◆ Ruins of the Avangarde Royal Capital ◆
Marty smiled at Aboro and me as we instinctively took our stances. No, this wasn’t Marty. Her wide-open eyes glowed red, and her once gray hair had turned white. The bundle of hair she had tied back had come undone, spreading out like a fan. It writhed like a living creature, making it seem as if it was lifting Marty’s small body into the air.
Without needing Genia to explain, it was clear that Rulud was using Marty’s body to teach. Characters, like serpents, coiled around her skin, swirling and then breaking free to materialize. Two rings of text crossed over each other, protecting Rulud.
“It seems you were a step too late…”
“Genia, just to confirm, that’s Rulud taking over Marty’s body, right?”
“Yes. It appears that the Hero lineage was already aware of Rulud’s ability to possess others, hence why they chose to seal him instead of killing him…”
“Possession Reincarnation. It’s not exactly omnipotent, but it seems the effort he put into perfecting it over his lifetime has paid off.”
As if to match Rulud’s mood, the rings of text began to spin faster. Was that a result of his magic or a skill? Regardless, one thing was certain: he had firmly grasped Marty’s “miracle.” But that wasn’t the issue at hand. What had happened to Marty?
“To deceive in the name of Zeda and sway Marty to his side… To think he could outsmart me, the progress of humanity is unfathomable…”
“While the lowly beings of the Celestial Realm pretend to be divine, they fail to open their hearts. Without that, completion of the Possession Reincarnation is impossible. Though my plans have been significantly disrupted, it is still within harmony. The time has come for the world to return to its natural state.”
“Was it all for that…? You’ve been deceiving Marty for so long?”
“It is a great achievement!”
Rulud raised his voice in response to my question. The rings of text accelerated with his emotions, and at the same time, something burst forth from the rubble.
It was grass that had been hidden beneath the debris. The weeds I usually stepped on without a second thought were now growing larger than me. Grass sprouted from all around, threatening to engulf the rubble.
“The plants are growing rapidly… Is this also his magic? If so, this could be very dangerous.”
“Genia, do you know what’s about to happen?”
“It’s the naturalism Rulud has been advocating. He likely intends to cover this world with nature. The natural world, including plants, will surpass humanity… In simple terms, it means the extinction of humankind.”
“Wha…! I won’t let that happen!”
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper!】
If it could be erased by a miracle, it would be just like with Marty. I would strike again and again. Those spinning rings of text were irrelevant. Kurinka would surely handle Marty’s body.
“Whoa!”
The grass that had emerged from the ground had somehow entangled my feet. I tore it away, but I missed my shot with the Sonic Ripper, sending it wildly off course. After the Sonic Ripper flew past in a strange direction, Rulud smiled with a girl’s face.
“Rua-chan, don’t panic! Even I don’t have the confidence to do anything about Marty in that state!”
“Y-Yeah…”
It was only natural that Kurinka and I shared the same intentions. Even after witnessing such a past, I didn’t want to kill him. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“Marty… she loved that old man, Zeda, didn’t she? Hey, Rulud, you’ve been deceiving Marty all this time while pretending to be that old man, right? Do you understand what that means?”
“State it clearly.”
“Clearly…? What do you mean?”
“I’m saying, do you not realize you’re a scumbag?!”
“Foolishness is evident.”
The fool muttered as he gazed into the distance. There was no point in trying to reason with him. Unlike Marty, he showed no remorse. If anyone was to die, it would be him, not Marty. In moments of intense anger, my mind often became clearer. I could think of various methods to deal with the situation.
Kurinka’s eyes were now set with determination, a clear sign that she was genuinely angry. After confirming our shared resolve with a glance, I nodded. There was something I had wanted to try for a long time. No matter how terrible an opponent, even if they were an enemy, this method was too cruel to use until now. To put it simply, I had never had a suitable target to test it on. But now, here he was—a piece of trash.
“If we’re talking about fools, even the girl who once became my puppet to establish the Uzei Religion could be considered scum.”
“Are you referring to the girl who helped the villainous Lacon…? Ryoho! That girl lived hand in hand with Lacon, didn’t she?”
“That’s correct. As expected of you, Kurinka, you remember well. However, Zeda, I fail to understand your meaning… Is your reference to Risha a metaphor for something?”
“The Uzei Religion that you foolish beings have worshipped was prepared from the very beginning for the purpose of corrupting humanity.”
Even Ryoho seemed unable to keep up, his usual calm demeanor evaporating. Perhaps he was realizing that what they had believed in was actually a monstrous deception.
“Recall, Ryoho… No, humanity. What was the original beginning? Who was it that drove Lacon to the brink of death and counseled him?”
“That was Hero Uze… The origin of the name Uzei Religion… Huh?! No, that can’t be…”
“Yes, it was me. Though I was a hopeless villain, I had my eye on him. Those like him are easily deceived in their innocence.”
