Chapter 130: The Final War ② ⚪︎
Having safely completed my evolution before the Barrier could be destroyed, I immediately moved on to my third gamble.
The Majin that had taken over Elixia was already beginning to change into its true form. The question was whether I could raise the level of my God of Time and Space form and gain stats capable of opposing them before that happened.
Barely glancing at my status, I focused solely on defeating my Clones.
“Fshuuu, Vritra, I thank you. Shall we not destroy this world created by that detestable goddess together?”
The body that was once Elixia’s was now unrecognizable. It had transformed into a giant figure with a face like a sheep’s skull adorned with twisted horns, three pairs—six total—of jet-black wings sprouting from its back, and a massive, muscular black body.
(Guess the level grinding ends here.)
I defeated all the remaining Clones. Then, visualizing crushing the black vortex from which the Clones had been pouring out, I clenched my right fist. I had a feeling I could do it, and just like that, the black vortex vanished.
Alright, first, let’s Appraise the Majin.
Race: Majin
Name: Satan
Rank: ――
Level: 300
HP: 9999/9999
MP: 9999/9999
Attack Power: 7777
Defense Power: 7777
Magic Attack Power: 7777
Magic Defense Power: 7777
Agility: 7777
Skills:
God’s Eye
God’s Body
God’s Raiment
Resonance
Summon Clone
Alluring Darkness
Spacetime Flow Control
Titles:
Divine Grace
The Majin Satan had the same stats as Vritra, the Evil God. However, the effect of his God’s Raiment was slightly different; it only had Lv30 resistance to Holy attribute, while being immune to all others. That was close. If I had become the Thunder God, I might have been doomed.
Now then, how did my third gamble turn out?
Suppressing my pounding heart, I nervously checked my own status.
Race: God of Time and Space
Name: Mist
Rank: ――
Level: 202
HP: 10040/10040
MP: 11050/11050
Attack Power: 11050
Defense Power: 11040
Magic Attack Power: 11545
Magic Defense Power: 11545
Agility: 10040
Skills:
God’s Eye New!
God’s Mind New!
God’s Body New!
God’s Raiment New!
Sword God New!
Magic, Granter of All Wishes New!
Miasma, Defiler of All Life New!
Titles:
Reincarnator
Skill Collector
Evolver
Giant Killer
Assassin
Kin Slayer
Bearer of Divine Protection
Ruler of Time and Space New!
Divine Grace New!
(Alright, alright, alriiiight!)
Seeing my status, I couldn’t help but pump my fist. It seemed I had won all my gambles.
My stats had all broken into five digits. My skills looked much cleaner, seemingly consolidated into the “God’s…” series.
Furthermore, although my stats were higher, their level was significantly greater. My Giant Killer title, which did such a fine job earlier, would likely put in work again, and this time, the effects of Kin Slayer might stack on top of it too.
Alright, let’s hurry up and defeat this Evil God and Majin and get back to the Martial Arts Tournament!
Steeling my resolve, I turned my gaze back towards the Evil God and the Majin.
Just then, Vritra was speaking to Satan, who had successfully revived.
“Now, Satan. Before we destroy this world, there is one thing we must do.”
“Hmm, I had noticed as well. Is it the disposal of that puny being over there?”
Oh? Do I appear as a puny being in their eyes? If so, does that mean my God’s Raiment outperforms their God’s Eye?
“Precisely. Insolently, it seems to possess the power to defeat the Clones I summoned. Before we annihilate this world, offering it up as a sacrifice wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Understood. In that case, allow me to handle it, as I have only just regained my body. It should serve as a decent warm-up.”
It seemed Vritra and Satan had reached an agreement. Seriously? I didn’t feel like I’d lose even if they both attacked me, yet he wants to do it alone as a warm-up? Is he an idiot? Well, I had a faint suspicion ever since they let me level up using their Clones, but it seems neither the Evil God nor the Majin are particularly bright.
Satan glided slowly towards me through the air. He didn’t seem to be moving his wings, so how was he floating?
I had enough composure to ponder such things as I floated up into the air myself.
(I see, it’s an effect of the God’s Raiment skill.)
“Hm? It’s floating?”
Satan stopped moving, perhaps finding it strange that I was floating.
If you won’t come to me, then allow me to come to you!
I teleported directly beside Satan and slammed my fist into his left side with all my might.
“Googyooooooo!?”
Satan doubled over sideways, flew backward, and embedded himself into the rock wall. Taking an attack exceeding 10,000 with less than 8,000 defense power must have hurt. Thanks to my titles, the effect was truly outstanding!
“What?!”
It was Vritra who panicked at Satan’s pathetic state. He instantly created a water dragon and launched it at me.
