Rewinding time briefly, to the moment before the light of the new moon concentrated upon Haruhime.
Shuuuu—!
"Ein-chan? I'm counting on you."
Haruhime was not the only one receiving that celestial light.
Tok—!
Tok—!
"How many did we feed it now?"
"Roughly twenty? I never dreamed it would consume this many~"
'To have it ingest this much of the heavens' grapes and rice...'
Ein watched as the Killing Stone placed upon the altar absorbed the brilliant moonlight, its aura swelling with malevolent potency.
That energy was a formidable pressure, verging on the divine, yet it possessed no alignment of black or white. It felt like the silent advent of chaos itself.
Sssss—!
"It's your turn now, Ein-chan. Do it well."
The Killing Stone began to oscillate and shift. Its crystalline sphere shattered, and the moonlight was instantly stained purple, unfolding around the stone's core.
Shu-uk—!!!!
"Is it because it was forged at night? It looks like a star."
Clutched—!
"..."
A star that radiated overwhelming power simply by existing. Ein, holding it in her hand, stared into its depths and felt a realization dawning.
'This is neither a Demi-Spirit nor a Spirit itself.'
"Something more primordial..."
'No, I merely exist for my Patron Deity... To change this world...!'
Suppressing her internal doubts, Ein raised the star and began her incantation.
Her voice was saturated with the familiar abhorrence and hatred she held for the world. To steady herself against the pulsing resonance of the star, she focused on her Goddess. She conjured memories of tragedy. She summoned her hate and her fury.
"[Endless Abyss. Infinite Despair.]"
'Be born, the monster of my God.'
Kugugugu—!
"[Unfading Past. Unchanging Trajectory.]"
'Be born, the Savior of Evil.'
Kugugugugu—!!!!!!
"[Recurring Mirror. Blade of Sobbing. Shattering Shards.]"
'Be born...'
Craaack—!!!!
"[The answer is I. Einsel.]"
'Be born, our...'
"Savior."
Even so, she desired it.
"That's!"
'A Demi-Spirit...!!'
Akumo instantly assessed the situation upon seeing the colossal, familiar form appearing outside. He spotted the entities at the epicenter of the emergence preparing their magic.
—Ah? There you are!!
"!!"
—[Come, come, come, crust of the earth, light of iron, hammer of the stars. Carry the covenant of creation and invert!]
"[My experiences, my adventures—bloom according to my will.]"
As the two entities began their simultaneous incantations, the Freya Familia executives, Ottar, and Mikoto—who had been assisting in the subjugation of Phryne—all snapped their gazes toward the disturbance.
"A-Akumo-dono!! What on earth is that...!"
"Why is there a monster in the city..."
"Akumo, could that be..."
"The Demi-Spirit you mentioned before...!"
Step—!
The executives gripped their weapons, prepared to descend and confront the Demi-Spirit immediately.
Suddenly, they felt a terrifying surge of energy beside them. It was the concentrated pressure of magical power gathering for Akumo's chant. To Hogni and Hedin, this frequency was disturbingly familiar.
"[Verdant woods, sacred nature. I, who have received your grace, now beseech thee—strike with the flash that pierces the foe!]"
'An Elf...?'
'No, this is...!'
—[I command in the name of the Agent. The name I received is Gnome, avatar of the earth, King of the World.]
Creeaaak—!!!!!
As the incantation neared completion, emerald energy swirled into Akumo's grasp, coalescing into a tangible form.
"Is that... a bow?"
""!!""
'How can he wield an aura so similar to the World Tree...!'
Roots of light sprouted from Akumo's hand like a burgeoning forest, weaving together to form a grand longbow. He gripped the weapon with absolute authority.
Sssss—!!!
"[Bountiful sea, let your vast azure become my wings.]"
—[Meteor Swarm]!
Fwooooom—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A torrential cascade of flame surged toward them, but the spectators' eyes remained locked on Akumo.
