In the eastern part of the Empire lies the Astes Temple, just plopped down out of nowhere.
Most people, aside from a handful of high-ranking nobles, didn’t even know its location. Given that this was the place where prophecies were fulfilled, security was tightly managed.
The Holy Maiden Ermel, who lived in that temple, began to speak.
“The subjects of the prophecy must ascend the Seat of Prophecy in order for us to know the results of the prophecy.”
The Seat of Prophecy.
It was a circular place filled with beams of light on the floor.
Ermel scanned the Imperial party around her.
Her gaze halted abruptly on Duke Yuma, whose brown eyes stood out.
‘…That’s Yuma.’
The one causing a stir not just in the Empire, but across the entire continent. Yet, curiously, this individual was not mentioned even once in the prophecy.
It was natural for the prophecy not to directly refer to an individual human, but considering the influence Yuma had on this land, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to be mentioned.
Though she was a Holy Maiden, Ermel, as a mere creation herself, felt it was beyond her to judge the deep will of the gods.
‘Possessing great power, yet not a vessel capable of saving the world…’
Having never witnessed Yuma’s martial prowess with her own eyes, Ermel was trapped in her own mindset and could only judge him based on that.
Ermel turned her gaze away from Yuma and looked at the three who could be considered the main characters of this event.
– When the witch’s daughter, fallen into the hell of black flames, meets the swordsman with blue hair, the white-haired lady will save the world.
That was the New Year prophecy handed down eight months ago.
[The witch's daughter, fallen into the hell of black flames], Cloney.
[The swordsman with blue hair], Bell.
[The white-haired lady], Brigitte.
Hearing Bell’s name, Ermel smiled brightly and patted her shoulder.
“Please become a great star of the Empire.”
Bell nodded ambiguously.
After all, she still couldn’t grasp that she was now a member of the Empire.
Of course, she was well aware of the fact that she had become Yuma’s sword.
Taking a deep breath, Ermel spoke again.
“Well then, I shall confirm whether the prophecy comes to pass.”
“Do I just go up there?”
“Yes, Bell.”
Ermel nodded with a smile at Bell’s question.
Step by step,
Brigitte, Cloney, and Bell slowly ascended the Seat of Prophecy.
And amongst everyone present here, the one filled with the most fury was undoubtedly First Prince Schwarze.
‘Damn it.’
Why?
Why in the world did that God of War Yuma get blessings that he himself lacked? Why was Brigitte the only one receiving such grace?
Was such a blessing never meant for him?
Creak!
His teeth were clenched.
The fact that those two were gathered due to that Yuma’s influence.
‘I… cannot acknowledge that brat. Brigitte.’
Schwarze desperately wished for some form of variable to arise that would nullify the establishment of this prophecy.
Very fervently.
At the Seat of Prophecy.
In front of the Seat where the three mentioned in the prophecy ascended stood the Holy Maiden Ermel.
She raised her right hand high towards the heavens.
“O Divine Light, encompassing all things and safeguarding the peace of the Astes Empire.”
A radiant aura began to ripple from Ermel’s body.
“Please respond to the call of this unworthy child. O Incrinew.”
As Ermel’s words concluded, the aura that had been swirling about her began to spread out widely.
Like a source of light akin to the sun.
─And a beam of light descended from the heavens.
The light began collecting, point by point.
With the flickering mass of light,
Everyone in the temple could feel it. Something was manifesting.
Everyone could tell. Something was manifesting.
It descended.
A current of light slithered up from the floor.
Crackle—
The atmosphere let out a faint scream.
An overwhelming presence filled the entire space beyond the temple.
“……!”
Even the Grand Sword Master, Duke Balzac, felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, as if he was being suppressed.
Everyone felt it.
The primal fear of a creature made by humans, standing before a God.
The reverence that naturally welled up.
[Noble Dignity]
– The most noble existence in this world. Unyielding to outside pressure.
Of course, excluding Duke Yuma who possessed the noble trait.
The cluster of light slowly dissipated.
What was revealed was a being that looked no different from an adult male human.
Except for the atrocious purplish hue of its skin.
And it had pure white hair and intense red eyes.
