Tadadak—!!!!
"Brother!!!?"
At the sound of the massive commotion, Bell immediately rushed toward Akumo.
"Yo, Bell. Have you been doing well?"
"What is all this..."
Step—!
"It is nothing. Only that the battle has begun anew."
Bell could see the landscape Akumo was pointing to. Everyone had gathered, discussing how to slay the giant Evil Dragon positioned beneath them.
Grip—!
"Will you venture forth into an adventure once more?"
Without further explanation, Akumo simply gave his child a gaze filled with absolute conviction.
"...Yes, of course!"
The boy, trusting him implicitly, accepted the challenge without hesitation.
"Ahaha, that's just like you, Bell."
Swish—!
"....."
After smiling at the boy, Akumo fell into a brief moment of contemplation, thinking of Alfia, who would be with the Hermes Familia.
'Alfia...'
He wondered if this would trigger her trauma, or if she would see glimpses of Zard and Zeus in the distance. For a moment, he hesitated, but—
Grip—!
"She will be fine. If it is that woman, she can handle it."
"...I suppose so."
Swish—!
"Thank you, Riveria."
Grateful for her comfort, Akumo held Riveria's hand and offered a small smile.
Step, step—
"By the way, wouldn't you like to say a few words?"
"Everyone is likely just as bewildered by the sudden turn of events."
As they exchanged smiles, their comrades approached and pointed toward the gathered host of adventurers.
"What could I possibly have to say..."
Akumo seemed troubled by their request, but realizing the gravity of the situation—and that everyone before him had come to risk their lives to protect this world—he finally opened his mouth.
"""""".....""""""
The noisy chatter of the adventurers died down instantly as all eyes focused on Akumo.
"First of all, you must be very confused."
"About who I am, and everything I've shown you today."
However, that was exactly what he intended.
—'Please live...! Dad!'
—'Akumo...!!'
Having experienced the events of the 37th floor, met his own clone, and faced the brink of death through defeat, he decided to be a little stubborn.
"But I will make one thing certain."
Swish—!
"I will grieve if you die. So, do not die."
It was a simple statement, but for them, it was more than enough.
Tremble—!
"Is sacrifice... inevitable for us?"
"Even so, we must go. To protect everyone."
Despite witnessing Akumo's presence, the adventurers couldn't help but shake.
In the end, he would be facing a monster that rivaled himself. The fear of having to face the Evil Dragon Nidhogg on their own caused some to shudder.
"...Finn."
"I know, Ottar."
Seeing the state of the troops, Finn and Ottar realized they had to ask Akumo for one more favor.
"What!? Are you two serious...?"
"Dead serious."
"There's no need to worry so much. Since you're the one doing it, it'll be fine."
"Good grief, you guys..."
After a few minutes had passed, Akumo slowly approached Akuo.
"Our meeting ends after this fight."
"I know."
Akuo looked at Akumo with a somewhat bitter expression. He had enjoyed living in this world, and even if his very existence was no different from the man before him, others did not see it that way.
"For their sake."
"Let's go out as flamboyantly as possible."
Rumble—!!!!!!!!!!!
To give everyone courage, and to show them the grand records of their achievements—
Clang—!
[Artemis's Dagger]. It was the first Divine Artifact he had ever manifested.
Through his adventure in Elsos, he had saved a girl, and this was the peerlessly beautiful artifact he had created for her.
Thud—!!
[Hephaestus's Hammer]. It was the artifact he received from the beautiful goddess who recommended the path of a blacksmith to him when he first arrived in Orario and sought his own weapon.
Clack—!!
[Hermes's Shoes]. Though the God was a trickster like his own Patron Deity and always ranked first in causing trouble, it was an artifact from a God he couldn't bring himself to hate.
"Take them all."
"Are you sure about this?"
"It's fine. More than fine."
Even Akuo felt worried for Akumo for the first time.
Divine Artifacts were the strongest weapons he knew. To hand all of them over to him...
"""".....""""
"Have faith."
Finn could only offer those words of trust to the adventurers who had fallen into a heavy silence.
Tremble—!
Grip—!!!
Grit—!
No matter how afraid they were, no matter what worst-case scenarios flashed through their minds, they chose to believe. Just like the boy standing before them.
