Chapter 54
An Incinerating Roar, thirty-four dragon breaths, ten E-Bombs, five Void Zero Protections, and twelve hundred Pseudo-Heavenly Smites, stacking all these attacks together created an unimaginable force. Even Riku, without using his trump cards, could never withstand it.
The next instant, the Divine Strike, powered by the strength of roughly five hundred Flügel plus the God of War Artosh himself, clashed head-on with all those combined attacks.
It was like several blazing suns colliding, a storm of terrifying energy engulfing everything, making everyone present feel utterly insignificant.
And in the end, what filled every race with despair was that even this ultimate barrage, filled with every trump card they had, was suppressed by the Divine Strike and slowly forced down toward the ground.
"So this is the God of War? They're both divine miracles, but the difference is this great?" Think Nirvalen muttered, her face pale. Void Zero Protection was the miracle of her people's creator.
Now, with five Void Zero Protections and all the other attacks combined, they were still being suppressed! If these were all divine miracles, how could the gap be so vast?
She couldn't understand, and neither could anyone else.
"Artosh, you're still just as overpowering." Reginleif, breathing heavily even after using Incinerating Roar, gave a bitter smile.
"So this is the opponent my husband and I are challenging? He really is terrifying…" Fia murmured.
She closed her eyes and then opened them, her gaze full of trust. "But, my husband will never lose!"
Jibril, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm. That old man was unmatched in raw power, without a doubt the strongest. But to Jibril, that was all. In every other way, he couldn't compare to her current master.
"Riku, it's up to you now," Zhuralis murmured.
"Master…" Sonia whispered, her expression dazed. "You'll succeed, won't you…"
Schwi and her Ex-Machina units, however, remained perfectly composed, unfazed by the sight.
Aside from those women who had spent a lot of time at Riku's side, the rest, especially high-level figures like the Dwarf commander, felt nothing but despair. After gathering so many ultimate attacks, they still couldn't win. This was just too unfair.
To the God of War, perhaps they really were nothing but insects, arrogant bugs who dreamed of challenging a god, foolishly unaware of their own limits.
A wave of fear swept through many hearts.
"Hehe, that's the price for challenging our lord," Azril, now reverted to child form, sneered. She'd been frustrated by being on the defensive, but now felt utterly relieved.
Most of the other Flügel children felt the same, watching with fanatical eyes as if eager to witness the annihilation of the ants below in their master's divine light.
"Schwi, it's up to you," Riku said calmly in the command room, his tone light as he sent her a message.
"Riku, this time, I won't lose again." Schwi's eyes flashed, and she nodded fiercely.
"All units move out." With a wave of her small hand, she gave the order.
All the Ex-Machina vanished from their spots, reappearing at key points around the energy collision, surrounding the terrifying, space-shredding blast from every angle.
"Activate—analyse—control…"
A massive geometric halo appeared behind Schwi, her eyes glinting with terrifying data as she ran simulations. Before her, a small device buried in the ground long ago rose into the air.
It wasn't just Schwi. The Ex-Machina at every position had halos behind them, controlling similar devices.
In an instant, a web of light large enough to cover the entire battlefield formed, seizing the energy above, weaving, fusing, and compressing it.
Even with the entire evolved Ex-Machina force, controlling such a vast power was almost impossible. The analysis was overwhelming.
"Schwi—control difficulty, unable to analyse," all the Ex-Machina reported, mechanical headpieces flashing as they sent their status.
"If it's for Riku's victory, then what you call impossible, I'll break through it myself," Schwi muttered with determination, staring up at the tangled, blackening mass of energy that threatened to explode and destroy everything.
Her internal Source of Machinery flashed madly, cracks even appearing, but Schwi never flinched, pushing herself beyond her limits, no, breaking her limits!
"She… she actually did it!" Reginleif stared at the change in the sky, stunned. "The Ex-Machina… What an incredible race."
"It would be more accurate to say it's Schwi's will that created this miracle," Zhuralis added.
Reginleif fell silent. Willpower, huh…
"Wonderful!" Noticing the change, Think Nirvalen, Sonia, Couronne, the Dwarf commander, and all the Adia Alliance erupted in joy.
"Schwi…" Fia nodded in admiration.
"It really makes one envious," Jibril murmured, her tone unreadable. Riku's trust in Schwi was pure, and Schwi, in turn, created miracles for Riku.
No one could intrude on that special bond between them.
"How can this be?! Even our lord's attack…!" Azril and the other Flügel stared in disbelief, shocked and horrified.
Their lord was supposed to be invincible, absolutely beyond the reach of insects. And yet now, the Ex-Machina had seized even his attack, controlling all that energy. Impossible!
No, this was all premeditated. They, and even their lord, had been played right into the enemy's hands.
Azril froze, an image of that human flashing through her mind. She ground her teeth.
Everything had been planned out in advance. The enemy had considered every possibility.
They'd drained the Flügel's power, even their lord's, making him use up most of his energy!
"It's time to finish this. I'll be right back." Riku stood from his seat, eyes shining with fighting spirit as he looked at the screen.
Everything had gone perfectly, just as planned. Only one thing remained to finish off the God of War Artosh once and for all!
With that, Riku's figure vanished from the command room.
Now, it was time for the kings to face each other, king against king, in the battle that would decide victory and defeat!
The Star Grail is the prize of this Divine War, and it will choose the most suitable master, the so-called "strongest god."
That's why, when the Star Grail appears, the God of War cannot be allowed to live. Only by killing the strongest Artosh can Riku truly take control of the Grail.
But by sheer combat ability, if Artosh were at full power, even Riku going all out would be uncertain. So, before facing him, Artosh had to be weakened to maximise Riku's chances of victory!
At the same time, Riku also needed to ensure he had enough power to pierce through the entire [Spirits Corridor].
That's why Riku called Schwi his most important trump card!
Achieving the greatest victory with the smallest price that was Riku's goal!
After vanishing, Riku appeared in the middle of the battlefield and then, with another Spatial Shift, stepped right into Avant Heim.
Because so much power had just been expended, getting inside was easy for him.
"You?" The moment Riku entered, Azril, now in child form, glared at him with murderous eyes.
The other childlike Flügel surrounded him as well. Even with barely a scrap of strength left, they were determined to block this human's path.
"Trying to stop me? I promised Jibril a few things, but I can still teach you all a lesson," Riku said coldly, completely unfazed by the Flügel.
As he spoke, a powerful surge of magic erupted from him. He had, after all, picked up a few spells from Think Nirvalen, plenty good enough to discipline others.
"Master, may I take care of this instead?" A ripple in space, and Jibril appeared in front of Riku, kneeling respectfully.
"Little Jibril!" Azril's face changed the moment she saw her.
"I told you to stay put. A maid who doesn't follow orders needs more discipline back home," Riku said, flicking Jibril's smooth forehead.
"Sorry…" Jibril lowered her head in shame, no longer the usual teasing maniac.
If not for her, the plan would have been even more perfect. But for the sake of her sisters like Azril, she'd pleaded with Riku to spare the Flügel if possible.
In the end, in this life-and-death struggle, almost 0 Flügel died only suffered various wounds. And on the alliance side, there were no deaths at all.
That was nothing short of miraculous.
This was a battle to decide the fate of the planet, a war for the Star Grail. And yet, not a single life was lost.
But her master had managed it. He'd achieved what no one, no god, ever had!
"That's what you get for being my maid. But since you didn't listen, you'll be getting extra discipline when we get back," Riku said, shaking his head as he turned away.
"I'll be waiting~" Jibril replied with a sweet smile.
