“What’re we gonna do with you…? Oh!” Nick said as something occurred to him. “What is it?” Karan asked. “I just realized I’ve been hiding something from you, too. I accidentally threw away one of the books you put in my room…then told you the innkeeper did it,” Nick confessed. “What?!” Bond interjected with surprise. “Nick, I once stepped on some idol merchandise in your room and hid it under the bed,” Karan said. “I snuck into your fridge while you were drunk, Karan, and ate a rare cheesecake you got from the pastry shop on Academy Street that you were saving for a special occasion,” Tiana said. “I once got carried away telling funny stories about Nick and Tiana to the girls at a bar. The stories turned into rumors, and a nonfiction author I met at the bar ended up publishing a book based on them without getting all of the facts straight,” Zem said. “That’s by far the worst one!” Nick shouted. They began to argue, competing to reveal the worst secret. They shared things that would have been better off not said, and they voiced complaints they’d kept bottled up inside, stubbornly continuing for close to an hour. “I-I’m exhausted… You guys aren’t hiding anything else, are you?” Nick asked. “Nope, that’s everything… How in the world did we end up having that conversation…?” Tiana said. “It’s Bond’s fault,” Karan replied. “You were all keeping far worse secrets than me!” Bond said. “Ah-ha-ha… I think it’s good we were able to get all that off our chests before we left,” Zem said. “Geez, we’re a mess,” Nick said, sighing and stretching his stiff arms. Bond imitated him. “There is one more thing we must discuss. What name should we use for your Union state?” Bond asked. “Huh?” Nick said, surprised. The looks they gave Bond said they hadn’t considered it at all. “Do we really need one?” “It is essential. You have been able to coordinate without a specific name during two-person Unions by having one person seize control of the body and the other go along with it, but with four people, you will need to be on the same page. If your coordination weakens or you have a mental disagreement for even a moment, you may freeze up,” Bond explained. Nick and Tiana knew he was right. They had once been unable to maintain Union after sustaining heavy injuries because Nick wanted to keep fighting and Tiana wanted to retreat. “That makes sense. You should’ve mentioned this earlier,” said Nick. “Well, I thought it was obvious what you would choose,” said Bond. “Good point,” said Tiana. “Yeah, there’s only one option,” said Karan. “I agree,” said Zem. Bond looked at the four of them and nodded with satisfaction. “Then let us be off… Together, we are the Survivors!” Bond declared before transforming into the Sword of Bonds. The appearance of his sword form hadn’t changed, but the gem shone with a new light. Nick grabbed the handle, and the others laid their hands atop his. ““““Union!”””” The Five-Ringed Mountains were both a mountain range and a collection of labyrinths. The most dangerous of the labyrinths was called the Fallen Angel Mountain Fortress. Considered an S-rank labyrinth—the most difficult rank on the Adventurers Guild’s scale—it was guarded by a fallen angel that was among the most powerful monsters in the world and a survivor of the previous Demon God War. In the intervening centuries, not one person had defeated him. Originally an angel who had betrayed mankind by defecting to the demon god’s side, he had been stripped of his halo—the weapon angels used to burn the land to ash—and three of his six pairs of wings that supplied mana. Even so, the fallen angel had spent the centuries after the war defending the volcanic crater in the Five-Ringed Mountains that the demon god had once used as its stronghold. He had fought many S-rank adventurers, and although a few of those fights had ended in a draw, he soundly defeated most of them and had certainly never let a human get the best of him. He had seen the Stampede and sensed that another Demon God War was beginning, yet he still hadn’t budged from his spot. Now that same angel saw a shooting star streak across the sky. It came from Teran, the Labyrinth City, and flew in his direction. He determined it to be a true threat to the demon god and left his stronghold for the first time in centuries. “Well, now… This looks like a formidable opponent,” he said to himself, seeing the identity of the shooting star. For a moment, he wistfully thought it was an angel, one of his old brethren. They looked young and seemed to exist mysteriously between genders. Their silver hair was as bewitching as a moon. They had clear eyes and the perfectly chiseled physique of an ancient statue. Their pure white cognition armor and the halo and four bladelike wings on their back possessed the beauty and majesty of an angel and clearly contained tremendous power. Most overwhelming of all, however, was their golden greatsword. The fallen angel was captivated by its functional beauty and divine nature. “Is that…a human?” he murmured, trembling with excitement. The person’s mana was nearly as pure as an angel’s. They were undoubtedly a hero who had come to fight the demon god, and a person of infinitely rare strength that surpassed even his own. The hero was flying toward the volcanic crater