A God, both strange and familiar, blocked Theresa and her group's path, separating them from the World Bubble like an impassable chasm. Indifferent golden eyes swept across the group, the girl's face showing not a trace of emotion.
"You are..."
Seeing this familiar face, Theresa froze completely...
"You look quite surprised... Human. What? Is this face, this shell, really that impactful to you?"
The Lord of the Divine Throne let out a heartless sneer, playing on their nerves like a villain in a story.
"Are you... Snow?"
"No way! That guy Snow might talk all mystical and weird, but she would absolutely never be as arrogant as you—"
Theresa glared at the blonde God before her and asked the soul-searching question—
"You're not Snow, you bastard! Who the hell are you?!"
"What an interesting question... I'm not Snow? Haha—"
The white-robed girl drew the Branch of Ruin, which was burning with golden-orange flames. She looked mockingly at the others, who had also drawn their weapons, their faces turning grim as they faced her in a tense standoff.
"I am Snow, Snow Apocalypse. Without a doubt—that is one of the names and identities of the God 'Infinity'—I need to prove nothing, human, for I bear this name and walk this earth."
The blonde girl's words continuously provoked Theresa and the others, whose nerves were already on edge. The white-haired lolita nun lowered her head, seemingly having understood something... Her gaze, filled with sadness and determination, fixed upon the girl before her—this person who was nominally another one of her own family members, an [ elder ] much younger than herself.
"Always talking about 'humans' and 'Gods'... So you've really become that kind of being... A Herrscher!"
Theresa, who seemed to have unilaterally understood the girl's current state, steadied herself and made a certain resolution—
"It's okay, I'll be the one to knock some sense into you this time!"
"Oath of Judah, deploy!"
Golden chains instantly wrapped around the girl's body, seemingly trapping her firmly.
"A mistaken resolve..."
[ The resolve to save a single person here is misplaced. Human and Herrscher, Herrscher and True God, are separated by a vast chasm. ]
The golden chains were snapped, falling onto the platform.
"A mistaken conviction..."
[ There are no family members of yours here to be saved. The "me" at this moment is not your family. ]
The chains that bound the girl god were all broken free in an instant.
"It seems, human, you are not yet prepared?"
[ A qualified family member, but not a qualified Hero— ]
The girl shook her body, shedding the remaining golden chains, no longer focusing her gaze on the little white-haired dwarf, but looking at a certain girl behind her.
"Heh... How truly heartbreaking, how truly disappointing, my dearest, my partner—"
"We are so kindred in spirit, so close and inseparable—why must you stand on the opposite side of me?"
The blonde god's gaze fell upon Houraiji Kyuusyou, who walked behind everyone else.
At this moment, the Savior had already drawn that Greatsword of War flowing with sulfurous lava, standing far apart from the Branch of Ruin in the girl's hand.
"Kyuusyou, you?!"
Theresa, whose attention had been drawn by Snow's words, turned her head and saw a "good student" who seemed to have undergone a second transformation.
"Take them and leave first, Theresa. I will explain the rest to you after I return."
"But?!"
Miss Nun seemed to be somewhat hesitant...
"Just go... Theresa, she is indeed Snow... Do you remember Himeko's combat recordings from Nagazora City?"
"Do you mean?!"
Theresa seemed to have thought of something, her eyes widening as she stared in disbelief at the god who remained motionless by her side.
"Just as she said, that is no Herrscher, but a god, a genuine and true god—"
"In that case, I can't leave you alone to face the current Snow—"
Theresa's words were cut off by Kyuusyou's wave of her hand.
"Headmaster, you are a good teacher, and perhaps you would even be a good family member... But when it comes to fighting, Headmaster, you'd better forget it..."
"Judah, you saw it yourself, it was completely useless."
Kyuusyou pointed to the chains shattered all over the ground and shrugged her shoulders.
"Besides, my dear Headmaster Theresa, you don't actually believe there are any normal people among your students, do you?"
"You're kidding, right?"
"Kyuusyou, you!"
Theresa couldn't hold it back anymore this time, and in the end, she still helplessly nodded at the purple-haired Valkyrie, gesturing for the remaining few to temporarily withdraw from the Sea of Quanta...
"Liliya, Liliya, Rozaliya wants to see the two Supremes fight until the Great Dao is shattered!"
Rozaliya, who was reluctantly retreating to the outer area as directed by Theresa, whispered softly to the blue-haired Liliya, seemingly planning to go back and join in the excitement.
"Stupid Rozaliya, read fewer of those Shenzhou Xuanhuan novels. The Great Desolation was indeed shattered, but what about us?"
The blue-haired girl ruthlessly interrupted and crushed her foolish sister's idea.
-
"Alright, the third wheels have all left. Snow, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Houraiji Kyuusyou, holding the kitten, looked at the blonde goddess before her with a flat expression. The goddess had watched the others leave without saying a word.
"Me? I seek the eternal, immortal glory of humanity. What I desire is not salvation, but Ascension."
"Just as you once did. Wind of Decadence, we share the same yearning, the yearning for a glory of humanity that time cannot erase."
"...You're going mad, Snow Apocalypse."
"No, no, I am not. Look at you now, my compatriot, my partner. How timid you are, how hesitant."
"Because I have already failed once. Everything from the past vanished without a trace, along with the complete end of a world, with no possibility of recovery!"
"So you are afraid? Afraid of repeating the same mistake?"
"Yes, I am afraid. I have wandered in the darkness for a thousand years. Time will give us all the answers, Snow. Perhaps you have not yet received your own answer..."
"But I have already received mine. Unseal the semi-closed loop on the timeline for me!"
Houraiji Kyuusyou, or rather Apocalypse, glared at the girl before her, showing none of her usual submissive demeanor.
"What if I say no?!"
Two gods, both stubborn in their own way, finally faced off against each other at this moment.
"Then I'll beat you into agreeing!"
"Stop posing, Snow Apocalypse. Without 'Him,' you are not even complete right now!!!"
"I will pin you to the ground and kiss you today!"
A white ceremonial dress completely replaced Houraiji Kyuusyou's original attire, a ceremonial garment exclusively for a god.
"Oh my, oh my! This young Miss God seems to be getting along terribly with 'Savior.' Hello... I am 'Apocalypse'!"
"Kyuusyou's" crimson pupils scanned the blonde girl before her... letting Snow Apocalypse feel a long-forgotten sense of foreboding...