[220] 7. Heaven (3)
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
A flash of light erupted from Ataraxia.
Shirone couldn't control the output. The farther the light traveled, the more it spread, filling the Great World Hall with blinding radiance.
Baalve flailed dozens of limbs and crawled along the ground, but was immediately swallowed by the mass of light and vanished without a trace.
Objects in the path of the streaking flash were swept away, as if even space itself were being pushed aside.
Paaaaaaang!
The Great World Hall at the tip of Jebul.
The barrier of the giant dome exploded, and two columns of light—whose scale could not be guessed—cleaved the sky.
"Hah! Hah!"
Shirone dropped to his knees, panting. When he took in the scene before him, his legs went weak.
Half of the Great World Hall had been blown away. Even he had a hard time believing the result of what he'd just done.
What on earth had Ikael been thinking when she etched this into my head?
Only Kariel remained in Shirone's sight.
Behind him the sky was visible, and the ground had been split into a giant Y.
Above Kariel's head, a ring of light spun at incredible speed.
-Life... Rite... progress... 99... percent.
Shirone whipped around in alarm.
Amy was desperately clawing at the panel stuck to her forehead. Even scraping hard enough to draw blood didn't dislodge it.
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, another voice came through.
-Transfer canceled. Life... Rite... stopping... now.
The panel embedded in Amy's brow slid free with a soft sound and disintegrated into dust-fine particles.
Shirone let out a breath of relief and looked back at Kariel.
The archangel's face was twisted into a fierce scowl. The announcement had a lag, but it was clear: the moment Ataraxia activated, Kariel had recovered his strength.
He had had no other choice.
Even if the Rite of Life had been allowed to proceed, the result would have been the same. Ataraxia's amplification was beyond what could be withstood while one's mind was consumed by the Rite.
Kariel spread his enormous golden wings and rose into the air.
"Do you understand now, foolish human? This is the Rite of Life. Even I, an archangel, would have to forsake everything and devote myself entirely to create life!"
Kariel looked down at the devastated Great World Hall.
It had been a spell cast by a mere novice. And yet its destructive power was this great.
Why should humans be granted such power?
Humans cannot control themselves. Any virtuous soul would fall to corruption before such temptation.
That boy will seek kingship. He will rule the world with an angel's power and revel in every pleasure.
'That might even be acceptable.'
Wouldn't it be better to send him back as he is?
If so, human society might self-destruct without the need for a final war.
But that could not be allowed. Ikael could not be unaware of this.
Then why—has she truly gone mad?
Only a mind gone wrong would think to transfer angelic rites to a human.
'Does she trust him that much? That boy?'
What on earth has Ikael seen in that human?
She certainly recognized his talent. No one without talent could accept the angelic rites.
But talent alone did not explain it. There was clearly something she knew that he did not.
Then he must be captured now. If he slipped away, a weapon strong enough to threaten Heaven would end up in human hands.
"Do not beg me for mercy any longer."
Kariel issued his declaration, but Shirone and the others had no time even to think about fleeing.
Arin had brought Kanis, and Amy protected Peope.
Tess ran for Rian, but Imir still stood guard there.
Imir regarded Tess's murderous glare indifferently, then turned his gaze to the kneeling Rian.
Rian's face, tilted toward the ceiling, did not look like that of a living man.
His right hand was nothing but bone, and yet he still clutched his greatsword.
It was the terror of the incarnational art—mind and body fused into one.
"One win, one draw, one loss. Shall we call it a tie for today?"
"..."
"Heh heh, at this rate, how will you fare against the true body? Will you even have any bones left?"
Imir raised the severed right arm. He shoved it into Rian's mouth; it melted into a black liquid and flowed down his throat.
"Take him. And keep him safe. If he survives, perhaps he can save humanity. If so, it will make the war far more interesting for me."
When Imir tossed Rian and he slid across the floor, Tess hurriedly scooped him up.
Seeing the arm reduced to bone made her eyes water, but for now they had to return home for treatment.
