△

As we were running through the corridor, Eve was the first to notice.

Even within this labyrinth, where sound was absorbed, she managed to hear something from quite a distance.

Before Pigimaru could react, Eve had already noticed the voice coming from ahead in our direction.

Apparently, it was Kashima’s voice.

And then……

“I don’t know who it is, but there’s someone who seems to be a Divine Servant.”

Hearing her words, Loqierra asked.

After hearing it, Loqierra said with certainty.

“It’s Wormungandr.”

To which, Eve said.

“Judging from the content of their conversation, Kashima and Asagi are likely in danger.”

We had Eve and Gio stand by for now, while we decided to launch a surprise attack.

Losing Asagi’s Unique Skill would be a major blow.

And if Kashima was also——— if she was truly in danger.

I explained the plan for what we’d do after bursting into the next room and added,

“This will mean putting a bit of risk on your shoulders too.”

Right before we entered the labyrinth, I made sure to say it.

The first to respond was Seras.

Without hesitation.

“Let’s go.”

No one objected.

Just before we launched the raid, Seras voiced her resolve one last time.

“I swear I will protect them———— no matter what.”

Right before clashing.

Taking into account the risk of enemies lying in wait, I activated <Slow>.

The moment we burst in, I laid eyes on the one we assumed to be Wormungandr.

I immediately canceled <Slow>.

Before the Forbidden Curse could be activated———– I used <Dark>.

This was in case the target had <Dispel Bubble> applied on him.

If the Forbidden Curse takes effect, any previously cast debuff would be wasted.

And if the rule prohibiting consecutive afflictions kicks in, I’d need to insert a different Skill between casts.

For example, if <Paralyze> were nullified, I’d have to insert another Skill in between before trying again.

That’s why I chose <Dark>, a skill that wouldn’t matter much even if nullified———–

And also wouldn’t suffer much from the “no consecutive debuff” rule.

<Dark> also robs the enemy of their vision.

It didn’t work on Ars, but depending on the opponent, it might prove effective.

However———- it seems Wormungandr also did not have <Dispel Bubble> applied on him.

Perhaps being too cautious has its drawbacks.

We were yanked toward the wall by Pigimaru, who had transformed into a rope-like form and stuck himself to the room’s surface.

The impact was cushioned by Pigimaru, absorbing the shock for us.

As we immediately shifted into combat mode, Wormungandr came charging in.

I casted <Paralyze> since he was within range, but the Divine Servant didn’t stop.

Spewing red blood, he came at us.

Thereupon, stepping forward to intercept him was Seras.

Behind her were me, Munin, and along with Pigimaru tucked into my coat——— Loqierra.

Seras’s blade of light and Wormungandr’s fist clashed, deflecting each other.

▽

[<Berserk>!]

Wormungandr didn’t have <Dispel Bubble> on him either.

Then that means his vision should already be impaired from <Dark>.

But this guy probably senses opponents without relying on sight.

Just like Ars.

[<Poison>……!]

Wormungandr looked like he was already in a state of frenzy.

Maybe <Berserk> was meaningless on him.

Even so——— it didn’t turn out to be a waste.

Even to someone like me, with my level of skill.

Even if <Berserk> had stripped him of his sanity, the movements of this Divine Servant, Wormungandr, were utterly precise.

To the point that it sent a chill down my spine.

Could something this singularly optimized for combat actually exist?

“He might be the strongest of all the Divine Servants”

That’s what Loqierra had said.

Asagi’s reinforcement buff must’ve worn off by now……

And the opponent’s Anti-Divine Enhancement didn’t help against us.

Erika’s weakening Anti-Divine device was stacked on top of that.

And even while under the effects of Abnormal State Skills———–

This is his combat strength?

……I was gauging the distance needed to cast <Sleep>.

Just barely out of range.

Was it some kind of instinctive danger sense on his part?

A super-speed hit-and-run.

