C.S.O. - Chapter 45 [Kuro Kanata]

"Onii-chan..."

"..."

Lucifer didn't answer and continued with his current objective. Despite Ruko being weakened in her human body, Lucifer remained unaffected. He had made up his mind.

"Onii-chan..."

Ruko tried to approach, using all her strength, but she found it difficult to even stand, let alone walk.

With an overwhelming number of enemies, it would be dangerous if any of them attacked her. She could easily be killed.

"...Hime, don't stop me! This is my decision."

"..."

Ruko bit her lower lip. She knew what Lucifer was doing and the consequences it would bring.

Although Lucifer wasn't the real Kuro, Ruko loved him just as she loved Kuro. No, upon reflection, was she truly in love with Lucifer?

Or did she love Lucifer because he had the same body as Kuro?

Even though she was aware that her feelings were abnormal, perhaps they weren't so different from Kuro's ability to love more than one person.

Yes. What she felt could be called love between a man and a woman. That's why she didn't want either of them to disappear from her life.

But at the same time, she knew that someone had to be sacrificed. Was there any way to save both of them without sacrificing someone? If there was, Ruko would do it, no matter the cost she had to pay.

Unfortunately, the answer to that question never came. She knew she couldn't do anything.

That's why...

"On-Lucifer niichan..."

"!?"

Lucifer had no choice but to widen his eyes. He was surprised, but at the same time, he was happy.

"This is the first time you've called me by my real name..."

"..."

"Hime... I'm truly happy..."

Without looking at Ruko, Lucifer continued with his role.

But at that moment, three angels managed to escape and tried to disrupt Lucifer.

"<<Black Abyss>>"

Black bullets struck the angels and obliterated them. The attack came from Verona, who became the last line of defense.

"This isn't the time to chat. You know that, right?"

Verona informed them that they didn't have much time. Kuro was their only hope for victory.

And although Verona was also Kuro's wife, she only loved Kuro, not Lucifer. That's why she didn't have any special feelings even though they had the same face.

Verona then attacked the angels who had managed to escape again. This time their numbers were greater.

"Tch!!"

With no choice, Verona used the skill <<Darkness Rain>>. The skill had a sufficient number of attacks but lacked power. It wasn't strong enough to defeat angels with the strength of a level 500 monster.

However, it was enough.

With the speed-boosting skill <Speed Boost>, Verona attacked the weakened angels.

One by one, they died, slashed into two or more pieces, but her attack failed to execute against the last angel.

(Damn!!)

The angel counterattacked with a sword of light. Due to the effects of the skill execution, Verona was defenseless and ended up being thrown back.

After that, the angel attacked Lucifer, who couldn't move.

"..."

There was no sign that Lucifer would stop and try to defend himself. It wasn't because he couldn't or because he didn't have the power to do so, but simply because it wasn't necessary.

"Hyaaahh!!!"

A punch struck the angel's face with force. The angel disappeared, and a figure that was unexpectedly reappeared in the battle.

"This is beyond the plan, but oh well. You better revive him quickly. I can't complain to him if he's not alive anymore."

With a smile, Mea flew and fought against the approaching angels. Along with Verona, she destroyed the angels that came to stop Lucifer.

"Mea-san..."

Ruko couldn't believe what she was seeing. She knew that Mea was involved in Kuro's plan, but her eyes showed that she cared only about Kuro and nothing else.

Indeed. Just like Verona, Mea only loved Kuro.

"Isn't this beautiful?" Lucifer said with a smile. "Pure hearts filled with love for the ones they care about. Even though I should be an existence that opposes all of that, I'm now truly happy to be a part of it."

"Lucifer niichan..."

"...Hime, it seems I have more reason to revive him now. So you don't have to put on that face. Besides, aren't you happy that you can finally love Kuro wholeheartedly?"

"..."

Tears streamed down Ruko's face.

"Even though I only received love from one person, from you, it's enough for me."

Lucifer's body began to fade away. He was like a ghost slowly disappearing.

"I'm happy to have met you all. It's strange because I'm a demon. But as you said, demons also deserve happiness."

Lucifer turned into particles and gradually disappeared into Kuro's body.

Before completely vanishing, Lucifer looked at Ruko.

"Hime, don't be sad. As long as he's alive, I'll be alive too. Please convey that to him. One more thing..."

"..."

"...I'm happy to have loved you."

Lucifer's body finally disappeared completely. There was no trace left of his existence.

However, this time, the wounds on Kuro's body were healed, and his fingers began to move as a sign of life within that body.

Kuro's eyes then opened. He clenched his fists and stood up. Despite being on the verge of death, he immediately knew what had happened.

He could feel that a part of him had disappeared, but he also knew that the missing part had returned to him.

Then, he looked at Ruko.

Ruko was lying on the ground, her tears continuing to flow.

Kuro wanted to approach and comfort her. After all, he was her husband and older brother. But he immediately stopped himself.

(That's right...)

Kuro turned his body around and looked up at the sky where a fierce battle was taking place between Valkyrie Maiden and the angels.

Among the hundreds of thousands of angels, he saw a figure that remained completely still.

(Michael...)

He knew that figure was the enemy, but at the same time, he could sense that Michael no longer had the intention to fight.

<<Angel of Judgment>> was a power that used the world's desires as its source of strength. In other words, victory or defeat depended on Kuro and the others' efforts to make the world favor them.

But was it that easy?

Most people didn't really understand what was known as the world's desires. In fact, the majority believed that the world had no thoughts or intentions.

But the reality was the opposite.

When considering who was higher than the angels, the answer would undoubtedly be God or the Creator, as they were the ones who created the angels.

Then, how about the gods? Were they created by the beliefs of humans?

Did they create the world first, or were they created by the world?

The answer was both wrong and right.

The world created humans through evolution, while gods were created from human beliefs. And whatever humans believed in became their truth.

Just like the concept of right and wrong.

And because most people believed that what is wrong will never defeat what is right, a God Slayer like Kuro could defeat the Fallen God, who was considered wrong in the world's desires.

Now, the concept of right and wrong still existed. Demons represented wrong, and angels represented right. Looking at these two aspects, no matter how much Kuro desired to defeat Michael, it would never come true.

Unless there was one way...

"Ruko... Return to Earth. I will fight the others. Honestly, if you stay here, you'll only be a hindrance."

Without saying anything more, Kuro spread his black wings that appeared on his back. A black katana with a dark aura accompanied him in battle.

After his resurrection, Kuro could now use the powers of Neo Kuro and Lucifer. Both of them were parts of him, so it was not surprising that he could use their powers. However, he couldn't fully utilize their powers at the moment. That's why he could only use the Kurokami no Tsurugi, which paled in comparison to the Longinus Darkness.

Kuro then flew away, leaving Ruko alone in her contemplation. Although it seemed cruel at first glance, Kuro had no other choice.

He currently didn't have the power to protect Ruko. It would be better if she returned to Earth.

