A Tournament for the Ages

[Eira’s POV]

With a final explosion, the barrier that I’ve been guarding for over 50.000 years started falling apart, piece by piece, formation after formation, until nothing remained. Now, with the last obstacle gone, countless invaders poured inside my universe.

In reality, no matter how many there are, this kind of insects are not worth being mentioned as any Eternian could easily slaughter them in a matter of seconds. The real problem is the monster that stands behind them, an existence that can make even my heart falter a bit.

“It’s over… There is no hope remaining!” [Eira]

My voice is dejected, my head lowered and, if you were to look carefully you could notice a little sparkling tear slowly making its way down my cheek. Before me, my only S+ level Eternian, Lubba of the Ancient Tribes, stands with a bored expression, like the downpour of enemies in the distance has nothing to do with her.

“Soon the universe that I’ve invested so much effort to create shall be gone.” [Eira]

“Yeah…” [Lubba]

Her voice is coarse and heartless.

“Countless innocent lives slaughtered… Rivers of blood will flow…” [Eira]

“M-hm…” [Lubba]

At this point, I’m pretty sure that nothing can phase that monster of a woman… The head of the Ancient Tribes awakened as one of the only 17 S+ level Eternians in the universe over six billion years ago and she has been by my side ever since I was a young, innocent Creation Goddess.

“I… I just can’t stand it anymore… All of this… Because of me… Because of my impulsive nature…” [Eira]

“Yap…”[Lubba]

As her muscles start bulging, her giant frame slightly trembles. In the Ancient Tribes where survival was the only important thing, beautiful and frail women died or where enslaved first. Lubba, with her power alone, rose above all, reaching a form that is closer to that of a primordial beast than a human.

“B-but I can’t run away… Not now… I’ll stay with my creation until the end… Whatever that end might be!” [Eira]

“Hmm…”[Lubba]

The more I talk, the angrier she becomes… Why… just why is she so angry? Can’t she have a little bit of sympathy for the universe that she has been living in for the past two billion years?

“Why… Are you like this? How can you be so heartless? You are also a woman and moreover a mother at that… I’m going to lose my creation… My child…” [Eira]

“ENOUGH!” [Lubba]

”W-what ?!” [Eira]

It looks like she is truly angry now… I wonder why…

“Stop pretending… I might be stupid but I’ve been with you for far too long and I know how you truly are!” [Lubba]

“…” [Eira]

She is no fun… In the past, this kind of play would have fooled her but now it looks like her IQ rose a bit above that of a mere beast.

“And here I thought that my acting was perfect…” [Eira]

“Heh... If I can resolve the hatred I've garnered in the past couple of billions of years with the death of this half-broken pathetic universe then I’m more than happy to give it up.” [Eira]

“…” [Lubba]

“As long as you are by my side, I can always rebuild my universe while also holding my position in the Top 10.” [Eira]

“…” [Lubba]

“As for that idiot, Andel… He might think himself to be strong but he is barely an A+ level Eternian. Not even S level… How pathetic… And I had so high hopes for him…” [Eira]

“…” [Lubba]

“Well, I guess it’s time for you to leave. If you stay here, that monster is most likely going to hunt and kill you first and foremost. After you are safe at the location of the new universe, I can properly enjoy the show!”

“Hey…” [Lubba]

“Hm?” [Eira]

“I swore my loyalty to you so I can’t go against your words but… You are one fucked-up bitch!” [Lubba]

“Yeah… I know!” [Eira]

Believe me I am well aware of that Lubba, but, to be honest, that is who I am. I can’t and I won’t change now or ever. If anything, I’ll change everyone else before betraying my true nature.

………………….

It looks like he finally made his move. As a terrifying amount of energy gathers beyond the portal, the invading forces arrange in formations waiting for orders.

Even now, that idiot is still training in a corner of my universe not even realizing that the final war has already begun. At the same time, among destroyed laws and fractured dimensions, the monster known as Lludd steps inside my universe.

An Eternian that has achieved the same realm as a Creation God… I don’t know how something like that is even possible but his existence has changed the understanding of the universe of all Astral beings out there. Creation Gods are not absolute. Mortals can achieve the same realm as us… That is… Ridiculous.

