I lifted Kuon, who was riding on Kohaku, with [Levitation] and pulled them along with [Fly], aiming for the top of the Tree Tower.
‘Young master, a lizard bastard is coming from the right.’
At Silver, the voice coming from the ‘Silver’ crown around Kuon’s waist, I turned my gaze to the right hand side and saw a Pteranodon-like melting dragon screeching as it flew toward us.
"[Wind, swirl, storm of the tempest, Cyclone Storm]"
‘Gyoaaahhh!?!’
The wind magic blade I unleashed tore through the wings of dozens of melting dragons, sending them plummeting to the ground.
Even without that, they would have surely died from the impact of the fall, but I released an additional [Firestorm] to burn them completely so they wouldn’t cause any trouble for those on the ground.
We’re in a hurry. Don’t get in the way.
‘Oh... As expected of the young master’s father. No mercy at all...’
"Isn’t it normal to take down enemies when you find them?"
‘Well, that’s true...’
With Kuon and the others chatting, I continued to rise higher.
Eventually, we reached a height greater than the top of the Tree Tower, and the full view of the tower’s peak became clear.
"Well, this is... "
"Hmm..."
What can I say... At the top of the Tree Tower was a large, round, ball-like mass of roots.
It was like a tumbleweed... you know, the kind that rolls across the wild west, blown by the wind. Like that, many roots were intertwined in all directions, forming a huge sphere.
"It’s as if it’s closed off in a shell, not letting anyone get close."
Closed off in a shell, huh? That’s probably the case. It might be a sign of their resistance, refusing to let anyone interfere.
"What should we do?"
"...For now, let’s try burning it. [Flame, come forth, red volley, Fire Arrow]"
I shot three fire arrows at the huge tumbleweed below.
However, despite the flames hitting the target, the tree roots didn’t burn at all. Rather, it seemed like the magic was converted into ether and absorbed. Could it be that this tree itself is lowering the ether concentration in the area and preventing spirits from approaching?
"...Seems impossible."
"Well, if it burns with this, we should be able to burn the tower itself too."
For now, I lowered Kuon, who was riding on Kohaku, to the ground, and I also landed at the very top.
Since the base is made up of roots, I remain on alert. It would be a huge problem if I accidentally had my foot grabbed by the roots without noticing.
The tumbleweed towering in front of me is even bigger than Brunhild's castle. I guess you could call it the fortress of the apostles of the Evil God?
If burning it doesn’t work... should we try cutting it down?
I tried using the crystal material from [Storage] and shaped it into an axe, then swung it down on the roots of the tumbleweed. There was some resistance since it was an axe made of crystal, but it cut through the roots properly.
"Since magic doesn’t work, I guess we’ll have to cut it down by hand... huh!?"
I thought it was troublesome, so I glanced at Kuon. He had gotten off Kohaku and was holding a bulky sword that looked like a chainsaw.
Huh!? Is that the chainsaw used in the battle against the Tree Dragon Yggdrasil with the Frame Gear!?
"Quun-nee-sama made a smaller version for people to use, and I was forced to take it along with Frei-nee-sama. I thought it would just be left unused in the smartphone’s [Storage], but I’m glad it seems useful."
Saying that, Kuon swung the chainsaw sword—Chain Blade—several times, and with a spapapan, the root wall in front of him shattered and a rectangular entrance was cut open.
This is strange. The way it’s cutting isn’t like the chainsaws I know.
"It’s open."
"Ah, yeah..."
We entered through the rectangular opening.
I thought it would be dark inside, but there were round, flower-like objects growing from the roots everywhere, glowing a pale green. It was relatively bright, so we probably wouldn’t need [Light].
The inside was just like the image I had seen with the doctor before, with a large pyramid-like altar in the center, and that suspicious light shining above it.
Is Goldo and the apostles of the Evil God over there?
I was about to fly with [Fly], but the magical field surrounding my body was being absorbed by the roots beneath.
"It seems like magic can’t be used inside this root dome."
Kuon rubbed her feet against the roots. ...Ah, she must have tried [Slip].
"What about the magic eye?"
"Most likely, things that affect the opponent, like [Crush] or [Bind], have very little effect. As for magic like [Foresight], which affects only myself, it should be fine."
Kuon’s eyes changed color every time she blinked. I checked too, and it seems that magic like [Boost] and [Accel], which affect myself, can still be used. These mainly use the magic inside the body.
"It activates, so it’s not like it can’t be used, but it’s only for a moment. If we time it right, [Slip] might help us trip someone."
