"The masked figure, 'Gnome'... that's Filvis Challia, ain't it?"
Loki asked calmly, addressing the only follower Dionysus had left—the now-fuming God himself.
"Ah, yes..."
His precious, his one and only follower.
"Pfft...!!"
".....?"
"Kuh-kuh-kuh...!"
Loki barely managed to suppress the urge to burst into laughter at his words. She forced herself to squeeze out a question for Dionysus.
"So? What about this 'Gnome'?"
"...I praised that achievement. Filvis, who proved the existence of a defiled Spirit."
Dionysus felt a flicker of doubt at her reaction, but he quickly continued, convinced that even if the Loki Familia knew of Filvis's existence, they wouldn't be able to stop her.
"I was ecstatic!"
He clenched his fist tight.
"Beyond measure!"
"Now that we cannot use our divine powers, I was certain that a defiled Spirit would be the key to my plan!"
Through Filvis, who had transformed into a Creature, Dionysus had planned everything and seen the possibilities, operating in the shadows until this very day.
"And yer reason?"
Despite the revelation, Loki asked for his motivation with total nonchalance.
"The correction of the lower world."
"Aye, aye~ sure, I bet it is~"
She had heard these words from other Gods already, and even from her own children.
"'The heroes of the past were better'~ 'The intervention of the Gods must end'~ somethin' like that?"
".....?"
"'They grew strong on their own, pushed back the monsters, and surpassed their limits through their own power.'"
"...."
"'To open that Age of Heroes, I shall open the gates of the underworld'?"
Predicting that he would speak with such clear, unclouded eyes, Loki declared she was tired of hearing such stories. She began to openly mock Dionysus, no longer bothering to hide her contempt.
"Ye wonder why I'm so calm?"
"'Cause I've already seen this script before, ye damn moron."
Erebus, Alfia, and Zard had already preached that sermon and nearly achieved that goal.
"Ah~ well, ye weren't there, so I guess ye wouldn't know, would ye?"
They had already proven that the goal wasn't a return to the past, but rather the dazzling growth of current adventurers who surpassed the past.
"There's no way a brat like ye, who was just crawlin' in the shadows or hidin' away, would know that."
There was no way Dionysus, whose only goal was madness, would remember.
"Ye just want to see children wailing, don't ye?"
"The murals so carefully decorated here prove it. Yer tracks prove it."
She smirked.
"Ye just want to see an Orgia, don't ye?"
At Loki's words, Dionysus broke into a mad grin. It was no longer possible for him to pretend to be flustered, noble, or even rational.
He grinned wide.
"Well now~ I've been caught, haven't I!?"
"But yes, ye're right! Of course ye're right!!!"
"There is only one thing I desire!!"
In his crazed eyes and grotesquely twisted smile, his true intentions—his genuine, unfiltered heart—could finally be felt.
"Ah, Orgia! My lovely feast of madness!!"
"The old days when heroes ran wild! The old days when the lower world was ravaged by monsters!!!!"
He, like Thanatos, yearned for those times. However, unlike Thanatos who loved her work after death, Dionysus loved death itself.
"Those days were grand!!! Everyone fled from hideous monsters, letting out ear-splitting screams!"
"Looking down on that from the heavens, my heart always raced!!"
Dionysus was the [God of Deviance].
His ultimate goal was to trigger an explosion of resentment, confusion, and mystical ecstasy to cause chaos in a peaceful world.
A god of misunderstanding, indifferent to social order. That was the [Essence] of this male deity.
"That paradise also came to an end with the arrival of the Age of Gods!"
He gripped his hands tight.
"It's all Ouranos's fault!"
As he spoke, Dionysus expressed genuine rage and hatred toward Ouranos.
"Because that old man made a secret pact and sealed this land, the monsters' devastation...!"
He gnashed his teeth.
"The sight that resembled the underworld has vanished!"
"My madness has disappeared!"
To him, every landscape except for madness was gray and lifeless.
To Dionysus, that seemed outrageously evil.
"So ye decided to break it all, eh?"
Because he couldn't love this, because this didn't satisfy him, because he thought this was wrong.
"Then tell me one last thing."
This was the final thing Loki wanted to confirm from him. Whether the bastard was pure in his insanity or not.
