Humans Fighting Gods
Gold was exceedingly polite.
The number of times he had ever sworn could be counted on one hand, and he had never uttered a double curse in his life. In most cases, he believed a person's words defined their dignity.
But right now... he could not hold back the profanity no matter how hard he tried.
He unleashed his killing intent without restraint and leveled a spear of lightning—more powerful than ever before—at Nanar.
El... while she possessed a reputation as high as Gold's, she was not someone who rarely showed anger. She knew how to handle people and would get angry when necessary. Yet she had never revealed such murderous intent before.
She didn't speak a word.
She saved even the time it would take to talk, focusing entirely on her light orbs. Pillars of light coiled around El's body as tens of thousands of luminous spheres poured out, clustering together to form dozens of miniature suns.
The lightning spear Gold created was so overwhelming that it made the hair on everyone's heads stand on end from below. It was as ferocious as thunder and lightning ripping horizontally across the sky. The light and lightning drove mercilessly into Nanar, who was smiling slyly.
"Brother...!"
At the same time, he used the lightning spear to shield Dre perfectly. He had been prepared for this. When the preliminary participants who had escaped told him that he had stayed behind alone for their sake, he had felt a vague anxiety even while trusting in his brother's strength.
But... no way. Like that... like that...!
Both arms and both legs, severed. They weren't clean cuts but brutally destroyed, the lengths of the stumps uneven, which only amplified the misery. The rage made his vision spin.
The lightning did not cease. Crackle. Crackle. With every strike, new spears formed, burning Nanar's world again and again.
El's suns manifested without pause, firing like vulcan cannons to crush Nanar. The flower garden and butterflies burned and scattered. The chirping birds melted away and vanished.
Taking advantage of that opening, pitch-black darkness coiled around Dre. From the passage drilled through Nanar's space, Alfred was extending his body. He narrowed his eyes, attempting to lift Dre from below, when—
"That's not allowed."
"!"
A voice burrowed into his mind and he lost control. Dre, who had risen a full meter, slammed back to the ground with a heavy thud. El's eyes blazed with fury.
"What the hell are you doing!! I told you to handle him with care!!"
The words were far too rude to direct at an instructor, but Alfred simply accepted them. It was difficult to call El normal right now. And... as if by magic, the lightning and light orbs were erased. The heaven was restored as he stared at it.
What in the world is that? It ignores the laws of Runar and mana, even the vital energy that flows through the world itself.
Alfred was at a loss for words. Before entering this place, he had tried to get the full story from the preliminary participants. But they had only said they couldn't remember, and it didn't seem like they were lying.
The exceptions were the Hero's companions and Rafnir. The Hero's companions claimed the monster inside had erased everyone's memories except Dre's before sending them out. Rafnir had thrown a fit, screaming how dare they call that person a monster.
That person.
And... erasing memories.
The various senses of incongruity he had felt until now merged with Alfred's long-held wish, leading him to a single conclusion.
"...A god?"
"What are you babbling about? Hurry up and rescue him."
Blurt spoke in a grave tone. He never imagined Dre would end up in such a state. The best course was to save him and escape this place immediately.
"Hmm..."
Nanar let out an intrigued hum. He had intended to restore every broken section of space, yet that gaping hole refused to mend. It was likely due to the attacks from Gold and El, who had momentarily awakened.
Not bad at all.
It was an assault fierce enough to make even Nanar—who stood on a completely different level from Poseid—flinch.
There doesn't seem to be any divine energy, yet it affects me... Oh. Is this thanks to the legacy of Pryunar?
Pryunar's legacy. The bloodlines of the Ten Heroes, their artifacts—everything had been left behind by him. His power was clearly distinct from divine strength, yet it possessed the ability to disrupt a god's authority. As descendants of the Ten Heroes carrying Pryunar's energy, they posed a genuine threat to Nanar as well.
Ahahaha. I had guessed he would be insanely strong after erasing the memories of every deity and returning to the original world, but just what kind of being was he?
While Nanar laughed with leisure, the preliminary participants stepped into the space as well. Having been expelled once and lost their memories of Nanar, they felt a strong sense of unease the moment they returned.
"...Ah, ah...! I remember now!"
"They said they would only talk...!"
