The battle situation is overwhelmingly in our favor. The other side is more than 100,000 at most while our side is over 800,000. In addition, the lowest-level skeletons possessed the power of third-class angels or even stronger, so most of them were instead leaning towards aiding the evacuation of the people.
“What about the other you?”
“They’ve already caught on my whereabouts by this time. I should be on the run disguised as a monster.”
Gohma had probably pinpointed the position of the other Naoki. However, he should be wary of our sudden appearance so he does not appear easily.
Should I have waited a little longer?
But if we moved too slowly, there will be a big problem. The toll on the people in Tokyo will grow and Naoki will be deeply wounded by Gohma. What I want is to secure Naoki safely with minimal injury and face Gohma.
If history was exactly as it had been, I wouldn’t understand why I even came back in time then. As I was deeply thinking, the ground starts to shake.
Is there an earthquake at this timing?
The ground rises and huge stone walls emerged. It surrounded the city and completely sealed it off.
Could this be Gohma’s work?
It seemed that he had no intention of letting Naoki escape no matter what. On the other hand, I was also concerned about the safety of the people stranded inside the city.
“We’re back.”
Erna and the others are back. I entrusted them with the evacuation, but I wonder if it went well.
“We managed to get most of them out with our own efforts, so I don’t think there is a problem. The skeletons are still guiding them to shelters so I think they will be fine.”
“Un, that’s good. But it’s about time they made some move—”
At that moment, Naoki, who had far vision, shouted.
“Gohma has appeared!”
“Really!?”
“Together with the Four Zodiac Gods, he is surrounding the other me!”
That’s bad. We have to go there right now. We followed Naoki’s guidance and flew at the speed of light. In the middle of a deserted intersection in ruins, the other Naoki was grabbed by the neck and is lifted by a well-built man. Around him, four handsome young men are watching the situation.
“Dragon Slash!”
I unleashed a slash at Gohma’s arm. However, the attack was prevented by the Four Zodiac Gods.
—But there was something I’m really aiming for. Liz emerges from Gohma’s shadow and quickly cuts off his arm, then like a smoke screen, she covered the area with dark matter. When the darkness converged to a single point, Liz nor Naoki is no longer there.
Next, they appeared on the roof of Shibuya Station.
“Cough, cough. You are….…”
“I don’t have time to talk about it right now.”
As for us, we descend to the ground and Eugrapia put up a barrier so the enemies can’t get away. If we defeat them here, this battle will be over.
“I never thought that there would still be someone against me. I guess you sent that strange army after me, right?”
The figure, who appears to be Gohma, picks up the severed arm and connects it on the cut, instantly reattaching it. He was clad in golden armor and had a sturdy, muscular build. His greying blond hair was combed back, and his chiseled features and sharp gaze were like an eagle’s. He had a beard around his mouth, and his presence was imposing and dignified. And his white cloak fluttering in the wind further accentuated his majesty.
In addition, Four Zodiac gods protect him. Genbu, Byakko, Suzaku and Seiryū. All of them had peerless appearance and they got weapons that seemed to symbolize the four gods. Genbu is equipped with jade gauntlets. Byakko holds a pure white giant axe. Suzaku had a crimson spear. Seiryū weilds a huge blue bow. They were clad in white cloth like the Greek gods, and like emotionless dolls, their expressions didn’t change at all.
Gohma glanced at Naoki beside me, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
“I see, you guys have come from the future. In that case, this unexpected situation makes sense. I was lured out huh.”
“Gohma, your ambitions fall through! My Dad here is the next generation God of Destruction!”
“God of Destruction…… Kukuku, he is quite a big shot then.”
Gohma keeps his fearless smile and doesn’t even seem ready to draw the sword at his waist. This doesn’t seem like an attitude of someone who’s cornered. Then….I think it is safe to assume that he has a secret weapon we don’t know about.
“Eugrapia please take care of Naoki and the others. I am going to settle the matter with Gohma.”
“I understand. Good luck.”
Eugrapia takes Naoki, Kurohime and Liberto and the others outside the barrier. Liz continues to protect the other Naoki.