"Little Jibril… you've really fallen," Azril said with a complex look.
"Following Master is my honour. And it's for your sake as well," Jibril replied, turning to face her sisters with a sigh.
"We Flügel do not fear death! To die for Lord Artosh is the greatest honour! No one can be allowed to challenge Lord Artosh's divine might!" Azril said angrily.
"Azril, you really don't understand," Jibril murmured. "That old man has always been waiting for someone waiting for someone to surpass him."
"——!"
Azril and the Flügel were left speechless.
...
Avant Heim was a war fortress of immense size; most people would be hopelessly lost inside. But Riku, following his system's map, flew straight for the only rainbow chest.
The single rainbow chest is no doubt the God of War's location.
Arriving before the grand hall, Riku kicked the doors open in a simple, brutal fashion.
He strolled inside as if it were his own home, showing not a hint of caution despite being in the enemy's stronghold.
Deep in the hall, the God of War, Artosh, sat on his throne. He slowly opened his golden eyes, listening to the echoing footsteps with a faint smile.
A few seconds later, Riku appeared before Artosh, and the god smiled as well.
"Riku, I thought I'd have to wait a while longer, but here you are, so soon."
"Looks like introductions aren't needed." The rainbow chest was right by Artosh's throne, but Riku didn't even glance at it, meeting Artosh's gaze. "I'm here to knock you off your high and mighty pedestal."
"Hahaha, is that so?" Artosh laughed joyfully. "Human hero, what do you think it means to be the strongest?"
"Being the strongest means nothing to me," Riku replied flatly.
"Oh?" Hearing this, Artosh's eyes sharpened.
"The strongest will fall one day, might even be defeated by someone infinitely weaker. So to me, it's meaningless. What I want is victory. Victory that never yields, victory that never loses."
Riku's eyes were razor-sharp, locked on Artosh like a drawn blade.
"Victory, huh… Interesting. Then show me, can you seize victory from these hands of the strongest!" Artosh's golden eyes gleamed as he slowly stood up.
A terrifying aura instantly filled the space, making all of Avant Heim tremble as if in awe of its master's divine might.
But Riku held his ground and met Artosh's gaze head-on.
"Balance Breaker!"
Riku's right hand transformed, manifesting the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet, activating his Balance Breaker. Crimson energy surged around him, his aura soaring.
But he wasn't done yet. He roared again:
"Eight Gates Released—Seventh Gate: Shock Gate, Open!"
A wildly violent aura erupted, shaking the mighty hall until it began to collapse, space itself rippling and cracking.
Even so, the God of War didn't budge, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Then, deep blue flames mingled with crimson energy, encasing Riku's body, his power climbing to its peak! Just standing there, the leaking energy made cracks appear in the air itself, as if even space was screaming in pain!
Two terrifying auras erupted from the depths of Avant Heim, locked in a stalemate in the sky, shaking the entire planet, making gods and mortals alike feel utterly insignificant.
Even the Reginleif could only watch in silence. Compared to their own peak, the gap was a whole dimension apart.
Schwi, Fia, Jibril, Zhuralis, Think, Sonia, even Azril and the other Flügel all felt suffocated. Yet they stared into the depths, wordless, waiting for the greatest battle of the age to explode.
"So this is your power? Truly astounding… It's hard to imagine you come from the weakest race."
Amid the ruins of the grand hall, the imposing God of War, Artosh, eyes blazing gold and brimming with battle spirit, spoke with admiration.
"Huff…" Riku could feel his power swelling to the absolute limit, but kept his eyes coldly fixed on Artosh, exhaling softly.
Simultaneously unleashing Balance Breaker and the Seventh Gate, the power was overwhelming, but so was the burden. Riku's body showed signs of breaking apart, yet his super regeneration held it together in a strange balance.
"Then let's begin." Riku's voice was deep as he spoke.
The next instant, Riku vanished from sight, the ground beneath his feet shattering, unable to withstand his power.
BOOM—!
In less than a ten-thousandth of a second, Riku charged straight to Artosh, his fist wreathed in blue and red, hammering toward the God of War.
Artosh, ablaze with fighting spirit, met him head-on, their fists crashing together.
Space erupted, shattering into fragments. Rings of white smoke burst outward, turning into violent storms that swept away everything.
The sound of the shockwave only reached them after their speed far surpassed sound itself. To these two, the speed of sound was as slow as a snail!
Fist met fist, and the ground beneath their feet caved in violently. Their terrifying forces devoured each other, neither backing down an inch.
Avant Heim itself shook madly, as if struck by a magnitude ten earthquake. Faintly, the fortress seemed to scream.
It simply couldn't withstand the might of these two. Even the aftershocks were destroying it from within!
BOOM—!
Sensing this, Artosh frowned, his eyes flashing, and increased his strength, blasting Riku far away in a streak of light.
Artosh then vanished like a ghost, chasing after Riku.
Instantly, two beams of light shot from the depths of Avant Heim, streaking across the sky for all to see. Yet they were so fast, it was impossible to catch any detail.
"What a monster. Even after we drained more than half his power, he's still this strong?" Riku marvelled, feeling his numbed arms.
"But that's what makes it fun! That's what makes killing a god worth it!" He laughed as the God of War rocketed toward him.
Steadying himself, Riku shot back at Artosh, and the battle resumed.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
Fists met flesh, dull, thunderous sounds echoing across the sky. Their forms were impossible to track, only the rifts left in space by their impacts slowly knitting back together.
Riku's armour shattered and reformed, again and again, as he hammered at Artosh. The God of War, heedless of injury, swung back with everything he had.
At the very peak of battle, god and man cast aside everything, reduced to the most primal, brutal brawl.
Watching this, those with enough power to perceive anything like Zhuralis could only stare, stunned by the spectacle.
No one, no matter how strong, could come within a hundred kilometres of the battlefield. Otherwise, the aftershocks alone would mean instant death.
BOOM—!
Suddenly, Riku, wild-eyed, seized on a flaw in Artosh's defence. He flashed in and hammered a fist into Artosh's chest.
Artosh's expression darkened as Riku's blow sent him flying, turning him into a fireball streaking for outer space.
Yet as he was struck, Artosh landed a blow of his own, sending Riku plummeting like a meteor toward the ground…
BOOOOOOM—!
It was as if the entire Disboard trembled. Where Riku landed, the earth caved in, turning into an infernal abyss.
As for Artosh, he'd been blasted all the way into outer space!
Gulp—
Witnessing the raw, savage violence of this battle, everyone couldn't help but swallow hard. No words could describe the shock.
BOOM—!
The next moment, Riku, his armour half-shattered, blazed upward in a flare of red and blue light, soaring toward outer space. Artosh was waiting for him there, delighted.
The planet itself could not survive their battle!
At this point, neither wanted anything to interfere with this duel to the death.
They left the planet behind. After only a fleeting glance at the beauty before him, Riku locked his eyes on Artosh again, the heat of battle flaring once more.
"Haha, I never thought I'd live to see a day like this," Artosh laughed, covered in wounds and looking battered, but still utterly elated.
"At this point, there's no need for idle talk. If we're going to communicate, let's do it through battle," Riku declared.
"Agreed." Artosh's face hardened, then he smiled. His aura turned heavy again.
He gathered a massive amount of spirit energy in his hand, forming it into a long sword.
As Artosh's energy blade appeared, Riku's mouth curved into a grin. With a flash, a gorgeous holy sword Excalibur, materialised in his hand. He charged straight at Artosh.
The God of War met him with equal enthusiasm.
