Chapter 261: Saving the Lostbelt
Astonishment, indignation, panic.
All of it was inevitable.
The Phantasmal Tree had been planted long ago. It had taken ages to cultivate. In the end, everything had been stolen and handed to another like a bridal robe prepared for someone else.
How could anyone remain perfectly calm?
Yet it lasted only an instant.
After that instant, the Extraterrestrial God calmed down.
He was a supreme lifeform from an alien civilization, an emperor who intended to conquer Earth.
And an emperor, by nature, maintained dignity.
Even in an inevitable defeat.
Yes, countless worlds once influenced by the Phantasmal Tree had already been seized by Rowe and the world behind him. Now the worlds touched by the countless tendrils extending from those Phantasmal Trees were beginning to recoil in turn, backlashing against the tree itself.
The power the Extraterrestrial God could manifest was weakening.
He might be killed.
He might be imprisoned.
But he would not abandon the final thread of hope.
"If I am not mistaken, those seven swords were carved from your own body, were they not?"
The figure seated on the throne at the core of the Phantasmal Tree spoke.
"With that much power flooding into you, can you endure it?"
Of course he could not.
The seven deadly sins were the ports that upheld the world, allowing it to swallow the Phantasmal Tree, accelerate its growth, and manifest a galactic scale worldview.
And those seven swords had been carved from Rowe's machina god body.
The machina god body was Rowe.
It could not be separated from him.
As vast power poured in, the world would rapidly grow. At the same time, the seven deadly sins, as pillars linking and supporting the world itself, would continue to merge with it and be assimilated into it until they disappeared.
Rowe would die.
"But what if I endure it?" Rowe replied.
He withdrew his gaze from the countless [Cosmic Class Servants] who had emerged from Earth and were shining across the Sea of Stars.
Gilgamesh stood with his arms spread and a triumphant expression, as if he might point at the enemy next and order Rowe to bite them.
Enkidu stood upon a verdant planet, white robes restored, silent as ever, cloth and hair gently stirring.
Artoria held the Star Anchor. This time it was a true Star Anchor, one that possessed power great enough to rival a planet.
Rome's glory illuminated countless worlds. Crimson roses bloomed around the Emperor of the Century, obscuring one corner of the starry sky.
They had merged with countless versions of themselves from different worlds. Naturally, the power they manifested had risen to a terrifying height.
As the world sublimated, they, as records manifested by the world itself, also gained sublimation.
So then.
What about Rowe?
As the creator, the benefits Rowe received would unquestionably exceed everyone else's.
He was the leader.
And he had always been the first to attempt the impossible.
He turned back to the Phantasmal Tree ahead, swaying and trembling under the encirclement of countless worlds now under Rowe's control, and looked directly at the Extraterrestrial God.
He grinned.
"If I endure it, then I gain the entire world."
Could he endure it?
In truth, no.
The expansion now engulfing the Sea of Stars had already crossed planetary boundaries and was rushing toward the scale of stars and even galaxies.
Unlike the Heroic Spirits, who gradually gathered alternate selves across many worlds, Rowe would be taking everything in at once through his machina god body, transforming into a world in a single stroke.
But that too was part of his plan.
Such a death would allow him to reclaim power from the summit of the Throne of Heroes.
Then, when he manifested again and descended once more, he would descend with the universe illuminated by human order as his Spirit Origin.
He would use a galactic scale as his machina god body.
He would manifest in a form close to omnipotence.
At that time, the world would be him, and he would be the world.
Of course, even without using the world as his frame, Rowe could descend instantly. The infinite primal power was never false.
But compared to descending directly, this preparation gave him more methods, more ways to express that power.
Because this was the shape he understood.
The shape he was used to.
"Madman."
The Extraterrestrial God exhaled and slowly rose from the throne.
Defeat had already been decided. He knew he could not shake Rowe's resolve.
Even so, he would not surrender.
"Even if I still cannot fully manifest my power."
"One final struggle."
"Is still barely possible."
The Extraterrestrial God's previous appearance had been a pale naked humanoid shell, without muscle definition, without clear facial features. Even the voice had been produced by internal vibration, not speech from a mouth.
That was never his original form.
