Thank You,
Knight Teir: "Luis Marrufo"
For Becoming A Member On My Pa'treon. The Emperor Protect.
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"Arrogance!" To the deity, Sebastian's words were nothing more than a hollow bluff.
But the moment he stood, jagged streaks of ice surged from the earth, locking around his limbs and rooting him in place. The unnatural chill gnawed into his flesh, every second an agony.
"What have you done?!" The god roared, his voice trembling with fury and disbelief.
Sebastian only smiled faintly, offering no reply.
From behind Death's towering form, a young woman stepped forward, her lips curling into a cruel grin. "Another one who refuses to die easily? Perfect. A new toy."
It was Esdeath. The faint softness of a lady was gone, replaced by a predator's aura of bloodlust.
"I had wanted this rare night to be for Sebastian alone," she said, her tone both playful and menacing. "But you interrupted. Now, I'll test every single one of my torture techniques on you."
Her smile was laced with malice, and even the so-called god felt a flicker of unease at the monster in human skin before him.
While he faltered, the ground erupted with a forest of ice spikes. They pierced his divine body without hesitation. His scream shook the air, sharp and unending—but still, he did not die.
A short distance away, Miyatsu and Miroku watched the horror unfold. Their faces paled.
"If we run now… will it already be too late?" Miroku whispered.
Just then, the rumble of engines thundered across the field. Countless Engineers arrived in Multigunner IFVs, their vehicles unfolding into colossal mechanical arms. With uncanny precision, they began dismantling the immobilized god piece by piece, while Esdeath's ice held him fast. Stripped apart like machinery, the once-proud Death could do nothing but roar helplessly as his immortal body was divided and carted off to the Battle Lab for study.
Meanwhile, Sebastian caught sight of three fleeing monsters—the Bat yōkai, the insect-like serpent, and the Wildcat. They had already covered great distance when Sebastian's form blurred into pure light.
In less than a heartbeat, his Muramasa blade sang three times in three different places. The yōkai, struck mid-flight, barely had time to understand what happened. Within the defensive net of hidden fortifications Sebastian had long prepared beneath the village, escape was impossible. Poison spread over their broken bodies, swiftly consuming their lives.
The battlefield fell silent.
"As expected of Sir Sebastian!"
"Long live Sir Sebastian!"
"Thank you for saving us!"
The villagers burst into thunderous applause, louder than any storm. Though they had seen Sebastian as a savior and builder before, this was the first time they had witnessed him as a warrior. His overwhelming power banished fear from their hearts and filled them with pride and security.
Just as Sebastian turned to leave, hurried shouts reached him.
"Sir Sebastian, please wait!" Miyatsu and Miroku dismounted, approaching quickly.
Miyatsu pressed his palms together in a Buddhist greeting, bowing deeply. His smile carried both humility and respect. "We are monks who have traveled far. I am Miyatsu, and this is Miroku."
"What is it you seek?" Sebastian asked, narrowing his eyes. He already suspected their intentions, having recognized them the moment the battle ended. Their faces, their timing, and their strength marked them as figures whose story he already knew.
Though early in their journey, their power was evident.
Miyatsu stepped forward, bowing so deeply his body bent more than ninety degrees. His voice was firm yet reverent. "We wish to learn from you! Please, Sir Sebastian, accept us as disciples!"
"Miyatsu, you…" Miroku froze, shocked. Only moments before, they had discussed approaching Sebastian to exchange knowledge and perhaps propose building a temple in his territory. The village's rapid growth made it the perfect place, a boon for their faith. But after watching Sebastian dismantle a god as if it were nothing, Miyatsu's resolve had shifted; now he wanted to follow him as a master.
Miroku hesitated, torn. Yet as he looked at Sebastian, awe eroded his doubts. At last, he too bent his body in a bow beside his companion.
He remembered all too well how Miyatsu, though often distracted by worldly temptations, always grew steadfast in moments that truly mattered.