In the next instant, the energy sword and the holy sword clashed, countless flashes of light erupting in the darkness of space. There was no sound in the vacuum, but the shockwaves from their swords sent ripples tearing through outer space, shaking everything!
Sword light flashed as two blades clashed furiously, wild energy pouring out and occasionally tearing nearby space rocks apart!
CLANG—!
Suddenly, Artosh's energy sword flickered, slicing at Riku's neck from an impossible angle almost impossible to evade.
Yet Riku's expression remained calm. He countered with his own blade, thrusting straight for Artosh's chest.
"…!?"
Seeing this, Artosh's eyes narrowed. Was Riku really planning to trade wounds? But my sword is faster!
Calculating the situation with terrifying speed, Artosh erupted with even greater force, slashing at Riku's neck even faster.
CRACK—!
Even the Red Dragon Emperor's armour was sliced like paper, Artosh's blade biting deep into Riku's neck.
But to Artosh's shock, Riku took the blow head-on and wasn't injured at all!
His powerful sword strike hadn't even scratched Riku's skin!
SPLURT—!
At the same time, Riku's Excalibur pierced Artosh's chest.
But just as the sword went in, Artosh vanished on the spot, escaping a fatal blow.
"Ex-calibur!"
In the next instant, Riku poured all his strength into the holy sword, roaring as he swung.
A towering golden pillar of light erupted, chasing after Artosh, who had just reappeared via teleportation.
The beam grew even thicker as it flew, lighting up the planet below and piercing the grey void with an awe-inspiring sight.
"Haaah!!!"
Facing Riku's attack, Artosh let out a fierce roar, his body crackling with spirit energy. He punched out, unleashing wild energy straight into the golden pillar.
Two torrents of power collided head-on, shaking outer space itself. Nearby planets trembled as their orbits were nudged.
Finally, both attacks twisted off course, blasting away to the sides, each striking a distant planet.
BOOM—!
The planets struck by Riku and Artosh's attacks exploded into cosmic debris.
Gulp—
Everyone on Disboard noticed the disappearance of two planets, swallowing hard in shock.
What was happening in that battle?
Everyone, including Schwi, Fia, and the rest, was desperate to know.
"So strong…"
Riku silently defended against the explosion's aftershock, shaking his head. Even in this state, even with the holy sword's boost, his strongest attack had been cancelled out. Wasn't that a bit too strong?
It was only thanks to the Leo Sovereign's invulnerability that Artosh had even taken a hit.
And this wasn't even Artosh at full power. Ridiculous!
"Riku, that last attack was impressive it's been a while since I felt any pressure." Artosh laughed wildly. "I am the embodiment of War and the Strongest! Even though you've drained most of my power, I grow stronger and recover as I fight! That is my very concept!"
"So, how do you plan to overcome my strength?!" Artosh's gaze sharpened as he sent his words wrapped in spirit energy.
"This isn't working. Do I have to risk everything…?" Riku sighed, realising the gap between them. The God of War's concept was just too unfair.
At these words, Artosh looked delighted, almost as if he was waiting for this moment.
"Eight Gates Formation—Eighth Gate, Death Gate, Open!"
Riku roared, unleashing his trump card. Ignoring his body's limits, he opened all the gates for a true fight to the death, no more holding back!
At once, a violently red aura, different from his usual crimson energy, burst from Riku's body. The two reds fused into true crimson, and his power skyrocketed.
But as his power soared, his body cracked apart, even his super regeneration couldn't keep up, only barely maintaining the threshold. His skin turned deep crimson, burning hot, blue-white veins bulging, as if he might break apart at any moment.
Still, Riku poured out every ounce of strength. He wanted only one thing: to win. To win this fight, no matter what!
Pulled by this wild power, cracks appeared in the darkness of space. Even Disboard itself trembled, nearby novas quivering.
"…!"
Artosh kept his eyes fixed on Riku, not interfering, just smiling, pleased. 'That's it, unleash all your strength. Come, try to defeat me, the Strongest, and seize the prize of victory!'
"This aura…"
On Disboard, Reginleif, weakened, suddenly sensed a familiar presence, his dragon eyes narrowing.
This power was the same as when Riku had first defeated him, unforgettable.
But the price for using it was grave, possibly life itself. Last time, Riku had a way to recover, but now…?
And this time, the stacked power was so wild that Reginleif could feel it was like an unfathomable abyss he couldn't begin to measure it, and the consequences would be dire. Riku's body might not last.
"I see… So it's come to a life-and-death struggle." Reginleif's eyes flashed as he murmured.
"Riku…"Schwi gazed up, holding a compressed black energy orb in her hands, her eyes full of emotion.
"Husband…" Fia clenched her fists, unable to help herself.
The other girls were the same.
"Master…" Jibril kept her gaze fixed on the sky.
"…"
Behind her, Azril and the Flügel watched, eyes complicated. Who would've thought the weakest human could become this powerful? She had to admit, even at his peak, her master couldn't compare.
But her master would not lose. Never!
Azril's gaze sharpened once more.
"Huff… Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, let's start the third round." Riku exhaled deeply and spoke in a calm voice.
The power leaking from him was enough to shake the stars!
Before Artosh could say a word, Riku vanished from his spot, becoming a crimson meteor streaking toward Artosh. With no air resistance in space, pure speed was magnified to the extreme.
In the next instant, Riku appeared before Artosh, launching a punch!
Where his fist passed, the void itself collapsed, carrying an unstoppable force!
Artosh's expression changed, his pupils contracting sharply, and he barely managed to cross his arms before him.
BOOM—!
A dull impact rang out through Artosh's body. His arm caved in at a visible rate, the sound of bones cracking faintly audible.
Artosh was sent flying by this overwhelming force, streaking like a meteor through space until he crashed into a distant planet.
RUMBLE!!!!!!
Deafening thunder followed as the planet was gouged out like a bitten apple! At the heart of the crater, a bottomless pit spewed magma, a truly shocking sight.
After blasting Artosh away, Riku didn't relax. He instantly teleported, crossing space to land on the devastated planet!
"Hahaha! Incredible, that's the strength I wanted!" Artosh burst out of the ground, standing in the void, his right arm hanging, but he laughed wildly. This pain, this thrill of battle, it was exhilarating!
This was the joy of battle, the feeling of surpassing the Strongest, and wanting to break one's limits!
Riku, surrounded by terrifying flames, shot down like a meteor, the fire a product of friction from his extreme speed.
BOOM—!
In a flash, Riku was again at Artosh's side, punching with overwhelming force.
Artosh responded with a full-strength punch of his own, meeting Riku head-on, refusing to back down.
BOOM BOOM—!
Their fists clashed again, but this time, Artosh was sent flying, his fist swollen and bloody.
Blasted away, Artosh became a human cannonball, tearing through sky and earth, shattering mountains, wreaking havoc, finally crashing into the dirt again, causing the planet to shake violently, volcanoes erupting, storms raging, as if the end had come.
"End it fast, final strike!" Riku rasped. This state was beyond anything most could endure; he couldn't hold it much longer.
He gathered wild energy, merging it with the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet, manifesting Excalibur once more, this time as a blade of light, power pouring into it.
The intensity shattered the space around him, revealing black space-time turbulence, the battered planet groaning in protest.
"Ex-calibur!!!!!!!!!"
Riku roared, bringing the sword down an overwhelming beam of light blasted toward Artosh!
Faced with this life-or-death blow, Artosh neither dodged nor could have dodged; he'd been locked on.
"I am the God of War, the embodiment of war and the Strongest!" Artosh faced the oncoming light, his mind racing.
"The strongest because I am the Strongest!"
