Author: Yume Neiji

-Pero’s POV-

I blocked the punch that was thrown at me and instantly counterattacked. However, the other party reflexively blocked my fist in the same way and then he immediately went on the attack. This continued for a while. We ran through the water, creating numerous ripples on its surface.

Then, with a huge impact, a shock wave blew the water away.

“Fuu!”

“Too soft.”

Taking advantage of a momentary opening, he struck me in the stomach with his elbow. A flowing barrage of fists followed after that. Then one final powerful blow sent me bouncing off the surface of the water. I fell to the ground with a loud splash.

I immediately got up, but I felt a slight pain in my abdomen. With my body in this state, most attacks were no longer effective, but that last one really hurt. It was a one-shot deadly attack that accurately hit a vital spot on the human body.

“Did you know? Except for intelligence, all abilities of a pure god are determined from the moment they are born and they never evolve or degenerate.”

The Genbu God appeared in front of me in an instant and then he attacked me with a roundhouse kick. I blocked it with my left arm and then I slid sideways to lessen the impact. But he followed up a barrage of fists as if to finish me off. I could only dodge at the last minute and quickly step backwards.

“At some point, gods began to pride themselves with the power they were born with. But I believe that there are ways to become stronger even without physical growth. Don’t you think it’s sad that they don’t realize that?”

Wherever I go, he could foresee my movements and follows up with a quick attack. He sticks tightly to me and doesn’t let go. All I know at this moment is that his fighting technique is superior. I’ve only somehow managed to fight on an equal footing because of my superior physical ability.

“So, you’re saying that you’ve honed your skill through experience?”

“As a mid-level god, I am able to serve Gohma-sama because of the vast amount of combat knowledge I have accumulated and the skills that I have refined through trial and error.”

“But I don’t understand why you’re following Gohma.”

“It’s simple. I owe him a debt of gratitude and I empathize with his ideal world. There’s no other reason.”

While talking, we exchanged fists at close range. The sound of blows that shook the air became a shock wave that spread in a hemispherical shape many times. He parried my fist with the rotation of his arm, and almost at the same time, he stepped forward and a powerful blow sunk into my solar plexus.

“Aggh!”

“Tehaa!”

Without a moment hesitation, he delivered a side kick in the same place, sending me flying several hundred meters away. I bounced on the surface of the water many times to adjust my position and regain balance then I slide to land.

He didn’t move, he just watched me do all that, as if telling me that he is waiting for me to make my blocking stance.

“This is the first time I’ve faced an opponent that I’ve felt like I have no chance of winning. You are gradually losing openings and your techniques are getting sharper.”

I rubbed my abdomen where the throbbing pain still remained. Each blow was heavy and sharp. Yet it is adjusted so that the damage remains on the inside. He may not be strong enough to break a star, however, if the opponent is a living creature, he always has the power to finish it off. He’s a terrifyingly strong opponent indeed.

“It’s time for me to go, so I’m going to get serious.”

“Do as you like. I was just about to do that.”

I kicked the ground at the speed of light. Just that created a crater as if the ground that my feet touched exploded. Genbu God stops blinking, and everything around him stops moving. I swung my sharp nails at his throat.

I’ll cut off his neck and it’s over.

—However, when my claws were only a few inches away, his Jade gauntlet glowed. And as if his time had come back to life, he instantly flicked my arm then he slid and struck the tip of my nose with a palm strike.

My vision shook. I feel a strange numbness in the back of my nose, and I involuntarily stepped back while staggering. He then lightly placed a hand on my chest, he unleashed a palm strike. The force generated from his legs and waist was transmitted up to his arms, hitting my lungs and heart directly. What’s more, the damage did not escape but remained internal.

I vomited a lot of blood.

“Haiya!”

Crack. I thought I heard such a sound. 

Finally, he landed a roundhouse kick to my side. I was knocked off and I fell into the water.

“U-ugh…… H-how can you move?”

My vision is still shaky. For some reason, the damage doesn’t heal. I stood up, enduring the pain.

“This gauntlet is special among the many divine artifacts. It is the strongest class of weapon created by Gohma-sama for us, the Four Zodiac Gods.”