He still lacked a body capable of fully displaying his power. He still lacked a Spirit Origin capable of bearing his existence and manifestation.
That was why he planted the Phantasmal Tree.
Why he stole the power of the Sea of Stars.
He meant to raise the tree into a vessel that could bear him.
It was still not enough.
The Phantasmal Tree had only absorbed stellar class energy, while its essence remained at the level of a first rate planet.
It could not fully bear him.
But it was enough for one desperate struggle.
At that instant, the Phantasmal Tree shook more violently.
The Extraterrestrial God stepped down from the throne and emerged from the hollow eye at the tree's core.
His form began to change.
Like a painting coming alive beneath a brush, long soft silver white hair poured down from his head. Delicate features appeared. His skin took on a faint red warmth, no longer corpse pale, but fair like that of a living person.
Golden eyes, like molten lava, opened slowly.
The fine contours extended downward into the form of a delicate young girl draped in a fur cloak, decorated with colorful ribbons. Her dangling legs were wrapped in close fitting black leggings patterned with gold, giving them a slightly plump softness.
Above her head floated a crown like a ring of thorns.
Behind her, the giant tree swayed with divine majesty.
"I must admit this."
"Earth and humanity are indeed special."
The Extraterrestrial God stepped onto the resonant radiance of the Sea of Stars and looked down at this body, then let out a breath.
This form, naturally, was not his own.
It was a human body forcibly summoned to match his characteristics, using the Phantasmal Tree's energy as a medium.
Much like Ishtar's early state of possession through Rin.
Earth with infinite possibilities, and humanity with infinite possibilities, could always produce a suitable wavelength.
That was why the Extraterrestrial God had remained unpanicked until now.
With this body as a vessel.
With the Phantasmal Tree's accumulated energy as backing.
He still possessed the power to fight.
Truly.
"If I kill you, everything returns to my hands!"
The beautiful face of the possessed body revealed a proud smile.
Red light rippled from her body. Every ray resembled a sword, an arrow, a torrent capable of piercing a star's core.
The light swept toward Rowe.
"Then come." Rowe grinned and met it head on.
The seven deadly sins, merged with human order, floated in the vast Sea of Stars.
Rowe appeared unarmed.
In truth, aside from his machina god body and chaos core that had already merged with the world, he still had one weapon.
The first supreme power he had ever obtained.
The first divine authority of creation he had mastered.
"Sword of Rupture, Ea."
A crimson storm spread instantly from its center. Red lines of light bloomed across the jet black blade made of three nested rotating cylinders.
Rowe gripped the golden hilt. Lava like light flashed in his eyes.
This first strike, the primordial storm that once opened the world, cut through all light and shadow and collided with the rays released by the Extraterrestrial God.
The two forces intertwined.
A vast hollow void appeared in the Sea of Stars.
At this moment, Rowe could finally draw out Ea's full power.
The maximum output of [Enuma Elish], the Rupture of Heaven and Earth, had no true upper limit, because in concept it was the primordial storm that opened the world.
A planet was a world.
A star was a world.
The universe itself could also be called a world.
What you perceive as the world defines the breadth of that severing.
The only true limit on Ea had always been the wielder.
Only the energy the wielder possessed.
In Rowe's hands, in the hands of a Star Creating God, it was naturally no weaker than the Extraterrestrial God's light bands, when that god could only manifest first rate planetary output.
So the collision became a stalemate.
"The final outcome is still only your destruction."
The Extraterrestrial God spread her hands. Her fur cloak flared in the impact storm, and her golden eyes remained cold.
"How long can you last?"
Their output was comparable.
But she had the vast energy accumulated in the Phantasmal Tree as foundation.
What did Rowe have?
"I admit my ambition is not as grand as yours," the Extraterrestrial God said, with no trace of carelessness, because she knew Rowe still had more. "But ambition requires power to match it."
"Show me your strength. Otherwise, victory will be mine."
She stepped forward.
The radiance around her swelled and pressed down, overwhelming the primordial storm blooming from Ea in Rowe's hand.
This was a pure confrontation of energy.
No clashing fists.
No grappling bodies.
No exchange of martial techniques.
This was a more fundamental duel, decided by raw force.
In such a clash, even a little more energy meant an overwhelming advantage.
