Chapter 185: Scorched Friedt
『Curse you!!! Curse you!!! Curse you!!! Curse you!!!』
The clash between Cornelia’s 【Ann-Teaker】 and the beam from the Evil God’s Core proceeded in Cornelia’s favor. Gradually, the white light of 【Ann-Teaker】 drew closer to the Evil God’s Core.
“Hah… hah… ugh, hah…”
However, Cornelia was also severely exhausted. It was just a little more, but there was no guarantee Cornelia’s stamina would hold.
It looks like I’d better prepare myself.
“Ria, no matter what happens, keep going and subjugate the Evil God. I’m counting on you.”
Saying only that, I dashed towards the Evil God’s Core.
“Onii-sama!?”
“Dee!?”
“Onii!?”
“Dee, what are you…!?”
From behind, I could hear everyone’s voices, as if doubting my sanity.
Well, of course, they would. The Evil God’s Core was the epicenter where two colossal energies collided. What would happen if a mere mortal jumped into such a place? That was clearer than day.
“Here I go…!”
As I took a step forward, my hair first began to sizzle and burn. My skin dried out in an instant, and what was once scorched skin started flaking off.
The moisture in my eyes evaporated instantly, and cracks appeared in my vision. My eyeballs themselves must have cracked. Still, I pressed forward. Thrusting the Dark Twin Holy Swords before me, I charged at the Evil God’s Core.
My left hand disintegrated. However, the exposed, pitch-black bones of my left arm still gripped the sword.
“Heal…!”
Even if I recovered with 【Heal】, my body would disintegrate in less than a second. I knew that. What I was doing was akin to suicide.
But if I didn’t finish off the Evil God here, if I didn’t finish it off now, there wouldn’t be another chance.
Everyone in 『Reginleif』 was putting on a brave front, but they were already at their limit. They had fought monsters countless times before and had long since surpassed their limits. Still, they had pushed themselves this far.
If we couldn’t finish it with this, there would be no victory for us.
I will absolutely defeat the Evil God.
With that will alone, I took another step forward.
“Heal…!”
『What are you!?』
The Evil God finally noticed my presence, but it was too late.
“Daaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
I used my last remaining Holy Power to Heal, then pierced the Evil God’s Core with the upswung Dark Twin Holy Swords.
『Stooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop!!!』
There was no hard resistance I had expected; rather, it sank in squishily, like a hot knife through butter.
Pshk!!!
However, the effect was outstanding. Cracks instantly spread across the Evil God’s Core, and the fissures widened.
『Ah… ah… …』
The next moment, the black light emanating from the Evil God’s Core vanished, and the white light overran the Evil God’s Core.
Confirming the Evil God’s Core was annihilated, my consciousness faded…
◇
Warm droplets trickled down my cheek. Rain…?
When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw a faint shadow within my cloudy vision.
What’s this? What happened to my eyes?
With a dazed mind, I tried to recall what had happened.
I was pretty sure I, along with everyone from 『Reginleif』, was fighting the Evil God… That’s right, what happened to the Evil God?
“…”
I muttered, wondering what happened to the Evil God, but no voice answered. In fact, I couldn’t even hear my own voice, nor any surrounding sounds.
Can’t hear?
What is this? What’s happening?
As I remained dazed, I felt as if I were enveloped in a warm, green light. My mind awakened slightly from its stupor. My body also felt a little more at ease.
More at ease?
I see, so my body had been in pain.
“…this… stop…”
“Oni…”
“…gai, …do…”
“…nii…”
I could faintly hear voices. I didn’t know whose they were. But they were voices filled with sorrow.
When I focused my consciousness on my body, I found it wouldn’t move at all. However, I could tell that a little Holy Power had accumulated. I should have used it all up when I defeated the Evil God, so some time must have passed since then.
It looks like I can just about use Heal.
“Heal…”
The effect was dramatic. My thoughts, which had been as if veiled, became clear, and colors returned to my vision. The vague sensations in my body revived.
“Onii-sama!”
“Guh!”
I felt a sudden impact on my chest.
When I opened my eyes wide, a tear-stricken Cornelia was looking at me.
“Thank goodness. Thank goodness… Honestly! Onii-sama, you idiot! Going to such a dangerous place, if you had died… What would I have done if you had died! You were completely charred, Onii-sama!”
“Ah, yeah… My bad.”
“Are you repentant?”
“I am, I am.”
“Dee, I’m so glad…”
“My Heals had run out too, so I truly thought it was hopeless.”
“Onii…”
Looking up, Claudia, Eleonore, and Lily were tearfully rejoicing my survival.
“Thanks, everyone. So, what happened to the Evil God?”
“We confirmed its annihilation. Not even a corpse remained; it vanished completely.”
“I see… Hup.”
Relieved by Claudia’s words, I stood up, as if lifting Cornelia. At that moment, I felt something flaking off my body.
“Kya!?”
“Oh my!”
“Onii…”
“Eh?”
For some reason, Eleonore’s face turned red, and she covered it with her hands. But I could see her peeking through the gaps between her fingers.
Claudia had a surprised look on her face and covered her mouth with her hand, while Lily looked exasperated.
Why?
Following everyone’s gaze downwards, for some reason, my naked body was saying hello.
“Ah…”
My equipment must not have been able to withstand it and broke…
“P-Please do something about it, quickly!”
Eleonore said, all the while peeking. Should I point out that I know she’s looking?
Well, it was an anticlimactic end, but that’s how we defeated the Evil God.