“Is it the weapon’s ability that allowed you to fight back against my skill?”

“That’s right. It’s one of the ultimate divine artifacts that can copy any divine skill of a God.”

Copy a skill? You’ve got to be kidding me.

There is no way I can win against that. I am already inferior in experience and skill too.

“But fighting at this speed is an uncharted territory for me. I guess it will take some time for me to get used to it.”

“I didn’t see it that way.”

“…………”

The fist of Genbu God and mine collided again. Water within a radius of several kilometers was blown away in an instant and it turned into gas. The heat generated caused the air to expand and shimmer.

Don. Don. Don. Don.

Our fists collided again and again, and the ground caved in from the impact.

“Teyaa!”

“Seihaa!”

We each fired a powerful blow, and the recoil sent both of us flying backwards. We spun in the air and landed on the ground. There, the water finally came back and filled the ground. I think about what I can do as I made the blocking stance.

He had more experience and technique. When it came to skills, we were equal. My only advantage was physical ability. If that’s the case, I have no choice but to push through with that only strength.

The other side is a professional in anti-god warfare. In the first place, fighting in a humanoid form was a disadvantage in itself. I decided to change. I would turn into a beast this time. I put my hands on the ground and got on all fours. 

I awakened the sleeping beast in me. It’s meat. Something to be eaten.

“Grrrrrr”

“I see”

I closed in at the speed of light. With my flexible body, I dodged his sharp fist, biting off the flesh on his shoulder as we passed each other. The splattering blood stops moving in the air and is frozen in place. I kicked the ground as I landed. This time, I bit into the flesh of his right thigh and then I slid and braked with my legs.

“Peh! Taste bad.”

“Ugh!”

Genbu God fell to his knees. I feel like I had a wider field of vision than when I was fighting on two legs. My instinct knows how to fight as a beast. My thought process is also simpler than usual but I can surprisingly make clear and quick decisions. As we passed each other, I bit off his left arm from the shoulder.

“Agh!?”

Next is the right foot.

“Higii!?”

Peh. I spit out the meat. 

Genbu God who regenerated his limbs, stood up but he looked tense in stark contrast to before.

“When it comes to a beast that attacks instinctively… I guess I’m at a disadvantage after all.”

But shortly after, he relaxed his stance and becomes defenseless. Then, suddenly, the surrounding water began to float as a ball.

“My name is Genbu, and I am the god who rules over water.”

Balls of water rained down on me like bullets. They pierced my flesh and crush my bones. I manage to escape from the spot, but the rain of bullets chases me everywhere.

“Haa-, haa-, haa-. This is bad, it’s dangerous.”

When my body regenerates, I accelerated at once. However, in such a closed space, no matter how far or where I go, there is no way out. In fact, I only ended back to the same place. 

How could such a magical attack be prevented?

As I was thinking about it, I recalled my own attributes. I didn’t have to worry about it these days, so I completely forgot about it. I put the brakes on my feet and stopped running.

“Ice Formation!”

I poured an enormous amount of magical power into creating a world with sub-zero temperature. The bare ground became white and frozen, and the cold air reached Genbu God.

“Ice attribute huh. In that case, I’ll use my secret weapon as well.”

Crackle. Crackle. My power freezes him from his feet upwards. If it were just a natural phenomenon, it would have no effect on the gods, but this is a special phenomenon created by magic. So even if he is a god, it is not so easy for him to escape.

—But, as if he’s ready to break the ice forming on his body, Genbu God made a stance.

“Secret Technique, Dream Dance!”

It was a different stance. He was holding his palms upwards. 

Not good. I can’t predict his attack. 

In this case, I can only wait and see. I started running forward while baring my fangs and then I aimed for his left leg.

“!?”

The moment I was about to bite it, Genbu God swayed and then he disappeared in his place and appeared to my side. A fist sunk into my side. 

Crack. The sound of breaking ribs echoed.

Chance!

I tried to bite his right hand, but he swayed and flickered again, disappearing like a flame. This time, he appeared directly in front of me and he kicked me right under my face.

“Aga……?”