♦♦♦

Ruko was not foolish enough to not understand what was meant by being a hindrance. Right now, she was weak. One could even say that she was nothing more than a burden.

No. It was worse than that.

She was trash.

"..."

She stopped crying and looked at Michael, who was now standing there silently like a great leader. Perhaps because their faces were similar, or because Michael used her body in CSO, their faces were very alike.

That's why Ruko also felt like she was seeing herself leading the destruction of the world.

No.

Because Michael was the embodiment of her power, wasn't it the same thing?

"....Miki..."

She didn't need to ask why Michael was doing all of this, but she knew. She was doing it all because of her.

Realizing that she decided to return to Earth. With her current strength, she might only have one chance.

Rather than being a burden and a hindrance, it was indeed better for her to go back to Earth.

[Is that what you want?]

But a voice stopped her.

At the same time, she saw herself standing there with a wide smile right in front of her.

♦♦♦

On Earth, the CSO battle was still the most talked-about and popular topic worldwide. It was even more sensational than stories of a president dying due to terrorist actions or natural disasters.

It wasn't that people didn't care; it was just that CSO had become the biggest attraction in the world.

Starting from the sophistication of the artificial world that couldn't be distinguished from the real world, CSO offered what other games couldn't.

In addition, the missions and the level of freedom given to players made people often consider moving to CSO, even though they knew it was nothing more than a hollow desire.

Putting all that aside, CSO was currently the center of attention because of a mission that was so strange and unusual. The number of participants was countless, and the difficulty level was extraordinary. Although it was a unique attraction, the mission was too unreasonable.

Over a billion Liber joined the mission, and only less than one percent managed to survive. Everyone wondered what the GM really wanted, but until now, there had been no further confirmation or explanation.

What made people even more puzzled was the phenomenon of giant magic circles appearing in various parts of the world. Scientists were baffled by this phenomenon. Some thought it was a unique occurrence, some believed it was created using unknown technology, or the more classic theory of the presence of aliens.

But everyone knew that those magic circles were the same magic circles in CSO.

Was it a coincidence? Or...

In the end, everyone could only guess and didn't have definite answers. But the result of all that was an increasing interest in playing CSO.

However, perhaps due to still carrying out a special mission, the CSO system couldn't be accessed. Most Liber couldn't log in or log out. This added to the list of questions.

Then, everyone was shocked when the main enemy, Kuro, died. The magic circles slowly began to disappear as a sign that the mission was completed.

But they didn't expect that it was just the beginning of the real mission.

Defeating Michael.

Then, Kuro, who had previously died, rose again and fought against Michael with other players who had almost killed him.

Many questions arose, and it confused some people even more.

They wondered what was really happening?

The broadcasts told them about what was happening and what they said, although often shifting focus like in a movie. This led to the emergence of many mysteries.

They finally began to think that everything had deviated from the supposed scenario.

They struggled to find the true objective of the mission. Was it to defeat the Demon God or to defeat Michael?

They started to find it difficult to determine whom they should support and whom they should believe.

But one thing was certain, they would support the side they believed was the most right in their hearts.

On that day, the concept of right and wrong shook once again.

♦♦♦

Tera, Albor, and the surviving Liber CSO players could only stand there silently as they looked at the sky filled with angels.

Initially, they intended to wait for the situation to calm down or become clearer before taking action.

They also gathered items they could use for battle, such as potions and new weapons to replace their old ones.

Guild leaders like Tera had the authority to take weapons from the guild's warehouse. Of course, they had to discuss it with the members first to avoid conflicts in the future.

Then, after preparing with new equipment and being more ready, they intended to continue the fight to defeat Kuro.

But the situation had changed...

"I can't stay still here. Let's quickly help them defeat those angels."

"I've explained that the situation is still not favorable right now. Besides, we can't act without the agreement of other surviving Liber."

Albor stopped Tera, who seemed impatient to rush into battle.

The other members who had gathered also agreed with Albor. This mission was so special, which meant the mission's rewards were also extraordinary.

As game players, they wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip away. Especially after sacrificing many members, they couldn't act recklessly.

"I understand what you mean. Standing and hiding until this mission is over might give us a chance to get rewards, but is that the only reason we play CSO?"

The members, numbering over 50, couldn't respond to Tera's words.

They realized that although CSO was an extraordinary game, there were many other things they could gain from playing.

"Are your eyes blind? One of our friends is fighting tirelessly to defeat an infinite enemy. Even though they are outnumbered, they never give up. Seeing that, don't you feel ashamed?"

The members turned their gaze towards the fierce battle where Chiaki fought.

Witnessing it, their spirit as gamers and friends began to ignite with envy and determination.

"Yes. Maybe we'll get a great reward from this mission, but you've forgotten who we really are. You must remember, we are gamers. The more difficult the game level, the more determined we are to crush it."

Tera then smiled wide. His eyes were like a fierce beast ready to fight and destroy his opponent.

As guild members who understood their leader's nature well, the members who were influenced by Tera's words began to show the same look.

"And besides, have you forgotten our guild motto? Whoever our opponent is..."

"..." "They will be crushed to dust!!!!"

With a synchronized shout, raising their weapons to the sky, the guild members showed that they wouldn't waste this opportunity.

"All right, you bastards. Let's destroy those damn angels!!!"

"Ooooooooooouuuu..."

The Ouroboros guild joined the battle.

♦♦♦

"Shin Kamikiri-ryu [Futatsuki]"

After leaving Ruko, Kuro flew to join Chiaki and Flamia. Two angels flew towards him, and he slashed them.

The bodies of the angels disappeared into light as they were cleaved in two. It may have seemed easy, but for Kuro, it was something he did by exerting all his strength.

(How much weaker have I become?)

Before dying, defeating angels that matched the power of level 500 monsters in CSO was easy for him. Especially when using the power of darkness that could devour light, it made it easier for him to defeat them.

But why did he feel his body was heavy and difficult to move?

He wasn't injured at all and was perfectly healthy. There might be some side effects, but it shouldn't be this severe.

If this was influenced by the deaths of the two personalities or souls related to him, it shouldn't be possible. He should have become stronger as the three powers had returned to their original state.

But why...?

"Kuro-chan..."

"Kuro.."

As he was puzzled by that question, Flamia and Chiaki sensed his presence and flew straight toward Kuro.

There were angels blocking their path, but they easily cut them down as if they knew.

Kuro knew they had become stronger, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent.

"H-Hey...!!"

Kuro didn't have time to react as both of them flew towards him at full speed. They hit him like a thrown wooden beam.

They immediately embraced Kuro as if they hadn't seen each other in a long time. That was indeed how they felt, but for Kuro, it was excessive.

Or perhaps it wasn't the right time to do this.

"Kuro... You've really come back..."

"!?"

Flamia immediately kissed Kuro with all her might. Instead of a romantic kiss, it looked more like a deadly one.

"Hey!!"

Chiaki didn't want to lose and pushed Flamia aside. Then, she kissed Kuro in the same way as Flamia."

Mu.."