Wormungandr maintained the distance with perfect precision.

Still, Seras kept trying to create that opening for me.

That’s why I didn’t say anything.

If I had to describe the sensation chilling my spine———– It’d be the clash playing out before me.

The slightest hesitation or lapse in concentration would turn into a fatal opening.

A clash between two warriors honed to the absolute limit.

Her Origin Armament———– She wasn’t holding back anymore. It was in its full state.

No, without going full out, she wouldn’t survive this.

And Seras had decided that in an instant.

……There wasn’t much I could do anymore.

Astonishingly———– frustrating it may be……

Even Munin behind me no longer had any “options” she could make.

As for Loqierra———– was she feeling something?

I couldn’t quite read her expression, but I could sense a storm of conflicting emotions in her.

[Wormungandr……]

That voice……

Like it was directed toward a comrade, now changed beyond recognition.

It sounded almost…… sorrowful.

[……………………]

The decisive difference compared to the fight with Ars……

I had no <Freeze> charges left.

If Wormungandr shared a similar trait to him———-

[—————–]

Now.

[<Sleep>.]

The distance was right.

My last remaining card I had, <Sleep>———– I casted it.

But……

[…………]

Wormungandr didn’t stop.

No, not only that———–

[Is he…… evolving?]

Loqierra murmured:

[He’s evolving…… as he fights…… as he takes damage……]

The bleeding had stopped before we realized it.

Like something had corked it from within.

The blood———– was rampaging inside his body.

Thump. Thump. Slam. Slam.

His giant pale-white frame rippled from within, flesh bulging and settling.

It was like there were tiny people trapped inside, kicking from the inside———–

And then——— they started protruding out.

Something like horns were sprouting from various parts of his body.

As if he were becoming an Oni.

Seras was being pushed back.

Even with her full-power Origin Armament.

Was Wormungandr surpassing her?

[Kuh……]

Evolution.

If this one was going to surpass us the same way Ars did, then we’d need a new strategy.

……Did I misread this?

That idea———- was it just wishful thinking after all?

On our way here, I had discussed Wormungandr with Loqierra.

After hearing Asagi’s theory, she’d said:

“Indeed, the relationship between <Dispel Bubble> and Abnormal State abilities really is strange…… Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing for a while. Not just in this world, but in every world we travel to, Abnormal State-type abilities are treated as practically worthless, so much so that people even question why they exist at all. And yet, for us Deities, we have <Goddess’ Spell Breaker>———– though really, that’s just a name Vysis came up with. Its true name is <Special Autonomous Curse Breaker>. This “curse” part here only negates specifically Abnormal State abilities…… In other words, these supposedly “weak” abilities somehow warrant automatic countermeasures among Deities…… I don’t know why that is. Maybe the only one who’d know is Origin-sama……]

I’d asked Loqierra something else too:

“Wormungandr———– he’s the only Divine Servant who used to be a Deity, right?”

“Unn.”

“If…… If Abnormal State-type abilities———– if the Abnormal State Skill is actually specialized against Deities……”

“Ah.”

“Then maybe they’d be even more effective against him than they were against Ars…… What do you think of that hypothesis?”

“Unn…… That might be possible.”

“If there’s any edge we have over the fight with Ars, it would be with that…… is what I’d really hope.”

“……Ah, I’ll say this just in case…… i- if you’re thinking of testing that on me in my current weak state, I don’t think it’d be useful, okay……?”

“I know. Speaking of which…… if you’re in my arms right now, does the Anti-Divine buff still apply?”

“Hm? No, the Anti-Divine buff scales based on the opponent’s strength. So, right now, weak little me shouldn’t be triggering any real boost.”

[……………………]

If the Divine Servant-turned Wormungandr didn’t have <Dispel Bubble>.

Then maybe the Divine-specializing effect of Abnormal State Skills didn’t apply either?

Was this……

A miscalculation?

My————–

[…………..down.]