Wobbling, I staggered backwards on two legs. However, without a moment’s hesitation he landed an elbow on my solar plexus again.

“Guaahh!”

“It’s time to end this. Take my god-slaying power.”

As I vomited blood, I realized that I had been deprived of my divine qi. A feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed me and I collapsed to the ground.

“You’re nothing more than a beast after all. You’re no match for us, the Four Zodiac Gods.”

My vision is spinning and I couldn’t focus. I am very weak and I’m unable to exert any strength.

Why? Why doesn’t my attack hit?

That’s when Erna-oneechan’s face crossed my mind. Light…… I see, he used the moisture in the air like a mirror to create illusions. The real him hides and waits nearby. That’s what Dream Dance is all about. But there’s no point in finding it out now. My chance of winning is completely gone.

Genbu God looked at me with expressionless look.

“As mercy, I will give you death without pain.”

“That’s appreciated. I hate pain you see.”

When he raised his sword, my tail suddenly twitched in tension.

Hmm? Tail?

“Farewell!”

“I decided not to die after all.”

My long, hardened tail pierced his chest. Blood flows from the mouth of Genbu God.

“Tail……Did I overlook that fact? Gebou-!”

“I’m a beast after all.”

Divine qi flows from my tail, and my power returns rapidly. I pulled my tail out of his chest and then I opened the Abyss Gate, creating a gaping hole from behind him. Distorted creatures came out in a swarm. They crawl around his body and they quickly devour his flesh mercilessly.

“S-Stop…… Don’t eat my body……!”

“Kyuuuu!”

In the end, the ever-increasing number of ants swallowed Genbu God and ate him without leaving any bones.

“Phew, I’m a little tired.”

A feeling of fatigue spread throughout my body. But I don’t have time to rest. The three of them may be on the brink of death by now. I also worry about Father. I believe that they won’t lose, but there could always be a chance for one. 

I stood up and wagged my tail once. That’s right, I had this. When I live surrounded by people, I can’t help but easily forget about it. It was a bit of an oversight, but if I had remembered it properly, I might have been able to fight a little smarter.

Reflecting on this, I headed towards the door leading to the next dimension. 

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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-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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The first thing we did was a major clean up of the heavenly realm. I asked my familiars and angels to clean up the corpses and restore the buildings to their original state. The reason for this is to reassure the gods who are still holed up underground. First of all, we needed to let them know through our actions that we were on their side.

“Is this pretty much it?”

“I’m sure they are watching us with far vision. They should respond to our call this time.”

“I hope so.”

As Kurohime lounges on the edge of the fountain, I scratched my head. I had already called out to those who are holed up underground before. However, I got no response. Although I am certain that they are still alive, Kurohime said that they were quite frightened after being confined there for so long. I didn’t know how many years they had spent there, but I could say that we had cleared up those difficult days that had made them wary.

Kurohime and I entered a certain building. It’s a small cozy place like a private home. I opened part of the floor and then we went down the stairs. We came out to a tunnel with exposed rocks like a cave. Continuing further, we found a door at the dead end. At first glance, the door looks like a pure white wall, but I can barely tell that it is a door because of the thick metal-like handle. If I couldn’t see so far away, I wouldn’t have noticed that someone is here.

Knock. Knock.

I knocked lightly.

“It’s me, Shinichi Tanaka. I came here before. Gohma and his four subordinates have already left here and we have regained the control over Heavenly Realm. I assure you that no one will harm you anymore.”

“…………”

“.….No reply huh.”

This is bad. If possible, I would like to quickly find out where Gohma headed to. At present, my far vision cannot capture those five people. Either they are using invisibility power or that they are out of range of my line of sight. Either way, if we don’t get a clue, we’ll be wandering aimlessly through this vast universe.

“Shall we try somewhere else?”

“Mmm, I guess that can only be the case.”

Just as we are about to leave, I received a reply.

“……Is G-Gohma really gone?”

“We’ve certainly driven them away, albeit indirectly. I’ve already had the angels withdraw from all locations to leave the defense of this place to them. The other surviving gods should return soon… well, maybe.”

“Who are you? Why are you fighting Gohma?”