Kuro really wanted to say that this wasn't the right time for all of this, but the softness of their lips made him forget about the problems they were facing.

At the same time, a loud explosion occurred nearby.

"Come on... Instead of doing it here, we'd better do it on the bed."

"Mea.."

"..."

Mea arrived with a sly smile on her face. She indeed suited such a character, but what was surprising was how sexy she looked now.

Flamia responded to her arrival with a smile, but Chiaki didn't seem too pleased.

As for Kuro, he seemed unsure of what to do.

"...but I will also enjoy it now..."

Mea disappeared and suddenly kissed Kuro. Unlike the others, Mea kissed Kuro intimately and with ecstatic pleasure.

"Ah... This... It's so..."

"Hey..."

"You sneaky cat!!"

Flamia and Chiaki, realizing what was happening, tried to push Mea away, but both of them failed.

It wasn't because Mea wrapped her arms around Kuro's body, but because Mea had incredible physical strength from the start. If in a CSO state, she might have the greatest power.

"Come on... I need Kuronium to replenish the lost energy to continue fighting. Just think of it as a potion you use. If you understand, please leave us for a while... shoo shoo..."

"Y-You..."

"It can't be used as an excuse- hey... listen to us!!"

Ignoring both of them, Mea continued kissing Kuro like a prostitute trying to satisfy her customer. Of course, this scene was very uncomfortable for Flamia and Chiaki. They kept trying to free Mea from Kuro.

As for Kuro, he felt like a rare item fought over by many people. He didn't struggle or intervene because he understood what they were feeling. But the real reason was that he didn't have the strength to resist.

Chiaki and Flamia's levels had already reached over 1000 after battling the Guardians and Demon Beasts created by Neo Kuro. Kuro couldn't imagine how much power they possessed with levels like that, but now he was truly left behind.

Mea, being a Succubus, could gain power by sucking the energy of others. Interestingly, it seemed that there was no limit to the amount of energy she could absorb. It was not surprising that even though she didn't have a level, her power was truly abnormal.

"!?"

At that moment, a burst of light came from the angels combining their powers into one. With quick reflexes, the three girls immediately focused on counterattacking or defending.

Chiaki used a reversal attack skill called "Mirror Tempest." She acquired this skill after reaching level 980. Meanwhile, Flamia attacked with the skill "Flame Dash," which turned the fire into bullets. However, the power and speed were on a different level compared to her previous skills. This skill was also unlocked after Flamia reached level 999.

Actually, there were still many skills that would unlock after reaching levels above 1000. However, they didn't have the chance to use them because they were focused on using holy-element skills.

As for Mea, she simply punched through the incoming beams of light. Normally, attacks like this would be dangerous for her. But after gaining the status of a Demon God Bride, she had the power to resist holy elements as long as the opponent's power was weaker than hers. She could be considered the worst enemy of the angels.

"..."

Seeing the power they displayed, Kuro was shocked and amazed. He was truly proud of them for reaching such high levels.

Unfortunately, it would be even more difficult to become stronger than this. The angels they were fighting against were not part of the system, so they didn't gain EXP Points that were crucial for getting stronger.

Ignoring that issue, the angels attacked again from all directions.

"Let's destroy them all!!"

"You don't have to tell us."

"Well... I'm pretty pissed off with them."

"They're perfect targets for my anger."

Kuro acted as the leader, and he received a good response from everyone.

Then, the massacre of the angels continued.

♦♦♦

Kuro led the resistance against the angels attempting to destroy CSO. The three wives fighting alongside him made the battle seem easier, but the reality was different.

The angels, almost limitless in number, continued to attack from all directions. They were indeed weak, but the sheer quantity prevented them from resting even for a moment.

The Valkryie Maidens who were assisting were also struggling against an incredibly large number of enemies.

In a situation like this, ordinary people would surrender or retreat. Even if they continued to fight, they would exhaust themselves emotionally.

The reason the Valkyrie Maidens and Kuro could keep fighting was that they had no other choice. And even though they were experienced in battle, this was still insane.

Although they now appeared to have no difficulty defeating the angels, the power they possessed came from the statuses and skills within the CSO world system.

The advantage of this was that they wouldn't be immediately injured when attacked and only their HP would decrease. However, in return, they couldn't use powers beyond the skills they possessed.

To overcome this, they could use union skills or similar skills that combined two elements at once, but doing so would be a suicide due to the overwhelming number of enemies.

Yes, the worst problem for Kuro and the others was the number of enemies.

And of course, Kuro was aware that the power capable of destroying the world couldn't be so simple.

"Kuh!! Flamia, I told you not to use that skill!"

"I know, but I have no choice. Besides, this situation is more challenging than facing Demon Beasts."

After slashing through the incoming angels, Kuro and Flamia stood back to back in the air.

Chiaki and Mea were also not willing to be outdone. Despite their slight disagreement, they managed to cooperate well in this battle.

"I didn't expect you to use your brain."

"Arara... thank you. By the way, are you tired? Why don't you take a rest for a while?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't need it right now. Unlike you, I can replenish my energy with a drink from my storage."

"Hoho... but I don't see it. Are you sure you've actually done it?"

And so on.

Although they exchanged sharp words, they didn't forget to fight.

For Kuro, this was a problem where his wives were arguing with each other. He had a hard time intervening because he lacked experience.

Setting aside that issue, Kuro noticed something happening on the ground.

A group of Liber became visible, engaging the incoming angels. Using his long-range vision skill, "Crow Eyes," Kuro saw that they were members of the Ouroboros guild led by Tera.

(I didn't expect them to survive.)

Kuro was quite surprised. Although the Ouroboros guild was large and powerful, the chances of surviving the rampage of Demon Beasts were supposed to be slim. In other words, there must be something else that allowed them to survive.

(They were fortunate.)

That was the only reason they could still be alive.

While thinking about it, Kuro received a message from the friendship function. The message stated that Tera and the others would lend their assistance.

"..."

Kuro smiled and silently expressed his gratitude. Although their numbers didn't exceed 50, it was already a significant help.

"Kuro!"

Kuro turned to Flamia, who pointed her finger toward a different part of the land. There, he saw another group of Liber fighting against the angels.

The other group was similar to Tera. They were Liber who had managed to survive the onslaught of Demon Beasts.

"It seems like I owe Tera a debt of gratitude..."

"He is indeed reliable."

Flamia could only nod in agreement with Chiaki's words.

"In that case, let's finish this fight!"

♦♦♦

Three hours had passed since the battle with the angels began. Kuro and the others continued to cut down the angels, who were no stronger than level 500 monsters. They didn't know the exact number of angels they had killed, but there was still a significant amount remaining.

The six Valkyrie Maidens, excluding Flamia, formed a well-coordinated battle formation in terms of defense and offense. Under Anastasia's leadership, they were unbeatable.

A similar situation unfolded with the Liber members who joined the fight. Although their total numbers didn't reach 1000, they were strong enough to avoid casualties, unlike when they fought against Demon Beasts.

