Chương 175: Chapter 173: Better Ending
For most people, time is something that cannot be fought against. They could only continue moving forward despite their numerous struggles and regrets. These regrets remain to be something to be looked back on.
At worst, it could be something that would hold them back from moving forward.
Bam-!
The sky was seemingly turned upside down due to the magnitude of the battle occurring as of the moment. One person with a unique blade fought off against another human—rather, it is more apt to say it was a monster.
With the empowerment received by the sixth sovereign, the former human became a demon. His skin turned black as he grew out a pair of longhorns. It wasn't wrong to say that he became a demon (oni).
Unfortunately, the person wielding the Edict Edge fell into a disadvantage.
Bam-!
His figure blitzed through the sky as he fell into the ground.
"Chichiue!" (Father!)
The person who arrived at his crash site was none other than Raiden Mei. Unlike before, she was holding a katana—the one she used since her real training—as she mowed through Kamis. It was hard to believe that Mei managed to defeat high-ranking Kamis with her ordinary blade, which spoke much about her swordsmanship skills.
"Ugh… It's not that bad."
A man with a similar appearance to her came out. His short purple hair and sharp gaze could remind people why Raiden Ryoma could become the Third's wielder.
However, he was hit hard during their confrontation against the Sovereign of Ice. It was a miracle that his entire body could persist when the fatal blow dealt a huge damage to his cells, freezing it until he was no more than a corpse.
Through the operation of his Edict Edge, he was able to sustain activity on his cells. It was supposed to be a long-term recovery that would 'thaw' the damage done to his body.
However, the more he uses his power…
The greater his chances of dying would be.
"Chichiue… You said that Shima-san is en route. Why are you trying to push it so much?"
"Ahem… I… Mei…" Ryoma wore a conflicted expression until he decided on something. "I did not lie. Hisao is already on his way, but that thing… he won't wait. You can't see it with your bare eyes, but it was already gathering large amounts of Akuki (Evil Energy)."
Akuki was the term dubbed to the 'energies' used by both the Edict Edge wielders as well as the Kamis and Sovereigns. That was something they brought upon their first descent to this world.
It was treated as a form of virus at first, but further examination made it clear that it was another form of 'energy'.
"Chichiue…"
Mei didn't need to hear any more words. She already realized what was happening.
Her father was preventing the Sovereign from causing a 'Saigai' (Disaster). That event causes the appearance of undeads as well as kamis.
All sovereigns had the ability to summon it at will, hence battles were usually settled within the first few hours.
If there was a Sovereign that managed to act freely, its consequences would be unimaginable.
"You don't need to worry. I will back off once it is interrupted."
Ryoma threw a white lie as he patted Mei's head. His palms were light, but Mei could feel the burden carried by her father.
Seeing him re-enter another clash with the sixth sovereign, Mei tightened the grip on her blade.
'I succeeded several times… but if I fail this time…'
Just then, a voice came from her head.
"Show them."
"Galahad-san?!"
Instinctively, she visualized the knight who was living on her head rent-free. Ever since their training started (on her dreams), she managed to learn the things he gave her. One of them was the largely castrated 'God-killing Blade'. He repeatedly emphasized how limited it was when he passed it onto her.
Then again, he mentioned one important thing while passing it:
"It is castrated, yes, but the most important essence is its legend."
Legends.
From Galahad's words, they were extremely important. They are basically the 'essence' of the things he taught. Despite the difference between the two worlds, it remains the same.
So as to say, the god-slaying technique he brought out will have a large effect against gods—true to its name.
"I will be behind you, so trust me. You will succeed."
"...Thank you."
Galahad might've seen this act as 'spoonfeeding', but he begs to differ this time. This was the final push needed for Raiden Bosenmori Mei to become a great hero with her own legend.
"One strike. The distance doesn't matter. As long as it hits him, you will have the resolution you seek."
At this moment, his words served as comfort for Mei. She soon entered her flow state, unbothered by the things from the outside world.
