While being able to see everything that was happening, Sheto could not move.
He was overwhelmed by the sight of the metal giant and the flying wyvern. The sight of his tormentors being violently trampled and slaughtered.
Once the last two were blown away, the monsters returned to the boy.
“Don’t worry! I’ll heal you right away!”
The Hero took out a bottle and poured something onto the metal body. In the next instant, the shattered arm regenerated perfectly. Furthermore, he threw another bottle up into the air, and the wyvern’s wounds also healed completely.
“Salia…”
‘I’m sorry. It was my mistake.’
Up until now, they had seen numerous different blessings. However, being able to summon such powerful monsters. And being able to heal them in an instant. It had never crossed her mind.
‘It is not as if I was underestimating… No, I admit it. I was no match for his craftiness.’
“…”
He was filled with despair.
Still, the Star Wolf bared its teeth and growled at the monsters who were headed towards them.
Sheto put his hand on the wolf’s neck and smiled.
“You’ve done enough. I, will do the rest.”
“Grrrr.”
After hesitating for a moment, the wolf decided to stay.
“You…”
His voice cracked.
Think.
The kobold took in a deep breath as he fixed his eyes on the enemy.
“Thank you. I, almost became weak, again.”
It was his own voice.
Think. In order to live. In order to survive.
‘I’m sorry. I nearly gave up as well. Besides, you still have some blessings left. There should be a way for you to defeat the monsters.’
“Salia… Can you, wait, longer?”
‘You…’
This time, she exploded with fury.
‘YOU IDIOOOOTTT!’
“Wah!?”
“Gyan!?”
‘Do you think being stubborn will help you survive! I am tired of hearing it! You were ready to run away a moment ago! Admit your defeat and accept the blessing!’
His ears hurt from her wrath, and he could smell the worry in the air. Still, Sheto shouted back just as hard.
“That, was before! I’m fine now!”
‘This situation far exceeds what you are capable of! A strong will and determination will not help you here!’
“I don’t want to rely on blessings! Don’t use it, until I say it!”
‘Fool! This is a duel! And I won’t be able to add the blessing once it starts!’
“I…don’t want it! Never!”
‘Fool, fool, fool! You hesitated for a moment! Let me do…’
‘You seem to be having fun, Lady Saliashe.’
A low, unfamiliar voice rang. It sounded rather happy.
‘But I think it is time that we start the duel.’
Salia narrowed her eyes when she saw the meeting place up ahead.
Stairs, a field of green, and a door. And then the numerous black statues that had once been gods. Their expressions were of protestation and anguish.
“Oh, you kept me waiting, Lady Saliashe.”
Evacus said as he sat in the arbor in the center.
However, he looked different now.
His body was puffed up and enlarged. His stomach was greatly bloated, and he looked a little uncomfortable as he rested in his seat.
He now wore extravagant robes and a small crown on his head.
She then looked behind him, and saw the stone statue that was Gardekie, trying to climb up the steps.
“Lord Evacus…you look…”
“Ah, I apologize. I seem to have taken too much.”
The rat smiled at her. Clearly, it was the faith of those other worlds that had created this figure, covered in golden fur.
“However, I shall fix things once the fight is over.”
Evacus stood up and looked down at the storm god. And then he kicked.
“With the worlds I take from them.”
The stone statue shattered, and the fragments were scattered on the grass.
“Please stop… Such actions are…”
“Stop? But why? Being able to do this is the appeal of these games.”
He chuckled.
And then the rat slowly looked around him. The results of all of his plotting.
The horrified expressions of the gods.
“It is wonderful. A lesser plague god like me! And now, I can stand above these others. Those gods, who did not have the nerve to sully themselves, or bend to the will of others. Yet still acted proud and important!”
“Lord Evacus!”
She shouted.
It was hard to watch him like this.
“What? Do you really mean to stop me?”
“No… I do not have that right.”
“Yes. Indeed. You felt it too, didn’t you? When you took that power from your brother’s world! The feeling of their faith rushing in! It was sweeter than any wine or fruit!”
It was strange. There had been so much talk of betrayal, of using each other. She had told herself that this would happen many times.
But now, it was seeing him like this. Drunk on his success and stepping on others. That seemed like a bigger betrayal.
“I see…”
“What?”
“You are wrong.”
The one flaw in his actions and beliefs.
“Me? Well, I suppose. If you do not like the rules of the game, then you would think so. But we have both merely ridden the waves. There is no point in arguing.”
“That is not what I meant. But you are right, there is no point in talking about it to you.”
Still, she had learned a lot from him.
Without him, she would have seen her naivety as a virtue and hurt Sheto. They would have likely both fallen eventually.
There was no point in expressing her feelings to Evacus. He had sold himself, suffered, and reaped the benefits. It was what he wanted. His dream, his justice. She could not fix it.
“However, I shall win this duel. And then my words will have meaning.”
“Words are not necessary. We are just creatures who continue to argue about our cause. Faith and negotiations can only get you so far. Once our paths diverge too much, all that is left is hate and regret.”
No.
Even now, she still felt some gratitude.
For getting her this far.
“Well, let us begin then.”
“…According to the agreement, you are to be given some time.”
“Thank you. I shall use it wisely then.”
“Yesta. The timer.”
The black goddess appeared and turned over the hourglass on her staff.
Salia closed her eyes and thought.
Two powerful monsters. And Sheto lacked weapons. And how trustworthy was the Star Wolf?
If she gave him a divine weapon, would it even be effective against the golem and wyvern? What could they even do against his ‘divine rule’?
Besides, the Hero was able to heal the monsters.
She needed more knowledge, experience and information.
Still, she would just have to rely on her imagination for now.
A way to win against Evacus.
“What will you do? Time is running out.”
“…”
Evacus had hidden his cards well, and she could not read him. She needed to do something decisive now, or Sheto would not have a chance.
“So, have you decided? To give him the blessing?”
“The blessing…”
“You seem to be doing something rather entertaining, Salia.”
A cheerful voice that felt out of place.
“I think you really like to put yourself in danger.”
“Ah…”
The dragon god looked down at them with a happy expression.
“Now, about our agreement, Goddess of Peace.”
I decided to post a little extra since it was my birthday. Hope you enjoyed!
Thank you!
I hope you had a great birthday