Meanwhile, the same held true for Kuro's group. With Kuro at the center, they could be considered the main characters in all of this.

"I've defeated over 1000 angels. They're truly weak, but don't you feel something strange?"

Flamia glanced at Chiaki, who was cutting down one of the angels with Durandal Alter Ex.

"That's true... is this the power that can destroy the world?"

"I don't know, but..."

Kuro didn't continue his words.

In the book, there were angels with the power to destroy the world. Michael was one of them.

But based on the current reality, they seemed too weak.

Could it be because they were in a world that shouldn't exist?

Earth didn't have the concept of levels or even magic. With power equivalent to level 500 monsters, humans would indeed have no chance of winning.

But...

(Is that really all?)

Kuro glanced at Michael, who remained motionless, still wearing an expressionless face.

Although angels were difficult to read emotionally, Kuro could sense that Michael didn't mind the number of angels they had slain.

"...I have a bad feeling about this."

Nevertheless, they continued the battle.

An hour later, the number of angels had drastically decreased to 75,000. With that number, each Liber member fighting against the angels had defeated over 100 angels. If they counted how many angels Kuro's group had defeated, it would be over 1000 angels per person.

This exhausting battle was finally reaching its conclusion. Unfortunately, it signaled the realization of the ominous feeling Kuro had.

"Gyaaa!!"

The first casualty on the side of Liber occurred. It was caused by an angel they usually defeated easily. Other members of Liber were confused because the recently deceased Liber should have been able to defeat the angel effortlessly, but the opposite happened.

"Everyone, be careful!!"

One of the Liber members warned. They might have been a little complacent with the easy opponent, but as experienced game players, they could sense something different about the angels in front of them.

"He's just careless. I'll prove that this can be easily defeated!"

But that didn't mean the other Liber members believed him. They might have thought that the angel was able to defeat their comrade due to sheer coincidence.

"Feel this <<Wind Smasher>>!"

The skill attack was capable of easily killing level 500 monsters, but the reality in front of them made them reconsider.

"...Impossible."

The angel who had previously received the attack showed no signs of damage at all. Although its HP decreased, something worse than that happened. The previous angel grew new wings and now had two pairs of wings.

"Don't tell me..."

"Is it evolving at a time like this?"

Evolution or Growth was a condition where monsters transformed into a new type. Monsters doing such a thing was extremely rare in CSO (Celestial Soul Online), but it never happened during battles.

That's what surprised them.

The angel that had evolved previously now wielded a spear of light as its weapon. The Liber members fighting against it began to understand what they needed to do.

"Let's attack together!"

From four directions, they surrounded the angel with two pairs of wings. Then, using their skills, they attacked simultaneously. They managed to defeat the angel, but...

"Hey... hey... Don't tell me..."

A new nightmare had just begun.

Several angels began to show the same symptoms. Although the numbers weren't too many, considering how powerful the evolved angels were, for the outnumbered Liber, it was nothing short of an impossible mission.

"Don't give up, everyone!! We're here for you <<Lightning Lance>>."

Astrea, one of the Valkyrie Maidens with the God Slayer weapon <Mjolnir>, came and crushed the newly evolved angel.

Astrea actually had an earth element, but because of her God Slayer weapon, she could use the lightning element.

"Just because they've changed doesn't mean they're a threat. Besides, if they become stronger, don't we as Liber have something that can defeat any enemy?"

After smiling, Astrea moved on to her next target with a thunderous hammer strike.

The Liber members who witnessed Astrea's power felt amazed and fascinated. But it wasn't just that which drew their attention.

They remembered what gave a Liber strength as a game player.

"Even though we're from different guilds, I don't think there's anything wrong with doing it once in a while."

"Yes... I agree..."

"It's something easy..."

With a shout of enthusiasm, the battle resumed.

Meanwhile, Astrea, who had successfully completed her task, immediately went to the next battle location.

"{Astrea, thank you. Please go to the next battle location.}"

"It's no problem. But this is really bad."

Anastasia gave the order upon realizing that the enemy had grown stronger. With their newfound power, it would be disastrous if the Liber members assisting them lost their morale.

By sending the Valkyrie Maidens to various battle locations, it was hoped that they would restore morale.

Indeed. And it was very successful in boosting morale.

Unfortunately, they were still not out of the woods.

"{I know. The evolved angels now have power equivalent to monsters of level 700 or higher. Among them, there are angels with six wings. They have the power equivalent to monsters of level 900 or higher.}"

"Is this only the beginning?"

"{That's right. The real battle has just begun. If it continues like this, I don't think any of us will succeed.}"

"So, what should we do?"

"{I don't know if this will work, but I have no choice but to rely on that person.}"

"I understand."

Then the connection was cut off. At the same time, Astrea had already spotted a group of Liber struggling against angels.

♦♦♦

A similar situation unfolded for Kuro. The angels suddenly evolving had changed the course of the battle. Although they were still easy opponents for Flamia, Mea, and Chiaki, they became formidable foes for the weakened Kuro.

He was thrown off balance in the exchange of power, and when he let his guard down, another angel attacked him as if targeting him. Using the skill <Dark Bind>, he managed to dodge, and with the help of Chiaki and Flamia, he finally escaped from the difficult situation.

Knowing that he was saved once again, Kuro gritted his teeth in anger. Why was he so weak in a situation like this? If that were the case, then his resurrection would be meaningless. Was Lucifer's sacrifice to bring him back all in vain? No, he wouldn't let that happen. Whatever the reason, he had to rise again. But how?

"Damn it!!"

He let his guard down, and that's when he faced an angel with eight wings. It was an angel even stronger than the previous ones. He prepared to withstand the angel's attack, but a ring of light bound his hand, and at that moment, the angel struck him with a sword resembling a cross.

Flamia flew to help, but she was blocked by a similar type of angel. Flamia was surprised when the angel easily withstood her attack. Seeing that Flamia was ineffective, Chiaki finally intervened. Unable to fly, she used the skill <Wind Spear Spiral>. This skill could easily defeat level 700 monsters, but something unexpected happened. The four-winged angel received the attack and died. It seemed like they sacrificed themselves to stop Chiaki's attack.

In that situation, Mea also wanted to act, but she was now surrounded by six angels with eight wings. She couldn't move at all. Flamia, Chiaki, and Mea finally decided to unleash their full power to escape the situation, but they were too late. The sword of light, capable of destroying darkness, mercilessly struck Kuro.

"Shin Kamikiri-ryu <<Seiame no Yari>>" (Divine Rain-Cutting Style <<Spear of Holy Rain>>)

A beam of light destroyed the angel. At the same time, the ring that had bound Kuro disappeared into particles.

"Who?"

Kuro was surprised by what had just happened. He then looked toward the perpetrator. With that attack, it could only be a Valkyrie Maiden, but it was someone unexpected.

"Onii-chan, sorry I'm late. No, it seems like I'm just in time, right?"

"...Ruko...?"

