Lord of Pride – 3
The first thing that hit us was a wave of white light. As the twelve wings fluttered behind his back, a radiant light spread forth like a true morning star.
“Kh…!”
“Kh!” Transcending the light was impossible for me now, so I had to resist it with the magic I had. Most of my armor was burned away in an instant, and black blood exploded out of me.
“Khaaahah…!” Normally if an attack were impossible to avoid, it would be weak to compensate. But if I hadn’t given the Echo to Mireina, she would’ve died instantly. I fared a little better myself.
[Look! My light, my beauty! Those whose eyes are dark, will you deny me?]
I clenched my teeth. His attack was relentless, and my wounds kept piling up as my regeneration couldn’t keep up with the damage. His attack wasn’t destroying only us, but also all things that resided in this tiny world. The ground burned, and everything living near us lost their lives. It wasn’t just destroying their bodies, but their souls as well. That was why I was angry. All the angels I couldn’t eat in the time Belphegor gave me were destroyed.
“Ohhhhh….!”
[Did you know that I didn’t? Did you think you’d see a nasty side of me?]
The wave of white light became stronger. Belphegor desperately stretched out his chains to block it, but it did little. Lucifer, who had been close to the strongest underground, had completely regained his power, abandoning his delusion to reach the realm beyond. If anyone could stop it, it would be me. I activated Predation to improve myself even a little bit.
[Fate]
[Belkatina Lv97]
[New Magic – 2,491, Soul Magic – 2,836, Fate – ???]
[Skill – Predation Lv9, Reaper Lv8, Lunatic Trickster Lv9, Ubiquitous Lv9, Domination Lv9, Blackmine Lv9, Flame of Destruction Lv8, Causal Control Lv7, Magic Lv8]
From the beginning, I had been planning to eat the angels under Lucifer. If he regained his full strength, it was the only counter I had. I thought if it were successful, I could predict victory against him. But if my meal were disturbed, I would lose that advantage. That’s why I was accompanied by Belphegor, who could hold him in place.
Thanks to that, I had achieved rapid growth in a short time after Predating more than eighty percent of his followers. But that wasn’t the end. The power of those I ate was intense, and Predation had yet to digest it fully. My power of Destruction had also received considerable powers in a short time, making it take longer.
The combination of numerous powers created a unique and overwhelming new power; the possibility of it was only able after fully absorbing the dead’s powers. The problem was that it didn’t help much in the situation right now. With my ability changing, I couldn’t use it quickly.
[Insignificant, really insignificant! Do you struggle to look at me with your own eyes? How fragile!]
To maintain his purity that he had finally recovered, he wanted to erase us hastily. Nevertheless, his actions were unhurried as he could tolerate no emotions other than pride. But now that was reaching its limit. As we somehow endured despite the repeated white light attacks, he began to laugh pettily.
[It’s disgusting that you stand before me like this. You do not fit in my world. Disappear!]
Lucifer raised one hand up slowly. A long, thick spear of light appeared in his hands.
[It is only now that everything will end. You, along with the little world you tried to protect!]
I was convinced that no matter how great my achievements were, I couldn’t survive that attack. It was only a little bit now, but I could get everything back soon. Belphegor stepped forward as the white light poured down, stretching out his chains around all of us. It was just a fragment in front of Lucifer’s power, however. The spear of light flew in, as fast as only light could be. It held enough power to end an entire world. Yet, it felt like it took an eternity for it to reach me.
Kaleidoscopic lights flashed before me. All the moments I had experienced so far came to my mind.
From my life as a goblin until now, even parts of my days as the king of demons.
You cannot die.
You must not die.
Countless things that I wanted to keep safe would disappear with me. Belphegor, who supported me by my side. A, who was my greatest collaborator.
Lee Chan-yu, Cain, Katsuragi, and Mireina.
Even my younger sister, who lived desperately for my sake.
And, above all else, the woman I loved again.
‘I can’t die.’
You can’t die. Avoid it. Stop it. Fight back. Win.
The spear of light had cut the distance in half. My brain was moving at a much faster rate than light. Lunatic trickster, Causal Control, Blackmine, and Predation. Even mixing all of that together, could I prevent it? Could the Goddess’ Touch handle it? Even if it were possible, could I really put it into action? As I raised my hand with that thought in mind, something astonishing happened. Just before the window of light cut me in half, something appeared to cover my eyes.
I didn’t know how it was possible. She shouldn’t have been able to move faster than me, couldn’t have grown so strong in that short moment. Perhaps the Echo I gave her had granted her some new power. It was impossible for me to grasp everything it could do, after all. In any case, Mireina stood before me as if to protect me. The light, arriving only one step later than her, mercilessly pierced her chest.
“Kahk!” Lucifer’s eyes widened at the spectacle of blood gushing out of her mouth. The light penetrated through her into me, losing its power as it broke through her body.
[The hybrid?]
“Kh…!” Lucifer threw another spear of light, but it also couldn’t reach me. It pierced through Mireina’s abdomen again, and she vomited up blood.
“Mireina…how?” Unorganized words popped out of me. Despite all else, Lucifer’s ability could not exceed her protection.
“Kahkk…someday…”
[Burn!]
Only
Mireina could barely speak as she took the third spear of light.
“Would it be okay like this…” She lifted up her finger, the ring of the covenant she had given me around it. The other was in my hand. Although I had received a cold gaze from L before, Mireina was also precious to me. I wondered what they had to do with the situation now, but the rings began to shine as they drew near each other.
“That’s…why I became your subordinate…”
“…As I expected, you had some hidden abilities…”
[Die, right now!]
Lucifer continued to throw attacks, fragments of light that were even stronger than the spears. But it didn’t bother us anymore. Mireina’s ability had become an invincible shield, protecting all of us. Mireina’s body began to glow white as the ring she held melted into the air. I could tell instinctively it had completed its job.
“Fate.” I listened to her voice desperately despite my confusion. She should’ve died immediately from the damage she had sustained, but her voice was firm as she clung to life. She had no hesitation in her.
“Devour me.”
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