Chapter 54: Final (3)
by fnovelpia
The princess lifted her head, gazing up at the barrage of slashes descending upon her.
Countless slashing spells layered upon one another, carrying an ominous power.
It was as if numerous sorcerers had simultaneously cast slashing spells at a single point.
If she allowed this attack to land, not even the divine armor would keep her unharmed.
“Is this all you’ve got?”
Divine power burst forth from the stigma etched into the princess’s hand.
The holy mark expanded, completely covering her arm.
Then—
Clang!
Time, which had slowed down for the princess, shattered.
“Haaaah!”
A beam of divine light shot from the long spear she held, piercing toward the sky.
KABOOM!
The rain of slashes colliding with the divine light sent a deafening roar echoing through the air.
The crowd could only watch in stunned silence.
“Leighton, you are truly… incredible.”
Leyna marveled at the sight Leighton had created.
“Show me the growth you displayed when you faced me, princess,” the Sword Emperor murmured, arms crossed.
“Please… Please let there be an upset…” the Elf Queen prayed for Leighton’s victory.
“Crush that bastard, Rebecca!”
“You can do it! You’re my son, the one who inherits the Fuhrer’s bloodline!”
The Emperor and the Chancellor each cheered for their children.
The entire continent, whether present in the arena or watching through transmission devices, held their breath as they observed the duel between Leighton and Rebecca.
As the light from the explosion faded, Leighton slowly descended.
“Huff… Huff…“
Rebecca was gasping for breath.
“It seems undoing the time-slowing effect consumes a significant amount of stamina.”
It was unexpected that the princess could break through the time manipulation.
He had never imagined she would shatter the interference of time itself.
She was a monster so powerful that he could hardly hope to stand against her with his strength alone.
“But now, I’m different.”
Wuuung
The pattern reappeared in Leighton’s hollow eyes.
“Tsk!”
The princess felt her body slow down again.
Leighton had reactivated the time-slowing lag on her body.
“A representative of God! Let’s see what you can do!”
Leighton formed hand seals, and the tornadoes of slashes began to descend from the sky once more.
“…!”
The princess’s eyes widened.
She had expended too much divine power breaking the slow effect and blocking the last attack.
Now, only about 20% of her power remained in the holy mark.
If her opponent could continue attacking like this, she wouldn’t be able to handle it in her current state.
The only outcome she could see was defeat.
Defeat?
‘No…’
She had been chosen by the GM, made into a king by his will.
The Lord had trusted his servant and bestowed upon her the role of Apostle.
All who followed him were upon her shoulders.
She was the fence that protected them, the Apostle of God.
She could not lose to this villain who had dared to challenge God…
Grit
“I won’t allow it!”
Blood trickled from the princess’s lips as she bit down hard.
Clang
The holy mark on the princess emitted light, breaking the time-slowing effect on her.
“Uraaaaaah!”
She grasped her spear tightly and soared into the sky. Leighton, maintaining the slashing storm with his hand seals, rapidly approached.
“1”
Leighton’s eyes widened as Rebecca charged at him.
She was faster than the slashing storm.
‘At this rate, I’ll be struck down!’
Just before Rebecca’s spear could strike him…
Wuuuung
The light from the holy mark on the princess’s hand extinguished.
All of her divine power had been exhausted.
“Oh no!”
Rebecca fell helplessly to the ground.
Leighton had brazenly declared war on God.
She, the Apostle of GM, had failed to stop this challenger and was now facing defeat.
‘Am I… so insignificant…?’
Chosen by God.
Empowered by God.
Supported by the faithful of God.
And yet, this is all I amount to…
I’m sorry, GM. I…
Rebecca closed her eyes as the slashing storm hurtled toward her.
Just before the tornadoes of slashes could land on Rebecca…
Flash
“Aaah! What is this?!”
“So bright!”
A brilliant light burst forth from Rebecca, as if the sun had fallen in the middle of the arena.
Boom! Boom!
The intense light erased all of Leighton’s slashes.
“What is… this?”
Rebecca’s eyes widened at the immense divine power she felt within her.
— “Oh King, vanquish those who dare challenge our God!”
— “Please defeat the bad man, Apostle!”
— “Rebecca, you must win!”
— “We, the Faithful, place all our hopes in you. Oh King, show everyone the glory of GM!”
The wishes of many echoed within her.
Those who believed in GM, those who followed GM.
Those who acknowledged Rebecca as GM’s Apostle and their King.
The wishes of all who wanted judgment to fall upon Leighton, the one who dared declare a challenge to GM, converged in one place.
Everyone who wished for the Apostle of GM not to lose.
“Everyone…”
The holy mark on Rebecca’s arm began to expand.
Before she knew it, her entire body was covered in holy marks.
She was the King, the representative of GM, the one who represented the faithful who believed in the omnipotent God.
In a world where faith could give birth to gods, the wishes gathered through the broadcast system could manifest tremendous power.
Rebecca placed her hand on her smooth lower abdomen, the only part of her body unmarked by the holy insignia.
‘So warm.’
Rebecca felt GM’s warm hand gently stroking her lower abdomen.
“I am Rebecca, the King appointed by GM!”
Whooooosh
An overwhelming amount of divine power erupted from Rebecca.
Though temporary, the concentrated wishes of those across the continent had granted her power akin to that of a god.
Rebecca became a beam of light, shooting toward Leighton.
Through his hollow eyes, Leighton comprehended the situation unfolding before him.
