I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

121 – 9# Goddess of the End (5)

Gaia had exposed a weakness, but that didn’t mean her power had weakened. The backlash that had gone elsewhere was now focused on her.

But even that was an enormous achievement. Gaia couldn’t unleash her infinite power like before due to the backlash. In other words, Isaac’s chances of winning had increased significantly.

However, Isaac had also consumed a massive amount of energy while fighting against Gaia’s full power. The situation wasn’t entirely in his favor. The outcome was unpredictable, and the world was at stake.

Isaac took on the burden of the uncertain outcome. With Gaia still unaccustomed to the backlash, he had to inflict a critical blow on her.

“If I drag this out, I’ll lose.”

Isaac, who had already consumed a tremendous amount of energy, couldn’t afford to prolong the battle. If it turned into a war of endurance, he would inevitably lose. And then, a terrible fate would await him.

Isaac quickly grasped this. His movements showed no hesitation. Gaia also had her thoughts, and she immediately created a massive shield.

Although she had received the backlash, she was still confident in her advantage. If she continued to defend and wear down her opponent, she would eventually emerge victorious.

“What’s going on?!”

Those words weren’t wrong. However, there was something she hadn’t considered – the backlash. As the goddess of the end, she was a being rejected by the world.

Naturally, the power she wielded was one that utilized the world. Therefore, even a slight use would result in an enormous backlash. She eventually bled.

Isaac realized that Gaia couldn’t use her power freely and became even more confident in his thoughts. Before she adapted to the backlash, he would end it somehow.

However, Gaia was also the goddess of the end. She wasn’t one to be easily defeated. Gaia restrained her power to the maximum and created a relatively small shield.

“This should be enough to restrain it somewhat.”

However, compared to when she had the artifact, the difference was like the gap between a lake and an ocean. But even this much was enough to defeat the exhausted opponent.

“Die for a better world!!”

Now, Gaia, who had lost all her composure, attacked using the rocky fragments. Due to the backlash, blood continued to flow from her eyes, nose, and mouth.

However, who would die so easily? Especially when the fate of the world was at stake, it was unbearable to die. Isaac swatted away the fragments.

Indeed, his power had weakened significantly compared to when he threw the massive rock earlier. But it was still not something to be underestimated. After all, his opponent was the goddess of the end.

[The world that took everything from me, I curse the gods.]

The Goddess of Destruction was the one who marked the end of the world. Her power was in opposition to the gods, so naturally, Isaac, who had received divine power, also received a critical hit from the Goddess of Destruction’s attack.

It was a battle to see who would fall first.

Naturally, Gaia had the upper hand. When Gaia’s sacred artifact was intact, she had almost one-sidedly oppressed Isaac. The aftermath of that was still present.

However, for some reason, Isaac was bleeding all over his body yet still gritting his teeth and moving forward. Gaia was greatly shocked by his appearance, which refused to fall.

Why was that? If he were an ordinary human, no, even if he were a hero, he would have died from this level of destruction. The power of the gods was more like a penalty than a blessing!

“How can you not fall?!”

“Because I have a reason not to fall.”

Gaia’s question was met with a calm response from Isaac. Yes, I cannot fall here. There are still many things I need to do, and I have many desires left unfulfilled.

But above all, Isaac had a family to protect. Someone might say that family is a burden. That’s not wrong, as people have different circumstances.

However, for Isaac, family was not a burden but a precious thing. It was a place to return to, and it gave him strength. It allowed him to not fall and keep moving forward.

“Don’t run away, Gaia.”

“Who’s running away?”

Gaia regained her composure at Isaac’s rebuke. Yes, he was not an opponent to be underestimated. That meant that if she could take care of him, no one could stop her.

She would use all her strength to defeat him. Coincidentally, both of their thoughts aligned. Gaia used her maximum power, which made her internal injuries even worse.

She could fire a massive stone projectile at Isaac like before. Isaac used the last of his strength, the final power of Thor, to destroy the projectile.

“You destroyed even the fragments?! Did you have the strength to do that?!”

“This is nothing compared to being called a hero!”

“Amazing!!”

Gaia shouted, her voice a mix of ridicule and admiration, as she raised her hands. This time, a massive sword blade burst out of the ground, precisely piercing Isaac’s abdomen.

Isaac, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, flew into the air. Meanwhile, Gaia placed her hand on the ground. This attack would surely take him down.

Perhaps it was because her internal injuries had worsened. Gaia’s face and body were bleeding profusely as she used her power again. Countless weapons burst out of the ground, aiming for Isaac.

Fists, swords, spears, and axes – every human weapon was present. On the other hand, Isaac had only one sword to counter them. Nevertheless, he drew his sword.

He wouldn’t make any excuses. He would definitely win. It wasn’t because someone forced him to, but because he believed in himself. He swung his sword countless times, its ultimate power reaching the heavens.

一揮掃蕩 血染山河

The infinite and the one clashed.

* * *

“I wonder how the battle is going now?”

Zieg, sprawled out on the ground, was gazing up at the sky with a vacant expression. He had somehow managed to defeat Ziegfried, but immediately after, he had exhausted all his energy and collapsed. He was barely holding on to his consciousness.

If he had known this would happen, he would have trained more. However, it was too late for regrets now.

Zieg was trying to move his body, but he could only manage to lift his upper body. That was his limit.

“Don’t move. You might really die if you do.”

“What’s it to you? Why are you interfering with my business?”

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

Nearby, Ziegfried’s figure came into view, his arms cut off and lying still. Zieg let out a deep sigh and lay back down.

It was good that he had managed to defeat Ziegfried, but he had exhausted all his energy before finishing the job. As a result, he couldn’t complete it.

This uncomfortable situation had arisen. Naturally, Zieg couldn’t endure this situation and was trying to escape, but he couldn’t.

“You don’t need to try so hard. The result is already clear.”

“If Gaia loses, you’ll disappear too?”

“Do you know?”

“Of course, I have no choice but to know.”

It’s instinct, and I can sense it. Gaia, who has taken on the sacred artifact, is a person who can see through everything. That means the possibility of our lives being connected is extremely high.

“Tell me one honest answer. Did you love us like daughters?”

“……I only followed his orders. But I think I had feelings.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

Zigfried replied in a rare, bitter tone. Zig let out a sigh. There was no sadness, anger, or resentment. He just watched calmly.

“If that’s the case, then pity you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Master will surely win.”

Even so, the fact that the father figure was disappearing wasn’t a pleasant thing. Even if he was an abandoning father. The bond between parent and child is indeed something mysterious.

However, I don’t feel any emotions beyond that. And even that is just pity for the father who chose the wrong path. There’s no unnecessary affection. Zig said:

“Pity your life. Sincerely.”

“…….”

“It seems like our farewell has begun.”

Zigfried’s figure began to slowly disappear from the legs up. Was Gaia’s power weakening, or had Master won against Gaia? It was one of the two.

“What’s your last message?”

“Get stronger. Be able to do what you want.”

“That’s a very you-like will.”

I didn’t know if I heard his last words or not.

But I knew that Zigfried had a faint smile on his face.