Chapter 123
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The End of the Grudge
"When we get to the capital, can you watch Solaris for a little while, Linian?"
"I really, really hate to admit it, but honestly, I can't beat him."
"You don't need to beat him. From what those guys were saying when they retreated earlier, it looks like they're planning to sacrifice people in the capital. We'll handle the two Underground Vermin. Solaris is sure to be there too, so you take him."
"No way! Do you think I've lived for thousands of years just dreaming of tearing those Underground Vermin bastards apart?! I'm the one who's going to kill them! After I kill them, I can help you take down Solaris!"
Linian started throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child.
She had so many grudges built up that killing the Underground Vermin seemed to be her top priority.
As our greatest source of firepower, her strength had to be used exactly where it was needed most.
No one else but her could pin down Solaris even a little, neither in raw power nor physical ability, so I tried hard to persuade her. But Linian insisted on killing the Underground Vermin with her own hands.
In the end, it was Luna who changed her mind.
"Linian, I beg you too. They outnumber us, so we're at a disadvantage in terms of forces. You have to block Solaris. If he takes to the skies, you're the only one who can follow. Alvis's abilities have limits when it comes to flight."
At Luna's words, Linian's expression flipped completely, and she switched into obedient daughter mode.
"R-Really? Is that so? Heh, if even Mom trusts and relies on me that much, what choice do I have? You guys should consider yourselves lucky! It's not just anyone—it's Liniaras herself granting your request!"
"What a mama's girl."
"What did you say!?"
Lunarin, who had been following us in her spirit form, circled around Linian with a laugh.
"Anyway, I was really shocked, Linian. You used to hate and look down on humans so much, but now you're traveling with one and even lending him your power. Weren't elves the only ground-dwellers you acknowledged? Have I lived too long? Even though I'm dead."
"Th-That's because this guy saved my dying ass, and he partially restored my original body when I couldn't even return to it because of those Underground Vermin bastards... I'm just repaying the favor, not because I like humans!"
"Heh, is that right? Back in the day, if a human talked to you like that, you wouldn't have hesitated a second to rip their head off their shoulders. Guess you've mellowed with age?"
"I haven't!"
Lunarin flew over to my side and circled around me, inspecting me from every angle.
"This is getting burdensome."
"Hmm... I was just curious what kind of human has our Linian acting like this. Especially since Mom trusts him enough to entrust her power to him. And he's a human, of all the greedy races."
"So, has your curiosity been satisfied?"
"Well, to some extent. When I was absorbed into your body earlier, I got a rough sense of what kind of person you are. Entrusting Mom's power to you shouldn't cause any serious problems."
At Lunarin's assessment, Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis puffed up with pride for no reason and pressed close to me from both sides and behind.
I tightly gripped their hands as we rode Bifrost all the way near the capital of the Andras Empire. That's when we saw Solaris flying through the skies above the capital, spewing flames.
Black-red smoke was rising from various spots in the city, suggesting the Underground Vermin were activating that ritual again.
The problem was, unlike the Aguster Shelter, the capital was a metropolis with a population of ten million.
Judging by the size of the areas with black-red smoke, they didn't have time to cover the entire capital with the ritual, so they were targeting specific districts. Even that alone made it a dire situation.
"That bastard Solaris...!"
Seeing Solaris soaring through the sky and raining fire on the ground below, Linian unfurled her draconic wings.
After absorbing Lunarin, my divinity had grown even stronger, allowing Linian to reclaim more of her dragon form.
Her wings were now much larger than before, extending past her arms to her legs and tail, with blue serpentine eyes and scales sprouting across her body.
It was a shame she was losing her pretty human looks and turning half-reptilian bit by bit, but as long as she didn't go all out, she could stay in human form normally...
While I was lost in such pointless thoughts for a moment, Linian spread her massively enlarged wings and shot straight toward Solaris. Spirit Lunarin stuck close to her side and flew along.
"I'll go help Linian. Mom, everyone, handle the ground."
"I'll finish this as fast as I can, Linian. Then we'll block Solaris together."
"I can't hold out long! Don't be late! Solaris, you bastaaard!!!"
