The God of Combat felt a creeping sense of foreboding.
As the only true god not contacted by Alaric, cut off from information by the silent agreement of the other Sequence 0s, the God of Combat knew the least about Alaric's existence. Yet, he was far from oblivious.
Alaric's actions were anything but subtle, often brazenly out in the open. Even a god as blunt as the God of Combat could sense an invisible hand orchestrating the rapidly shifting tides of the world.
He didn't know exactly who this figure was or the extent of their power.
But he could vaguely feel a malice... not directly from that mysterious being who had united the other gods, but indirectly through the attitudes of the other true gods toward him.
This became especially clear when Loen underwent its upheaval and nations like Intis and Lenburg planned to form an anti-Sotha alliance, only to be betrayed by their own churches. The God of Combat realized then that, unbeknownst to him, every other true god had aligned with the opposition.
Including… the Earth Mother.
To be honest, when he realized this, the God of Combat's first reaction was disbelief.
As a god who had lived since the Second Epoch, he knew his old colleagues too well. These beings, who would bicker even in the face of a formidable enemy, would never unite unless compelled by an irresistible force.
And the Earth Mother, his mother and staunchest ally… The God of Combat gritted his teeth, utterly baffled as to why his mother would suddenly defect.
It defied all reason.
Most crucially, if all the other true gods had joined the other side, why had no one informed him?
What made him lesser than the Evernight Goddess or the others?
The God of Combat couldn't comprehend it, and alongside his confusion, a deep unease gnawed at him.
He had always been confident, even arrogant at times, but no amount of pride made him believe he could face six former colleagues alone... especially with a mysterious figure seemingly uniting them.
"I can't sit idly by. I must find other allies…" His eyes flickered with resolve. He wasn't foolish. If the other side had recruited the other six true gods but excluded him, their stance toward him was clear.
Though he didn't understand why, the God of Combat refused to wait for death.
He promptly contacted his most loyal angel, instructing them to reach out to the Demoness Sect, the Hidden Sage, and other entities.
While seeking allies, he also planned to prepare a few resurrection contingencies, just in case.
But before he could act, a tremendous commotion erupted at the edge of his divine kingdom, as if someone had kicked down its gates.
"???"
What was this? Had they come for him already?
As he hesitated, another loud crash echoed, accompanied by a brash voice:
"God of Combat, listen up! You're surrounded. Don't resist... it'll at least let you die with some dignity."
Even the most patient would bristle at such provocation, and the God of Combat was never known for his temper. Unable to sit still, he grabbed his weapon and headed toward the source of the noise.
A breach had been torn open in his divine kingdom. Outside stood four figures, bold as brass.
One was shrouded in a cloak, face veiled in black, with three pairs of arms.
Another radiated a saintly, compassionate glow, dressed in a skirt adorned with wheat motifs.
…
One wore an ornate robe, a crown atop their head, casually toying with a strange deck of cards.
The last, sporting gold-rimmed glasses and clutching a book, exuded a scholarly aura, like a true academic.
The Evernight Goddess, the Earth Mother, Roselle, and…
The God of Combat recognized his old acquaintances, of course. While he wasn't particularly close with Roselle, he'd kept tabs on him. Only the final figure was unfamiliar.
Yet he knew who it was: Lucifer, the Consul of the Republic of Sotha.
So it was him. It really was him… The God of Combat withdrew his gaze, readying for battle but holding back from immediate action. He turned to the Earth Mother and said, "I'm not surprised to see the others here, but you, Mother... why are you here?"
His words carried genuine confusion, even a hint of pain.
The Earth Mother lowered her eyes, letting out what seemed like a sigh. But in the next moment, her lips curved into a smile.
Lilith looked up at the God of Combat, her hand brushing her face, transforming it in an instant.
"What do you think?" Lilith asked with a smile, her crimson eyes... emblematic of the sanguines... gleaming with unabashed schadenfreude.
"Lilith!" The God of Combat's eyes widened, bloodshot with emotional turmoil as he recognized the former sanguine ancestor.
"Impossible! How could you… No, when did this…" He stammered in disbelief.
"It happened a long time ago," Lilith said, no longer bothering to hide the truth. She smiled and continued, "At first, I took on this identity not specifically to betray you. It just worked out conveniently. Later, Amanises approached me for a collaboration, so I kept the role. I had planned to surprise you when you moved against Amanises, but alas…"
Lilith shook her head with a regretful expression.
According to the original plan, she would have revealed her identity during a one-on-one duel between Amanises and the God of Combat, delivering a small surprise.
But plans had changed, and that approach was no longer viable. Now, they had to confront the God of Combat head-on.
No matter, though… Lilith glanced at Roselle, who had regained his Sequence 0 strength, then at the unfathomable Alaric, before finally settling her gaze on the God of Combat with a smile. "Don't think about escaping. This space has been sealed. Bethel may not be a Sequence 0 yet, but with Sefirah Castle's power, you won't break through his barrier."
To prevent the God of Combat from wreaking havoc in the real world, Alaric had made thorough preparations, including having Bethel seal the space.
As for Sefirah Castle's power, it had been willingly lent to Bethel by Klein.
The God of Combat's expression shifted, not just because of Lilith's words but because he confirmed he was truly trapped, with no escape.
Indeed, while reeling from the shock of his "mother" Turning out to be Lilith, he had been quietly searching for an exit.
"It seems I'm fated to die here today," The God of Combat said with a self-deprecating laugh. He looked up at Alaric, his expression calm as he asked, "I don't understand. If you were willing to accept the others, why was I alone excluded? Is there some reason I had to die?"
***
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