Ch.102Ep.102: D-3

“The 101st reincarnation…”

Honestly, it’s hard to grasp such a concept.

Though I understood what he said, I never expected to actually face it in reality.

Of course, I didn’t dismiss it as a complete lie.

I don’t know where this place is, but Larga wasn’t lying.

If you ask how I can tell truth from lies, I’m not sure.

I wasn’t bewitched, yet somehow I believed everything Larga said.

The question was what difference being the 101st reincarnation would make.

Seeing Radios’ dubious expression, Larga curled one corner of his mouth.

“You understand intellectually, but your face says you don’t really get it?”

“I understand that I’m a reincarnation. But what’s this about gathering power and wishes?”

“Think of it as our gamble.”

“Gamble.”

“Even beings like us can’t exist forever.”

The previous incarnations of Radios who met their deaths by Azathoth’s schemes totaled 100.

How could 100 independent entities exist with the same soul?

It all began with the ingenuity of Larga D’Wheil, the starting point of everything.

He was once a faithful apostle of Azathoth, rightfully considered his right-hand man.

But no matter whose subordinate he was, he naturally became curious about his master’s true identity.

After tracking the truth from the shadows, he discovered the bet between Azathoth and Chaos.

Learning that all these living beings were created merely for their wager.

Furious and wanting to overturn everything, Larga couldn’t do so as a mere insignificant being.

Then, he had a thought.

If he couldn’t do it himself, perhaps he should bet on his reincarnated self in another world.

“And I created a deep world within the soul, where Azathoth would never notice.”

“So this is that deep world?”

“Yes. We are essentially one soul, but we’ve lived different lives.”

Betrayed by Azathoth whom he trusted, Larga successfully fell into the soul’s deep world as planned.

However, a problem arose—the first winner of this bet wasn’t Azathoth but Chaos.

Though Larga’s soul was reborn in the world, he was too weak to overthrow the system.

Deciding to invest everything in his second life, Larga eventually changed his approach.

If the second didn’t work, he’d try the third.

“And eventually we reached the 101st. The 56th one showed promise, but we couldn’t reach a conclusion after deliberation.”

“I understand. But what do you mean by gamble?”

“The Ascended Order is a power only two beings in this world can possess. But this time was different.”

Notable examples include Hemera awakening the Ascended Order, and though Radios doesn’t know it, Yog-Sothoth awakening it as well.

But the key point here is:

Azathoth and Chaos didn’t give any other beings the possibility of awakening the Ascended Order.

“Yet somehow beings awakened the Ascended Order. Two of them.”

“So you think… something’s changed?”

“Yes. This is just my guess, but it seems more beings who know the truth of this world have appeared.”

Radios shook his head at his words.

No matter how he thought about it, those who knew the world’s truth were… countable on one’s fingers.

His companions, Yog-Sothoth, and Azathoth’s subordinates?

Counting them all, it might be more than fingers could count.

Larga isn’t a fool, so he must mean that not all these people know the world’s truth.

“Something beyond our understanding must have intervened.”

“And you see this intervention as our last chance?”

“Exactly. I can’t exist in the deep world forever. If my soul enters the reincarnation orbit once more… I might fall into eternal sleep.”

It takes a long time for the world to be created and destroyed.

Larga had witnessed it a hundred times, and he was now quite exhausted.

Yet he maintained his form and remained for one reason only: revenge.

Revenge against Azathoth, who had mocked his life and changed it completely.

If he could achieve that, he would have no regrets even if he vanished right now.

“We don’t have time, so stand up.”

“What are you planning?”

“You must now accept the Divine Orders of all 100 of us. Without that, you can’t face Azathoth.”

“…What nonsense.”

How could anyone accept 100 Divine Orders?

Even Kraud couldn’t manage two Divine Orders in his body and had to expel one in the form of a weapon—

“Wait, do I necessarily need to accept them into my body?”

“…Should I call you clever or cunning?”

Larga clicked his tongue at Radios, who was seeking a more efficient method.

