Chapter 158
Lailnetia the Devouring could not suppress his impatience and drew forth the Abyss.
The descendant of Tiksa was resisting in a way he had not anticipated at all.
Given this, and considering the involvement of the Book of All Things, he had no choice but to dispose of her swiftly.
'The Book of All Things has not interfered. It could be Tiksa's power... but I will allow no more than this.'
Lailnetia the Devouring, feeling a sense of dissonance, magnified the Abyss to its utmost.
He had not been this flustered even when fighting Ru the Luminescent.
The Knight of True Flame had wielded overwhelming power, but even he had not managed to bring Lailnetia down.
And yet, he simply could not accept the fact that only the descendant of Tiksa stood against him like this.
'It wasn't erased by superior mana. It was a form even I could not recognize.'
As he observed the descendant of Tiksa, Lailnetia the Devouring was belatedly seized by a sense of relief.
The descendant of Tiksa was caught in the Abyss, slowly sinking down.
No matter the inheritance of dragon's power, the Abyss would inevitably force surrender.
'The Abyss suppresses the very foundation of life. It does not lead to death, but it is inescapable!'
Lailnetia the Devouring desperately hoped for the complete assimilation of the descendant of Tiksa.
The Sacred Radiance Lineage and the other humans could be dealt with later.
Right now, he had to subdue the descendant of Tiksa first and foremost.
'Book of All Things... Even now, will you not act? No, even if you do, is there anything you could possibly do!'
Already, half of the body of Tiksa's descendant had been consumed, yet nothing unusual had happened.
The Sacred Radiance Lineage continued swinging their swords, but could not dispel the Abyss.
To truly dispel the Abyss, they would have to unleash a radiant flame.
'It's too late to bring that now... Hm?'
Lailnetia the Devouring noticed something and found himself shuddering uncontrollably.
A power that should not exist was unfolding before his very eyes.
If that was not enough, it was even expelling the Abyss, making his terror all the greater.
"Wh-what... You've summoned the Flame of a Thousand Days?"
For the first time since arriving in this world, Lailnetia the Devouring faced terror.
A golden-hued flame poured forth from a human.
It was a force that could oppose the Abyss, a primordial flame that exuded immortality itself.
From the moment that flame existed, the Abyss was rendered powerless.
"You possess the Sacred Radiance and the Flame of a Thousand Days? Is that even possible!"
Lailnetia the Devouring let out a desperate cry and fixed his gaze upon her.
Only after the woman dispelled the Abyss that bound her companion could she finally turn her eyes to him.
Her tawny-orange gaze brimmed with deep anger and killing intent, and along her blade, the Flame of a Thousand Days began to surge.
"Kh... Huhaha! Even if you have those, you cannot reveal the hidden darkness! How do you intend to annihilate me?"
* * *
Brillie hurriedly thrust her sword, trying to sever the dark form.
But it only quivered under her sword strikes without its essence being damaged.
Meanwhile, Alter's body was being slowly dragged in.
"I've never seen anything like this! Do you know what it is?"
"This is my first time encountering such a power. Mana does not work at all."
Alraune shot a swift glance at Lailnetia the Devouring, staying wary.
Even with a brief look, he was sure it was an abnormal ability.
No doubt brought forth by Lailnetia the Devouring, but the principles and effects were beyond guessing.
"I'll get you out soon, just hold on a little more."
Brillie continued to unleash her Sacred Radiance, striking down with her sword.
Alter maintained his composure, controlling his mana, but knew deep down that it was useless.
'Is this what defeated Ru the Luminescent? Maybe even the Knight of True Flame was...'
Even as he glimpsed his own death, Alter was worrying about Brillie.
If he were to disappear here, not only Brillie, but Alraune and Berhan would also perish.
How could they strike Lailnetia the Devouring with Sacred Radiance?
'Even if I freeze time, there's nothing I can do. I should have avoided this before it happened...'
Unable to think of any solution, Alter gazed at Brillie.
Perhaps it was time to retreat.
If only Brillie survived, there would be hope for the future.
"Lady Brillie."
"Haa... haaa..."
"Perhaps you should withdraw for now? Leave me here—"
"I can't! Are you telling me to run away alone?"
"We have no chance of winning now. At least you must survive, lady Brillie—"
"Be quiet. What do you expect me to do!"
Brillie answered sharply without thinking and readjusted her sword hilt.
No matter that he was her husband, those were words he should never utter.
Even at the risk of her own life, she would save Alter without fail.
'I can't let you die here. I haven't even accomplished anything yet...'
Brillie turned away from seeping despair, focusing solely on wielding her sword.
If she gave up now, she would live forever oppressed by regret.
Thus, rather than eke out a miserable existence, she would accept this as her last stand for her companion.
'For you, I would even give my life.'
With all her desperate hopes, Brillie unleashed her sword strike.
Normally, the trajectory would be tinted with lavender light.
But golden light replaced it, and before she realized it, brilliant flames were blooming.
"Fire attribute? Since when could a Sword Flower use magic?"
