my worst mistake ever since the beginning of my existence. I... am sorry..."
"The'Galin, your apologies shall not bring back twenty billion dead to life again. You should realize that better than I do," Kuraodo said sorrowfully.
The Smithlord's Heir then tossed his broken blade down at the Devourer's feet.
"Even though you are our blood enemy, I can't justify myself of the action of killing you," Kuraodo said, "Do what you think fit..."
The old man hypnotically picked up the blade, gazing at the blade as if at a mirror of himself. Yes. He had had a life of no regret. He had been a dutiful god for most of his life. But that could not mean that he was free from mistakes. And some mistakes were simply unforgivable, and there was no other choice to possibly redeem himself. The God of Uncreation looked at the sky and laughed hysterically. He, who used to judge people, who would carry out capital punishments to people, was now being judged himself...
"No!" The sudden cry of terror from behind was more than enough to draw Kuraodo's attention, as he was forced to about-face. What was happening was the last bit of astonishment for the day- a spirit of what resembled a young woman, with a calm, soothing, benevolent aura to come with, was floating in front of Kuraodo, and from the looks of things, she wasn't in the least bit content with what Kuraodo was doing to the old man who used to be The'Galin.
"It is you... Lauren..." was the Devourer's weak reply to the newcomer.
"Lauren... The avatar of Lorithia, the Goddess of Creation of Lore... If memory serves me right, you are also the Devourer's consort." Kuraodo said, " Are you trying to tell me to spare him?"
"It is not what I tell you to," the gentle spirit of Lorithia replied, "It is what you know you should. In the deepest corner of your heart, you know it."
"I can give you five reasons why he doesn't deserve saving. One, he killed my father, my mother, and everyone I loved. Two, he destroyed our entire civilization for no reason at all. Three, he has the responsibility in the destruction of many other civilizations. Four, his judgmental way of thinking, being very wrong in its own right, was the main reason why he did all those horrible things. And five, he had as good as little remorse for killing the innocent, not just here, not just in Nanatsu, but everywhere," Kuraodo said calmly, "If you, good lady, could give me five reasons why he deserves to live on, I would withdraw my decision."
"There would be no reason, except one. I asked him to do the job. I asked him to be judgmental and help me purge all what is chaotic and corrupted. If someone has to die, it should have been me, and not him."
"What a pity, goddess," Kuraodo smirked, "That reason does not excuse him from the crime of genocide."
"It does, as he didn't want to..."
"That is enough, Lauren," the sullen, yet sorrowful and regretful voice of The'Galin interrupted the conversation all too well, "I know what I have done... I know it cannot be excused... After all, no amount of apology could bring the dead back to life... you know it as well, don't you?"
"..."
The Devourer smiled his last to his dear spouse, before turning back to Kuraodo Isaac Gaean for the last time.
"Brave Kuraodo, I am the one to be blamed in this situation. If in my death the people I have killed wrongly can find their rest, that shall be what I would do."
Before Lauren could take any more action, The'Galin had held up the broken blade, and subsequently slitting his own throat. With the flow of blood of the man who used to be the God of Uncreation soaking the ground, the life of the Devourer, as well as all the struggles, all the fighting, all the grief and sadness that was caused by his actions had finally come to an end. His death was the price to see it end.
"NOOOOOOO!!" At the sight of her husband's death, Lauren's spirit gave out a soul chilling, deathly shriek, as the Goddess of Creation finally was turned away from the gruesome scene, and vanished as well. As much as Kuraodo was satisfied with the end, he knew that the Goddess of Creation's reaction was nothing good for the world of Lore.
*****
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