with tremendous speed. “It seems this is where I die. Come at me!” the fallen angel shouted, spreading his wings and taking to the sky. He flew in place above the crater and gathered strength. His opponent was here to fight the demon god, and they would hit him with everything they had. The only chance he had was to stake everything on his first attack. He built up a vast amount of mana that rivaled even a holy sword’s supply. “Take th— Gah!” “Not so fast!” The fallen angel’s attack was interrupted when someone flew toward him from out of nowhere. They kicked him at what felt like the speed of light, sending him tumbling down out of the air with his surprise assailant. The Survivors—the product of Nick, Karan, Tiana, and Zem’s Union—watched in surprise as the fallen angel plummeted downward. Uh, who was that? They just helped us… Were they using Stepping? Nick’s mind voiced. The skill with which the person moved reminded him of Olivia. They didn’t look like her, though, but appeared to be a young girl with golden hair streaming behind her. The world sure is a big place… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…, Tiana’s mind said. Whoever they are, they probably came to help. Let’s press on, Karan’s mind said. The Survivors had reached the air above the volcanic crater located in the Five-Ringed Mountains. Poisonous smoke rose from it, and it boiled with mana-induced magma that would incinerate a normal person at a touch. Passing through the magma to get underneath it would be impossible even for the strongest person. However, they couldn’t fight the demon god without doing just that. “I sense no more obstacles obstructing our battle underground. Go ahead and enter,” Bond said. The Survivors obeyed and dived down into the crater. There was an underground space beneath the magma that contained the demon god’s egg. They had a basic understanding of what was down there, thanks to a survey Diamond had conducted before the battle, but that information was now a few days old. “What is this place…? I don’t feel any heat… And was it always this big?” the Survivors said, confused. Pushing their way through the magma, they emerged into a disorientating space that looked like the night sky. The crater and magma had vanished from above them, and there was no ground visible beneath their feet. The space extended infinitely in all directions, and all that was visible was the light of stars shining in the distance, which spun around them with dizzying speed. “How can the inside of the crater be this large? Is this an illusion…?” the Survivors asked. “We are inside the demon god’s egg. Its body is a universe unto itself,” Bond said. “A universe… You mean like the sea of stars?” They were so captivated by the view that it took them a moment to realize what was happening to them. The lack of friction in the air or sound in the environment made it difficult to tell. “Hey…are we falling?” the Survivors asked. “Yes. It is hard to tell because of the lack of visual markers or air resistance, but you are moving—or falling, you could say—at a rapid speed,” Bond said. “What the hell do we do, then?!” they asked. “Use Stepping and your flying magic together! You need to regain your sense of equilibrium!” The Survivors hadn’t realized they were quickly moving through this world with no sky or ground until Bond told them. “Waaaaah!” they shouted, fighting desperately to regain their balance. They remembered something Olivia had once said: that Stepping was created to fight the demon god. You’ve gotta be kidding… Stepping isn’t the key to defeating the demon god, it’s goddamn required for you to be able to do anything at all! Nick’s mind complained. The Survivors looked around, panting hard. The stars had stopped moving. They had actually never been moving at all—it had only appeared that way because the Survivors had been barreling through space at such a speed. Now that they had regained their equilibrium using Stepping, they could finally see that. “Have you settled down now?” The Survivors didn’t have long to rest before someone spoke directly into their minds. The voice simultaneously sounded like it was coming from right in front of them and as if it had been amplified and sent to them from far away. Whatever the case, each word resounded loudly and clearly. An obligation to answer welled up within the Survivors. In fact, it wasn’t so much an obligation as a desire. They felt a warmth, as if they’d just been asked by a parent or mentor. Feeling that in such an empty space was strange, to say the least. The Survivors braced themselves and searched for the source of the voice. “I am over here.” “What the…? The Sword of Tasuki?! You’re still alive?!” the Survivors shouted, shocked. The Sword of Tasuki—someone they thought they’d killed—had suddenly appeared right before their eyes. He was wearing holy armor that had been painted from black to white by the mana gushing from his body, indicating he was ready to fight. The Survivors were far stronger than they had been the last time they’d faced him, but the fear at the memory of their battle in the Colosseum of Carnage still sent cold sweat down their back. “No… Something’s different,” the Survivors said, observing him more closely. There was no trace of the Sword