The battle between the God Realm and the Human-Demon Allied Forces continued to intensify, eventually drifting toward a stalemate. Given the sheer disparity in raw power, a deadlock should have been impossible.
While the Allied Forces were putting up a valiant fight, the God Realm still held an overwhelming advantage in terms of military strength. However, the combined efforts of the Six Kings and their Executives, coupled with the Gods' passive strategy of buying time, had gradually ground the offensive to a halt.
A stalemate favored the God Realm. Their objective was merely to buy enough time to ensure Shallow Vernal remained undisturbed. Realizing this, several powerhouses among the Allied Forces moved to break the stagnation and seize the momentum for themselves.
Leading the charge was the First Hero, Noin, a white headband fluttering behind her as she gripped her katana.
Only a select few knew she was still alive. Her appearance—helmet removed—sent a shockwave through the ranks of both the Gods and the Allied Forces. Such was the weight her name carried among the people of this world.
Seizing upon that momentary hesitation, Noin sprinted toward the heart of the enemy formation, where the Upper Gods were gathered.
In terms of raw ability, she was only around middle Count-class. While not a liability in this conflict, her combat power was far from sufficient to turn the tide on its own.
But that was nothing new. She... Kujo Hikari... was by no means the strongest. She was not the most powerful, nor was she the wisest.
And yet...
"One Flash... Ouka!"
As she swung her blade, her eyes burning with resolve, she radiated an aura unlike anyone else. She could not match the physical capabilities of the Upper Gods; her strikes were parried, and she was met with a swift counterattack.
But she did not fall. No matter how many times she was struck or how often her blade was blocked, she pushed off the ground and charged the Gods again and again.
With every attempt, her blade grew sharper—honed by her sheer tenacity. Finally, after a series of relentless exchanges, she managed to leave a faint scratch on the cheek of an Upper God.
The wound was negligible, hardly even damage. Yet, for some reason, the Upper God’s expression wavered, and it swung its sword with a hint of desperation.
"I won't let you!"
Laguna intervened, her Great Spear catching the divine blade.
"Don't think you can take our General so easily! Falce!"
"I’ve got it."
Following Laguna’s lead, Falce unleashed a spell to force the Upper God back. Miraculously, both Laguna and Falce were exerting power far beyond their usual limits, successfully driving the deity from the spot.
"Hahaha! This is grand! Hikari, fighting by your side is truly the best!"
"A philosophy of pure grit... it hardly suits a researcher. But I suppose it’s not bad."
This phenomenon wasn't limited to the two of them. The vigor of the Allied Forces was surging visibly. The stalled gears of the war had begun to turn once more, fueled by a new spark.
To repeat: she... Kujo Hikari... was not called a Hero because she was the strongest. There were many in this world who surpassed her in combat power.
But her willingness to challenge the impossible gave courage to those who followed. Her unbending back brought the strength to refuse surrender.
Many gathered along the path she forged. They watched her small but majestic figure, and they gripped their weapons with renewed spirit to fight by her side.
She gave courage to her followers, vitality to her comrades, and hope to all who looked upon her.
That was why—and only why—she was the only person in this world called neither King nor God, but Hero. Even now, she remained an object of eternal praise.
Vier, who had once fought her as the Demon King, watched the Allied Forces regain their momentum and let a faint smile slip.
"...Hikari really is incredible."
"Yes. We cannot afford to be outdone."
Agreeing with Vier, Ein fixed a piercing gaze on Chronoa. Assisted by her three family members, Ein was finally managing to hold the line against the Goddess.
Victory would remain out of reach unless they defeated the Supreme Gods.
"...Truly, you are impressive," Chronoa said, still composed despite the pressure. "To put up such a fight against us even with these enhancements... However, I cannot allow this to continue—what!?"
Chronoa’s expression shifted instantly. Ein and the others reacted with equal shock.
Something had plummeted into their midst, half-shattering the floating island as it came to a screeching halt.
"Impossible... the God of Fate!?"
"...Urgh... hah... hah..."
Fate knelt on one knee, several colored spheres of light orbiting her as she gasped for air. Chronoa’s face went pale.
It was unthinkable. Fate was the strongest of the Supreme Gods—the God Realm’s greatest military asset. Yet, in a shockingly short amount of time, she had been battered and broken.
There was only one conclusion: despite the immense power she had been granted, Fate was being utterly overwhelmed.
"Kuh... not yet..."
Fate didn't even look at the frantic Chronoa. She reached out a hand, attempting to manifest her Authority...
"I told you, you're way too slow!"
"Gafuh!?"
"God of Fate!?"
In the blink of an eye, Alice appeared and punched Fate clear across the horizon.
"Don't think your sluggish Fate Manipulation can keep up with me."
Alice stood there without a scratch; there wasn't even a speck of dust on her robe. It was absolute proof of her dominance. Without hesitation, Chronoa stopped time.
(Incredible. I knew the Phantasm King would be the biggest threat, but I was naive. To think she could surpass the God of Fate in this state... I have to end this now!)
Moving behind Alice within the frozen interval, Chronoa unleashed a full-power punch aimed at the back of her head, releasing the time stop at the exact moment of impact.
