Arnold returned to Lyra side shortly after his escape. Even though she was worried about what happened, Lyra hurriedly cast a flight spell on both of them so they could go and activate the portal immediately.

He only told her that he had to leave immediately since that red-haired woman wants to kill him. Lyra reassured him that she won’t be able to follow after him once the portal is activated,

According to her, only approved individuals can use the disciple gates so Guinevere won’t be able to force her way through no matter how insanely powerful she is. And from what Arnold had seen, she wouldn’t attempt to beat Lyra and force her for permission to enter.

What did Arnold do to gain this woman’s contempt? She said something about an all-powerful being having influence on his soul or something but she might’ve just spouted bullshit because she didn’t have a good reason to justify her actions.

‘System, who are all the deities in the entire game that can influence a mortal’s life?’

Normally, gods have this agreement that they’ll never interfere in the lives of mortals or anything outside the divine realm. They send out archangels as their representatives to deal with whatever issues are plaguing the three mortal realms. The remaining six realms, a few of whom belong to the remaining demigods, sort out their own issues without any intervention or don’t have moderation at all.

Arnold waited for the system’s answer as Lyra was still chanting in godorin and holding that same medallion from before.

· Patch notes: Is your question as to whether there are beings capable of influencing individual mortal lives, such as causing death on a whim?

‘Yes.’

· Patch notes: Answer: Goddess of Destiny and God of Death

‘Huh? Where’s the Fate Goddess? While her duty as a god is similar to the Destiny Goddess from a simpleton’s perspective, both have roles that influences mortal lives differently.’

Patch notes: Her title as the Fate Goddess has been stripped from her long ago.

‘That actually happened…?’ There was no mention of this in the game. Then again, she isn’t mentioned in more than a few lines of dialogue but everyone knows she exists in the game and she has one illustration in the forums floating around.

Maybe there was some cut content for the divine realm questline? If that’s the case then it might be possible for Arnold to find out more about what happened since the game’s logic shouldn’t apply to this life.

One stone that was in the middle of the road for the entire game could be lying on the bottom of the hill that led up to the road. If you were to log back into the game, the stone would still be there in the middle of the road.

Arnold stared at the status screen—looking at the Destiny Goddess reflected on his screen. She looked almost identical to mature Angelica. He then shifted his gaze at the Death God, a gigantic skeleton that was tasked with managing the River of Souls and was possibly the strongest god in the game due to its (The River of Souls) influence. Of course, if the Soul King attained this power as well, then a fight between the two would’ve been inevitable.

‘Do any of the gate guardians know what happened to the Fate Goddess?’

He only had connections to Yorm at the moment so hopefully she can share that information in the future.

· Patch notes: Only the War Council knows what occurred for her to lose her position, the High Valkyrie included.

‘…Well, I was going there in the future anyway.’

He needed Kellene’s sister to come with him, after all. The Valkyries know the story of the Destiny Child so it shouldn’t take much convincing. Knowing he was acquainted with the hero, the High Valkyrie might be more willing to provide him with secret information. If even that doesn’t work then he would use his charm to seduce her and gain her trust. With how sexually frustrated Valkyries tend to be due to lack of suitable mates, this might be the easiest approach.

‘There’s a possibility that she was just talking about Oriel all along.’

That could be the case if one were to take the timing into account. She’s probably been watching him for a while now, evident by the “no matter which body it inhabits” that she said to him in the guild. Regardless, it might still be a good idea to find out what happened to the Fate Goddess.

Arnold suddenly heard a boom coming from the sky.

‘Shit, is 1B and the merchant losing?’ that was what he thought as he looked in the direction of that boom. What he saw made his eyes go wide.

Hundreds of magic circles were stacked on top of each other, each of them bigger from the bottom up. The largest magic circle loomed right above them after it blocked out the sunlight.

“What spell is that…?” he might’ve been able to tell if he could see the runic formations from the other magic circles since the biggest one didn’t have enough information. Nevertheless, he had hope that whatever spell it was could kill that woman. Then again, he wasn’t naïve.

[One Breath Kills All] would be the only spell capable of killing her since its abilities ignores any mental or physical protection its target has. Of course, it doesn’t discriminate so it will kill every living thing in this world if it’s cast. If it’s the merchant, Arnold was certain he’s capable of using the spell. But he’d have to kill every living thing in this world to cast it—including Arnold and Lyra.

“It’s almost done,” Lyra’s exhausted voice came from beside him as he continued staring at the magic circles.

Lyra went silent for a bit, staring at him curiously before she opened her mouth again.

“How did you meet that mysterious person?”

She must be talking about the reliable Mr. Merchant.

“In an angel sanctuary in the dungeon….”

“I meant how did the two of you come this far that he’d use such powerful magic, effectively squandering all efforts to appear like an ordinary merchant to others? Something is familiar about him—no, his mana. As a member of a magic race, I’m more sensitive to differentiating mana pools between individuals so his is very familiar, as if I’ve felt it before in the past. Do you also have some kind of history with him?”