“…This is too much.”
His vision was filled with pure white light.
BOOOOOOOM!
— “The victor of the final match is Princess Rebecca! She shall become the King established by GM and His first Apostle!”
““WAAAAAHHHHHHHH!””
The arena was filled with cheers.
“No enemy shall stand unscathed before my Lord!”
Thud
Under the black night sky, amidst dazzling lights and resounding cheers, Rebecca raised her spear.
“Those who defy the Almighty shall pay the price for their sins!”
The divine power gathered from the wishes of the faithful, which should have dispersed after fulfilling its purpose, instead accumulated within the princess.
Flash
A golden divine light took the form of a crown above the princess’s head.
It was shaped by her subconscious.
“It’s a coronation!”
“The Apostle is being anointed directly by God…”
“Rebecca, the anointed one of GM… the Apostle Rebecca.”
It was the moment when she passed judgment on God’s enemy and ascended to the rank of Apostle.
Leighton opened his eyes to bright light.
“Where… am I?”
He looked around and was greeted by a white space—an infinite expanse of white, devoid of anything.
“I see… That sacred power… So I was defeated by the princess.”
Leighton recalled the divine grandeur that had overwhelmed him in his final moments.
The miraculous scene where the faith of GM’s followers had united and struck him down.
Though he had played the role of the villain, the sight was truly…
“Breathtaking, wasn’t it?”
Leighton turned his head toward the voice that came from behind.
“…Me?”
There stood another Leighton, identical to himself.
“You twisted God’s proposal and deceived Him. You’ve achieved a feat no other human has accomplished before. How do you feel? Are you satisfied?”
“Satisfied? …Haha… Hahahahahaha!”
Leighton began to laugh madly.
“No. The gamble succeeded as I had predicted, but it seems I was still not strong enough to face an Apostle directly blessed by God.”
“It was unfortunate. You played the best possible move, and the gamble paid off, but the opponent was just too strong.”
The other Leighton nodded.
“In the end, it came to this. All I wanted was to escape from my father and grant my brother ‘freedom.’”
Leighton smiled bitterly.
“So, what punishment awaits me for challenging God? What will the Almighty GM do to me?”
The other Leighton smirked.
Wuuuung
The avatar, who had taken on Leighton’s appearance, was engulfed in light. When the light receded, the figure had transformed into the dark-haired boy who had recently enchanted Empress Rhea.
“It’s really you. You recognized me right away.”
“After losing that duel, it was entirely predictable that I would be dragged before you.”
“And if you had won?”
“If I had won the duel, I trusted you would keep your word and set me free. You are, after all, the fair god of Rudera.”
“I could have claimed that your deceit voided our agreement.”
“Rudera has always been fair. It has never denied rewards earned. As the master of this system, you would never do that.”
“So that’s where the gamble came in?”
“…”
“Hahahahaha! I like you!”
Everyone thinks I’m too fair.
Maybe because it’s their first time encountering a game system.
Even if Leighton had won, I would have abducted him for his talents, but there’s no need to mention that now.
“So, do you have anything to say?”
“I accept whatever punishment you deem fit. In return, I have one last wish.”
“You, the villain of the century, are about to ask for a final wish? That’s rather brazen.”
“All I want… is for my brother to live.”
Leighton bowed his head.
Even before an omnipotent being, he lowered himself, showing the utmost respect.
“Please, spare the prince.”
“…”
The omnipotent god simply stared at Leighton without saying anything.
Leighton remained silent and lowered his head even further.
“Fine.”
Then, as if a decision had been made, Rudera spoke.
“I’ll grant your wish.”
The moment the dark-haired boy raised his hand, Leighton felt a piercing pain.
Something intangible seemed to latch onto his soul.
However, Leighton didn’t express any discomfort.
He merely waited.
“…!!!”
Then Leighton’s eyes widened, reflecting disbelief.
Whoooosh
Golden light engulfed Leighton.
“…”
The light receded, revealing Leighton adorned with golden armor, like a valiant hero from an epic tale.
“It’s a little awkward to move in this.”
He had donned the armor of GM’s faithful Apostle, Rebecca.
He was not accustomed to armor, and when he saw himself wearing the gold attire, he chuckled.
There was no smile on Rudera’s face, however.
“You’ll remember this—being rejected by God.”
“…?!”
The warmth that had filled Leighton turned to burning heat, coursing through his body.
“That’s…”
“It’s the consequence of challenging a god.”
Rudera’s voice was cold.
His body seemed to tear apart as the immense heat and pain consumed him, but he endured it without uttering a sound.
“From this point on, your body shall be bound by the flame of faith, a constant reminder of your punishment.”
“…”
“But I won’t kill you. You won your gamble, and you’ll be given a chance to redeem yourself.”
Rudera extended his hand toward Leighton, the golden armor shimmering once more.
The light that enveloped Leighton gradually condensed into a ring.
“…”
The pain subsided.
He looked down at his right hand to see a golden ring.
“When you come to truly believe in something or someone, the flames of faith shall protect your soul.”
“Is that… your gift?”
Leighton looked down at the ring.
Despite its radiant beauty, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
“A god keeps their word. But your punishment shall be with you always.”
The golden light encased Rudera as well, concealing his face.
“I’m sure you’ll survive. I’ll give you time.”
“…”
Leighton stared at the golden ring in his hand.
The god’s laughter echoed in his ears.
“The final battle is yet to come.”
His vision darkened, and the voice faded into the distance.
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