He was no longer in the guise of a Human.
Kugugugug—!!!!!!
"[Sylphid Trident]"
Pointed ears, long hair cascading to his waist, and ethereal eyes that seemed to contain the very essence of the primeval forest. But most striking were the two pairs of azure wings, shimmering like celestial jewels, that unfurled from his back.
Zzzzt—!!!!!
The bowstring snapped forward.
The incoming inferno was obliterated as the arrow tore through it, and the Demi-Spirit's fate was no different. It was an execution from the heavens.
"What... What is that even...!!"
'A monster appeared out of nowhere... and was killed in a single strike...?'
Aisha Belka, standing within the floating garden, was no less shocked by the Demi-Spirit's instantaneous demise.
"Papa...!"
'I couldn't see clearly... but that presence was definitely Papa's...!'
"To think the power of the [Pioneer] reached such heights...."
They had all witnessed it.
A colossal flame consumed by a single shot from the sky.
The overwhelming majesty of a warrior who had forced even a Demi-Spirit into submission.
"Fine! It doesn't matter! We just have to fight our own battle!!"
Step—!
"....!!"
"I knew you'd come to the rescue, [Little Rookie]!"
Regaining her focus, Aisha raised her Great Sword and leveled it at Bell Cranel.
"Did you really think I'd just say 'Yes, certainly' and let Haruhime go because you asked?"
"The price for leaving the Familia is steep. If word gets out about Haruhime's Level Boost ability, everyone in the city will hunt her down, not just us."
"Even knowing that, you still intend to save her?"
Despite Aisha's pragmatism, Bell stared her down with unwavering conviction. It was as if none of those consequences mattered compared to the singular task of saving Haruhime.
"Haruhime-san is suffering. That is why I will save her!"
Sheee—!
"Take your stance. When a man takes a woman away, he must win her with strength!"
"..."
Vanish—
"You...!"
Aisha realized the truth as the brilliant light of the Level Boost faded from Bell's body.
"You didn't attack until the Level Boost expired?"
"I want to defeat you with my own power."
"You're a fool. But..."
Whoosh—!!
"I don't hate that style!!!"
"Chiyah!!!!"
Clang—!!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile, the Gods had also witnessed the spectacle.
"Ah...!!!! That light...!!!"
'It's different from before.... Unlike that time when I only saw a glimpse...'
"What a beautiful radiance!!"
Freya watched Akumo's displayed power with sheer exhilaration, momentarily forgetting that Ishtar was standing right beside her.
"W-What..."
'That was the same Demi-Spirit that gave even the Loki Familia trouble...'
"Even for a [Pioneer], how could he kill it with a single arrow...!"
Ishtar was paralyzed by the display of dominance. The Demi-Spirit, which was supposed to be one of her trump cards against the Freya Familia, had been erased in an instant.
"Ah!! Ishtar, did you see?"
"D-Don't come near me...!!"
"He was the one you tried to touch."
Grip—
"A man who can excite even me."
Freya turned to Ishtar, a smile lingering on her lips as if mocking the Goddess for even thinking she could handle such a being.
"Grrr....! Men! Seize that woman!"
""...""
"What are you doing...!?"
'Charmed?! Since when...!'
"I'm sorry. I think I'm in a rather sensitive state right now."
Freya gazed affectionately at Ishtar's followers, who had lost the light in their eyes and were now staring only at her. She slowly closed the distance to Ishtar.
"W-Wait! Freya... I was just momentarily tempted!"
Clack—
"I didn't know you were so obsessed with that [Pioneer] and [Little Rookie]!"
Clack—
"Ishtar? I've laughed off your little pranks until now, but..."
Freya's unwavering eyes pinned Ishtar down, listing her transgressions one by one.
"The incident in Melen, Telskyura, the Demi-Spirit, and now the Killing Stone...."
"I won't allow it this time."
"You've crossed a line that makes both that man and me very angry, Ishtar."
"So..."