"Either way, flying is impossible..."
I looked up at the pyramid in front of me. There were stairs, so it seemed we could climb, but I wondered if suddenly it would turn into a slope or some other trap... No, surely not, right?
I frowned, remembering the traps from old comedy shows I had seen on the internet.
"Kohaku, can you do it?"
"Of course."
Once I climbed on Kuon’s back, Kohaku charged toward the pyramid with great speed.
"Hmph."
The space in front of Kohaku, who was running, distorted and twisted. From there emerged a melting dragon whose body was cybernetically modified.
However, it wasn’t in the form of a Tyrannosaurus, but rather a melting dragon resembling a Triceratops with three large horns.
"Broooaarr!"
"Foolish creature!"
Kohaku swung her front legs high, and with that momentum, brought them down hard.
The shockwave blade released from her large claws sliced through the Triceratops’ body vertically.
The momentum lost, the Triceratops’ corpse collapsed to the ground, bleeding profusely.
Avoiding the filthy remains, Kohaku easily leaped over them.
"Father, over there too."
"Are they trying to keep us away no matter what?"
Following Kuon’s gaze, the space twisted again, and a new Triceratops appeared.
One after another, Triceratops melting dragons were summoned from the distorted space around us. At this point, Amber alone couldn’t handle them.
Hmph, an eye for an eye, and a summoning for a summoning.
"Come! Sango, Kokuyou, Luli, Kougyoku!"
I snapped my fingers and summoned four familiar beasts to the battlefield.
"Well, well."
"Oh, there are so many friends of Luli-chan here!"
"These aren’t even dragons. Don’t mock me, Kokuyou."
"My lord, your command?"
The four divine beasts appeared in their usual small forms, then, with a small puff of smoke, they transformed into their true gigantic forms.
"Take care of these guys. There’s almost no ether here, so be careful; long-range magic won’t work."
As I said that, a stream of water blades shot out from Sango’s mouth, and Fire Breath shot out from Luli’s mouth, slicing and burning the nearby Triceratops.
Huh?
‘Our attacks release the divine power inside us by transforming it, so ether concentration doesn’t matter. After all, we’re divine beasts contracted to real "gods", right?’
Ah, I see... Wait, then couldn’t I have used divine energy to fly with [Fly]...?
"What’s wrong?"
"No, nothing..."
Kuon turned around and peered at me, but I pretended not to notice. I didn’t realize it... so embarrassing... I hope my face isn’t red...
It would be too embarrassing to fly now, so I decided to just keep charging ahead.
‘My lord, leave this to us.’
"Okay! Kohaku, let’s go!"
‘Understood.’
Taking advantage of Luli’s words, I urged Kohaku to run. I didn’t try to dodge the subject. Nope.
‘Now then, how should we deal with them?’
‘I’ll slash them to pieces.’
‘A lizard like this should know its place.’
‘I’ll burn them to the ground.’
After hearing those reassuring voices from the four, Luli’s breath and Sango’s water cutter roared, and the dying screams of the Triceratops echoed. Namu namu.
I realized again that by becoming a full-fledged god, the summoned beasts I contracted, like Kohaku, also became my followers, and their power has greatly increased.
With their powers fully unleashed, the summoned beasts wreak havoc as they please. With Kohaku leading the way, we charged toward the pyramid in front of us.
Kohaku bounded up the slope, where tree trunks formed a stairway, running toward the top.
The light at the summit seemed to be growing brighter. What exactly are they doing up there?
When we had climbed about halfway, melting machines with falcon-like and dog-headed shapes appeared, blocking the path.
‘Get out of the way!’
The shockwave created by Kohaku's roar sent the nearby melting machines flying.
I shot down the melting machines that had been left behind using Brunhild, and Kohaku continued without stopping, racing up the pyramid’s stairs.
Eventually, when we reached the summit, what we saw was a strange space with a large ring-shaped object placed vertically in the center of a plaza-like open area.
The center of the ring, which should have been empty, was strangely filled with darkness, and at its center, a dazzling light was shining. What is that?
‘Ngh!’
Kohaku suddenly leapt backward with us still on her back.
At that moment, several golden feathers plunged into the ground where we had just been standing.
The moment they stabbed into the ground, the feathers became sticky, like a water balloon popping, and spread out, dissolving the roots of the ground with a sizzling sound, as if acid were eating away at them.
These feathers...!
Looking up, I saw a silhouette floating in mid-air, backlit by the glowing light at the center of the tumbleweed roots.
