episode_0227

“Ha…!! Dio V Runner… you think you can defeat me? Right now, I’ve even received Goddess Camilla-nim’s divine power, making me stronger than before…!! For you, who struggled against my power before, to even think of defeating me now…. How dare a heretic who caused Zeke-nim’s death even think of defeating me!!!”

When Dio V Runner provoked her, boasting that he could overwhelm her to the point of toying with her, Aria let out a hollow laugh in disbelief and expressed even greater rage. Most people around were greatly astonished that Dio V Runner’s provocation had made Aria’s power even stronger. However, Dio V Runner showed no particular reaction, no matter how much more divine power erupted from Aria’s body; instead, he removed the Orb equipped on his flamethrower and provoked Aria again.

“Your voice is annoyingly loud. The Aria I knew wasn’t someone who just went around screaming all the time, as I recall….”

“What did you say…?!”

“You look so pathetic, I can’t bear to watch. I’ve removed the Orb from my flamethrower. Seeing you like this, I’m confident I can defeat you even without flames… Aren’t you going to come at me?”

“How dare this filthy heretic provoke me with such crude taunts…!!”

When Dio V Runner completely underestimated her, claiming he wouldn’t even use flames because she was so pathetic, Aria was provoked and immediately rushed at Dio V Runner, gripping her staff tightly. But at that moment, Dio V Runner timed Aria’s approach, swung his fist, struck her cheek directly, and sent her flying backward. The members of the Children of Light and the rebels, who had all expected Aria to crush Dio V Runner, were utterly stunned and froze when Dio V Runner struck Aria’s face.

“….?! The Black Saintess was sent flying so easily…?!” “How is that even possible….?!”

“Wait…. that man with the strange device on his arm….!!!” “Isn’t he the otherworlder Goddess Camilla-nim spoke of?! But she said an otherworlder’s power wouldn’t even reach Aria’s toes….?!”

“Dio V Runner-ssi…. how could you hit Aria….?!”

“We instinctively sensed that Aria was a strong person and never even considered fighting her…. How did that person manage to hit Aria….?”

Jervell, Okute, Yuria, and Karina, who witnessed this scene, were greatly astonished that Dio V Runner had sent Aria flying with a single punch, without using any special techniques. Meanwhile, Aria, who had been knocked back by Dio V Runner’s punch and fallen to the floor, slowly sat up, looking dazed as if in great shock, and stared at the ground, bewildered.

“W-what was that? How could he so easily…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I can defeat you as you are now. That’s because I see none of the strong conviction you showed before, Aria.”

“No conviction….?!” “My unending love for Zeke-nim will forever remain in my heart!!! Even though you’ve given Zeke-nim and me great help, if you keep saying such things, I won’t forgive you…”

“Yes… I already knew you had no intention of listening from the start…. So it would be good if you got hit a bit and snapped out of it…!!!”

“…?! Uh….?!”

When Dio V Runner said that he no longer saw the strong conviction in her, Aria turned her head towards Dio V Runner, intending to retort that her unending love for Zeke-nim would forever remain in her heart. However, at that very moment, Aria belatedly realized that Dio V Runner was already right in front of her face. With a look of bewilderment, her face was kicked by Dio V Runner’s foot, sending her flying backward once more. Thus, Aria was kicked by Dio V Runner, rolling on the ground for a while and screaming.

“Screeeam!!!”

“Don’t you think your attacks are too monotonous? The Aria I knew, even when angered by someone slandering Zeke or her love, would think things through before delivering judgment, not act so recklessly.”

“It’s not over yet…!! Do you think the punishment for you, who so openly insulted my love for Zeke-nim, will end here?! Oh, Omnipotent One in the heavens…!! Grant me the power to judge this foolish one!!!”

As Dio V Runner provoked her again, Aria, who had been rolling for a while, suddenly sprang up from her spot. She lightly wiped the dust from her kicked cheek with her arm, then began to chant a prayer, imbuing her staff with divine power. At that, Aria’s staff began to glow yellow, and Esti, seeing it, flinched and was astonished.

*’Has Aria imbued her staff with divine power through prayer….?! This is bad…!! Having fought Aria before, I know the power of her divine energy well, so I know this state she’s in is a very serious matter…!!’*

“You…!! If you don’t use flames against me, you’ll be in big trouble….?! With your physical abilities alone, you can’t defeat me….!!!”

“Thanks for the advice, Aria. But even in your current state, you absolutely cannot defeat me…. Do you think I’d struggle against mere divine power like that? A byproduct of such pathetic faith?”