A drone swooped down and fitted a gauntlet onto Tess's arm.
She glared at Imir one last time, then turned and dashed off toward Arin.
Imir dissolved from his legs upward, a genial smile on his face.
He hoped Rian would survive. Humans needed to grow stronger—strong enough to resurrect the King of Giants.
It was his fate to destroy the empowered humans.
'Another day of fighting will come. Until then, I suppose I'll sleep.'
Imir melted into the black liquid. There were no more 'parts' of him left in Heaven. He would sink into a long sleep in the unmelted ice, waiting for the final war that would one day come.
-Shirone, we're ready!
Arin's voice entered Shirone's head. He wanted to escape immediately, but the Metagate took thirty seconds to operate. The timing of the escape could decide life or death.
Shirone knew it was impossible for everyone to leave while Kariel was at full strength.
The only hope was for at least one person to remain and buy time for the others to evacuate.
-Arin. Open the Metagate now. And get out no matter what.
-What about you?
-I'll hold Kariel back. If I can just delay him for one second, you'll have enough time to escape.
-But Shirone! None of us can—!
-Please. Make sure Amy gets home safely.
He asked it be kept secret. If Amy knew Shirone would stay, she would never leave.
Arin could not refuse. Someone had to live through another's sacrifice.
Like Kanis had, like Rian had, Shirone chose to save someone dear.
-Okay, Shirone. Give the signal when you're ready.
Shirone steeled himself.
What would happen to him? No one in the living world would risk coming to Heaven to rescue someone whose fate was unknown.
It would be better if he died quickly, but Kariel might capture him and subject him to all manner of experiments.
He was afraid.
Everyone else would go and he alone would be left.
'I'm sorry, Headmaster. You were right.'
A bitter smile touched Shirone's lips, then his expression hardened as he glared at Kariel.
He had to charge. Entering the Metagate took a second. He only had to steal Kariel's attention for that one second.
By now, Arin had surely explained the plan to the others. None of them would know he was staying.
Shirone drew a deep breath.
It was time to say goodbye.
-Arin! Now!
As Arin opened the Metagate, Shirone threw himself at Kariel.
Amy glanced back, eyes wide with shock.
'Why? Shirone?'
It wasn't the plan they'd been told. Hadn't they said everyone would leap at once and leave the outcome to chance?
Amy registered the truth from Arin's mournful expression in an instant and burst into tears, reaching out.
"No! Shiro...!"
Arin grabbed Amy's waist and leaped through the portal. Tess, carrying Kanis and Rian, followed and slammed into the portal with her eyes squeezed shut.
'Shirone, please... I hope we meet again.'
Shirone tilted his head back and let tears fall into his pupils. His face was a mixture of joy and sorrow.
It was fortunate Kariel didn't seem to care about his friends' situation. Perhaps he had targeted only Shirone from the start. If so, Shirone felt a strange relief.
If it saved his friends, he would willingly be captured.
-Don't do this, Shirone.
A sudden telepathic voice made him turn. Peope, smiling with eyes that crinkled, flew beside him.
-Peope, why are you still here?
Peope's thoughts flooded his mind in quick bursts.
-Humans are a strange species. They say they choose their own lives. If it is for that, they would gladly accept death.
-What are you talking about all of a sudden?
Shirone's chest tightened. Something he didn't know about was happening.
It was possible. Perhaps the reason Arin agreed was—
'No, that can't be. It mustn't be.'
This tiny fairy had helped them. Even if he remained alone in Heaven, he didn't feel like he was falling into an abyss because Peope would be at his side.
-Obliterating oneself is terrifying. But watching you, I thought—humans who would give their lives for someone they love. To me, that is truly admirable.
-Peope, no.
-Return to your friends. And...
Tears welled in Peope's eyes.
-I love you, Shirone.
Peope cut off telepathy and surged at Kariel.
Shirone stared, stunned, as she moved forward. His legs froze by reflex, and his body turned toward the Metagate.
"Hurk! Sob!"
