Chapter 68: Inheritance Complete!
[Ding!]
[Inheritance progress increased by 1%!]
[Ding!]
[Inheritance progress increased by 1%!]
[Ding!]
[Inheritance progress increased by 1%!]
As the inheritance progress bars continued to climb, a faint, satisfied smirk played on the corners of Akira's lips. To wake up from a deep slumber and find everything he desired right within his grasp—it was a truly intoxicating feeling.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host. Acquired: Magic — Original Magic!]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host. Acquired: Skill — Trillion Dark!]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host. Acquired: Divinity Status — Demon King!]
The final 20% had been filled. With that, the inheritance of the Meliodas template was officially complete.
The raw, primordial magic power unique to Meliodas, the concentrated darkness of the Trillion Dark technique, and the absolute sovereignty of the "Demon King" status—all of it now belonged to Akira. In this very moment, he could be considered a new generation of the Demon King.
Enkidu. King of the Shadowkhan. Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Meliodas.
With four templates successfully merged, coupled with the "maternal incubation" provided by Tiamat's womb, Akira's current strength had reached a terrifying, zenith-level peak.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host. The third template has been perfectly inherited. Would you like to begin the fourth template inheritance?]
"Not for now," Akira declined without a second thought.
There were still loose ends in this world that required his attention. First, there was the matter of creating a new world, and many other threads of fate had yet to reach their conclusion. Before he could embark on his next journey, he had to wait a little longer.
"You have grown stronger, my child."
Tiamat, who had been watching over Akira this entire time, finally spoke. As Akira absorbed the massive magical energy from the Holy Grail of Uruk, his power surged even further. Seeing this brought a wave of genuine happiness to Tiamat. To a mother, there was nothing better than seeing her child grow powerful.
"Mother, I want to sign a contract with you."
"Very well."
Without a moment's hesitation, and without even asking what the contract entailed, Tiamat agreed instantly.
Her unconditional compliance left Akira feeling a bit helpless, his prepared arguments now unnecessary. His mother was wonderful in every way, but she spoiled him far too much. Still, he couldn't deny that the feeling was pleasant.
"Mother, aren't you going to ask what kind of contract this is?"
"There is no need. I trust you. You would never lie to me, and you would never hurt me."
"I see..."
Caught between helplessness and being deeply moved, Akira realized that having a mother like her was the greatest stroke of luck in his life. Without further delay, he finalized the contract with Tiamat.
This wasn't a binding contract meant to force her will; its only function was to establish a unique sensory connection between them. It wasn't exactly telepathy, but rather a spiritual bond. As long as they both desired it and remained within the same world, they could reach out to one another.
He initiated this primarily to put his mother's heart at ease.
While Tiamat doted on him, she was also a mother whose heart hungered desperately for love—possessing an almost terrifying level of dependency on her child. This contract would act as an anchor, preventing future anxieties. Even if Akira eventually traveled across dimensions and left this world behind, as long as he drew breath, the contract would remain intact.
"Onii-chan, you're finally awake."
Upon leaving Tiamat's deep-sea barrier, Akira found Kingu waiting for him on the shoreline. The moment she caught sight of him, her face lit up with pure joy as she rushed to greet him.
"Yeah, I'm fine now. Sorry for making you worry."
"As long as Onii-chan is safe, that is all that matters."
"It won't be long now. Mother and I will begin the process of opening and creating a new world. Once that's successful, it will be time to leave."
"I understand," Kingu nodded. To her, staying or going didn't matter, as long as she was with him.
"Actually, Onii-chan, there is something I believe I should tell you."
"What is it?"
"The Goddess Ishtar left ten days ago."
"So she's gone, huh? Well, whatever. That goddess is always causing chaos; it was unrealistic to expect her to stick around anyway."
Ishtar was selfish and lived purely by her own whims. Even if she had manifested using Tohsaka Rin as a vessel, at her core, she remained a Divine Spirit, not a human.
"There is one more thing. A few days ago, Gilgamesh actually died from overwork. Afterward, Ishtar and the people from Chaldea went to the Underworld to bring him back."
"They went to the Underworld?"
"Yes. And the Three Goddess Alliance has completely dissolved. Ereshkigal has officially withdrawn from it."
"Truly, man proposes, but God disposes," Akira sighed. He had only been asleep for ten days, yet so much had changed.
Fujimaru Ritsuka really lived up to his reputation as a Master with a 'Charm (Goddess) EX' rank ability. First Ishtar, now Ereshkigal. Even after Akira's warnings, the boy had managed to win over the goddesses.
"Forget it, it's not a big deal."
Akira's desire to meet Ereshkigal was mostly born out of pity for the goddess and her lonely fate.
"Also, ten days ago, General Ikazuki—whom you sent to Uruk—was detained by that little girl you gave the 'Commandment of Love.' It almost caused the mission to fail."
"Mash, huh? How did you end up getting it back then?"
"Mother told me to handle it, so I went and brought it back myself."
Akira nodded, but a flicker of displeasure toward Mash sparked in his heart.
I had you sign a contract of surrender, gave you power, gave you life, and even showed you the mercy of letting you stay with Fujimaru Ritsuka before I left this world... and this is how you repay my kindness?
A low hum filled the air as Akira opened his palm, and a golden light began to flicker.
Two complete Holy Grails now hovered above his hand. One was the Holy Grail of Uruk, and the other was the one belonging to Goetia. Both were now in his possession. Tiamat had handed them over the moment he woke up.
To Tiamat, the Grail was merely a catalyst—a medium to help her fully manifest in this world. Now that her goal was achieved, she had no use for them. Since Akira "needed" them, she gave them to him without a second thought.
However, for the current Akira, the Grails were little more than batteries to be drained of their magical energy.
"Onii-chan, these are..." Kingu looked on, confused.
"This one," Akira said slowly, gesturing to Goetia's Grail, "is what Chaldea needs."
His impression of Chaldea and Fujimaru Ritsuka was neutral—neither particularly good nor bad. He respected their conviction and the sheer tenacity they showed in trying to save the Human Order.
On the other hand, that bastard Goetia had rigged the Grail with his own schemes and held a direct grudge against Akira.
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