Yes. The one who had saved him was none other than Ruko. But compared to her previous self, she was very different. She wore a shrine maiden's outfit and held a naginata. And most importantly, she emitted a holy aura, but it was different from the aura Michael emitted. This aura could be described as gentler and more delicate.

"Why are you..."

"Sorry, but I couldn't let Onii-chan fight Miki-chan alone. Besides, I can't just let everything end like this. Onii-chan, there's something I want to say to Miki-chan."

"..."

Kuro couldn't say anything. He didn't know what was on Ruko's mind, but he understood that now, for the first time, Ruko wanted to do something that truly came from the depths of her heart. A pure and sacred desire.

"Alright, but can you do it?"

Ruko smiled as if she had been expecting that question.

"Onii-chan, I'm different now from my old self. Of course, it doesn't mean I'm stronger than Flamia-chan or Chiaki-chan. It's just that now I'm the number one who loves Onii-chan the most."

"Ruko..."

Ruko's words explained that she had been reborn as someone new. Someone who was honest with herself and acknowledged others. Until now, she had always wanted to push others away, regardless of who they were. Whether they were her friends or not. Anyone near Kuro was an enemy. But when she felt powerless, she finally realized that everything she had done was wrong.

Love may be difficult to share, but it doesn't mean it's impossible. Only someone who has greater love than anyone else can do it. She didn't know how much love Kuro had given to others besides her, but she decided to become the number one person who loved Kuro the most.

"Sorry, but I can't let that happen."

Flamia suddenly interrupted. She had an unhappy expression, but she didn't show any hostile aura. It seemed that Ruko's efforts were not as easy as she had imagined.

"The one who loves Kuro the most is me. His first wife-"

"We got married at the same time, how can you call yourself the first?" Chiaki interjected, suddenly appearing. "If we're talking about who came first, I've loved Kuro-chan since we were kids. And maybe you don't know, but I took his virginity." She added enthusiastically.

"I don't know why I'm not surprised by that."

Flamia finally gave up on calling herself the first.

"Hey, can you stop talking about perverted things at a time like this? Do you want to make me do it right now?"

"I know you're a succubus, Mea, but I didn't expect you to be this lewd."

"You are the most perverted among all of us," Flamia added.

In response to that, Mea blushed, and her body wriggled like an eel. For some reason, she looked erotic.

"Alright, we've found the most perverted person here."

Chiaki, Kuro, and Ruko nodded in agreement. Mea's behavior was quite surprising. Perhaps this incident had awakened the succubus spirit within her.

"Why did you start this without me? I'm also Kuro-niisan's wife."

"Verona, you're here?"

"I've been here since Ruko came. Who do you think protected her during her Growth period?"

"Growth? Can Ruko evolve too?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know what's actually happening. Let's just consider it her ability."

Ruko smiled softly. When she was preparing to use her true power, she couldn't be disturbed, just like when Neo Kuro created a large miasma. Since Verona was the closest, she immediately begged her. No, she even knelt down so that Verona would agree to do it. If it were her former self, Ruko would never have done that. Especially considering that Verona was her love rival and someone who had once been an enemy. But for her goal, to speak with Michael, she had already decided to do anything.

"Verona-chan, thank you."

"I did it for my precious husband, not for you. I just didn't want him to be sad, that's all. Besides, I thought you could help in this battle."

"Fufufu.. Verona, are you a tsundere?"

"!? Flamia-neechan, who's the tsundere? Well, forget about that issue. Aren't you forgetting that we're surrounded?"

As Verona mentioned, dozens of eight-winged angels surrounded them from all directions. Considering their power, the situation was quite dire.

However, none of them were worried or afraid. In fact, they seemed to have been waiting for this situation to arise.

"Well then, how about the one who defeats the most of them becomes number one?"

"As always, you come up with strange ideas, Verona. But right now, our priority is to let Ruko meet Michael. Isn't that right, Kuro?"

Kuro nodded, confirming what Flamia said.

Their goal was indeed to defeat all the angels, but Kuro realized that even if they succeeded in defeating them all, the problem wouldn't be solved.

"That's right, but it won't be easy. She's surrounded by those angels."

"That's not a problem. We just need to defeat them all."

"It seems it's been decided. By the way, Ana-neesama said that to end all of this, we should defeat Michael as soon as possible," added Verona. "If you want to speak, just say what you need to say. We'll give you the time."

"Thank you... that's enough. Onii-chan, wait for us. This time, it's our turn to protect you."

The five of them dashed toward the angels. Although the angels were strong, with their high-level skills and multiple attacks, they weren't overly difficult enemies.

They defeated the angels while clearing a path for Ruko. It could be said that everything they did was for her.

"..."

Seeing his five wives working together so well filled Kuro's heart with happiness. They may not appear to get along, but it seemed he didn't need to worry about that.

What he was currently worried about was his own powerlessness. If he joined the battle, he would only be a hindrance.

In his deepest heart, why didn't he have the power to fight? What was the point of wielding this sword if he couldn't use it?

He looked at Kurokami No Tsurugi in his hand. The sword was a manifestation of his determination and power. The stronger his resolve, the stronger the sword became.

Compared to Longinus Darkness, which was a manifestation of his dark power, Kurokami No Tsurugi was the sword that would never disappoint him.

But why now...?

Was his resolve still not strong enough to fight against the enemy? Why, despite coming this far, couldn't he do anything?

"..."

Once again, he looked at his five wives. They fought bravely, defeating the incoming angels with incredible power and technique.

But what surprised him the most was how they protected each other like a family.

"!?"

Finally, he realized the big mistake he had made. He did need power, but it wasn't the kind of power used for fighting or defeating enemies.

[So, you've found the answer?]

A voice suddenly appeared in his head. Kuro was accustomed to such things because of his split personality, but since they were no longer present, the voice must have come from another source.

"Yes. I've been so foolish."

There was no sense of ill intent in the voice, so Kuro responded without hesitation.

"All this time, I fought to defeat the enemy, but it was all wrong. I forgot my original purpose and the reason why I did all of this."

Kurokami No Tsurugi trembled and continued to tremble. Then, it suddenly cracked.

"I fought because I didn't want to lose their smiles and wanted to make them happy, not for trivial goals like defeating enemies."

The cracks grew larger, and eventually, the blade of Kurokami No Tsurugi shattered, leaving only the hilt behind.

But it wasn't over yet. The dark aura from Kuro moved toward the empty hilt of the sword and began to form a new blade.

[That's right. If you remember that, it means you can call upon me. Now, shout my name with your desire!!]

Simultaneously with the voice, a name appeared in Kuro's head. And without hesitation, he spoke it aloud.

"<<Kurogane>>"

Darker and more ominous than Longinus Darkness, Kuro's sword now became the most powerful weapon to oppose the light.

♦♦♦

The battle finally reached its climax. On the ground, the Liber who participated in the fight finally had to accept the fact that their enemy was too strong. Starting with the enemy possessing four wings, now angels with twelve and sixteen wings appeared. Their power was beyond comprehension, causing the Liber group to be annihilated one by one.

"Tch! Is this the end..?"

