Chapter 870
Episode 217: Why Ayula Manifested (Part 2)
At Ayula’s words, the three of them widened their eyes.
“Right now? Ayula, are you saying that this Zito guy is about to appear in the Holy Kingdom?”
[Yes. To reclaim his eye.]
Within the Holy Kingdom was kept the very eye Zito needed to become ‘complete.’ Because of that eye, even after Elona broke free from her seal, Talaris still faced many restrictions in movement.
“Ayula, just Zito showing up near the Holy Kingdom—does that not pose any danger to the eye itself?”
[You’re worried about Lady Bikyung, who’s helping Lani stabilize the eye, aren’t you, Jin? Since I’m currently manifested, Zito’s energy can’t penetrate into the heart of the Holy Kingdom. Even if he regains more power than I expected, it’s not enough to annihilate me. She will be safe today.]
“Hmph, that demon. Just barging in without warning, causing a ruckus. Ayula, then what should we do now? Should we help you fight him?”
“If necessary, I will immediately summon all superhuman forces of the alliance.”
Jin and Murakan spoke simultaneously. Ayula gently ruffled Jin’s hair with one of her wings, as if proud of him.
[It’s best to end this as a battle between gods today. If you join me, some of you will surely die. But even if Zito is defeated, he will never be destroyed. So today, I will wound him, and you should prepare for the future.]
“Still, just in case, shouldn’t we call our people and have them on standby? I’m worried.”
[Right now, my barrier is at its strongest, so spatial jumps using human technology are impossible. Worried, you say… Murakan, have you forgotten who I am?]
“Forgot? You’re Ayula, the God of Peace. Incredibly powerful…”
[Exactly. I am the God of Peace. That’s why I possess the highest level of power among the gods. Such ability is necessary to protect peace and order. The one under pressure now isn’t me—it’s Zito.]
Ayula spread her ten pairs of wings wide.
[Lani, once you leave here, continue praying with my children. Your prayers give me great strength. The fight between him and me will take place outside the capital’s protective barrier.]
Lani bowed her head.
As Ayula soared into the sky, the gray haze blurred, revealing the outline of the mortal realm. Jin, Murakan, and Lani found themselves standing once again in the Great Temple.
“Ayula is… fighting to protect us!”
“Ayula-sama!”
Those gathered in the Great Temple already knew that Ayula had begun her battle with Zito. By sending Jin and the others back to the mortal realm, she had also informed her believers of the situation.
“Citizens, I will relay Ayula-sama’s words. She will fight the enemy, so pray for her. Please gather on the rooftop. We will pray together.”
Lani’s voice carried a sacred aura. Having been close to Ayula moments ago, her faith had deepened and strengthened.
Ascending to the temple rooftop, they saw a golden barrier covering the night sky.
Beyond it stood the manifested Ayula, before a massive rift unlike any seen before in the mortal realm.
Even during the Holy Kingdom’s defense five hundred years ago, when Helluram summoned the Demon Lords, no rift of this scale appeared. It was a testament to the authority and power Zito wielded.
From within the rift, Zito slowly emerged. His enormous face shimmered with violet light, resembling a dragon, crowned with seven horns.
If Ayula weren’t here—
Ordinary humans would have gone mad just by seeing Zito’s form, becoming broken shells of themselves. Ayula’s energy and barrier were blocking his influence.
“A dreadful god, or the King of the Black Sea, Gliek. Is he an even darker, more terrifying being than them…?”
“This is seriously intense. How can something like that even exist?”
Ayula, who had seemed so majestic and immense, now felt comparatively small.
“You two should watch the fight.”
“We want to support Ayula-sama too. Can’t we pray together?”
“Since you don’t really have faith, your prayers won’t be effective. Besides, you’ll have to fight that terrifying being later… It’s better to observe his abilities carefully. Ayula-sama would want that.”
Jin and Murakan nodded.
Without any orders, the believers took their places in order and knelt. Following Lani, everyone began to pray. A golden beam of energy rose from the barrier, connecting to Ayula’s back.
Meanwhile, Zito pushed back Ayula’s energy and stepped out of the rift. Like Ayula, he bore ten pairs of wings.
[Ayula… it’s been a long time.]
