Chapter 244
Chapter 244
Chapter 244
Metatron (1)
I don't know how many people caught what that momentary gaze meant.
However, Future Gray shook his head immediately afterward and continued speaking.
"Anyway, Abel and I view Berus very unfavorably. It shouldn't be much of a loss for your side either, should it?"
"I still don't understand."
Rudian glared at him with his arms crossed.
"You're not from this era."
"That's right."
"I don't know much about summoning magic or the power of summoning, but... I don't think Berus would have called you here without any safeguards."
Future Gray nodded slowly.
"Right. He must have put some kind of leash on us. The problem is I can't figure out what it is at all..."
"And yet you'd still oppose Berus? The you I know isn't the type to gamble on things without a chance of winning."
If they formed an alliance on the surface only to be stabbed in the back, it would be unmanageable.
"Well, that's true."
"...It's rather absurd that you're admitting it so readily?"
"But even so... is there really anything to worry about?"
"What?"
Future Gray smiled wickedly and said this:
"The things we've experienced so far aren't trivial enough to be intimidated by something like a lifeline."
"......"
"And I think Berus is behind what I experienced. On the surface, I died pathetically to that beast, but..."
Rudian flinched slightly when he heard the word "behind."
'That guy is making similar deductions to me...'
Certainly, even if not from a third party's perspective, Gray was the one who experienced everything to the end.
Moreover, since he's much sharper than Rudian himself, deducing the causal relationships of the past and extracting buried truths wouldn't be too difficult.
Then, Gray let out a bitter laugh.
"And no matter how much we're from the future... We don't want to cause trouble while turning this world upside down. Well, I don't know what the others think, but at least Abel and I feel that way."
"......"
"We're heroes. Heroes who struggled desperately and risked our lives dozens of times to protect people."
Future Gray looked directly at Rudian with resolute eyes, pointing his finger at him.
"Our target is only you."
Certainly, Abel had deliberately moved the battlefield to the north even though he appeared before Baal in the capital.
If he truly hadn't cared about damage to this era, the capital Nevan would have disappeared from the map.
If there were any casualties, it would be about Crux, who was pathetically defeated by his future self.
Excluding that... Gray's words certainly had persuasive power.
Rudian smiled slightly, relaxing.
"Good. But we'll need to expand the scope of the alliance a bit."
"Asking for more after getting what you want. So what are the conditions?"
"To include eliminating the Avatar of Destruction along with Berus."
Rudian expected Future Gray to accept that condition.
"...Sorry, but that won't work."
"...Why not?"
Rudian's expression hardened.
He calls himself a hero who protects the world, yet he refuses the proposal to defeat the final boss of the story?
"That guy needs to exist for us to return to our original timeline."
"What?"
"Do you know how Berus summoned us? You don't think that even as a main god, Berus accomplished 'time interference,' which the Creator God directly prohibited, with his own power, do you?"
"......"
As Gray said, that point had been a constant question.
How did he know about the future original characters, and how was he able to summon them?
Now one of those two questions was answered from Gray's mouth.
"Naturally, it's because he used the Creator God's power. The Seven-Colored Worlds, the Primordial Fragments, the Avatar of Destruction. Among these, the Seven-Colored Worlds are impossible unless all seven are gathered, and the Primordial Fragments were taken by Mars, Gaigo, and another guy who was Mars' collaborator. In the end, the only remaining option would be the Creator God's beast, wouldn't it?"
It wasn't impossible.
The problem was that even Berus had brazenly committed something the Creator God prohibited, causing a distortion of causality...
"In the end, for us to return, we must use that beast's power. If he dies, we'll remain in this timeline and might be trapped in some paradox."
Having two identical individuals exist in the same timeline goes against providence.
It's fine for now, but if this situation continues, who knows what might happen to those from the future.
After hearing all of this, Rudian answered reluctantly:
"Then there's no need to target me specifically, is there?"
They could just use his power to return...
But Future Gray was firm.
"There are two reasons why that won't work."
"What are they?"
"First, this timeline has become far too different from the one we knew."
GASP!
Rudian's eyes began to tremble slightly.
"Since we were summoned to a timeline with twisted fate, to return we must eliminate the cause of that distortion."
"What! That means!"
Rebecca, who immediately understood those words, burst out angrily.
"Are you saying Rudian has to die after coming this far!"
"...It's providence. Even if it's closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, we still have to fix it."
Gray, who answered firmly, looked at Rebecca with renewed eyes.
"By the way... you're quite perceptive, aren't you? The original you wasn't like that."
"A-Are you making fun of me?"
"...No, it's a compliment."
Rudian sighed and grabbed Rebecca's shoulder, pulling her toward him.
Rebecca was startled but obediently let herself be guided by Rudian's hand.
After calming Rebecca down, Rudian asked Future Gray:
"So, what's the second reason?"
"Simple. It's the constraint Berus placed on us when he summoned us. To kill both you and our past selves and establish equivalent existence in this timeline."
"...!"
