3~The Multifaceted Nature of a God
“Cease this combat while you still have the chance to enjoy the elongated lifespan of a Gold Elf, living out your days in tranquil peace. Persisting recklessly will surely lead to your demise,” Aistride added, her voice devoid of any trace of bluff. “This is no idle threat.”
“Given your present state, you’re ‘poisoned’ beyond redemption. Refraining from wielding Divine Authority for the rest of your life is your only safeguard. If you stubbornly insist on continuing its use, let alone reactivating [Holy Oblivion], you’re sealing your own fate.”
“Your unbridled use of [Holy Oblivion] has led to a dangerous accumulation of ‘taint’ in your body, reaching its peak threshold. All it takes is one trigger to cause an explosive eruption.”
“And that trigger could very well be me… or his lethal manacles,” Tillysha said with utter nonchalance.
“I know what you’re thinking. You intend to use the [Holy Oblivion] planted in your body to k*ll him just as he once killed you. But have you ever pondered the fact that he’s been meticulously planning this for a thousand years? Do you think such a possibility would escape his foresight?” Aistride’s expression remained calm.
“Have you looked into our clan’s grassroots enforcement department? There’s a likelihood he anticipated being discovered one day, including the possibility you identified him as the perpetrator. Could all of this have been part of his grand design?”
“What are you implying?”
“The critical fragment of your memory he hid within my shard. Only when this piece is activated will your memories fully return. All of this was meticulously orchestrated by him.”
“In other words, regardless of whether it’s you or me, we are merely following a path set a thousand years ago, and even knowing the truth now won’t change our inevitable course.”
“By deliberately embedding your final memories in my shard and guiding you to dismantle Ruglien’s multiple barriers, he ensured your memory restoration is part of his grand strategy,” Aistride elaborated clearly.
“Surely, you don’t think he neglected your [Holy Oblivion] or didn’t consider the possibility of your mutual destruction? Remember, even [Holy Oblivion] is but a tool in his master plan.”
“And thus, you’re advising me to back down?” Tillysha clutched the silver-moon chain tethering her.
“Then let me highlight the difference between you and me.”
With a crunch, Tillysha snapped the chain with one hand.
“Ughh………” Tillysha fell to one knee, a thick, black essence enveloping her body, immobilizing her completely.
“I warned you – if you value your life, you should stop using Divine Authority,” Aistride’s eye twitched slightly at the corner.
“……… I don’t understand you people. To you, life seems just like a string of numbers.” Tillysha rose, pressing her hand to her chest.
“Destiny is inevitable, it should be so……… but is it right just because it’s supposed to be?”
“You still don’t understand, Miss Divine Warrior of this era. Neither you nor I are more than ants facing destiny. Resisting destiny is no more than a joke because even ‘resistance’ is part of the destined narrative.”
“In which case, I will tell you.” Tillysha stood up, dark ominous clouds swirling around her, deepening their corruption of her.
“There’s a concept called ‘human determination conquers destiny.’”
With floral incantations, a long wooden spear wrapped in green tree dragons coalesced in Tillysha’s grasp. Once the weapon’s effect engaged, Tillysha’s combat prowess skyrocketed, propelling her martial skill from extraordinary to transcendent realms.
The spear darted forward like a bolt of lightning, creating millions of images of itself in the air. Each spear was like an overwhelming burst of thunder, locking onto Aistride.
“After centuries of living, you’re still so naive? That sounds pretty much like her.” Aistride shook her head as the Chosen of the Moon assembled.
Unlike previous engagements, Aistride’s Chosen of the Moon was no longer merely suspended but summoned divine authority with a backdrop of the entire starlit sky.
“Clang, Clang!” The moon blade materialized effortlessly, deflecting the overwhelming spear strikes.
“?! ”
“Forgot to tell you, Tillysha,” Aistride glanced at the startled Tillysha.
“Even though I’m still missing the most critical fragment, I vaguely remember that in my previous life when I perished, they also called me…..
“Elf Divine Warrior.”
“Boom, Boom, Boom!” Aistride’s single-handed slash cut through the palace’s upper and lower levels, its enormous force devastating the fortress.
This was sufficient; the remaining Demons in the city, if not dead before, were certainly finished now. The ones who survived earlier might not have survived this second wave.
Tillysha, on one knee, saw her hand that intercepted Aistride’s blade become excessively pale due to overload and over-erosion, sharply contrasting her healthy rosy skin elsewhere.
“Give up, Tillysha. You are no match for me,” Aistride stood, supported by the entire night sky, reining in her murderous intent. “I will not let you go to Didelai. Cease your fight.”
“You are also no match for him now,” Aistride declared, word by word.
“Do you know why you broke the Demon Realm barrier and why you were chosen to fulfill this task?”
“The Demon Race were once oppressed Light Races, whose accumulated resentment turned them into manifestations of powerful longing. Quantitative changes triggered qualitative transformation, leading to demonization.”
“In this world, every race corresponds to the hair of the deities. As their descendants, each race symbolizes a deity and his divine power. However, some powers, differing in expression, remain hidden. According to his research, demons are the opposite of Light Races and can perfectly reveal the hidden divine power.”
“Tillysha, do you understand the significance of these revelations? Is this why he created the Demon Race?”
“Not just that; those are the results, not the purpose.”
“Think about it. To aspire to become a god, one must first possess all divine powers. Gods, in essence, are multifaceted, and humans often perceive only one side, overlooking the other. That’s why he aspires to fully comprehend the true deity’s multifaceted nature, then create a deity anew.”
