Demigod.
There were many beings in the Three Thousand Worlds that bore the na of a demigod, but this race was among the more peculiar ones.
Though grouped together under the umbrella of a single race, each individual's characteristics were highly unique. Not only their traits and habits but also their weaknesses and abilities varied greatly. It would not be an exaggeration to consider every one of them a mutation.
Just before coming here, Residue had delved deeper into the powers that they possessed. He could use the powers of all the demigods that had ever existed. Functionally, at least.
However, he was far from mastering them completely, and several unresolved issues remained.
Not only did he still lack a proper grasp of the power of space, but among the other powers as well, there were so that suited him and others that did not.
This was what one might call aptitude.
Throughout history, the total number of demigods that had existed was 127. Each of them wielded a different power, aning that Residue could theoretically use 127 different powers. Barring a few exceptions, these powers could not be ranked in terms of superiority or inferiority based on their inherent qualities alone.
For instance, aside from Ricky, the demigod of the sword, there had been other demigods who wielded weapons as their power. However, only Ricky had honed his power to the extre, developing it to a level where he could stand against Lord, who possessed the power of space.
…The most important factor was proficiency.
The powers of a demigod belonged to a category of strength that held imnse potential even from a cosmic perspective.
And in this, Residue had discovered an interesting fact.
Beings who had mastered at least one power completely.
—The Absolutes.
Were they not quite similar to the Lords?
'One hundred and twenty-seven.'
Residue repeated the number in his mind.
Lukas had never intentionally delved deeply into the power of the demigods.
As he lived his life, he had gained the power of divine magic and wielded several other abilities even in his days as an Absolute, but ultimately, they had only served as nourishnt for the study of magicology. ŕÁƝ𝘰𝖇ΕＳ
Residue’s path was different.
He wanted to fully understand and make his own all the powers the demigods had possessed.
And the complete understanding Residue spoke of was on an entirely different level than that of the demigods.
If he could elevate his mastery to the level he desired— then Residue would beco a Lord with at least 127 powers.
*
[...So are you now a Lord with one hundred and twenty-seven powers?]
"You could see it that way."
As he closed the distance to the tentacle tree, they exchanged a brief conversation. The topic mostly revolved around Residue’s strength and combat capabilities.
Residue knew that the Lightning God was either already eavesdropping on this information he was spewing or would soon find out about it.
So what.
He didn’t particularly care. In fact, he thought this made things fairer. Residue knew everything about the Lightning God, whereas the latter knew nothing about him. The Lightning God might scoff at the idea, but from Residue’s perspective, they were now equals.
anwhile, Retip was well aware that there had never been a single Lord in history who possessed 127 powers. Moreover, the opponent in question was soone who had once stood at the pinnacle of the Absolutes. He would not simply be soone who could use 127 powers. He might be sothing far greater, perhaps the equivalent of 127 Lords combined into one.
However.
[Even so, that’s still far from enough to fight that thing.]
"Kukuk."
Residue let out a sinister chuckle.
"You really are a useful guy."
[What do you an by that?]
"A Lord like you is rare. Soone who can acknowledge the strength of an existence that is not a Ruler. It ans your mind is at least a little flexible."
[…]
"But that alone is not enough. You need experience. And for that, I inevitably need to explain the next step. Retip, what do you think our chances are of winning against that tentacle tree?"
[If I load as much hope into my estimation as possible… maybe about 0.0001 percent.]
That was actually more generous than expected.
It was proof that Retip held him in quite high regard.
"Considering the synergy we can generate, I suppose that sounds about right. Against Destruction, that’s the inevitable result."
[So, what will you do? Are you willing to stake your life on that minuscule chance?]
"……."
As the distance to their destination steadily decreased, the tentacles’ attacks grew fiercer. One by one, grotesque manifestations of Destruction, which had been lurking unseen until now, began to reveal themselves. They resembled insects trying to protect their queen, though whether these creatures actually possessed such instincts was unknown.
Residue swung Resod, tearing them apart. Tszzt. In the wake of the sweeping sword wind, pale lightning lingered like shimring heat waves.
"You don’t need to risk your life. I alone am enough to take the gamble in this fight."
That was sothing Residue had emphasized from the mont he explained the plan.
[Then let ask sothing else. Is your swordsmanship also a power of the demigods? It doesn’t seem like ordinary swordsmanship.]
