As Agra watched the devastated dungeon landscape, he let out a bitter laugh. The Demon of Eternal War is not something that could so easily crumble.
He is the one who first launched the signal for the destruction of the continent, the nightmare who overthrew numerous nations, and the monster who led dozens of battlefronts alone. To think he would die under the pressure of his own subordinates.
"What a magnificent plan. You said you would torment the Apostle of the Lord, and yet, what is this? Did I hear that wrong? Was your plan actually to torment your own allies instead?"
Agra mocked the Pope, checking the situation of the other evil gods who had been resurrected on the earth.
The flames that should have engulfed the earth upon resurrection were now fading, trapped in the mountains, unable to escape.
The one who should lead the world into an emptiness where everything could be transformed was being swallowed up by darkness little by little.
The darkness that should have appeared next had already long since faded, and given the current circumstances, it seemed nothing would be different from destruction.
In the end, all the Pope had prepared would disappear without causing any harm to the Apostle of the Lord.
"Why not just abandon everything now? It doesn't seem like there's much difference in the chaos you plan to create."
With the situation like this, would the Pope’s main objective be achieved properly?
That was an overly optimistic assumption. How could they win when they had already exposed all of their cards, facing the Apostle of the Lord?
"Indeed, it seems the Apostle knows everything I planned. Truly the wisdom of one chosen by the Lord."
"So, will you just stand there and take it?"
"Hmm. Honestly, it's not too bad even if I were to lose."
If one could lose by the miracle of the Lord, that would be an honorable thing. There was no reason to mourn or be angry about it.
"I told that person I would be a trial for them, so I must prepare something different."
But he had promised the Apostle.
That he would be a trial.
That person is coming towards me now, as a towering trial, and if I do nothing, won’t I be a liar?
Perhaps with others, but there was no way I could lie to the Apostle of the Lord.
"Most of the things that person is doing are possible only inside the dungeon. Outside, they would never be able to pull off such antics."
"What does that matter?"
"We end the dungeon."
The dungeon’s rampage could only occur if a massive number of monsters were created, far beyond what could fit inside the dungeon.
But if the dungeon were made incapable of holding anything, wouldn’t it be possible to artificially trigger a rampage?
If the end of power was used to end the dungeon, something rather interesting would occur.
"While the third dungeon is being cleared, we prepare."
"I don’t think that will be possible."
"Are you going to stop me?"
"No. I’m saying it’s physically impossible. Look at me. Aren’t we just before the third dungeon is about to be cleared?"
Seeing the bewildered face of his former subordinate, Agra’s lips curled into a sneer.
"Your end is near."
"Your end is the same."
"We’ll see. If you fail, my end will head far, far away."
The Pope said nothing but smiled at Agra, then took the sealed orbs and exited the room.
"Your Majesty. What has happened?"
"I’m thinking of changing the location where the evil god will be resurrected."
"Is this sudden?"
"There’s too little chaos on the continent. Because of the Apostle of the Lord’s competence, the sorrow, tears, and pain that should have spread through the world are nonexistent, right?"
What fills the earth now is hope for the future.
People are looking at the lantern of the Apostle of the Lord and quietly moving forward.
While others are fighting, bleeding, seeking wealth, envying, and despairing, they are trying to do what they can.
This is certainly the right thing, but for the distant future, I must inevitably crush their hope.
To allow the great Lord to rule the world alone, I must stomp on their petty hopes and bring chaos.
"I will execute the rejected plan. Call everyone here."
"Your Majesty. That...?"
"If I had not fallen into hell long ago, would I be avoiding the consequences now? Rather than acting weak and fumbling about, it’s better to fall to the very bottom of hell."
"...Understood."
The Pope hummed a tune as he used his power on the closed door.
"Old man. Are you really going to do that crazy thing? No, I’m not going to stop you. In any case, my job is the same. Go ahead, do it. Let’s see those here try their best to resist."
Lasha, who had cut contact, casually tossed the crystal orb aside and stretched.
