Chapter 82: Big Sister (Pseudo) vs. Big Sister (Real?)

“Do you need a signal?”

“I don’t need one, Merli-chan!”

I couldn’t tell if they were actually getting along or if they were at each other’s throats, but that exchange marked the beginning of the brawl.

Merli, who rarely bothered with a staff, unusually deployed hers and began weaving words into the air.

“What manifests is the embodiment of hell, a garden of scorching heat overflowing with flame. Now, O Titans, color the world in crimson—[Scorching Hell: Muspelheim — March of the Titans: Titan Parade]!”

It was an opening move that could only be described as a magical nuke.

This was the furthest depth of sorcery—a barrier spell that rewrote the laws of the world. It was a top-tier mystery, a taboo that projected the user’s inner mental world onto reality.

While watching the spectacle unfold, I prioritized safety, barking out orders for my other companions to take cover.

“Lecture... later...”

I muttered the words with dead eyes. It was already clear that no one was stopping them now; I had no choice but to stand back and watch the carnage.

[Muspelheim]. In legend, it was the realm of the giants guarded by the titan Surtr. It was a mythological world of such intense heat that any creature not born within its fires would be reduced to ash. While some of the spells I used bore the same name, Merli’s version was completely non-standard. To any living being, it was pure, concentrated poison.

As a portion of the Soul World was overwritten, the first to move were the crimson giants. A legion of over ten sword-wielding titans charged forward, accompanied by a swarm of beasts made of living flame. They threw themselves at Gram with a singular, murderous will.

However, no matter how potent the magic used to create them was, they were still just constructs. They couldn't hope to reach a member of the strongest species that supported the pillars of the world.

“...I will reap you all.”

A single phrase drifted through the heat.

Gram was empty-handed, yet the Titans fell the moment she swung her arms. Since her very essence was that of a sword, she was a monster capable of rending anything to pieces even without a physical weapon.

“Where are you aiming?”

Among the horde, an especially massive eagle-shaped Titan unleashed a blast of searing wind to incinerate her. It was a wide-area attack—a poor choice. Gram slipped through the heat with ease.

“Fall.”

A blade manifested in her hand for a split second, and the giant bird was cleaved in two.

By the standards of the current world, that eagle Titan would have been a Rank S calamity at the very least. Gram had put it down in a heartbeat. I could only laugh at her usual, nonsensical strength, but a headache was already beginning to throb behind my eyes. This was just the warm-up; neither of them was even close to being serious yet.

“Merli-chan, this isn't going to end it, you know?”

“I know that. That’s why I prepared this.”

Merli’s voice echoed from multiple directions at once.

I looked up to see the sky filled with her. Scores of Merli clones surrounded Gram, all of them chanting the same spell in perfect unison.

“I’m definitely keeping him all to myself for a whole day! [Howling Thunder of the End: Howling Armathor]!”

Normally, this was a highest-tier spell requiring a chant of four stanzas or more. Merli was pulling off the absurd feat of firing it instantly through every single one of her clones. True to the name of the thunder god, Thor, the technique descended upon Gram with world-shattering destructive power.

Even among my other Summoned Beasts, most would have been taken out instantly if they were hit by this. Only the absolute top-tier could even hope to defend against it.

But then again, Gram was the most dangerous entity even among that top-tier.

“[Absolute Severance: Absolute Tomesis].”

She didn't just emerge unscathed; she countered.

With a single stroke, every clone was sliced out of existence. Even the residual magic saturating the Arena was cleaved in half.

“This is my win!”

Gram lunged at the final, original Merli, swinging the flat of her blade like a club. Merli’s raw physical durability was pathetic; if that hit landed, the fight was over. Everyone watching thought the same thing.

“Did you really think I’d challenge you with a direct approach? Tell me, did you enjoy playing with my dolls?”

The magic power from the "slain" clones suddenly overflowed, twisting into ethereal chains that bound Gram where she stood. With Gram’s movements completely sealed, the excess mana formed a massive magic circle in the air.

A single spear materialized—one of the "cheat-tier" spells recorded in Merli’s origin.

“Hahahaha! Take this, Gram! [Divine Spear: Last Gungnir]!!”

“Merli, you moron! You’re taking this too far, you idiot!”