“Oh, speaking of which, I only told you my name huh. I am Naoki Tanaka’s father and the current god of destruction. Well, it could also be said that I am the son-in-law of the late Creator God.”

“Naoki-sama’s father!? C-current God of Destruction?”

Rumble rumble.

Abruptly after, the door began to open. There were about 30 of them in there. Men and women of all ages. They still looked frightened, but they somehow managed to put a smile on their faces. The representative seems to be a male god in his forties. He is lanky and fair-skinned, but he had a rational face.

“Don’t worry, we won’t do you any harm. More importantly, aren’t you hungry?”

“W-we’re all hungry. We’d like to have something to eat right away.”

“Then follow us.”

Apparently, most of them seem to be lower gods. The rank of a god is also related to the amount of divine qi they can generate. Divine qi is like blood for humans. Each god has his own limit of how much he can produce in a day, some of whom can only produce a single piece of shortcake, and some of whom can create an entire planet. Those classified as low-class ones produce less qi and can only manage to get by on a daily basis. This also means that even Gods range from best to worst.

I took them to the surface. They peeks out of building for a while without coming out, but gradually, they begin to accept the situation as the skeleton bows and the angel passes by silently.

“I heard that you are Naoki-sama’s father. But, does that mean that you are the one who had an affair with Aphrodia-sama?”

“Aphrodia?”

After thinking for a while, I finally get what he was saying. It must be Miyuki’s name as a god.

“Probably, but I can’t say for sure because I don’t know much about her.”

“That should be the case if he’s indeed Naoki-sama’s father. Aphrodia-sama also used the family name Tanaka from time to time.”

“I see.”

My chest throbbed and ached sharply. Even though I understood in my head that she is dead, I still felt like she is still alive somewhere.

Is knowing her more an act that magnifies this sense of loss?

Such a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

We entered a large building that could be called a mansion, and seated the thirty or so people we had brought with us. A variety of freshly prepared dishes were served immediately afterwards. Skeletons dressed in maid outfit placed heaping platter on the table one after another. That alone makes the young gods cheer.

“You can eat as much as you want.”

“Thank you.”

These foods are something Suketarou and the others had worked hard to prepare. If they hadn’t come out, it would have gone to our belly, but now that they’re at the table, I feel a little relieved. The amount they made is no joke after all.

“What’s this?”

“It’s yakitori. Try it.”

The representative took a bite and went silent for a moment. Then he starts to eat engrossedly without talking. Then the others also devoured their foods without caring about manners.

I also eat yakitori and sips on my sake.

“By the way, are you going to rule the Heavenly Realm in the future?”

“Hmm? No, I’m thinking of leaving it to Naoki for the time being.”

“Ooooh! So Naoki-sama is still alive!?”

“He is doing fine now.”

“Then what about Aphrodia-sama?!”

“………I’m sorry.”

The male god only replied, “I see.”

As expected, being the daughter of the creator god, she seemed to be highly trusted by the gods. If Miyuki is alive, I would have left the rest to her. But there is no point in asking for someone who is no longer here. The living have no choice but to do something about it and live.

“By the way, does any of you know where Gohma went?”

“I’m sorry, but those here hardly know him.”

“You don’t know? Sigh. I thought it would be the worst scenario but……”

“But we can predict it to some extent.”

“What!?”

The representative man pushed up his glasses and smiles.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s got the proof of the Creator God so he will surely go to a safe place where nothing can disturb him. I’m guessing he went to his own planet.”

“Gohma’s planet?”

“I’ve heard that it’s a very well-defended planet. It’s said that even the previous Creator God  couldn’t easily approach it. I wonder how much stronger it has become now that he became the creator god.”

As long as we know where it is, we’ve got him. No matter what kind of defense it has, we can break through with my power of destruction. I spread my hand and created a stereoscopic image. It looked like a map of the universe displayed in blue light.

“This is where we are now. If you go from here towards Andromeda, you will find a planet called ‘Kasho’ in the ‘Siyu system’. That’s the planet that Gohma owns.”

“Are there humans living there?”

“None…… I think. He hated humans after all.”