Duke Yuma focused on that being with [Search Eye].
[Lv.666] Incrinew
Race: God (神)
Divine Name: ???
Alignment: ???
Rank: God (神)
[Information on beings above God (神) is limited.]
[The progress of the search via Search Eye may advance based on the target’s actions, allowing for information to be unlocked.]
Levels 300 to 499 were classified as demigods—’Demi God’, while from level 500 onwards, they fell under the complete category of God.
The black dragon [Elcam—Acreon], previously the most superior being encountered at level 421, now had its record shattered.
By the God at level 666, [Incrinew].
A God with striking purplish skin.
Incrinew grinned.
It didn’t even spare a glance at those under the Seat of Prophecy. It only focused on the key figures of the prophecy that had been declared.
Saint Armel lay flat, trembling.
Thoughts of the prophecy received days ago flooded her mind.
-If you properly carry out this prophecy, I shall directly manifest.
The Incrinew before her was the one who had delivered that prophecy.
Incrinew had upheld its word to manifest in person.
“Nice to meet you, Brigitte von Astes. Scion of the great Astes bloodline.”
The fiery red eyes of Incrinew met Princess Brigitte.
Brigitte, the First Princess, knelt on her right knee in a gesture of respect.
“The light that illuminates the empire, it is an honor to meet you, Incrinew.”
Although this was Astes territory, she couldn’t stand stiffly before the divine entity.
Incrinew smiled warmly and passed by Brigitte.
This time, it gazed at Cloney and Bell.
“Nice to meet you, Cloney.”
The daughter of the witch who fell into Hellfire.
“It’s a pleasure, Bell.”
The swordswoman with blue hair.
Incrinew turned halfway around and strode back towards Brigitte.
“You’ve done well to gather those chosen by the prophecy, scion of great blood.”
Brigitte maintained her respectful stance and opened her mouth.
“Thank you for your mercy, Lord Incrinew.”
Right after Brigitte finished speaking, Incrinew’s eyes narrowed like a crescent moon.
“The prophecy has been established.”
Clearly, Incrinew was declaring the establishment of the prophecy.
But the First Princess felt a severe sense of unease. And that unease soon became reality.
“However, the final condition for fulfilling the prophecy remains.”
Incrinew’s words continued.
“One of the Witch’s daughter or the blue-haired swordsman must die. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is.”
The room fell into silence.
“Don’t worry, there’s no need to regret the talent of either. If one dies, Brigitte, that talent will transfer to you.”
Only the words of the god, Incrinew, flowed on.
“What would be the best way? How about Cloney and Bell? Wouldn’t it be better for you two to fight and decide?”
Bell’s expression crumpled.
Spath…
Cloney took a step back.
Neither of them understood what the god was saying, not even a bit.
The lips of First Princess Brigitte slowly parted.
“Incrinew… does one of them really have to die?”
“A great ruler’s birth requires such trials.”
Incrinew replied with a benevolent smile.
“From the moment that holy maiden delivered the oracle, the fate of one of those two, excluding you, was already decided. That cannot be changed. It’s a rule set from the very beginning of my oracle.”
Brigitte began to see that kind expression and words as those of a malevolent spirit.
“That’s the law of my god, Incrinew.”
With those words, the color of the white aura emanating from Incrinew began to rapidly shift.
To a mix of purple and black.
The aura remained warm and majestic, yet it was laced with a sinister foreboding.
Duke Yuma observed Incrinew once more with Search Eye.
Information on the deity that was previously hidden was now unlocked.
Deity: Half-hearted mercy, scale of choice, endless anguish.
“Now, I can’t give you a lot of time. You have 30 minutes in the Intermediate World. Within that time, one of Bell and Cloney must lose their life. If not… all three of you, the main characters of this oracle, must die.”
Clap!
Incrinew clapped his hands.
With the clap, a wave of bloodlust spread forth.
The killing intent engulfed the entire temple.
Bell’s eyes widened under the heavy fear pressing down on her.
The weight she felt from Luke, the chief of the White Night Tribe, was nothing but a joke.
Even the pressure from the giant king, Ades, felt trivial compared to the god, Incrinew, now before her.
Brigitte’s pupils shook violently.