Tera looked at her decreasing HP bar, which had reached 3 percent. With just one more attack, she would surely die.

The angel in front of her had 16 wings. It was the strongest angel they had ever faced. It was with this angel that the Ouroboros guild met their demise, one by one.

Realizing she was the last one standing, Tera could only smile. Yes, she would die, but somehow she didn't feel any regret.

"But before that, don't underestimate us!!"

Tera used the Auto Use skill to drink the MP potion she had saved for this moment. Her MP bar instantly refilled, and she activated a skill she had never used before, even in front of her guild members.

A Divine Skill.

"One Thousand Spear Blossoms, <<Gae Bolg>>!"

She launched an attack aimed at the angel's chest. However, her attack was blocked by some kind of holy shield.

"Haaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!"

Tera screamed, channeling all the remaining strength she had to execute the skill. At the same time, attacks from other angels struck her body from various directions.

Her HP bar quickly depleted, a sign that she would soon vanish from that place.

(There's no way I'll give up!!!)

"<<Burst>>!"

Her spear shot like a meteor, piercing through the angel's body until it lost its power and lodged itself in a tree. But that was enough. The spear had fulfilled its duty.

A large hole now resided in the angel's body.

"Haha... I leave the rest of this mission to all of you."

Tera vanished, signifying her death.

Before disappearing completely, she looked up at the sky. There, she gazed at Kuro, who held a pitch-black sword.

Meanwhile, after Tera's death, the remaining members of the group fighting on the ground were the Valkyrie Maidens.

To increase their chances of survival, they decided to gather in one place.

Of course, at the same time, they were easily attacked by the angels. However, the Valkyrie Maidens wielded God Slayer weapons, which allowed them to easily destroy the angels.

"No matter how many we annihilate, they never seem to end."

"Don't complain now. This is also a great opportunity to destroy them."

Astrea and Angela complained because the enemies seemed endless.

Thousands of angels surrounded them from all directions, leaving them with no chance to escape.

"We can only hope that person defeats Michael soon. Otherwise, we'll be in trouble."

Although they could withstand the angels with their God Slayer weapons, they needed to connect them with skills to use them. Since each skill consumed MP, it could be said that they had limited attacks.

"Don't worry, I know they can do it," Anastasia said.

"You're right..."

"He's someone recognized by Flamia, so there's no way he can't do it. I'm sure he can defeat them all in one fell swoop."

A slash of darkness flew, and the angels surrounding them turned into particles of light.

"Like this... huh?"

No one believed Windy's words immediately, but that's why they looked up at the sky.

There, they found Kuro with a pitch-black sword darker than the darkness itself.

Afterward, Kuro flew after Flamia and the others toward Michael.

"...for some reason, my heart is pounding. I hope this isn't a bad sign..."

To others who heard it, it was bad news, especially coming from Anastasia's mouth.

After cutting down the angels surrounding Flamia's group, Kuro followed them at full speed.

He knew that even though they were strong, they would struggle against an enemy that kept growing stronger.

The number of angels had indeed decreased, but now they were starting to have more than 16 pairs of wings.

To Kuro, this was an abnormal sight. The wings of angels indicated their status and power, and with such a large number, they could be considered as powerful as Michael.

Feeling that something was amiss, Kuro tried to widen his view.

Suddenly, an angel blocked his path, but he easily defeated it. The angel shattered into particles and disappeared.

"...could it be?"

Seeing what had happened, a bad feeling immediately haunted him.

Flamia and the others, knowing that Kuro's power had recovered, or rather, become stronger than before, grew more excited to defeat the enemy.

They destroyed the incoming angels and continued to advance without anyone being able to stop them.

Although the number of angels with more than 8 pairs of wings (16 wings) had increased, they quickly defeated them like insects.

"They're so stubborn."

Flamia felt annoyed by the never-ending stream of angels.

"!?"

But that annoyance quickly turned into pain as she suddenly felt a sharp sensation in her body. Then, she was forcefully thrown backward.

"Flamia!!"

Chiaki managed to catch Flamia, but she was still pushed back by the force.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know, but..."

Flamia's HP bar decreased to only 50 percent.

Chiaki squinted her eyes as she observed what was happening. Then Mea, Verona, and Ruko joined them.

"What is that..."

The figure is responsible for attacking Flamia revealed itself. It didn't look much different from a regular angel, but it had wings made of light that formed a halo.

"Is it a new type of angel?"

"It seems so. Perhaps some kind of general or leader?"

"I don't really care, as long as we can crush it!!"

Mea's words reminded them that they didn't need to concern themselves with who their opponents were. The most important thing was to destroy them.

They regained their enthusiasm and continued to advance.

But...

"All of you, step aside!!"

A black flash struck the angel, and at the same time, Kuro appeared in front of them to stop it.

"Kuro!!"

"Onii-chan.."

"Kuro-chan.."

"Kuro-niisan.."

"....my husband."

The four of them glanced at Mea because she called Kuro in a way that was different from all of them.

Setting aside that issue...

"You all go quickly. Let me deal with this. Besides, your objective is close, so there's no need to confront them."

"But—"

"Hurry!! Leave it to me!!"

Kuro's gaze was so serious that he allowed the five of them to leave.

Right. Their goal wasn't to fight; they wanted to talk to Michael.

"Well then, be careful, Kuro."

The five of them turned and decided not to engage with the different angels.

At that moment, the angel tried to block their path, but Kuro quickly intercepted it.

"Your opponent is me!!!"

Seeing Kuro facing off against the angel, his five wives felt joy because the Kuro they knew had returned to his old self.

That's why they would do the same. To achieve their goal, they would do their best.

With renewed determination, they charged toward the angelic forces. Although their opponents grew tougher, they finally reached their objective.

But it wasn't an easy feat.

Flamia, Verona, Chiaki, and Mea blocked off from four directions to prevent anyone from interfering with Ruko and Michael's conversation.

Finally, among the thousands of angels, two people with identical faces stood face to face.

"Miki-chan..."

"Don't make that expression. Don't worry, I won't run away again. However, I hope you can defeat me quickly because you won't be able to defeat them."

Ruko seemed to see her twin as she looked at Michael. Although he had a vacant expression, she felt that Michael had become softer.

Indeed, she wasn't the only one who had changed in this battle.

"I understand. They will continue to grow stronger as we kill them, right?"

Michael didn't answer, but she didn't deny it either.

"Angels that die and decrease in number make the survivors stronger. In other words, it's like EXP points we gain from defeating monsters."

The principle is almost the same but significantly different.

"I'm glad if you understand. With that method, they will keep getting stronger. Even now, the angels you are facing have the same power as me. No, some even surpass my strength."

Angels with halo-shaped wings. That's what Michael meant. Their power was beyond comprehension, and only Kuro could fight against them.

"So, what do you want to discuss?"

Hime fell silent and didn't immediately answer, but she took a deep breath and prepared to say what she had been thinking all this time.

