Chapter 265 : Chapter 265

Chapter 265

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Monster Lord.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍king of hundreds of mountain ranges, and the king of everything classified as a monster.

His ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍birth alone raised monsters’ presence and made them organize themselves like a trained army.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍humanity took hegemony over the continent, every great war recorded in history had a Monster Lord at its center.

Adamas’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍friends, too, could not escape the great wars, directly or indirectly, so he had watched the wars they fought as a sword.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍most troublesome of them all was the last king born in Edan’s era.

As if he would not repeat his predecessors’ failures, he imitated humans thoroughly.

He employed tactics and strategies knights might use, and made Chimeras to bind mages’ hands and feet.

He battled a knight who had mastered 9-Star for the presence of Transcendence, and even that was not enough; he borrowed the Anomaly’s power and drove humanity to the brink of extinction.

If Killian had not been beside Edan, and if the sword that had once obtained the presence of Transcendence and the knight on the verge of Transcendence had not sacrificed themselves.

He was certain the continent’s ruler would have changed.

And that bastard stood before Killian after hundreds of years.

With an appearance unchanged in the slightest from before, and a presence that overwhelmed an 8-Star knight.

[Edan Eurasia, it has been a long time.]

“......”

[You speak less than before. Are you not glad to see me?]

Riiip.

The Monster Lord’s mouth curled upward as his pale-white skin split.

He looked human, but that was only a shell. The substance filling the inside was not human.

[If I devour you, I should be able to surpass the limits of mortals.]

He mentioned the dream he had failed to achieve while alive, saying that ultimately only one of Edan and himself would attain the presence of Transcendence.

[I unified the mountain ranges and prepared my utmost for our battle.]

In the past, Edan had only formed a coalition of kingdoms. Unable to bring down the Empire, his forces had been scattered.

[How troublesome. To rival my forces despite your strength being scattered.]

‘Is this bastard recognizing me as Edan?’

It was grumbling he had never heard before.

[If not for that bastard Adamas’s help, the match would have been decided long ago.]

There was even solidity to his certainty.

[I do not see that ‘Magic Sword’ today.]

“......”

[Did you form an alliance with the fairy race?]

The Monster Lord spoke as he looked at Silvana, in an elf’s form, and Anima in Killian’s hand.

Displeasure appeared on Silvana’s face as she met the Monster Lord’s red eyes.

Then suddenly.

FWOOSH.

Demonic energy rising from his body constricted her.

[It no longer matters. I have a helper now as well.]

Killian, who had listened to the Monster Lord’s words all along, sensed something strange.

Silvana seemed to feel the same.

[Adamas, this bastard......]

She had already hidden behind Killian and, looking at the Monster Lord as though he were filthy, spoke.

[He recognizes me as the king of the elves.]

She was right.

‘This is Neptune’s Mind Image World.’

The dungeon’s Core was eroded by a Fragment of the Anomaly, and the Monster Lord before them had been shaped by the Anomaly’s radiance.

The Anomaly’s Core had likely made the Monster Lord because the Fragment of the Anomaly considered the being that would protect it most safely to be the Monster Lord.

‘I ended up facing someone worse than Neptune.’

He could tell.

8-Star would not be enough to face the present bastard.

He was probably at the same level of 9-Star he had been when Killian first met Edan.

‘I cannot cut him down completely with 8-Star.’

Because he was not easy enough to be struck by techniques.

[If you will not draw that splendid Magic Sword, I will take your presence here.]

‘What a coincidence.’

Neptune and Killian.

They had each approached the other’s Mind Image World to conquer it, only for a different person to guard it.

‘Silvana.’

[Yes, exactly as you think.]

Silvana’s voice rang in his head without her moving her lips.

It meant they could communicate merely by thinking of what they wanted to say.

‘Help me.’

[You shameless bastard! You acted as if you were desperate to erase me just a moment ago!!]

‘Situations change.’

Murus was using Hollyheart’s power in full.

Though he could not use divine power, this was a Mind Image World, and Silvana was a remnant of a god residing in Killian’s mana.

‘If I allow it.’

As long as the Elvenheim manifested through Carpe Illusion and the Divine Tree remained intact.

‘You should be able to return to the presence you had when you fought me before.’

For her, having already lost her power and survived only by fusing with a Fragment of the Anomaly, it was likely a tempting offer.

‘Even the part where you were stuck to the Anomaly is exactly the same as back then.’

[......!!]

Silvana poured out curses at the taunting words.

Even so.

[Only this once.]

The god’s stray thought accepted the green mana after rationalizing that she was helping only because, if Killian were eaten by the monster now, she inside him would also become part of the Anomaly.

Tzzzzzz.

Her elf-child form changed into that of an adult.

If there was anything peculiar, it was that her appearance was that of Serena, whose body she had taken over once.

[Murus may look foolish, but he is classified as a higher god.]

“So it was true.”

[But with Neptune as his opponent, even he cannot guarantee the advantage.]

Neptune was also a higher god who ruled the sea.

In other words.

[Neither side can guarantee victory.]

Silvana created a sword made of green mana.

The power she borrowed through the Mana Heart Killian had forged could be called an incomplete 8-Star.

Even if Murus dealt a blow to Neptune.

Even if Killian dealt a blow to the Monster Lord.

‘An opportunity will arise.’

Killian infused blue mana into the sword holding Anima.

Eight spheres floated above their heads.

“I do not plan for defeat.”