“W-What do you mean…? Risha, who became Lacon’s partner, was wise and…”
“Risha is my daughter. It was all orchestrated.”
Ryoho and his group were in shock, unable to stand from the overwhelming revelation. Their knees trembled, lips quivered, and their faces turned pale. They had just discovered that the one they had followed was such a scumbag. While I felt pity for them, it was Ryoho who had refused to listen to reason.
“That was my daughter. There was no affection or attachment to that scoundrel named Lacon. During each regular report, she would come to me, saying, ‘I would rather die than be with such a filthy man.’ Hahaha, she must have had extraordinary resolve to offer her purity.”
“Risha… she devoted herself to… Lacon…”
“I will not punish you. However, I will hold you accountable for your sins. From now on, let us wash away our sins together.”
“T-Those words…”
“By declaring this, Risha has painted over Lacon’s entire life. She believed in this ideology throughout her life and established a sect, proving that even scum can have their uses. Building the love and trust that humanity blindly believes in is an easy task.”
“That’s a lie! No way! This is all a lie! Aaaaahhh!”
Ryoho finally reached his breaking point. He covered his ears and looked up at the sky, letting out a shriek. Others around him seemed to have lost the will to live, unable to stand.
“So the Uzei Religion was merely a stage set up in anticipation of your defeat. Even in your absence, if the ideology of the Uzei Religion spreads, humanity will abandon civilization and return to living in nature. In that case, humanity would perish effortlessly.”
“Wise words. The permanence of domination through force is but a fleeting illusion. Hence, the examples of the King of Destruction and the Demon Lord serve as counterarguments.”
“And civilization is what pollutes the world. A world rich in nature is the true form it should take?”
“The Hero lineage viewed the world through the lens of humanity, but that is merely a pretty sentiment! To consider the world, one must focus solely on the singular!”
“…It’s not for the world, it’s for yourself.”
Kurinka, losing her patience, shot a piercing gaze at Rulud. I knew she would articulate what I couldn’t. She swung her staff a few times, revealing her anger.
“You just want to fill the world with green and admire it. That’s not for the world; it’s mere self-satisfaction.”
“To perceive this as selfishness already places you in the realm of humanity. You are nothing more than organic matter with half-baked intelligence.”
“Kurinka, that’s enough. I’ll take care of this guy for a bit.”
It wasn’t just Possession Reincarnation. In my assessment, he likely possessed many other powerful spells. Before using Marty’s body, he could have been mostly neutralized, but that wasn’t the case now. With a “miracle,” he could make all his spells hit me directly.
In dealing with this kind of opponent, it was crucial not to let them recognize me. If they couldn’t grasp their target, they wouldn’t be able to activate their skills. With a clear mind, I calmly analyzed Rulud. I recalled the time in the Abyss Cave. I had to think at full capacity.
“Hahaha! Have you vanished already?!”
【Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud has appeared! HP: ?????】
I darted around using Sonic Boost, making sure not to enter Rulud’s line of sight. The next crucial factor was the number of attacks. If he was going to evade my strikes with “Miracle,” I needed to deplete that first.
“Allow me to assist as well; I will analyze the enemy with my Detect Ring.”
【Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud HP 999,999,999】
“Wow! It’s maxed out! This is definitely a capped value!”
Genia’s Detect Ring emitted a holographic light, displaying the same numbers I had seen before in the Kingdom of Metallica. It was visible to everyone present, but I wondered if it was wise to let Rulud see it.
“Nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine!”
“Oh, Elmera. Do you understand this? By the way, based on calculations, we need to hit Rulud with over ten of Rua’s maximum power techniques to have any hope.”
“That’s only if we don’t consider skills, right?”
“Yes, that’s why it’s an expectation.”
【Rua unleashed Sonic Spear × 455!】
Sonic Spears flew from all directions. I might be boasting, but if even one hit, it could take down a calamity that could destroy the world. Dodging hundreds of those? “Miracle” wouldn’t happen that many times.
【The Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud was not hit!】
“Fuhahaha… delightful, delightful. It seems you have the brain to make a rough estimate. However, it won’t reach me. Before my greatest secret technique, ‘Thousand Miles’…”
【The Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud is protected by the Thousand Miles technique!】
He seemed to be there, yet not there. He felt close, but in reality, he was quite far away. My Sonic Spears couldn’t even reach him. Even for me, being told to make a Sonic Spear reach the ends of the world would be a tall order.
“It’s a technique to increase the distance between oneself and the opponent.”
“Your discerning eye is impressive. I commend you.”
【Aboro’s Meteor Boost Drive!】
“Ooohhhh!”
