Supreme Command of Isla Empire
Inside a massive tent, various Dark Elves and Dwarves were gathered for a meeting.
“I can’t believe the Invincible General Tirshirl was defeated.”
The Elder Dark Elf, Saladin, who was the current supreme commander of the Isla Empire, sighed.
“Isn’t it the Baptizer Dia on the other side?”
A Dwarf general under Saladin spoke up.
“Even so, this defeat stings. Just as the ‘Apostles’ of the Katorikus Faction started rampaging on the battlefield, the situation deteriorates… Now the front in Christos’s direction is turning like this!”
Saladin frowned and muttered.
“It’s alright. Deus will be with us. Above all, our Prophet, with the blessings of Deus, is coming here right now!”
Thud!
“Then that’s precisely the problem!”
Saladin slammed his fist on the conference table and shouted.
“…Huh?”
“Our majesty has entrusted the army to us. We can’t betray their faith. The Emperor is supposed to arrive soon. Are we going to show them this disgraceful situation!”
“T-That is…”
All the generals and staff shrank under Saladin’s imposing aura.
“I’d rather go to battle myself…”
“His Majesty, Prophet, Sultan of the Isla Empire and Caliph of Islam!”
At that moment, a guard’s voice rang from the entrance of the Supreme Command.
“Y-Your Majesty has already arrived?”
With steady steps, Mahomet entered the tent, accompanied by several guards.
Upon seeing her, everyone prostrated and paid their respects.
“““We meet the omnipotent prophet of Deus.”””
The highest honor given to the number one figure of the Empire and Islam.
“Everyone, raise your heads.”
As the guards set up a grand throne in the highest position, Mahomet perched herself upon it.
As she commanded, the generals and staff raised their heads.
“I’ve heard that General Tirshirl has been defeated.”
“He deployed to break the deadlock at the battle against the Christos folks in Damascus. Thanks to his efforts, victory was within our grasp, but he was ultimately defeated and captured by the ‘Baptizer Dia’ who appeared at the last moment.”
Saladin replied to the expressionless Mahomet.
“Baptizer Dia.”
“Dia is one of the seven Cardinals in the Christos Law Country. It’s said she wields the power of water.”
“Dia, Dia, Dia… Indeed, the former General Tirshirl reported there was a heretic who bore a resemblance to an angel.”
Mahomet pondered, tapping her chin with her index finger.
“Yes. The front in the Christos direction looks promising.”
—
*
—
The Bottom of Hell
The Worst Hell: Tartarus
Thirteen Lords of Hell gathered around a round table.
-How long has it been since we gathered like this?
An evil god disguised as a Balrog said.
-We occasionally meet, but this is the first time since our newbie joined us.
A sinister woman, her hair made up of snakes, replied.
-Indeed. Our newbie, Judah Iscariot. The tales of you from the Surface are quite famous.
An old man whose body melted and reformed constantly spoke.
-Shouldn’t we congratulate our newbie? After all, they dealt a blow to the hypocritical god up there!
A flaming skull that was eternally burning chimed in.
-Congrats aside, the reason we’re here today is quite important.
A fallen archangel with pitch-black wings declared softly from the center of the table.
-The second invasion of ‘Chaos’ has occurred from the Mid-World. The invasion a hundred years ago failed.
-That was unfortunate. I anticipated seeing that god suffer as they all perished.
The flame-covered skull murmured, leaning over the table wistfully.
-But that failure has instead given us an opportunity. The faith system in the Mid-World has been thoroughly destroyed due to that incident.
-Is the faith system destroyed?
-Gods generally gain divinity through faith. That’s the foundation of their existence and their very power.
The fallen archangel raised one hand.
With that, a black orb made of divinity began to swirl and rotate in his palm.
-Therefore, as long as the population of sentient beings in the Mid-World is maintained, their powers will not change. Just as we gain strength through their fear and negative emotions.
-That is certainly true. Unless a great war occurs and all sentient beings are exterminated, this situation will not change.
