Anime is an Outer God's Playground

10 Chapters left till the Finale of Vol.2 !

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The Spuit Lance, its energy completely depleted, fell from the sky and crashed into the frozen ground of Glacier with a hollow thud. The once formidable weapon, now powerless, lay motionless amid the icy wasteland it had created. Every corner of Glacier had transformed into a land of frozen statues; even Cocytus, the embodiment of ice itself, could not withstand the unimaginable cold that surpassed absolute sub-zero.

Albedo, Nigredo, and the Foresight members stood as silent, frozen figures. Hiro, too, was encased in ice, his body locked within a solid shell like all the others. Yet, deep within him, a spark of defiance remained.

After what felt like an eternity, a faint glow began to pulse around Hiro. His creator's benediction, the blessing that protected him from being trapped, stunned, or immobilized, surged to life. The enchantment, designed to activate after an hour of restraint, unleashed its power. Cracks formed in the ice surrounding Hiro, and in a sudden burst, the icy shell shattered.

Hiro stepped free, his breath visible in the frigid air. The power of his creator had once again granted him freedom, allowing him to stand alone amidst the frozen ruins of Glacier.

Hiro clutched his head, a sharp pain piercing through his mind like a thousand needles. The headache was sudden and overwhelming, making him stagger. His vision blurred, and a ringing noise echoed in his ears as if something deep within him was trying to surface.

He gritted his teeth, trying to focus, but the pain only intensified. "What... is this?" he muttered, dropping to one knee as the pressure in his skull built up. It felt like his entire body was rebelling against him, and he could sense a presence—something foreign, something that didn't belong.

For a moment, he wondered if it was a remnant of his creator's power or a lingering effect from the Spuit Lance's extreme cold. But as the pain grew, he realized it was something more—a memory, a voice, or perhaps even a hidden message trying to make itself known.

Hiro's headache worsened, the pain spreading from his head down to his chest. It felt as though his very soul was being torn apart. He clutched at his armor, trying to stabilize himself, but the pressure was relentless. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision darkening at the edges.

Suddenly, images flashed through his mind—glimpses of his past, fragments of battles, and faces he had long forgotten. The pain intensified, and he screamed, the sound echoing through the frozen wasteland of Glacier. His body convulsed, and he collapsed to the ground, the ice cracking beneath him.

Voices whispered in his ears, haunting and familiar. "You will not escape…" one hissed. "Fulfill your purpose…" another one urged.

Clutching his head, Hiro tried to make sense of the chaos inside him. The pain felt like it was splitting him in two, as if two forces were fighting for control. Was it Akira's influence still lingering, or was it something else—something tied to Nazarick itself?

Gritting his teeth, Hiro fought to stand, but the pressure was so intense that it pinned him down. His fingers dug into the ice, and he let out a roar of defiance. "I will… not… break!" he shouted, forcing himself back up despite the agony.

Hiro steadied himself, his breath visible in the freezing air as he slowly rose to his feet. His eyes locked onto the massive, ice-covered figure of Cocytus. The once-mighty guardian was now a frozen statue, his form preserved in a final act of desperation. His arm was extended, clawed hand reaching upward, as if trying to halt Hiro's destructive plan.

The ice encased every detail—Cocytus's fierce expression, the armor that once gleamed with power, and the weapons that had floated around him, now trapped in glacial crystal. It was a haunting sight, a testament to Cocytus's honor and determination even in his final moments.

Hiro approached the statue, his steps slow and deliberate. He reached out, feeling the cold aura that radiated from the guardian's frozen body. "You were a true warrior, Cocytus," he whispered, acknowledging the strength and resolve of his opponent. "But even the strongest fall."

The silence of Glacier enveloped him, a reminder of the cost of the battle. As he stood before the ice-formed warrior, Hiro felt a weight settle on his shoulders. Victory was his, but at a price that made him question how far he was willing to go.

Hiro gripped the Spuit Lance, feeling its chill seep into his hand. Even drained of its energy, it still carried a lingering cold. He walked through the frozen wasteland of Glacier, reaching Albedo first. Her eyes were shut, her form encased in ice, as if she were caught in a moment of calm amidst the storm.

With a swift motion, Hiro pointed the lance at her, channeling what remained of its energy. The ice around Albedo began to crack and splinter, pieces falling away until she was freed. Her body shivered, and her breath came out in short gasps. She looked up at Hiro, relief mixed with the lingering cold still gripping her body.