In that instant, the divine core within Artosh blazed with power and presence.
Far away, in Disboard's Spirit Corridor, Artosh's battle spirit and concept forcibly drew in vast amounts of spirit power, tearing through time and space, restoring him to his peak, even beyond, into a whole new domain!
ZZZZT—!
A jet-black blast of pure energy shot from Artosh's palm, annihilating everything in its path as it flew at the golden beam.
BOOM—!
Golden and black beams collided in midair, a heavy sound rang out, space itself being ground to dust, everything turning black, ominous lightning flashing. Space-time turbulence raged, devouring everything, energy, light, everything was swallowed.
"He can get even stronger?! This is the God of War, the Strongest God with the strongest concept!" Riku felt the pressure mounting, his heart growing heavier.
The two forces reached a critical point, unable to remain in balance, they exploded outward.
Riku's pupils contracted; he instantly cut off the flow of power and teleported away.
At the same time, Artosh didn't hesitate to teleport away from the planet.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!
The energy exploded, space-time turbulence sweeping across the planet.
The whole planet was engulfed in wild energy, bursting apart like a cosmic firework shattered into rubble, scattered across the universe.
The shockwave radiated outward, disrupting the orbits of distant planets.
Disboard, much closer, shook violently, as if struck by a magnitude twelve earthquake. Cracks opened everywhere, hurricanes raged the world was an apocalyptic scene.
Thankfully, there were no weaklings here; although the chaos caused trouble, the organisation kept everyone alive.
No one had time to worry about anything else; everyone stared up, dazed, knowing another planet had been destroyed!
Two monsters…
For everyone except Riku's closest, that was the only thought left.
Out in the black void, Riku repaired his Red Dragon Emperor's armour, facing the shockwave with a sharp gaze fixed on a distant figure, his eyes brimming with tension, fighting spirit, and madness.
Artosh was the same full of wild joy.
In the next instant, man and god vanished without a word.
Now, words were useless; the only truth was to slay the other!
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
Man and god crashed together, their bodies sharpened into the deadliest weapons, their collisions sending shockwaves through the stars.
In just one second, Riku and Artosh exchanged blows tens of thousands of times, their speed was off the charts!
"HAAAAAA!!!"
Riku roared, a colossal punch meeting Artosh's fist, a terrible rift splitting space, and both were blasted away.
This time, though, Riku was flung much farther than Artosh.
"My power's fading. Looks like the Strongest wins…" Artosh, his body battered and bleeding, laughed wildly, eyes fixed on the weakening Riku.
"Victory, huh? You're still not quite there." Artosh spoke with both praise and regret.
A human could force him to the edge, to break his limits, to reach a new height of strength, an unbelievable feat.
"Hahaha, the Strongest, huh? If you can break through and become the Strongest again, then I'll surpass that strength and defeat you!" Even facing death, Riku laughed boldly.
"Amazing courage. Then show me how you will surpass the limits of my concept of 'the Strongest'?" Artosh was full of admiration.
He vanished, reappearing before Riku, a fist strong enough to shatter a star hammering down, holding nothing back.
ZZZZT—!
At that instant, a surge of pure dragon energy exploded from within Riku.
Even Artosh, in that moment, was shaken.
But as the God of War, Artosh had no fear, gathering all his strength for one final punch.
BOOM—!
But Artosh's punch never landed; it was stopped by an invisible barrier, meters from Riku.
The force and energy backfired, sending Artosh flying.
"What is this?!" Artosh steadied himself, shocked, staring at Riku.
To force out so much power, the consequences were dire; his body could have shattered into dust. Yet Riku pushed through, unhesitating.
"Astonishing will and resolve," Artosh praised.
"I, who have awakened—
Lift the truth of kings high as the Dragon Emperor of Heaven—
Embracing infinite hope and the dream of victory, I advance upon the king's path—
I—become the Dragon Emperor of Heaven—
And guide you toward the radiant crimson future!"
With that, a power strong enough to sweep away everything erupted from Riku, his words thundering through the heavens and shaking all creation.
His crimson flames condensed into his body, his armour deepening to true crimson, transforming into the true Dragon Emperor.
This wasn't the juggernaut drive of the Red Dragon Emperor's Gauntlet, for the Gauntlet lacked the soul of Ddraig, only pure power, so Riku had to forge his own path.
Besides, even with Ddraig's power, he'd never be a match for Artosh.
Now, Riku had drawn out the pure source within the Gauntlet and awakened his own Dragon of Supremacy state, even merging the power of the Eight Gates into it. You could call it Dragon Emperor Mode!
Two supreme forces merged within Riku. Breaking through the very limits of limits. Maybe it was thanks to the Saiyan God bloodline that his body didn't collapse; instead, he stabilised, his power soaring to terrifying heights.
All of Disboard felt suffocated beneath this aura; its mere pressure could kill.
Most, under the pressure, fell to their knees, trembling in fear, phantasma, demon lords, gigants alike.
Schwi, Fia, Jibril, Zhuralis, and the others could only watch in silence, even the Ex-Machina barely held together their unstable energy orbs under the pull of this power.
"A miracle? No… It's a breakthrough born of faith, the faith that longs for victory…" Artosh murmured.
"Then come, try to seize true victory from my hands!"
Artosh laughed in delight, raising his right hand.
His power poured forth, condensing into a golden lance.
This was Divine Strike Artosh's purest and mightiest divine technique, a miracle to make all races tremble.
ZZZZT—!
Artosh hurled the golden spear, every ounce of his energy behind it.
It flashed beyond light speed, tearing space to ribbons.
Riku simply raised his dragonified hand and punched with unimaginable speed.
His fist, shaped like a dragon, howled forward, everything crumbling, the void falling silent.
CRACK—!
With a single punch, Riku shattered Artosh's strongest attack, the Divine Strike, reducing it to golden shards exploding across the void. The energy flood sent nearby planets spinning off their paths.
SPLURT—!
Shattering the Divine Strike, the condensed crimson dragon energy blasted into Artosh, swallowing him and pushing him rapidly into the depths of space.
"Haha, you've completely surpassed my limits… Truly an astonishing human." Spent, Artosh had no strength to break free. But even as life ebbed, he laughed.
"You've claimed victory, taken it from my very hands. Then, let me give you this as a prize." A shining point of light burst from the crimson dragon, flying toward Riku.
The crimson dragon pierced through several more planets, turning them to dust before exploding in the deep void.
Even from afar, Riku stood firm against the shockwave, and Disboard was shaken once again.
If not for Riku's efforts to shield it, it would have been another disaster…
"The Divine Core, huh? What a gift…" Riku flicked his right hand, catching the object that shot toward him from afar, the Divine Core of the God of War, representing the concept of "War" and "Strength."
"So tired…" Then, as Riku felt his soul tremble and his body cry out in pain, he murmured, "But at least, I finally won."
With that, Riku released Dragon Emperor Mode.
He immediately compressed time to heal his wounds, erasing injuries that should have been fatal.
But even with time compression, a deep sense of weakness washed over him he had little power left.
Suddenly, Riku's Saiyan God bloodline pulsed, a surge of energy swelling within him, making his strength and body even greater.
Saiyan blood, after every serious wound, always grows stronger, especially the Saiyan God bloodline. Of course, Riku never expected that even healing his wounds by compressing time would still make him stronger.
But the side effects of using all his trump cards still couldn't be erased. Even though he felt stronger, he had almost no energy left to reach his peak.
Then, Artosh's Divine Core shone, finally merging into Riku's body.