After Linian rocketed into the sky, I spread my translucent wings again and landed on the ground with the others.
Bastol and Dantalion, who had been preparing the ritual on the ground, spotted me and assumed combat stances.
In front of them was...
'Brayden?'
It was Brayden, the first time I'd seen him since graduation day.
He looked like he'd already tangled with the Underground Vermin, and from his condition, it seemed he'd been thoroughly beaten.
Ravi, Elfin, and Lenis each glanced at Brayden once, but Celine—uniquely among us—either didn't notice him or was deliberately ignoring him, staring straight ahead without so much as a look his way.
"You bastard... Holy Warrior...!!!"
"H-Holy Warrior...?"
I heard the voice of Brayden, collapsed and battered, mumbling from behind.
For a brief moment, Celine turned at the sound of his voice.
I could see her expression, and it was chilling—utterly cold, devoid of any emotion.
If there hadn't been two enemies right in front of us, I was certain Celine would have drawn her sword and stabbed Brayden on the spot.
After a quick glance at Brayden, Celine deliberately sidled up to me and hooked her arm through mine.
"Al... vis..."
Brayden, mumbling, finally passed out. I drew my Light Saber and faced the Underground Vermin.
"You lunatics. Were you planning to kill all ten million citizens of the capital? That's over now. We're not letting you escape anymore. Let's end this right here."
Thanks to my interruption causing the ritual to fail, the citizens who were meant to be sacrifices barely escaped with their lives and fled far away.
The two Underground Vermin glared at me fiercely as they prepared their dark sorcery and magic.
"Holy Warrior... Because of you, nothing has gone right for us in the past year. Fine, we were getting fed up with you too. We'll finish you off here for good."
"You're definitely much stronger than when we clashed at the cathedral. It was our mistake not to realize that. But that also means we have intel on you now! It won't be easy for us either, but it's not unwinnable!"
"Is that so? Looks like you two need to rethink your so-called learning abilities."
"......?"
The extent of my power that the Underground Vermin had witnessed was up to the point after I absorbed Luna at the cathedral.
However, a few hours ago at the Aguster Shelter, after absorbing spirit Lunarin once more, I'd powered up again.
The issue was that those two hadn't seen it—they'd been busy fighting Ravi, Elfin, Lenis, and Celine.
In their memories, I was frozen at the state right after escaping the cathedral, so they probably thought they had a shot...
"Not unwinnable? Then let's test that claim for real!"
I unleashed my power, sharing the divinity within me with the others.
A golden aura matching the color of my wings emanated from the four combatants and even Luna, the non-combatant.
The others, except Luna, looked down at their bodies in wonder at the unfamiliar power.
The Underground Vermin, having defiled and absorbed the goddess's divinity for thousands of years, instantly recognized its origin the moment I released my ability and widened their eyes.
"Th-This is... divinity... H-How? It's way bigger than before!"
"Impossible! The others have some semblance of divinity too! Did you share it with them? And you still have this much left..."
"Guess Solaris didn't fill you in? Makes sense—after betraying even the Creator, he couldn't risk you turning on him if you knew the truth. Hah!"
As soon as I finished speaking, I swung my Light Saber.
The blade of light slashed across the earth toward the Underground Vermin. Dantalion, closer to the front, extended a black arm covered in dozens of eyes to block it, but...
"Ugh... Grk...! C-Can't... block it..."
"Dodge to the side! I'll distort its trajectory!"
"No, you won't!"
As Bastol stepped forward to cast his spell, Ravi charged in like lightning and kicked him square in the gut.
Until moments ago, they'd only been able to inflict limited damage on Bastol's black form, turning the fight into a drawn-out slog. But now, the moment her kick landed, a sizzling sound erupted from his abdomen, and his black body began burning as if seared by fire.
"Gah... Graaaah!!!"
Elfin's arrows, Lenis's magic, and Celine's sword beams followed, cornering the Underground Vermin in seconds.
Watching the panicking vermin flounder, I thrust my Light Saber forward.
"Had enough time to reflect on your pathetic learning abilities? While you're at it, leave some last words. Not that anyone will hear them."