“I can’t say I have. It’s our first time meeting.”

“Hmm…” Lyra closed her eyes as she put a finger on her chin, “…Maybe that could be it…”

“What?”

“He might be going this far for you due to the soul inside your body—specifically Oriel’s soul.”

“Come to think of it… He went into quite a frenzy when I told him about Oriel. He was so respectful and sang Oriel’s praises, shouting His Excellency whenever he had the opportunity.”

‘He gets pretty awkward when addressing me, though. Being called dear customer is pretty annoying but better than being cheeky and familiar with me.’

Arnold continued, “But he’s pretty tight-lipped about who he was. All I know is that he’s from my world.”

“But he must be connected to the demons in some way…”

“He said he was human, though.”

“That doesn’t matter since many humans involve themselves with demons.”

‘That’s right… I almost forgot about Rein… The bastard who sold his soul for power.’

A powerful rumble shook the ground before a thunderous boom came from the sky that was slowly being dyed in red.

A beam of pure destruction was being sent from the very top—the biggest magic circle—and breaking through all the circles below it. The red light almost blinded Arnold for a second. The cracking of glass blocked out all sound from around them.

“Is that the [Core Destroyer] spell….?” Lyra looked blankly at the scene, “It’s smaller in size compared to its full might but that’s a spell used to destroy planets from the inside by blowing up their cores…”

‘Crazy bastard, how many Seventeenth Rank spells do you have…?’

This spell is particular has the easiest magic control and intelligent stat requirement among the highest tier spells in the game but it consumes a lot of mana, way less than [Sleeping Black Hole], but still a lot. It’s useful for destroying entire armies since its power can be adjusted quite easily. The only downside is the ridiculously long chant that even top magician players have to finish to cast it.

Lufulur also had that spell but due to the risks of using it, he never attempted to cast it in a server full of players even if he was overrun and outnumbered by monsters.

‘That guy was definitely an Archmage…’

◊◊

…

…

…

As I looked up at the approaching beam of pure destruction, my thoughts raced through my mind. My body and the world around me didn’t stop but my mind did. Is this what every living thing goes through when knowing they’re going to die?

But I can’t die.

I shouldn’t die.

Evil breeds and multiplies faster than my sword can strike it.

If I fall now, how many more will suffer in my stead once this evil fully matures? How many innocent lives will be snuffed out before their time, all because I wasn’t strong enough, fast enough, or determined enough? I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the darkness spread like a plague, corrupting everything it touches. It festers in the hearts of men, turns brother against brother, and leaves nothing but ruin in its wake.

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I was once naive, believing that justice alone could stamp it out, that righteousness would be enough to cleanse the realms. But I’ve learned the hard truth: evil doesn’t sleep, it doesn’t rest. It seeps into every crack, every crevice, twisting even the purest of souls. And once it takes root, it’s nearly impossible to rip out.

No, I cannot die here. I’ve dedicated my life to this cause. Every scar, every wound I bear is a testament to my resolve. They remind me of those who fell because I wasn’t there in time, those whose cries for help went unanswered.

I’ve faced monsters, both human and otherwise, who reveled in the pain they caused. And for every one I’ve slain, ten more rise to take their place. It’s a never-ending battle, but it’s one I chose. I chose to be the one who stands between the innocent and the abyss.

Of course, sometimes there’s an abyss out there that even I cannot stand up against. There was one before. One that made me kneel at its feet in fear, obey its every command, be its breeding machine and…

I shook my head as glimpses of its (the abyss’) smug face flashed in my mind. Its hot breath on my neck and its filth spreading my insides and shaking its hips to revel in its own enjoyment. I felt powerless under its godly might and forced to serve it daily.

The mere act of making the wrong dish that it didn’t want to eat on a particular day was enough to get a beating.

The mere act of speaking with the opposite sex familiarly brought me only brutal assault as I was reduced to a plaything.

…

Even while my opponent was giving it her all to defeat me, I could not help but reminisce on my own and reflect on my goals... and past. I could not stop remembering that weak girl who allowed herself to be pushed around by those stronger and even those weaker than her. She always thought of others’ needs before her own.

But she was naïve.

The gods she believed in betrayed her—no, they turned a blind eye to the trauma she was put through when the abyss grabbed at her ankles and dragged her down to eternal darkness. She lived in that darkness for centuries before a light shone down on her, offering to help.

But that light wanted the little girl to overcome the biggest evil of them all.

The face of Arsnoria Vlur Daemon flashed before my mind, her shaking pupils meeting mine. It was a gaze begging for an explanation. My body was covered in blood, but it is not my own. It’s the blood of another—a symbol of the cycle I have been trapped in, the cycle I had to break. I couldn’t let the abyss claim me again. I couldn’t let it win.

….

…

My gaze calmly shifted upwards when the skeleton completed his chant.

Circular runic formations and complex patterns stretched across the sky as the surroundings was bathed in their ethereal glow. The wind became stronger, so strong that most of the trees in the area were uprooted.

It felt like all the air was sucked up into the sky.