"...Brother."
The boy's eyes were fixed squarely on Akumo.
That was all it took.
"Aria..."
"...Is that?"
Whatever the form, they were beings closest to Spirits, so they could feel it.
Swish—!
The presence was so intense it forced them to stop their own battle, even though they had been too focused on combat to notice the destruction around them.
"Darkness...?"
'It is a darkness so cold and deep...'
Yet, it inspired trust. It brought a strange sense of peace.
'But why?'
That question was answered easily the moment they lifted their heads a little higher.
"Ah... I see."
Despite spreading black wings and appearing as the very nightmare of the Lower World, his brilliance was no different from the white-haired boy who looked up at him with such honesty.
"So that is what true power looks like...!"
"Unbelievable..."
Aiz smiled. It was power obtained by killing one's own self.
She had always feared the answer to what lay at the end of power gained by burning away one's very life.
Ding—!
"Not anymore."
With the radiant sound of a bell ringing in her ears, she realized that what lay at the end was pure strength that would surely make her stronger, and she finally accepted it.
Ding—!
Ding—!
Ding—!
With the Hero's Bell, he thought of those he loved and those who loved him.
"Thank you, everyone, for loving someone like me."
From the Gods to the humans, even the monsters loved him.
Flutter—!!
Even as the wings unfurled, no one screamed. That was simply the kind of existence he was.
""[Black Dragon]"."
Even with the darkest power in this story, he was the existence that would shine the most brilliantly.
There was no terror, no despair, no fear.
Step, step—
Witnessing that form, everyone calmly headed toward their respective battlefields.
"""...."""
The trembling had stopped. How could it not?
"After laying eyes on such a being..."
"How could a mere fake dragon ever be enough to satisfy us?"
The black wings spread wide, the violet eyes that occasionally turned crimson, and the noble figure standing tall with a staff.
"Ah..."
Dionysus was dazed. It was only natural.
"I can't even remember how many times... how long I've lived as a clown..."
'But I've never seen anyone like you, Akumo.'
Loki, as his mother and as a living being who loved him, watched him with beauty in her eyes, no matter what form he took.
"Bell..."
"Yeah, Welf."
"Akumo-san really is amazing."
Grin—!
"He really is...!"
For those who always longed for the heroes of fairy tales while writing their own stories, his appearance was enough to warp their common sense.
"I'm so happy...!"
"So incredibly happy!"
An even greater joy filled their bodies.
—'This is a story that will not be recorded in history.'
—'It is the Sword Oratoria.'
Smirk—!
"I think I did a really good thing, even if I say so myself."
He didn't want to tarnish such a radiant sight. Even if someone left it as a mural, a document, or spoke of it in words, who would ever believe them?
"From then until now, it has always been about the [Encounter]."
The boy who sought an encounter in the Dungeon had met Akumo, and thus, he was able to come this far.
" I shall remember this with these two eyes until the day I die."
"I shall do the same."
The two elves loved Akumo for carving a scene into their long lives that would never be forgotten.
Even if they forgot everything else, they would never forget him—at least, not the sight they had just witnessed.
"Even if I am to die by your hand, I will remain by your side here."
The elf who believed she had become a monster accepted everything and waited for her savior's battle to end.
Whoosh—!!
"...Akumo."
The woman whose life and soul had been saved by him could hear a cry echoing from somewhere.
'The one that tormented me endlessly...'
It was the sound of the black beast. The sound of the monster and nightmare that had once toyed with them.
"....Yet, why does it feel so peaceful?"
Swish—!
Placing a hand over her heart, she felt a resonance different from the cry she remembered.
Thump, thump—!
"Ah... I see."
Thump—!
Like a lullaby sung before sleep, like a confession of love whispered in the ear. That darkness felt so radiant and beautiful.
"I've fallen for you once again."
'My love.'
Starting from that point, the aftermath of the darkness reached everyone in Orario—no, everyone even outside of Orario.
"A radiant... darkness."
'So this is what it meant...'
The beings in her prophecy were all the same person.
Cutting off his own arm, fighting himself, suppressing his emotions, and hiding his goals.
"Applaud the return of the King."
But not anymore. He trusted the people who loved him and showed them his everything.
".....No way."
"Truly...?"