As they entered Nanar's domain, the forgotten memories began resurfacing. At the same time, fury and betrayal surged within them.
"Damn it. This is no different from that Poseid bastard from before!"
"They called him the chief god... Was it all a lie?"
At the words of Trulim and Rigel, a shrill shriek erupted from behind them. It was none other than Rafnir.
"You blasphemous wretches! How dare you spout such nonsense...!"
Ignoring her completely, I-pung stepped forward.
"W-wait. You're seriously going down there?"
Bulgeo's eyes widened in terror.
"Then are we supposed to just abandon our benefactor?"
"N-no, that's not..."
In truth, he had tried to flee much earlier. But moving alone through the Sea God's Cave—which had transformed into a grotesque sea just moments before—required immense courage. He had chosen the safety of staying with the group.
Fuck! I should have slipped away when we were still close to the entrance!
From the atmosphere, it looked like everyone intended to fight. Their bravery was likely bolstered by the fact that, unlike the water monster from before, this being—whether chief god or monster—currently emanated a calm aura.
Until then Alfred had remained frozen in shock. Unable to watch any longer, Blurt shouted.
"Alfred! Get a hold of yourself!"
He summoned all manner of mechanical familiars with that single rebuke. Alfred snorted in response. Soon, a vast darkness began to engulf Nanar's space.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Good, you're awake. Everyone else ready?"
Behind Blurt stood the Hero's Party. Aside from Mari, who still looked completely out of it, Scholar and Raeband nodded.
"Just so you know, that is an existence humans cannot hope to contend with. Without Kaits, we cannot even put up a fight."
"Yet the students seem to be doing quite well."
"...That one is special."
Pryunar's legacy. Instead of saying it aloud, Scholar extended a mechanical arm from behind his back. Blurt's eyes sparkled with interest. He couldn't say it now, but in truth Scholar had once given him inspiration...
"What are you dawdling for? I'm going in first!"
Raeband shouted and leaped down without hesitation. Their first priority was rescuing Dre. They had no idea how long Nanar could remain manifested, but he surely wouldn't stay forever.
Unlike Poseid, Nanar is taking the 'Race' seriously. He'll have to return to the divine realm soon.
The preliminary participants' fighting spirit blazed at Raeband's resolute plunge.
"Screw it, let's go!"
"Move! Even if we have to run, we take our benefactor with us!"
The preliminary participants began to move.
Or rather, they tried to.
"You insects don't know your place, do you?"
"......?"
"......!"
No one had blinked. No visible phenomenon had occurred. Yet most of them had collapsed with a thud. Even Alfred and Blurt—Pryunar Academy instructors who might have been stronger than Dre—were no exception.
Nanar didn't spare a glance for those whose eyes bulged in shock. Before a god, any difference in level below a certain threshold was meaningless. At best, Raeband and Scholar had only fallen to their knees, panting, but they were in no condition to move.
Is this... a 'Stage'?! No... or is Nanar simply that overwhelmingly powerful...?
While Scholar trembled inwardly, Nanar spoke in a bored tone.
"This is getting dull~"
"...You— you!!"
Alfred reached out toward Nanar. His long-cherished wish—if that being truly was a god, he had far too many questions. He couldn't remain like a fool here. As Alfred forced himself up, Nanar looked slightly surprised before offering a faint smile.
"Hehe... You have questions for me?"
"How dare you!"
Boom!
Rafnir slammed down on Alfred as he tried to crawl forward. She wanted to kill every single one of these people who dared defy the chief god's will. Alfred wanted to shove the insane woman away, but neither his body nor his Runar would obey.
Nanar simply laughed. Overcoming such immense power to stand again was interesting, but watching him be crushed while unable to do anything would be entertaining too. If he couldn't accomplish anything here, then to Nanar he was nothing more than a human of that caliber.
"Rafnir~ Could you watch those children for me?"
"I shall gladly accept this mission, oh God!!"
At that moment, El and Gold—who had briefly halted their attacks to rescue Dre—had their eyes gleam with renewed purpose.
"Where do you think you're looking!!"
"Die."
A barrage of annihilating blasts poured down on Nanar, who had let his attention wander for a split second.
"Wow, how pretty."