The blow, fueled by lethal intent, pierced through and annihilated the target's head.
"What—a Split Body!? I've been—gaah!?"
By the time Chronoa realized Alice had swapped with a double, it was too late. A sharp kick slammed into her ribs, and she was sent spiraling away as the sound of snapping bone echoed through the air.
Chronoa bounced across the cracked surface of the floating island before regaining her footing, landing on both feet while clutching her side.
(Impossible! What was that power? To inflict this much damage on me as I am now...)
Strengthened by Shallow Vernal, Chronoa possessed nearly ten times her usual Magic Power. Her physical defenses were so high that she should have been able to shrug off an attack capable of vaporizing the entire area.
In fact, Ein’s attacks—which rivaled those of the Six Kings—couldn't leave so much as a scratch on her current form.
Yet Alice had dealt significant damage with a simple kick. It meant she could effortlessly bypass the fortified Magic Power Defense of a Supreme God.
As Chronoa looked on in terror, a green light washed over her, and the pain in her side vanished.
"...The God of Life. My thanks."
Life, fighting elsewhere, had also recognized the threat Alice posed. While healing Chronoa and Fate, she summoned a cavalry unit of over ten thousand to swarm Alice.
She didn't expect them to win, but they could buy time. As if mocking Life's desperation, Alice blurred into two figures, one of which transformed.
"I'm counting on you, Iris."
"Leave it to me. Wide-area annihilation is my specialty... Open, Underworld Roaring Cage; Nightmare Frenzy; swallow all creation—Nightmare Gate!"
Iris manifested from Alice and triggered her spell. A macabre gate tore open in the middle of the army, dragging all ten thousand riders into a void like a black hole.
Once the cavalry had been wiped out, Iris retreated back into Alice.
(...Combat power that crushes the God of Fate, tactical insight that exceeds ours, and a bottomless hand of tricks... She is too strong. If the Phantasm King pins us down, the war is lost.)
Chronoa shuddered. If all three Supreme Gods were occupied by Alice, the momentum of the Allied Forces would become unstoppable.
They had to sacrifice everything to stop Alice. Even the buffed Supreme Gods couldn't stall her without risking their lives.
Life, the core of their endurance, couldn't be the one... and Chronoa wasn't the only one who realized this.
"Aaaaaah!"
Recovered by Life, Fate screamed and lunged forward. She grabbed Alice’s hand and accelerated violently, dragging her away from the center of the battlefield. She intended to force a one-on-one duel far from the others.
(Forgive me, God of Fate. I’ve forced a thankless role upon you.)
Chronoa was grateful for the choice. To be honest, Fate's performance had been lackluster. Even accounting for her opponent being the strongest of the Allied Forces, she seemed unable to focus.
The cause was clear: hesitation. Fate had chosen to stand with Shallow Vernal, so Chronoa wouldn't criticize her, but she could see how precarious Fate’s mental state was.
It was a cold calculation, but since they would eventually be resurrected, Fate was the perfect sacrifice to tie down the enemy’s strongest card.
Thousands of kilometers away from the primary battlefield, Fate and Alice clashed once more. Countless projectiles fired from the spheres orbiting Fate, yet not a single one reached Alice.
(...You're amazing, Shaltan. When did you get this strong? Twenty thousand years ago, you needed Hecatoncheir just to match me. And now... you're overwhelming me without even using it. My Fate Manipulation can't keep up. Even when it does, you just warp causality itself to compensate.)
The current Alice was far beyond anything Fate had imagined.
(But how? How did you grow this much? You were already at your peak twenty thousand years ago. How could you grow this fast? Or were you just hiding your power all this time?)
Questions swirled in Fate's mind, but one thing bothered her more than anything.
(...No, it’s not that. Why didn't you shake me off when I charged you? Why aren't you using Hecatoncheir? You're winning like this, but if you used it, you could finish me in an instant...)
Alice hadn't used her trump card. It wasn't because she was arrogant. Fate knew Alice; if she wanted to save Kaito, she would never hold back or show mercy.
If Alice was showing restraint, there had to be a reason.
"...You look pathetic, Fate-san."
"...That's because you keep hitting me, Shaltan."
"That's not what I mean. I'm saying you're insulting me!"
"Eh? Wha—!?"
Alice’s speed surged. Moving faster than Fate’s eyes could track, she rained blows down on the Goddess.
"I'm saying there's no way a heart as torn and tattered as yours can beat me!"
Fate’s eyes widened. She was still wavering—haunted by the fact that she was standing against her beloved Kai-chan.
"...But... I..."
"Using your 'position' as an excuse, closing your eyes to the consequences, wavering back and forth... How long do you plan to play the tragic heroine!?"
"Uah... guuuuuh!"
Alice’s fist sent Fate crashing through a chain of floating islands. She came to a stop buried in the ruins of the last one.
The damage was heavy, but not fatal. She could heal herself instantly. But Fate couldn't move.
Her body was fine, but Alice’s words had stripped away her denial.
(Kai-chan... Kai-chan... Tell me, what should I do? I don't want to lose you. But I can't betray Shallow Vernal-sama... It hurts so much.)
Tears traced a silver path down her cheeks as she hung her head in despair.