At first, Riku instinctively tried to expel the foreign power, but seeing that the core didn't cause trouble instead acting as a silent source of power, giving him the traits of the God of War, he let it be. After all, this was a good thing.
He then took out a modified soldier's ration pill, eating it. While it didn't restore much strength, it was better than nothing.
Having finished this, Riku vanished from the spot, heading back to Disboard.
At this time, on the now-settling Disboard, an uproar was rising. All races stared dumbfounded at the sky.
Because, under that surge of power, the God of War's presence had disappeared! What did this mean? It meant the God of War had been destroyed!
In an instant, everyone in the Alliance went wild with joy.
"My husband won!" Fia pressed her hand to her heart, feeling it race, and finally let out a sigh of relief. Trust was one thing, but not being worried was impossible.
"What an unbelievable human. Whether him or Artosh, we underestimated both from the start," Reginleif said, both awed and a little bitter.
Zhuralis nodded. "But Lord Riku is the most unbelievable of all."
The other Dragonia agreed in unison.
Sonia, Think, Couronne, and the others all let out sighs of relief, collapsing to the ground, exhausted by the tension.
"Our master lost? How could our master lose…" Azril and the Flügel stared blankly, murmuring.
"But this is reality. That old man, in the face of Master's potential, was defeated."
Jibril looked at her sisters, her eyes full of adoration. "Master is the strongest."
"..." Azril and the Flügel could not refute this, falling silent.
"Hey, Azril, Master is about to become the One True God. There will be no more wars in this world, only peace. I think you'll help me serve Master, won't you?" Jibril's brilliant eyes rested on Azril, her tone soft.
"Impossible!" Azril retorted, face cold.
"Really? Will you go against the old man's wishes? You should understand by now that he longed for defeat. After fighting Master, he had no regrets, only joy. And at the end, he sent a message to all the Flügel, didn't he?" Jibril continued gently, "He told all Flügel to follow Master, with no hatred or desire for revenge. To loyally serve the Master for eternity."
"..."
Azril and the others finally nodded, faces complex.
Seeing this, Jibril smiled in satisfaction, her eyes dreamy.
'My dear Master, I brought you an army! If you don't reward me properly when all this is over, I might get a little upset~'
At Schwi's side, space rippled, and Riku appeared before everyone.
"Husband!"
"Master!"
In a flash, Fia and the others rushed over, full of emotion.
"We'll talk later. Right now, it's time to claim the prize." Riku nodded to them and smiled.
"To claim the prize…" Hearing this, all the girls' eyes sparkled. God-races were born from the [Spirits Corridor], and their numbers were infinite, impossible to kill them all. Riku had said: the only way was to destroy the [Spirits Corridor] and make the Star Grail appear, which would choose the strongest.
Riku had just unleashed a power strong enough to slay the God of War, there was no doubt who was strongest now.
"Riku, you really won," Schwi said, eyes bright and full of longing.
"Yeah, I won." Riku smiled, stroking Schwi's head. "Now, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Leave it to me." Schwi smiled softly.
Everyone stepped back, clearing the centre. Schwi ordered all Ex-Machina to focus the terrifying energy under their control straight down into the earth.
BOOM—!
The energy pierced the ground, blasting into the [Spirits Corridor]. At last, it exploded with power enough to destroy a planet.
CRACK—!
The Spirits' Corridor shattered, and the Star Grail appeared before Riku, the familiar dodecahedron, glowing with enchanting light.
To prevent the planet from being destroyed, the Star Grail erased the wild energy, instinctively searching for a master.
"So, let me take the fruit of victory." Riku smiled and vanished, reappearing at the Grail.
He reached out, taking the Grail into his hands.
In that moment, the Grail shone ever brighter, merging with Riku, residing within him.
"The throne of the One True God… now mine," Riku murmured, summoning the Grail into his palm.
At that instant, the entire planet shone in celebration, and the birth of the One True God was a sight both beautiful and awe-inspiring!
"Well then, let me reshape this world." Riku gripped the Star Grail with confidence and smiled.
Immediately, the Grail's light blossomed, a warm glow spreading over the land.
It was as if time itself were being reversed. Disboard's damaged, ravaged surface was instantly restored to its original, pristine state, teeming with life.
The black haze that once filled the sky was swept away. The dark clouds and bloody scars vanished. Sunlight once more covered the earth, bringing warmth to all.
Blue skies and white clouds, everyone stared in disbelief, some with tears glimmering at the corners of their eyes.
The war was finally over. The Great War that had filled their hearts with dread, the fear of death lurking at every moment, was at last ended.
All the races, even those who hadn't fought, were overcome with emotion, many falling to their knees in prayer.
As for the Alliance, they knelt as one, joyfully calling out Riku's name and hailing him as the One True God.
"So this is sunlight… blue sky… white clouds… so beautiful, so warm." Fia gazed at the sky, her eyes dazed with emotion.
Such scenes had only been described in ancient texts. She'd dreamed of them, but never imagined she'd actually see it with her own eyes.
Sonia, too, felt the change deeply; she loved to dream and imagine.
Of course, vampires feared sunlight. Fortunately, Riku used the Grail's authority to create a special filter, much like the canopy in Little Garden, so the vampires were unharmed.
"Riku… you really did it," Couronne murmured.
"This is the miracle Master has brought us," Think said, arms wide and eyes shining.
"Except for the last step, this really is the true end…" Zhuralis said with a sigh.
Even Azril and the other Flügel were left speechless, their gazes swirling with emotion.
As for the Ex-Machina, they simply basked in the warmth, resting content on the ground. Schwi's lips curled with a gentle smile.
Not just Disboard, but even the planets destroyed in Riku's battle were restored with the Grail's authority. Those whose orbits were disturbed were returned to their places as well.
"Congratulations, Riku." Suddenly, a lively, feminine voice sounded in Riku's ear, his golden eyes flashing.
"Tet?" Riku looked forward, murmuring.
There stood a petite girl in a big checkered hat, with heterochromatic eyes, one adorned with a square, the other with a spade. Cute-faced, in a pink jacket and blue shorts.
"So you've revealed yourself?" Riku said, his tone full of meaning.
"Yup! At the end, I got a Divine Core because of your power. But even if I'm a god, I'm probably the weakest, can't even beat the Flügel!" Tet laughed, completely relaxed.
"So you've been aware of me all along…" Tet smiled in response.
"Mm. Well, shall we play a game?" Riku nodded and then smiled, his lips quirking up.
"A game, huh? I may be the weakest god, but I'm still the God of Games!" Tet replied, smiling.
"I have nothing against losing to Schwi. But losing to anyone else? I can't accept that, so I'd like to win this time, with Schwi at my side." Riku shrugged, calm as ever. "So, this time, Schwi and I will challenge you together."
"Is that so? Now this really is interesting. You're a player too, after all. So, what's the wager?" Tet asked brightly.
"Everything we have." Riku's smile deepened.
"You really are an interesting person, no, the One True God." Tet's eyes sparkled as she smiled.
Riku gazed at Tet, then silently summoned Schwi to his side.
"Well then, let the game begin." Riku held Schwi close, produced a chessboard, and picked up a piece, his eyes glinting with excitement.
With the clear sound of chess pieces falling, the game began within the [Spirits Corridor].
Together, Riku and Schwi joyfully played against Tet in a game where everything was on the line, in a place none could reach.
…
In the silent [Spirits Corridor], the sounds of chess pieces falling were as crisp as pearls on jade.
After several hours, Riku's lips curled up as he held Schwi's hand. Schwi, meanwhile, captured Tet's bishop with a piece.
"Checkmate." Riku and Schwi looked at Tet, speaking in perfect unison.
