Enrite himself couldn't comprehend what it meant to create salvation. Of course, simply considering it, it wasn't likely to be a harmful act.
‘It’s separate from annihilating evil. Their roles must be divided.’
There must be a reason why the two sentences were differentiated: creating salvation and annihilating evil. While both are somewhat related, they don’t carry the same meaning.
‘One alone can't end it?’
Even if the world were saved, if enemies remained, they would have to fight again. Conversely, if the monsters were eradicated but the land became desolate, everyone would perish. Zion had expressed a similar view, and he had recently witnessed this phenomenon himself.
‘…He erased the mana.’
Enrite had confirmed this power when they faced the Magic Sword together with Zion. It only nullified the Slime Dragon's attacks and had no other effects. As it was said to annihilate evil, it likely removed only elements connected to it.
‘It's unclear if this power is necessary.’
Magic Sword users had long been overcoming immortality. They resonated with other Magic Swords, awakened their own, or used artificial ones. The Slime Dragon only had high regenerative and mana recovery abilities; if they could approach it, they could have destroyed it eventually. Therefore, there was no need to use the power to annihilate evil beyond blocking attacks.
‘Unless the Demon God becomes stronger than the Slime Dragon...’
But that was practically impossible. The Demon God had no means to regain its power. With no way to harness power from the Three Demon Kings or use an artificial Magic Sword, what could it do?
‘Should I destroy it now?’
Enrite glanced at Lesia, thinking of that Magic Sword. The Dragon's Magic Sword, Duran Calgonis. It was a weapon used by allies and an accidental remnant of an artificial Magic Sword. Destroying Duran Calgonis would eliminate even the slightest possibility of danger.
‘But that power would be wasted.’
Along with Exceed Rain and Brecht, it was a Magic Sword capable of destroying immortality without resonance. Considering future contingencies, they needed Duran Calgonis. However, it also harbored the simultaneous risk of the Demon God, so they couldn't leave it unchecked.
‘Keeping it is risky, and discarding it wastes potential...’
"You can move as you wish now."
Hanette released Brecht and watched its path. Brecht flapped its wings, scattering flames, and then flew towards someone.
“……?”
Brecht circled Zion and naturally perched on his shoulder. It then began to walk around, bobbing its head.
“Sister, why is it doing this?”
“How should I know? It's just doing what it wants.”
Zion looked at Brecht suspiciously. Brecht, ignoring his gaze, pecked various places. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt; rather, a warm sensation seemed to seep into his skin.
“This shouldn’t be possible...”
Lesia observed Brecht intently, muttering to herself. Perhaps if Brecht had separated its consciousness like herself or Enrite, she might have understood. But Brecht had transformed completely, moving freely. It seemed to have a consciousness, but it could also be Hanette’s will guiding it.
“What has happened must be accepted.”
Enrite locked eyes with Brecht and pondered deeply. Beyond the golden flames, it felt like a clear consciousness was present. As if it recognized that he was once a Magic Sword.
“Would you come to me?”
Enrite cautiously extended his hand towards Brecht. Brecht hesitated for a moment, then spread its wings and took off.
“…It comes when called.”
Lesia chuckled softly, observing Brecht. Brecht soon perched on Enrite’s palm, looking up at him.
“Does it understand me?”
“It understands, but it doesn’t go to just anyone.”
Hanette had completed her bond with Brecht, meeting it in its bird form. While Brecht listened to her, it wasn’t necessarily friendly to others. Its easy approach to Zion and Enrite indicated an indirect connection to her will.
“…….”
Enrite remained silent, bringing his fingers gently to Brecht. Brecht didn’t shy away, accepting his touch naturally.
‘Is this what people call cute?’
Enrite found himself drawn into a strange sensation as he stroked Brecht. Although made of flames, it didn’t radiate heat. Instead, it spread warmth, providing comfort.
‘Can I really feel this way?’
He was becoming not only physically but also emotionally human. He hadn’t realized it, but he was already submerged in this flow. Why did his past as a Magic Sword feel so foreign now?
‘How is Lesia...’
“Will it come to me too?”
Lesia extended her hand curiously. Brecht had approached Zion and Enrite, so why wouldn’t it come to her?
“…….”
