PHASE 64 - ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR! WE HAVE A CHEAT!

“The traitor… the one who is plotting behind our backs…. and the one who we call Necross Hades… is you.”

Rikkun’s index finger pointed out a person at the far edge of the conference room where one of our Aether Crusade members is situated.

The person he's talking about... He is a pale white man with long black hair that covers half of his face. He has thick eyebags and a scrawny structure. It is certain that this emo guy is…

“Benedict Hamerov,” Rikkun said.

“Now!” I cried as I swiped my fingers and opened a Gate.

“!!!” Diadem’s whole body glowed until he was covered with golden metallic armor that made him look like a griffon with blazing wings. The instant he transformed into a divinity, he clasped his claws and injected prana on his palms. “!!!”

“What the-!!!”

“What’s happening!?”

Those are the words by our fellow Aether Crusade members when they saw a transparent prism enlarge and ejected all the bystander Gate Guardians away from the about-to-be battlefield zone. Only Rikkun, Jecchan, I, Lord Ra, and Benedict were left inside the pyramid-shaped energy field. The moment our allies flew out of the seal, the Gate I swiped into existence flashed with bright light.

<>

We’re now in Yami. The counterpart of the Kozukata Shrine’s conference room is just a rocky field with blue soil. We’re no longer inside any of the establishments as we can see the dark skies and the crimson moon. The blue soil reflects upon anything that is on top of it which made it look like a clear wide ocean.

“Benedict Hamerov… No… Necross Hades. We have found you out.” Rikkun said as he swiped his finger and opened a portal. He drew out a sword-shaped icicle from the Realm of the Frozen Soul, ready for battle. “If you surrender peacefully, we will not resort to force.”

Benedict just stood motionless. His brown eyes are glaring at Rikkun, to Jecchan, and then to me. Suddenly, he uttered a smile. He raised his hand as if he’s surrendering.

“Fine, fine. I confess you caught me.” Benedict said. “I knew it. I should have made a better plan in conquering this universe. I know something was off in the timeline of this world.”

“M-Mister Benedict…” I held my heart, trying to deny that such a person would betray us.

“You got caught with Tiara’s and forced to repeat everything from square one. Judging from your expression, you just recovered your memories from the previous timeline the moment Alaric pointed you as a culprit.” Jecchan said as she materialized her dual gunblades. “Surely you haven’t made any plans on summoning Necross in this dimension yet.”

“Oh yes I am. I am surprised that you got one step ahead of me this time.” Benedict laughed.

“Mister Benedict…” I made a step forward, trying to ease the tension from our emo member. “Why… Why are you so eager to destroy universes?”

“You won’t understand, Miss Tiara.” Benedict looked away. “It is my fate as a World Ender and Necross’s chosen Messiah. It is also Esperia’s... no…. It is both Esperia's and my will. The title of being a Universal Destroyer is my legacy. My goals are beyond your understanding.”

“B-But if you already planned this from the start, why did you join us?” I asked a dumb question. I just can’t believe that betrayal is possible in a family-like team like the Aether Crusade.

“I have told you on the past timeline, didn’t I?” Benedict glared at me. “The condition of summoning Necross is six million, six hundred sixty-six thousand, six hundred sixty-six deaths. On the previous universes that I have destroyed I have massacred people, good or evil, mercilessly just to get that absurdly high number. When I discovered that a man who has died seven million times exists in this universe, I thought that my plan in destroying everything would be much easier if I could extract those deaths from Alaric Eisenhower. I already knew that two years ago, but you guys are being protected by an old enemy of mine… that Fake Outsider.”

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I made one, two, three steps backward. It’s a surprise to me that Benedict has been plotting to go against us the whole time. My heart is certainly broken, but my rage for him just grew longer. An evil guy like him must be punished.

“So, are you going to surrender? Or we’ll do this the hard way?” Jecchan asked.

“Kuhahaha! You are out of your mind if I will just surrender.” Benedict showed his evil grin as he covered half of his face with his thin hand. “But before we start, I would like to know how you pinpointed me.”

“Elementary, my dear.” Rikkun laughed as he pulled out a pipe from his pocket. “My smart mind made deductions that are impossible for your pebble brain to comprehend. I have investigated the corrupted mana traces on this shrine and found residues from the past timeline, which means that the one who corrupted the God Cores was one of the members of the Aether Crusade that knows all our plans."