Honestly, he too thought it would be suicidal to force 100 Divine Orders into Radios.

Yet he proceeded for a very simple reason.

If it were possible to contain 100 Divine Orders in one body.

It might be a new opportunity to step into a realm beyond the Ascended Order.

Even with 100 beings possessing Divine Orders, victory against Azathoth would be difficult.

So instead of quantity, he’d bet on quality.

If one person could freely wield 100 Divine Orders, then…

‘There would be a good chance of winning.’

He would do anything if it meant defeating Azathoth.

That had been Larga’s oldest wish since creating the deep world.

“First, let’s establish proper terms. You can call me Larga, but from now on, refer to the others as Second Spirit, Third Spirit, Fourth Spirit, Fifth Spirit.”

“So there are up to Ninety-ninth and Hundredth Spirit?”

“There’s no Hundredth Spirit. In a way, you could become the Hundredth.”

Though casually said, Radios felt a chill.

If he lost against Azathoth, he would share the same fate as them.

Death if he didn’t fight, freedom from fate if he won.

Could he possibly break this cruel Möbius strip?

“The first Divine Order you’ll accept is my Divine Sword.”

Swoosh!

As Larga reached toward the air, a familiar-shaped sword appeared.

Seeing that sword, Radios couldn’t help but exclaim.

“The God-Slaying Light Sword?! How did you—oh.”

Come to think of it, Larga was also Azathoth’s apostle. Though Radios had lost the God-Slaying Light Sword to Azathoth.

If he had known about the betrayal in advance, he might have planted some device.

The principles embedded in the God-Slaying Light Sword were impossible to merge without the Divine Fragment: Replication.

Seeing Larga create the God-Slaying Light Sword without that power made Radios realize how far he still had to go.

“Since we are essentially the same soul, you won’t feel much resistance accepting the Divine Order.”

“So what do I need to do?”

“Defeat me.”

“Huh?”

Why was the conversation heading in that direction?

He wanted to resolve this peacefully… but judging by Larga’s eyes, that ship had sailed.

Yet contrary to his thoughts, his body began to get excited.

Since he needed to defeat Azathoth.

If he couldn’t gain an advantage against the weaker Larga, his chances of avenging himself against Azathoth would diminish.

“Do we start the fight right here?”

“Get ready. Unless you want to be cut in half with one strike.”

“No matter what, I don’t think I’ll fall with one—”

Swish!

Before Radios could finish, the God-Slaying Light Sword aimed for his neck.

A catastrophe in the blink of an eye.

Radios calmly took control of the surrounding space with the Divine Order of Judgment.

By a hair’s breadth, he bent backward to avoid the God-Slaying Light Sword.

But what awaited him was:

“..!”

“I told you. It’s the Divine Order of the Divine Sword.”

“Damn it!”

“Let’s see how well you can block an endless rain of swords.”

Bang bang bang bang!

Following Larga’s gestures, countless God-Slaying Light Swords fell upon Radios like rain.

Just how much magical power did one need to shoot those God-Slaying Light Swords in volleys?

‘He was Azathoth’s first apostle!’

Naturally, he would have experience using infinite magical power with the Divine Fragment: Infinity.

And that experience would clearly surpass Radios’s.

Of course, he couldn’t use the Divine Fragment: Infinity now.

Experience is an undeniable power. Larga had likely cultivated strength comparable to his prime during his long years in the deep world.

“Haaah!”

To make matters worse, being in the deep world meant he couldn’t use Astrape or Triaina.

For Radios, it was as if his powerful skill, Divine Killing Shot, was sealed.

Divine Killing Shot was a skill that inflicted tremendous damage on beings with Divine Orders and Orders.

More precisely, it was a skill that grew stronger in proportion to the target’s strength.

He had thought he might be able to defeat Azathoth by utilizing it well.

‘Is he telling me not to hope for luck?’

Looking at Larga’s fierce gaze, he could be certain.

That such luck wouldn’t bring victory against Azathoth.

In that case.

“I’ll break through everything!”

Just as he always had.