-Liberto’s POV-
Marga and I arrived at one of the devices with Erna-san. There is a huge structure floating in darkness. The surface was steel-colored and glossy. The overall shape was a diamond with a gap running down the middle. No, it might be more appropriate to say that it was two pyramids joined together.
We stepped into the gap.
“There’s no sign of the enemy.……”
“But this is such an important place, right?”
“Maybe this whole thing is a trap.”
Yes, that’s possible. No matter how much barrier was placed before the defense device, there is no way that they would not take Tanaka-shisho, the god of destruction, into account. Rather, it is natural to predict that the barrier will be breached so they would set a trap here.
“I’ll go first.”
“Be careful, Liberto.”
Marga’s voice gives me a push from behind. I then flew up.
There is nothing frightening here. There are only two sides, one that can be said to be a flat floor and the other that can be said to be a wall. Suddenly, I saw an emerald light in my field of view. I lowered my altitude and landed near the light. It was an emerald sphere of energy flanked by an upper and lower pedestal. A kind of electricity is generated from the sphere, and thin branches run through the space with a dazzling light. Beneath the pedestal was something that appeared to be a control device. There was a screen showing the output and a panel without a single switch. There was an indentation in the shape of a hand on the panel, as if telling me to put my hand on it.
“Liberto!”
“Marga, Erna-san.”
The two of them arrived and they also looked at the device in front.
“This is the core of the device that creates the barrier huh.”
“Can it be destroyed?”
“I’ll try. You two, stand back.”
Erna-san waves her staff to create a golden orb. The moment it was released into the energy sphere, an explosion of tremendous scale occurred, engulfing flames around it.
“It’s okay, stay calm.”
Erna-san continues to block the flames with one hand. A rainbow-colored membrane enveloped me and Marga.
“No, it doesn’t work.”
After the flames were extinguished, what appeared before us was an energy sphere and a control device without a single scratch.
What on earth could it be made of that it wasn’t even affected by all those attacks?
“You two, stay back. I’ll put my hand on it.”
“Stop it, Liberto! It’s a trap!”
“Maybe it’s not a trap.”
“But—”
I asked them to step back and then I put my hands on the panel.
Beep. The display on the screen switches, and an explanation for turning off the device is displayed.
| 【The barrier device could only be completely switched off if the five structures are turned off at the same time. Do you want to turn it off now? YES／NO】 |
So all five should be turned off at the same time huh.
I telepathically told Marga about it.
“You can go with Erna-san to the next device.”
『What do you mean? Wasn’t it a trap?』
“I don’t know yet, but it seems that at least the five of us need to switch it off at the same time to break the barrier.”
『.…The five of us need to do it at the same time huh. I understand.』
Then, one after another, reports came in from my party members that they had reached the point. When all five of us were on standby, Tanaka-shisho spoke to us through telepathy.
『You can replace it with my clone instead.』
“But—, that would use a lot of divine qi, wouldn’t it?”
『……That’s true』
Tanaka-shisho is using divine qi to recreate the skill he had before he became a god. If we are to use his clones, he would lose a large amount of divine qi. That would be a hindrance in his fight against Gohma then.
We must not forget why we came here. Cutting off the telepathy with Tanaka-shisho, I talked to Erna-san and the others with telepathy.
“Just to be safe, Erna-san should stay away from the structure first.”
『Understood…… I pray for your safety.』
“Thank you.”
We started counting from five and as we counted to 1, we turned the switch off at the same time.
Beeeeep.
| 【The device has stopped functioning. It will now enter the self-destruct sequence. Three seconds left. 3—】 |
No way. We only have three seconds to escape?
I ran away from the scene with all my might. With this evolved body, I’d make it just in time.
—That’s what I thought.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
Just as the exit began to came into view, iron bars closed it off.
Damn! This is as far as we can go huh.
I’ll leave the rest to you Master!
An emerald light flashed behind me.
『Liberto, I love you!』
『If we live, let’s kiss each other till we die.』
『We are not going to die in a place like this yet.』
『Even if we die, we’ll all be together.』
“You guys ….…”
The voices of my friends reached me via telepathy. At the moment when I was swallowed up by the light, I saw a video of me holding my child in my hands.
◆◆◆
The barrier that covered the star system disappeared. But for some reason, Liberto and the others didn’t reply.
“Erna, what about Liberto and the others!?”
『Hiccup…… U-uu-……』
I could tell what happened when I heard her crying. As expected, it was a trap. I collapsed to my knees. I should have sent my clones towards them even if it meant losing most of my divine qi. But it’s too late to say that now.
Sorry. Liberto. Margaret. Dominique. Layla. Tina.
『Father! It’s the enemy army!』
I glanced up hearing Pero’s words. What was coming towards us was a pure white xenomorph with angelic wings. Each individual was well over ten meters tall, and there were more than 10,000 of them. The humanoid variant looked like a random mix of human, dragon and beast. It is too imperfect for a living creature. In exchange, I expect that their attack power is far more than that of an angel.
“It’s my turn now!”
“I won’t let you get in Master’s way.”
Kurohime and Suketarou run past, trailing a flash of light. An explosion occurred shortly afterwards, and a fierce battle ensued.
『Master! Leave it to us and go on!』
『We’ll be right there shortly.』
“I’ll leave it to you guys.”
I joined up with Erna and the others and we teleported to the planet where Gohma is.
“What’s that?”
It is a beautiful planet like an emerald. Four layers envelop the planet.
……I see. The planet is covered by four different dimension. I calmly unleashed the wave of destruction onto the planet.
—However, countless small mirrored orbs appeared and caught the waves. Like snakes, they stretched out in a swarm and they continued to spin around the planet. It’s as if eight giant serpents are about to swallow the planet.