Merli just laughed, having completely discarded concepts like "holding back" or "self-restraint." The attack, fueled by an insane amount of mana, shook the very foundations of the Soul World as it tore toward Gram.

Is it Ragnarok? Is it Armageddon? I didn't know what to call it anymore. These two were starting a private Final War inside my own soul. Most of the other Summoned Beasts had already been blown away by the shockwaves. I had no idea how I was going to fix this.

“...Come to me, [Magic Sword Gram].”

The spear was inches away when the world seemed to freeze. In the next instant, the Divine Spear was shattered.

Gram now held a single, supreme magic sword that bore her own name. The blade possessed an aura that felt like the world itself—an overwhelming, ominous presence that exerted enough pressure to visibly distort the surrounding space.

“I’ll settle this with the next one,” Gram declared.

“Heh. Fine by me,” Merli countered.

“Don't you dare ‘settle’ it! There isn't even a scrap of the Arena left! Hey, are you two even listening to me?!”

“Be quiet, Reima-kun! Big Sister is at the best part!”

Well, at least she's still responding to me.

Realizing that anything I did would be futile, I dumped every drop of my remaining mana into a barrier, focusing solely on protecting my other companions.

“I am the Mediator who supports the world! My divine majesty witnessed by Aether, let us praise your lives! Begin, O world, the brilliance of a nova spins life! My True Name is [Origin and Sword]!”

“I am the Usurper who killed the Primordial! My eye offered to Mimir's Well, let us mock your diligence! End, O world, the coming twilight shall slaughter you! My True Name is [Death and War]!”

Oh, so that's how they're "settling" it.

My eyes went dead. My heart felt like it was resigned to the end. They were both unleashing literal one-hit-kill moves—genuine ultimate arts that unleashed the final chapters of their respective legends.

“[Origin Finale]!”

“[Chanting the End: Catastrophe — Primitive Dragon-Fish: Nova Bahamut]!”

“[Death and War, Destroying All: Volva Audz — Twilight Sky: Ragnarok]!”

One was a secret technique that hurled the user’s entire existence as a projectile; the other was a beam of pure twilight. The moment they collided, I braced for the world to end—but then, two voices reached my ears.

“That’s enough.”

“You two stupid sisters are overdoing it.”

The voices belonged to two women who had either just woken up or had been watching the whole disaster for their own amusement.

Gram’s technique was neutralized by a move of equal magnitude, while Merli’s beam—being pure magic—was simply devoured by a brown-skinned woman.

“No matter how you slice it, this is too much. Do you actually intend to destroy this world?”

“...Gu-chan, calm down. We’ll just have him make time for us later, okay?”

Standing there were two women: one with deep crimson hair and golden eyes, and another with brown skin, white hair, and very little in the way of clothing. They were dependable companions on the same level as Bahamut. Looking thoroughly exhausted, they gave the two combatants a stern lecture before turning toward me.

“It’s been a while, Prince... I stopped them. Am I a good girl?”

“Yo, Reima. Long time no see.”

“You’re lifesavers... Seriously, thank you, Rahva, Anra.”

The first to speak was Rahva Typhon, dressed like a princess out of a fairy tale. She spoke with a gentle voice and a sweet smile, immediately pestering me for praise.

Standing beside her and looking down at me was Anra Azi Dahaka. She was my ultimate trump card against magic, possessing a history of having devoured the origin of her own chief god. Despite her tomboyish, hedonistic personality, she had actually stepped in to help, and I was genuinely grateful.

“Listen, Reima. This whole mess happened because you haven't been giving them enough attention. Reflect on that, and then go make some time for us.”

“...Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, you’d better be. Now then, I’m first on the list!”

“Wait, Ar-chan. Since we’re the ones who stopped the "reflection-worthy" sisters, I think we deserve the first reward.”

“True. In that case, get ready, Reima... and fight me.”

“...Understood. Since things have calmed down for now, I’ll go talk with everyone.”

“Hey, don’t you run away.”

In the end, I was scooped up by Anra—who stood a full two meters tall—and hauled off to her quarters. However, the rest of the Summoned Beasts couldn't contain themselves and charged in after us. The whole catastrophe ended up dissolving into a massive, chaotic banquet.