"Those words of apology ye offered in front of the graves where yer children sleep."
—'I take the time to visit so I don't forget this feeling. There is nothing but apology.'
"Was that a lie too?"
The will he spoke of, the faith he held, had been so sincere that even knowing his true nature now, that one oath remained hard to doubt.
"...Not a single thing was false."
"I was sincerely apologizing to the children who left this world before me."
He wiped his eyes.
"...."
Wiping away the flowing tears, Dionysus looked truly, deeply sorrowful.
"I am sorry I couldn't offer ye as sacrifices along with the other children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
**
"To think only three of ye were killed together... How lonely ye must have been, how bored ye must have been...!!!!!!!"
"Because I couldn't give ye a grand funeral as sacrifices for my sake..."
Tears streamed down.
"I am truly sorry!!!!!!!!"
The members of the Dionysus Familia were sacrifices he had personally and carefully selected.
"Failures who became adventurers but prioritized survival over adventure..."
"Talents who couldn't give up on life even right before death, pushing away comrades, holding back friends, and using lovers as stepping stones!!!"
That obsession with life twice as strong as others, those struggling faces, that agony. Dionysus was enjoying it all.
"So ye truly cherished them in yer own way..."
Loki understood. She understood the true intent of the bastard named Dionysus standing before her.
She smirked.
"Aye, I hear ye loud and clear~?"
That was why she could laugh. That was why everything Akumo had said made sense.
"Ye're just a pathetic loser jerkin' off to the name of madness."
".....What?"
"Ye don't even know what true confusion or chaos is... ye're just a moron who wants to see blood."
"Loki... are ye seriou—"
"Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
She knew better than anyone because she too had once killed other Gods just for the sake of confusion, just for the sake of fun.
"To think my opponent was a moron who thought he wouldn't be betrayed? A moron who thought he was controllin' everyone~"
Suddenly, Loki's eyes glowed with a chilling red light.
"If ye love madness that much, go live like that and rot in it."
The jester wanted to show him the confusion that she—no, her children—would provide.
"That's why I acted on my own authority to save ye. Lefiya."
Filvis stood tall.
"Perhaps I was being saved by ye as well."
She smiled.
It was the same for Filvis. She wanted to gift him the massive chaos that was about to erupt in this [Knossos].
"Fight with us, Filvis-san!"
"It's not too late! Just like before, once more...!"
But it seemed Lefiya still wanted to save her, believing she was suffering.
"...It's impossible. I am Dionysus-sama's follower."
Curious about how she would react and what she would say, Filvis initially gave a standard answer.
"That God is just using ye as a pawn! He doesn't think of ye as a follower!"
"Ye said it yourself earlier, Filvis-san!! That ye were being deceived!"
It was true. Filvis had been deceived and used by him for a very long time.
"I know that much. Even so, I can't join ye."
"Why!?"
"...Lefiya. Do ye think I am beautiful?"
"Well, of course—"
Riiip—!!!
Filvis stretched her own flesh before her. Like rubber, stretching until everything inside was visible.
"Look, Lefiya. Look closely."
Inside her body, something resembling a wall of flesh writhed around a Magic Stone.
"Seeing me like this, can ye still call me beautiful!?"
'Like that man? Could ye tell me I'm lovely!?'
She knew she was being unreasonable. That was why she had to test Lefiya even more.
"...It doesn't matter."
And Lefiya saw right through her heart.
"No matter what ye are, no matter yer race, can't we just fight together?"
"...."
"Just as ye chose to save me on yer own authority... I want to save ye on my own authority...!"
Filvis couldn't help but laugh at that answer. It was exactly what the man she had come to love most had said.
"Well, those were good words."
Tears fell.
"I really don't want to let ye die, do I?"
Filvis Challia, Filvis Ein.
They smiled at Lefiya. And then, they called out to someone.
Step, step—!
"Ah~ truly, indeed~"
""""!!!?"""""
"Ah... ye've come, sir."
The one they welcomed with smiles was a man—the Pioneer's brother, and his greatest nemesis. Or perhaps, a fellow compatriot who enjoyed the same game.
**
Rumble—!!!!!!
"..."
"Akumo-san!? Shouldn't we be joining the Captain now...!"
