Chapter 245
Chapter 245
Chapter 245
Metatron (2)
Gabriel, who had heard a rough explanation of The Nameless Mist, cried out in astonishment.
"W-wait? The Nameless Mist? A nameless fog? I've never heard of it before?"
"Of course. It's a group that has never once surfaced since its founding."
Like all the various secret societies scattered throughout the Middle realm, the gods belonging to The Nameless Mist had thoroughly hidden their identities until the Day of Great Liberation.
Their purpose was singular: the collapse of the heavenly system composed of the Seven Great Gods.
The difference from the Pantheon was that they were thoroughly organized in cells, and while their purpose was the same, their reasons were each different.
"But how? Is there a way to make contact with them?"
"Yes, there is. Right now."
Rudian's gaze turned toward a giant who had been silently standing in the back.
"Isn't that right, Raihon?"
"......"
Raihon, a close associate under Garganta's command and a high-ranking god of thunder and lightning.
Immediately, everyone's eyes turned to Raihon.
Raihon, who had been quietly maintaining silence after fulfilling his assigned role, slowly opened his mouth toward Rudian.
"...How did you know?"
"Of course I knew. I also know that your master Garganta belongs to that group as well."
"......!"
In fact, considering Garganta's tendencies and identity, this was quite natural.
The only difference was that Garganta wasn't the leader of that group.
"I know that many organization members exist even under the Seven Great Gods' command."
"...So, what do you want from me?"
"When North or Satera moves, please persuade them to defect."
"......"
This was the only thing Rudian wanted from them.
Raihon shook his head with a heavy expression.
"It's impossible. That place has more the character of a gathering than an organization. Although upper, middle, and lower-ranking gods are mixed together evenly, it's impossible for anyone to give orders there."
That's why Garganta was also only nominally listed and couldn't become a focal point.
"Not orders, but persuasion."
But Rudian was firm.
"The fact that they belong to the Seven Great Gods' factions is merely to survive without being eliminated from heaven, not to gain promotion or enjoy power, isn't it?"
"......"
"If it's you, Raihon, you should know some of them, if not all. Since things have come to this, please put in a bit more effort."
In the original work, the Nameless Mist began moving actively only after rebelling against heaven, which failed to properly respond to the Space War in Chapter 3.
Now, since the Middle Realm hadn't been destroyed and they had successfully prevented it with relatively little damage, they were simply quiet.
"Isn't now, when Berus has gone berserk and the Seven Great Gods are divided, the most suitable time for them to move? Just like you."
"......"
Eventually, Raihon sighed and declared surrender.
"Fine. I'll try talking to them. But don't expect too much."
"That's enough."
Although Raihon said this, Rudian was certain they wouldn't be able to refuse the proposal.
After Raihon briefly left his position, the group, having finished all preparations, returned to the angels' barracks.
And there they encountered a figure who had been waiting.
"...This is the first time seeing your face."
Like Castor, the man before them was truly the owner of a massive muscular body that exuded a macho scent.
Seeing twelve wings spread wide on such a physique, anyone with fantasies about angels might doubt their eyes.
Rudian called out the name of the 'Scribe' who had emerged from the entrance with Michael.
"Metatron."
"Indeed."
An archangel who was not an archangel.
And at this point, the only living being with traces of the Creator God remaining.
The Scribe of Heaven, Metatron, faced Rudian.
***
"Welcome, one chosen by the three goddesses of fate."
Metatron extended his palm, as large as a pot lid, to Rudian.
Though it was a giant grip that could crush even an ogre in one hand, Rudian calmly grasped that hand and exchanged a handshake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Indeed."
A small smile formed on Metatron's lips.
For some reason, Metatron seemed to have some degree of favorable feelings toward Rudian, whom he was meeting for the first time.
"I heard that you, who were neutral, decided to join this matter. Is your presence here now to participate in the Creator God's temple together?"
"No."
"......"
Rudian was dumbfounded by Metatron's clean denial.
"I came here to ask you to do one thing before entering the temple."
Rudian understood those words.
In fact, Metatron had joined this side for only one reason.
"You want us to release the confinement of the three goddesses of fate."
"Correct."
The three goddesses of fate and Metatron had a relationship between gods and angels, but they shared the common point of being created by the Creator God.
If one had to express it, they were close to being siblings.
"...There's one thing I'm curious about—is that impossible even with your power?"
Metatron slowly nodded.
"The area around the space where they are confined consists of imaginary space that rejects the intrusion of all living beings. It's no different from an absolute seal that doesn't even allow dimensional movement."
Even if one were a deity, if they tried to carelessly enter that place, their entire divinity would scatter and vanish.
Metatron quietly continued.
"To head to that place, you need the power to fill that imaginary space with real space. In other words, the power to create dimensions."
"...Don't tell me?"
Rudian realized what Metatron wanted.
"Yes, the Seven-Colored World is needed."
"......"
Rudian fell into serious contemplation with a grave expression.
Other companions, finding this puzzling, asked:
"What's wrong? If it's needed, can't we just lend it?"
"It's not as simple as you think."
Metatron's requirements were 'the attribute of dimension creation' and 'power sufficient to create dimensions.'
