We left the final temple behind and reached the deepest reaches of Oceanus.
The divine aura radiating from the area was abnormal. It wasn't just a claim that she could erode the world; the pressure was tangible. It weighed on me more heavily with every step I took.
The ritual hall was immense. Numerous pillars rose toward the ceiling, surrounding the area like a cage.
"This is... heavy," Ayane murmured.
I nodded in silence. My eyes shifted to the altar at the far end of the hall. There, sitting upon a single throne, was the source of the pressure.
"Ahahaha! Welcome, Heroes, to my Oceanus. Shall I reward you for making it this far?"
Levi-san laughed from her high vantage point. The tone didn't fit her usual self at all. She wore her usual one-piece dress, but without her straw hat, her white horns were exposed for the world to see. She sneered down at us, looking like she was having the time of her life.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Levi-san. It's been a while."
"It has. I’m glad to see you've finally woken up. Though I must say, Ayane-san and the others have certainly grown stronger. I've been watching, and the change is remarkable. Oh, and to the Serpent-Slayer whom I’m meeting for the first time—good work dealing with that disgusting god."
"…If you feel that way, you should've just killed him yourself," Kariya muttered.
"Goodness, no. I didn't want anything to do with that. There’s a proverb in this country, isn't there? 'Let sleeping gods lie.'"
There was indeed a saying like that, but I was pretty sure it wasn't meant to be applied to actual, literal gods.
Still, I couldn't disagree. Everyone else seemed to be looking away, struggling to find words. The god in question appeared to have no idea what we were talking about and just tilted his head in confusion. I really wished he’d gain a shred of self-awareness.
Besides, it looked like he was going to be a mere bystander for this fight, too. Honestly, I didn't even know why he was here.
"Wait, isn't that Behi-chan? Why are you even here?"
"Because I am Master's property now," Behemoth replied flatly.
"…You slacker. Who do you think is always cleaning up your messes?"
"Being too serious isn't good for your health, you know."
Based on what I’d heard in the last temple, I thought they might actually be close, but the atmosphere between them was explosive. In fact, they seemed to get along remarkably poorly. The playful smile Levi-san had been wearing while addressing us had completely vanished.
"Sigh… this really spoils the fun. My motivation has plummeted now that I’ve had this reunion."
"A twisted serpent can't even appreciate a reunion, I see. As expected of the 'strongest'."
"Hey, Reima-san, having this thing around is going to be a total drag, so why don't you just send her back? Personally, I’d prefer the Great Sins Decisive Battle anyway. That’s much more my speed."
"No way. Master is going to use me."
Seriously, do they really hate each other that much? I had plenty of things I wanted to ask, so this bickering was unexpected.
Still, it helped ease the tension a little. To be honest, I had been hesitating until the moment I stood before her. I wasn't even sure if I could do what I needed to do.
"Hey, Levi-san… let's fight."
I didn't know if I could win, or if we could even put up a decent fight. But seeing Behemoth standing there without a hint of fear—and seeing my companions finally free of their own hesitation—I realized there was no point in agonizing over it anymore.
"…Very well. But let me ask you one thing, Reima-san. Who are you?"
"I’m Reima Kariya. A Summoner, and just a human who cares about his friends. And I’m the challenger who’s going to take you down."
I put my soul into those words. I wasn't alone. That had always been the case. I couldn't fight by myself, and I never had to. I had been supported every step of the way, and I had grown strong alongside everyone else. My Summoned Beasts and my companions were everything to me, and I had resolved to fight by their side until the end.
"Aha, I like that. I love that answer! Now, come and fight me. Challenge me—the monster that I am. Stake everything you have, and use every trick in your book! This is a monster hunt, after all. If you hold back, I’ll kill you."
The swirling divine aura condensed instantly around her. An overwhelming presence of pure, unadulterated violence gathered into Levi-san’s form. She swallowed it all and smiled as she began to chant.
"She is the strongest serpent, she who was born on the fifth day to oppose the gods—she is the Primordial Serpent Dragon that Washes Away the World."
Those were the words that would release her true power.
Because I understood the magnitude of that threat—because I knew that if I didn't block this, we would lose instantly—I wove my own song, matching her rhythm with absolute faith in my partner.
"She is the origin of beasts, she who was born on the fifth day to oppose the gods—she is the Primordial Magic Beast that Destroys the Earth. And she is my new ally, the one who overturns the end!"
I took the incantation I had heard in the dungeon and molded my mana into a new shape. I funneled every drop of that power into the girl smiling beside me.
[Terminus Summon]
I shouted the name of the technique at the exact same moment she finished her release.
"Levi Leviathan!"
"Behemoth!"
In that heartbeat, a beam of light capable of ending the world was unleashed directly at us.