Right now, at this moment. Delia’s light wasn’t bright.
It wasn’t as sharp as before. It wasn’t flamboyant.
It merely held the bare minimum of energy needed to kill a beast.
Swoosh—
The current spreading around conveyed the locations and movements of thousands of beasts. The overheated brain charted the most efficient route, and the finely sharpened body moved without a moment’s delay.
The optimal path to kill the beast.
The use of magical power with no waste whatsoever.
As time passed and more beasts were slain, information and experience piled up.
As a result, Delia’s hunting speed increased exponentially.
A brilliant light flickered on the chaotic battlefield.
With every flash, dozens of beast heads burst apart.
Crack— Split— Burn—
Endless screams of beasts seeped through the cracks of the currents like chains.
The beasts’ corpses spread wide around Heinzel, bursting their brains in a gory display.
The stench of spilled blood permeated the center.
Delia’s eyes, a part of her body oxidized into light, sparkled.
Her unwavering will, unbroken, turned towards Leviathan.
The vertically split reptilian pupils widened. New feelings bloomed in Leviathan’s eyes, once filled with ennui and scorn.
Interest, joy, anticipation, ecstasy.
But that was all.
Despite his minions being slaughtered indiscriminately, Leviathan showed no intention of emerging from the ground.
Delia, enraged by his dismissive attitude, scrunched her face and threw herself once more into the forest of beasts.
Bang—
Every time Delia lifted her feet, rough lines were carved into the earth. The lines became cracks, the cracks became chasms, devouring the beasts.
As if that wasn’t enough, the chasm that swallowed the beasts erupted into columns of blinding light, shouting towards the sky.
The pillar of light reaching to the heavens split, illuminating the world. What was split became swords. What became arrows. What became spears. What became hammers and axes.
The lightning, transformed into every weapon that existed in the world, pierced the bodies of the beasts and left massive scars upon the earth.
However, it did not reach the essence of Leviathan.
The mocking emotions floating on his face remained unblemished.
Sizzle— The light that gnawed at Delia’s body finally consumed all of her right leg.
A leg lost to form. Delia stumbled as she bit down. At the same time, a glimmering yellow light flickered. A new leg was formed from light.
Even with her leg gone, Delia paid it no mind as she steadied her breath.
Regaining her center, she reached toward the sky.
The lightning that had sunk into the ground surged once more. Entwining and merging in the air, it created a new form.
A gigantic hand.
With an overwhelming appearance that seemed ripped from the hand of a god, the beasts’ screams grew even louder.
The clustered beasts scattered.
The formation that had spread here and there began to gather in one direction.
The beasts’ fangs were aimed at Delia.
From Delia’s lungs, a hot breath burst forth.
Blood flowed from her nose, eyes, mouth, and ears. The skin split apart. Blood gushed through the cracks. Muscles tore, and veins twisted.
Plop— Thick drops of blood, droplets of sweat steeped in pain fell to the ground.
From the fallen, a faint current seeped out.
The seeping current enveloped Heinzel’s body, protecting him.
And then, Delia’s fist clenched.
The hand that had manifested in the sky also clenched in response to Delia’s movements.
The beasts’ screams grew louder.
Leviathan’s pupils narrowed.
Slowly, Delia’s arm swung through the air.
Following this, the giant hand plummeted toward the ground.
BANG—!!
Light that had stained the sky white poured down.
A lightning that seemed to hold the end of the world engulfed the earth, following Delia’s will.
The blinding light swallowed the beasts whole.
And again.
The hand of Delia, now oxidized into light, was raised.
The more intense lightning, the lightning that covered the earth gathered above. It overshadowed the black sun, illuminating the darkened world.
“Die, all of you.”
Delia’s hand fell.
The lightning condensed to its limit finally took shape and fell toward the world.
An indescribable roar.
With force beyond the critical threshold, the earth crumbled. Landscapes twisted, and the sky split.
A raging sea of light.
It split, centered around Delia. Gathered again.
Flowing, converging, swirling.
Eventually, thousands of beasts evaporated and disappeared from the land.
Heinzel, while still unconscious, regained some color, and only Leviathan’s shadow remained.
And, the half-god, oxidized into light, Delia.
A faintly trembling body.
Along with the breath she had been holding back, blood and pieces of her organs streamed out.