Next, Hiro moved to the Foresight members, using the lance to thaw them one by one. Termite was the first to awaken, followed by Imina and Roberdyck. Each of them looked disoriented, their faces pale from the cold. They hugged themselves, rubbing their arms for warmth, their breaths visible in the frigid air.

Imina shivered, teeth chattering. "It... feels like ice is still in my veins."

Termite nodded, wrapping his arms tightly around his body. "I never imagined cold like that... I thought we were done for."

Hiro looked at them all, his expression serious. "We survived. That's what matters. Now, we move forward."

The Foresight members struggled to stand, their bodies trembling from the overwhelming cold. Imina fell to her knees, clutching her arms tightly, her eyes wide with fear. "I can't… I can't take this anymore," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This place… it's not meant for people like us."

Roberdyck knelt beside her, his usually strong and steady presence now a shadow of its former self. "The trials are endless. Every step, it feels like we're being pushed beyond our limits. I don't know how much more we can endure."

Termite, the leader who had always put on a brave front, looked worn and defeated. "We've fought hard, but this... it's like a nightmare with no end." He clenched his fist, his eyes heavy with doubt. "Maybe… maybe we were never meant to survive this place."

Hiro glanced at them, his gaze unwavering. "I know it's hard. But if we don't push through, we'll end up like the others—frozen, gone." He held the Spuit Lance firmly, its power still emanating faintly. "You have to keep moving. I promise, we'll find a way out."

The members exchanged tired, fearful glances, but the weight of Hiro's words pulled them back from the brink. Slowly, they gathered themselves, rising to their feet despite their shivering bodies. For now, they would follow him, clinging to the hope he offered.

Albedo looked at Hiro, her eyes glimmering as she shivered. "Hiro… there is one way that would warm me up quickly." Her voice was soft, almost teasing, despite the cold that made her breath visible. "A kiss… from you. It would be… the most effective."

Hiro paused, the warmth of Albedo's breath just inches away. In that moment, Akira's words echoed in his mind: "Do not lay a finger on her, no matter what."

He pulled back, a serious expression crossing his face. "I can't," he said, stepping away despite the longing look in her eyes.

Albedo's expression shifted from anticipation to confusion. "Why?" she whispered, her voice filled with disappointment.

Hiro clenched his fists. "It's not about what I want. It's about following orders."

Albedo's eyes narrowed, and she bit her lip, frustration evident. "You always follow orders, don't you?"

He nodded, firm in his decision. "This isn't about loyalty; it's about purpose. We have a mission to complete."

Albedo's gaze softened, though her disappointment remained. "I understand… After all, I used to follow orders without question too... And now, I regret doing so..." Albedo recalled her past with Ainz, frowning.

Hiro didn't want the atmosphere to get colder than it already is. He threw the spuit lance away followed by an attack with his katana, "Hypercharge Focus!" Whcih threw a concentrated beam of power directly at the lance.

The Spuit Lance shattered under the force of Hiro's concentrated beam, fragments of ice scattering into the air like shards of glass. The shockwave from the destruction rippled through the frozen landscape of Glacier, and for a moment, the cold seemed to retreat.

Hiro landed, breathing heavily, his katana still humming with residual energy. "That should do it," he muttered, feeling the weight of the battle still lingering on his shoulders.

The icy mist began to clear, revealing Albedo and the Foresight members. They were shivering, but at least the immediate threat of freezing had passed. "Stay close," he instructed them. "We need to keep moving before anything else happens."

As the last remnants of the Spuit Lance dissolved into nothingness, a swirling portal emerged from the icy ground where it had shattered. The portal pulsed with a soft blue glow, casting eerie shadows on the frozen landscape around them. The air was thick with anticipation as Hiro and the Foresight members gathered at its edge, peering into the depths of the mysterious passageway.

"It leads to the next floor," Hiro said, his voice steady despite the chaos they had just endured. "The Underground Lake. We need to move before Cocytus or anyone else regains their strength."

Albedo stepped forward, brushing frost from her armor. "Are you certain we should go in there? We don't know what lies ahead." Her voice was a mixture of concern and determination.

Hiro nodded, glancing back at the frozen forms of Cocytus and the battleground that had nearly claimed them all. "We can't afford to stay here. If we linger, we risk becoming targets again. Whatever awaits us in the Underground Lake, we'll face it together."

With a deep breath, he stepped into the portal, followed closely by Albedo and the Foresight members. As they crossed the threshold, the world around them shimmered and shifted, the icy expanse of Glacier fading away, replaced by the darker, more foreboding atmosphere of the Underground Lake.

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