"Aww, I lost. Just one step away!" Tet said with a playful pout. "You two really are strong."
"With Schwi at my side, I'll never lose," Riku replied, smiling. "And you should know that best, Tet. After all, you were born from our combined faith [The God of Games]"
"Yes." Tet smiled sweetly, blinking her big eyes. "To lose myself right after being born… I might be the first god to ever do that!"
"Haha, you really might." Riku laughed softly.
Theoretically, there's a guaranteed way to win at chess, but it would require memorising every possible game, something impossible for most. Schwi, as an Ex-Machina, could do it, and as the God of Games, so could Tet.
Thus, both sides relied on luring, traps, and strategy. Schwi was a bit weaker than Tet in this, but with Riku by her side, they made up the difference.
Their victory wasn't luck, but destiny.
"Riku and Schwi will never lose." Schwi's eyes shone, voice full of certainty.
"Yes, I see that now. It really is a pity…" Tet looked at Riku and Schwi, then said brightly, "Well then, I look forward to working with you both from now on, my two masters!"
Riku and Schwi exchanged a smile. For Tet, they had a special fondness; if anything, she felt like their daughter.
While Riku, Schwi, and Tet played their game in the [Spirits Corridor], things outside were a bit chaotic.
Because Riku had been gone so long, everyone feared something had happened. If not for Fia and the others calming them, things could have gotten out of hand…
"Why isn't my husband back yet…" Fia muttered anxiously. "Even Schwi has vanished."
"Fia, calm down. My link with Lord Riku is still intact, so he's safe," Zhuralis said, coming to comfort Fia.
"...Zhuralis, is that you…?" Fia stared blankly at the tall, statuesque woman with silver hair, blue eyes, and dragon horns radiant in her elegant dress.
She didn't recognise this woman, but that aura was unmistakable. Yet, as far as she knew, the Dragonia had never been able to take on human form…
Not just Hatsuse Fia, but Sonia, Think, Couronne, and the others all stared curiously at Zhuralis and the group behind her.
"Hehe, I knew you were up to something lately. Turns out you were researching shapeshifting magic. So you finally mastered it, huh? Just couldn't wait to serve Master yourself?"
Space rippled, and Jibril appeared, smiling mischievously.
"Yes. After all, you've all served Lord Riku so many times, while I've always been left out. That wouldn't do." Zhuralis swept her gaze over the group, finally fixing it on Jibril, her tone calm.
"Uh…" Fia and the others were left speechless by her bold honesty. That was… almost too frank.
"Well, that's just your personality, never shy or sneaky," Jibril commented.
"You're the same," Zhuralis retorted, "Actually, you're even more direct, you're the definition of a pervert."
"Hmph. Can you blame me? Master is just too fascinating," Jibril replied, puffing her chest out with infatuation.
This much shameless flirting left everyone else rolling their eyes skyward.
"Sorry for making you all wait." At that moment, the [Spirits Corridor] reappeared, and Riku stepped out holding Schwi in his arms, a radiant smile on his lips.
With him came Tet, her whole presence brimming with lively energy.
"Husband, you're finally back…!" Fia rushed forward, beaming with joy, but her smile faded when she noticed Tet. Her red eyes glinted as she pouted, "Hmph, another girl? You really are a womaniser…"
"Oh my, looks like another god, too, one that's just been born," Jibril remarked with interest.
"Seems that way," Zhuralis agreed, eyes full of surprise.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Tet, little maid of both Riku and Schwi, just call me Tet! I'm the God of Games, and I just lost myself to my two masters in a game!" Tet introduced herself cheerfully, her sparkling demeanour instantly winning people over.
"That's the situation," Riku nodded.
"Lost yourself… This is the first time I've seen a god like that." Everyone was speechless at Tet's admission.
"Oh, Zhuralis and Reginleif," Riku noticed the transformed Dragonia with surprise.
"Congratulations, Lord Riku, on becoming the One True God," Zhuralis said respectfully, with a gentle smile.
"It's truly astonishing you really did it," Reginleif added, admiration plain in his eyes.
Their words drew murmurs of awe from all present; no one could believe how intense that final battle had been.
Riku shook his head slightly. In the end, he had simply gambled everything on one final fight and won.
"Well then, before anything else, let's take care of the most important thing." Riku smiled, sweeping his gaze over everyone, before rising into the sky with Schwi in his arms.
The [Star Grail] floated into the air, radiating a beautiful glow.
Is that the Star Grail…?
Everyone stared, entranced.
Holding Schwi close, Riku's voice rang out across all of Disboard:
"In the name of the One True God, I establish the rules: The Ten Covenants!"
[1] All killing, war, and plundering are forbidden in this world.
[2] All conflicts are to be resolved by games.
[3] Each game must have a wager that both sides consider equal.
[4] Provided the third rule is not violated, any game, wager, or challenge is permitted.
[5] The challenged party has the right to determine the rules of the game.
[6] Wagers made by invoking the Covenants must be upheld without fail.
[7] Group disputes must appoint a representative with full authority.
[8] Anyone found cheating during a game will be considered the loser.
[9] By the name of God, these rules are unbreakable and eternal.
[10] Let's all have fun together, in peace!!!
As his words ended, the Star Grail activated Riku's rules, transforming the world itself.
Every race listened in awe, soon erupting with joy.
"Thank you for your blessing, One True God!!"
All present knelt, offering their loyalty. War and slaughter had finally ended.
"Riku, my master… Thank you." Tet gazed at Riku in wonder, her voice a soft whisper.
This world was made just for her.
"A world of games, huh…" Fia, Jibril, Zhuralis and the others all smiled.
"Looks like things won't be boring from now on."
Most races had come to hate war. After such a hard-won peace, who would want to fight again? But if the world really became a utopia… well, maybe it would be a little too peaceful.
"Well then, let me witness what possibilities the future of this world holds."
Riku withdrew the Grail and looked down upon the gathered races, quietly.
"Schwi, don't you want to say something cool?" He glanced down at Schwi, curled in his arms.
"I don't need to say anything. Right now, I just want to stay by your side… It's the safest feeling in the world." Schwi looked up at him, her voice soft.
"Is that so?" Riku smiled gently, stroking her hair.
The sight made Fia and the others a little jealous.
"Master, would you like to deal with the Flügel situation?" Jibril appeared at his side, asking sweetly. "There might be a surprise for you."
"The Flügel, huh?" Riku looked at Jibril strangely, but finally nodded.
The Flügel needed dealing with, and the rainbow chest was more important still.
After saying a few words of reassurance, Riku dismissed everyone present, telling them to return home for now.
He planned to hold a grand celebration for the restored peace and tranquillity of the world, but only after he finished taking care of the remaining business.
What Riku didn't know was that, as they left, Think and the other women came to a silent agreement to make this day a sacred holiday. It would become a day to honour Riku's greatness and commemorate the deeds of the Allied races: the Day of Divine Advent.
In this world, there was truly only one god in their hearts, Riku, the One True God.
Riku had no idea about this. He had already taken Jibril, Tet, Schwi, Fia, and Zhuralis to Avant Heim.
As for why Fia didn't leave like Think or Sonia, it was because the Werebeast had only sent her to the war; she didn't need to escort any clanmates home. As for Zhuralis, she was Riku's retainer, so she naturally followed. And Reginleif was now leading the Dragonia.
"Master, congratulations on becoming the One True God." When Riku appeared before Azril and the other Flügel, Azril, in childlike form, wore a complicated expression but finally knelt, bowing her head.
As Azril knelt, the other Flügel did the same, their faces similarly conflicted.
