Episode 1073
Chapter 253: Gathering at Laprarosa Once More (4)
If there were a scene that could be called the slaughter of a god, this would be it.
About thirty minutes had passed since the battle began. Yet, Beltian hadn’t gained the upper hand—not even once had he managed a proper counterattack.
His eyes now barely held the shape of spheres. The thousands of arms that once sprouted from his irises had all been torn away, vanished without a trace.
Only the intermittent explosions of solar energy across the sky and ground signaled that Beltian was still fighting. But none of those blasts inflicted any damage on the Changsung or the Alliance forces.
“Those wicked bastards… Beltian may be the embodiment of destruction, but he’s still your mother and father. And me as well. This world should be remade because of this!” Bligiet swallowed back tears of blood in his heart, but Ameris saw right through him.
“Listen, Bligiet. In the end, all of this is the result of your own choice. The you from when you were whole.”
[I never wanted any of this…]
“No, it was your choice. So don’t even dream of reconstruction. Just forget it.”
[From the moment I split from Kinzel, I was made to pursue only that. You know this better than anyone, great serpent.]
“I don’t remember much, so I can’t say for sure. But one thing I do know: both you and Beltian, who’s being mercilessly trampled by those kids over there, have become far weaker than when you were whole.”
[So, you want to mock me?]
“No. Mortals, when overcome by impulse, often lose all sense of reason. You were like mortals consumed by impulse—unable to think of anything but a single desire. But as your power waned, didn’t that impulse weaken too?”
[Great serpent, what are you trying to say?]
“I want you to think carefully. You, the solar deity’s selves, even in this weakened state, do you have to keep living only in impulse? If you or Beltian truly help us, the world can become better.”
Bligiet said nothing, watching the battle through the bridge’s glass for a long moment.
The chaotic sky, a tangled mess of neural energy, azure flames, spiritual energy, and solar power, suddenly stirred a memory from the dawn of time.
What was Kinzel’s true purpose in creating this world?
The question bubbled up inside him. As Ameris said, the fading of power had diluted his very nature.
The memory hovered on the edge of his mind, accompanied by a strange, uncomfortable feeling stabbing at his chest.
“Well, the choice is yours, Bligiet. I’m just… saddened to see you, once my only light, fall like this. Let’s just watch the fight.”
Swish!
No sooner had Ameris finished speaking than Ban’s sword sliced Beltian’s eye completely in half for the first time.
Beltian tried to regenerate, but the infernal flames surging through the severed wound pushed him back. The two halves of his eye sank slowly to the ground like a sinking ship.
[You… dare…]
Even his voice no longer carried any dignity.
The Changsung continued their assault with expressionless faces, and the fleet mindlessly unleashed their main cannons. The two fallen eye halves looked like glowing flesh on the floor.
Beltian had only one option left: self-destruction.
But he was certain of one thing. Even if he self-destructed, it was impossible to inflict serious damage on the mortals currently attacking him.
[Malugia… Kia… where are you…]
He desperately needed another self—one who could amplify his destructive power after his self-destruction. Especially if it was Malugia, he could wipe out half this world in an instant. Maybe even more.
So Beltian cried out Malugia’s name endlessly. Time was running out, and for Malugia or any other self to arrive now would be a miracle—one that would mark the end for the mortals.
“Brother Jin, it looks like he’s about to explode.”
“I see that too, Brother Tushin.”
“When we fortify the arena later, we should send the brothers down to protect only the key facilities. It seems this one will be hard to use to our advantage.”
Jin had heard about the “power source” from Bando Jin. Even amid the fury over Laprarosa’s destruction, he was still considering if there was a way to use Beltian.
But even the Changsung couldn’t stop Beltian’s self-destruction. To restrain him like Bligiet, they’d have to inhabit a mortal body or maintain some form of binding. Self-destruction made all that meaningless.
“According to Orgal’s information, it’s problematic if Beltian is completely annihilated.”
“We’ll be careful with power control, brother. And from fighting Bligiet, we know these guys don’t die easily. Even if he self-destructs, his life won’t vanish entirely.”
It was frustrating.
Jin prepared to endure Beltian’s self-destruction with that in mind.