Cloney trembled in fear.
The inevitable announcement of death.
The pressure of an unavoidable demise.
The three main characters of the oracle, as well as the holy maiden below and the two noblemen, all faced that sensation.
‘Huh.’
Duke Balzac felt that all the martial prowess he had built was meaningless.
Countless hours of physical training.
The thousands of sword swings he practiced.
All of it seemed as fragile as a sandcastle.
A sandcastle that god could obliterate in an instant.
‘If that god aims to kill me—’
He could never escape that death.
The nature was different.
If sword energy was a technique to kill life, then what Incrinew was extending was death itself.
How could a mortal using a technique to kill life face a god who spreads death itself?
The Empire’s protector, the strongest in the Empire, Duke Balzac thought this temple was merely sitting on the palm of Incrinew.
Everyone present was precariously standing on that palm.
The fate of their lives could be determined by the deity’s mood.
If he felt upset and flipped his hand, they’d all breathe their last.
“Well, everyone is losing their breath.”
“After all, am I just a worthless creature too?”
Balzac, who had transcended the limits of humanity hundreds of times, slowly began to despair at the emergence of a gap he could never surpass.
Incrinew smiled faintly and turned his gaze back to Princess Brigitte.
“You could kill one of the two and gain a lot. Hmm, should I help you choose a little more? As a gift, I’ll grant you a bit of mercy first.”
Incrinew bent down to match the eye level of Princess Brigitte, who was staring at him intently while kneeling.
“In five months, the Demon Army will descend from the Demon Realm. Their purpose is to invade the continent. The army will be in the millions. Moreover, they will be stronger than any demon or monster that has invaded until now. It’s a future prophecy written in the [Revelation], which only gods can access, so it’s certain.”
Incrinew continued.
“If you, Brigitte von Astes, make the choice amidst this adversity and anguish, I will enhance the abilities of the human soldiers in the war against the Demon Army in five months using divine power. I will also create a barrier to delay their invasion with divine power.”
Swoosh…
While explaining, Incrinew suddenly directed his right hand towards Duke Balzac, who was barely standing on his two feet, exuding energy throughout his body.
Incrinew’s right hand slowly fell vertically. It resembled the gesture of a conductor leading an orchestra.
What appeared in accordance with that gesture was.
A purple line.
The purple line surged toward Duke Balzac at the speed of light.
“…!”
In a hurry, Balzac gathered energy throughout his body, transforming it into a defensive form.
Kiiing─!
And he raised his sword, layering the defensive barrier made of sword energy, the sword wall (劍幕).
A total of 12 sword walls.
A defense of such high quality that even a Sword Master couldn’t tear through.
However, it was useless.
Swoosh─
Swish
A single purple line.
Just one line of divine energy tore through the Grand Sword Master’s sword wall like paper, advancing forward.
Swish…
All 12 sword walls were cut away and.
Szzzz─────
The purple line cut across Duke Balzac’s body diagonally.
“Kuheough!”
The defensive energy was distorted beneath his armor.
Ruthlessly.
A diagonal scar was etched onto Balzac’s upper body as he collapsed to the ground. The scar was deeply indented.
Blood flowed endlessly.
“Cough!”
He coughed out a mouthful of blood.
“You won’t die.”
Princess Brigitte gazed at the northern lord, the Empire’s guardian, easily brought to ruin with a single gesture from the god.
Brigitte was convinced.
Right now, this situation was.
“I am here to help ensure your army does not crumble so hopelessly in five months. Now, Brigitte von Astes, of the great bloodline.”
This unreasonable situation was merely a game to God Incrinew. Just looking at that long, torn smile made it apparent.
Suddenly half-killing Duke Balzac was merely part of the fun, wasn’t it?
There was likely an intent to showcase power that prevented any other thoughts from taking root.
“Hurry up and choose who to kill.”
Incrinew urged mischievously.
“Stop.”
It was someone’s voice.
The gazes of Brigitte, Bell, and Cloney all turned toward the direction of the voice.
“Shut your mouth, Incrinew.”
Step─
A dignified footstep.
The man, Duke Yuma, slowly walked forward.
Towards the Seat of Prophecy.
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