I have always been fascinated by magic. It is a neutral power that doesn’t pick favorites since talent and experience make up how powerful your magic can become. Evil is an impulse most of the time, chosen to act upon a whim to satiate one’s desires. Those pushed by simple desire don’t invest the time and energy needed to master such a complex force. They seek shortcuts, quick paths to power, often leading them down dark and twisted roads before meeting their end at the hands of misguided fate. But true mastery of magic requires dedication, discipline, and an understanding of the balance between creation and destruction. It is not enough to simply wield magic; one must respect it, understand its nuances, and be willing to sacrifice years, even decades, to unlock its full potential.

That said, unlike most things, an evil is at its origin. An evil that failed to use magic to control these peaceful realms.

While magic is beautiful, I cannot ignore that it is a power meant for destruction. The spell above me will not just destroy this entire area, the aftermath will kill thousands in the explosion that will follow.

“Haa… Haa…” I heard my opponent’s hoarse breathing. Even after being hit several times, she was still standing, the last remnants of her Ki long gone.

She is truly one of the strongest humans I have ever encountered. Alas, none of her skills or techniques were enough to take me down. While it is insulting to my opponents, I did not use any of my divine power to win this match. I did not want to kill her.

Everyone can be redeemed so I had hope she’ll listen to reason once she realizes I am not someone she can defeat. My power has never been forced out by anyone in the last 250 years. Of course, I had faced countless demigods, most just curious as to how strong I am and others simply being evil who hurt humans for their own enjoyment.

While I see humans as beneath myself, I did not treat them as playthings. If you have the power that surpasses something, you can use that power to protect that same thing. My purpose is simply eradicating evil but the aforementioned is partly due to why I still fight, even when my end is near.

The surroundings were suddenly bathed in bloody red when the spell activated.

Magnificent.

I heard that the strongest magicians in history like Goddess Urion (who overtook the duties of the notorious Progenitor), were capable of changing entire worlds with her magic. Of course, she was also powerful enough to destroy worlds. What I was seeing today was a fraction of what magic is capable of.

The raven-haired woman—bloodied from top to bottom—suddenly charged at me at that moment as I stood there dazed, looking around to see if there were any civilians in the area. While magic was indeed fascinating to see, many lives will be lost if I did not evacuate everyone. I could not prioritize my opponent right now.

I was under the impression that she’d have some means to flee but she was not attempting to do so at all. this magic will most likely stretch several kilometers, which means there isn’t much time left for her to run.

No. Don’t come here! You’ll get caught up in this spell!

I wanted to shout but I knew she would not listen. Her goal is protecting evil. But I can sense something in her heart. What motivated her wasn’t selfishness or greed but rather fear.

What does she fear for her to put her life on the line for someone who would kill her if it was convenient for them? That’s what evil is—doing things on a whim or pure desire.

Desire for killing.

Desire for raping.

Desire for….

The woman’s punch landed on my stomach yet I could feel nothing. I could tell from her pale expression that she put everything she had in that blow but I was blessed with a divine body that did not tire or starve.

The woman tried to immobilize me by restricting my arms in a tight hug. She forced out the remainder of her Ki and roared as almost every bone in her body started breaking audibly.

Tears fell onto her face—ah? Am I… crying? Even though I am up against the one protecting the evil I vow to slay… I’m crying?

“!” the woman let out a panicked scream when I broke free easily from her tight struggle. I simply put my arms around her.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

My hand stroked her soft raven hair.

“Eh… eh?” through a bloodied face, she looked up at me.

“Even if you are willing to die for evil, I think you can still be redeemed. You are not a demon, but a human.”

The woman’s eyes rolled back in her head before she collapsed into my chest, drained of all energy.

**

Those who witnessed the colossal red beam of destruction piercing the sky from far away were gripped by a terror so profound it felt like the end of the world. To them, it wasn't just a beam—it was the wrath of the gods incarnate, a divine judgment unleashed upon a sinful world. They imagined the heavens themselves had grown weary of humanity's failings, choosing this moment to cleanse the earth, making way for a new, purer generation to inherit the land.

Panic spread like wildfire. People ran in all directions, their minds flashing back to that fateful day when the walls of their sanctuary crumbled without warning. They had been helpless then, and they were helpless now.

Would fleeing even save them? Could they outrun the devastation that was sure to follow? Their lives, so fragile and insignificant in the face of such overwhelming power, seemed meaningless. Where could they go if this world was destined for annihilation? With no strength to defend themselves, would they grovel at the feet of the demigods, begging for salvation from those who might rule over them?

They remembered all too well what a demigod was capable of. It was a demigod who had single-handedly vanquished the monsters beyond the walls, who had saved them once before. But now, who would save them?

The earth held its breath. No explosion came, no violent tremor shook the ground. Instead, the beam, once so menacing and unstoppable, began to split—its crimson energy fractured, torn apart by an invisible force.

…

As if commanded by an unseen hand, the red mist of destruction was thrust upward, dissipating into the heavens, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.