Hmm, it seems like it’s okay to erase the entire planet. However, it will not be easy because the other side will also make countermeasure for that. For the time being, I’ll make a plan while strengthening the defense here.

◇◇◇

Surprisingly, the gods began to return to the heavenly realm at an early stage. Apparently, many gods were watching us attack the heavenly realm. Naoki also entered the Heavenly Realm while being protected by Eugrapia, and the ownership of the Heavenly Realm was transferred from Pero to Naoki.

Dong, Dong. The bell rings, and Naoki, who sits on the throne, becomes the king of the heavens. The gods bowed down and they recognized him as the rightful successor of the Creator God.

“My name is Naoki Tanaka, and I hereby promise that I will rule the heavens from now on and make this land more prosperous than my grandfather. Now is the time to unite firmly, for we are the gods who rule and govern the heavens.”

“““Oooooooh!”””

The gods who stood up raised their fists valiantly. With Naoki’s return and my appearance as the God of Destruction, they have finally found hope. Not a single person commented about me being the God of Destruction at this point.

“Dad, are you sure? I would like to have Dad rule the heavens if possible.”

“Compared to me, who grew up among humans, you have been educated as a god so you are more suitable for this position. And as Naoki from the future said, I am not suited to being tied up for hundreds of thousand year, what more hundreds of millions of years.”

“Because you’re homeless?”

“Because I’m Shinichi Tanaka.”

Naoki and I smiled at each other.

Freedom is my weapon and my peace of mind. At this point, I can’t incorporate into society or organizations anymore.

“What a shame. The God King is always so spoiled huh.”

“Consort of the God King, not bad.”

Behind me, Erna and Liz are mumbling to each other, but I ignored them. They are probably only looking at the surface anyway.

“I’m going to leave the skeleton army behind. They will help reinforce your fighting forces for a while.”

“Thank you Dad for everything.”

“Don’t worry about it. The reason why I am here like this is because the you in the future helped me a lot. It’s like returning the favor.”

“You’re always welcome Dad.”

I nodded at Naoki’s words before leaving the temple. The gods bowed their heads in unison.

After leaving the heavenly realm, we repeatedly traveled to Andromeda in search of Gohma’s planet. The team composed of me, Erna, Liz, Pero, Freya, Suketarou, Kurohime, and Sword of Glory party. I had Eugrapia stay with Naoki’s place just in case. Naoki wanted to come along but I couldn’t let the heavenly realm be taken from him again.

We continued to fly through space while seeing various things. A planet that shines blue like a jewel. Red planet with a ring. A planet closed in white ice. A purple planet composed of gas. A planet rich in nature and is covered with greenery. Stars about to collide. Gas that shines in seven colors. A damaged, drifting spaceship belonging to an advanced, intelligent life form. And comets passing nearby. Occasionally, we would take a break and play in the asteroid showers. Eat on the ring of planets. It was only one day, but I saw a lot of scenes that I will never forget.

And then we finally got there. In the Siyu star system, where Gohma’s planet is located.

“—I see. So he won’t let anyone get close his planet huh.”

In the asteroid belt, I crossed my arms and grumbled. Gohma had enveloped the entire star system in a barrier. I tried to touch it lightly, but I was repelled with great impact. It seems to be almost the same as the one created by Eugrapia.

“They said that the Creator God can create anything. I wonder if he created a god like Eugrapia specifically to create such powerful barrier.”

“No, I don’t think so. According to Naoki, it takes a lot of divine qi to create a god. I don’t think someone like him, who is on guard against us, would take such a measure. It would be much quicker if he create this barrier with some kind of tool.”

“So if we destroy the tool, we can break in huh.”

I stared at the entire star system with far vision. Apparently, five structures are generating a barrier. The problem is that it is inside the barrier. I tried to break the barrier with my wave of destruction but the barrier only disappears for a moment and then it was instantly restored.

It is possible to send people inside, but it seems that I can’t leave here.

“Master, now is the time for us to show you how useful we are.”

“Liberto…… it’s very dangerous, you know?”

“Leave it to us! We are disciples of the God of Destruction!”

I felt reassured by the way he pounded his chest. When I first met him, he looked somewhat unreliable, but now I feel like I can trust him with my back.

