The Giant Gods' Vengeance
The highest-ranking Main God of the Substitute Race had chosen an entire planet as its host. When the protagonist ground that planet apart from the surface down, almost nothing survived. If the initial collision of stars had once startled him with its roar, now only gazes of pure admiration remained. From deep within the planet’s crust, high-ranking members of the Substitute Race surged upward. He prepared to unleash a barrage of consecutive multi-layered spells against them.
Go go go go go go! The air trembled with a deep woooong. Ten circles of magical power screamed in unison while a translucent eleventh circle quivered as if shrieking. Before creating as many Lord Slayer spears as his mana would allow, he drew upon Dimensional Authority and began his chant.
"I am the one and only special existence in this world."
⟨ 10th Circle Creation and Restoration Magic ⟩
The magnificent tenth-circle spell added the ability to seal or annihilate members of the Substitute Race directly onto the Lord Slayer spears.
‘If the opponent weren’t a Main God, this alone would be enough. But I still have strength to spare. In any case, the highest-ranking Main God of the Substitute Race cannot attack this place unless it emerges from the star, so it’s completely pinned down. For once, I’m truly grateful that I am a mage rather than a swordsman.’
The wide-area attack had just flipped the tide of battle overwhelmingly in favor of the allied forces. Both the Main God of the Divine Realm and the Demon God of the Demon Realm now looked completely relaxed. They loosened their bodies bit by bit, checking their swords and armor once more. Any debris that flew their way was pulverized the instant it entered the thousand-kilometer radius of the Main God’s authority field.
They were now chatting leisurely. ‘The dangerous unease I saw earlier has completely vanished, replaced by a faint fighting spirit.’ It was a good sign that they had regained their composure.
Pa pa pa pa pa pa—! Countless Lord Slayer spears, reinforced specifically against the Substitute Race, teleported through space and slammed into the forward base planet. The ten circles of magical power roared in succession, pouring out enormous mana and driving spears into every location on the planet’s surface that showed any sign of life.
‘Kuaaaaack—!’
The planet’s surface burst into flames as the screams of the Substitute Race’s highest gods echoed across the battlefield. ‘Divine annihilation doesn’t work on them, but to me—a mage god specialized in long-range wide-area attacks—the Substitute Race are nothing more than prey.’
To the former mercenary god, the battlefield against the Substitute Race was far easier to handle than one against gods or demon gods. Of course, that was under the assumption that he had allies like the Main God of the Divine Realm and the Demon God of the Demon Realm preventing the enemy from closing in.
‘No matter how many times I face them, these things are just too easy.’
He poured barrier mana into the thousand Lord Slayer spears embedded across the forward base planet.
"Divine Annihilation Barrier—!"
Crackle—! The barrier interfered with the Substitute Race Main God’s divine annihilation, forcibly lowering its authority rank.
Both the Main God of the Divine Realm and the Demon God of the Demon Realm brightened with delight. The fallen divinity that had been reduced by divine annihilation had returned, restoring the enemy to its status as a highest-ranking Main God.
The Main God of the Divine Realm whistled playfully in admiration.
Those who had once steeled themselves for annihilation now spoke of the future. There was no greater praise for a warrior than the trust of comrades on the battlefield. He gave a light bow in acknowledgment and prepared for the next attack.
‘I must pin that planet down before the Substitute Race Main God goes mad, destroys its host, and runs wild.’
From his experience, a cornered Main God of the Substitute Race was among the most dangerous beings in existence.
Doom doom doom doom doom!
The giant gods who had fought as planetary deities against the invading gods, lost, and been sealed in the Demon Realm’s purgatory were summoned. Gu gu gu gu gu gu gu gu gu gung! Hundreds of giant gods from the Main God Star, ranging from one kilometer to an average of over five kilometers tall, appeared on the Boundary. As defensive mechanisms created by the planet’s life force, they were fully authenticated by the Boundary and began concentrating the planet’s vitality.
But this was not the end of his summoning arts.
"By the terms of our contract, I call upon you as worthy opponents. The enemy is the highest-ranking Main God of the Substitute Race—! Therefore, come forth—! O ancient lords of the giant race!"
Though they had been defeated by the gods, on the surface of a star they were the mightiest planetary deities. Ten colossal giant gods, each reaching ten kilometers in height, stepped onto the land.
‘These are the highest-ranking giant gods who once fought the Main Gods of the Main God Star for ownership. Since they also possess god-slaying power, they can inflict damage on the Substitute Race.’