“D-dad!? You are my dad, right?! W-why are you here!?”
“We’ll talk about it later. Stay still and just watch from there.”
The other Naoki tries to run to me but Liz restrains him with dark matter. I feel bad seeing him like that but I don’t have time to sit down and talk to him right now.
“Now then, hey Gohma, now that this is the case, I suggest that you surrender. What do you think?”
“What a fool. I’d consider doing it the other way around, but why should I have to bow down to the likes of you? Especially to a God of Destruction who’s like a baby and hasn’t even lived for a hundred years.”
What is he saying? How can he afford to be so calm?
For a bluff, he is strangely very confident with his words. Is he confident that he will win? —No, maybe he is confident that he can get out of here.
But how?
They are getting closer and closer. We also have our weapon at ready, waiting to see what they’ll do.
“I have one question. Did my future self get the proof of the Creator God?”
“No, you couldn’t even see it, let alone touch it.”
“Mmmm. Either way, it looks like this plan has been in vain.”
The next moment when we relaxed our guard, Bam! With great impact, six pillars of light appeared, forming a hexagram. The area around Shinjuku Station, which is the center of the city, had a huge hole and caves in.
Along with Eugrapia and the others, we fell down.
Darn it! Was this what he was aiming for?
The unexpected event caused the barrier to flicker and crack. Gohma and the others broke through that gap, swiftly charging towards the free-falling Naoki.
Damn it! I won’t let that happen!
I regained my balance and attacked Gohma, but my sword was quickly blocked by the Zodiac Gods who stepped in between. I kicked Genbu away, grabbed Suzaku’s spear and threw it away, and deflected Byakko’s strike. However, my movements were stopped by the countless arrows that were instantly fired by Seiryū.
“Aaaaghh!”
Gohma’s arm pierced Naoki’s chest.
“Naoki!!”
“Fool! Did you really think I was unprepared?”
He took the Creator God’s token from Naoki’s pocket and threw my son in the trash. He stares at the proof in his hand with a grin before disappearing from the spot together with the Four Zodiac Gods.
I ran to Naoki who had fallen to the bottom of the hole and hugged him.
“Naoki, Naoki! Pull yourself together!”
“Da……ad..”
“I-, I’ll heal your wounds right away!”
I tried to put the Rainbow Mushroom I took out of the ring into Naoki’s mouth. But he smiled weakly and shook his head.
“It’s no……use….. I-, I’m so….rry.”
“Can’t we do something about it!?”
Naoki placed his weak hand on mine. Unstoppable tears began to spill. No matter how much I tried to hold it back, it just kept spilling out. My emotions were raging and I couldn’t get my thoughts together.
The other Naoki approaches and touches Naoki’s face.
“P-past me…… I……leave Dad….to you….”
“Okay, my future self.”
Pero ran up to him and took Naoki’s hand.
“Oniisan! I don’t want you to die!”
“Pero…… My cute little brother……”
“Naoki-niisan, don’t die!”
“Sorry…… Support… Dad.…”
After touching Pero’s face, Naoki ran out of strength.
“Naoki!”
Flashbacks of events from the day we reunited till today came flashing to me. We are just finally reconnecting as a family. I never thought it would turn out like this. He was the only Naoki I had spent that time with. And yet I couldn’t protect him.
I’m sorry, I’m really sorry Naoki.
I stand up with Naoki’s body in my arms.
“Eugrapia, cover the Earth with a barrier at once. They should be launching an attack soon.”
“Certainly!”
Leaving the cleaning up of the angels to my comrades, I left the place with Naoki in my arms.
◇◇◇
The angels disguised as monsters were safely cleaned up. After returning to our mountain house for the time being, we decided to spend time together and sort out our minds.
To tell the truth, I was prepared to some extent. I had expected someone to die in this battle. But even so, when it actually happened, it’s still upsetting. Especially when it’s my son. The explanation of the situation to the other Naoki was done by Erna and the others. It was something that I should have done but my wives and comrades who cared about me did it for me.
Once again, I felt a deep sense of gratitude that someone was by my side.