“Just to be safe, take Erna and the others with you.”

“Thank you!”

I continued to destroy the barrier with wave of destruction. Erna and the others entered through the gaping hole, followed by Liberto and the others. The only ones left outside are me, Suketarou, and Kurohime.

Well, let me try to see if I can get in as well.

I moved forward aiming for the moment when the power of  the barrier was gone, but the barrier repairs faster than light. Thanks to that, I was hit hard in the face and was sent flying.

“Master! We’re off!”

“Watching us take action, ufufu♥ ♥.”

“We’ll make sure to remove the barrier.”

“Master Erna is also here, so there will be no problem!”

“Brace yourself. Let’s go!”

I watched Liberto and the others drift away. I pray in my heart for their safety.

Don’t die, you guys.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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It is said that the place where the heavenly realm exist is located at the center of a huge celestial body called “Himiko”. It is mostly composed of gas, and three star clusters lined up in a straight line shines from it. This celestial body is said to be very ancient and that it was formed relatively quickly, 800 million years after the birth of the universe.

The sight of the blue light emitting from it is both mysterious and divine. We were teleported to the vicinity of the star cluster located in the center of Himiko. There is gas floating around and the visibility is not very good.

Looking back, the others were struggling with zero gravity and ended up the breaking the formation as they dispersed.

“Uh-, we should have trained in zero gravity.”

On the other hand, the Angelton Division, remained perfectly in formation perhaps because their body remembers the environment. The Skeleton Division, which had been drifting, also get the hang of how to move and they gradually began to line up. However, the Magical Beast Division was still in a state of confusion. The griffons are desperately trying to paddle while flapping their wings which was very pitiful to look at.

“The gatekeepers have arrived.”

In response to Kurohime’s words, I glanced at the star cluster. The shining thing was a dragon that was coiled up and asleep. Its size is so huge that it is comparable to a galaxy. There were two of them.

Then they raised their huge heads, opened their eyes and glared at us. At the same time, countless angels, numbering about hundreds of billions emerged from the central star cluster, stretching their bodies like white snakes. This is going to be quite a challenge.

I’ll make the first move then. I made five transparent orbs in my right hand and unleashed them. The orbs snapped and erased the heads of the two dragons. Some of the angel army also disappeared.

Should I reduce it a little more?

With my Wave of Destruction, from hundred billions, I reduced the number of the enemies to tens of billions. Them appearing all together is a bad move after all. When the angels finally realized their mistake, they scattered, changing their course to minimize the damage. But that’s exactly what we wanted.

“Go! All out attack!”

“At your will!”

Following the instructions, Suketarou gives the order to attack. Wrapped in purple light, my familiars flew right away. White and purple light spiral as angels and skeletons fight.

“Abyss Gate, Open!”

Pero creates a black orb. A black, distorted crab-like creature spilled out like water from a faucet. They cling to an angel and devoured it without a trace.

The war was evenly matched.

—No, I’m pushing slightly.

Although angels are numerous, they can be said to be a small fry for my current familiars. Each of them is as fierce as thousand men, and they can continue to fight tirelessly. In addition, they are turning the dead angels into an undead and make them a familiar, so their number will only increase. The numbers are reversed in a short time.

“You are the new God of Destruction! You will not be allowed to get in Gohma-sama’s way! We are going to get rid of you right here!”

Four special class angels appeared with hundreds of first-class angels in tow. Behind them were thousands of second-class angels. A special class angel is a being who is at the highest level of an angel. It is said that in terms of fighting power alone, they can compete on equal terms with gods. Until now, they are opponents we would have undoubtedly lost to.

“Aghh!?”

One of the special class angel was split in half. On her other side, Liz is standing expressionless with a dagger in her hand.

“H-how dare you do that to my brethren! I will never forgi—?”

Pero’s thick arms pierced his chest. With a tight clench, he crushed the heart.

“Tsk. I had high hopes for this special class angels but this is boring.”

Freya, who had shredded her opponent in an instant, blurted out as she drifted upside down.

“Aghh!”

An arrow of light pierced his brain. Erna, holding the bow, grinned.

