Chapter 870

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The eyes of the three people widened at Ayula's words.

"Now? Lady Ayula, did you say that Zito will appear in the Holy Kingdom now?"

[Yes, to find his own eye.]

In the Holy Kingdom, Zito needed his own eye to be 'completed.' Due to that eye, Talaris was still subject to many restrictions even after Elona's seal had been broken.

"Lady Ayula, isn't there a problem in Zito's eye if he appears near the Holy Kingdom?"

[Looks like you are worried about the lady who was helping Lani to stabilize his eye, Jin. As I am in a heightened state now, Zito's energy cannot reach inside the Holy Kingdom. Even if he has regained more power than I anticipated, he is not at a level to annihilate me. She will be safe today.]

"Hmm, that demon bastard. He suddenly pops in without warning and causes a commotion. Ayula, what should we do now? Should we assist you and fight against him?"

"If necessary, I will immediately mobilize all the top-tier personnel of the alliance."

Both Jin and Murakan spoke simultaneously. Ayula patted Jin's head as if she was impressed.

[Today, it might be best to conclude it with a battle between gods. If we fight together, one of you will surely die. However, even if Zito is defeated, he will never perish. So, after I inflict some damage on him today, it would be right for you to plan for the future.]

"Still, wouldn't it be better to call the kids and have them on standby, just in case? I'm worried."

[At this moment, my barrier is at its strongest, so spatial jumps with the help of human technology are impossible in the first place. Concerns are needless... Murakan, have you forgotten who I am?]

"The Goddess of Peace, noblewoman Ayula. Tremendously powerful..."

[Yes, I am the Goddess of Peace. That's why I possess the highest level of authority among the gods. To safeguard peace and order, such ability is necessary. The one burdened right now is not me but Zito.]

Ayula spread her ten pairs of wings.

[Lani, when you leave this place, continue to pray with my children. Your prayers provide me with great strength. My fight with him will take place outside the barrier above the capital.]

Lani bowed his head.

In no time, Ayula soared into the sky, and the gray area became blurry, revealing the outline of the capital. Jin, Murakan, and Lani stood in the middle of the Grand temple once again.

"Lady Ayula... fights to protect us!"

"Lady Ayula!"

The people gathered in the Grand temple were also aware that Ayula had begun a battle against Zito. Ayula had sent Jin's group back to the human world and informed those who believed in her about the situation.

"My subjects, I will convey Lady Ayula's words. I will stand against the enemy, so pray for me. Everyone, gather on the rooftop. We will pray together."

Lani's voice carried a divine power. The connection between her and Ayula had grown even deeper and stronger just by being near her.

Upon ascending to the rooftop of the Grand temple, they saw the golden barrier covering the night sky.

And beyond that, there was Ayula in her heightened state, and in front of her was a massive fissure that had never been seen in the human world.

Five hundred years ago, during the Holy Kingdom's protection war, when Helluram summoned the Demon Kings, there was no fracture of this scale. It was a moment that showed a glimpse of Zito's authority and power.

Slowly, Zito revealed himself from within the fracture. His colossal face shimmered with purple hues, resembling a dragon, and he had seven horns protruding from his head.

If Ayula hadn't been here...

Ordinary humans would have lost their minds and become crippled just from witnessing Zito's form. Ayula's energy and barrier were protecting them from Zito's influence.

"The evil god, or the Black Sea King Glyek. Is this being even darker and more dreadful than them?"

"Seriously, it's so dense. Who has something like that?"

Ayula, who had seemed so divine and massive, had become comparatively small.

"Both of you, watch the fight."

"We'd like to support Lady Ayula too. Can't we pray together?"

"Anyway, the prayers without true faith won't have much effect. Moreover, the two of you will have to fight against that dreadful being later... It's better to observe his abilities. Lady Ayula would probably wish for that as well."

Jin and Murakan nodded their heads.

The subjects gathered without specific commands or control, taking their places and kneeling on the ground. Following Lani's lead, everyone began to pray, and a beam of golden energy rose above the barrier. The energy connected to Ayula's back.

Meanwhile, Zito pushed Ayula's energy aside and emerged from the fracture. He also had ten pairs of wings like Ayula.

[Ayula... It's been a long time.]

[You should know well that you are not allowed to step on this land, Zito. Return to your place.]

[Bring me my eye. If you do so, you won't be embarrassed in front of your insignificant followers today.]