"A trump card. I have none." Rowe smiled.
"All my trump cards have already been shown."
What he wanted to do, what he needed to do, had all been completed.
Every card had been played.
Even the preparations for his re descent were already in place.
What remained now.
"This is a duel between you and me. This is the final battle."
Rowe twisted the hand holding Ea.
The crimson storm tore through the incoming star piercing light and met the aurora of destruction head on in the vast Sea of Stars.
"As you said, my energy is not as great as yours."
"So."
"I need this settled quickly."
Quickly.
Decisively.
To seek death.
The Extraterrestrial God's delicate brows tightened slightly. She lowered her gaze, and the Phantasmal Tree behind her glowed ever more brilliantly.
"In that case, I shall grant your wish."
If she killed Rowe, she would have enough time to defeat the seven radiances formed by human order and pluck the seven deadly sins.
If she plucked the seven deadly sins, she would regain control.
Yes.
No matter what schemes Rowe held, she could not let this chance pass.
Even if it was a trap, this was still her only path.
A booming roar rang out.
The storm spreading from Ea in Rowe's hand instantly compressed into a single point. Creation itself condensed and sharpened into a spear like thrust, piercing through the incoming world shattering light and carrying Rowe with it.
The light scattered.
In an instant, Rowe was already before the Extraterrestrial God.
He struck with his fist.
The Extraterrestrial God let out a low sound, caught the punch with one hand, and countered immediately. Rowe raised Ea and blocked it with the rotating cylindrical blade.
The Extraterrestrial God smiled.
"I win."
Ea dimmed in Rowe's hand.
The sudden burst just now had exhausted his strength.
But the Extraterrestrial God's reserves remained endless. Stellar class reserves allowed her to continue output at first rate planetary scale indefinitely.
So when their figures crossed, light burst from her eyes.
At this range, Rowe had nowhere to evade.
Yes, at this moment, he should certainly die.
And Rowe had every reason to believe this plan was foolproof.
The Heroic Spirits would not assist him. That had been agreed upon from the beginning, and there was no longer any need to hide it.
Even the Counter Force stood on his side.
What could oppose him now?
The brilliant light reached his face.
Yet Rowe smiled.
The Extraterrestrial God's brows lowered slightly.
Then she paused.
Rowe's smile froze as well.
He watched the light that had reached his face stop in midair.
A hair's breadth away.
Only a little more and it would have pierced him.
Only a little more and he would have died.
At that same instant, Ea, which should have been empty, erupted with light.
The primordial storm exploded outward and pierced straight through the Extraterrestrial God's body.
Rowe was the Primordial Human who created stars.
But the Extraterrestrial God's body.
Was only a mortal shell she had possessed.
Even with infinite energy behind her.
The essence of a mortal remained fragile.
Blood spilled from her lips.
There was no anger in her face.
Only realization.
She looked up.
"Horned God Cernunnos."
"So you came to help him."
The Sea of Stars trembled.
From its deepest reaches emerged a colossal figure, massive antlers crowning a form steeped entirely in the stillness of death.
The Horned God Cernunnos.
The first to target Rowe.
A being that wandered the Sea of Stars.
The harbinger of disaster.
Other gods, even one as powerful as Chaos, could lose their way without an accurate coordinate.
But Cernunnos would not.
Because he had already visited this world long ago, and only withdrew into the Sea of Stars after failing to find his target.
He did not need a coordinate.
He himself was the coordinate.
And he was not here to kill Rowe.
He was here because.
"He cannot die."
The Horned God was a god of death formed by the grievances of dead worlds gathered within the Celtic supreme god. His voice rolled across the Sea of Stars like an underworld hurricane.
"Why not?" the Extraterrestrial God asked.
She had never understood Cernunnos's persistence about Rowe.
Yet the answer had been there from the beginning.
The Horned God sought Rowe because Rowe carried the possibility of resurrecting dead worlds.
Because.
"Our world needs his salvation."
"And only he can do it."
Then the Horned God's gaze shifted to Rowe.
"Moreover, if you die like this, you will not achieve your goal."
"There are still obstacles ahead of you."
Rowe stared for a moment, then reacted instantly.
"Are you talking about those Great Old Ones?"