"OBJECTION!!!" Benedict growled. "That does not pinpoint me!"

"HOLD IT!!!" Rikkun shouted back. He started to walk around as he explains his deductions like a trial lawyer. "During the Phoenix Incident, I heard the previous Lord Venus mutter three names when we fought Chronos, Poseidon, and Hades. Those are not just names but also nicknames back when they were Gate Guardians."

("Leon, Ben, Eswick...")

"I know that Chronos is Leon Frembell. Now, I don't know the identity of Poseidon and Eswick, but there is one clue that points out that you're involved during that time. Ben... is a shorter version of Benedict.”

“Hahaha! That’s all absurd hints that make you sound like you’re pulling your ass. None of it makes sense.” Benedict laughed, but there’s a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "That's not enough proof to convict me!"

"NO YOU'RE WRONG!" Rikkun shouted as he pointed his index finger to the accused. "There is another one, which is the last event of the previous timeline! During the fight with Esperia, you were the ones who got taken out first. In fact, you're the only one who got taken out before Hades appeared. Esperia used a flower to swallow you and cover up your transformation sequence into a God of Underworld to make a grandiose and suspenseful entrance."

"There are other 'dead' Aether Crusade members who can be suspects! Remember when Helena was supposed to be 'dead' and revealed to become a brutal enemy? As far as we know, Necross Hades can be Diadem, or Heushac, or Eliseo. How can you be so sure that it was me?"

...

There was silence. It seems that Rikkun has run out of arguments. After five seconds, his serious face converted to a smile.

“Well, f*ck it. I just wanted to sound smart. This detective deduction and explanation thing are not really suited for me.” Rikkun scratched his head. “To be honest, I saw you in my dream. I saw that you're Necross Hades. That's the most solid argument I got, but since you admitted that you are indeed Necross Hades from the start, you're already found out as the culprit.”

"I don't even intend to hide my true identity any longer." Benedict chuckled. "Because you are going to die anyway."

“Are you guys done bullsh*tting now?” Jecchan is growing impatient. “Because I want to do this already.”

“Fine,” Benedict raised his hands as he scoffed. “Let’s get to the battle already-”

“FIRE!!!” Jecchan shouted.

In an instant, I heard a thunderous cannon roar from a distance. A tank rocket that tears down the wind resistance and immediately rushed in the atmosphere and blasted the location of Benedict! A loud tremor was created, and the point of impact made a dusty smoke and a wide crater!

It was a perfect surprise attack that even Rikkun and I were left with our eyes wide open and jaws hanging! Even Lord Ra is astounded!

“Wha… what did you do, Jecchan!?” I cried.

“Too much talking. If we’re going to fight, then fight.” Jecchan said.

“Did that get him?” A familiar voice echoed from the distance.

About a hundred meters away from us is a familiar divine being that we have met in the previous timeline. He looks like a giant man with bulky arms and legs. He is equipped with two gigantic axes and wears a Greek robe as a dress. He has two horns and white mane which makes him look like an old man.

“Lord Hepatitis!” I cheered.

“Hephaestus.” Lord Hephaestus corrected me.

“Wait, Francois Schopfer!?” Rikkun cried in astonishment.

“Yes~” Jecchan chinned up with a smile as she leaned on the biceps of the God of Forging. “I hired him much earlier to fight with us in this entrapment operation.”

“Hey, I thought you’re against him joining the Aether Crusade?” Rikkun cringed.

“Well, those are those, and that is that. End of discussion.” Jecchan waved her index finger with a grin. “I already saw his abilities and I’d say that he’s very much helpful~”

“I think your mood swings are more unstable than the timelines.” Rikkun made a background statement that nobody dared to argue or follow up.

Our gazes immediately shifted to the point of impact. There is a large crater where the cannon shell landed, and the smoke is starting to clear out. At the center of the crater is a giant white flower bud that slowly bloomed and revealed the uninjured Benedict.

That white flower that shielded Benedict… that means she's here too!

“I’m glad that I made it in time, Darling.” It was a voice from above. When we looked in the direction of the blood moon, we saw the witch that was wearing a white floral gown. It’s Esperia!

“Nice save, my love.” Benedict grinned. “Now let’s destroy this universe once more.”

Suddenly, the emo guy’s forehead opened, revealing a third eye that has rainbow-colored layers in it. It’s the Curse of Necross.