"You could say that."
[Can’t you give a definite answer?]
"You’re so picky… Fine. The power I am currently focusing on is connected to your first question."
The first question, about the 127 powers?
[Then it must be the power of a demigod enhanced with lightning.]
"The opposite. Originally, I used lightning as the base and employed the powers of the demigods as supplentary tools, utilizing them as needed in battle. But I’ve decided to stop. It’s beco a hassle."
[What do you an?]
"Thinking while fighting doesn’t suit my nature."
Suddenly, Residue wore a sorrowful expression.
"Do you know, Reti-reti? This body of mine carries several curses. No matter how extraordinary soone may be, if they attempt to possess or get entangled with , they will end up rolling miserably in the filth. Additionally, I develop an excessive tendency to be overly cautious about everything."
[…….]
"There are a few other curses, but I’ll explain those another ti… The point is, deliberate thinking before action doesn’t suit . So from now on, I’ve decided to act first and think later."
Act first and think later.
This would beco Residue’s new guiding principle.
"I will apply lightning to all the abilities of the demigods. Lightning hotter than fire, lightning sharper than the wind, lightning colder than ice… Even the blade I wield will be coated in lightning, and instead of reading the past or future, I will replace it with flashes of inspiration striking like a bolt in my mind. The sa goes for space. You saw how my movents left traces of lightning behind, didn’t you?"
[Yes.]
"I can move as fast as lightning. I’m thinking of calling it Flash of Lightning. What do you think?"
[That sounds a bit outdated.]
"That, too, is one of my wretched curses."
[Besides, lightning isn’t actually that fast.]
"That’s a very Absolute-like perspective. I take back what I said about you being open-minded."
[…….]
There was a reason why he hadn’t fought like this until now.
A reason why he hadn’t based his combat style on Thunder and instead insisted on digging into each of the demigods’ abilities individually, using them as battle techniques.
It was all because of the Lightning God.
No matter how much he refined his control over lightning, he wasn’t confident he could ever elevate it to the level of the Thunder that the Lightning God wielded. So, until now, Residue had been running away. He had ignored his true aptitude because he didn’t want to be seen as a re replica, an inferior copy.
It was a foolish and shaful act.
Tsk.
The mont he closed in on the tree, Residue leaped. His landing spot was the surface of the tentacle tree. Clinging vertically to its exterior, he appeared precarious, but of course, he did not fall. Rising from his position, he began sprinting up the tree’s surface at an incredible speed.
KWAJAJAJAK!
As he ran, he embedded Resod deep into the tree’s body, causing its outer shell to split violently, leaking a pus-like substance. A sound resembling a scream echoed.
[Hmm…]
Retip let out a displeased hum at the unsettling sensation.
anwhile, Residue swiftly reached the top of the tree and jumped again. Pazik! His body vanished, leaving only a trail of crackling lightning, reappearing far above in the sky.
Gazing down at the massive tentacle tree in its entirety, Residue spoke.
"Are you ready, ‘Re’?"
Retip chanically recited his prearranged line.
[…Of course, ‘Re.’]
Hahahaha!
Residue let out a thunderous laugh and gripped Resod with both hands. Tszzt! Lightning began to condense along the blade.
Kururung…
Dark clouds gathered, enveloping Residue. Now, the sound of thunder and lightning echoed from Resod itself. Strands of barely-contained lightning stretched outward like spiderwebs, and the residual energy turned into bolts of lightning that struck all around.
He had expected this level of backlash. That was why he had deliberately stalled until all the humans had fled.
Residue focused the surging lightning power within his entire body into the sword’s edge.
"Thunderous Lightning Strike—!"
Retip was appalled by the naming sense, but in the next mont, he realized that the energy filling his own body was rapidly draining away.
Then, from the tip of Resod, a massive bolt of lightning fell.
KWAANG!
The most powerful strike they could muster at this mont crashed down onto the tentacle tree. A dazzling light, as intense as if the sun itself had fallen, engulfed the surroundings.
Chwak! A massive wound was carved into the tree. The scar resembled a beast opening its maw.
Residue peered inside.
As expected, there was no tree flesh within. The interior was an independent space, a separate dinsion in itself.
"Good work, Retip."