[Malugia… hurry, come to me!]
At that moment—
Within the swirling energies of the Changsung and Beltian, a black, murky dimensional portal opened.
‘You’ve come, Ganesto.’
It was Ganesto’s portal.
But no riders of Lokia or Ganesto emerged from it. Instead, a single mass of solar energy slipped out.
[…Araksion!?]
That solar energy was absorbed by Beltian at lightning speed, leaving no time for the Changsung to react. Instantly, Beltian regained his vigor.
[Araksion! Show yourself! Where are you? Let’s wipe out these mortals together and meet Malugia!]
Of course, Araksion did not respond.
Lokia had merely sent part of Araksion’s power, which resided in Hailin Runcandel, to the battlefield to prevent Beltian’s complete annihilation.
This aligned somewhat with the Alliance’s goals. They too found Beltian’s total destruction undesirable.
Amid the rapidly unfolding events, Jin calmly strategized as always.
‘Lokia must be desperate. She thinks we might just annihilate Beltian outright. That’s why she sent Araksion’s power. If even one solar deity’s self disappears now, negotiations with the Demon Lord would be impossible.’
Another dimensional portal opened. Again, a mass of solar energy emerged and was absorbed by Beltian.
“Brother Jin, his energy is growing stronger again. What will you do?”
“Lokia is in a hurry. She believes we intend to annihilate Beltian. That’s why she sent Araksion’s power. For now, we need to survey the surroundings.”
“Survey the surroundings?”
“Lokia has exhausted much of her power meeting Keliak. And I think sending such vast energy through dimensional portals consumes tremendous power—especially over long distances.”
Bando nodded.
“I see what you mean.”
“Flagship Sara! Captain, immediately review the records of Laprarosa’s outskirts. The rest of the fleet, maintain defensive formations and begin searching Laprarosa. Ganesto must be somewhere nearby!”
Jin was certain. Ganesto’s group wasn’t safely supporting Beltian from afar.
If Lokia had planned this entire situation from the start, there’d be no reason to support Beltian like this.
‘Lokia doesn’t know we have no intention of annihilating Beltian. If she did, she might try to strengthen him and then transform him into a form we can bind.’
If that happened, Beltian could be used as the power source for the arena.
‘Strengthening is already underway by Lokia, so that’s not a problem. But changing him into a bindable form? I have no clue how to do that. Maybe I should talk to Bligiet again.’
Bligiet had already shared all the information he knew, thanks to his meeting with Lucy.
Ameris, who knew the most about ancient secrets, hadn’t contacted them either, suggesting no easy solution existed.
As Jin pondered, his communicator vibrated.
{[Jin Runcandel.]}
“Bligiet?”
{[You want to bind Beltian like I did, right? I’ve thought of a way. Send me down.]}
{Jin, from what I’ve heard, this isn’t a bluff. It’s only been a short time since the battle started, but Bligiet has changed a bit after talking with me. Shall I come down?}
“Understood, Ameris. I’ll be waiting below the flagship.”
The two halves of Beltian’s eye, swollen from absorbing Araksion’s power, looked like the original eye had doubled.
That meant Beltian’s power had grown immensely. The Changsung could no longer easily overwhelm him as before.
[Grrrrrr!]
Each roar from Beltian sent shockwaves shaking all of Laprarosa, cracking the golden fleet’s linked shields.
Jin took position beneath the flagship Sara, covered by Bando and Murakan. The ship’s lower hatch opened, and Bligiet descended. Jin caught him safely, shielding him from the storm of energies.
[Jin Runcandel, I’ve realized something. I will stake everything on you.]
“Suddenly?”
[Thanks to the great emotions and memories I’d forgotten as a creator resurfacing. Anyway, this is urgent. Take me to Beltian’s side so he can see this.]
Bligiette spread her hands as if cradling something precious. Resting there was a shimmering orb of rainbow-colored energy.
“This—is this the solar energy? It must be. The hue is completely different, though.”
[This isn’t just ordinary energy. It’s a memory from the very beginning, from when I was whole. If I show this to Beltian, he’ll obey me without question. After all, he must have completely forgotten this memory himself.]