Zappaan
A large volume of water washed over me, but that was all. With immunity to all attributes, I took no damage. Moreover, even with the sheer mass of the water, it seemed unable to move me even a single millimeter.
This time, I teleported above Vritra’s head and delivered a fist drop.
Doggoooooon!
Vritra plunged headfirst into the ground with tremendous force, burying about half of his massive head.
“Wh-what is happening, Vritra!? Who in the world is this creature?”
“I-I have no idea either. Until moments ago, it was merely an ancient race, somewhat better than the riffraff.”
Satan, staggering as he flew after pulling himself out of the wall, and Vritra, who had extracted his head from the ground and raised his serpentine neck, conversed with bewildered expressions. Well, not that I could actually read the expressions on a snake and a skull.
But truly, living up to the name God of Time and Space, spatial teleportation was incredibly smooth. I could teleport without any lag whatsoever, and it consumed almost no magic power. The Ruler of Time and Space title isn’t just for show!
Now then, I recall these two were talking about destroying the world or something. To prevent that, I must defeat them thoroughly right here.
Using teleportation to prevent them from coordinating, I continued to alternately pummel the Evil God and the Majin. Vritra’s Scales peeled off, his fangs broke; cracks appeared on Satan’s skull, his horns snapped.
They occasionally counterattacked, but with all attributes nullified and my stats being significantly higher, their physical attacks were completely ineffective. I didn’t even need to dodge.
“Guooooooaaargh! Pant, pant, pant… To think such a being existed… Satan. We have no choice. We must use that.”
“Uguuuhh… Vritra, I was just about to suggest the same.”
What? They’re on their last legs, yet they sound so composed. Do they still have some trump card left?
“It is unbelievable, but it seems this one has reached the realm of the gods. However, the fortunate thing is that it is a newcomer.”
Vritra started saying something incomprehensible. But I had a bad feeling about this. It seemed best to deliver the finishing blow immediately.
“”Divine Grace!””
Before I could move, the two shouted in unison. Nothing seemed to change outwardly, but when I tried to teleport, I realized.
(I can’t teleport!? Not only that, I can’t use any other skills either!?)
“To think we’d be forced to use ‘Divine Grace’ on such a newcomer.”
As Satan spoke, his body began to glow brilliantly. No, not just Satan; Vritra’s body was glowing too. What is this skill? No, this isn’t a skill. And Divine Grace… I feel like I’ve seen that somewhere… Ah!? Wasn’t there a title with the same name among mine!?
Dogon!
“Guhaa!”
(What happened? Was my body suddenly sent flying? Was I hit? Ugh, it hurts…)
Apparently, I had been blown away by Vritra’s tail. The reason I can only say ‘apparently’ is because I couldn’t see it happen. Strange, this is clearly strange, but since my skills are sealed, I can’t use Appraisal to figure out what occurred. The only certainty is that I’ve taken considerable damage and am now lying on the ground.
“You look like you don’t understand what’s happening. Allow me to tell you, as a parting gift to the underworld, gufufufufu.”
“Vritra, it’s not a parting gift; you just want to see the look of despair on its face, gwahahahahaha!”
Approaching my prone form, Vritra and Satan wore confident smiles.
“Gufufufu, Divine Grace has two effects. The first is to create a space where skills become unusable. You’ve likely realized that already. Within this space, only stats hold meaning.”
Damn it, just like Vritra said, I can’t use my skills at all. It’s a heavy blow for me since I relied quite a bit on my skills, but it seems they can’t use theirs either. In that case, I should still have the advantage since my stats are superior, yet the result is the complete opposite. I’m being overwhelmed by them. Why?
“Gahahahaha, allow me to explain as well. I wish to see your face despair up close!”
Mmph, now Satan’s started blabbering on. However, I need to listen carefully here. Because maybe, just maybe, I might find a hint to turn this situation around.
“You wear the face of someone who doesn’t understand why they’re being beaten, despite supposedly having higher stats. Indeed, your base stats might be higher, but that’s because of the second effect of Divine Grace. The second effect of Divine Grace is… ‘Stats increase according to the number of believers’!
Do you understand, you? How many humans and demi-humans are there in this world? Approximately 200 million. I, a Majin, have 70,000 believers. Vritra, the Evil God, has 100,000. Guhahahahaha, you must despair now! It seems you too have reached the realm of the gods, but in the end, you’re just a newcomer. There couldn’t possibly be anyone willing to lend you their strength!”
I see, so for each believer, all stats except Health and Magic Power increase by 1. Satan has 70,000, and Vritra has over 100,000, huh.
As expected, there’s no way I can match them in this situation. But, thanks to solving the mystery, I feel relieved.
And, listening to Vritra and Satan’s pompous explanations, I felt renewed gratitude for their foolishness.
Thanks for telling me. Because, you see, I have it too. “Divine Grace”!