I unleashed waves many times, but every time an orb disappears, another orb splits and repeats proliferation. Moreover, I had the impression that it was a special mirror surface that deflects the attacks on it. I can’t erase the planet this way then.
I expected that he would be taking countermeasures, but I never thought that he could have such means to crush my strongest attack. Even if I release waves at its maximum, it will only further activate his prepared countermeasure.
“Erna, what about the black hole?”
“I’ll try.”
Erna created a black orb. She unleashed it but then a group of white orbs appeared and swallowed the black hole. He must have taken countermeasures against my comrades as well. Perhaps he observed our battle against angels. It’s best to think that to some extent, he has figured out our plan.
However, even if we hit those serpents directly, it will be difficult to break through….
—As I was thinking the next step, the serpents stayed put and didn’t react to us at all. It seems to be a device that only responds to attacks that aim to destroy the planet. We slipped through the serpents and headed for the planet.
Splash.
The first alien space was a place full of water. The water level is shallow, only a little above the ankles. The horizon stretches as far as it goes, and the sky is blue enough to hurt your eyes. There was only one thing that caught my eye in such a bleak place. It’s a small island. And it was nothing more than a mound of white sand. There was a building that looked like a hut with a few vegetation growing around it.
Pat Pat. We tread the water as we head to the island.
“Welcome to Genbu’s domain.”
In front of the hut, Genbu is lying in a reclining chair. In his hand, he holds a book, and his eyes seem to follow the letters while speaking to us.
Clap. He closed the book and stood up quietly.
“You want to pass through here, don’t you?”
He pointed to a white door at the end of the island. That’s probably the only entrance going forward. But instead of heading to that door, we drew our weapons.
“I have no intention of fighting many of you at once. If you leave one of you behind, I’m not going to go after anyone else.”
“What are you aiming for?”
“It’s not that I have a goal.…. I simply thought that it was a hassle. If I take on even one person, it will save face in Gohma-sama’s eyes, and the rest will be easier.”
“We also have the option of killing you together you know.”
“Then let me tell you. I will let you use up your divine qi so you’ll be weaker when you face a full-powered Gohma-sama. I can do that much.”
He openly shows off his gleaming jade gauntlets. I feel that the design has changed a little from before. I wonder if Gohma gave him a stronger, more powerful piece of armor.
“Okay. Pero, fight this guy.”
“Yes. I thought it would be my turn to fight as well.”
Genbu nodded as he observed Pero from head to toe.
“It looks like we are a good match. I feel like I’m going to have a lot of fun. Kuku.”
“I’m going to take you down quickly and catch up with Father though.”
The two of them took some distance from each other. The next moment, the two disappeared from the spot, and a splash rose in the distance.
“Let’s go.”
I urged the others and move forward.
Next dimension was a scorching space with lava flowing. It was dotted with rocks that served as a foothold, and there was a white door at the top of a particularly large mountain. However, Suzaku stands in front of the door. As we reached the top, we drew our weapons.
“I want to take on that woman. The others have to go first.”
He pointed his spear at Freya.
This one too?
It’s like a one-on-one with the four zodiac gods. Or is this also a trap from Gohma? Are they planning to separate us and kill us one by one?
“That’s pretty interesting. Alright, let’s figure out which one of us is the better spearman.”
“Right. Spears mean red. Spears are hot-blooded. Spear is a spear.”
“I see, you understand it very well. Well done, even though you are an enemy.”
The two of them have an exchange that I can’t relate to at all.
Is it because they are alike?
I leave Freya and Suzaku behind and goes on.
The next place is a desert world. In the distance stood a man against a white door while holding a huge axe. We approached the door, leaving footprints as go forward.
“My name is Byakko. I request a fair one-on-one fight.”
The more clever the tone, the more convincing it becomes. The other two are a bit strange, but I get the impression that this one likes that kind of thing.
“Leave him to me.”
Liz steps forward.
“Can you win?”
“I don’t feel like losing.”
Liz, who spoke nonchalantly with half-closed eyes, looked the same as usual. If she says so, then so be it.
“A little girl huh. Alright.”
“You’ll regret it later and wish that you had chosen Erna.”
“Hoh-, is that elf weak?”
“She’s all face and body, and just all talk. I’m many times more valuable than her.”
Liz uses dark matter to create the same giant axe as her opponent. Without a signal, their battle began, and the two of them disappeared from the scene. With a rumble, several pillars of sand rise in the distance, and the shock wave reaches here.
“I’m not convinced. I’m not all talk.”
“You can fight later.”
Me and Erna go through the door. As soon as we walked through the door, I was fanned by a strong wind. At first glance, it looks like a meadow, but if you look down from a cliff-like place, you will immediately know that it is above the sky. The space where the sky continued without ground was dotted with islands floating in the sky. On a large island, there is a white door, and the Seiryū with a large bow stands in the way. Me and Erna went up to the island and raised our weapons.
“The God of Destruction is not needed here, go quickly.”
“The two of us can beat you, right?”
“Hmph! You still don’t get it? This is a sympathy from the Creator God. You’ve come this far, and it would be a shame to just kill you so easily.”
“Are you saying that there is no chance that he will lose?”
“Of course! He is the Creator God who surpasses a Creator God.”
A Creator God that surpasses a Creator God? What does he mean by that?
“There’s no point in asking questions in a place like this. You just have to see it with your own eyes.”
“…………”
I didn’t reply, but I turned my gaze to Erna. She nods her head and agrees to fight him alone. Seiryū walked away from the door and opened the way for me. I then put my hand on the doorknob.
“You have to win.”
“I know.”
I opened the door and stepped forward.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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