Aboro was also unable to get close to Rulud. He was charging toward him, but it felt like he was endlessly rushing into a wall. Would he ever reach Rulud like that?
【The Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud’s Malice Technique!】
“Ugh…!”
“Even if you try to bluff, you cannot deceive my eyes. Have you been fated by a Life Angel? You are surely on a path to decline. Even a small wound can lead to death after a great loss… taste the malice.”
“Haaaaaaah!”
【Aboro’s Meteor Drive Boost!】
Aboro was holding his ground. No matter what Rulud did, he maintained his power in response. From what I could see, Aboro was giving it his all. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, a testament to the strain on his body.
【Rua unleashed Desalt Spear × 520! The Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud was not hit!】
This technique had a significantly greater range than Sonic Spear. This time, it barely reached Rulud, but once again, it was erased by “Miracle.” It was already a troublesome ability, and with the Thousand Miles technique in play, it was frustrating to see my efforts wasted. If only I had been able to unleash my “Destruction” before Marty was possessed, I could have shattered such techniques.
“Cursed Child, feel the pain. No matter how great your power becomes, those who master techniques that reach the thousands will suppress it by any means. This is all you are worth; your pride in your accumulation ends here.”
“You say that… but without Marty’s body, you would have lost.”
“That too is part of the technique. I anticipate all scenarios and employ the appropriate methods. It is only natural.”
I had to admit, Rulud was right. No matter what I said, this situation was created by him. The fact that I could possess Marty’s power was a result of Rulud’s wisdom and strength, honed through years of research into various techniques.
“Marty… she believed in you, didn’t she? You really can deceive people well.”
“The girl was the one who believed me to be her true grandfather. With the technique of ‘Interdimensional Communication,’ I could easily bring down a god like her. The ‘Miracle’ of Marty, recorded in the chronicles of my family… it was difficult to decipher, but it proved useful.”
“So that’s how you learned about Zeda. You called yourself the Religious Founder Zeda and made the Uzei Religion followers believe in you… only to betray them in the end.”
“Do you understand? That is the nature of the human heart. They cling to anything they can grasp. And in the end, they imagine themselves as victims of betrayal. They turn away from the shifting and weakness of their own hearts. Like a miraculous little girl who cannot even establish a proper ego.”
“…I see. By the way, since you are of the Hero lineage, does that mean you are human?”
“Foolish question! I am the god who transcends all! A seeker who will guide this filthy world to its rightful form! I will erase civilization and reclaim a beautiful world! Nothing can stop me now! I repeat, I am a god! Fuhahahahaha!”
I couldn’t even remember why I asked that. I already knew the answer. After all, he was from the Hero lineage that wielded the Hero’s Sword. But I just wanted to confirm one last time.
“If you’re not human, then that’s fine.”
“I will erase the very concept of humans from this world!”
【The Transcendent Spirit God Emperor Rulud’s All-Encompassing Nature!】
The earth began to be covered by plants. Trees shot up, branches stretched out, and leaves multiplied, pushing aside the rubble of Avangarde Royal Capital. It was as if it embodied Rulud’s very thoughts. He would sacrifice anything for what he prioritized. Selfish, yet with a logic that no one could comprehend. Since he was the Religious Founder of Uzei, I initially thought he might have tried to make people understand him.
But that wasn’t the case. He had no intention of making anyone understand. He sought to coexist with no one. He wanted to erase everything except for what he cherished. In short, this was the extent of his actions.
“Nature! Devour this impure land! The all-encompassing nature is the true form of the world! The concept of beauty shall be concluded with this! The world itself is beauty! Fuhuhuhuh!”
≪Is that the root of all evil? It’s just a kid!≫
≪No, that kid is possessed by the Eternal Spirit Emperor Rulud!≫
“…Huh?”
Even Rulud froze. He heard a familiar voice, or rather, a sound. I would never forget the harassment Corin had subjected me to. Having experienced it once, I recognized it immediately, but the once boisterous Rulud was now on high alert, straining to listen. Genia must have done something.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The ambitions that cannot be understood by anyone but the person themselves
Rulud has been preparing for that for hundreds of years
It is the work of perseverance
To not choose means for the purpose is, in a sense, justice
However, on the other hand, those who say it is not justice
Must also be prepared to be obstructed
Furthermore, instead of simply disappearing
To have cut a deal with Rua is a blunder
What good does it do to provoke the very opponent you should be most wary of?
Long-winded talk has only served to incite Rua’s anger
After all, “Miracle” has already been broken once by Rua
And Rulud’s techniques are like mere scratches
Not long ago, I didn’t care about the world
But now, something feels different
Rulud’s justice is making me feel nauseous
What happened to Shin?
Ah, I see, I’m just hungry
I need to finish this quickly and get something to eat.
Since it’s gotten long, I’ll split it up. The conclusion is planned for the next part.