After all, this was their Creator's final wish. They had to obey, or it would be the ultimate disrespect to Lord Artosh.
Now, all the Flügel had no choice but to admit Riku's overwhelming power and charisma. Why had their Creator, even after dying in battle, smiled? Perhaps… that was his wish.
"Jibril, explain the situation." Surveying the crowd of kneeling Flügel girls, Riku glanced at the grinning Jibril beside him.
In his mind, the Flügel should have been mortal enemies with him; calling him Master should have been impossible.
"Hehe, Master, shouldn't you be happy? See, I've brought all my sisters here to be your subordinates. If you want to do all sorts of improper things, that's fine too! I guarantee they're all pure and innocent, totally clueless about such things." Jibril smiled mischievously.
"—!"
Schwi just blinked, clutching Riku's sleeve, while Fia glared daggers at Jibril.
This woman was just looking for trouble! If all five hundred Flügel became Riku's harem, it would be chaos!
Zhuralis, too, stared at Jibril with a blank face. That woman really did have a knack for stirring things up.
"Ahem. Enough nonsense." Riku coughed, shooting Jibril a glare. Not that he'd admit he was tempted for a second there.
Thinking it over, Riku immediately realised what was going on; it had to be Artosh's doing. No matter how persuasive Jibril was, she could never have swayed these diehard Flügel.
"Jibril, as the Flügel's Leader, it's up to you. I won't interfere. That's true for all races." Riku's gaze swept over Azril and the others before finally resting on Jibril.
"That's all. I have things to do. You can all explore here." With that, Riku vanished, leaving the girls dumbfounded.
"Aww, I failed…" Jibril sighed with disappointment. Helping Master build a harem was a maid's duty. She'd wanted to get Azril and some of her more talented sisters into Riku's harem; it would have benefited her and the Flügel as a whole.
"Little Jibril… you really…" Azril was torn between laughter and tears. She might not know much about that kind of thing, but that didn't mean she was clueless.
"Idiot Jibril, don't drag me into your schemes!" Fia finally exploded, glaring hatefully at Jibril.
"Oh, is the little brat jealous?" Jibril giggled.
Fia immediately activated her "Blood Destruction" and lunged at Jibril, who counterattacked. Bang bang bang, the ruckus was endless.
It looked fierce, but under the Covenants, no one could really get hurt.
Zhuralis just watched the squabbling pair in silence, while Schwi gazed into the depths of Avant Heim, waiting for Riku. As for Tet, she had disappeared somewhere.
"Maybe Jibril is right after all…" The Flügel looked at Jibril teasing Fia in the sky, and a wave of curiosity rose in their hearts, a hunger for knowledge.
…
Elsewhere, Riku made his way through the ruined hall, heading for the God of War's throne. With a gust of wind, he blew away the rubble, revealing the silent throne and, beside it, the rainbow treasure chest.
Riku gazed at the throne, shook his head, and walked over, placing his hand on the chest radiating magnificent, brilliant light.
[Ding. Rainbow Chest unlock condition—Defeat the God of War: fulfilled. Unlocked successfully.]
A system prompt sounded in Riku's mind, surprising him. So there really was a condition for opening the rainbow chest, and it was to defeat the God of War.
Back then, when he first saw Artosh, he'd completely ignored the chest. All he'd wanted was to fight and win. Never expected to follow the "correct" sequence by accident.
[Ding. Congratulations, Master, you have opened the Rainbow Chest and obtained World Sovereignty.]
The rainbow chest slowly opened, a seven-colored orb rising from within as the system's voice echoed in his mind again.
[World Sovereignty: Allows the master to travel freely between worlds, with the authority to alter any world under their control at will. When traversing other worlds, you may, by special means, absorb their world's sovereignty and potentially take control of them.]
"World Sovereignty…?" Riku was shaken by the words in his head. The Star Grail was powerful, but still limited; there were things it simply could not alter, such as the inherent traits of different races.
But this World Sovereignty was… absolute.
As Riku's thoughts whirled, the rainbow orb from the chest merged into his body, fusing with the Star Grail and transforming it into a dazzling, rainbow-colored form, mysterious and beautiful.
"What an unbelievable thing I've obtained…" Riku exclaimed in awe.
"System, if I wanted to modify myself and Schwi and the others to become immortal, would that be possible?" Riku's eyes sparkled, his heart surging with excitement.
Be it human or god, everything has an end, but Riku didn't want to turn to dust when his life ran out. He not only wanted to be immortal himself, but to grant immortality to his women too to experience everything the world had to offer.
[It's possible. But it can only be done in worlds you already control. If you travel to another world, any modifications will be reverted to their original state, strength, lifespan, and everything will return to normal. If the master can, by special means, devour the fate of another world and gain its World Sovereignty, then your authority will extend to that world as well.
[You don't need to completely gain another world's sovereignty for it to be effective. Even partial control will allow for partial effects.]
[When you've devoured enough World Sovereignty from other worlds, you won't even need to consume new sovereignty to influence new worlds; your own domain will naturally take hold.]
"Even so, that's already broken as hell." Riku took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, though his eyes burned with excitement.
If he had to compare, this World Sovereignty was like a combination of Zeno and Super Shenron from Dragon Ball… except even stronger.
Sure, it had the drawback that you had to control a world's sovereignty for your modifications to take effect, but that tiny flaw was nothing compared to its power.
"Now that I control Disboard, I could just settle down here and spend eternity with Schwi and the others. Immortal life wouldn't be so bad… but it feels a bit lacking in excitement."
Summoning the rainbow-glowing [Star Grail], Riku felt the power of sovereignty within, his lips curling into a smile.
"Well then, let's set a small goal: control a hundred or so worlds, then try to fuse them all together and build my own, never-before-seen world." He gripped the [Star Grail], mumbling to himself.
As he spoke, his eyes shone with ever-brighter light. A whole string of wild ideas appeared in his mind.
"Huh? Why does the Star Grail look so pretty now? Master, did you do something to it?" At that moment, Tet came bouncing over, peering curiously at the Grail in Riku's hand.
"Secretly following Master isn't allowed, you know. Do you want to be trained as a little maid the moment you're born?" Riku tucked the Grail away and glanced mischievously at Tet.
"Sorry, please don't train me. I'm still just a kid!" Tet immediately looked flustered, her face flushing bright red, her special eyes darting around.
Of course, she knew exactly what training meant; she'd seen Riku "train" Jibril and "play" with the other girls. Even though back then she had no Divine Core, no real consciousness, and her mind was blank, those memories were still imprinted within her.
Now that she'd gained a Divine Core and her own will, those memories made her deeply embarrassed.
"Alright, I'm just kidding." Seeing Tet react so strongly, Riku blinked, then understood why. Smiling, he patted her on the head.
Tet was basically like a daughter to him and Schwi. Even though all three of them were different races, Tet had been born because of him and Schwi, there was no denying that. At this point, he really couldn't think of her in any indecent way.
"Let's go." Riku shook his head, hands in his pockets, and strolled outside.
"So this is what it feels like to be doted on…" Tet touched her head and mumbled, "But being treated like a daughter… it's a little frustrating."
She pouted, muttering under her breath.
"Wait for me!" Seeing Riku already heading out of the ruined hall, Tet hurried after him, sticking close behind.
When Riku finished his stroll and returned to the original spot, he found Jibril waiting for him.
"Master, as the Flügel's representative, we've decided to use a round-table system to manage our race pieces. We'll vote on important matters and so on," Jibril said with a smile. "But that's all Azril and the others' business. I just want to stay by your side."