"Miki-chan, all this time, I never felt that what I was doing was wrong. Winning over Onii-chan by any means necessary. Yes, I admit it's not a good way if it harms others, but it's something that is commonly done. It's proof that I'm also human."

"[...]"

"That's why I also understand why you've done all this. But what I want to know is... What do you truly desire? Do you really want to erase Onii-chan because he shouldn't exist in this world? That's not true, right? Because we were once one, I know the reasons why you did this are-"

"[Stop. Don't continue anymore. I already know, so you don't have to tell me.]" 

Michael's face showed a complex expression as she glanced toward the intense battle between Kuro and the angel.

"[Seems like becoming one with you was a mistake. If I hadn't done it, maybe I wouldn't have experienced all of this.]"

"Then what do you want now? What does your heart say?"

Michael didn't answer immediately. He seemed to be mentally preparing himself to face a major issue.

"[...I don't know. What my heart says goes against the laws of this world. There's no way to fulfill it, and besides, I think it's unnecessary for me...]"

"Are you sure? Are these feelings you have unnecessary? Is this why you've used every means to eliminate Onii-chan?"

Once again, Michael fell silent.

She could argue against everything Ruko said, but she couldn't deceive her own feelings.

It was strange. Michael shouldn't have such emotions. She was merely a being that followed the established rules.

The reason she used Ruko's body in the past to eradicate Kuro was also something she did to abide by the rules.

But perhaps because she had been in Ruko's body for too long, she gradually changed. She started to understand something called emotions and sometimes encountered moments when the rules didn't apply.

And the rule that didn't apply the most was when it came to regulating the emotions known as love and affection.

It was a powerful emotion, but at the same time, an unstable one. It couldn't be controlled, predicted, or restrained.

When she realized she had those feelings for someone she shouldn't, she began to realize that she was broken.

Yes. Broken.

That's why she understood that there was only one way to fix that brokenness.

By eliminating the source of the damage.

"[...it's too late for everything.]"

"What do you mean by too late? If you desire it in your heart, why don't you reach for it with your own hands?"

Ruko flew closer and stretched out her arms, attempting to embrace Michael, but she flew back to avoid Ruko's good intentions.

"Miki-chan..."

Tears streamed down Michael's eyes. It was unexpected by anyone.

"[It's too late. Even if I want to acknowledge my feelings, the world doesn't allow it.]"

"What do you mean?"

"[...it's all too late.]"

"!?"

At that moment, a sudden light enveloped Michael's body. The light grew larger and stronger as if it would never fade.

"Ruko!!"

Turning towards the call, she witnessed the reality unfolding before her eyes.

The light came from the disintegrated body of the angel, but even the intact angel disintegrated into light and flew toward Michael's body.

Flamia flew towards Ruko.

"Ruko, we have to leave this place..."

"But-"

"Just do it. There's nothing we can do at the moment."

"..."

With a sad expression, Ruko looked at Michael, who was continuously consumed by light. The last thing she remembered was Michael's remorseful face.

She didn't understand the meaning of "too late" before, but now she finally understood. The power she had been exerting from the beginning was never under her control.

If not her, then who is it?

(I promise I will help you.)

With a heavy heart, Ruko moved away, knowing that it would be dangerous to stay there.

♦♦♦

There was nothing they could do to prevent what was happening before their eyes. Despite their attempts to attack the accumulating particles of light in Michael's body, it was all in vain as if they were passing through their own bodies.

In the end, all they could do was wait.

At this moment, the other five Flamia siblings arrived since the enemy was no longer present.

"This is really dangerous, isn't it?"

Anastasia said with a worried tone. She wasn't the only one feeling anxious about their current situation.

"Kuro, do you have a plan?" Flamia asked.

Everyone turned their attention to Kuro. Honestly, he felt awkward because he seemed to be the hero responsible for defeating the enemy.

"I don't know. All we can do is face it with all our strength. With our God Slayer weapons, I believe we can do something. The problem is..."

"We don't know how strong the enemy is..."

Kuro broke into a cold sweat as he saw the gathering light intensify and start taking shape. Although it wasn't complete yet, everyone could sense an immense power converging at a single point.

The wings of light began to take shape as well. The wings spanned dozens of meters and continued to unfurl. Seeing the incomplete figure, they could guess that the final form wouldn't be much different from the Demon King's.

"In that case, all we can do is our best. Let's destroy it with our Divine Slayers."

As the name suggested, it was a special skill possessed by the God Slayer weapons. It could be considered a trump card used to annihilate enemies.

"But we need preparation to do it. Plus, we don't know how strong the enemy's defenses are," Windy added.

"Haha... we don't need to worry about that. All we have to do is attack with full force!"

"Astrea, we understand what you mean. But we can't use the Divine Slayers consecutively. If we fail, this world will be destroyed."

"...tch... so what should we do?"

"Regarding the enemy's defenses, let me handle it. My power is the most suitable."

Kuro made a suggestion.

"As for the shield, I'm confident I can handle it too. I think your power is better suited for a finishing blow, right?" Mea said.

Everyone also thought the same, but Kuro shook his head.

"I can't, or rather, I'm not allowed to do it. I might be able to kill her with my power, but considering who I am, it's impossible."

Kuro was a demon. Because he was on the wrong side, on the losing side, he would surely fail no matter how strong he was.

The Valkyrie Maidens didn't fully grasp this concept, but for Ruko and Chiaki, it was something they knew for certain.

"Besides, I'm sure our goal isn't to kill her, right?"

"Onii-chan..."

Ruko was surprised to hear that from Kuro. It was indeed the last thing she wanted, but Ruko couldn't prioritize her selfish desires when the fate of the world was at stake.

"So it's decided. I'll destroy her defenses, and all of you will unleash your full power. Let's save that tsundere girl so she can slap her."

The tense atmosphere began to lighten with Kuro's words.

Some of the Valkyrie Maidens knew that prioritizing the safety of the CSO world was more important than uncertain desires. Strangely, none of them protested against the plan.

Why was that? It was simple. Although brief, they had started to know who the real Kuro was. A person who would do anything for the sake of someone dear to him.

If destroying Michael could save the world but couldn't make his wife happy, it was clear which path he would choose.

After they finished devising their plan, the figure of light finally took on a perfect form.

A figure standing 10 meters tall, resembling a goddess with a halo above her head and wings of light spanning dozens of meters.

And the most noticeable thing was a large crystal located on her chest. Inside the crystal, a girl slept like a doll.

"Miki-chan..."

Michael became the center of the angelic being. Despite not having a visible level, the angel's power was enough to make their hearts tremble.

Seeing the fully risen figure, Kuro prepared himself.

"Everyone, this is our final battle."

The angel raised her hand, and a sword of light instantly appeared. Without hesitation, she swung it towards Kuro and the others.

They swiftly dodged and attempted to counterattack, but they were taken aback by something else.

When the sword was successfully evaded, the shockwave from the swing struck the ground with a loud noise. The earth then split into two parts like a giant circle for dozens of kilometers.