The will of the giant gods’ lords reached their contractor.
‘It is regrettable that the opponent is not the Main God of the Divine Realm, but since the Main God of the Substitute Race is an enemy of the stars, we answered the summons.’
‘We shall not let it live.’
‘However, if it is the highest-ranking Main God of the Substitute Race, our current strength may not be enough to deal a decisive blow. Do you have another plan?’
As the Dimensional and War God listened to their intentions and prepared to explain his strategy, an unexpected incident occurred. The largest female giant god among them suddenly charged at the Main God of the Divine Realm.
‘Grit—! You fraud of a Main God of the Divine Realm—! We finally meet—! Die—!’
The female giant god lifted a leg as thick as the World Tree and stomped down on the Main God of the Divine Realm.
Boom—! Crash!
The Main God of the Divine Realm’s face turned deathly pale from sheer terror. He hopped about like a flea while the giant goddess chased him, stomping relentlessly. ‘It can’t be helped. She was once the leader of the giant gods of the Main God Star before being defeated by the Divine Realm.’
She had originally been a powerhouse difficult for him to contract with, but because the summons were against the Divine Realm and its Main God, she had accepted. He knew the full story.
‘But a fraud? Did that Main God of the Divine Realm trick even the giant gods to win?’
A being who lived forever yet left behind grudges everywhere by cheating others truly made the Main God of the Divine Realm an exhausting ally.
‘Shut up—! I will never listen to your words again. You suggested we fight above the sea so our precious star would not be damaged? The gods’ Main God shamelessly deployed a spatial teleportation barrier in secret and flung us into space. After using such a despicable trick, what excuse do you have? You are the shame of the Main God of the Divine Realm—!’
“……”
“……”
Upon hearing those words, both the Demon God of the Demon Realm and the protagonist stood speechless for a moment before pressing their foreheads. The Demon God of the Demon Realm had also been deceived by a similar proposal to settle the decisive battle on the moon to protect the planet, so she looked utterly dumbfounded.
Grit! Grit! The Demon God of the Demon Realm ground her teeth. When the Dimensional and War God silently pulled a bottle of liquor from thin air and handed it to her, she downed it in one gulp and snarled.
Killing intent surged from her as she gnashed her teeth. If not for the karma contract, she looked ready to join the giant gods and attack the Main God of the Divine Realm immediately.
The Demon God of the Demon Realm stroked her sword with a wretched expression, seemingly no longer able to see the Substitute Race Main God at all. The summoned undead lords of the giant race watched the one-sided beatdown with great interest.
‘So that’s the fraud god. She really is pitiful.’
‘We fought to the end and died, so we have nothing to say. But being tricked and sent into space to die… how resentful she must feel.’
‘Please, just leave her be for a while.’
The Main God of the Divine Realm fled until he was finally caught by the giant goddess’s enormous foot and driven into the ground. The vengeful giant goddess stomped wildly over the hole.
Boom—! Boom—!
The impacts shook the entire Boundary. Naturally it must hurt, but the Main God of the Divine Realm was a monster who would not suffer serious damage from such blows. Leaving him for the moment, the protagonist conveyed his will to the lords of the giant race. They were simply too massive for spoken words to suffice.
‘I have already sealed the highest-ranking Main God of the Substitute Race to the star with a barrier. However, once it adapts, it will break free immediately. Please lend me your strength.’
‘As undead, our divinity has fallen. We cannot deliver the finishing blow. Do you have a plan?’
‘I have summoned all the undead giant gods who died on the Main God Star and set them to absorb the planet’s vitality. I will gather all that vitality and strike with a single god-slaying blow.’
‘Oh? You’ve already grown that strong? Enough to withstand the combined divine power of all of us, even as undead?’
‘Originally it would be impossible. But magic is not omnipotent, yet it is all-capable. I humbly ask for your help.’
‘As the contractor and one whose karma is extremely good, we summoned beings have no right to refuse you. Nevertheless, we are grateful for your utmost courtesy. We shall assist with all our power.’
He had never imagined he would use the summoning arts meant for the decisive battle against the Divine Realm in this manner. Leaving the giant goddess—who wore a deeply satisfied expression as she continued stomping on the Main God of the Divine Realm—to her task for now, he focused his mana.
"‘Guide of the Origin’ and direct linkage. ‘I exist as myself, so shall you.’"