[You prepared a new little trick.]

The Monster Lord raised his pale hand.

RUMBLE.

At his gesture, demonic energy spread out and formed a mountain.

Then, the place that had been a fishery with splashing water changed into a mountain range somewhere where dust blew through the air.

[Insane...... He is not even a main body, and he is this strong?]

Silvana, Synchronizing with the Divine Tree, cursed.

The mountain range’s demonic energy began to erode the forest.

“A domain battle from the start.”

THRUST.

Killian drove Anima into the demonic energy spreading beneath his feet.

A tower made of violet mana manifested.

Fwoooooosh.

It supplied infinite mana to the total solar eclipse and Elvenheim.

The Monster Lord watched the three Carpe Illusions in silence, then his mouth split upward once again.

[Yes, it can only count as a greeting after such a long time if it is at least this much.]

Pop. Pop.

Monsters appeared from magic circles emerging from the mountain range’s ground.

[Grrrrrrrr.]

[Grrraaaaa.]

Their number grew rapidly, beginning to exceed several hundred.

“Let us begin the war that never ends, Edan Eurasia.”

Within a god’s Mind Image World, the war of the past was reenacted.

***

WHOOOOSH.

RUMBLE.

A world shook.

It was the effect of Neptune and Murus clashing.

When Neptune used the sea to break barriers, Murus confined the waterways with new barriers; the exchange repeated itself.

[Why are you helping Adamas?]

Neptune, who had repeated the tiresome exchange, sank another barrier and asked as though tossing out the question.

[What would a lower god like you know about duty? You bastard who got fat off playing with lesser creatures.]

Hot-tempered Murus spoke harshly.

He still held a grudge over Neptune treating him like some insignificant god.

[You are a narrow-minded fellow without a trace of dignity.]

[Would a dignified bastard play around making mongrels?]

[What Neptune did was experiment in the evolution of species. Among those who possess divine natures, to have that much interest in......]

[Will this gloomy bastard not shut up? Are you not Murus too?!!]

[Ooh...... I truly am a useless divine nature......]

[Shut up!]

Neptune watched the two divine natures’ conversation as though it were pathetic.

Gods did not all associate with one another.

And Neptune had never had a meaningful conversation with Murus.

Neptune had spent his early years subjugating the sea’s lower gods, and after that had spent most of his time experimenting on species.

‘Styx was an unfathomable fellow.’

Murus was one who had spent much time with such a Styx.

Barriers and boundaries.

He knew that they were moving together with some ulterior motive.

He had simply not cared enough to pay attention.

[Those who live on land always have something rotten behind them.]

[Look at this fellow acting important when he does not even know what a god’s will is.]

[You know the Anomaly came from beyond the boundary.]

[......]

Rational Murus, who had watched silently and led the exchange so far, cut in.

[Neptune, the Anomaly eats gods.]

[I know.]

[And yet you made this choice?]

[Did I not say it was an experiment?]

He had performed countless experiments and offered the divine nature of a higher god as prey to the Anomaly, a completely new Transcendent.

[It was quite a fresh experience. Thanks to it, unlike you, I can now wield this power through my own will.]

Neptune added that while other gods had declined and worried about vanishing, he had preserved considerable presence and could still exert influence over the world.

[You are wrong. Divine nature cannot be maintained that way.]

[Water changes shape depending on what contains it.]

[Do you have nothing but fish in your head? That is why we are controlling you......]

[I will rule a new sea.]

[......?]

[Beyond the boundary.]

Neptune smiled broadly.

[There is a sea in the Abyss as well.]

[......!!]

[Did you think I was having meaningless small talk with you?]

Fwoooooosh.

The blue seawater gradually took on a purple hue.

Sizzle—

The barriers that had blocked the waterways all this time began to melt.

[Demonic Sea. A new waterway I obtained through the Anomaly’s power.]

[At this rate, we...... will all die......]

Depressed Murus spoke weakly.

[Will you be quiet?!! Hey! You do something too!]

Hot-tempered Murus shouted at no one in particular.

[......]

[Hey!]

[Brother......]

Rational Murus quietly brought his palms together.

RUMBLE.

A barrier in the shape of a door rose.

Then.

RUMBLEEEEE.

A massive door opened, cutting through the water.

Through the slight gap in the opened door, a woman using flight magic flew in quickly.

[Thank you for allowing me to approach.]

Charles, her violet robes fluttering, smiled at the golem.

“It is obvious who is an ally and who is an enemy.”

[So you were the one who interfered with my domain.]

Even facing a god, Charles did not panic.

“Here, I should be able to use my power too.”

Her magic could create a world. She was the one who determined that world’s nature and concepts.

Tap.

With only a light touch, Charles’s mana strengthened the barrier.

Her gaze turned to Neptune.

“God of the Sea.”

A Transcendent now defined as Killian Eurasia’s enemy.

“Please leave my guardian’s world.”

Sun Magic.

“Solaris.”

Fwoooooosh.

A sphere that had condensed heat as though it lit the darkness rose in temperature.

FWOOSH. FWOOSH.

Two spheres floated at Neptune’s sides.

Sizzle.

The hot light began to vaporize the seawater.

[The sun!]

Neptune shouted in fury.

[This is magic unfit for the sea!]

“That is why it is more beautiful.”

At Charles’s resolute answer.

[Wahahahaha.]

[A good human......]

[It is a new era.]

The Muruses responded with satisfaction.