Under layers of dense protective gear and preparations that included High-Purity Holy Water from Alba Holy Light, Elvin finally felt confident enough to inspect what remained of these Abyss Cultists. It was hard to even find words for it, because after their bodies exploded, they kept getting shredded by Rend until nothing visible was left. Even if something had not fully vanished, it had already blended into the surroundings in a very literal way.
At most, there were a few scraps of cloth scattered around, along with strange tools and weapons they had carried, all of which vanished at the same moment. Even for Elvin, who had seen this kind of scene many times, the sight still felt unsettling. The timing and cleanliness of it all made no sense.
Because he feared this might be some twisted sacrifice ritual or a life-for-power device, Elvin treated the situation with extreme caution. When dealing with Abyss Cultists, whose methods and thinking were always far beyond normal logic, it was safest to assume the worst. He insisted on checking once, then again, and then several more times before daring to confirm it.
"They are all dead?"
"Yes. We even found items left behind in the surrounding forest, possibly from ambushers or scouts."
"If that is the case, then at least all the Abyss Cultists in this area are wiped out. And honestly, this is the cleanest kill scene I have ever seen."
"…"
When Elvin boarded the carriage for the return trip, he still felt dazed. Fighting normally and then having the entire enemy side suddenly drop dead was something he had never witnessed before. Even with all the absurd events he had experienced, this was new.
No, that was not entirely true. There had been several earlier incidents just like this, where the entire Abyss Church, from top to bottom, including the lowest lackeys, had been completely wiped out. The memory made his grip tighten slightly.
"So… was what we just saw the truth behind those strange mass disappearances and deaths in the Abyss Cult, Murphy?"
As he oiled his sword, his hand trembled a little. This explanation fit the previous cases too well, making it the most likely answer. The cause was right in front of him, yet there was no visible reason, as if it had happened out of thin air.
If he had to describe it, there was a strange feeling in that instant, something hard to define. The scene felt wrong in a way he could not put into words.
"First it was the Ventris Family, then the Communion of Flesh and Spirit, and after that…"
One by one, the names of cults he knew by heart and had personally fought against passed through his mind. Elvin could not understand why it was these groups connected to Church of Holy Light. Was there some pattern behind it?
Maybe there was no pattern at all. It was like sitting at a table full of food and grabbing whatever you felt like eating, without following any order. The thought made him pause.
"That is a weird comparison. Why would I even think like that?"
"Is it possible that something is wrong with my head?"
Perched on a platform of Crystalline Floaters, Belial breathed out solar flares while roasting a giant lobster claw in his hand. He ate and cooked at the same time, slowly sinking into thought. What exactly was the reason behind all this?
"I just ate some roasted insects and one big lobster, and suddenly everyone wants to gang up on me. Is that really necessary?"
Were these things some kind of forbidden fish that deserved such hatred? Chewing on the lobster, Belial stared at the screen projected by a small machine in front of him. On it was nothing but a note.
The message was made of broken phrases in a common language he was still not fully used to. It said that his recent fishing had caused trouble, that dozens of nearby fishermen had noticed, and that once discovered, he would likely be attacked together. It was a very direct warning.
After crunching through the lobster claw, meat and shell together, he faced the possibility that his fishing trip might soon end. Since this involved his precious leveling journey, the matter suddenly felt important. To figure it out, Belial took out his treasured brain from a safe, blew off the dust, and put it back in his head.
"Oh, so that is roughly how it works. I get it now."
He still did not fully understand the deep relationships among those dozens of familiar fishermen. But sorting out the basic logic was not hard. At a glance, it was clear that they were far from united.
Every relationship looked close enough to fight together, but only if they were shooting at each other. Even when they cooperated, the mental calculations were louder than a machine gun nest. The only reason they had not started fighting yet was simple fear.
Everyone worried about getting injured and then being taken advantage of. Some felt the gains were not worth it, and others might still be asleep. In short, the place was like a powder keg holding a fragile balance.
Now, Belial had forced them into a twisted game where everyone could be a wolf. It was also like big fish eating small fish, with many who already eyed their own kind quietly revealing their claws. There would definitely be lambs eaten, but only if one condition was met.
There could not be a single wolf that grew too strong. Once one started snowballing and growing stronger with every kill, everyone else would unite to take it down. The biggest hunter would instantly become the biggest prey.
No one would allow a monster that could eat them at any time to stay nearby. That kind of snowball contest could easily turn into an avalanche that swallowed everyone. If dozens attacked together, even Belial might not be able to handle it.
If there were several monsters as strong as that previous dark vortex creature, then it would truly be over. His fishing had been satisfying, but it had also drawn too much attention. After all, several signals had vanished without explanation.
Combined with the earlier devouring of Anguirus, Manda, and now Ebirah and Kamagiras, everyone had roughly figured it out. Somewhere around this location, there was a hidden, unseen wolf. If they pressed in from all sides and scanned the area, he would be found.
"So this means I should hurry back home to hide, right?"
That was exactly what the communicator message suggested. He finished one piece and started roasting another, calmly thinking it over. Whether he went back or not, the answer was already clear.
If this was some kind of Dark Forest Laws, then it meant all hunters were throwing away honor and ganging up on a single target. Compared to the usual Space sci‑fi battle royale, though, Belial preferred another kind of Space opera. It was the kind where someone set the plains on fire and everyone fought in close combat in a filthy pit.
"You think I need to run? Completely wrong. I am worried I will not find enough people."
"I might not win a group beating head on, but I have a brain. I can break them one by one."
"I will charge straight in and eat as much as I can. There are only dozens of them. Every one I kill is a permanent loss for them. Why should I be afraid?"
Belial laughed instead. He had worked so hard setting bait before because he could not find anyone. Now all the fish were gathering to attack him, and that was somehow bad news?
Of course, his allies' concern made sense, and he understood it. One person normally could not beat dozens, but Tokusatsu creatures did not have to follow logic. Wheel tactics, ambushes, and strength gaps all sounded very familiar.
This was enough to wake him right up. Dozens of monsters were coming, enough to remake Monster Island several times over without repeating themes. Just how far his strength could snowball was something even he did not dare imagine.
Power growing by multiplication was simply that wild. Even Mephist would agree that he had not gone back to check things in a while. Fighting nonstop without even watching crocodiles bare their teeth was getting boring.
"After this fight, I will go back home for a look."
"Yes, that is how confident I am. I will even set a flag before the battle."
"Next, I should make some preparations. Heh."
If everyone believed that this situation was caused by a single wolf, then what if there was more than one? With a wicked grin, Belial began to move. Using the remaining remains of Ebirah and Kamagiras and the materials beneath him that formed a Crystal ecology, he started shaping something new.
He needed to split his forces to confuse enemy perception and create chances for his strongest main body to kill. With prior experience, he worked more carefully this time. The plan took shape quickly.
"Roar!" four times echoed together.
In an instant, four massive figures appeared, as if something had been thrown onto the field. The Clone body modeled after Diablo expanded and merged into the other three Clone forms. They were also ecological Clone, but unlike the earlier ones tied to the Lord and focused on corrosion, these were optimized for combat and endurance.