-However, the balance began to crumble around a hundred years ago. You could say it’s the destroyer of ecosystems. The existence called ‘Deus’ has appeared.
The moment the archangel spoke Deus’s name, Judah’s eyes glimmered at the corner of the table.
-The faith surrounding the god named Deus has begun to engulf the continent. Consequently, the faith that god gains has grown overwhelmingly immense. He has likely absorbed most of the faith aimed at other gods. The other gods have all lost their divinity and become weak gods.
-Wait a second. If that’s the case, it means the other gods have weakened and the god known as Deus has become incredibly powerful?
-Correct. In fact, Deus has defended against that mighty invasion of ‘Chaos’. He could easily handle us even if we all charged at him.
The fallen archangel nodded.
-So isn’t this our chance? Are we just going to let ourselves be wiped out like this?
At this, the woman with the snake hair stood up in disbelief.
-Sit down. The discussion is not over yet.
-…Hmph.
The snake-headed woman reluctantly returned to her seat.
-Deus’s power is immense. No, it was immense. To the extent that we were not opponents.
-It was… you say? So he isn’t anymore?
-Anyone who has at least once gazed upon the Surface would know, wouldn’t they? The continent is consumed by the faith in Deus! They may be fighting among themselves foolishly, but they all believe in Deus! There’s no way we can win!
This time, the flaming skull stood up and yelled.
-I initially thought so too. That’s why I believed we had no chance unless we eliminate Deus.
-…You mean that’s not the case?
-Indeed. After the failure of the invasion of ‘Chaos’, I observed the Deus Church and the disciples of the Son of Deus. To see how their faith toward Deus was changing. A hundred years of continuous observation. And I reached a conclusion.
The archangel clenched his fist in the air.
-Deus no longer exists!
-…What?
-What do you mean?
-You say Deus has disappeared?
-But the Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples of Deus. If Deus is absent, that doesn’t make sense.
-That’s actually the proof. All miracles that have happened since then are solely the miracles of the ‘Holy Spirit’. There are no miracles from a Saint or a Holy Mother. I don’t know what happened to them, but the Deity Deus no longer exists in this dimension!
The archangel stood from his seat, stretching his arms upward, as he celebrated.
-The being that has taken all the faith from the Surface has vanished! The gods who could stop us have been weakened to the point of not being able to contend with us! The Surface no longer possesses the power to resist us!
-If that’s the truth…
-We can finally descend to the Surface!
In response to the archangel’s shocking declaration, the meeting room fell into chaos.
-I’ll take the lead!
-No, I will!
-If I can just get my revenge on those gods!
As soon as they sensed a valid chance, everyone began to push forward with tales of war.
—
Kuung
-…Huh?
-What is this…
—
But in the next moment, all the Lords of Hell froze in place.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
The frozen Lords of Hell formed a perfect circle, and one of them began to stride in.
The last of the Lords of Hell.
The one who betrayed the god, Judah Iscariot.
-You all have such interesting stories.
-Newbie! What have you done? Release this!
-Are you wishing for death?
-Hah. As if I would. I didn’t expect all twelve of you to be this weak though.
-Judah Iscariot. Did you intend to betray us from the beginning?
The archangel asked with a grim face.
-Yes. I must atone to Him.
-Atone? You’ve been used! You’ve been manipulated into betrayal and cast aside! And you speak of atonement!
-Hoh hoh. Is that what you think? Over the hundred years I’ve lived as a Lord of Hell, I’ve pondered that very thought.
Judah walked toward the archangel.
-But the more I dwelled on it, the more the answer became clear. My betrayal was not by the Lord’s design. He loves me.
-You…
-I was simply an idiot who stabbed the Lord in the back. …A fool.
—
-Guuaaaah!
-Stop it!
The fires of the lowest hell engulfed all the lords.
-That’s why it wouldn’t do. The Surface is what He sacrificed His life to protect. I cannot allow lowlifes like you to taint it.
-Judah Iscariot!!!!
-Farewell. Don’t worry too much; I’ll take good care of your Hell.
—
Sizzle.
Crunch!
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