"Lasha, what did you talk about?"
"None of your business."
Those near her bowed politely, despite her harsh demeanor.
To the followers of the God of Destruction, Lasha was like another deity.
"Tch. Filthy bastards."
Lasha hated their formality.
What value was there in those who had power but refused to rise and instead surrendered?
Those who left their goals to others had no right to live.
As much as she wanted to kill them right now and go face her enemies alone, if she touched them, their pathetic god would probably do something horrible. Damn it.
"Get up. Idiots. Time to fight. You’re ready to be meat shields, right?"
"For the destruction of the world and its return, I am willing."
Those who followed the God of Destruction were all a little crazy in the head.
There was no one normal among the worshipers of evil gods, but these ones were even worse.
The world had twisted, and those who believed that returning it to a primitive state through destruction was the only way to protect it did not care about their own lives.
They didn’t want to be strong.
That’s why, even after becoming an Apostle of Destruction, Lasha distanced herself from the followers of the God of Destruction and openly showed her disgust whenever she met them.
"Then get lost."
"Understood."
After the loathsome bastards left, Lasha looked on with a satisfied gaze at the troops charging from afar.
You’ve come, Benedict Allen.
I knew you would come here.
In the end, if you were to stop me, it had to be you.
With eyes that melted as if she had fallen in love, Lasha watched the knight in black armor, then briefly glanced at the dungeon behind her before jumping off the building.
It’s been a long time since the first confrontation, but that moment is still vivid.
It was a satisfying fight.
I thought it was enough and asked for death.
But that guy didn’t allow me to die.
He talked nonsense about how his wife wouldn’t want him to.
At that time, I faced the God of Destruction and made a deal with him. A contract for one satisfying battle.
And now, this moment is the time when that contract is fulfilled.
The earth trembled.
The prelude to collapse came from behind.
The gray dust stormed through the air.
Amidst it all, Lasha stood silently, hearing the sound of armored knights approaching as she hummed.
"Lasha."
"Oh, Benedict. Not even surprised? You must’ve known I’d be here?"
"My daughter told me."
"About how to defeat me?"
"No."
"Really? Why?"
"You don’t need to tell me that. I’ll win regardless."
Benedict Allen, drawing his great sword, stared at Lasha through his helmet.
"You haven’t forgotten your past defeat, have you?"
"Of course not! How could I forget? How amazing you were back then!"
Benedict Allen, who trampled battlefronts, was the ideal warrior that Lasha once dreamed of.
"But now, it’s not the same."
Now, Benedict had lost his sharpness.
He had become a normal strong man, consumed by the harsh reality and the happiness that had suddenly returned, turning into a lapdog of the kingdom instead of a wolf.
"Now, I can win anytime."
So Lasha would return Benedict to the past. She would make him realize that, with the resurrection of the God of Destruction, he had to return to the past to repeat that moment.
And this time, she would do it.
"Trash."
As Lasha raised her voice, the followers of the God of Destruction, waiting at their positions, appeared.
They surrounded the knights perfectly, crossbows in hand.
"Don’t think of those as simple crossbows. They are imbued with the power of destruction. If you try to block them with aura, you’ll be shattered along with your aura."
This ambush was only possible because the God of Destruction was about to be resurrected.
An ambush that took advantage of the fact that detecting the power of the evil gods in a city filled with their power was impossible.
"How many knights have to die before you, Benedict, start rampaging? I’m curious."
Lasha tilted her head and gave the order to fire, but instead of attacking the knights, the arrows turned toward Lasha.
"...Huh?"
"Wow, you really didn’t know? You’re such a blockhead."
Just moments ago, the man who had been talking about the destruction of the world now had a soft female voice.
Now, Lasha understood what was going on.
"How troublesome."
Though arrows were flying at her, Lasha didn’t flinch or try to dodge.
Instead, she raised her hand and clenched her fist.
All the arrows aimed at her snapped and fell to the ground.
"Not right. This is getting interesting, huh?"
Hunting the strong, she felt only pure enjoyment.