While that attribute did exist in the Seven-Colored World that created the world, the problem was that they couldn't grasp how much power would be consumed to fill that imaginary space.
"How many are needed?"
"At least four or more are required."
Not only Rudian's but the entire group's complexion changed greatly.
The Seven-Colored World that this side currently possessed numbered five.
The problem was that needing four or more meant that four of the group's top fighters would be completely incapacitated before Heaven's Fall.
Rudian firmly shook his head.
"Not now. After everything is over... at least after defeating Berus and the Avatar of Destruction, it would be possible."
"Then it will be too late."
Metatron was equally firm.
"When you enter the Creator God's temple, Berus will certainly cover the place where the goddesses are sealed with imaginary space. If that happens, they will vanish futilely."
"......"
"Also, you should know. With only two Primordial fragments, it's impossible to completely seal the Avatar of Destruction. In the end, you'll have no choice but to use all of the Seven-Colored World."
The final Primordial fragment never appeared in the original work.
They said that a MacGuffin-like existence, described as Mars' collaborator, disappeared carrying the Primordialfragments.
"If we use four Seven-Colored Worlds, no god could fill that gap in power. Even if it were you."
This wasn't an issue that could be decided by the size of power.
No matter how much Metatron was said to be a being at the level of the Seven Great Gods, couldn't you see that he too was struggling anxiously because he couldn't use the power of creation?
"Then I'll have to take you by force."
"......!"
"Scribe! What is the meaning of this!"
Immediately, Michael from behind cried out in alarm.
At that moment, very precisely, the space where Rudian and his companions stood began to separate from the space where the other gods stood.
'Adi!'
-It's impossible! The opponent's power is too strong to prevent the dimensional severance!
It seemed... Metatron had come with this intention from the beginning.
"Scribe! Did you deceive us angels with this intention? Can you still call yourself the origin and leader of all angels?"
Michael angrily denounced Metatron.
For the first time, cracks appeared in Metatron's expression, which had maintained a stoic face until now.
"I'm sorry, Michael. My siblings are more precious to me than the world. The absolute neutrality I've maintained from the beginning was merely a means to protect those children."
WHIRRRRRR!
The space surrounding Metatron and Rudian's group began to forcibly move toward another dimension.
The other gods and archangels, who cried out in alarm, tried to use their divine power and authority to stop the movement, but... they were all blocked by Metatron's power, which he had prepared with determination, and couldn't have any significant effect.
"Metatroooon!"
"...Lady Ruura."
And the only one who could stop this situation, the Seven Great Gods' Ruura, appeared belatedly.
"This damn sister complex bastard! I thought something felt fishy, and here you are stabbing us in the back!"
"I'm sorry. But this matter won't be so bad for them either. Please proceed with your plan as scheduled."
"I can clearly see what you're thinking right now... Stop it immediately!"
CRACK!
When Ruura began to take action in earnest, cracks quickly began to appear in Metatron's formidable barrier.
"It's too late."
"...Damn it."
"If you hadn't left to persuade Garganta, you could have stopped it. But..."
Ruura's judgment in noticing the abnormality here and quickly returning was certainly correct.
It's just that Metatron stabbed at that gap very precisely.
Rudian gritted his teeth.
'Adi, if I attack Metatron now, can we escape?'
-The opponent's preparation is too thorough. If you rashly engage in battle now, there's a high possibility of being bounced to a dimension with unknown coordinates. If it were just Master alone, somehow returning would be possible, but...
If the companions here were scattered to unknown places, everything would end up ruined.
'So we have no choice but to be dragged along now.'
Among the materials Rudian had distributed to his companions, Metatron's profiling was certainly included.
However, since he never thought they would fight Metatron like this, it was just pushed back in priority.
WHOOSH!
Eventually, Rudian and his companions disappeared somewhere along with Metatron.
***
The place where Metatron kidnapped Rudian and his group and arrived was... unexpectedly, a familiar-looking place.
It was a place reminiscent of the lunar base that Elli had previously created, with the difference being that a satellite similar to the moon was emanating a strong presence nearby.
"My sisters are sealed within that moon."
Metatron said to Rudian and his group, who were collecting themselves.
"Though the situation has become like this... let me apologize in advance."
"This bastard..."
The honorifics immediately disappeared from Rudian's speech.
"Yeah, thanks to you, the situation has become this twisted, so you'd better be prepared."
"......"
Luciella, Maria, Gray, Elvin, Evangeline.
Except for Gray, the rest of the Seven-Colored World holders also began emanating their full power without hiding their anger.
Nevertheless, Metatron calmly received the group's momentum.
"If you lose, please obediently release my sisters' seal."
"If we win? What can you give us besides your life?"
Gray, whose mood had soured, jeered at Metatron.
But unexpectedly, Metatron, who they thought would remain silent, opened his mouth.
"Information."
"......?"
"As a kind of advance payment, let me tell you a little in advance. The reason Berus could break the Creator God's rules and twist causality."
"......!"
At that moment, Rudian gained a reason why he absolutely had to defeat Metatron.
"It's because he possesses one of the fragments split from the machine god Deus: 'Eden.'"