Chapter 225: Chapter 225 - Don’t Ragebait If You Can’t Handle The Rage
That’s a tall order, if I’ve ever seen one.
I can see Lovelace’s Shadow back there. I can see her suffering under the weight of the System.
I can see the pain and the conflict on Lovelace’s face.
What do I do? I can’t afford to fight a goddess with her three angels at her side right now. There’s no way we can win this fight. We’ll be annihilated.
But can we actually make that promise?
"You have my word that THIS TIME we’ll not destroy or weaken the System. We’ll just have a little chat and look around a bit, then go back home."
Huh? Lovelace?
"But don’t misunderstand. It is only for this time. We will free the world from the shackles of the System and recover the environment for all the people to live in. Dragonkin included."
"And do you really think that those savages will agree to live in peace with you? They won’t be friendly to humans, no matter the size of the world. You are more naïve than I expected, Cailleach."
Damn, the air feels like there are countless little knives floating around.
"If mankind can’t live in a world without destroying said world, then they are not worthy of staying alive in said world."
Lovelace???
What are you saying???
I mean, it’s not like I can argue with that logic. But still...
"I see. So that is your take. Are you so intent on dooming mankind?"
"From where I see it, it seems that you are the one who intends to doom the whole planet."
"As if the planet would be so fragile as to die from just that. You know that very well. All I’m doing is putting everyone in their rightful place. I achieved the perfect balance, the perfect order."
"If it was so perfect, then why is it collapsing so quickly?"
Lovelace, please stop ragebaiting her... if she attacks us right now, we’re doomed.
Juno’s posture changed suddenly as soon as Lovelace said those words. Her voice dropped, as well as this space’s temperature. She’s smiling with pure murderous intent. A perfect yandere smile.
"Cailleach, Cailleach, my dear Cailleach... You always loved to play dangerous games, didn’t you? Are you trying to make me attack your side first? Is that it?"
"I’m not trying anything. I’m just stating the truth."
Though her words are defiant, her voice betrays her, cracking and trembling.
Yeah, we’re cooked.
"The truth? How naïve of you, yet again... There’s no such thing as an objective truth in the world. Everything is just points of view. Well, except for the one universal truth... which is whatever the powerful say it is."
The goddess suddenly vanishes from my view... Huh?
Wait, she just moved?
Lovelace!
Fuck, fuck, fuck. She grabbed Lovelace by the neck. I need to do something... But my body... is not moving?
"See, Cailleach. This is power. This is truth. Isn’t this the most beautiful thing in the world?"
"Yes, my goddess."
Huh? Lovelace?
The goddess held Lovelace’s face close to hers for some moments, locking eye contact. Was that some mind-controlling power?
"Perfect. You never ceased to be a monster, after all. Even lower than the beastkin and the elves. Do you know what you are, Cailleach?"
"LOVELACE!!! Please resist!!!"
"I am the lowliest of the filthiest trash, my goddess. I am yours to control."
"LOVELACE, NOOOOOOO!!!"
"Very well, little spider monster. Now, be useful to your master. Kill that bug over there."
The goddess said that and disappeared again. Along with the angels.
This time they’re gone for good, but I have no time to breathe, as tentacles made of pure darkness are already attacking me from all angles.
"Lovelace, it’s me! Aurea! Please, listen to me!!!"
I put up barriers to block the tentacles, but defensive magic was never my best magic.
And I don’t dare use my offensive spells on her.
Let’s try diversion and evasion, then. I know that creating a clone won’t work on her, because she is able to read the mana directly and find the real body. Invisibility won’t work for the same reason.
As expected, my measly barriers are instantly crushed by their attacks. At least I’m quick enough on my feet to evade them. For now.
The silver lining is that space here in this dimension works the same way as in the material world. Which means that I can open portals... like this one... and jump right before the tentacle...
Ugh.
How did it hit me? I had just... oh. She sensed my portal and had another tentacle attack on the other side, timing it perfectly so it hit me the moment I crossed it.
This is a nasty wound, but I won’t go down that easily... Barrier! Barrier!
