Chapter 221
Chapter 221
Chapter 221
The Worst Variable (2)
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
'The resonance is breaking!'
As the six seven-colored worlds collided, the resonance of the seven-colored world that had been steadily protecting Rudian and Luciella's bodies began to disappear.
Seeing this, Krakar burst into wild laughter.
-Hahahaha! Just as expected!
The purple world lived up to its reputation as the strongest of the seven-colored worlds.
It had single-handedly withstood all five other forces combined.
Of course, this was only possible because the user's capabilities were at the divine level of someone like Krakar, but even so, its power was undeniably brilliant.
-Then now, perish. I shall finish this with my authority!
All of Krakar's eyes shone as they formed perfect circles.
The authority unique to Krakar that crushed all life forms entering its domain from their very essence—an absolute power that could not be defended against.
Corrosion.
-Kid, you'd better dodge.
Seeing the ominous aura of dark violet flames spreading out, Diablo gave a quiet warning.
-That's a single-use authority and a thoroughly prepared counter. Since it neutralized your fusion with the purple world, all that remains is for human flesh to face divine authority head-on.
Diablo's assessment was certainly correct.
-No matter how much you wrap my authority around yourself, your body can't block a strike from that level of divinity. Dodge.
Usually, Diablo would laugh heartily while acting all high and mighty, but when it came to combat, his judgment was almost never wrong.
'I know. But I'm still blocking it.'
-...Foolish bastard. At this rate, I'll lose my first contractor in ten thousand years.
Diablo clicked his tongue at Rudian's stubbornness.
'That's the strategy!'
Divine authorities were broadly divided into two types.
One was buff-type authorities like Diablo's 'Wrath' or Marbas's 'Challenge.'
The other was skill-type authorities like Leviathan's 'Domination' or Baal's Vlemya.'
Actually, divinities with skill-type authorities like Krakar often had significantly reduced combat abilities in head-to-head battles between equals.
However, victory and defeat were completely separate matters.
This was because the results could be completely reversed depending on strategy—how to deploy the one-hit-kill element characteristic of skill-type authorities, or how to conceal the information itself from the beginning.
But Rudian already knew in advance what Krakar's authority was.
That's why he was able to devise a lethal 'counter' strategy tailored to it.
Rudian poured all his power into Adi.
And Adi, following the predetermined strategy, chanted the final spell that would block Krakar's authority.
-Genesis Domain.
The spell Adi chanted this time was of a type Rudian had never seen before.
-Absolute Dimension Observer - Domain of Ra.
***
Two days before the war with the aliens began.
Rudian gathered his companions and began briefing them on the mock battle against Krakar, the most important fight of all.
"Krakar's authority is Corrosion. It's the power to crush body and soul, returning them to primordial chaos."
The twin god Ktuna also possessed similar authority, but Rudian was only considering the battle against Krakar.
"It can destroy even barriers wrapped in divinity in less than a few seconds. It's truly an authority specialized in killing gods."
The faces of his companions darkened upon hearing Rudian's explanation.
"...Is there a way to counter it? No, does such a thing even exist against that kind of power?"
If it was a force that could destroy even divinity, no power could oppose it.
Even Maria, the strongest among the group, remained silent as if there was no answer.
"If there's one weakness... it would be endurance. If we can hold out for 30 seconds, we can launch a sufficient counterattack against it. Since the authority's power itself is absolute, there's quite a long cooldown period before it can be used again."
"...30 seconds?"
By now, his companions knew better than anyone the power that the name 'divinity' carried.
What meaning would 30 seconds have when faced with an authority that could destroy even such divinity?
Gray said in a blunt tone:
"Even if it were 3 seconds instead of 30, surviving that would be worthy of being called a god."
"...Actually, you're right about that."
Rudian scratched his cheek with an awkward laugh.
Indeed, if one could endure even 3 seconds facing Krakar's authority head-on, they would easily be treated as at least a mid-level god in the Pantheon.
Elvin, who had been quietly listening until now, spoke for the first time.
"This isn't about all of us committing suicide together... You must have a method if you're briefing us like this?"
Rudian nodded.
"Yes, first, the simplest method is... to use that guy as a meat shield."
Rudian's finger pointed to where the human form of Baal, one of the Seven Great Demon Kings, was positioned.
"......"
"......"
Immediately, his companions' faces changed to expressions that said 'As if he'd do that for us.'
Under such gazes, Rudian cried out in frustration:
"No, don't look at it that way—this is actually a real strategy!"
Baal's authority, Vlemya, could sufficiently offset Krakar's authority.
Of course, since they weren't in the demon realm, Baal would consume quite a lot of power and causality as a price, but that was a problem Rudian could easily compensate for.
However, Rudian's strategy was fundamentally flawed...
"Hmm, sorry, but I absolutely don't do sacrifices."