of Tasuki’s former bloodlust; he simply watched them with an expression of great curiosity. The Sword of Tasuki had admitted defeat after their deadly battle, but there was no way he would act so peacefully toward them. “I re-created this form from offerings given to me and from your fear. I automatically react to the animosity and terror of those I interact with.” “Geez, that scared me… I get it now,” the Survivors said. “My Mantra does not seem to affect you so much. I am grateful for that, as it means we will be able to converse. It is quite difficult speaking to people when your voice contaminates their mind. What is your name?” The dots connected in the Survivors’ mind upon hearing the word “Mantra.” Not that they should’ve needed any hints to figure out who this was, given the location. The being talking to them was the reason they’d come here. The reason the holy swords had been created. The reason that Labyrinth City, the Holy Kingdom of Dineez, and the rest of the Land of Sacred Flame were on the verge of destruction. The Survivors had found themselves face-to-face with the enemy. “Are you…the demon god?” they asked. “Yes. I am Skiaprelli, one of the five gods…not that that lofty title has any real meaning. My true title is Skiaprelli, the God-Class Anti-Otherworld Defense Mechanism. It is very nice to meet you. What is your name?” the demon god asked again. “…The Survivors,” they replied. “It is a pleasure, Survivors,” said the demon god. They sounded as if they were welcoming a guest and showed no sign whatsoever of attacking. “…If a god’s here, does that make this the heavens?” the Survivors asked. Karan remembered a conversation that made her think she might know where they were. The people of the ancient civilization had driven the gods out of the Land of Sacred Flame and into the heavens. “You are correct. This is the heavens. However, the other gods—Medora, Baer, Virginie, and Lowell—are not here. They each exist in a world on a slightly different phase from this one. These are artificial spaces that differ from reality, where you all reside. When my egg hatches, this dimension will connect to yours.” “I don’t really get it, but does that mean this world was made specifically for you?” the Survivors asked. “Yes. Welcome to my world,” the demon god said. “You’re…surprisingly friendly. Are you trying to intimidate us? Show us that mere humans like us pose no threat to you?” the Survivors asked cynically. Yet the demon god didn’t look offended. “…I feel wary. Speaking in this form is somewhat difficult,” the demon god said, transforming from the Sword of Tasuki into the form of a young girl. Something about the form felt transient, but it looked entirely human. The neck-length black hair and deep purple eyes would have looked more at home in a town library than this endless space. The demon god’s clothes had changed, too. Their new outfit lacked the sharp, martial feel typical of holy armor and was skintight for ease of movement, with a hard material protecting only the chest and feet. It was a strange form that favored functionality. The Survivors guessed this must have been what people looked like long ago. “This clothing was the prototype for holy armor. It was once called a ‘space suit,’” the demon god said. “…That must be what the Originators wore. Is that the face of an Originator, too?” the Survivors asked. “I am borrowing the form of one of my developers. This is similar to your magic item’s Parallel ability.” The Survivors grew concerned. They had naturally felt on edge and ready to fight when the demon god looked like the Sword of Tasuki, but it was difficult to muster any sort of animosity toward this form. They were also unaffected by the magical Mantra in the demon god’s voice, which automatically projected an expansive barrier that put people in a state of fear and roused monsters. “I am not trying to torment the creatures that live upon this land. Nor do I mean to place fear in their hearts. The reason you are not afraid of me is because you are able to properly hear my words.” “You don’t want to fight?” the Survivors asked. “I see no reason to rush into things. I shall fight you if you wish it; however, let us talk first.” The Survivors had no choice but to take the demon god at their word. They would have already attacked if they’d wanted to, yet the demon god hadn’t done anything while the Survivors had been tumbling helpless through space, and they still weren’t projecting any aggressive mana. “…Fine. We’ll hear you out. But make it short,” the Survivors said. “Allow me to put it simply, then. Would you consider allying with me?” the demon god asked. “You want to be our ally?” “Perhaps I worded that incorrectly. What I actually wish to ask is, would you allow me to serve you?” The demon god kneeled before the Survivors. “…What?” The Survivors hadn’t been surprised by the question. The demon god had shown no animosity toward them, so an appeal to win them over wasn’t unexpected. They were not prepared, however, for the sight of a being called a god kneeling before them. “…Uh, you’re the god of all monsters. You’re kinda trying to wipe out mankind,” the Survivors said. “I am sure I seem like a superior being to monsters and the primitive creatures that call themselves