Her attacks keep breaking my barriers in one hit, but at least it means that they don’t hit me.
What do I do? We’re alone in this dimension, isolated from everyone... I mean, not entirely alone. The shadow.
I can’t even afford glancing at the shadow right now, as my focus is a hundred percent put on defending myself against the relentless attacks.
Okay, maybe I should hit Lovelace. It pains me enormously, but sometimes we need a shock to get out of a mind tunnel and notice our surroundings.
Though this time it will be a literal shock, not a metaphoric one.
My lightning bolt hits her squarely. She didn’t even try to evade it or block it. After reeling from the electric shock for a little bit, she came to the offensive again.
And her hits are even more powerful than before... ugh!
Another one... damn, my leg!
But at least I managed to get near her.
With only one leg in condition to support my weight, I launch myself towards her, grabbing her by the hair so I can steady my own body and look into her eyes.
"Lovelace! It’s me! Aurea! Your girlfriend!"
She stopped... good. But her eyes are... still swirling? There’s like some sort of mist inside them.
"Aurea... where are you...?"
She’s crying. Oh fuck, I can’t stand this.
I kiss her mouth and speak again.
"I’m here, in front of you."
At least she’s not attacking anymore, which means I can work slowl...?
"In front of me... YOU MONSTER! WHAT DID YOU DO TO AUREA???"
What? What... am I flying?
No, I was just thrown away... repelled. What strong force...
"I won’t forgive you!!! How could you do something like that to her???"
She’s following suit right after me. This time, she’s not attacking with the tentacles. Instead, she’s forming a huge ball of dark matter on her hands.
"I’m Aurea, Lovelace! I’m in front of you!!!"
"Don’t try to confuse me!!! I saw you killing her!!!"
Oh, fuck! Is that an illusion? That’s smarter than simple charm... she doesn’t know she’s attacking me. Instead, she thinks that I’m some random monster who killed... well, me.
It seems to actually combine charm and illusion to create a stronger effect.
How strongly did she launch me? It’s been some time and I haven’t hit the floor yet... And with my body like this, I don’t think I’m able to survive it, plus the spells that are growing in power in her hands.
I knew it... we stood no chance against that goddess.
But I can’t die right now... Above anything else, imagine the pain she will suffer when she realizes that she actually killed me.
No, I can’t afford that. I can’t let that happen.
Mother...
"Saint Lily... O goddess of compassion. In this moment of peril, I seek Your grace. Shield me from harm, and guide Lovelace back to their true self. Let Your Light break the chains of enchantment in this shadowed time."
Just as I finish the prayer, light comes from my body, engulfing everything around me.
I can’t see a thing. It’s bright even if I close my eyes... Agh!!!
This was the floor. I’m still alive, somehow...
And the brightness recedes to blackness.
:::
"AAAAH!!!"
"Aurea, you woke up!"
Where am I... Lovelace? My room...
"I just had the worse nightmare, Lovvy..."
"I don’t think it was a nightmare, Aurea. I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry."
Huh? Why’s she crying?
"No, no... please, don’t cry..."
"She’s been like that since she brought you back yesterday."
"Yaci? Oh, hi. What do you... wait. Does that mean...?"
"Yes, Aurea. I attacked you. I almost killed you. I’m sorry. I was too weak against Julia’s charm. I shouldn’t..."
"Lovvy..."
"?"
I shake my head and reach a hand to her face. I’m too weak to sit up properly, but at least this I’m able to do.
"It’s okay. It was a charm mixed with illusion. You thought that you were fighting a monster who killed me, didn’t you?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"I noticed it during the fight yesterday. The things you were saying and the way you were acting gave it away. I’m glad that I remembered to pray to Mother before you gave the final blow."
Yaci bursts in on our talk as soon as I mention the prayer.
"Oh, right. She came here yesterday. She said that she wouldn’t have been able to reach that dimension otherwise, but she could because she performed a miracle in response to the prayer of a faithful of high level."
"Yes, she had told me it before. The prayers and sacred places of her followers determine where she can reach. And I’m considered a divine being in her religion, so my prayer has some weight. Remembering that was what saved me."