In her eyes, all that existed was the blade.
"Jiyakuten. Nanika shidaitai." (Weakness. Something that is magnified.)
"Shidou. Kaname wa kaiji ga tsuku." (Death. A point everyone will reach.)
"Shuuryou. Yougikai no koto ga tomaru nai." (End. An inevitable thing that does not stop.)
With every phrase she recited, the more mystical her blade became. It was completely invisible to the naked eyes, but for those that faced it, the insurmountable feeling of end gradually consumed them.
"Doremo reigai dewa arimasen." (None is an exception.)
The blade emitted a special aura. It held a sense of solace, yet it also brought hope at the same time.
Truly, it was a technique that utilized a world's enemy and used it to light up hope.
Hum-!
Crossing every restraint in space, the sword found its mark. The blade used to unleash such an attack crumbled into white particles of light the moment it was sent out…
Clang-!
Pssk-!
…but it was followed by the Sovereign's body crashing to several layers of Earth. The moonlight served to illuminate the shocked expression worn by Ryoma as well as the black blood that followed the sovereign in his tracks.
Pitter-!
Patter-!
It started raining the moment Mei landed the hit on the sovereign. Without being able to see the aftermath of her actions, her consciousness fell to a rest.
"It's not bad." Galahad's murmurs were left in the air, serving as faint murmurs in the ears of the sleeping Mei.
For the first time, this world witnessed the sword from another world.
*****
"Fu… Just as expected."
As soon as Nobu opened his eyes, he was met with Artemis' emerald pupils. He could see a pair of mountains as he laid on her lap.
Who would've expected that the person who helped another world resolve a major crisis to be enjoying a lap pillow in another world?
"How was your trip?"
"It went well. I have to say that fated people are different across many worlds."
One of the things Nobu realized throughout his journey was the existence of 'fated people'. These are the so-called "lucky people" that could act as a "protagonist" to the myths created by the world.
Suimei has the fate of a singularity (i.e., black hole), and so was Bell Cranell with his fate as a wild card.
As for Nobu…
He was similar to Suimei in a way that changed the destinies of those around him. It was apt to say that he was a 'black hole' through and through.
Artemis shuffled through his hair with her fingers. It felt comforting to Nobu who was in constant pressure to 'seek' an alternative ending.
"It reminds me of you."
"When we first met…" Nobu asked.
Somehow, it feels that their first meeting was already a long time ago. In actuality, only a little more than three years had passed since then.
"...I could still remember what you've said… Can you feel—"
"Please stop it."
Although Artemis didn't do much, she looked away from him as she tried to hide her embarrassment. Though the two are already in a relationship, their first meeting always brings shame to her, mainly due to her choice of words.
Do you feel it?
Just thinking about that scene was enough to make Artemis weak on her knees.
"You… You were also at fault back then. When I was bathing…"
"...Ah."
This time, it was Nobu's turn to pause. He admitted that he saw many things about Artemis during that time. Nobody was at fault at that time since he only gave the heads up to Lante. Meaning to say, nobody could've known that he was taking a bath.
Funnily enough, the thing happened to them in reverse compared to the usual cliches.
"I saw some things… but you definitely saw my everything."
"That…"
Instead of the boy entering into the bathroom while the girl was showering, everything happened between them in reverse. That time, Nobu was completely naked.
Unexpectedly… or as expected, the ambience between the two became more ambiguous.
Nobu could hear the rapid beating of Artemis' heart. It was the sign that they will do that.
Although they haven't crossed the final line, they already did a lot of things together.
It was a matter of time before Artemis' title as a chastite goddess would be replaced with something else.
The moment their lips touched, they entered another impassioned moment.
*****
Within Hitori's bedroom, she was slightly going crazy as she talked with her other self. It happened first when the reveal of the supernatural side began. Though, the frequency and 'closeness' with her other self became even more evident as they progressed through each calamity.
As of now, they are already on their twelfth calamity.