human. However, I cannot disobey a human, nor can I kill them. I was made by humans, after all.” “You’re talking like you don’t consider us human.” “I do not acknowledge the protists of this planet to be humans.” “…We’re just the unworthy remnants of the Originators in your eyes, are we?” “Humans—or as you call them, the Originators—achieved a great Awakening in the past and shifted to a higher dimension. Those who failed to Awaken worked with the other gods to create those who now live on this Land of Sacred Fire.” “…So if the people who Awakened were still around, you’d see them as human?” “Yes. Just as you are right now.” The demon god smiled at them. “Excuse us if we don’t jump for joy,” the Survivors said. “You may disagree, but on this point, the gods all have the same stance. To be defined as human, one must Awaken to obtain superior senses and increase their soul level. None of us consider the primitives of this land human. We only differ in the way we act on that belief,” the demon god said. “What do you mean?” “For example, Lowell, the god of encounters, determined that you are not human but have the potential to reach that state, so we should do all we can to encourage your evolution. By contrast, Baer, the god of harvest, agrees that you are not human but argues you are precious creatures that should be protected, and that encouraging evolution is excessive interference. Virginie and Medora hold moderate positions between those two.” “And what do you think of the ‘primitives,’ as you call them?” “I see them as an abundant resource.” “What, like wheat or rice?” The Survivors shuddered in response to hearing the cold viewpoints of the gods. They had already known that the real gods differed from the objects of worship humans had built them up to be, but the demon god’s explanation drove home just how puny humans were in their all-powerful eyes. “My job is to prepare for the defense of this star system. Producing monsters and collecting resources are only parts of that process,” the demon god said. “From who?” the Survivors asked. “What do you mean, ‘from who’?” “Who are you protecting the planet from?” “Who knows?” “You’re kidding…” “I truly have no idea. However, it has been magically proved that intelligent life that surpasses us does exist. I would not be surprised if the alien gods the Originators fought appeared tomorrow and destroyed the world.” The Survivors felt a flickering flame of passion from the demon god. They hid a fierceness within their calm persona, which had the power to influence reality. It didn’t affect the Survivors in their current state, but if they hadn’t used Union, the demon god’s words alone might have killed them. “Forgive me. ‘Tomorrow’ might be a slight exaggeration. Regardless, I am serious about this. I am always—always—afraid that this world will be lost.” “Why are you protecting it?” the Survivors asked. “Would you take issue if I told you it was because this is humanity’s homeland?” “Of course. It’s our homeland, too.” “Your histories treat me as your archenemy, and it is true that I have done things to earn that title. This is a vital cause to me; however, I understand that you all see my actions as cruel.” “Then don’t bother asking us to side with you. You have to know how hated you are.” “I could give you all so much. For example, if you like singing, I can make you a monster with that skill.” “Please tell me that was a joke.” Someone within the Survivors screamed that it wasn’t the least bit tempting. “If you join your power with mine, it will only require the most minuscule amount of my mana resources to grant your wishes. Your body and soul are currently extremely close to the Originators. You could easily suppress the angels and the other gods. I cannot change my stance on the primitives of this land, but we can protect them as much as possible.” “Huh. Cool. Thanks for sharing your opinion. Let’s go ahead and get this started,” the Survivors said, holding the Sword of Bonds at the ready. “…What part of my offer do you object to?” “For starters… You want us in our Union state, don’t you?” “Yes. However…I cannot overlook your current instability. You are nothing more than four creatures and one artificial intelligence who happen to have achieved equilibrium. If you join me, I will blend your souls so that your bodies and minds adhere more firmly and stabilize.” “That ain’t happening.” “…I understand why you would take issue with using the primitives as a resource or my management policies. Yet I cannot comprehend why you would want to give up your nearly perfect state.” The demon god looked bewildered. The Survivors paid that no mind. “Well, that’s my biggest objection. I’m not denying your mission, but if you’re aware that what you’re doing to us ‘primitives’ is cruel, you shouldn’t be surprised when we resist you.” “That is fair. However, you will suffer irreversible damage when you Split. It’s possible you will all die. Preventing that and maintaining your superior body and soul only benefits you. Regardless of whether we fight, you will have to find a way to stave off a Split. The other gods would agree with me, I am certain.” “That’s none of your business. It doesn’t matter anyway.” “You fail to understand your worth. If you achieve humanity, you