Making Saula Repent (2)
In truth, I am the least among the apostles, unworthy to be called one, for I persecuted the believers of Deus.
Yet by the grace of Lord Luke I became what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain—for I labored more than all the apostles, but it was not I; it was the grace of Lord Luke that was with me.
Saula Dracania…
The final boss of Part 1 in Deus ex Machina, and…
The continent's worst monster, forged by the divine beings of Chaos.
At the time of Part 1, she faced off against the world's top-tier powerhouses all at once—and not only held her ground, but seized the advantage. A monster among monsters.
As the proxy for the evil gods of Chaos who sought to dominate this continent, she plunged countless players and the entire land into despair, etching herself deep into the minds of Deus ex Machina users as an unforgettable villain.
Thanks to the protagonist and his companions' tremendous efforts, they managed to temporarily seal her away in another dimension. But she was a force no one on the continent could match.
Of course, that was the version of her three years later, fully "perfected" by the evil gods of Chaos. She's not quite that overpowering yet…
Even so, just seeing her now, radiating her full aura, makes my legs tremble.
—Deus? …Deus! Such is it. You lot serve a god as well!
Her fury ignites at the mere mention of Deus's name.
"Guh! W-what is this?"
"All hands, defensive formation! She's beyond specs—prioritize protecting the young master!"
The Perseino knights and soldiers spring into action to shield me.
A spherical barrier of qi forms from the energy flowing out from the phalanx they've created.
"Glory to Perseino!"
"""For Perseino!"""
The northern knights and soldiers, forged in harsh training, infuse their shields with qi as readily as their swords.
And the collective barrier they weave together boasts defensive strength beyond imagination—durable enough to repel even the Chaos hordes spilling from the north.
But…
…No good.
They're the sturdy elite knights and soldiers of the north, but they won't stand a chance against her.
No matter that the evil gods haven't yet finished tempering her—she's still a proxy crafted by multiple divinities in collaboration.
No ordinary human can withstand her.
Krraaang!
"Urk, aaagh!"
With a mere sweep of Saula's hand, the barrier tears apart like paper.
The knights and soldiers who've been with me since childhood are flung back, covered in blood.
"Guh… Y-young… master…"
"You must flee, young master! Use it, now!"
The artifact my mother gave me before I left for the academy: Zana's Life.
A rare artifact storing a spell that teleports the user—once only—to wherever they consider "home," no matter where they are.
Essentially a spare life.
But it only works for one person: the user. No one else can come along.
So those fighting desperately to protect me can't join. And with Saula harboring that level of hostility, they'll all die by her hand.
—Young master. Written any books today?
—Haha. No need to worry, young master. We're northern warriors—these wounds'll heal in no time.
—Young master! Today's rations are beef stew!—Hey, you fool! Like the young master would eat with the likes of us!
—Young master, I'm no scholar, so I don't know much about books. But this much I can tell: that fantasy you wrote? It ain't ordinary. Someday, the books you create might shake the whole continent.
Hans. Dave. Daryl. Baru. Bai. Bolt. Adei. Shawn. Everyone.
I can't just let them die like this.
Godslayer, Paola Dracania.
It's terrifying, but…
I won't run away.
I stepped out through the fallen knights.
Toward Saula Dracania.
"Y-young master?"
"No, young master! You must escape!"
—Hm? Young master?
I had no talent for swordsmanship. Or magic. Or anything.
But years after arriving in this world, on my fifteenth birthday, I awakened my Gift.
Not a combat type, and it always activated on its own whim—I'd never controlled it as I wished.
But right now, it's the only thing I can rely on.
It's always been a mess before.
Just this once.
Work properly just this once!
I reached Saula Dracania, right before her.
Ignoring the terror urging me to look away, I stared at her and unleashed my Gift with desperate resolve.
Please!
Rumble…
A massive bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky onto her.
Stunned by the destructive power I'd never seen before, I squeezed my eyes shut.
I'd steeled myself, and now this?!
Crack!
The chaotic clamor of battle around me… fell silent.
As if time itself had stopped.
I cracked my eyes open and glanced back. Everything had frozen: swords mid-air, knights and soldiers locked in place, floating debris of sand and wood from the fight.
Time really stopped.
Did my Gift do this?
If everyone's time is frozen, should I grab the knights and soldiers and get out of here?
—…Human. Was this your doing?
A chilling voice from behind.
Saula Dracania!
What?! Time didn't stop for her?!
Why is she fine?! My Gift is seriously messed up!
I stiffly turned my rigid-with-fear neck toward Saula.
—How did you do it? You stopped time. You… Are you truly a god in human guise?
No, just an ordinary human.
—A power forbidden to mortals… No, not even the divinities could work such a miracle. What are you?!
What am I? Well… It seems like my Gift did this, but… It's so capricious.
—In this moment, my body is frozen, but my mind and senses—sight, smell, taste—are not. Do you mean to torment me with despair? Answer!
Ah, I get it!
Saula's body is frozen! That's why she hasn't attacked!
…Wait.
Then!
"Excuse me. Let me try something."
I shoved aside Hans, who had frozen mid-leap to shield me, and faced Saula directly.
"Saula Dracania."
!!!
—…You know my name?
"Yes, Saula. Poor soul who lost the happy fate that should have been yours, due to the whims of Chaos's evil gods."
—…H-how? You are a divinity… I'll kill you. I'll tear you apart, you repulsive god!
I'd expected backlash, but not this intense.
For someone whose life was ruined by divinities, it's understandable.
Stay calm.
She can't harm me right now.
Calm down…
"Saula. Why would you seek to harm me and my warriors?"
—Because those scum serve a god! Every divinity on this continent must be eradicated. Filthy manipulators who twist mortals' lives to their whims— they have no right to exist!
"You decry divinities who bend mortals to their will, yet why follow the intentions of Chaos's gods? They stole your life and cast you into despair's pit."
—I know. Those bastards stole what was rightfully mine… But right now, their support aids my godslaying. And once I no longer need them… I'll rip them apart too.
"Saula, Saula. Do I seem like one who would arbitrarily twist mortals' lives?"
—…What? What nonsense is this? Just look at those fools ready to die for you. You've manipulated their lives—for your sake, sacrificing them.
"If I truly were such a being…"
I pressed my forehead to Saula's.
"Then I would offer my own neck to you myself."
—What?
"But if not… then I wish for you to live not as a tool for evil gods, but as the ordinary dragon Saula."
Feeling the warmth of her forehead, I activated an artifact from my spatial pocket.
Just as with last year's incident, hoping it would resolve this too.
—…Impossible. Is it… truly? You… no, you would do this for the world…? Then what have I been… until now…