Chapter 134: Godslayer
Twisted and interwoven steel formed a throne of thorns, upon which Schwi sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the distant sea.
From the heavens descended a terrifying vortex that collapsed and radiated outward, its incandescent glow scorching to even glance at. That blazing maelstrom resembled a colossal fireball, and for some reason, it reminded Schwi of a sunset Kurumi once described to her.
Behind Schwi stood Rick, shrouded in tattered robes, resembling a shadow cast by the Ex-Machina girl seated on the iron throne. As Rick watched her, a peculiar sensation arose within him, as though the figure before him wasn't a machine but rather a melancholic young girl.
Before them lay the Spirit Corridor—the origin of all life on this planet. All they needed to do now was wait for the light of divinity, signaling the separation of the God of War's Divine Essence, to pierce the heavens. That would mark the moment of their victory.
Kurumi had gone alone to challenge the God of War, leaving Schwi behind.
Schwi instinctively pressed her hand to her chest. A feeling nagged at her, an ominous certainty that, victory or defeat, Kurumi would not return.
That morning, Kurumi had smiled as she kissed Schwi on the forehead and dressed her in a white gown.
The dress wasn't suited to this era—it was far too delicate. Layers of lace formed its skirt, with small flowers adorning the pleats. Puffy sleeves accentuated Schwi's slender shoulders, while a deep V-shaped cut in the back revealed her smooth, porcelain skin.
The attire gave the impression of a wedding gown.
However, this bride had no veil, no bouquet, and appeared far too young.
To Kurumi, Schwi was someone special. To Schwi, Kurumi was irreplaceable.
Schwi stared blankly at Kurumi that morning, and for the first time, she understood what longing truly felt like.
Kurumi had not said it aloud, but Schwi knew.
She knew that Kurumi would never come back.
Kurumi once told Mumei, "Time is gentler than anything. No matter how sorrowful the tides, they will one day be soothed. No matter how resolute the mountains, no matter how eternal the vows, they too will one day fade into memory."
Years later, people would forget the parting that once made them weep. All that remained were fragments of vague, intangible thoughts buried deep in memory, exchanged for a bitter, metallic laugh.
The moments shared with someone, fleeting snapshots in the journey of life, would eventually blur, leaving behind only nameless faces.
But Schwi was different.
She was Ex-Machina.
All those precious moments, which she cherished and meticulously preserved, were stored frame by frame, to remain intact until the very end of her lifespan.
A mysterious white light spread across the distant sky. The vortex, like a sinking sun, fell further, its massive solar disk nearing the ocean. The tide churned, white steam rising into the air.
Schwi said nothing, her face devoid of expression, as she silently watched the beam of light that symbolized the successful severance of the Divine Essence from the God of War.
Her "heart" disappeared again.
Schwi lowered her gaze, her head-mounted connectors—resembling cooling fans—fell silent, and her twin ponytails drooped lifelessly, resembling the ears of a scolded kitten.
She raised her right hand, and all thirty-two Enderpokryphen connected in an instant. The divine sword that would dictate the fate of the world was now in her grasp.
But... what did it matter?
Schwi pulled the trigger of the world's destiny without hesitation, then turned and walked away, utterly indifferent.
—
Avant Heim.
According to Schwi's calculations, after unleashing his Godly Smite, the God of War Artosh's power should have been reduced to less than 12% of its peak.
Kurumi didn't know just how strong the God of War was in his full glory, but the colossal god standing before her, towering as high as Zafkiel, showed no signs of weakness whatsoever.
After delivering a resounding proclamation that shook the airborne citadel to its core, the God of War rose slowly from his throne.
And with that simple action—
Kurumi saw his power surge without limitation.
Defying the laws of the world, twisting reality, violating every conceivable principle. Manifesting the concept of absolute strength, his power materialized into tangible, overwhelming force from sheer nothingness.
"The so-called 'strongest' is 'strongest' precisely because they are 'strongest'! What meaning is there in fluctuations of power?"
The God of War smiled, his eighteen snow-white wings radiating a hazy brilliance as they swept through the air, stirring a world-shaking gale.
"The so-called 'strong' is me, and the 'weak'—is everyone else."
His towering figure expanded before Kurumi like an insurmountable mountain. Bearing the very concept of "strongest," the God of War seemed utterly untouchable and invincible.
Every one of his stats displayed as "infinity." Behind his pitch-black health bar glowed a glaring blood-red ∞.
The radiant god narrowed his fierce golden eyes slightly, unfurling his vast wings that seemed capable of blotting out the heavens.
In the tempest raised by the divine wings, Kurumi heard the god's thunderous declaration—
"Perish."
The very fabric of matter unraveled as particles were broken apart. Centered on the God of War, everything within sight began to collapse visibly.
Irresistible power. Unchallengeable authority. All because the one standing before her bore the name Strongest.
Kurumi couldn't even perceive the full image of the divine being, let alone pinpoint where his Divine Essence might reside.
But... what of it?