Baal rejected Rudian's proposal outright with a cheerful smile.
With Baal firmly refusing and leaving, Elvin asked Rudian again with drooping shoulders:
"...Is there a backup plan?"
"...There is one."
Krakar's authority might seem invincible at first glance, but it also had clear weaknesses.
'If there really was no way to counter it, he would have killed Berus long ago and achieved his goal.'
With that thought, Rudian mentioned the true 'weakness' of Krakar's authority.
"We can use dimensions. Dimensional magic or dimensional refraction barriers—11th class magic is the only way to block his authority."
"...What did you just say? What class?"
"11th class, Genesis Domain."
To Gray's bewildered question, Rudian seriously supplemented his explanation.
"Actually, in the case of skill-type authorities deployed by typical high-level divine beings, even tricks like this don't work. They fix space itself while deploying their authority, leaving no room for escape."
But Krakar's case was a bit different.
Since the authority itself was so tremendously powerful, this kind of penalty existed.
"...So, who can use that?"
"This guy."
THUMP! THUMP!
Beside Rudian, the eyeball monster Adi had appeared.
Previously, only Maria had known about this creature, but over time, its existence had been naturally accepted by his companions.
Rudian looked at all his companions and said:
"No matter what form the battle takes, with this guy, we'll somehow have a single opportunity."
If they couldn't finish it off then, they would be finished.
"Whoever comes with me then, be prepared. Be ready to pour out a strike containing everything."
***
"Aaaahhh!"
Luciella screamed.
The resonance of the seven-colored world was broken by the massive flow created by the purple world, and her body, with human flesh, was completely exposed to Krakar's authority.
'It hurts! It's agony!'
Would this be what it felt like to immerse one's body directly in a dissolving solution made of extreme acid?
Luciella, who prided herself on being accustomed to considerable pain, nearly lost her mind to pain she had never experienced before.
No, she had already lost consciousness several times.
The transcendent pain had brought her lost consciousness back several times.
It was a trial even harsher and more severe than when she had accepted the resonance of the seven-colored world.
"I must... stay conscious! This is... the path I chose!"
Luciella endured through sheer stubbornness.
Right in front of her, there was Rudian, deploying a massive barrier to block the opponent's authority.
'I was the one who wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with him!'
But she couldn't show such a pathetic sight to him!
Luciella desperately recalled Yugria's teachings.
'Burn. Burn everything!'
Burn magic, burn the soul, burn myself...
Kill the god!
-Flames refined to the extreme can handle even divine authority.
Though Yugria had mentioned this repeatedly while saying she didn't know who that 'god' was, this soul flame must have been developed to kill beings of at least that level.
'Ten seconds forward, I'll put everything into penetrating that unholy monster's head!'
Even as Krakar's authority crashed down like a tsunami, Luciella steadily prepared her greatest, strongest strike.
Just then.
BAAAH!
-Yes, as expected, you would be capable of it.
Suddenly, along with the bleating of a goat, came the voice of some woman.
Luciella found herself asking without realizing it.
'What?'
-Becoming a true dagger.
The woman, whose location was unknown, answered thus.
-Due to the irregularity committed by Berus, I too have become capable of committing a single irregularity. I, the Primordial Black Goat, shall use you as the means for that irregularity.
'What on earth are you talking about...?'
Before Luciella could finish speaking, the woman's voice and the goat's bleating abruptly stopped.
WHOOSH!
"......!"
And... the red flames of Luciella's soul, which had been burning red, suddenly began to change to a brilliant purple.
'This... is?'
Looking carefully, it wasn't just the flames that had changed.
Her hair, reflected in the transparent barrier Rudian had deployed, was also burning like bright purple flames.
"Luciella?"
Rudian, who had been channeling power to Adi to defend against Krakar's authority from the front, immediately noticed the change behind him.
And this change was also seen by Krakar, who had been pouring out his authority from the front.
-How, how! You have control over the purple world...!
So shocked was he that Krakar even forgot to pour out his authority and stood there dumbfounded.
-Mother! Really... me and Ktuna...!
Krakar cried out as if in anguish.
Whatever was causing him to lose his composure like this, it was a heaven-sent opportunity.
"Rudian!"
"I know!"
There was no time to think about the reason.
The two rushed toward Krakar.
As they did, Rudian's Diablo and Luciella's Invincible Sword naturally crossed.
WHOOOOSH!
A massive pillar of dark purple light appeared as Rudian's Karma and Luciella's Outer Force combined.
Though they had never coordinated before, it was a combination attack created by chance when their hearts were in perfect sync.
-This, this can't be!
Krakar finally came to his senses and gathered his power, but it was far too late a response.
"Haaaah!"
With a desperate battle cry, a strike containing massive divinity cut straight through Krakar's crown.
-Damn it... Mother...
That was the final moment of the alien god Krakar.