“Consider this: the Demon Race in Ruglien experienced prolonged war, obtaining peace, then due to betrayal, fell into chaos again.”
“The greater their suffering, the more they continue to differentiate, spawning more demon types.”
“I suspect his ultimate goal is to have the Demon Race experience a long superficial peace until all contradictions reach their peak. Then, by inciting wars, he will ignite the hidden contradictions of the peace period, forcing the Demon Race to further differentiate in order to observe the multifaceted nature of the deity.”
“This is his ultimate goal, the reason for numerous human experiments.”
“……… A madman of such horror you still praise?”
“I do not praise him. I disapprove of his actions, but I have no better option.”
“Thus, you let that madman become ‘god’? Do you know what the world will become if he succeeds?”
“He wants to become a god not to lead or rule all beings but for entirely different reasons.”
“To what purpose?”
“You will know soon,” Aistride spoke gravely. “Doesn’t chatting pass the time quickly?”
“Relax, it will be all right soon.”
“………” Tillysha leaped high into the air, descending with fierce momentum.
The metallic clash was deafening; spear met crescent blade. Their immense forces distorted the surrounding reality.
“Found her! Sister Tillysha and Sister Aistride are here……. Eek?!” When Yimi and Wenfu, hobbling on their short legs, arrived at the scene, they were astonished.
“Sister Tillysha and Sister Aistride, why are they fighting?”
“What’s going on?” Wenfu held her little head, unsure who to support.
Yimi looked baffled. She thought Tillysha was battling the Demon King, but to her surprise, she was actually fighting Aistride.
What’s more, when did Aistride become strong enough to counter Tillysha?
Yimi could not help but feel bewildered. It didn’t seem like they had just defeated the Demon King and decided to spar for fun; their clash certainly didn’t look like an ordinary friendly duel.
How could they have turned enemies so suddenly?
Yimi observed that Aistride had changed too, drastically unlike her usual self.
After all, the previous Aistride couldn’t transform the whole sky into her Divine Authority.
Had she been possessed? But if so, why did she, the Divine Child, not sense anything?
As Yimi pondered, Princess Filisia arrived and was equally stunned.
She had expected to see greats wielding supernatural powers but was surprised to find it was only their own teammates.
How curious! Not long ago, they shared the same bed; now, they seem like sworn enemies!
The three watched dumbfounded at the spectacle before them, hesitant to intervene, fearing they might get injured in the crossfire.
This was no trivial fight; even the slightest touch could obliterate them.
Weapons were pushed away simultaneously. Tillysha delivered a powerful kick to Aistride’s abdomen, preparing to continue her assault when a streak of bright lightning descended from the heavens, interjected between them.
Looking upward, a colossal statue of the Sage appeared in the sky, its gaze benevolent yet stern.
It was clear now; without neutralizing her Divine Authority, the battle would never end.
Time was running out. If Didelai wasn’t stopped, who knew what might happen.
At this thought, a wild gale surged.
Tillysha’s eyes took on a darker, deeper look, wine-red and alluring like a demon’s gaze.
Seeing this, Aistride furrowed her brow.
What recklessness!
Why couldn’t she simply listen and stay put here?
“You can’t use [Holy Oblivion] anymore,” Aistride’s throat felt parched as she pleaded.
Tillysha completely ignored her warnings, her black spear now darker and deeper as she swung it toward the sky.
A thunderous roar echoed like a drumbeat.
Tillysha’s spear clashed with the celestial statue. In the next moment, the mighty Saint statue split into two.
“……… You think you can stop me? You and your allies?” Strands of Tillysha’s hair turned ash-white, her eyes glowed a bloody red. The once graceful and elegant warrior now looked utterly deranged.
The infection was almost complete.
Aistride, on one knee, had her Divine Authority shattered, her complexion ashen, bl**d trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Indeed, she was no longer capable of stopping Tillysha.
But her purpose had already been accomplished.
Tillysha could no longer hinder Didelai.
“Didelai……….” Tillysha knew she had to stop him. Despite her swirling mind drowned in chaotic symphonies, driven by sheer willpower, she needed to reach Didelai.
All barriers in Ruglien were destroyed, leaving an expansive, clear plain.
Tillysha dispelled [Holy Oblivion], bending her body slightly, and rushed ahead like a streak of golden lightning across the plains.
“Sister Tillysha!” Seeing Tillysha leave without a backward glance, the trio glanced at the injured Aistride and then at the vanishing silhouette of Tillysha, unsure where to go.
Regardless, they wouldn’t venture far; after all, the ‘refugees’ they found in the Demon King Castle’s underground cage still required their care.
In her haste, Tillysha failed to inform them that the refugees found were all Gold Elf villagers imprisoned four hundred years ago in the underground barrier.
Ifen had kept her word, ensuring the safety of every Gold Elf civilian.
Upon returning to Coleman Academy, Tillysha was surprised not to find a single soul. It was as though the entire academy had been emptied the moment they set out.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t a bad thing.
For the matters ahead, she didn’t wish to put an innocent life at risk.
Presumably, Didelai had the same consideration.
How hypocritical.
He had already caused so much devastation to so many Elves, and now he was concerned about this?
Was he under the delusion this would absolve his sins?
Rushing to the Tower of Sages, the gates were already wide open. As usual, Tillysha entered at a mere touch.
She knew the old man was deliberate.
Aware she would return for him, he had intentionally left the door ajar for her.
Was he truly unafraid of her?
