Chapter 761: Oliver

A black hole tore open the sky and a sea of fire poured down.

The sea of flames, mingled with yellow, orange, and red, shook the entire world and began merging with the fire sword held by The Burned One.

KWWWWWAAAAAAA——!!!

The fire sword, absorbing the sea of flames, rapidly expanded, growing to a size that seemed to reach the sky.

But that wasn’t all.

As if determined to end everything in one blow, The Burned One combined the fire ring above his head, a power gifted by God, with his sword to fully complete the unstable fire sword.

Crackle…

With the sound of burning wood, the roaring fire sword stabilized, taking on the form of a perfect blade.

A shape as if created by God to punish the earth.

Crack!

As soon as the sword was completed, colors faded from the surroundings, the air distorted, and cracks spread across the ground. The very space itself seemed to break down from the unbearable heat.

At that moment, everyone who recognized the existence of the sword knew one thing.

With just one swing, the entire world would burn.

It was a catastrophe that even words like fear, terror, and despair could hardly describe.

As The Burned One was about to wield that catastrophe.

Thud!

Oliver lightly tapped his quarterstaff against the ground.

KWWWWWAAAAA——!!!

At the same time, the massive hole in the sky collapsed, pierced by an even larger pillar of light.

“…!!”

Everyone looked up at the pillar of light that pierced through the sky.

The pillar of light radiated as if it contained all of the world’s brilliance, yet it wasn’t blinding, so they could gaze upon it directly.

It was enormous, large enough to shatter the hole in the sky, but strangely, no one felt intimidated by it.

They could only stare at the majestic sight.

As the pillar of light completely destroyed the hole in the sky, it crushed and extinguished the sea of fire pouring through.

The grand firestorm that had roared down with a sound no word or letter could describe vanished silently.

“Come—!”

A loud voice echoed. It was The Burned One’s voice.

He gripped the fire sword, which he had been prepared to bring down on the earth, and swung it toward the pillar of light crashing down upon him.

[Punishment(懲罰)]

[Judgment(審判)]

The voices of The Burned One and Oliver rang out simultaneously.

The massive fire sword and the pillar of light, far beyond the comprehension of this world, collided from above and below.

The world turned white, a fierce wind blew, and for a moment, all sound ceased. Amidst it all, the only thing audible was The Burned One’s scream.

“KWWAAAAAAA——!! This isn’t enough———!!!”

Muscles surged across the charred and cracked skin of The Burned One as he gripped his sword tighter.

Through the cracks in his blackened skin, heat and flames flickered like sweat, and as if in response, the fire sword blazed higher, striving to split the pillar of light. But…

“……!”

Unlike the wildly raging fire sword, the calm, motionless pillar of light silently descended, quenching the flames.

Crackle… Boom!!

The fire sword, which had aimed to burn the earth, shattered into countless pieces.

The fragmented bits of the fire sword scattered like shards of glass.

The pillar of light silently extinguished the scattered fragments, drawing closer to The Burned One’s head.

The Burned One grinned, fire spewing from his mouth, engulfing his entire body as he faced the descending pillar of light.

“Come on—!!”

Thud!

When the pillar of light touched the ground, it made a surprisingly soft sound, unfitting its massive size.

The pillar of light that touched the earth surged upward quietly, scattering a brilliant light, sweeping away all the surrounding darkness that had covered the sky.

It looked like an upside-down waterfall cleansing the world, and soon, as the pillar of light vanished, the sun illuminated the earth.

And there, in the center of the new sunlight, The Burned One knelt on both knees.

Sssssss…

The Burned One, who had been left completely incinerated like burnt wood, was ghastly pale, and Oliver walked toward him.

Crack…

His ash-white skin, scorched beyond recognition, flaked off like crust. Just moving a little could cause him to crumble completely, yet The Burned One lifted his head to look at Oliver.

The twin flames in his empty eye sockets told Oliver that he was still conscious.

Oliver looked down at him and asked a question.

“How is it? Have you acknowledged me?”

The Burned One’s cracked lips curled into a smile.

“…Before I give you an answer, may I ask two questions?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you truly intend to carry the sins of all humanity? The endless pride, envy, greed, lust, sloth, wrath, and hate?”

“Yes.”

“Someday, you will regret it.”

“Perhaps. But not today.”

“Heh… You know you’re carrying more than just that, right?”

The Burned One asked with a meaningful shake of his head.

Oliver looked at his left arm that had absorbed the Holy Blood and answered.

“Do you happen to like steak?”

“…?”

“Or perhaps pancakes? Beef Wellington? Fish and chips? Beer?”

“I like chocolate cake.”

“When I come to claim my prize, I’ll bring you one. A chocolate cake.”

“…”

“So I hope you’ll greet me with a smile.”

“Ha… Ha! Ha! Ha!”

At Oliver’s final response, The Burned One abandoned all pretension and authority, bursting into a hearty laugh.

Then he raised his burnt white arm toward Oliver and shouted.