“….!!! Graaah!!! Stop insulting me, you damn otherworlder, you eyesore!!!”

When Dio V Runner insulted her divine power this time, Aria, filled with faith in Camilla, flared up and immediately charged at Dio V Runner, swinging her staff. However, at that moment, Dio V Runner began to dodge her staff with his eyes, as if he had already seen through her movements, which greatly flustered Aria.

“W-what…. what is this…?!” “How can he dodge my staff like this…?!” “How can you see my movements….?!”

“The Armor Orb equipped on my armor… it calculates your movements and sends signals to me, allowing me to dodge reflexively. I said I wouldn’t use flames, but I never said I wouldn’t use any Orbs…!!!”

“….!!! *Gasp*…..”

Dio V Runner tapped the red gem equipped on his black iron armor with his finger, indicating that he was currently using an Orb. He then slipped past Aria’s attack, punched her directly in the abdomen, and sent her flying backward again. At that, Yuria was greatly astonished that Dio V Runner was truly treating the powerful Aria as if she were a toy.

*’I-is that even possible….?! I know Dio V Runner-ssi is quite strong, but…. To be so relaxed against Aria….?! What in the world is that person’s true identity?!’*

“Pant…. cough…. Ah… it hurts…..”

“I’ve faced an opponent who had an overwhelming speed advantage before, so I’ve prepared countermeasures for that. Don’t you remember? That I participated in large-scale battles…. On the other hand, unlike me, you haven’t fought numerous battles. You’ve already lost to me in terms of experience, Aria…. But the old you would have definitely defeated me. Because you weren’t so reckless.”

To Aria, who was clutching her abdomen with her right hand and groaning in pain from being hit by his fist, Dio V Runner began to explain why he was overwhelming her. However, Dio V Runner’s advice was nothing more than bothersome and irritating words to Aria’s ears, and Aria, whose annoyance boiled to her head from Dio V Runner’s continuous provocations and advice, let out a deep breath, gripped her staff tightly with both hands, and glared at Dio V Runner.

“I never knew you were such an annoying person, Dio V Runner…!! Your arrogance makes me forget even the favor you did by telling me about the camera….!!! I’m so incredibly annoyed!!!”

“Then go on, try. I’ll continue to face you without using flames.”

“Graaah!!! Stop saying that!!! It’s irritating me!!!”

When Dio V Runner continued to provoke her by insisting he wouldn’t use flames, Aria, greatly enraged, swung and thrust her staff at Dio V Runner again. However, Dio V Runner seemed to have already grasped all of Aria’s movements, as he now began to dodge Aria’s staff even without the aid of an Orb. Viola and Adoleth, who were watching from a distance, were greatly astonished.

“What…?! Aria’s power is visibly greater than when she fought in the Last Point Tournament before, yet…. She’s struggling against Dio V Runner….?!”

“That…. that damn Black Saintess…!!! To be so utterly overwhelmed and bring shame upon Goddess Camilla-nim’s name…!! Aria Ritt!!! You are one of the Children of Light, favored by Goddess Camilla-nim!!! If you keep struggling against such a foolish heretic, you’ll bring shame upon the name of the Order!!!”

Seeing Aria, Camilla’s most favored, not only fail to defeat but actually be overwhelmed by a heretic, Adoleth became greatly enraged and yelled at Aria. Aria, however, was so consumed by the thought of killing Dio V Runner that she didn’t hear Adoleth’s words at all, but she raged as Adoleth wished and tried to kill Dio V Runner. However, as Dio V Runner continued to evade her attacks, Aria’s frustration steadily mounted. Then, at the moment a slight distance opened between her and Dio V Runner, Aria raised her staff towards Dio V Runner and began to chant a prayer.

“Oh, Omnipotent One in the heavens…!! Grant me the power to judge this rude and foolish one, th…!!!”

“Your prayer is too long.”

At the moment she was about to shoot a beam from her staff to kill Dio V Runner instantly, Aria flinched in surprise as Dio V Runner instead closed in on her, clenched his fist, and said her prayer was too long. Then, she was struck in the face by Dio V Runner’s fist, and Dio V Runner didn’t stop there, hitting Aria’s abdomen two more times, sending her flying backward again. Aria, knocked back, lost strength in her legs and plopped down on the spot, her face bewildered. Dio V Runner loosened his shoulders and spoke to Aria.

“Who said you had the leisure to pray during battle? At least not in front of me.”

“Pant… pant… How… how could he just….?”

“Do not be afraid, my child… The time has come….”

“….!!”