“Naoki..…”
My frozen son lay in the basement. I tried to bring him back to life over and over again but his soul was nowhere to be found. The souls of the gods disappear after death. That story was true.
The door opens and Erna and Liz enter.
“Shinichi-, are you okay?”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Mmm, I’ve calmed down now. I’m sorry I made you guys worried.”
I put Naoki’s body in the bangle. After this battle is over, I’m going to let him sleep in Tanaka family’s graveyard. Until then, I’ll have him bear with it for a little while.
When I went up to the first floor, everyone was there. On the table is a bento box they made for lunch. Right, we missed the chance to eat.
“Dad-, I’ve heard about the situation. It appears that it was tough in future as well.”
“I guess so. But I’m relieved you’re safe.”
“It’s kinda weird, having two Dad I mean.”
For this Naoki, it’s our first reunion in decades. I hugged him tightly. The only saving grace is that Naoki in the past is here safe and sound. Thanks to that, I didn’t have to despair.
“I’m hungry so let’s eat first.”
“Right.”
I untied the bag that covered the heavy bento box, open the lid and looked inside. It was filled with rice balls and omelets made by Naoki.
“U,uuu……”
As soon as I took a bite on the rice ball, my tears spilled out.
Naoki, your cooking is really delicious.
After eating, I drank coffee and the others had tea as we watched the news. The program is all about the unknown monsters that suddenly appeared and the huge wall that covered Tokyo. It also talked about the mysterious black human skeletons that protected the people.
Then the breaking news comes in. The newscaster hurriedly read out the form he had received. Apparently, countless unidentified life forms are heading to Earth. At the moment, it is still in orbit around Mars, but due to its unusual speed, it is expected to approach Earth in the next few days.
“They’re here.”
From a quick glance through my far vision, their number is about 300 million. He is underestimating me. Sending such an army against me, the God of Destruction.
Or, is he just waiting to see what happens? See how will we respond?
“As originally planned, we will leave Naoki and Eugrapia here on Earth, and we will launch an all-out attack on the heavenly realm at once.”
“Can we really win? I’m starting to get a little worried.”
“Don’t be fooled by their numbers. Angels are nothing more than winged worms to us now. If they stand in our way, don’t hesitate to get rid of them.”
I stood up with a new determination in my heart.
Naoki also stood up and then he handed me something from his pocket.
“I want you to keep it for me Dad.”
“Isn’t this the proof of the Creator God? But—”
“Gohma will probably try to get this other one. He knows otherwise that it will get in the way. But if I keep it with me, something unexpected might happen. So I’ll leave it with Dad, who I can trust the most.” He added with a smile, “It could also be used as bait to lure Gohma.”
Conversely, that is how much Naoki is betting on this battle.
I only said, “I will try not to use it as much as possible.” and put it in my pocket.
Before the decisive battle, we teleported to the surface of the moon. The main reason was that I wanted to see Earth one last time.
“Earth is blue and so beautiful.”
“What a nice view. I want to see it again.”
Erna and Liz look at Earth in a daze.
“This is space huh. It’s fluffy.”
“If you’re talking about fluffy, it will lose to Pero-sama’s fur!”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Pero and Freya seemed to enjoy the low gravity.
“I’m going to avenge Master’s son!”
“For sure! I’ll show him what we are capable of!”
“That’s right. It would be a pain to leave it like this.”
“Leave everyone’s defense to me.”
“I’m going to beat them all, gods and angels alike!”
With their fighting spirit burning, Liberto and his team formed a circle.
“I’ve come this far, this is the sight I’d like to show Moore someday.”
Kurohime narrows her eyes as she looks at Earth.
“Come forth, my familiars.”
My skeleton army emerges from the bangle. All of them got down on one knee in unison.
I unsheathe my sword and raised it.
“In the name of Tanaka Shinichi, the God of Destruction, I command you! Use your power to the fullest and overwhelm the enemy forces! Show no mercy! Don’t allow them to beg for their life! Step over their corpses and take control of Heaven!”
“At your will.”
Suketarou replied.
Then the others clattered their jaws.
“Let’s go!”
I teleported everyone. Our destination is the center of the universe where Heaven Realm is.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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