Oliver raised his quarterstaff in response.

“To the Great One—”

He struck the ground again.

“—Give praise!!”

Thud!

As The Burned One recognized Oliver, the ash-covered skin that had enveloped his body crumbled, and The Burned One transformed into a cloud of ash and vanished from the human world.

As he completely disappeared, the darkness that had filled the surroundings also fully lifted, and brilliant light from the sky shone down on Oliver.

Everyone present unknowingly held their breath as they gazed upon the sight.

It was the moment when God descended to the earth.

In this overwhelming feeling, people were just about to kneel, when…

Oliver knelt on both knees.

He knelt before the Red One, who had been left lying in the midst of the white ashes, his body stained and missing one of his legs. Oliver spoke to him.

“Unbent Knee.”

“Die…! You bastard!!”

***

“Aaarrrgh…!! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!!!”

A man shouted from amidst the remnants left by The Burned One’s descent.

The man’s entire body was scorched and scarred, and he was missing one leg.

“Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill…”

Additionally, it seemed the man had not eaten properly, his body gaunt, with old wounds covering him.

Despite his ragged state, the man crawled over and grabbed Oliver, picking up a stone from the ground, driving its sharp edge into Oliver’s kneeling leg.

Smack! Crack!

Though it was a feeble motion, the stone not only made contact with Oliver’s body but also inflicted pain and wounds.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!

Though his weak arms barely had enough strength to swing the stone, it scraped the skin off Oliver.

“Uh…”

Faced with the unbelievable sight of a mere man striking a god, the crowd gasped and rushed to intervene.

But at that moment, Oliver raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks, and shook his head.

Seeing this, no one dared to move.

“Die! Die! Please, just DIE!!”

Regardless, Unbent Knee continued to beat Oliver with the stone, relentlessly smashing it into his chest.

“Die!”

Using Oliver as support, he pounded the stone as if hammering nails into his chest.

A red bruise formed where Oliver’s bare chest was exposed, soon breaking the skin and drawing blood.

Even in this state, Oliver knelt silently, making no effort to resist, and Unbent Knee madly widened the wound on Oliver’s chest, smashing it with the stone.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!

With each malevolent blow from the stone, a dull sound echoed as blood spattered the ground.

Oliver’s chest was now a bloody mess, but he quietly watched Unbent Knee with sad eyes.

“Aargh…!!”

As he continued to strike Oliver, Unbent Knee screamed in pain and grabbed his own hand, which had been clutching the stone.

In his frenzy, the loose stone had slipped, cutting his weakened hand.

As The Burned One’s chosen vessel, even that small wound was critical.

“Unbent Knee…”

Oliver, who had remained passive under the attack, slowly reached out to the suffering Unbent Knee.

Thud!

But Unbent Knee, consumed by hatred, slapped Oliver’s hand away and threw himself at Oliver, striking him in the face with his fist.

A loud thud echoed as Oliver collapsed to the ground.

Even after having absorbed the Holy Blood, breaking free of his shell, accepting his destiny, and being acknowledged by The Burned One, Oliver…

…allowed Unbent Knee to sit atop him, raising his fist high.

“No!”

Unbent Knee’s fist smashed into Oliver’s face.

Thud!

“I am not Unbent Knee!!”

Crunch!

“I’m not Red One either!”

Thud!

“I’m not my brother!!”

Thud!

“Not a warrior! Not even human!”

Wham!

“I am the Prince!!”

Wham!

“The Prince of Hell!!”

Slam!

“I am… the one who will lead you all to the apocalypse…!! The Prince of Hell!!!”

With bloodshot eyes, Unbent Knee screamed as he mercilessly slammed his fists into Oliver’s face.

He struck until his hands were a mangled mess.

While Oliver silently accepted the blows, Unbent Knee continued to pummel him.

Even as breath came in gasps, fingers broke, and torment wracked his body, Unbent Knee never stopped hitting Oliver.

“Aaaaaaaah!! Why?! Why did you break your promise?!”

Unbent Knee cried, his voice no longer a shout but a sob, his broken fingers squeezing Oliver’s neck.

Just like when he strangled his own younger brother in his pursuit of pure hatred after killing his entire people to become The Burned One’s vessel.

“Aaaaaahhhh…!!”

Unbent Knee strangled Oliver with both hands.

With all his strength poured into his fingers, Unbent Knee’s hands easily dug into Oliver’s exposed throat.

Hack…! Cough!

Oliver gasped for breath,

and Unbent Knee, pulling his face close to Oliver, asked again.

Why had he stopped him? How could Oliver stop him, the Prince of Hell, from avenging himself on the world that took everything from him? Why did he have to lose everything and suffer?!

Why?!

How?!

For what reason?!

Tell me.

Tell me.

Tell me.

“Tell me—!!!”

“I’m sorry.”

As Unbent Knee, crazed with hatred, strangled him, Oliver spoke through tears without resistance.

“I truly… truly… am sorry.”