For the God of Adventure and the Goddess of Fertility, it would be more believable to think their senses were lying to them.
"It's so brilliant it brings tears to my eyes..."
Trickle—!
"Ah.... It is black, so very black..."
The Goddess of Beauty atop Babel smiled through tears of joy even in the face of the massive, unhideable darkness.
"Akumo-kun..."
"Akumo..."
"I will believe."
The God and Goddess of Justice both called out the same name, feeling the peerless dark energy from below, but at the same time, they knew.
In their hearts, just like the God of Blacksmiths, faith in him was welling up.
"Believe in his pioneering. Believe in his power."
Even the God of Orario, who knew that existence better than anyone and knew how terrible it could be—
""""""Win.""""""
Purely, for the first time in hundreds of millions of years.
The memory of a radiant darkness that would never be forgotten, no matter how much time passed, had been etched into them.
I had a dream.
In that dream, I was a being who pioneered the world.
It didn't matter what weapon I held.
Whether it was a white sword, a moonlight dagger, shoes that could fly through the sky, or a God's hammer that could repair anything.
All of them were my destiny and became the power to pioneer my future.
Even if it was the staff of the darkest dragon.
Even if it was the sword of the most radiant God.
Strength and weakness, good and evil, justice and desire, and even madness.
"Make myself even darker, make myself even more radiant."
Whoosh—!!!!
"That shall be the path I pioneer."
Pouring everything into the clash, staff and sword collided. They rang out through space as silently—no, as flamboyantly as battle fireworks.
Crack—!!!!!!!!
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!
Clang—!!!!!!!!!
Slash—!!!!!!!!
Even as the Divine Sword cut into him, his black flames devoured everything to protect their master.
Flare—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clang—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Five black flames shot toward him, burning everything and causing his very body to rot away.
Thrust—!!!!!!!
Even so, the Divine Sword pierced the Black Dragon's belly, proving it would never break, as they showed each other their true hearts.
Crash—!!!!!!!
"Fight back!!!!!!!"
—Kuaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Believe in everyone!!!!!!!"
It was the same for the countless adventurers and warriors below, and for those pioneering their own paths.
They poured everything into the Evil Dragon before them, seeking to protect what they held dear.
"It no longer matters who is Akumo and who is Akuo."
Clash—!!!!!!!!
"That goes without saying."
Grind—!!!!!!!!!
"Let us exchange our flames and swords."
The Divine Sword tore through the black flames and cut the King's skin. The black flames brushed past the Divine Sword and scorched the King's flesh.
Clang—!!!
Soon, the clash of weapons that had reached the supreme realm only served to prolong the fight, and they returned to the primitive.
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!
"This too!!!"
Smack—!!!!!!!!!!
"Is good!!!"
Thud—!!!!!!!!!!!!
As if reminiscing about the Xenos incident, reminiscing about those incredibly fun and joyful days, Akumo and Akuo smiled as they traded punches and kicks.
"Now!"
Slash—!!!
Akuo immediately swung his Divine Sword, aiming for an opening—or perhaps Akumo was doing the same.
Screech—!!!
"We think exactly alike, you and I."
"Because I am your very self."
Like the fight on the 27th floor, even if it was a cowardly surprise attack or a betrayal, it didn't matter to them.
"Could we have come this far without deception?"
"Could we have come this far if we had only fought?"
Betrayal and using others were just another form of power to them.
"Even so...."
Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Nothing beats fighting directly."
Of course, what suited their tastes best was a battle where everything collided.
Spurt—!!!
Gush—!!!
After countless exchanges, blood splattered. They coughed up blood from their mouths.
""Ah.... I don't want this to end.....""
The memories of pioneering recorded in their bodies, their souls, and their minds.
It was such a radiant history, a feast of overwhelming sights.
"How many lives."
Flare—!!!!!!!!!!!
"How many worlds."
Slash—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
""Have we passed through?""
Sometimes it was a land of pioneering where war continued, sometimes it was an era of peace that required a hero. Sometimes it was a sea of bloody battle for the throne, and sometimes it was a world of races fighting for their own positions.
From the world of runes to the modern world some spoke of. All of them were radiant pioneering.
"That is my child. Ye get it, Dionysus?"
"...."
"I understand why ye're dazed."