With a golden small body and red glowing eyes like camera lenses, four large golden wings were spread from the backpack-like structure on its back.
It was Goldo, the 'Golden' Crown, floating in the air, glaring at us.
‘You’ve come all the way here. But no matter who you are, you won’t interfere with me. [Parallel Existence Transition: Parallel Shift].’
The figure of Goldo floating in the air blurred, splitting to the sides and becoming two separate Golds.
Gold... No, it’s not Gold. It’s a clone... The 'Black' Crown ability, Crown Skill...!
The 'Black' Crown, Noir, can summon versions of itself from parallel worlds, calling selves from different timelines and fixing their existence.
This allows it to create versions of itself from a few seconds ago, or even a few seconds in the future.
Of course, there is a great ‘cost’ for this. The one who is the contractor master sacrifices their 'time spent' to make themselves younger.
At first glance, it might seem enviable, but if done wrong, the person could regress to a fetus, a terrifying 'cost.'
Several of the wings from Gold’s back turned gray and fell to the ground among the roots, crumbling like sand and disappearing.
The countless orichalcum slimes contained in those wings must have paid the ‘cost’ just now.
‘[Gluttonous Feather: Gratonic Feather]’
Golden feathers were shot out from the two Golds.
"Kohaku, dodge!"
‘Understood!’
Those feathers have devouring abilities. Anything they touch is absorbed and turned into their power. If I carelessly deflect them with a sword, the sword would be eaten.
Kohaku, with us on her back, dodged the incoming feathers. The feathers that pierced the ground cracked open and turned into a sticky, slime-like substance, dissolving and absorbing part of the roots.
‘[Transformation: Faerendling] ・ [Battle Axe: Axst]’
‘[Transformation: Faerendling] ・ [Longsword: Schwert]’
The two Golds each melted their right-hand armor like soft candy and transformed it into the shape of an axe and a sword.
I jumped off Kohaku and, aiming at the Gold with the axe, fired Brunhild’s bullets to draw its attention toward me.
As expected, the Gold with the axe flew toward me.
I caught the swung axe with Brunhild in Blade Mode.
‘Foolish. Devour it, [Gluttony]’
The axe I blocked wrapped around Brunhild like tentacles. Just like with Yakumo, it was probably trying to [Corrupt] my divine energy...
"We’re prepared for this. [Divine Release]!"
‘Guh!?’
Both my body and Brunhild were enveloped in platinum light.
The tentacles from Gold, bathed in the light, were repelled with a snap.
[Divine Release] has the property of repelling enemy divine energy with the divine energy I’m surrounded by.
The reason I can’t use divine energy is related to the Evil Gods, but if it’s the power of a Fallen God, like the [Corruption God], it’s not forbidden for me to use it.
That’s because the power of the Evil Gods originates from the world of the living, while the power of Fallen Gods originates from the world of the gods.
It’s perfectly fine to counter the power of Fallen Gods with divine power. The power of Fallen Gods should not exist in the world of the living.
...But where did the apostles of the Evil God go? I thought they would be here...
"You...! In the end, I should have eliminated you first...!"
Gold, who had landed on the ground, placed both hands on the roots beneath him. The roots twisted around his hands, forming giant arms that seemed far too large for his small body.
"[Tree Arm Creation]"
With a swing, a massive punch was thrown. Since I couldn’t block it with Brunhild, I jumped back to dodge, and Gogan! the tree roots in the area were torn up.
It was like a light explosion... The ground’s roots started to smoke, and when I glanced over, I saw Gold’s giant tree-made arms surrounded by flames.
These flames and the power... This is the [Red] Crown ability, Golem Skill!
"It’s almost time...! I won’t let you interfere...!"
"What are you...?"
In those madness-filled red eyes, I readied Brunhild once again.
◇ ◇ ◇
‘Devour it, [Gluttony]’
‘Not so fast! Second Seal Release!’
Silver deflected the sword that Gold had aimed at Kuon to [Corrupt] him.
The faintly glowing blade rejected Gold’s tentacles. It acted like a barrier, protecting Kuon, who was holding Silver.
This power wasn’t Silver’s ability, but a barrier that amplified and converted Kuon’s magic. Silver was serving as an amplifier, in a way.
Thanks to the ability of Kuon’s sacred weapon, [Divine Power Nullification], the power of [Corruption] couldn’t be activated and was repelled by Silver’s barrier.
‘Disappear!’
After being hit by the shockwave released by Kohaku, Gold was sent flying, but he adjusted his stance mid-air and floated in place. His red eyes were fixed on Kuon’s silver sword.