She lost both arms. She lost her right leg. She lost her left eye. Her organs had been scorched. Her whole body was torn apart.
Her once lustrous hair lost its shine. Her once sharp eyes dulled.
The brilliant light that had surged from her body faded.
As if her lifespan was nearly spent.
She wilted helplessly.
Yet her will still remained.
The killing intent towards Leviathan deepened.
The light swirling in the air gathered into her body.
It became a new arm and an eye, molding a new body.
“Hah…”
If it had been the same roar and light as before, surely someone would have seen it. They would have realized the battle happening here. They would have found my presence, Heinzel’s presence.
Someday.
Someone will come.
Therefore, I must endure.
Until Heinzel wakes up.
Until help arrives.
Standing firm in this place, I must hold back that thing.
“…Come out, you bastard.”
Creak— A cracked, weakened voice.
But the momentum was sharper than ever.
In the heavy atmosphere.
Leviathan’s eyes, filled with hostility, fixed directly on Delia.
And then, a moment later.
Grrr—
The immovable giant of Leviathan began to writhe.
Whoosh— Whoosh—
Not an echo, but a reality.
Not nature’s magical power, but Leviathan’s.
A torrent of power beyond comprehension engulfed Cartia.
In a pressure so intense it was hard to breathe, the light-made hand pulled Heinzel’s body backward.
Gently setting him down in the deeply gouged earth, the light covered him.
It probably meant little, but still.
It should provide some protection.
“You sure are sleeping well in this situation… Baldy.”
Delia, fixing her gaze on the still unconscious Heinzel, flicked his forehead softly and stood up.
Gripping her trembling body.
Forcing out her choking breath.
She turned her back.
Right there.
Before her was Leviathan rising from the ground.
Stripped of all emotions, showing hostility, he looked down at Delia.
“Ha, damn it. I should have just asked for a kiss.”
Delia, spitting out thick blood, wore a desperate smile and extracted her waning spiritual energy.
In alignment, Leviathan’s body rose into the air.
An elegant movement, reminiscent of gliding through the air.
The waves that had been echoing from all directions intensified, mismatched with his appearance.
Bubbling— The natural magical power that had been circling around was absorbed into Leviathan’s form. It became foam, swirling in the air. A force that shook the foundations of the world, the disastrous creature that had slain gods.
He opened his jaws.
The very look of Leviathan’s jaw twisted, resembling the gate of Hell itself. Rows of sharp teeth sharpened menacingly.
A devastating power rippled atop the layered skin that even the wind couldn’t penetrate.
From within his mouth, the flames of Hell erupted.
The shadow of death sprawled messily.
An end to all things dampened the nape of her neck.
Before it, the small human.
Recalling the path she had taken, she sought the foundations of the world, connected to her very soul.
Reaching for the heavens, forever out of grasp.
Calling upon the desires etched in her soul.
Denying the darkness that had engulfed the world.
Pushing back the darkness that had killed her family.
Embracing the light that would eventually come.
Chasing after the light that had brought her this far.
She closed her eyes.
Prayers for the dead family.
Wishes for her forthcoming future.
The flowerbeds that would bloom again.
The sunlight of summer.
The falling leaves of autumn.
The snowflakes of winter.
The back of the man who had saved her.
The person she could never reach again.
And then.
She whispered the oath she had longed for, with infinite devotion.
[I am the existence that bends the foundations of the world.]
[I am the one who will touch the sky.]
[I am the being that will cast out the darkness.]
[I am the one who will dare to challenge the gods.]
[I am.]
[I will give everything.]
[I am the being that will reverse heaven.]
Light unfurled.
A blazing light that threatened to tear everything apart blossomed above the heads of mortals.
The quiet remnants of falling light, like gentle snowflakes, touched Delia’s body. With every touch, her form began to fade.
But Delia paid it no mind, drawing out her remaining vitality.
Her life, her lifespan, everything.
The light gathered in a shape and distorted.
Crumbling, tearing, and sticking back together.
The bright yellow light turned pure white.
The whiteness ultimately faded to transparency.
It formed an indescribable ‘concept.’
What she had so longed for came to shape.
What was created was.
The boundary of light dividing heaven and earth.
The horizon, marking the end of darkness and the beginning of light.
A colossal spear.
It is called.
[Divine Spear.]
“Brynwack.”