Watching the projectiles blanket the sky, Nanar clapped his hands before suddenly turning his palms forward.
"But unfortunately."
"!"
"!!"
Two golden hands shot forward and seized El and Gold by their throats.
"Your attributes really don't mesh well with mine, do they?"
Whether it was light or lightning, nothing held meaning before him who illuminated all creation.
Even if they can damage me, this makes it much harder to take the hits. So temporary awakening only goes this far?
Nanar let out a disappointed sigh.
And then...
"What about me?"
"...Aha. Meiyal."
Before anyone realized, Meiyal had appeared directly in front of Nanar, her fist clenched tightly. She gazed at Dre in the distance. Her face twisted as though she might cry, and pink Runar began swirling violently from her tightly gripped fist.
"Oh?"
The instant he thought this is rather impressive, a heavy fist slammed into Nanar's solar plexus.
Crack!!
"Khha..."
Papapapat. Nanar was sent flying backward, tearing through the flower garden.
Boom! Boom!
Seizing the opportunity, light orbs and lightning rained down on Nanar once more. Sunlight naturally blocked the incoming projectiles.
It was a strike intense enough to surprise even Nanar, yet it also raised a question.
Didn't she exhaust all her power? Didn't she use everything while fighting Poseid earlier?
The question arose as he looked at Meiyal. In truth, it was something Meiyal herself found bewildering. The power she had believed completely spent had surged back up in rage the moment she saw Deuret's condition.
Runar was a power difficult to explain in words. It could amplify according to emotional upheaval as much as one wished, yet... could emotional upheaval alone generate Runar this powerful?
It doesn't matter.
If I can beat this bastard to death right in front of me!!
Meiyal clenched her fist once more. Gold and El harbored the exact same thought.
El looked at Nanar—more precisely, at Makia's face within the golden light.
That woman... it seems she's merely being controlled.
El didn't know Makia's face despite knowing her name, but she could tell the girl was a separate entity from Nanar. But what did that matter? Seeing her like this made her an accomplice, and even if she wasn't, there was no way to save her now. They would sweep everything away at once.
El judged that minor attacks would be useless and gathered every last scrap of Runar both inside and outside her body. Flames of rage blazed wildly in her eyes.
Gold instinctively realized that only an attack at the cost of his life would reach Nanar. He thought of everyone who followed him. Then he glanced upward at Refelt, who was still holding back on his orders. The reason he always had to remain composed was to serve as an example and reassurance for those who followed him. This life was not his alone—it existed for the sake of his precious people as well.
But... after seeing my most precious brother's horrific state, must I still remain cold? Must I value this life?
The answer had already been decided.
"Not a chance!!"
"You seem like you'd have the weakest mentality~"
"!"
The moment he resolved himself, Nanar fired something. It was the authority of a mad god—madness that induced mental destruction.
The Ten Great Families are born with mental fortitude, receive training, and are protected by artifacts.
That was why it was difficult for them to go mad. But Gold was slightly different. Therefore, if anyone could be broken, he would be the perfect candidate.
The madness soon engulfed Gold's body.
"Insignificant!"
Bang!
A spark erupted with Gold's shout, shattering the light of mental destruction. Though it had been only an instant, it felt as if he had endured years of torment, yet Gold's rage showed no sign of fading.
Gold then extended his hand. The bracelet on his arm...
"An artifact? That's still not something you can handle..."
Then Nanar realized. The artifact had not been something Gold carried—it had been summoned by his fury.
"Hiyaa..."
Evaluation completely revised. This man was far angrier than the two raging girls, and by far the most dangerous.
Crackle, cracklecrackle!!!!
The bracelet transformed into lightning as geometric patterns floated in the air. A power gathered that even made Nanar's eyes widen.
"A power still far beyond you, isn't it?"
Indeed, Gold's arm was already cracking and splintering under the lightning force he could not fully control.
"Your arm will fly off at this rate?"
"It's a cheap price."
Boom!
The instant one of Gold's arms completely shattered, the smallest yet most absurdly powerful lightning spear shot forth. Nanar assumed a defensive stance for the first time...
Ziiing!!