The seventh calamity was all about the [False Prophet] and its [Beasts]. That was swiftly defeated when the team that fought the four calamities at the same time united. The same thing happened to the eighth, ninth, and tenth calamities.
The eight calamity was about the [Last Men] prophesied by Nietszche. It was a challenge to the collective human consciousness. It showed the possible 'endings' throughout endless 'futures' that might happen.
It basically encouraged humanity to give up before things become even worse.
However, that was easily defeated when its 'concept' was wiped out through similarly conceptual attacks.
Meanwhile, the ninth calamity onwards was different. They were the 'strongest entities' recorded in several myths that attempted to 'end' the world.
The ninth was Kalki, Vishnu's tenth and final incarnation that would 'end' the world to cleanse it. The tenth was Lucifer, the former superintendent of the angels on [Heaven].
These two entities required the cooperation of virtually everyone available, including Suimei and Reiji who returned from another world.
The eleventh was the Leviathan which was previously defeated in the parallel world through Kazamitsu's suicidal full-blown attack.
This time, Suimei stepped up alone to deal with it. After everything, this brought everyone to the twelfth calamity which was yet to manifest.
"Tsk… Why am I this stubborn before?!"
Unfortunately for Hitori, she was facing another calamity all by herself.
"Can't you understand it?! You act late, everything will be over! Over!"
"But… but… we're friends."
"So what?!"
"I don't want to… risk…"
Currently, Hitori was facing an 'image' of her other self within the tatami room. Shockingly, she wore a set of black clothing—something straight out of what Hitori calls 'edgelord' phase.'
Unfortunately, the circumstances faced by the other Hitori was justified enough for her entire personality to do a complete 180.
Currently, she was being scolded by her other self.
"Look at Mashiro! Artemis! Hephaestus! All the girls around him!"
The other Hitori emphasized the names of all the girls that surrounded Nobu.
"...Just think of it like this."
The other Hitori's voice came to a complete calm.
"Do you want to be remembered as Nobu's friend?" She said. "Or… do you want it to be something else?"
At this moment, it was made clear that they were talking about love.
Hitori, who kept these emotions bottled up since they were childhood friends, was afraid of 'failure', something that she always thought whenever she did 'something'. It was connected to her social anxiety, which gave her the ability to do something 'goofy' when the time was right.
That huge, insurmountable wall is currently preventing her from making a choice.
"I have to let you know… that you were lucky."
Hearing her words, Hitori fell silent. She could see the depressing aura oozing out from the other Hitori.
"If you don't want to take that chance now… you WILL regret a lot of things." She said solemnly. "Now, I don't know if that outcome will change. Knowing him… he could pull it off."
The other Hitori pertained to Nobu having the full access of what his other self failed to reach.
"But… on the off chance something similar happens…"
Nobu disappearing from this world.
That thought sent Hitori to a standstill.
She could remember when she panicked the moment she felt his severe fever several years ago. A child's thinking was simple at that time. She did not want to lose a friend… someone she held importantly.
That time, she was able to let go of her social anxiety and rush straight to Nobu's home. It was the adrenaline rush and that thought which forced her to act.
It seems like that same sensation would occur this time.
"He… He would not…"
The more she thought of it, the more dead-ends Hitori reached. After all, thinking about the worst case is her "talent"...a depreciating talent.
It became worse to the point tears started clouding her eyes.
"If he… If he…"
Seeing her internal dilemma, the other Hitori heaved a sigh.
'She has to realize it now.'
Things could not be done half-heartedly at this point. It has been a year and a half since the first calamity's descent. It was already confirmed that the duration of the final calamity was the same as this world's.
No matter how they beat the other calamities earlier, the final calamity would still arrive at the same time as it did on the other world.
Knowing this, there was only six months left before their world faces that epilogue.
At that time, Hitori should not follow the footsteps of the other Hitori—someone who was swallowed with endless regrets.
'A better ending…'
The ending doesn't need to be the 'best'. It should, at most, be better than the one reached by the parallel world.
'My other self… reach for a better future… for your sake.'
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