Ch.224223. Heaven’s Gift (2)

# 223. Heaven’s Gift (2)

It was an incredibly ironic situation.

That Bael, the very pinnacle of evil, would receive heaven’s blessing…

It made no sense whatsoever.

But that perspective was merely from the human point of view.

After all, only the gods themselves know whom they favor most.

“No matter what you believe, I alone am heaven’s true child. Does this sword not prove it?”

Despite using the god’s name Michael as his surname, he never particularly prayed to that deity.

In other words, he didn’t especially believe in these so-called gods.

Unlike his family members.

Yet seeing this display, one couldn’t help but believe in the existence of gods.

It was at a level that could only be explained as a divine gift.

“Ugh…!”

Wounds multiplying one after another.

In that situation, he made a bold decision.

Shouldering the enormous risk, he reached out toward Bael’s right hand that held the sword.

Bael stepped back at his action.

“Do you think that will work?”

Then he swung his sword at the opening that had appeared.

The sword, as if showing off, painted a picture across his left shoulder and side.

-Swish!! Slash!!-

At that moment, he used [Swift] as if he had been waiting for this chance.

Using the momentarily increased speed, he barely managed to grab Bael’s right hand.

Then he gripped that sword-wielding hand with all his might.

-Crunch!!-

He had thought this action would create an opening in Bael’s defense.

And indeed, Bael hadn’t predicted his move.

However, even with Bael’s sword now rendered useless, he couldn’t follow up with another attack.

The reason was simple.

“Did you think I would stake my life on a mere sword? If so… how amusing.”

Bael discarded the sword.

The sword then transformed into a mysterious substance, returned to Bael, and was ultimately absorbed into his body.

A mysterious substance.

He muttered while staring at it.

“That… that’s…”

He had seen this substance before.

The formless black mist-like appearance was quite similar to a technique someone often used.

Of course, it seemed slightly lighter in color.

“When I discard a weapon, it transforms like that and gets absorbed. How convenient.”

Bael’s leisurely voice.

Along with that voice, another new weapon appeared.

This time it was an axe.

A massive axe with an impressive combination of red and black.

Bael looked at the axe he had summoned and said:

“This… should be good for dealing with you all.”

At that moment, he realized.

That seizing weapons was completely useless, and that achieving victory against Bael was nearly impossible.

And just as that thought concluded, Bael charged at him, wielding the massive axe with one hand.

Then, predictably, he tried to bring it down on his head.

-Boom!!-

The axe made a thunderous noise as it was caught in his hand.

His hand and the axe engaged in a fierce contest of superiority, neither giving way, fighting to the end.

When Bael used both hands to support the axe, blood dripped one drop at a time from his hands.

In response, he too used both hands to block the axe.

“Ugh..!!”

“You’d better not push yourself!”

The balance that had been maintained began to collapse as time passed.

Naturally, he was the one giving way.

Gradually, the balance of power shifted against him, and the blood that had been dripping one drop at a time now poured like rain.

“Arghh..!!”

The Emperor screaming in pain.

The sight was so pitiful that it was fortunate no one else was present to witness it.

“Didn’t I tell you?! Not to push yourself!”

Bael shouted with a confident voice.

And what followed matched Bael’s confidence perfectly.

-Crack!!-

“AAAAARGH…!!!”

The axe split his hand in half and struck the ground.

It must have been quite a forceful blow, as the axe showed no intention of coming out of the floor.

But that wasn’t a problem for Bael.

“How does it feel to experience such extreme pain after so long? Quite refreshing, isn’t it?”

Clutching his left hand that had been split in two, he retreated step by step.

Then he collapsed onto the floor.

Sitting on the ground, the Emperor sprinkled holy water on his hand.

It was such a pitiful sight.

Pitiful.

Even more so because the holy water did nothing to heal the wound.

He stared at his hand that showed no reaction even to the highest-grade holy water—a grotesque hand.