Brecht glanced at Lesia before abruptly turning its head. Lesia, confused, could only stare at it blankly.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Probably not...”
“Pfft...”
Enrite let out a small laugh, covering his mouth. Lesia propped her chin up, looking dissatisfied.
“Well, it’s amusing. I don’t understand why this happens to me.”
“Ahem... I wasn’t mocking you.”
“I know. It’s just funny.”
Lesia smiled faintly, gazing at Enrite. His eyes and mouth curved slightly.
‘Though it’s a bit unfair... I’m glad he laughed.’
Enrite had always maintained a cold, calm demeanor, never showing a moment of vulnerability. When Hanette died, he had expressed pure emotion, and now he was laughing comfortably. This, too, was part of emotional exchange.
‘Now I’m being ignored by a Magic Sword...’
Beyond her lonely left hand, warmth flowed in. Lesia slowly turned her head, meeting Brecht’s gaze.
“What? Didn’t you not want to come?”
“…….”
Brecht answered by perching on her wrist. Lesia pondered briefly, then understood.
“Were you playing a prank on me?”
Brecht hesitated, then nodded slightly. Lesia chuckled, her gaze sharpening.
“Did I do something to you?”
“…….”
“Oh, you just wanted to tease me?”
“…….”
“You’re a strange one.”
Lesia ran her fingers over Brecht, recalling the sensation. Perhaps Brecht disliked her because of the artificial Magic Sword. But Brecht didn’t reject her touch, calmly wandering around her arm.
‘How much more will it defy the norm?’
Hanette had surpassed natural laws by resurrecting through the Magic Sword's awakening. But even Brecht had defied those laws, now engaging in playful antics.
‘This is different from what I expected...’
Hanette’s presence was overwhelmingly unique. Though he had anticipated much, she had exceeded even those expectations. Only Zion, Enrite, and perhaps Brandish could be seen as somewhat comparable to Hanette.
‘I had nothing to worry about.’
The fact that the Demon God still lived seemed insignificant. Though the Demon God had surpassed natural laws, they had surpassed them even further. To defeat them, the Demon God would have to abandon everything and shatter the very fabric of reality.
‘I don’t think we’ll lose.’
It was an uncertain and final method. But the conditions were met, and the Demon God remained a variable. Unable to predict everything, they could only wait for that time to come.
‘Since we don’t know when it will happen... we should enjoy this moment, right?’
Karonbelaz Continent, deep inside a cave.
The Demon God, finally recovering from his wounds, stood up. Though nothing remained for him, it wasn’t over yet. With the Slime Dragon's demise, he could proceed with his plan.
“Even you couldn’t defeat the humans. Kahago...”
The Slime Dragon had died painfully, and the Magic Sword of Eternal Life, Xile Berja, was destroyed. The humans likely targeted the artificial Magic Sword to weaken him.
“A wise choice, but it changes nothing!”
That was part of the plan. Whether the Slime Dragon won or lost didn’t matter. Inflicting damage on the humans fulfilled its purpose.
“Return to me, Xile Berja.”
The Demon God concentrated the dark energy, spreading it out. A thin line appeared, gradually widening. Through the gap, countless fragments and dust poured out, scattered across the ground.
‘Couldn't bring much, huh.’
It had to be that way. During the extraction of the Slime Dragon's power, it shattered. Moreover, some fragments of Xile Berja disappeared, causing the absorbed power to be lost.
‘But... power alone is enough.’
The Demon God crushed the fragments of Xile Berja, extracting the power within. White, gray, and green lights converged, slowly rotating. This was the essence of the Slime Dragon and the origin of the Four Calamities.
“…….”
The Demon God stared at the unmerged lights, contemplating. Originally, he planned to create another demon king using this power. But he couldn't absorb enough, and weakened, he had to abandon that plan.
‘If I accept this power, I will perish.’
Merging mana wasn’t difficult. The Dragon's Magic Sword, Duran Calgonis, was made on such principles, differing only in materials from the Resting Magic Sword, La Bler. But when origins met, the central medium would disappear without a trace.
“Even so! I must reach annihilation!”
The Demon God discarded his hesitation, forcing the lights into his body. The three lights mingled with his dark hue, forming a new color. His body began to crack, enveloped by this new hue.
“When I die... the worst monster... will be born...”