A thick laser slammed into Nanar's abdomen. The beam, powerful enough to collapse the Sea God's Cave itself, only managed to make Nanar's body sway slightly. El wore a triumphant smile.
At the same time, Meiyal's tightly clenched fist targeted Nanar. The mad god's eyes sparkled at the 'Rise' contained within that punch.
"It would hurt if all of that landed. I admit it."
The mad god raised both hands and spoke playfully before bursting into laughter.
"So I'll dodge."
Whoosh.
As if teleporting, Nanar vanished. Meiyal's fist and Gold's arrow cut through empty air. Nanar reappeared and seized Meiyal by the throat.
"There we go~ Playtime is over~"
"Not yet."
Crackle!
"Huh?"
The lightning arrow suddenly disappeared, only to flash directly beside Nanar's temple.
He twisted causality?
It was a feat so ridiculous it nearly drew a dumbfounded laugh. Gold possessed talent beyond imagination. Nanar therefore raised his opposite arm and caught the lightning spear.
"!!"
It was impossible. That attack should have pierced straight through—how had he caught it? Gold had felt the spear slow down right before impact, and that sensation had been accurate.
"Don't you think gods are better at using time and causality?"
"Kuk...!"
El's eyes widened, but she was soon slammed to the ground by descending light. Gold suffered the same fate. Being able to resist did not mean they could win. There was an overwhelming gap between Nanar and the three of them.
"Now then, one thing I'm curious about."
Crack!
"Huh?"
In the eyes of Nanar, who had spoken in a mischievous voice, appeared Gold attempting to rise using his severed arm and his remaining one. Blood overflowed from the crushed stump. It must have been excruciatingly painful, yet Gold showed no sign of it as he struggled to stand. El was the same. It should have been difficult for her to rise, yet she bit her lip and tried to create more light orbs. She despised herself for failing to protect the man she loved and whipped herself even harder. If only she had her original body... she would have been able to stand. If only she had her original body, Dre might have shown her more interest. The sealed young body felt unbearably hateful all over again.
"Magnificent."
Clap. Clap clap.
Golden arms sprouted from behind and applauded. Nanar looked moved, tears even welling in his eyes.
"Awakening and desperate struggle for the sake of precious people. Ahh... how truly wonderful!"
"Eek!"
Meiyal thrashed wildly. She concentrated pink Runar to try twisting the wrist gripping her neck, but it wouldn't budge. She loathed the being before her with every fiber of her being, yet the helplessness of being unable to do anything was driving her insane.
"Anger and loss make excellent ingredients for madness."
Grinning, Nanar stared into Meiyal's eyes. Looking at her rage, he had an utterly ecstatic idea.
"You like Dre, don't you? What a coincidence! I actually like him quite a lot too!"
He then made an expression utterly unbecoming of a god—lewd and obscene—and said,
"If I mate with Dre right in front of you, how do you think you and Dre would react?"
El ground her teeth audibly. Meiyal glared with eyes fiercer than she had ever shown before. Satisfied by their reactions, Nanar added,
"Or, if you all die here, do you think Dre will cry?"
Squeeze.
Power flowed into the gripping hand. With causality and time aligned, no one could interfere...
Fwoosh.
"......"
Blankly, Nanar watched the man rolling on the floor like a maggot. He wasn't raising any power at all. He was simply watching.
But why—
If I continue like this, it feels like everything will be ruined?
What was this feeling? Nanar sensed ruin emanating from that man. Therefore, he wanted to keep going. Just what was about to happen that gave him this sensation?
In the 0.01 seconds it took for that thought to form, Nanar resolved to snap Meiyal's neck, when—
Thud.
"Ah."
He let out a stupid sound upon seeing the man who had appeared before his eyes. The human who twisted both time and causality. The one and only man who could be said to have surpassed the gods.
Crack!
Nanar's wrist bent at a comical angle. Thud. Meiyal was dropped to the floor and coughed violently, but there was no time to pay attention to her. A golden hand rose in a playful salute.
"Wow! My contractor!"
Nanar greeted him nonchalantly... yet he was more tense than he had ever been.
Hmm... I didn't expect him to arrive here so soon.
Before Nanar's eyes stood the hero. Hero Kaits gazed at the chief god—his own contractor—with eyes colder than they had ever been.