Aki had been moving toward the position of the 1st Unit where Finn was, accompanied by Akumo who had saved them. She was greatly flustered when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"He's coming."
"Pardon...? What exactly is..."
"The bastard is coming."
He smirked.
"Ye all join Finn first."
To engage in a battle unprecedented in history, the man who held the name Akumo before the title [Pioneer] moved.
He took a deep breath.
"Ah~ this is good, and that's good too~"
Feeling the desperation, despair, malice, rage, and hatred permeating this labyrinth—or perhaps lingering since the past—something kept surfacing in Akumo's mind.
Whoosh—!!!
"[Full Bloom]."
""""!!"""""
Soon, a red flower bloomed from his hand.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A massive, indelible hole was blasted through a corner of [Knossos].
Swish—!!!!
"Ah~ I didn't think it would start this soon~"
Emerging through the hole, Akumo quickly exited the labyrinth and headed back to the surface.
"Even if I kill them, the chant won't stop in the end."
'About two hours left until the collapse, then~'
Just as he expected, no matter how many Spirits he killed, the chanting did not cease.
Shhhhh—!!!
"What! What's happening!?"
In that state, an anomaly finally occurred on the surface as well.
Shhhhh—!!!!!!
—~♪
Particles of red light rose from beneath the city. Along with the light dancing madly, a song could be heard.
"Is this... a song?"
A funeral march of death and destruction that sounded like a peaceful lullaby and a solemn requiem all at once.
Rumble—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Gwah!?"
The ground began to shake. Turmoil spread through the streets of the business district. Even the adventurers and Gods who had a premonition of this massive scale trembled.
"Only three remain, yet the songs of six overlap as one."
"The tremors of the earth turn into a roar, and now everyone realizes."
Akumo's words were as if he were narrating the current situation exactly. Just as he said, Royman came rushing to Ouranos in a panic.
Dash, dash—!!!
"Lord Ouranos, we've reached the limit!!"
"......"
"We can no longer hide this situation from the citizens!!!"
The waves of light filled Orario and soon began to be observed even outside the city.
"Ah..... it's over now....."
Demeter gripped her hands.
"Because of Dionysus's plan... because I was too soft and got betrayed..."
Tears fell.
"The city, the lower world, will be destroyed...!!!!"
Demeter despaired in that light. Because of her choice, the lower world would not be able to avoid the path of destruction.
Step—!
"No, not yet."
However, the God of Adventure knew better.
He took a deep breath.
'Gather as much breath as possible~'
He smirked.
He saw one adventurer who remained completely unmoved by this massive wave of light, merely preparing to convey something to everyone.
"START IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The signal for the massive event he shouted out.
**
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Acting covertly at a time like this... it doesn't sit well with me, but..."
Fels used every magic item at his disposal to block the detection of the green flesh. Thus, he had infiltrated deep into the labyrinth.
"Thanks to that, I found it. The multiple circulation points of magical power on the 10th floor."
Whirrr—!!!!!
"This is the last one."
He had cross-referenced a total of eight locations with the structure of the Spirits' grand ritual found in Daedalus's notes and from the Gods. He found the target by tracking the magical power that leaked out while the six Spirits and the Loki Familia were battling.
"It's been reduced to three thanks to Akumo, but it's still impossible to stop the grand ritual itself."
"However, it is possible to remove the interference at the altar."
A booming voice reached Fels's ears. It was undoubtedly Akumo giving the signal from outside.
"Yes, I'll do as ye wish. Akumo."
'Now, go wild to yer heart's content, everyone!'
Whirrr—!!!!!!!!!!!!
With that voice as the signal, all the forces of Orario began to move.
"START IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Deploy the entire army."
At Akumo's shout, Ouranos hardened his resolve and deployed all forces into Daedalus Street.
"""!!"""
"T-They're here!!"
"They're really here! The [Freya Familia]!"
Before they could even recover from the shock of the [Pioneer's] shout, a shocking scene unfolded before the eyes of the Ganesha Familia members standing guard.
"Hehe, those children have set the stage so well..."
Freya smiled.
"I can't exactly stay inside, can I?"
'To think he'd say such things before leaving~'
Freya recalled the time Finn and Akumo had visited her.