[How foolish, Zito. Since the beginning of the mortal era, no one who has angered me has obtained favorable outcomes. You will be no exception.]

[The mortal era... So you saw this world that way after the Sun God's death. This dim and chaotic era is now coming to an end. By the hands of Zito. Pain will complete you!]

Zito and Ayula simultaneously formed their weapons.

An ax brimming with thorns and twenty spears. Zito raised the thorned ax with one hand, and Ayula's spears hovered beside each of her wings.

Ayula had the initiative. As she reached out, the twenty spears charged together, but Zito didn't dodge.

His horns broke, wings tore, and his body was riddled with enormous holes.

Zito trembled in apparent agony, yet he grinned and spoke.

[Ah... yes, this is it. Thrilling, isn't it, Ayula? How long has it been since I've felt such pain?]

Ayula continued to send her spears towards him without responding. However, Zito's recovery was faster than the speed at which Ayula's spears could wound him.

"Wow... that guy is really trouble."

Zito was a manifestation of evil and darkness itself. He loved pain and, as a result, spent a long time torturing himself after conquering the True Demon World.

In the True Demon World, there was no one else who could give him pain that was truly painful.

While Ayula fought for the peace and balance of the human world, for Zito, this battle was merely a source of pleasure.

[Playing alone is a lonely endeavor, Ayula. After all, the concept of existence is that anything is truly enjoyable only when shared. Those suffering together, sharing the pain. Have you ever witnessed anything more beautiful than that? Why did I agree to leave just with my eye? I was so happy like this.]

[Even without monsters like you, the human world is already a place filled with enough suffering. Do not belittle the lives of mortals. This world is one where everyone stands up and moves forward with their individual pains.]

[So that's why I'm so interested, Ayula. Injure my body more strongly and more brutally! No, it's not quite this feeling! How to do it, let me show you.]

Zito walked confidently through the sky toward Ayula.

[First, when you want to press the opponent, move slowly, very slowly. That way, fear will multiply. Even if you are going slowly, they can't escape. Is it safe to say it's the most classic yet perfect method? Next, when you want to strike somewhere, like this. Boldly and menacingly!]

Zito's thorned axe distorted the sky and fell onto Ayula's shoulder. Flesh and golden blood splattered, but two spears also impaled Zito's neck.

It wasn't a battle of gods against gods; it was more like barbarians were fighting.

Such a battle continued for a while. Zito continued to swing the thorned axe at a steady pace despite being pierced all over by spears, and Ayula was gradually pushed back.

[Ah, how can you not let out a scream, my dear friend Ayula. I really despise beings like you. You probably would remain noble even if I tortured you for a thousand years.]

[There are many among mortals who are like this. You will never be able to break them.]

[Fortunately, people like you also have their uses. The first is giving me pain, something only the noble and strong can accomplish. And the second is losing spectacularly in front of everyone's eyes. You'll likely remain noble until that moment, but will those who believe in you, rely on you, and watch you do the same?]

I can plant a sense of defeat that is more painful than any other pain in their hearts.

Zito continued speaking, forming another thorned axe.

[Experiencing the despair of countless humans who believe in you is a greater pleasure to me than your pain. Because, you see, I was starving. Quantity matters more than the purity and quality of suffering. Evaluating the quality should come after filling an empty stomach.]

Snap!

Zito swatted away Ayula's spear that was aimed at his chest. The spear shattered like glass and scattered somewhere, and Zito tore off the wing that lost the spear with his teeth.

Blood poured out like a flood from the torn wing. Ayula continued her assault seemingly without being affected, yet Zito was emitting even stronger energy.

The primitive battle continued. Evading and blocking while fighting meant they couldn't deal decisive damage to each other.

To anyone watching, it was clear that Ayula was being pushed back.

But Ayula stared at Zito without showing any signs of faltering.

[Zito, look behind you.]

[Why, did you prepare a surprise for me back there?]

[Why do you think I've been pushed back by you until now? It's because I was blocking your way back.]

At her words, Zito showed signs of confusion for the first time and turned around.

The massive fracture from which he emerged now corroding due to Ayula's energy.

[The reason you could stand your ground was probably because you thought you could always retreat to that place if things got tough. And the cowardly ones talk too much, that's been an unchanging truth throughout history. With your means of escape gone, wouldn't it be right to kneel before me now?]

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