The annihilating shockwave closed in, yet Kurumi calmly downed a golden, radiant potion—[Divine Protection of the Gods].
"Thirty seconds..." Kurumi's lips curled into a chilling smile as she aimed the barrel of her flintlock pistol squarely at the unparalleled God of War Artosh.
"Thirty seconds is all I need to bring you down!"
...
Like the Core of the Fantasy Species, the Divine Essence serves as the heart of the Divine Species (Old Deus).
Only with the Divine Essence can a Divine Species awaken from their conceptual existence and emerge from the Spirit Corridor.
And once the Divine Essence is stripped and pierced—
The Divine Species will fall into an endless slumber until their Divine Essence is reactivated.
Unlike the Core of the Fantasy Species, which is hidden somewhere within their body, the Divine Essence of the Divine Species often resides within a higher dimensional plane, one of fluctuating variables far beyond the reach of conventional understanding.
As genuine multiversal beings, only another Divine Species can locate and extract a Divine Essence.
In other words… unless the God of War himself chose to reveal his Divine Essence, Kurumi wouldn't even be able to pinpoint where it was.
Of course… that's under normal circumstances.
Kurumi walked through the ruined world, her figure gliding effortlessly past the terrifying shockwaves that brushed her but caused not a single scratch.
Emerging from the shadows, she appeared as light as a butterfly.
The God of War laughed at her beauty and at her insignificance, viewing her as no more than a moth drawn to the flame.
And what a flame it was—blazing, roaring, a towering inferno against which the delicate butterfly seemed like nothing more than an ember.
The God of War understood her state. Her survival was only a fleeting reprieve of thirty seconds. Even if he stood still and let her attack, she wouldn't be able to kill him.
Perhaps he had misjudged her. Perhaps he would need to wait another millennia for a worthy challenger to arise.
Yet, something about the crimson gleam of confidence in her eyes sent a chill through the unrivaled deity.
Why did he feel an ominous foreboding?
He saw the corners of the girl's lips curl into a smirk brimming with mockery.
—
Only a Divine Species can calculate the coordinates of a Divine Essence.
The stronger a Divine Species, the deeper their Divine Essence is buried within the fluctuating dimensions.
As the strongest deity, the God of War's Divine Essence was placed on the highest conceivable throne.
But… what if there existed a deity older than the strongest God of War?
What if there were a being of incomprehensible strength, quietly observing this world all along?
Impossible, perhaps?
And yet, it was true.
Eons ago, when the world was void and chaos reigned, she had already awakened.
Even when her own Divine Essence was pierced and stripped, she had merely fallen into a shallow slumber, her awareness still attuned to the pulse of this world.
The combined might of all the Flügel was as insignificant to her as blades of grass to the stars. Creations she casually crafted had marched through countless wars.
Her name was Holou, a bit absent-minded and undeniably adorable.
A few days prior, she had gifted Schwi a key, one that Schwi now clutched tightly in her hand.
The dimensional plane of 13+iR unfolded instantly before Kurumi, and she could even see the God of War's astonished expression.
The more he looked like that, the more her smile grew audacious.
She had once wandered through the labyrinth of time in search of redemption. Madness had driven her to despair, and despair had, in turn, softened her soul.
The world that could crush the will of any human being the moment they laid eyes upon it stretched wide before her… but honestly, it wasn't that impressive.
The Divine Essence, shrouded in a hazy white glow, stood silently upon its throne.
"Well, well… goodbye then," Kurumi said, her grin widening as she raised her blade-like firearm.
—Blood Waltz Rite—
Black chains cut through the very fabric of reality, ensnaring everything within their reach. The cold, dark muzzle of her firearm pressed directly against the God of War's Divine Essence, and without hesitation, Kurumi pulled the trigger.
The white radiance spilled from the severed Divine Essence, cascading across the heavens like a luminous curtain. The sky was drenched in its light, as though the world itself sang a requiem for the fallen God of War.
The towering, unparalleled deity gazed at Kurumi, who now stood once more within the Throne Room. He let out a final laugh, conveying everything with that one sound.
As if immensely pleased, his voice echoed with satisfaction across the realm.
"Oh heavens… oh earth… oh all things of this world, listen well!" Even at the end, the God of War issued commands with his booming voice.
"This… is defeat—so this is what it feels like. Truly exhilarating, even joyous!"
'Kurumi Tokisaki, you may take pride in this. You are, without a doubt, the 'strongest' adversary I've faced.' He smiled, speaking these words directly to her.
'Next time… it will be my turn to win.'
—
The white light that had filled the blood-red sky slowly dissipated, while the vast creature that served as the God of War's fantastical steed let out a mournful cry.
The strings in the hearts of the Flügel… snapped.
As the doors to the Throne Room swung open, the bound and pale forms of the young Flügel, restrained by spectral, slender hands, gazed at the delicate black-and-red figure.
At last, they were forced to accept the truth—
The strongest God of War… their master… had been defeated.
What were they to do now?
Without a master, did weapons like them still have any purpose at all?
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