Loqierra, who had been completely absorbed in the battle unfolding before her, spoke.

As if talking to herself.

[He’s…… crashing down.]

I———-

Uncharacteristically for me———–

I felt my heartbeat accelerating unnaturally.

……Was it just my imagination——— or not?

———-Crack, creak———-

Cracks.

Wormungandr’s body already had black lines running along it.

Those lines looked almost like fractures.

But…… the sunken, line-like marks currently running across Wormungandr’s body———-

Those things———

They’re definite cracks.

I’d been keeping quiet so as not to break Seras’s concentration.

But now, I spoke as well.

[Loqierra.]

[Unn.]

[Is it just me…… or does it look like Wormungandr is missing some of his attacks?]

[……No, it’s not just you.]

“In other words……”, I continued.

[<Sleep> definitely is working.]

It was too far beyond the norm, I hadn’t accounted for that.

I hadn’t even been aware that I needed to account for it.

It looked like he was fighting completely normally.

And yet———- he had, in fact, fallen into sleep.

He’s sleeping with his eyes open.

He’s fighting in his sleep.

Or perhaps———— he was moving on pure instinct.

As if driven by something beyond himself.

Loqierra spoke up.

[<Paralyze> is probably taking effect too…… and maybe also……]

She speculated that he might’ve already used up a considerable amount of his regenerative ability before getting here.

[When I compare it to his fight against Vanargadia…… how should I put it——— he’s weakened.]

If that were true……

Perhaps Sogou…… or maybe, the Takao Sisters……

……But in that case, what happened to the one who fought Wormungandr?

If Wormungandr’s alive and standing here, then that would mean……

[……………………]

No, that can wait.

Right now, we need to focus on surviving this fight.

Seras……

From this point on———– I can only entrust this battle to you.

Whether Seras exhausts her strength first……

Or Wormungandr collapses———–

Even more than in the battle against Ars……

This is no longer a realm where someone at my level can intervene.

All I can do is bet on this.

Right here.

On the blade I believe in———- on Seras Ashrain emerging victorious.

I’m betting everything.

Seras was still being pushed back, just a little.

……And yet.

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of emotional disruption.

From the very beginning until now.

She hasn’t wavered.

Not at all.

She couldn’t go on the offensive, forced only to defend———-

Yet like a precise machine, she flawlessly deflected every attack.

Her movements weren’t flashy, which made that sharpness all the more clear.

Seras was, perhaps even more than Wormungandr, eliminating every trace of wasted movements.

That uncompromising discipline was the only reason she’d kept it at a near-even match.

Even I found myself holding my breath.

So sharp.

So thoroughly honed to its limit.

It was———- an astounding level of concentration.

Though her back looked slender……

It looked so strong———– so reassuring.

Her mind…… Her spirit……

They had grown stronger.

[—————-]

……Just now.

Did it just get disoriented?

Seras’ emotions……

I could tell even from behind her.

I couldn’t see her face.

But yes———–she somehow seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion.

From Seras’ emotions, I could see it.

However———–

In that very moment, Seras clearly gained the upper hand.

She landed a strike———— a deep, decisive slash.

I don’t know what thoughts or emotions passed through her in that instant.

I don’t know what exactly changed.

But———–

That one blow definitely dealt an effective hit on Wormungandr.

The tables had been turned.

The balance of power between Seras and Wormungandr had shifted.

Wormungandr…… was weakening.

I could tell.

……Seras.

If the enemy doesn’t evolve any further……

Then, most likely———-

If she can hold out———- it would be her victory.

It would be Seras’ victory.

Even if we win like this———-

I won’t consider it my victory.

Seras———– this is a victory earned by your hand.

And here, at last———– I could finally check up on Kashima and Asagi.

Kashima seems to be unharmed.

As for Asagi——— ……I’m not sure.

Chester appears uninjured but is unconscious.

The Mad Emperor has lost a leg and can’t move.