He ran toward the Metagate. Tears blurred his vision until he could see nothing.
The world felt swollen, as if submerged. Faced with a miracle, he felt utterly weak.
He could go back. Return to the original world and meet everyone again.
'Mom, Dad, I'm coming. I'll return for sure...'
Shirone stopped dead. Different feelings wrestled with equal weight, but the thought that rose unbidden was the single promise he'd made with Peope.
-If I get captured, will you come rescue me? So... if we're friends.
-Of course.
"Of course... Peope."
Shirone squeezed his fist, his voice breaking. With the last of his will, he cast the teleportation spell.
Her words—"I love you"—reverberated like an echo.
For a one-year-old fairy, love was a vast concept. It wasn't romantic love, nor friendship, nor parental love—just the sole, unique love.
Peope was a pure, clear soul.
To leave such a friend and go home was a pain harder than death.
"Peope! Please! Please wait!"
Peope, facing the edge of oblivion, was terrified. Was this annihilation? Everything was frightening and unfamiliar.
Every moment opened onto unknown worlds, and her feelings swung between extremes.
Had she made the right choice? Were the words she spoke to Arin sincere?
-I'm Peope. If someone has to stay, everyone else leave. I'll stop Kariel.
-But... what about you?
-I can't leave Heaven in any case. Besides, as one who cares for the people, this is my duty.
Peope forced a smile.
'It's okay. I am a Spiral fairy. No matter how shaken, I will go straight ahead.'
She would never again meet those who had finally recognized her value, but she was satisfied with the revelation at the end of her life.
It wasn't the Rite of Life that was great. What was truly great was the human sacrifice willing to accept it.
Shirone had been spared.
"Arrogant little fairy."
Kariel snorted and reached out. With his power, he could have erased a fairy like Peope in an instant.
Peope's lips drooped as she sensed death. Tears spilled down her face.
But she did not back down. She thrust both hands forward and poured her Spiral power out with all her might.
"Peope! Stop!"
Shirone's unexpected shout made Peope look back. In that instant Kariel brushed past her; the angel's slender hand aimed for the back of Shirone's neck.
'I won't let you go. Not you!'
He would study it. By whatever cruel method, he would dissect Ataraxia's mechanisms and make them his own.
Kaaaaaang!
At that moment a purple longsword drove into Kariel's fingers. A black-haired man had cut between Kariel and Shirone.
He was Samgak Mara Ashur, a subordinate of Ikael.
"Ashur... would you interfere with me as well?"
"This is a message from Lady Ikael."
Anger flared in Kariel's eyes.
How dare some triangular mara presume to deliver a message? Did he still think Ikael ruled Heaven?
He had once respected Ikael. But she had gone too far.
"Do you bring me Heaven's shame on my behalf?"
"Choose your words carefully."
"Not an inaccurate claim. For a noble angel who has risen to command to stoop to the seed of a mere human—"
"Ka-ri-el!"
Ashur's eyes snapped wide, demon-like.
"I. am. clearly. delivering. Lady. Ikael's. message."
Kariel shut his mouth. It was Ikael's message.
"She said that if you harm this boy, she will never hold you in goodwill."
The bridge of Kariel's nose creased in displeasure. He could not fathom her mind.
Ikael had been disgraced. Fallen.
Yet still, he thought the name Ikael.
It was the last regret he had for the angel he had once adored.
And yet she had betrayed him like this.
Why would she—who had risen to lead the angels—care so much for a mere human?
Kariel could only hold his pride in silence. Then Ashur turned to Shirone and said,
"Go. Peope will be safe. I give you my word in Lady Ikael's name."
Shirone had used all his mental energy for the teleport and couldn't move. But Ashur's words filtered through, and a faint smile spread across his face.
He could trust Ikael. She was the one who had entrusted everything to him.
"Take care, Shirone."
Peope activated her Spiral power and sent Shirone tumbling into the Metagate. Those words were the last thing Shirone heard in Heaven.
(End of Volume 9)