Blood-stained, with inner flesh protruding, and even white bone visible—a disgusting sight.

And the holy water showing no effect.

As the water simply entered the wound, the Emperor grimaced and hung his head.

Bael looked at this pathetic sight and grinned broadly.

“Hahahahaha!!! Are you surprised that holy water isn’t working?!!”

It was as if he had been waiting for just this reaction.

Bael continued, holding his stomach:

“Samael’s Axe—did you think a wound made by such an axe could be healed by mere holy water?!”

[Samael’s Axe], which had transformed and been absorbed back into Bael’s body when he released it.

Bael used that skill again without giving him a moment to rest.

This time it was a spear longer than his own height.

“Quite an interesting weapon.”

He seemed to be enjoying himself.

Bael looked at him, now completely battered.

Still pinned to the ground, unable to overcome the pain, he said:

“If I had known it would be like this, I would have used it from the start. Don’t you think? When I could win so easily.”

“…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll send that daughter you cherish along with you.”

At those words, the Emperor gritted his teeth.

But that was all he could do.

Realistically, there was nothing he could do.

At best, he could only wait for reinforcements that might never come.

The moment he realized this, he thought:

‘Is this how it ends…? So futilely?’

It was so unfair.

Clearly, until just now, they had been evenly matched.

But as soon as Bael used that skill, an insurmountable gap had formed.

‘It’s like a miracle…’

With such empty thoughts, the faces of his family and that guy came to mind.

He remembered his slightly arrogant yet always sincere appearance.

‘Was I the arrogant one…?’

That thought wasn’t true.

He had lived more diligently than anyone.

For his country, for his citizens, for those around him—he had built his nation and trained himself without resting a single day.

But having come this far, he couldn’t help but think that way.

Having come this far, there was no one else to blame.

‘If I die here… who will protect this country? My citizens? Ellie?’

One young man came to mind as the answer to these thoughts.

But he was still lacking.

He was still insufficient to protect the country from that monster.

Yet he had no choice but to entrust it to him.

Though uncertain, he had no choice.

Because there was nothing he could do, because he couldn’t resist, because he couldn’t return alive.

He shouted loudly:

“Damn it..!!”

But the only one who heard that cry was the grim reaper before him.

Bael was enjoying watching his expression deteriorate.

He was deliberately not finishing him off.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll see each other in the same place soon enough.”

“Shut up…”

“Or how about dying together?”

“Why…”

A tiny voice, so small it was hard to imagine it belonged to the Emperor, was heard.

Bael focused on that voice.

“Why?”

“Why… are you doing this?”

“Reason? Then let me ask you first: after killing so many demons, did you think you could die peacefully?”

Bael spoke in a serious tone, different from before.

“I have quite a lot accumulated over the years, you see. I need to enjoy this moment. I can’t even remember how many years it’s been.”

Bael withdrew the spear he was holding.

The weapons disappeared; Bael no longer used that skill.

He merely continued their conversation.

“That’s how long I’ve waited for this moment—the moment you all crumble miserably.”

No one knows why Bael wants to bring humans to their knees.

Of course, no one was curious about it either.

There was no need to know, nor would there be any use in knowing.

But at this moment, he became curious.

“Why do you try so hard to stand above humans…?”

“Why are you curious about that? Are you trying to buy time now that you’re about to die? Rest assured. I won’t kill you now.”

“If that’s the case, kill me now.”

He had no face to show his daughter and that guy.

Since he couldn’t return alive even if he saw them, it would be better to die than to face them in such a pathetic state.

Of course, Bael wouldn’t grant that request.

“That won’t do. Killing you now would be too unfair for me.”

“Unfair…?”

“Yes, unfair.”

After finishing their conversation, Bael approached to bind him.

Though his legs were unharmed, he offered no resistance, seemingly accepting his defeat.

Just as Bael was about to cast a spell on him.

-Swish!!-

A dagger flew directly at the center of Bael’s head.