"Well, that's basically trying to fix us in this timeline instead of sending us back to our original one, so I'm not too keen on it. At least Crux and Rebecca were enthusiastic about it though..."
"...Hard to believe? Can you ignore Berus' constraints and form alliances at will? Even if you and Abel are high-ranking, that seems impossible..."
At Rudian's sharp observation, Future Gray's eyes darkened slightly.
"Hmm, being perceptive is good, but being too sharp is annoying."
"Are you admitting you were trying to deceive me?"
"No, the alliance proposal is still valid. It's just that revealing one of our weaknesses is a bit reluctant..."
"...?"
Future Gray sighed and said this:
"We can no longer leave the Creator God's temple."
"...What does that mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. If we leave the Creator God's temple now, we'll immediately be annihilated due to the reversal of causality."
It was fine until the moment they first intervened in history.
Having power itself is fine, but the moment distorted beings intervene in history, the Creator God's law of causality immediately imposes sanctions.
"I see. So that first appearance was your first and last desperate struggle on the surface?"
The mystery of why they didn't come looking again even though some time had passed on the surface before coming to the heavens was solved.
Rudian, who had summarized Gray's words, reached a conclusion.
"So you're saying we should handle things outside as much as possible before coming in."
"Right. It's somewhat contrary to Heaven's Fall plan, but Berus knows all the details of Heaven's Fall anyway."
"......"
"...!"
Although it was expected, confirmation came from his mouth.
The surroundings immediately began to buzz loudly.
Especially in Gabriel's case, his face had turned pale and he couldn't speak.
"If we proceed according to the original plan, we'll probably get properly countered and sink. I can say that much for certain."
Future Gray smiled and urged Rudian for an answer.
"So, what's your answer?"
"I'd like you to confirm one last thing."
"Speak."
"When facing Berus in the Creator God's temple, can you completely break his restraints and oppose him?"
This is an important issue beyond trust in Gray and Abel.
"It's possible. For a while, at least."
"What's the basis for that?"
"This."
Future Gray took out a magic book with a blue glow from his chest.
Immediately, Gray behind Rudian gritted his teeth.
"...Grr!"
"White World and Blue World. I was planning to mobilize the Primordial Fragment that your side has as well, but even with just two, I can escape Berus' restraints for a short time. Of course, I won't be able to hold out for long."
Future Gray's gaze turned to the other companions who possessed Seven-Colored Worlds.
"If your side could concede just one more, it would be certain."
"If that's enough, don't be greedy for more?"
"...Well, fine. I know it's greed anyway."
Future Gray shrugged.
"I accept the alliance proposal. If possible, I'd like you to hold Berus' feet until we get there."
"I'll try."
Even saying that, they probably won't do anything special until Rudian's party enters the Creator God's temple.
That guy absolutely won't do anything that loses him something.
Future Gray's clone, having finished all business, began to fade gradually.
"Finally... let me give you one piece of advice."
"Advice?"
"This advice is given under the assumption that you, like me, are a being who has seen all the predetermined endings..."
"......"
"If you're going to cause trouble in the heavens, it would be best to finish off Satera first. Otherwise, things will become very troublesome."
"...I know."
One of the Seven Great Gods, Satera of the Earth.
A goddess who opposed the mountain god Kuliak, who belonged to the Pantheon in the distant past, and currently leads the largest faction in the heavens.
"Right now, it's only known that she entered the ritual to advance the Day of Great Liberation, but... it would be good not to let your guard down. If it's her, it wouldn't be strange for her to pull some trick in the meantime."
"Thanks for the advice."
"What. We just formed an alliance, so it would be troublesome for us if you guys get knocked out ridiculously."
It was certainly a possible story, especially in the heavens.
"Then let's meet again alive later."
Gray disappeared after saying those words.
And while an awkward silence briefly filled the hall, Gabriel frowned and approached Rudian.
"...We'll have to completely revise our plan."
"There's no need to do that."
"What?"
"Honestly, whatever plan we make, Berus will read it anyway."
"W-Wait! Then you're saying there was no chance of winning from the beginning!"
At Gabriel's indignation, Rudian shook his head.
"Not exactly. Have you forgotten what we've been doing so far?"
In a short time, they had gathered all sorts of mythic-grade weapons and used them to boost their power.
"That's..."
"The counter that guy mentioned will probably happen after we enter the Creator God's temple. We've gathered enough power to at least not be unilaterally defeated."
Only then did Gabriel's expression calm down as he regained his composure.
Rudian smiled wickedly as he looked at him.
"But still... we should make one last move before clashing with the pantheon."
"...Is there another strategy besides what we've prepared so far? There's only one day left?"
The start of Heaven's Fall, as decided by Michael, is tomorrow.
When that time comes, Rudian's party and the archangels will simultaneously assault the Creator God's temple.
"One day is enough. It's also the last move to supplement our forces."
The last variable to put the finishing touch on the scenario he planned.
The Nameless Mist.
The mastermind behind Chapter 4 of the original work, and the secret societies that desire the collapse of the heavens.
The time had come to make contact with them.