Kuro and everyone broke into a cold sweat, not expecting the angel's power to be so incomprehensible to humans.

What would happen if she launched a serious attack? No one wanted to imagine that.

"<Ice Javelin>"

Horizon attacked, and as they expected, a shield blocked her attack.

Then Mea, Verona, Flamia, and Astrea also tried to attack, but everything was deflected as if hitting a solid wall.

"Prepare yourselves with your best attacks. I will clear the path for you."

Kuro flew at high speed toward the angel.

The angel didn't let it happen easily and transformed her wings into thousands of arrows of light.

Kuro used <Dark Bind> as a shield. He didn't expect the skill to hold up against it, but at that moment, he quickly dodged upwards.

That's when the sword of light shot toward him. Compared to the first attack, this one was stronger and more accurate.

But Kuro had been waiting for it.

"<Dark Counter>"

The enemy's attack was successfully reversed by Kuro's divine skill. The attack that was originally aimed at Kuro now struck the angel herself.

Not wasting the opportunity, Kuro immediately used Elixir to restore his HP and MP. Then he used the divine skill that had always been his trump card.

"<Vital Curse>"

The targeted skill was the very place where the previous attack would hit herself.

The angel's body was flung backward, but it wasn't a fatal blow.

To make it perfect, Kuro launched the next attack.

"Shin Kamikiri-ryu, <<Kamigiri>>"

He used the attack that had almost killed him against the angel.

With a loud sound like shattering glass, the shield that had been blocking all the girls' attacks was obliterated.

"Now!!"

Knowing that an opportunity had presented itself, they began to attack with their respective Divine Slayers.

"Sacred light, the light of love. Illuminate our path to reach the true goal, <<Eternal Solaria>>."

Anastasia fired a bullet of light resembling a laser beam.

"Darkness is not always evil, not always wicked. Beginning and end, that is darkness. <<Black Star Bullet>>."

This time, darkness was fired toward the angel.

"The punishing storm, the warning storm that brings life. <<Luminous Tempest>>."

"The lightning that brings destruction. Judge the guilty creatures with your power, <<Mjolnir Herculias>>."

The storm and lightning combined into an attack that struck the enemy. Its destructive power was like a punishment from the heavens bestowed by the gods.

"Water, the bringer of life's blessings. The bringer of disaster to the world. By my command, strike down my enemies, <<Gungnir Cocatrius>>."

"An arrow flying towards the enemy. Piercing through the shield and destroying it. <<Cocytus Javelin>>."

Angela and Horizon combined their attacks at one point. Their formidable attacks merged into one and struck the angel's body directly.

Each attack was powerful enough to make the land tremble greatly. Even the strongest of CSO beings would be severely injured, let alone an angel.

But it wasn't over yet. This was just the beginning of their main assault.

"Oh, light..."

"Oh, fire..."

Flamia and Chiaki recited their mantras simultaneously. They not only prepared to use their respective Divine Slayers but also merged them together.

"..you who are part of life, death. Rise, then perish and repeat. Burn and scorch. From ashes to ashes."

A magic circle formed in front of them. Additional circles kept multiplying like a large cannon.

"<<Libertus Nova>>."

The magical cannon of light was fired. The air vibrated, causing even the land far beneath them to be displaced by its power.

The attack hit the angel precisely, and the resulting explosion was like the largest bomb in the world.

"Did it work?"

No one answered. All they could do was wait.

They had given their best. No CSO being could withstand consecutive Divine Slayer attacks like that, including the Demon King.

Of course, that couldn't be taken as a reference, but it was at least proof that it was one of the strongest attacks in CSO.

After waiting, the figure of the angel finally appeared. The angel, who had previously resembled a goddess descending from heaven, now appeared as an incomplete body. Both her hands were destroyed, and parts of her body began to disappear into particles of light. Her once beautiful wings now resembled broken and damaged wings.

Everyone thought that the angel was nearly defeated. But for those engaged in direct combat...

"We still haven't destroyed her. Everyone, get ready for a counterattack."

Yes, it wasn't over yet.

The Valkyrie Maidens immediately prepared for a counterattack, but it didn't happen.

The angel stood there silently with an empty expression. But upon closer observation, it seemed like she wanted to say something.

Flamia and the others looked at each other, not understanding what was happening. At the same time, did anyone know about this?

It was then that Ruko flew among them all, tears streaming down her face.

"Miki-chan..."

Without hesitation, Ruko approached the angel and stood right in front of the crystal on her chest.

Her left hand touched the crystal. It felt cold, yet a comforting warmth emanated from it.

"....It's all over now..."

Many wanted to ask what those words meant, but the question was immediately answered as the crystal on the angel's chest cracked. At the same time, the angel's body began to dissolve into more and more light.

"Ruko-chan..."

Chaiki tried to approach but held back when she saw Ruko's expression.

Ruko smiled. A wide smile filled with happiness, even as tears continued to flow.

"Miki-chan, thank you. I promise I will never forget you."

The crystal quickly shattered and finally disintegrated completely. At the same time, the angel's body turned into scattered light, spreading in all directions, carried away by the wind. Every time the light landed, a new life began to grow, bringing new life to the land damaged by the battle.

"Oh my, in the end, we owe her a debt. What a poor way to say goodbye."

Kuro sighed heavily. He wore a frustrated expression, yet his smile was filled with happiness.

"Kuro, what do you mean? Did we really win?"

It was then that Kuro realized that what had happened couldn't be known by anyone other than himself and Ruko, who was a Kanata.

"In short, before Michael died, she managed to control the angels and ordered them to stop. It seems she knew that if the battle continued, we would all be soundly defeated."

Without saying much more, Kuro dispelled his wings and descended to the ground.

Flamia, without hesitation, did the same.

"Kuro, don't run away and explain. I know what happened, but I don't understand if this could really happen."

Hearing that, Kuro smiled and stepped towards the edge of a cliff that had formed due to their battle.

"Flamia, this world will always believe that truth will triumph over evil. If we, who are protecting evil, were to be seen in that light, I, we, would surely be on the losing side."

"That's why you said we wouldn't survive if the fight continued?"

Kuro nodded. At the same time, he stopped at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the beautiful scenery stretching to the horizon.

This was a game world, but also another world. A beautiful world that truly existed without any falseness.

"But there is an exception to that concept."

"..?"

"That exception is love."

"Love? Are you saying that power is stronger than truth?"

"I don't know... Since the beginning until now, love has been something that no one can truly understand. Love can be a source of strength, but also a source of defeat. In the end, love is a concept that cannot be predicted. But one thing is certain..."

Kuro raised his hand up. He could see the blue sky behind it.

"Right or wrong, being on the wrong or right side, it won't change who I am. Kuro Kanata, a God Slayer."

Flamia smiled, understanding why Kuro said that.

"Yeah, yeah, but don't forget that you are our hus-ughgh.."

Flamia suddenly covered her mouth. She seemed to be holding back something from coming out of her mouth.

"This is strange, why do I suddenly feel nauseous?"

"..."

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