In normal circumstances, Creation Gods are forbidden from fighting. In these conditions that guy can be said to be the strongest in the universe. But this does not mean that there is no way for me to neutralize him… As long as I can anger him to the point where he directly attacks me, even if I retaliate, no one can blame me. He might be an Eternian but his power could theoretically threaten even someone of my level.

‘Theoretically’ being the main word here.

I need to play it perfectly… A universal war can last for tens of thousands of years. What needs to happen is for that young Eternian to get attached to the lives of the mortals in my realm. I need to make him feel pity for them. Then, when he is about to give up on this pointless war, I could just invoke my authority as a Creation God and slaughter my universe under the pretense that they are not worthy of being kept alive as they have disappointed me. I need to make him rage. Bring his hate towards me to the point where, in a moment of impulsivity, he attacks me.

Then I can execute him.

If I want to recover my rank 9 position and to prevent any future problems, I not only need to resolve the hate that all the Gods I’ve angered during the eons have towards me by losing my universe in an as dramatic way as possible but I also need to kill the only monster than can threaten my future.

To succeed I need to access my inner bitchiness; I need to be the perfect monster that I’m already being portrayed to be in the hearts of countless beings and I need to execute my plan perfectly.

No mistakes are allowed. No errors can occur. As long as I succeed with this matter I’ll forever remain in history as the Goddess that slaughtered the strongest Eternian. And the best part is that, if my plan succeeds, not even the Supreme One can say anything as I’ve done everything as per her rules!

“Inhabitants under Silver Wolf Goddess Eira’s rule, listen to my words!” [Lludd]

It has begun… As his voice reverberates between heavens and earth, I can sense countless gazes turning towards this place. Even mortals that have no idea what is happening turn in this direction with confused looks on their faces.

‘Oh, pitiful creatures, children of mine, I can’t wait to see your faces distort in fear and agony as you die in my name!’ [Eira]

“I’m Lludd, the supreme Eternian under the command of the great Creation God Kane of Blue Steel!” [Lludd]

‘Yes, do it, announce your great name and let those insect tremble before you.‘ [Eira]

“Today marks the start of an event that was destined to occur for eons. Today I shall take revenge on that Goddess of yours for all her past sins in the name of those that could not personally rise against her tyrannical ways!” [Lludd]

‘Now come, Lludd of Blue Steel, come and slaughter to your heart’s content!’ [Eira]

“But don’t worry, I’m not a monster. I’m well aware that you are all innocent and as such I shall not kill anyone in this campaign!” [Lludd]

“Say what?!?” [Eira]

“All shall be decided in a grand tournament!” [Lludd]

“What…” [Eira]

“Eleven teams of at most three people each, your strongest representatives against our strongest!” [Lludd]

“The…” [Eira]

“As per Supreme Goddesses Eea’s will, the winner shall take control over the loser’s universe!” [Lludd]

“Fuck?!?” [Eira]

“A peaceful solution to an ancient problem. Silver Wolf Goddess Eira, I’m sure you don’t have anything against my proposed solution, do you now?” [Lludd]

“...” [Eira]

I’m trapped now… If I accept all my plans will go to waste but if I refuse the other eight Gods amongst the top ten will not stay silent. They might be just as heartless and cruel as I am but they can’t show it directly in the same way that I can’t just randomly slaughter universes to my heart’s content as Eea might just get involved in the issue.

The Supreme Goddess has been silent for a long time now but it is well known that she doesn’t accept pointless slaughter and destruction. I might get scot-free with destroying a couple of universes every hundred million years or so but if I were to refuse such a reasonable offer made by the currently Rank 1 Strongest God nonetheless she would most likely get involved then.

That I can’t allow!

God damn it Lludd of Blue steel… Why the hell do you have to be such a reasonable Eternian? Being heartless is so much easier… This time you have truly got me. This time I won’t be able to kill you…

But don’t worry, oh Lludd of Blue steel. One day I’ll rip that good-natured heart of yours directly from your chest. One day I’ll show you what happens to those that angers me, no matter who they are!

“I accept the terms! The Tournament shall begin in three months from now!” [Eira]