"Didn't make it in time?"
Low murmurs and sighs echoed across the lower world.
They were the helpless sympathies of one god after another.
After all, compared to the mortals of the lower world, they clearly understood just how dire the situation had become.
The Arrow of Orion hadn't fully charged to its peak.
Yes, the lower world wouldn't be completely destroyed.
But the continent it targeted…
"Ah~ how delightful."
Inside Orario, amidst the ruins of District Three, the malicious god Thanatos laughed aloud—one of the few gods openly enjoying the scene.
His thoughts were simple:
"The lower world won't be destroyed; the chessboard is still intact. But those kids (lower-world mortals)… so many will probably die."
"Next time I return to Heaven, I'll have to do some serious 'overtime'~"
As a death god, Thanatos' duties in Heaven had always been clear: erase the past-life memories of mortals and help them reincarnate.
However, after the Dungeon was sealed a millennium ago by something called the Babel, life on the continent improved. Fewer children died, meaning fewer souls for Thanatos to guide.
He longed for a return to the chaotic era of old.
Then he could enjoy seeing more souls reborn and witness the final changes as their past-life memories were erased.
He also secretly hoped that one soul might resist the cleansing.
Even just one… it would make his tedious existence far less boring.
Today…
"Will that golden soul be resilient enough?"
"I can't wait to get back to Heaven and try it out!"
This… this god's face even carried a strange flush.
The bizarre expression drew a look of disdain from Valetta standing beside him.
"Hey, hey, Thanatos, aren't you being irresponsible?"
The eccentric Arachnia pointed toward the sky. "If that thing falls, won't I die too?"
"Exactly."
Thanatos shrugged casually. "Relax, little sister Valetta. I'll personally help you reincarnate."
"Maybe your next life won't be so twisted~"
Hearing that…
"Pfft~ who cares."
Valetta clicked her tongue in irritation.
But the next moment…
"Wait a minute."
The crazy girl froze for a split second. "Time's almost up… damn it, I need to hurry."
Without another word, she stormed out of the ruins, flying toward a certain direction.
Watching her leave without hesitation…
"How heartless… she won't even spend the 'final moments' with me, the main god. Truly heartbreaking."
Even though no one else was around, Thanatos complained theatrically to himself.
Compared to him, perhaps that little human hero was more appealing.
Clearly, this god-and-mortal duo knew each other well.
Thanatos knew Valetta was heading to settle a final score with her nemesis.
He also knew she was fundamentally a coward.
But when she could harm that hero, her courage would temporarily overwhelm her fear.
That moment had arrived.
Come to think of it…
"You're too late to catch up now… oh, she's already far off."
Thanatos leisurely stretched. "About ten seconds… nine… eight…"
The god watched the descending white light—the Moon Goddess Arrow.
Its destructive pressure expanded across the horizon.
Stretching lazily, Thanatos opened his arms. As a death god, he prepared to meet his own death.
Then…
CLANG~
Golden brilliance.
A reverse meteor streaking upward.
It appeared.
In an instant…
"Eh?"
Thanatos, prepared to enjoy his end, froze in shock.
Next moment…
BOOM~
Dazzling golden light collided directly with the pure-white Moon God's Arrow.
The shockwave spread outward instantly.
"Wah~"
The ridiculous god was blown away.
Tumbling…
Crack~
Giao~
One of his arms broke.
The cricket-like death god screamed in agony like Tom Cat in a cartoon.
==========
Time rewound to several dozen seconds earlier…
Humm~
Although Durandall was a highly unconventional (and forcedly so) holy sword, its core consciousness functioned as an ultimate AI with incredible computational power.
Calculating the trajectory of the Moon Goddes Arrow—the Arrow of Orion or also known as Artemis Arrow—was trivial for it.
When Renjiro realized the arrow's target was Orario…
"How much does that guy hate the gods? Willing to blow himself up along with his own mother (the Dungeon)?"
Uh, strictly speaking, that should be his grandmother.
The self-proclaimed ultra-cute the system interjected.
=============
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
140+ advance chapters available on P@treon(.)com/Veltoria