PHASE 97 - ALL HAIL THE GOD OF KINGS

“YOU CAN NEVER STOP ME!!! I AM THE REAL PROPHET KING!!!”

Aeternos’s demonic voice echoed on the icy fields.

Aeternos spread both of his hands to unleash an invisible barrier that weakened the momentum of the sword! The glowing crystalized blade, while in midair, slowed down until it finally stopped half a meter away from the enemy! That’s so close!

“W-What!?”

Aeternos’ blurred face gave a crimson light coming from his eyes. He caught the blade of the sword, ignoring how sharp it is. It rendered his hands full of his own blood, but he seems to be happy holding it.

“I HAVE FINALLY OBTAINED THE !!!…”

The demon said. Suddenly, the sword was engulfed in darkness. I can feel a tremendous amount of malicious energy from that sword!

“TAKE THIS!!!” Aeternos threw the sword to my position!

“Kuh!”

I used my glowing left arm to create an invisible force, trying hard to push the sword away from me. The snowy ground around me was vaporized, and there was a powerful spacequake that destroyed the nearby mountain range behind me. The shockwave was so powerful it blew off all other Gate Guardians around!

Slowly, I heard my veins, my tendons, and my nerves ripping apart. Blood sprayed from my golden hand to my face. This is the pain worse than hell, but I have to… I have to endure it! This is just a shockwave! I’ll be erased from existence if I got hit directly!

“Rikkun! You can do it! Never give up!”

“Do it, Ric! We’re counting on you!”

“Alaric, hold on! Whatever happens, don’t die!”

My allies can do nothing but to cheer. The strong continuous pulse is rendering them unable to close into our position, like a strong current that’s driving everyone else away.

I knelt to the ground.

I can no longer feel my legs.

Strength is losing my body. Even with the Freya gave me, I can’t believe that everything is not enough…

“... Tiara… Amy… Everyone….”

I gritted as I cried silently.

“...I’m sorry…”

Suddenly, the sword made its way to me.

>>

I was in white nothingness…

Am I dead?

“You’re not dead, Ric.”

I turned around and saw the first woman I ever loved. Jeannette Amiella Fontaine von Noctis. She has this bright smile, rosy red cheeks, and sparkling purple eyes. She held her chest and withdrew a golden ball of light that looks like a Quintessence.

“Take this.”

I gently put both of my palms to her, and the ball floated on my hand. After a moment, it surged straight to my heart!

“I shall give you the power of the God of Kings.”

Then, the world of white nothingness faded.

>>

“!!!”

The next time I opened my eyes, I was already a divine incarnate. This power is not as cold and malicious as the energy of the Fake God Cthulhu, but instead, this God Core gives warmth and gentleness in my heart.

I was an eight-footer man, half-naked, with the extremely well-built body. I have this long red robe covering my lower parts, and my rock hard silver abs were now exposed to everyone. My blonde hair grew long enough to reach my thighs. I realized that I was now holding an antler on my bright left arm.

“IMPOSSIBLE!! JUST HOW MANY TIMES WOULD YOU BREAK YOUR LIMITS!!!” Aeternos was certainly astounded.

I caught the floating sword. I used my left foot as a pivot as I spin around. The moment I made a 360-degree turn, I already charged my antler-bow with the glowing invisible sword as an arrow!

I used my golden left arm to charge energy. I closed my eyes and saw balls of light representing the souls of my friends and allies. Slowly, the balls of light were absorbed by the sword.

“Aether Crusade judgment shall now start…

Permission to neutralize Aeternos approved…”

I heard Freya’s voice enter my mind. As the voice announces the last names of my allies, the sword would make a faint white glow.

“Hikari.

Efilion.

Key.

Anderson.

Mochizuki.

Teronette.

Hamerov.

Brynheim.

Noctis.”

“All Aether Crusade members voted for extermination.” I shouted. “This is the sword that will purge all evil!”

“Eisenhower.” As Freya’s voice muttered my name, endless energy surged upon the !!!

“!!!”

A bright beam of light surged with a speed faster than anything went on a straight line. That sword-arrow is so swift that it just made a lightning swish sound. There was a strong pulse that made the snow blasted, scattering thick smoke around the area!

“NO-!!!” Aeternos’ last words echoed as the made its way to his chest.

There was a dazzling flash of light. In a brief moment, he was eaten by a cross-shaped gigantic burst!

KABLAAAM!!!

And by the time we opened our eyes, the ultimate enemy is finally gone. All that’s left is his shattered armor scattered on the ground.

<>

“It’s...finally... over…”

I fell into the thick snow as I released my God form. That boss fight was so intense that I think it was my time to retire from this job. I want a vacation in a faraway place that is relaxing, probably, Hawaii…

The whole Aether Crusade flocked unto me and cheered me up.

“That was so awesome, Ric!” Heushac went to me and helped me raise my body.

“You’re so cool right there, Rikkun!” Tiara said as she excitedly pumped her fists.

“I never knew you have the power like that.” Key said with a hint of a smile.

“I admit, you’re a lot more awesome than me.” Kristoff said.

There’s a lot of praises coming from my friends that I never understood the other things. But one thing is weird.

...Amy is not here with us.

I looked around and saw my childhood friend still in a praying position. The light particles continued to dance around her, but she now had her eyes open. When I approached her, she greeted me with a smile.

“That was fantastic, Ric!” Amy said.

“Y-Yeah, I couldn’t do it if it wasn’t for you…” I scratched my head. “What is that massive power boost you gave us, anyway?”

“That… That is my wish!” Amy said jollily.

“Your wish?”

“The is the most powerful spell of all. It gives me the power to grant my own wishes. So basically, I’m a real Goddess!” Amy gave a genuine smile. “Bow to me, my poor subjects!”

“W-What? If you’re that omnipotent, then you should have erased Aeternos in a blink of an eye!” I said.

“That would be too boring. You should feel grateful that I used my powers to make you a real hero.” Amy said proudly.

“Uh… Thanks, Amy…” I muttered.

“Just stay quiet for a moment. I still have some of my own wishes to grant.” She said as she closed her eyes and continued to utter a prayer in a form of a song.

Suddenly, all the soulless corpses, all the dead bodies, and all the wounded allies were enveloped with a soothing golden light. In just a split second, all the wounds, all the souls, and all the corpses have been revived back on their full health. All the New Order Guardians were also instantly converted back to their old pure selves. All the blood in this snow has been erased as if the battle didn’t happen at all.

Amy is the real goddess. She could restore everything just by thinking of it.

But it makes me wonder, why didn’t she use it in the first place?

This spell...is too good to be true.

…

“Necchan!” Tiara ran to our position and held Amy’s hands. “Everyone is fine! You can stop now…”

Amy slowly opened her eyes, and there was a faint glow on her golden cross sigil.

“Is that so…” Her voice is weak.

Suddenly, her body appeared to become see-through.

Transparent.

As if she was about to fade away.

The moment I realized this, I was already in a state of despair. Tears are now crawling on my face, and my eyes are wide open. My heart felt a sudden extreme pain as if it was about to stop. I can’t breathe properly.

“... Don’t tell me you…”

“I’m sorry, Ric.” Amy made a smile with her watery eyes.

Is she... going to disappear?