‘That sword... Could it be the ‘Infinite’?’
‘Oh, oh, I’m glad you remember someone like me, a failed creation. Should I say it’s been a while, Creator Chrom-sama?’
Silver, the [Infinite] Crown, directed these sarcastic words toward Gold.
Originally created as a weapon-type Golem by Chrom Ranchesse, Silver had been abandoned when the development was halted, and perhaps still held a grudge about that abandonment. Koon thought to herself about that.
‘Failed creation? You’re simply something whose development was stopped. I never thought of you as a failure. Though, I did think you wasted time and money.’
‘Kaa! That irritating attitude! This guy hasn’t changed a bit! Young master! Teach him a lesson!’
"Me? Well, alright then..."
Kuon tilted her head slightly, then swung Silver down toward Gold.
Gold blocked it with his transformed sword, which was part of his right arm.
The golden Golem and the young boy clashed swords with quick, sharp exchanges.
At that moment, Gold hadn’t noticed. Kuon’s right eye was flickering with a red-gold glow.
Then, unexpectedly, the moment arrived. A crack appeared in the sword that Gold had clashed with.
『！？』
In the middle of the continuous clash. Even if it cracks, the next strike cannot be stopped.
By the time the second strike clashed, Gold’s sword was shattered with a loud baki! It was the effect of Kuon’s [Crush] magic eye and Silver’s magical enhancement.
Continuing on, Gold distanced himself to dodge Kuon’s follow-up slash.
『How’s that! The combination of the young master’s sharp magic eye and my skills!』
“…Who’s got a sharp eye, huh?”
『Uwaaah!? I-I meant it as a figure of speech!』
Kuon, who was grinning happily, lightly slapped Silver with the sword in his other hand, the divine artifact.
If Silver were to be slashed with the divine artifact imbued with divine energy, even he would be split in two. The fear of that caused Silver to tremble.
By the way, "sharp" (こすっからい) means "crafty, cunning, or sly" in this context.
In every moment of their exchange, Kuon activated his magic eye. In this domain, magic cannot be used—more precisely, it immediately disperses.
So, Kuon made sure to activate his magic eye only in the brief instant when their swords would clash. Even so, the effect was weak, leading to multiple clashes.
Gold, who had been watching the shattered sword in his right arm, quickly noticed a new sword growing from its base.
『The magic eye... it's a trigger for the magic organs of the eye. The effect is weak. No problem.』
『Tch, that regeneration power... it’s from the [Purple], isn’t it... Taking the best parts of the crown, it’s shameless.』
The "Purple" crown, Fanatic Viola, grants the master an immortal body and high regenerative abilities. As a "cost," the master’s mind deteriorates and eventually becomes a shell of a person.
From the support unit Kelvim on Gold's back, several golden feathers fell, losing their color, and turned to sand. Thousands of slime-like cells probably paid the "cost."
『The magic-eye brat, don’t interfere with me. Disappear, [Photon Laser]』
Popopopopo, light orbs float around Gold. Eventually, they turned into beams of light, all firing toward Kuuon at once.
“[Divine Weapon Armor]”
As Kuon muttered, the gunblade-shaped sword in his hand instantly unraveled into platinum-colored threads, then reformed into a large shield.
The divine weapon, which was slightly larger than the shield used by his sister, Steph, perfectly blocked the lasers that were fired.
『Nu...!』
This divine weapon can change into nine different forms, and none of these forms are exclusive to any one of the children. It can be used with ease, regardless of the user's preferred weapon.
“I must say, you’ve been speaking quite arrogantly… But, past ghosts should remain ghosts, don’t you think? How about disappearing now? I can help you with that if you'd like?”
『You…!』
“Whew! No matter how many times I hear it, the young master’s taunts are merciless!” Silver chimed in, adding more fuel to the fire. “Did you hear that, old man Chrom!? He said, 'Get lost!'”
Kuon’s words were echoed by Silver, taunting even further.
Meanwhile, under the scene, Kohaku calmly analyzed to herself, This personality is definitely inherited from his father...
"Alright...! If that's the case, then I won’t hold back any longer...!"
The four wings of the cherubim on Gold's back spread even further, and several rings of light began to appear behind him. It looked as though the light was spinning, scattering sparks around the area with a crackling sound.
"Wow, something huge just appeared... But, even though I provoked him, is everything okay, Young Master...?"
"Yeah, I think we’ll be fine. After all, we have a secret weapon."
"Secret weapon...?"
At Silver's suspicious voice, Kuon simply smiled.
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