He doesn’t even have his Sacred Sword.

The bleeding looks bad but———

[……Worm……]

That quiet whisper came from Loqierra.

She was watching the battle from my side.

And she looked…… pained.

[……………………]

———–And at last, finally……

The moment arrived.

Crack.

A hard sound rang out.

A massive fracture ran the length of Wormungandr’s entire body.

Even so———-

The massive Divine Servant maintained his posture, poised to strike.

Wormungandr twisted his body and launched a powerful blow with his fist.

Seras readied herself to meet it.

Unshaken and precise, she prepared to intercept it.

However———- the brilliant white strike……

Misfired.

It missed its mark———– faltered, and cut through nothing but air.

A sound like shattering glass echoed out.

And at the same time, Wormungandr’s outer shell exploded outward.

Carried by the momentum of his failed strike, Wormungandr staggered past Seras.

Before he could even fully pass her, he collapsed forward.

Still frozen in that posture, fist outstretched.

Seras shifted her stance, ready for a possible counterattack from the fallen Wormungandr.

……But he didn’t seem to be faking defeat.

There was no counterattack.

Wormungandr’s fallen body began to release smoke.

His body was dissolving.

[……The death of a Divine Servant. Which means———-]

Loqierra spoke.

[Seras won.]

The tone of her voice……

———was filled with certainty.

……It seems I can finally believe it.

[Touka…… can I stay here a little longer by myself?]

[Is that going to be alright?]

[Trust me.]

[Alright.]

Loqierra jumped down from my arms.

Leaving the lookout to Seras, we ran toward Kashima.

Then a voice called out from behind.

[………………….Yo, Loqierra…… gera gera…… it is you, right? I can’t see…… so d*mn sleepy…… gerara…… keeping my consciousness’ tough…… It’s rough…… resisting the status effects…… I’ve only got just enough strength left to talk a bit…… just the last of my willpower…… that’s all that’s left……]

There was a faint pause.

[You lost, Worm.]

[Gera…… ra…… A human…… a human…… beat me……]

[Unn…… you lost to a human.]

[See? I told you, didn’t I? If they do things right…… humans can even beat Deities…… they’ve got that kind of potential……]

[……………………]

[Humans are…… good, aren’t they…… Loqierra……? They really are, huh……?]

[Worm, you……]

[Aah…… sleepy…… finally…… I can finally really sleep…… It’s like…… I’ve been trapped in a long…… long nightmare……]

[……………………]

[But even in that…… I had some good encounters too…… Humans really are…… the worst…… and the best…… gera…… ra……]

In the end, Wormungandr said:

[Humans…… really are…… something…… aren’t they…………………… ————]

……It seemed Wormungandr had breathed his last.

While talking with Kashima, I glanced over at Loqierra.

Her eyes held a mix of pity and a faint sadness.

She looked down at the dissolving remains of what had once been her brethren.

[……Maybe you never agreed with Vysis’s way of thinking in the first place. Maybe even being recovered at the brink of death and made into one of her Divine Servants, maybe that wasn’t what you wanted either. But…… once you became Vysis’s Divine Servant, you couldn’t go against the orders of her Factor. Right, Worm…… even though you couldn’t disobey Vysis’s Factor, maybe…… you were looking for someone to end you. I’m…… you know, a coward…… Sorry, but I took the liberty of interpreting it that way. Fufu…… Honestly, I was afraid to ask you while you were still alive. I’m…… way too much of a coward to even consider rebelling against the Chief Deity…… I bet that’s how I looked to you, huh……? Or maybe…… to all the other Deities besides Vysis and Skulllbanger too…… ———-You were always just too serious for your own good.]

Loqierra knelt on one knee.

And then,

[Farewell, Wormungandr.]

She gently placed a hand on what was left of the nearly-dissolved body of Wormungandr.

[Sleep now————– Incarnation of the Aloof Serpent God.]

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