Poseidon, who had been observing, issued his final warning.
“Show us Eclexis. Now.”
“Ugh…!”
Aster managed to lift his head and meet Poseidon’s gaze.
He needed to offer an explanation. Or somehow prove himself.
‘This blasted Eclexis,’
What in the world was it?
Shhhk!
And then, in the next instant,
Aster realized his hand gripping the spear had lunged forward.
Swish—!
A thin line of blood appeared on Poseidon’s cheek.
“…!”
And then,
Clack.
The spear returned to Aster’s hand.
“…You…”
Fury ignited in Poseidon’s eyes.
“Who are you?”
Clang—!!
As if awaiting those words, the surrounding Gods drew their weapons in unison.
“Oh no, Aster…”
Ludovic, carrying him, glanced around anxiously.
“Say something, anything. We need to buy some time.”
Ludovic had no idea if stalling would actually solve anything. There was no way Frondier was aware of their current predicament.
But maybe, just maybe, a brilliant and extraordinary plan would come to mind. And for that, they needed time.
“…I am…”
Aster finally spoke.
A strange smile played on his lips.
A blend of exhilaration, resignation, complete surrender, and something more.
“Aster Evans.”
“!!”
His words caused everyone’s eyes to widen.
Ludovic buried his face in his hands.
“You… you crazy bastard! What about me, carrying you on my back?!”
“Therefore, oh great and merciful Gods…”
Ignoring Ludovic’s outburst, Aster continued.
He genuinely wasn’t considering Ludovic at all.
“Forsake me.”
Kaboom—!
His words served as a trigger.
The Eclexis of all the Gods simultaneously converged upon Aster.
Witnessing this, Aster thought,
‘Ah.’
So that’s what this Ekle-thingy is.
What a bloody awful name…
Boooom!!
Aster took the full brunt of the Eclexis. His body, still atop Ludovic’s back, stood motionless, as if frozen.
“Aster, Aster!”
Ludovic cried out in alarm.
Eclexis precisely targeted its recipient. While Ludovic remained unharmed, he knew something had happened to Aster.
Aster’s vacant expression, as if he’d lost his mind.
──Aster had never understood.
Frondier’s actions. His thoughts.
In this world, where Gods undeniably existed and displayed their power, Frondier didn’t seem to truly believe in them.
He rejected and opposed all Gods, seemingly aiming to surpass them. His actions, in Aster’s eyes, appeared both dazzlingly brilliant and terrifyingly dark.
‘It’s honestly terrifying to me.’
The very concept of Gods.
To Aster, they represented caution and fear.
Ever since the time of his God, Baldur, he had always submitted to the divine.
Aster had pleaded with Baldur.
Forsake me.
He himself could never abandon the Gods. Such a notion was unthinkable, beyond even his wildest imagination.
Forsake me.
Leave me behind.
I am grateful for your love and will never forget your grace.
But for me to move forward, forsake me.
‘…Frondier, I wanted to follow you.’
Aster had no idea how strong Frondier truly was. Frondier’s power always remained within the realm of his imagination.
Aster had striven to surpass that imagination, yet Frondier remained above him.
He never envied it.
After all, that imagination was solely his own.
However, there was one thing he couldn’t replicate no matter how hard he tried.
‘Oh Gods, great Gods, masters of this vast world, whose profound depths I dare not fathom…’
Aster Evans.
He could never look down on the Gods.
For someone who had always humbled himself before everything in existence, the idea of belittling the Gods was preposterous.
“…Whew.”
Aster released a soft sigh.
That simple action caused the surrounding Gods’ eyes to widen.
‘…He took the full brunt of the Eclexis from all these Gods…’
Aside from Frondier, it was difficult to intentionally kill someone with Eclexis.
However, this level of power was more than enough to drive someone insane.
And yet.
“I apologize.”
Aster raised the spear and shield.
The struggle against their influence had vanished.
But his eyes, consumed by the desires of the spear and shield,
“It seems this is beyond even me.”
Were clear.
With a serene expression, Aster softly spoke.
‘Frondier, I wanted to catch up to you.’
Aster would continue to chase after that back, forever in pursuit. A power so unprecedented, he didn’t even know its true nature. The colossal footprints left by Frondier.
But there was one thing, one thing he could never achieve.
“I am Aster Evans.”
Poseidon witnessed it all.
There was no way he had blocked the Eclexis without any countermeasure.
Indeed.
He hadn’t blocked it.
Aster had simply…
“It is an honor to meet you all, Gods.”
Poseidon saw it.
The countless storms of Eclexis, still raging within Aster.
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