"That is..."
Alraune opened his eyes wide in disbelief at the golden flame.
He had never seen it in person, but had read of it in various documents.
It was said to be a flame that never extinguished, imbued with immortality.
Who could have guessed Brillie Illenat would manifest the Flame of Eternity?
"Oh..."
Alter promptly escaped and showed an abashed expression.
The golden flames Brillie had conjured burned away the Abyss itself.
Yet he suffered no harm—only a warm aura enveloped him.
"I have many things I want to say. Let's talk later, all right?"
"...."
Alter bit his tongue and glanced at Brillie out of the corner of his eye.
Brillie belatedly caught her breath, her dissatisfaction obvious.
It seemed certain that he would be scolded considerably after this battle.
"... Great Mage, do you think this might work?"
"Hmm... It's hard to say. That alone cannot dispel the darkness. Still, since you've countered the enemy's attack, we have a slight advantage."
Only then did Brillie allow herself to relax, raising her sword slowly.
The blade shimmered quietly with golden fire.
As long as she could protect her husband with this flame, she would never have to fear again.
Even if it took time, she would surely slay Lailnetia the Devouring.
"Kh... Huhaha! Even possessing all that won't let you reveal the hidden darkness! How do you expect to destroy me?"
Lailnetia the Devouring forced a scoff, but could not shake his terror.
The descendant of Tiksa drove out the aura of corrosion, and the Sacred Radiance Lineage incinerated the Abyss with the Flame of a Thousand Days.
Could it be that the Book of All Things had foreseen even this future?
'Did you guide me to this very situation? How dare a mere book...'
Lailnetia the Devouring was left with nothing but suspicion toward every factor at play.
Where had the Book of All Things begun laying out its crafty schemes?
Perhaps even now, at this very moment, it was interfering.
'I might lose. Planning for the future may be the only option.'
If he ran now, they likely would not easily pursue.
For now, survival took priority, then he could seek other methods.
'The seal of the Abyss will break someday...'
"Has balance finally been restored?"
Suddenly, a silver radiance flashed from the sky, then struck hard and fast.
Brillie instinctively shielded Alter, and Alraune was seized by a mysterious sensation.
Only Berhan realized that a holy miracle had manifested.
"Your earnest wish has reached me. Do you seek to cut down the darkness?"
A woman clad in silver armor turned her head gently.
Platinum hair fluttered in the wind, and her light-yellow eyes radiated noble dignity.
Brillie stared vacantly at her, then belatedly recalled the cathedral's statue.
"Are you... Goddess Semerune?"
"I did not desire such a title, but there is no other way to refer to me. I shall answer in the affirmative."
"Um... I've managed to hold on, but the enemy won't die. Could you help us, Goddess?"
"I cannot cleave the darkness. However... it seems my power is needed now."
Semerune promptly drew her sword and raised it high.
Dazzling silver flowed from the blade, tempering and solidifying it.
Lailnetia the Devouring recognized the color and instinctively stepped back.
"Why even the Moonlit Night...?"
Sacred Radiance, thousand Days, moonlit Night.
Even in the world of Hazlodein, such powers gathered in one place were rare.
Though he had fought to escape the fate given to him, in the end, he had returned to the starting point.
If he did not flee this instant, annihilation awaited.
"Let the hidden darkness be revealed."
Semerune, her eyes upon Lailnetia the Devouring, recited softly.
Dazzling silver burst forth and spread in all directions.
Lailnetia the Devouring was enveloped in the light, and his body began to collapse.
"Khuack... I cannot die here..."
He tried to activate the aura of corrosion and reclaim his body.
But the more he reassembled his fragments, the more they crumbled again.
Most vexing of all was that his very darkness had been exposed for all to see.
"My role is over. Now it is your turn."
Brillie exchanged a glance with Semerune and walked forward quietly.
Already, lavender currents rose from Brillie's sword.
She seized her sword hilt with both hands as she gazed at the orb floating in midair.
"Uuugh... I've endured for so long... Only for it to end in such futility..."
Lailnetia the Devouring put everything he had into protecting the orb of darkness.
Even if he lost part of his body, as long as the darkness remained, he could survive.
But his body, eroded by Moonlit Night, could no longer defend even against the Sacred Radiance.
"...."
Brillie continued the silence, then lifted her sword.
She had nearly lost what was precious, but had managed, however painfully, to protect it.
She no longer cared for breaking the law of nature or foretold fate.
All she wanted now was peace for herself and her companion.
"Never appear again."
Brillie uttered the words briefly and brought down her sword.
Lavender radiance seemed to spill out, tracing a sweeping curve.
At last, sacred Radiance surged from her sword, meeting the orb of darkness.
"Krrrgh... Kaaaaah!"
Lailnetia the Devouring shrieked, and the fragments of his body began to writhe.
The orb of darkness slowly cracked, then was utterly destroyed.
At the same time, the fragments of his body melted away, finally shrinking to nothing.
"It cannot end like this... A deeper darkness than I... shall bring destruction..."