Loki remembered every side of him he had shown her since the moment they first met.
"That lad can do it."
The Trickster of Heaven, the troublemaker of Heaven. That Loki had come to the Lower World and cherished her children, and finally, she had met him.
"The greatest clown, and the greatest hero."
He didn't have to be noble. Using others was fine, too.
She just hoped he wouldn't foolishly sacrifice himself for someone else. She just wanted him to reveal his own desires.
"While being recognized by everyone, and being stronger than anyone else....."
Grin—!
"My hero."
Loki's hero, a bundle of contradictions, had appeared.
"I don't have that lecherous charm, nor do I have that brat's benevolence."
'I thought I'd be satisfied just by being the first to approach him...'
Loki recalled that day.
The day Akumo truly showed his weak side to her for the first time.
—'You were warmer than any other goddess.'
Hug—!
The fact that there was a hero who would warmly embrace her in his broad arms and give her such a gentle smile.
"I was so happy, so incredibly happy."
She, who had been so intoxicated by the poison of boredom that she had even committed the act of killing other Gods.
"I don't think of it as salvation, and I've never regretted it."
'But... even so...'
Her face turned slightly red, and for the first time in a long while, she spoke with peerlessly clear eyes while watching her hero fight for everyone.
"That's why I love ye."
She wanted to convey those words to him herself.
Smirk—!
"So it's about time ye finished this once and for all!!!!!!!!!!"
As if trying to hide her reddened face, she shouted louder than usual, cheering for her hero.
The final moment arrived. The end of a long, long moment was finally approaching.
"".....""
Their bodies were etched with countless wounds from terrible curses and clean scars from the sword.
"Haah... haah..."
"You seem to be having a hard time?"
Yet neither of them lost the smile they sent to the other.
"It's about time I returned to everyone."
As if there had never been two people there to begin with, Akumo's voice finally became one.
Grip—!!!!
Clang—!!!
Akumo and Akuo firmly gripped the Black Dragon's staff and the Divine Sword.
This time had been so enjoyable, but to move forward, he recalled the memories of pioneering recorded in his everything as the power for his new pioneering.
Screech—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A harsh sound, as if tearing the world apart, echoed as massive black dragon wings sprouted from Akumo's back.
Rip—!!!!!
""Black Dragon""
Flutter—!!!
With that, the deepest and darkest power in this world swirled around Akumo's body, beginning to wrap around him as if to protect him.
Whoosh—!!!!!
From the blade of the Divine Sword, a sharp aura simply swirled, waiting for the user's will.
Boom—!!!!!!!!!
Then, with a massive sound, several Divine Swords deployed around Akuo, surrounding the space like a territory.
Boom—!! Boom—!! Boom—!!
Those Divine Swords were immediately driven into the ground one by one, creating a magnificent sight, and Akuo then raised his sword high.
Sizzle—!!!
Crack—!!!!
Flare—!!!
And as if lighting a fire with flint, a crimson aura, redder than anything else, spread from the swords in the air and began to dye everything.
Whoosh—!!!!!
Each of those swords was an absolute blade capable of even slaying a God.
As all six deployed Divine Swords were dyed crimson, they began to be absorbed into the single Divine Sword Akumo held.
Boom—!! Boom—!!!
""Excalibur""
Excalibur, flashing like a heartbeat, emitted a pressure that threatened to annihilate everything in its path.
Screech—!!!!!!!!!!
Boom—!!!!!!!!
The dragon's cry that would tear everything apart and the pulsing sound of the Divine Sword overlapped, echoing like a countdown to the end of the battle.
""Farewell.""
With those words, the truly strongest forces collided.
Kaaaa-boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Black Dragon's aura wrapped around Akumo's body then attacked through the staff he swung as he charged, striking hundreds of times like cursed spikes to tear the enemy before him.
Kiiiiiing—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In contrast, Excalibur flashed crimson and was swung in a straight line with all his heart to cut down the enemy before him.
Screech—!!!!!!!!
Grind—!!!!!!!!!
In the ultimate collision that sounded as if the world were being split apart, the winner was—
Thud—!!
"Haah... haah...."
Was it thanks to the Goddess's cheers, or was it because he loved this world more?
"I won."
It was Akumo's victory.
========================
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