Chill—!
"I'm going to crush you."
Freya's cold fury focused on Ishtar. The Goddess of Beauty felt a terror similar to what she had felt when Akumo threatened her earlier, and she turned to flee.
Elsewhere, another God was observing the chaos in the Entertainment District.
"Ah, what a tragedy! My heart simply aches!"
"I am the one who informed Ishtar of Bell-kun's existence."
"To think... it would lead to such a conclusion!"
Hermes watched the burning district, reciting lines of sorrow like a stage actor. However, a grin played on his lips, and his voice betrayed his delight.
Asfi sighed at Hermes' antics and spoke plainly.
"How much of this was calculated, Lord Hermes?"
"I merely provided the spark. That is all."
"....."
"Ishtar's jealousy crossed the line long ago. It simply reached the point where it incited the wrath of both Freya and the Heroes."
"Is that so?"
"I truly didn't expect this specific outcome, though."
Asfi looked at his mischievous face, then mentioned the scene they had just witnessed.
"Certainly... even for you, Lord Hermes, the expression you made during that sight earlier didn't look like a lie."
"Quite so! That was far too spectacular~"
'To kill a Demi-Spirit in one strike.... Akumo-kun!'
Hermes and Asfi both recalled the Great Pillar of Fire that had incinerated the Demi-Spirit.
Akumo, standing before that blaze, was the quintessential Hero, the ultimate Warrior—a being with a presence that eclipsed everything.
Hermes smiled brightly with joy, while Asfi, as an adventurer, couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe.
Clang—!!!!
Clash—!!!
"Hahaha!!!!! Yes!"
Ka-ching—!!!
"This is why I can't stop associating with males!"
"Hyaaaap!!!!"
Boom—!!!!
While everyone else was distracted by the miracle in the sky, the two warriors in the garden focused solely on one another. Aisha, wielding her massive blade, and Bell, with his greatsword, traded lethal blows in a rapid-fire exchange.
"Arrogant! Brutal! And strong!"
Clang—!!!!
"It was always you men who made our blood boil!!!!!"
Whoosh—!!!!!
Slash—!
'Just from the wind pressure...!!'
"Hyaaah!!!!!"
"!?"
Slicing—!!
Aisha's swing was so powerful that the shockwave grazed Bell's cheek, drawing blood. Bell didn't flinch; he countered instantly, swinging his sword toward Aisha's head. Had she not evaded, it would have been a decisive wound.
"[Come, the victor of arrogance. The magnificent warrior.]"
"....!!"
Whoosh—!
Clang—!!!!
"[Reliable champion, greedy and atrocious hero!]!!"
Aisha began chanting for her powerful magic. Bell rushed her to disrupt the spell, but Aisha expertly parried his strikes, maintaining a perfect concurrent chant despite the pressure.
Clang—!!!!!!
'Concurrent chanting...!'
"[If you desire the Empress's belt, then prove it!]!"
Whoosh—!!!!
Clash—!!!!
"[Fill my body, pierce my body, slay my body and prove it!]!"
Ka-ching—!!!
Clang—!!!!!!!
Failing to stop her, Bell watched as a crimson aura enveloped Aisha's blade, like the bared teeth of a predator.
"[My hungry blade is Hippolyte]!!!!"
Shuuuu—!!!!!!!!
"!!"
Ding—!
Ding—!
Ding—!
In response, Bell focused on the girl he had to protect. To surpass the opponent before him, he charged [Argonaut], meeting her strike head-on with everything he had.
"[Hell Kaios]!!!!!!!!!"
"Chiyahh!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Screeech—!!!!!!!!!!
The collision of their strikes created a deafening shockwave, the force of the impact shattering both of their weapons into fragments.
Whoosh—!!!
"Uooooo!!!!"
"Tch!!!!"
Unfazed, the warriors lunged at each other bare-handed. As Aisha aimed a kick at Bell's head—
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!!!!!!"