[You know well this place is forbidden to you, Zito. Return to your place at once.]
[Bring me my eye. Then you won’t be humiliated before these insignificant gods today.]
[Foolish Zito. Since the dawn of the mortal era, none who have angered me have fared well. You will be no different.]
[Mortal era… So you see this world, where the Sun God has died, as such. That chaotic, turbulent age is ending now. By me, Zito. Your suffering will complete you!]
Zito and Ayula formed their weapons simultaneously.
A spiked axe and twenty spears. Zito raised the spiked axe with one hand, while Ayula’s spears hovered beside each of her wings.
Ayula struck first. As she extended her hand, all twenty spears surged forward, but Zito didn’t dodge.
His horns shattered, wings were torn, and massive holes appeared across his body.
Zito trembled in pain but grinned.
[Ah… yes, this is it. How thrilling, Ayula. How long has it been since I last felt such pain?]
Ayula said nothing, continuing to press him with her spears. Yet his wounds healed faster than she could inflict them.
“Wow… this guy’s a seriously twisted madman.”
A crystallization of evil and darkness.
Zito was such a being. He loved pain, and after conquering the Demon Realm, he spent long years torturing himself.
No one in the Demon Realm could inflict true pain on him anymore.
Ayula fought for the peace and balance of the mortal realm, but for Zito, this battle was pure pleasure.
[Playing alone is lonely, Ayula. Existence is meant to be shared to be truly enjoyed. Those who suffer bond together, sharing their pain. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight? Why do you think I said I’d leave if you just gave me the eye? Because this is happiness.]
[The mortal realm is painful enough without monsters like you. Don’t belittle the lives of the living. This world is one where everyone rises above their own pain and moves forward.]
[That’s why I crave it so, Ayula. Hurt me harder, more cruelly! No, that’s not it! Let me show you how it’s done.]
Zito strode through the sky toward Ayula.
[First, when pressuring your opponent, move slowly, slowly. It amplifies fear. Even moving slowly, they can’t escape. It’s the most classic and perfect method. Then, when you strike somewhere, do it like this. Boldly and threateningly!]
Zito’s spiked axe distorted the sky as it crashed down on Ayula’s shoulder. Flesh and golden blood splattered, but two of Ayula’s spears pierced Zito’s neck.
This was no longer a battle of gods, but a clash of savagery.
For a while, this pattern continued. Despite being pierced by spears all over, Zito swung his spiked axe relentlessly, and Ayula was gradually pushed back.
[Ah, how can you not scream, my friend Ayula? I truly despise beings like you. Even if I tortured you for a thousand years, you’d remain noble as you are now.]
[There are many like that among the mortals of this realm. You will never defeat them.]
[But fortunately, creatures like you have their uses. First, to give me pain—only the noble and strong can do that. And second, to be defeated like trash before everyone. You may remain noble until that moment, but will those who trust, rely on, and watch you feel the same?]
You can plant a defeat more painful than any suffering in their hearts.
Zito formed another spiked axe as he spoke.
[More than your pain alone, tasting the despair of countless humans who believe in you is my greatest pleasure. Because I am starving. Quantity matters more than the purity or quality of pain. Quality comes after the hungry belly is filled.]
Clack!
Zito bit down on one of Ayula’s spears flying toward his chest, shattering it like glass. He then bit into the wing that had lost its spear.
Blood poured like a flood from the torn wing. Ayula pressed on as if unscathed, but Zito was radiating even stronger energy.
Their primitive clash continued. Because if they only dodged and blocked, neither could deal a decisive blow.
To any observer, Ayula was clearly losing ground.
But Ayula didn’t show the slightest sign of backing down; instead, she glared fiercely at Jito.
“Jito, look behind you.”
“Why? Did you prepare a gift for me back there or something?”
“Why do you think I’ve been holding back all this time? It’s because I was blocking your escape route.”
At that, Jito was caught off guard for the first time and glanced behind him.
The massive rift he had escaped through was now completely consumed by Ayula’s energy.
“You could act so confident because, if things got tough, you always had that place to run to. And it’s an age-old truth: the coward talks the most. Now that your escape route is gone, wouldn’t it be wiser to kneel before me?”