"That's fine." Riku nodded, unsurprised.
"Master, if you ever need anything, please tell us. No matter what it is, we'll do it." Azril knelt on one knee, speaking softly.
For now, their reason for existing was to serve Riku; otherwise, they couldn't find any meaning in their continued existence. An intense emptiness echoed in their hearts.
"I'll call for you when the time comes." Riku could understand the Flügel's mood. But he had no plans to help them with some things; they have to figure it out for themselves.
"Well then, Fia, Schwi, Jibril, Tet, Zhuralis, let's go." Riku looked at the girls beside him and spoke gently, not giving priority to any one of them.
With that, he teleported everyone away, leaving the Flügel behind in silence.
As soon as they returned to the werebeast settlement, all the werebeasts greeted them with respectful salutes everyone was wild with excitement.
Riku left the public appearances to Fia, letting her handle the socialising.
As for him, even though the [Star Grail], fused with World Sovereignty, had healed all his fatigue and hidden ailments, Riku decided to take a leisurely afternoon nap.
It wasn't until evening that he woke up and, walking the corridors alone, planned to soak in the hot springs. No matter how strong he became, he was still going to enjoy life.
"Come to think of it, where are Schwi and the others? They're all out tonight…" Riku murmured to himself as he relaxed in the bath. With his senses, he could easily pinpoint the girls' locations. "No, wait, Zhuralis is still here."
No sooner had he said it than Zhuralis entered, wrapped in a towel. She joined Riku in the hot spring, sitting beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Schwi won't be coming home tonight. She and the others lost to me in a game, so my condition was that they spend the night out," Zhuralis said quietly, looking at Riku. "So, Lord Riku, tonight it's just the two of us."
"Uh…" Riku was stunned. Was this… a clear invitation?
And what kind of game could she have beaten all the other girls at…? He'd never realised Zhuralis was so skilled at games before.
"Zhuralis, you really are beautiful like this," Riku said, rubbing his face, finally giving her a compliment.
"Lord Riku, don't you think it's a little late to say that? You only glanced at me when you first saw me. I was planning to give you a surprise." Zhuralis pouted in mock resentment.
Riku couldn't refute her. Sure, Zhuralis looked incredibly beautiful now, truly charming, but he wasn't the kind of man who'd get distracted by every pretty face at the time; there were more important things to do than appreciate her appearance.
"I'm just teasing you," Zhuralis laughed, seeing his reaction.
"But before I knew it, I was drawn to you, Lord Riku. I want to carry you on my back during the day and serve you at night." Zhuralis spoke from her heart. "Without realising it, these feelings just filled up inside me."
"So, Lord Riku, if you don't mind… will you let me serve you?" Zhuralis leaned her head on Riku's shoulder, her soft hand reaching out for him, her voice filled with longing.
Riku touched his face, feeling a flutter in his chest. Was this the so-called dragon-rider? A dragon rider by day, and another kind of "dragon rider" by night.
"Then I won't hold back," he said, and without hesitating, took the initiative. If a beauty gives you such a clear signal, would you even be a man if you didn't act?
Obviously, Riku wasn't some stoic ascetic.
In an instant, delightful sounds filled the air, the rhythm intoxicating, stirring the imagination.
…
All night, Riku and Zhuralis didn't rest. Not until the sun shone over the land did they finally stop, sharing a smile as they looked at each other.
After catching their breath and letting the afterglow fade, the two took another bath and got dressed.
For them, a night of activity without rest was no big deal.
Today, though, there were more important things to do.
A while later, Schwi, Fia, Jibril, Corone, and Tet all returned.
Schwi didn't say much; she just winked at Riku. Fia puffed out her cheeks, glared at Riku, but didn't complain.
Jibril joked with Zhuralis, but Zhuralis wasn't the type to back down, so the two quickly started trading playful barbs.
Couronne just shook her head, meaning to tell Riku to mind his health, but remembering his constitution and who he was, she swallowed her words, feeling a bit helpless, maybe she really was the weakest one now.
Tet's reaction was similar to Schwi's, though she was a bit more bashful.
Riku just shook his head slightly, then gathered everyone and led them to the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary was a floating castle Riku had created, used for inter-race meetings.
Today was not only a day of celebration for all races, but also the day to hold the council, distribute territory, and so on.
Everywhere, you could see the different races setting off fireworks from the dwarves, filling the skies with cheers and excitement.
Riku and the others arrived at the Sanctuary, where all the races' representatives gathered in the lavish sky garden, sitting around stone tables.
Of course, Demon Kings and demonia were excluded. Riku had little fondness for them, as their intelligence was lacking. He didn't plan to wipe them out, but leaving them unattended was fine.
As for the likes of the phantasma, giants, and other large races, Riku used the Star Grail to set a special barrier that shrank their size to human form while inside.
And so the council began. Riku didn't intervene; he just watched calmly.
Still, as the One True God, Riku's human identity and his revered status meant that Couronne, the representative for humanity, barely said a word before humanity was assigned the largest territory.
Riku smiled quietly at this. He wouldn't play favourites, but Couronne was his woman and his sister; there was no way he'd let her be bullied.
Not that anyone would Phantasma, Gigants, Fairies, maybe, but with Think Nirvalen for the elves, Fia for the werebeast, Azril for the Flügel, Sonia for the vampires, and with Schwi and Tet, no one would pressure Corone. Reginleif of the dragons and the dwarven chief both truly admired Riku. The other major races weren't fools either, so everything was settled smoothly.
At last, it was time for the feast, the leaders of every race celebrating together.
By the time everything was done, night had fallen. Back at home, Riku finally revealed his ambition, pulling Schwi, Fia, Couronne, Jibril, Sonia, Think, and Zhuralis into one massive bed.
Fia and Couronne were embarrassed and tried to refuse, scolding Riku for being shameless. But with Riku's insistence and the "help" of Jibril, Zhuralis, and Schwi, the three "traitors" were eventually "convinced." Sonia and Think, the two maids, didn't say a word.
In the end, Riku truly had a night to remember.
"This is such madness… With a master like this, my future is really uncertain…" Tet sat alone on the rooftop, swinging her little white legs as she gazed at the starry sky, mumbling to herself.
A month later, the territory distribution was complete, the nations established, and Riku quietly used his power to make himself, Schwi, and the others immortal at least within this world. For now, it was enough.
With all that done, Riku decided it was time to leave this world, travel to others, and gather more World Sovereignty.
He also granted Tet some authority, making her his representative to help manage this world, acting as the One True God's Right hand.
"Well, let's go," Riku smiled, summoning the rainbow Star Grail.
Instantly, the Star Grail blazed with colour. Space began to ripple, forming a giant, black portal.
"Riku, you promised you'd never leave me behind." Just as Riku was about to step inside, Schwi's voice rang out. She'd somehow appeared behind him, her gaze stubborn and determined.
"Sorry. Let's go together, then." Riku blinked, then smiled gently. He'd originally planned to go alone, since other worlds were unpredictable. But with Schwi so insistent, there was no way he could refuse.
"Mm!" Hearing Riku's answer, Schwi's face lit up with a sweet smile.
At last, Riku picked Schwi up in his arms and stepped into the portal.
And just as they entered, another figure darted inside after them. The next moment, the portal closed.
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T/N: So this is the end of this volume. The next chapter will be the start of the High School DxD arc! I hope you enjoyed my translation. Thank you all for reading, commenting, and supporting my work ,it really means a lot to me.
If you have any recommendations for what I should translate next, please let me know! I'm currently looking for good Wuthering Waves fanfics, so if you know any, I'd love to hear your suggestions.