Lazy Salvation

Ashen’s next stop was Lucia.

“Partner.”

She was not much better off than Alice, with injuries marring her alabaster skin.

She turned when she heard him call her. “You’re here.”

Faintly smiling, she said, “I suppose you came to say your goodbyes?”

“I did,” he nodded. “As sharp as ever, I see.”

“It’s not hard to guess. I know myself best. And I have nothing that could be useful in this situation. So if you're coming to me, then either you found a solution that requires your prolonged absence... or you haven’t found one.”

“In either case, a goodbye would be in order.” She looked at him with a teasing smile.

“You guessed it. I have a solution, but I have to step away for some time to implement it. So I came to see you one last time.”

“I see.”

“You still have the mark on me, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t waste my breath telling you I’m going to survive. You would know better than anyone, after all.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier to stomach. In fact, it might be quite the opposite, since I’ll have to fret every moment, wondering if the mark will suddenly disappear.” She shook her head.

“I understand,” he sighed. “Then... I’ll do my best to come back as soon as possible.”

“See that you do.” She nodded, satisfied.

“I’m going.” He turned.

“Take care... partner.”

Fwoosh...

The smile remained plastered on her face, but the tears... she had no way to stop them.

*

“Bro Bro!”

He didn’t have to utter a word before he was engulfed in a hug.

“Are we all going to die? Please tell me we are winning!”

“We are not.”

“No...”

“But I’m going to make it so that we do.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at him. “What are you going to do...?”

“Something crazy.” He gently caressed her hair. “Brother has to be gone for a while, alright? In the meantime, I have a mission for you...”

Lapis didn’t mind the tone he was using, as if she were a small child. In fact, she relished it, momentarily forgetting the absurdity of his words. “What is it, bro? I’ll do it.”

“Good... that’s my girl. It’s a hard request, but I know you can do it... I want you to protect everyone.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“Me...?”

“Yes. You are the strongest person I know. So will you protect our family?”

“Of course... I will protect Mom and Dad.”

Before he could say anything, she added, “I will also protect Sister Alice and your other two women... Just... don’t take too long, Brother...”

“Thank you.” He smiled gently. “I knew I could count on you. Now you have to follow the army back to the human territories. Mom and Dad would be worried sick without me. You have to be there to reassure them.”

“Okay...”

“Very good...”

He planted a kiss on her forehead, tightened the hug for a brief moment, then vanished, appearing in another region.

“Sup.”

A bloodied man lifted his head. He had a woman in his arms. Ashen recognized her as Jenna.

“Ash...?”

Braun looked at him, and numerous complicated emotions passed across his face before they settled into resignation.

“We are all going to die, Ashen... my baby girl is going to die...”

“Dad... I’m sorry...”

Ashen looked at them and felt bitterness rise in his heart. He had promised to keep his daughter out of danger, and look where she was now.

In the middle of Narkal-infested territory, surrounded by four Outer Gods.

He really couldn’t blame Braun for avoiding him after this.

But he was going to make things right.

“Braun.”

The man looked at him with hollow eyes.

“Don’t you remember? When I told you Jenna was in Seravelle, you made me promise that nothing would happen to her.”

“Yes... But it’s all futile now... all of us will die, Ashen... Forget what I said... I will not blame you. After all... you too will die here. It’s pointless.”

“Who says?”

Ashen held out a fist, and Braun returned the bump by reflex. It had always been their usual way of greeting each other.

“I will save her. I will save you. And I will save everyone.” He grinned. “Don’t worry, Braun. Jenna will live. I don’t break promises... I’ll show you.”

He didn’t wait for the man to reply. He didn’t need any more words.

Now, only actions would prove anything.

‘Alright, you can take over.’

{Are you ready?}

‘Go wild.’

His slow walk did not change pace, but the surroundings rushed past him faster and faster.

Over his head...

A magnificent Icon bloomed.

『Godkiller』

The Outer Gods, who were on the verge of slaying their adversary, all lifted their gazes at once.

It wasn’t only them. Every Narkal stopped its bloodthirsty rampage and turned its gaze to the sky, right where the blasphemous word hung.

And every single expression, without exception—gods and beasts alike—was filled with utter and complete rage.

Ashen finally reached the edge of the battlefield.

He raised his spear, and with it, a crimson line of mana shot upward, piercing the clouds.

It was harmless. But it reminded them all of one thing.

The very same line that had ended the life of one of their masters.

“Filthy mongrels!”

He bellowed, his voice amplified by mana until it reached every corner of the battlefield.

“I am the killer of your master!”

“I am the Killer of Secrets!”

“I was the one who plunged my spear into his throat, even as he cowardly fled all the way into outer space!”

“Not only have I killed that one, but I swear to kill the other six!”

“I will bury every last one of you, filthy creatures, and use your corpses as fertilizer to repay all the destruction you have wrought upon this planet!”

“I am the Godkiller!”

“...”

“...”

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

“GHEEEEEEEE!”

DOOM—DOOM—DOOM—DOOM—

“GAHHHHGHAAAAAAAGHAAAAAAAA!”

In fact, just the second sentence was enough for his plan to provoke every creature on the battlefield, but Ashen kept going until everyone dropped everything and started rushing toward him.

This did not have anything to do with his provocation, however. It was solely because he had released the same crimson mana signature they had all felt when he ended Secrets' life across space-time with that spear thrust.

And one thing that no one knew but the traveler from a different timeline...

...was that every slave—including the subordinate Outer Gods—was compelled to eliminate any threat to their master's life.

Normally, this compulsion lay dormant, since no one was capable of threatening the lives of those Seven.

...but here stood someone who had not only threatened one, but killed one.

They had felt it the moment Secrets disappeared. Every Narkal. Every Outer God. They had all felt it because they were all bound to them through slavery.

And so, the sight of the tide rapidly retreating before crashing in the complete opposite direction didn't seem so absurd anymore.

‘No... this is absurdly crazy, no matter how you look at it.’ Ashen, watching his old counterpart's plan come to fruition, was sweating with dread.

“Alright. Now comes the hard part.”

‘And that is...?’

“Running.”

With that, he rushed in the opposite direction of their home...

Right into the heart of the Narkal lands.