Residue casually released Resod into the air, and the blade transford back into Retip’s form.
"…If I was of any help, then it’s an honor."
Retip, panting heavily, forced a weak smile. Residue t his gaze with a faint smirk and then spoke.
"Black Witch."
As if she had been waiting, Iris appeared.
"…Preparations are complete."
"Good job."
"Hmph. Just rember, my role ends here."
With a cold voice, she waved her hand, and Sytra materialized in midair.
Residue imdiately grabbed Sytra by the nape.
"Ugh."
"Of course. See you in a bit."
The wound created by the Thunderous Lightning Strike was already beginning to heal.
Without hesitation, Residue hurled himself into the opening. Iris twisted her hands as if assisting him. Zwaak! Just as the wound was about to close, it was forcibly torn open again.
In that brief mont, Residue plunged his body into the wound, successfully entering the tree’s interior.
…With this, the operation was complete.
"…Be careful."
Only after Residue had vanished did Iris murmur in a low voice.
*
A strange sensation.
The mont he entered the tree, it felt as if his body had been subrged in a gelatinous mass. It was like drifting slowly but steadily through the depths of the ocean.
And then suddenly,
Residue realized he was standing in the middle of a white space.
"Hmm."
At least, that was how it appeared.
He clenched and unclenched his fingers, rotated his neck, and checked his physical condition.
"W-where are we?"
Sytra, who had been dragged along, trembled as he asked.
"I told you, didn’t I? We were going to enter the core of Destruction."
"Are you saying… this is the interior of that great tree?"
"You have a bad habit of asking obvious questions."
With that, Residue casually started walking forward. Sytra scrambled to his feet and hurried after him.
"So this is what you ant by ‘entering’ the interior? I was certain it ant making contact with Destruction’s mind…"
"That was part of the plan as well. Hmm."
Residue scanned his surroundings, but nothing in particular stood out.
Even after blinking several tis, the scenery remained unchanged.
"Reject. What do you see?"
"Huh? Uh, I see… you, Residue-nim."
"……."
"B-but aside from that, I see nothing! Just an endless white space!"
As soon as Residue subtly lifted a finger, Sytra hastily added more. Seeing the sheer stupidity radiating from the fool, Residue felt a deep sense of concern well up within him. As a forr superior, this was sothing he couldn’t ignore. Once they got out of here, he would have to thoroughly re-educate Sytra from the ground up.
In any case, it seed that they were both perceiving the sa scenery.
Residue lowered the finger he had raised and resud walking. After hesitating for a mont, Sytra quickly followed, sticking close behind.
"But… do you really think this thod will work?"
"Are you feeling uneasy?"
"Yes. I’ve made contact with Destruction’s mind before. Even though it was when they were still concealing their true nature…"
Just recalling that mory made fear surge up in him again. Sytra took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before continuing.
"…It wasn’t sothing that could be understood or reasoned with."
"That’s because you’re an idiot."
"……."
"And besides, not all of them are like that. Destruction has individuality."
If that weren’t the case, then beings like Luca or Frey Blake wouldn’t exist.
And those two had been enemies.
Luca had definitely killed Frey. So, from Destruction’s perspective, was Frey the traitor? Did all of Destruction oppose Frey? It wasn’t sothing that could be viewed in such simple terms. At first glance, Destruction’s traits and behaviors seed completely incomprehensible but perhaps they weren’t as unfathomable as they appeared.
In any case, Residue had shared a connection with Frey’s mind.
He had glimpsed the mories of a being that was undoubtedly part of Destruction and had understood his thoughts.
Understanding.
If it was possible to understand Destruction, then the strategies to deal with them would beco far more diverse than they were now.
Residue lightly grasped the necklace around his neck.
"So that’s why you ca here? To resolve things through conversation?"
"It could be a conversation, a negotiation, or even a threat. I won’t know for sure until I et it."
Sytra remained silent for a mont before asking,
"And what if you fail?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well… shouldn’t we at least prepare for the worst-case scenario?"
"Hmm. There’s nothing to worry about."
Sytra’s face brightened slightly.
"I an, at worst, we’ll beco one with Destruction and lose ourself completely, or we’ll wander this empty space for eternity, or our mind will eventually break down, and we’ll go completely insane, or, well… we’ll just die."
…She really shouldn’t have asked.
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