“Yes, the Staff of the Wind God that Moore-sama gave me is really good. It is very convenient because it can also be used as a bow.”

The bow instantly changes shape and returns to a staff. The Staff of the Wind God had granted its ownership to Erna since its previous owner had completely disappeared. However, since it is made from a part of the God Tree, ownership would have been transferred even if Moore had existed.

The angels were shaken by the fact that the special class angels were so easily killed. Then Kurohime and Suketarou launched an offensive, catching them off guard.

“Too late to run away now! Bow down to me like a good dog!”

She bit into the neck of the enemy and sipped some blood. Then she cut off the head with her hand and created two swords with the blood that spurted out. Every time she slashed an enemy, the blood that flowed out of their body gathered on Kurohime, covering her body like armor.

“As if we’ll bow to a mere vampire!”

A first-class angel slashes at Kurohime.

—But the next moment, the enemy’s sword flicked and the arm of the first-class angel was blown away. It was probably EX counter. A skill that could return an attack several dozen times stronger is really is terrifying.

“We will eliminate those who interfere with our Masters.”

A streak of light drew a sharp path, slicing the second-class angels into pieces. Confusion ensues, and with the angels unable to even fight back, they were left at their mercy. In addition, Waita, who is now a 100-meter giant, opened its large mouth to further cut down their number. The sight of it flying through outer space at a speed approaching the speed of light is a sight that is truly mysterious.

“Muu.”

Suddenly, the creature that could be said to be the last bastion to protect the heavenly realm begun to move. From what appears to be the central star cluster, a golden dragon is twisting its body and is now coming towards us. It’s clear that it’s more powerful than the two dragons I killed earlier.

I made an eye contact with Liberto and the others and had them take their positions. Then five skill boosts resonated together, creating a pentagram. Our goal is to unleash the Imperial Dragon Breath that has been sublimated to the realm of the gods.

“Divine Dragon Breath Boost Five!!”

A flash of super-extreme lightning engulfed the golden dragon’s head. I quickly restored the corpse and asked Suketarou to turn the golden dragon into an undead and then I turned it to my familiar. The golden dragon roared, transforming into a jet-black and wicked form.

Why did I make the dragon a familiar at this moment?

That’s because the two dragons I defeated earlier are about to be resurrected. As expected of the gatekeepers of the Heavenly Realm, they used their amazing regenerative ability to restore their lost head. From the looks of it, it would like take less than an hour for them to resume activities.

The dragon I turned into my familiar grew twice as large as before and then it bit into the regenerating dragons. Now there will be no hindrances, and I should be able to enter the heavenly realm with confidence.

“Liberto, I want you guys to help them here. If you think it’s too difficult, retreat immediately.”

“I understand, master.”

We left our disciples behind and moved forward. We head to the entrance to the heavenly realm in the center of Himiko. We teleported to the center and found a large open space in the gaseous state. A white orb is floating in the center. When I touched it, ripples spread out like water and a portal-like opening opened up.

“Let’s go.”

Everyone nods and then we sink into the portal.

My vision was dyed with pure white. When I opened my eyes, I saw an endless expanse of land. There is another land of high mountains that hug the clouds, and temple-like structures in the sky. Connecting them are countless thick pillars that are larger than mountains. The scenery is too fantastical and too mysterious. From a distance, it seems that this is a place where two-slabs of vast land is facing each other. There are no visible stars around it, only darkness spread out. It seems to be a special place created in a different space from the heavenly realm.

“I thought there is a trap waiting for us but it’s odd that there has been no reaction.”

“I’ve looked around too, but I can’t find Gohma anywhere.”

Not here? Did he really abandon this place??

I floated and teleported to the land above. This other land, reminiscent of Greek mythology, was completely deserted. It’s so quiet that it’s creepy. Torn clothes were left on the road in places, and traces of fighting could be seen. When I go to what appears to be a square, I found countless heads of gods pierced by spears, and headless bodies piled up on the ground. The heavens had become a titular city of death.

“Anyone still alive?”

“There are still some but they’ve locked themselves underground with barrier around them.”

Hmmm, it seems that Gohma couldn’t kill all of them either.