"Ye received it from Hermes-sama, didn't ye? The proposal."
"Then ye know, don't ye? That I hate being toyed with."
Initially, she had intended to flatly refuse the letter Hermes had sent to numerous reinforcements through Asfi.
She had planned to conquer the man-made labyrinth with their own power alone.
"However, that is impossible."
"...And the reason?"
Whoosh—!!!
"""!!"""
The sight was enough to plunge the Goddess of Beauty into astonishment, and even Ottar beside her was shocked.
"Please, fight with us."
The sight of Akumo without his right arm was something they couldn't have even imagined, but what was even more shocking was Akumo's appearance, which seemed even stronger despite it, followed immediately by Finn's words.
"In this battle where, above all else, neither wealth nor fame can be gained."
Finn clenched his fist.
"In order to seize victory through the hands of all those who have committed themselves."
There were those who had resolved to protect the innocent citizens living in this city, and those who had sworn to protect this home.
"We must win together with all such people."
That was what Finn desired, and it was the only will that could truly land a blow on the existence known as Enyo.
"Like the heroes of the past who brought peace to the lower world, we are going to weave a divine tale once more."
Finn expressed a strong will regarding the story of heroes they would write themselves, showing firm resolve to Freya.
"Well~ ye won't regret participating."
Akumo smirked.
"Ye can't miss out on a noble battle, can ye? O Goddess."
Following Finn, the look in Akumo's eyes as he spoke to Freya with casual politeness held the same conviction as always.
A massive conviction that he would show a grand adventure that those participating would never regret.
"Ye've all changed quite a bit, haven't ye?"
If it were the Finn of the past, he would never have spoken of 'ideals' or 'a divine tale woven by true heroes.'
If it were the Akumo of the past, he would never have mixed his own greed into his ideals. Even if he did, it would have been for those who could be called weaker than himself.
"Becoming the hero the Gods desire isn't exactly easy."
"Losing an arm really cleared my head!"
There was no way the noble Goddess Freya would refuse their proposal.
**
"START IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And Akumo's massive shout, ringing through the city, surely reached the warriors as well.
"Heehee... Heeheehee!!!!!! Truly a fine night!!"
Kali stood tall.
"The voice of the greatest warrior has resounded!!!!!!!!!"
The [Kali Familia]—they too had succeeded in arriving in Orario.
"It is the best night guaranteed by the greatest warrior!!! It will surely be incomparable to the struggle with Freya!"
Kali's joyful shout regarding the struggle stimulated all the Amazons present.
"Go wild to yer heart's content, ye lot!!"
""""We are the true warriors!""""
"Now, let's head in!!!!!!"
""""We are the true warriors!""""
Kali had brought every single warrior of her Familia. Naturally, Argana and Bache were also present.
"Ah, it's a fine night!!"
"Wait for us, Darling! Ye can't have a night like this without us!!!"
The Amazons there weren't just from the Kali Familia.
"We can't be losing to the Kali Familia! Let's go, girls!!!!!"
""""""Uwoooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""""
The former [Ishtar Familia] also decided to join the fray, and a massive number of people gathered on Daedalus Street.
"Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Watching that scene from a high building, Akumo immediately shouted once more. He wanted more, even more warriors and heroes to gather.
"Honestly, Akumo-kun... it hasn't been that long since ye were treated..."
"Well, I think we're about the same?"
Just as he said, heroes were gathering. Great heroes were assembling, and it was gradually heading toward the climax.
"To have such a headache right after returning from an expedition, honestly..."
Lili sighed.
"In the first place, what are we even supposed to do!?"
"It's a mission, so we have no choice but to go, Lilidoll."
"Besides, Akumo-dono is shouting so excitedly like that."
"I can hear the voices of Aisha-san and the others too. Let's go!"
Unlike the troubled Lili, Welf, Mikoto, and even Haruhime seemed to feel the resonance in the adventurers' voices and were full of the will to fight.
"Orario is in danger. My brother, Aiz-san, and the others are fighting."
Bell stood firm.
"So I want to be of help too."
With the [Hestia Familia] also joining the battle, the true end was approaching.
Akumo smirked.
"Ah....!!!! It's truly the best!!!!!!!!!!!!"
No, it was surely the beginning of another peak.
========================
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