My last resort to face the two ‘Gods of Chaos’ excluding Lilith.
It was to use the artifact ‘Successor’.
This artifact was discovered in ruins other than Celes’s.
I had it from before.
In [Deus Ex Machina], it didn’t appear as playable, but one of the enemies showcased it.
With very unique and difficult triggering conditions, it had a powerful effect, always ranking high in the artifact beauty contests among users.
That’s why I had obtained it in advance during my adventure with Hans.
Artifact ‘Successor’.
The triggering condition is to be betrayed by those I consider allies. And for those allies to realize that they have betrayed me.
By doing so, I can gain the power of the betraying allies.
I don’t take it away.
I obtain it like a copy.
Of course, it’s not permanent; it’s only temporary.
The betrayal condition is surprisingly lenient.
It’s not just about sticking a knife in the back; denying the relationship with allies also counts as betrayal.
This was also a trick used by the user of ‘Successor’ in [Deus Ex Machina].
Using this point, I planned to make use of it in the showdown with the ‘Chaos’.
Through the earlier foot washing ceremony, I quietly infused my magical power into my allies.
To amplify any negativity they may feel towards me.
If I showed a moment of defeat against the evil gods, their disappointment would grow, leading to negativity towards me.
That would fulfill the triggering condition of ‘Successor’, even if just temporarily.
Clink
– What! My sealing orb!
Feeling the power of Paulah flooding into me at the end, I gracefully escaped Saros’s sealing orb.
Being sealed after losing to Saros and Atzoatl was all intentional.
I may not win against them, but I won’t go down without a fight.
Despite my defeat, I knew they wouldn’t immediately annihilate me.
In battles between gods, the vanquished lose their divinity to the victor.
Those stripped of their divinity return to nothing, and the winner grows stronger through the increased divinity.
Just like how I saw Lilith absorb the power of the evil god in my memories.
Thus, I anticipated that Saros wouldn’t annihilate me immediately after defeating me but would choose to seal me instead.
However, the part where they showcased this to all of Oris and sent the citizens to capture our disciples was unexpected.
The citizens of Oris were caught up in the madness exuded by Atzoatl, searching only for our disciples.
Still, everyone’s power seems to have entered inside me, so they should be safe.
I’ve trained them well; they aren’t the kind to fall prey to mere commoners.
The seal that trapped me was Saros’s, who is on the level of a higher god.
But with the powers of all my allies and amplified by Rex Omniam, breaking this seal was quite easy.
As I destroyed the seal and emerged, I could see Saros’s flustered expression.
– Son of Deus… You have a hidden card!
She regained her composure quickly and prepared to fight me again.
– I told you, let’s just kill him right away! What’s with this divinity nonsense!
Then Atzoatl joined in.
– I was thinking of using this divinity to absorb it, but as you said, it’s better to annihilate him. He’s simply too unpredictable.
– Now you’re getting it!
Saros was wary of me while Atzoatl charged in.
The two evil gods joined forces.
I was effortlessly overpowered just moments ago.
Swish
But now it was different.
– Has he disappeared?
– What? Where did he go? I can’t sense him!
A level of stealth unmatched by any human.
It was Aurelia’s power.
Amplified by Rex Omniam, her divinity cloaked her in an unparalleled stealth, even the evil gods couldn’t find her.
I appeared right before Atzoatl, extending my right hand wrapped in Johanna’s lightning.
– Lightning? Gack!
I pierced her chest with my hand.
– Wh-what is this!
Atzoatl tried to strike me away quickly, but I transformed my whole body into lightning and evaded back.
– Stealth and lightning. It feels like multiple gods have fused into one ability.
– Gack! Don’t just stand there, help!
– I guess I really have to fight seriously now.
– Were you not going to fight seriously before?!
– Cover me, Atzoatl. Unleash your territory.
– You should have said that earlier!
Territory.
The strongest technique a deity can use.
Atzoatl moved behind Saros and began to channel her divinity to activate her territory.
I attempted to use stealth again to hinder the activation of her territory.
– I can’t let you go!
For some reason, Saros blocked my path to Atzoatl.
Did she see through my stealth?
No, if she had, she wouldn’t have reacted so passively and would have attacked me.
Is she vaguely sensing something?
– Madness is the sacred liberation that frees the soul from the bonds of tradition and customs! Only madness is true freedom! Mare Insaniae!
I felt the change in the surrounding air.
Atzoatl’s unique territory, Mare Insaniae.
– Kyaaaaa! Welcome to my realm of madness!
– Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
– Tear him apart! Tear him apart!
– Bite! Bite!
– Swallow! Swallow!
The nonsense that rang in my head.
Atzoatl’s power invaded my mind, preventing rational thinking.
This was her ability that appeared in the later part of part one of [Deus Ex Machina].
To use the many abilities my disciples hold, I need to think; however, my head was filled with nonsense, making proper judgment impossible.
– Now’s my chance!
Atzoatl lifted a massive axe to swing down at me.
Clang
– Did it just bounce off?
I had enhanced my body with Paulah’s power.
The divine dragon’s power amplified with divinity.
In [Deus Ex Machina], Atzoatl was the only one among the gods of ‘Chaos’ who was obliterated in part one.
And the one who accomplished that was none other than Paulah.
While she had the chance to escape ‘Chaos’, she succeeded because she was born with the power of the red dragon.
Activating the power of the red dragon within me.
I felt my head reddening as the madness faded away.
The power of the red dragon, Berserk.
My sight turned crimson, allowing me to see only Atzoatl.
It drastically increased my physical abilities at the cost of my mind being filled with ferocity.
This was likely a setup planned to make Paulah the final boss.
In typical cases, this berserk mode acts as a penalty, but right now my head is filled with the voice of madness.
Boom
This made it easier to fight.
– Wh-what is this! Why isn’t it working!
In [Deus Ex Machina], Paulah was able to kill Atzoatl thanks to this ability.
Phew
– Gack!
Iaco’s telekinesis and Johanna’s lightning.
Along with Paulah’s claws came together in my right hand, stabbing into Atzoatl’s chest while gripping her core.
– Sa-Saros! He-help me…!
And I tightened my grip.
Clang
I destroyed her core.
– Give…
Atzoatl crumbled into dust.
As her essence vanished, I felt the berserk mode lift.
At the same time, Atzoatl’s unique territory also vanished.
It was the same sight as when I witnessed her demise in [Deus Ex Machina].
I regained my clear vision and looked at Saros.
– Atzoatl, you foolish…!
Saros frowned in displeasure.
Now for the last one.
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