The moment Dio V Runner slowly walked towards Aria, the sky suddenly began to turn black, and then a yellow light began to leak from the center of the sky, and Camilla’s voice started to be heard. At that, all the believers stopped fighting, put their hands together, and bowed their heads in reverence towards Camilla, while the rebels, conversely, began to grow tense, realizing that Camilla had finally appeared.

“Ah…. our one and only light…”

“Ahhhh…. shine forever…. our one and only light….!!”

“Damn it… This moment has finally arrived…. I thought Camilla would only appear after we defeated the entire Order…. To appear so suddenly….”

“Of course, it is… Didn’t you hear what those guys just said? Goddess Camilla appeared directly because the Black Saintess is being miserably defeated by Dio V Runner-ssi right now…. Because the Black Saintess, who is most important to her, is in danger…!!”

Though they knew she would appear, the rebels swallowed hard in tension and couldn’t move recklessly, now that Camilla had finally appeared due to Aria being in danger. They instinctively felt that the aura emanating from the clear light slowly descending from the sky was overwhelming their power, which was why they couldn’t move recklessly due to fear and tension. As Camilla, in the form of a small light, slowly descended downwards, she spoke to Aria, who was looking up at her with her hands clasped together.

“My Aria… The time has come. Release your divine power to perfectly descend me here…. I shall take revenge on those who caused your man’s death in your stead.”

“Ahhh… my Light…. I, being foolish, ultimately failed to complete my revenge for Zeke-nim and have disappointed you… But it is an honor that the Light has personally appeared to punish the heretics in my stead, and now you would even take revenge for me…. I am moved by your grace…”

“…?! Are you insane….!! Aria, what in the world are you saying right now…!!! Do you still not realize that the culprit who separated you and Zeke is none other than Camilla herself…!!! Damn it….!!”

When Aria said she was moved by Camilla’s grace in response to Camilla’s nonsense, Dio V Runner, now utterly exasperated himself, questioned Aria if she still didn’t realize that Camilla was the true culprit who had separated her and Zeke. However, Aria’s body had already begun to rise into the air, and Dio V Runner urgently began to equip an Orb to his boots to prevent Aria from offering her power to Camilla.

“Damn it…!! As if dealing with these strange believers right now isn’t overwhelming enough, if Goddess Camilla herself comes…!! Aria, stop…!!”

“Do not dare obstruct our Light, heretic….!!!”

“Do not dare obstruct the Black Saintess, heretic…!!!”

The moment Dio V Runner tried to fly into the sky by spewing flames from his boots to stop Aria, several believers suddenly appeared around him and swarmed Dio V Runner. Dio V Runner tried to throw them off with all his might, but because the believers were holding him back with all their strength, he couldn’t spew flames from his boots, and other rebels who could fly were also unable to reach Aria due to interference from other believers.

“Damn it…!!! Won’t you get off me?! Stop, Aria!!! Zeke is still alive…. Arrrggghhh!!!”

Dio V Runner, utterly unable to fly due to the interference of the other believers, tried to shout to Aria that Zeke was alive, but other believers kept attacking him, leaving him no mental capacity to shout at Aria. Just as Dio V Runner screamed in frustration, Aria, who had drawn closer to Camilla, gathered divine power in her hands and spoke to Camilla.

“With this, so that this world may become the ideal world for Zeke-nim and me…. At least so that Zeke-nim, who has passed away, can watch the ideal world be completed from the heavens…. I trust you….”

“Yes, my child…. I also believe in you. With your power, I can surely descend into this world. And… I will exact your revenge in your stead. Entrust everything to me… and for that, grant me your divine power.”

“I shall do so… my Light….”

When Camilla asked her to offer her divine power to make her ideals a reality, Aria willingly began to emit yellow light from both hands, bestowing divine power upon Camilla. At that, the rebels watching from below looked greatly bewildered and distressed, while the believers felt joy at witnessing such a glorious moment, clasped their hands tightly, and blessed Camilla’s descent.

“Ahhhh…. our Light has finally descended upon this world….”

“Oh no…. Damn it…. We rushed here to stop that, but…. Is it too late…!!”

The rebels realized they were too late, despite having come here as quickly as possible to prevent Camilla’s descent, as they watched Camilla begin to form a physical body, receiving Aria’s light, and they were greatly enraged. Meanwhile, the believers continued to clasp their hands in reverence and bless Camilla’s descent. And a moment later, Camilla, who had finally descended into the Crunted World with her true power, took a deep breath and spoke.

“I… have finally descended upon this world….”