THUD—!!!!!!!!
Bell's fist, infused with the fire of a hero, slammed squarely into Aisha's abdomen, bringing the fight to a definitive end.
Just as the warriors' duel ended, so too did the struggle between Goddesses.
"Hah...! Hah...!"
'The path is blocked...!?'
Clack. Clack.
"!?"
Ishtar had run until she was breathless, only to find her retreat cut off. The sound of heels behind her sounded like the approach of the Reaper.
"I suppose hide-and-seek is over?"
Smile—
"I'm quite tired now."
Freya approached with terrifying nonchalance. In her panic, Ishtar spotted her follower 'Tammuz' behind Freya, preparing to strike.
"Listen, Freya! I'll tell you something interesting...!"
"What is it?"
"Divine Charm doesn't work on Akumo or Bell Cranel!"
"....."
"Don't you want to know why!?"
Ishtar tried to bait her interest, but—
"I don't really care."
"...What!"
"Or rather, I already knew?"
"Wh... at?"
"It's only natural that my Charm wouldn't work on everyone, right?"
'Unlike your perception, my Charm isn't omnipotent.'
Freya had already encountered true love through Akumo and witnessed a light far more genuine. To Freya, who had accepted even her Charm as a part of her for the sake of the man she loved, such things were trivial.
"Grrr...!! Tammuz!"
Whoosh—!!!!
"Oh?"
"!!"
Stop—!
"Go over there for me, please?"
"Yes, Lady Freya."
Tammuz had tried to ambush her, but Freya simply turned her head. Looking at her, he found he could not harm her. Her eyes were too clear, her beauty too transcendent, and her voice too warm to resist.
"You Charmed my man!?"
"I didn't actually use Charm, though?"
"As if that's possible..!!"
Grit—!
"Are you saying your beauty exceeds mine that much!?"
Ishtar refused to accept it. She couldn't understand why the woman before her was so special, why her own beauty failed, or why this rival stood at the absolute pinnacle. All she could do was scream.
"WHY!!!!"
'Just... Just why...!!'
"What is the difference between you and me!!!!!!"
To those cries, Freya had only one answer.
"Grace."
—'Grace.'
The voices of the man who had looked at her with cold eyes and Freya overlapped in Ishtar's head.
"Do you truly think that because your appearance is fair, and you can use Charm, that you are the most beautiful?"
—'You were the first to negate that yourself.'
"Reflect on your own grace first."
Driven to madness by those final words, Ishtar lunged at her.
"AAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"
Whoosh—!
"!?"
"I think it's time to stop the pranks, Ishtar."
SLAP—!!!!!
"Is it too late already?"
A pillar of light—the sign of a deity's forced return to the heavens—soared into the sky.
Step. Step.
"Bell!"
"Hyung!"
With the pillar of light as a backdrop, Akumo arrived at the garden. In Bell's arms was the reason they had come—the girl they both wanted to save.
"You saved her after all, didn't you?"
"Yes!"
Twitch—!
""!?""
'Lady Freya?'
Looking back, they saw the Goddess of Beauty smiling warmly at them from the shadows.
"She really was sent back..."
"Lady Freya did that!?"
"Well, she's not dead. Just returned to Tenkai."
"That's a relief..."
As the tension dissipated, Bell laughed while speaking to Akumo, and the sound of their voices reached the ears of the collapsed girl.
Flutter—
"Cranel-sama...? Akumo-sama...?"
'Both of you...'
"Yes."
"Haruhime-san."
The Heroes she saw were wearing their usual radiant smiles.
"We've come to rescue you."
With those words, the shackle around her neck that had bound her for so long shattered into pieces.
"Ah...."
Drip! Drip!
"Thank you...."
"Thank you, Heroes...!"
The girl who had stepped into Orario through tragedy and misfortune—on that night, beneath the burning sky and alongside the shining sun, she was delivered from despair by the Heroes who pursue their dreams and encounters.