First of all, we must regain control of the heavenly realm. Even now, my comrades and familiars are fighting against the angels.

We went to the huge temple that caught my eye and opened the door. Pillars lined up inside and light pours in from the ceiling. Although it is a divine structure, the inside is deserted and the smell of death wafts in the air. The scattered corpses showed Gohma’s ruthlessness. Then we continued down the long corridor until we come to a door. When I opened it, we came to a room with a chair that looked like a throne. But as expected, Gohma is nowhere to be seen.

“Father, look at this.”

Pero found an envelope placed on the throne. I opened it and takes out the letter inside.

『I commend you for making it here. Kukuku, you came here hoping to fight, didn’t you? Unfortunately, as the creator god, I am no longer interested in a place like this. I seek to create a new world. A world where no one rules over me, where only I can find peace. And when the time comes, I intend to declare war on you people. I am the one who will become the one and absolute ruler.』

I instinctively crushed the letter.

Was I one step too late?

I attacked, knowing that it would take time for him to evolve into a creator god. But he was expecting my action. By now, he must be evolving in a safe place where we don’t about.

“Tanaka-dono, what should we do to stop the angels?”

“Just sit on that throne.”

“I see. Then, Pero-sama.”

“What!? M-Me!?”

Urged on by Freya, Pero reluctantly sits on the throne. Then the throne took on a rainbow of light. A window appears in front of Pero.

【The owner of the heavenly realm has relinquished ownership. Therefore, you are now the next owner. Will you own the heavens? YES／NO】

Pero chooses YES. Immediately afterwards, the sound of bells rang in the heavenly realm. Now the angels should obey Pero.

“Hey, there’s a door over here.”

“We can’t open it though. We had trouble opening it.”

Erna and Liz said as they returned from behind the throne. On the wall behind the throne, which is covered with red curtains, there is indeed a hidden door. I tried to push it, but it doesn’t seem to open, it did not even budge when I hit or pulled it.

“Hn?”

Suddenly, I find something that looks like a keyhole in the door. It was just the right size to stick your finger in. I tried to put the index finger of my left hand, but there is no particular reaction. The hole feels slightly bigger than a finger as well.

I guess a finger with a ring on it would fit perfectly…..

Eh? I was startled by my sudden thought.

Then with the mentality of trying it out, I stick my right index finger with the black ring on it to the hole. Sure enough, the lock is unlocked and the door opened with a clank.

“I see, this ring was meant to enter here.”

I told Erna and Liz that I would check it out first and asked them to wait for me outside. When I opened the door, I was greeted by a small room. In the center of the room was a pedestal, on which several bundles of paper were placed.

“—Order?”

That’s what the cover of the paper says. I quickly flipped the cover open.

『I command my family, which is divided into two, to manage the world and samsara for all eternity. Your main objective is the salvation of souls and the expansion of our forces to defeat evil enemies. 』

Flip to the next page.

『Do not allow the gods to be enlightened. We must not let them abandon their duties. The gods are the custodians of the Eternal Cradle.』

Flip the next one.

『Serve people, dedicate yourselves to people. 』

I staggered back and slumped down on the floor.

What’s this?

My head is spinning. Then a golden light flashed through my mind. The gods are—

The gods….. are dominated by something? And, I get to know that?

“Shinichi? Not done yet?”

Hearing Erna’s voice, my consciousness clears. I hurriedly stood up, put the stack of papers back in place, and left the room quickly. Then I close the door and checked again and again that it is locked.

“What was inside?”

“There was nothing in there.”

“That seems suspicious.”

“It’s true. There was nothing there. Really.”

I broke into cold sweat. This seems like a truth that should not be known to any other. Somehow, I feel that it should be that way.

“He is supposed to be here…… Oh, there he is!”

Kurohime and the others enter the room one by one. None of them appeared to be injured.

“Master, what about Gohma?”

“He is not here.”

Liberto and the others showed a look of disappointment. I thought this would be the end of it as well.

“So what are we going to do now?”

“For the time being, we have no choice but to protect the survivors and find out where Gohma went.”

“I see. By the way, Master, your complexion doesn’t look good.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I replied casually and went outside.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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