could be the key to bringing about everlasting prosperity.” “Who cares about that? Do you really think we trust anyone?” the Survivors jeered. “…How disappointing.” The demon god looked truly offended, and the space surrounding them distorted in response to their mood. The stars began spinning again, which wasn’t an optical illusion this time. The Survivors and the demon god were perfectly still as they floated in space. The world centered around the two of them, unmoved by the skies. “Come forth, asteroids, and eradicate these fools who oppose me.” A giant, scorching rock shot toward the Survivors at near light speed. The demon god spoke Mantras that inspired panic in human hearts, made monsters go berserk, and manipulated creation at will. They hadn’t cast a spell to summon the asteroid but had spoken it into existence. The demon god ruled the heavens, and even inorganic substances obeyed their voice. “Now we’re talking! Let’s do this, Bond!” the Survivors shouted. “Certainly!” Bond responded. “Fire Dragon Slash—Hundred Chain!” The light enveloping the Survivors turned into a burning white color like the sun and settled within the Sword of Bonds. They swung the sword, and the white flames became boundary lines that tore up the space and shattered the approaching asteroid. “You intend to tear through this very space? I won’t let you do that… My vassal, take your revenge on the sword that struck you.” The asteroid the Survivors cut apart turned to starlight and melded together into the shape of a person. It was much slower than before, but significantly more intimidating, towering over the Survivors at hundreds of times their height. “A giant of starlight… Legend has it that this is the strongest monster the gods can employ. It is now also resistant to any slashing attacks!” Bond said. “We have plenty of ways to handle that,” the Survivors said, and the Sword of Bonds transformed. It turned into the rapier that Nick/Tiana used, but it was significantly brighter. “Lightning Bird Flock!” the Survivors chanted, shaping the light. This was Bellocchio’s signature magic. Tens of thousands of birds filled the space and charged at the starlight giant, looking like a flock migrating south. Blue light dyed the demon god’s world, and it started to strain. The Survivors had surpassed the demon god’s powerful spell with an even greater one of their own. “Survivors. Do you see the ring far off in the distance?” the demon god asked suddenly in the midst of their intense fight. “What does that have to do with anything?” the Survivors asked. “Put simply, that ring is a remnant of the era of the Originators’ civilization.” The Survivors strained their eyes in the direction the demon god was pointing, and sure enough, they found a ring there. It was shaped like the orbit of a planet around a sun and consisted of multiple small heavenly bodies. Looking at it closely, the Survivors realized that each heavenly body shone with the light of life. Some were terribly powerful, while others were as small as dogs and cats by comparison. “That is the Monster Belt. The planets that make it up are not dense enough to see from the Land of the Sacred Flame with the naked eye. Each one is a heavenly body, a world, and life itself.” “Do people live on those planets…? Or no, are the planets themselves alive?” the Survivors asked. They sensed life from the distant ring, as well as war. They could tell it was a battle unlike any they had ever experienced. It felt like each side was bent on totally annihilating the enemy, resulting in a battle too bloody to watch. “Do not worry; I am only showing you a vision. The Monster Belt is not connected to this dimension. Think of it as if you were looking out a window,” the demon god said. “What are they doing? Are they fighting…?” the Survivors asked. “Yes. That is a war.” “A war…between the planets themselves?” “Indeed. They are worlds ruled by behemoths born from the melding of biological weapons created by the Originators and an enemy from another world. The behemoths became planets with intelligent life and subordinate creatures living on their surfaces, and they fight for supremacy of the Monster Belt. They have been fighting for two thousand years with no conclusion in sight… There are alliances and factions between the planets, however, which brings some order to the chaos.” One of the planets in the Monster Belt was shaped like a lion. It was slowly approaching a distant planet, clearly intending to sink its enormous fangs into it. The Survivors looked closely and saw humanlike creatures on the worlds killing each other with swords and spears. Elsewhere, a new planet formed, and small creatures were born on it. The Monster Belt cycled rapidly between life and death, extinction and birth. “The starlight giant I just created was in imitation of these behemoths. That attack is a godlike feat on this world, but mere child’s play compared to what our true threat can do,” the demon god said sadly, staring off into space. “They have tremendous power. They currently care only for the hegemony of their closed world, yet if they ever took an interest in our world, we would be in considerable trouble.” “So they’re a sleeping giant that could strike at any moment?” the Survivors asked. “It is not just them. Strain your ears and peer into the darkness. You should be able to sense a terrifying presence.” “That’s foreboding.” “Yes. We live in a terrifying universe. We must cultivate the power necessary to eradicate our enemies and defend our world.” The demon god stuck out their right hand and filled it with mana. They then collected the remains of the starlight giant—which had been smashed to tiny pieces—and transformed them into a vortex of pure destructive power. Massive pressure weighed on the Survivors as the power became a pitch-black sphere that let no light through and repeatedly expanded and collapsed under its own weight. The Survivors gulped as the sphere warped their vision—no, the world itself. “Survivors. We need to talk,” the demon god said. “How the hell is that talking?! You’re clearly trying to kill us!” the Survivors shouted. “This is an imitation of an alien weapon. How would you combat it?” The pitch-black sphere wrapped itself in dark red flames, which it shot toward the Survivors. The flames consumed everything in their path as they raced toward the Survivors’ feet. “That is no simple bullet or fire spell! It’s a fake supernova…a huge explosion that occurs when a star dies! This weapon was forbidden even by the Originators!” Bond yelled. “What can we do?! It’s gonna destroy us and then this world! How did people stop it?!” the Survivors asked. “They would split space-time to remove the exploding star, erasing it from existence… Or at least, that is what I’ve heard,” Bond said. “That won’t work. Splitting space-time will tear open a rift to the real world. There’s no point stopping the attack if the demon god resurrects and wipes out mankind!” the Survivors said. “…This is a fictitious world where anything is possible. Use your imagination,” Bond said, sounding distressed. The Survivors took a moment to digest his words. They had no choice but to stake everything they had on stopping this attack. “You want us to stop the death of a star with our imagination…? Might as well try it. Phoenix Flock!” They used the Sword of Bonds to produce an enormous flock of birds, just like they’d done with Lightning Bird Flock. These birds, however, were surrounded by flames—phoenixes, just as the spell’s name suggested. The phoenixes dove at the black sphere and clung to it. Nothing happened at first, but once a few thousand of them had been absorbed by the ball, they began to have an effect. A fissure opened in the sphere, then closed, then another fissure opened. Time seemed to rewind; heat and light with nowhere to go, and compressed dust danced around the ball, which lost its density. “Did you just…revive a star?” The demon god stared at the black sphere, dumbfounded. “Each bird contained advanced resurrection magic. If a star explodes when it dies, we thought we could just revive it to an earlier point in its life cycle. We’ve got plenty more ideas. That spell might’ve been too much for the Originators to handle, but you’re not gonna kill us with such old-fashioned magic,” the Survivors said. “…Incredible. This is the power of humanity.” The demon god praised them, sounding ecstatic. “Why do you look so happy?” “You prevented an inevitable end with the power of imagination. Your strength and indomitable soul are exactly what I have been seeking. I have dreamed of this moment for so long. No—you are my dream. Thank you, Survivors.” The demon god’s intense joy sent a shiver down the Survivors’ spine. Their mirth didn’t signal an end to the battle, though. In fact, they could tell it meant the opposite—that the fight was about to increase to a hellish intensity. “Show me more. I want to see your soul and your dreams,” the demon god said. “Is that the best pickup line you can manage? You have no poetic ability for someone who lives in such a beautiful world,” the Survivors mocked. “That is why I yearn so badly for your humanity. Hmm, what should I send at you next…? Yes, let’s see how you handle a bubble of nothingness. It is a pocket of cosmic death that expands at the same rate as the universe itself. Now, my dream, how will you stop it?” A transparent bubble appeared above the demon god’s head. It looked even more ominous than the supernova, which filled the Survivors with fear. “…I don’t think the phoenixes are gonna do anything this time.” “This bubble negates existence itself. Even the phenomenon of death will vanish in its void. Now…prepare yourself!” The death bubble expanded, threatening to engulf the Survivors. “…We’re not denying your strength. We’re denying your dream,” they said. “You would truly reject me after what I have shown you?” the demon god asked. “We understand that you have grand ambitions, and that we—the people you call ‘primitives’—are only drops of water in the ocean by comparison. But we came here to protect those like us who want to live. We’re not your dream—we’re your dream’s end.” The Survivors lifted the Sword of Bonds overhead and pointed toward something with its tip: the small red star they had revived to prevent from exploding. They absorbed its power into the sword and charged at the death bubble, slashing it in a collision that produced glittering stars that died and were reborn. Bright white light smothered the world. * * *
Chapter 104
28 min read