The Author: "What's your name, my pretty one, if I may ask?"
Erasa: "My name is Erasa Arlongue. In this form, I am a girl, but the Arlongue in me also makes me a man!"
The author froze for a moment, surprised.
The Author: "Excuse me?? You're not a girl?"
Erasa: "I am a girl, and also a man. Anyway, I have to go now!"
Without waiting, Erasa opened a rift in space and stepped through.
The Author: "Hmm... goodbye, Erasa... and above all, triumph in this fight. You have all my support."
The author put his manuscript away under his shelf before leaving for work.
When she returned, Erasa was more determined and enraged than ever. The memory of Boaz's death, who only wished for a peaceful life, haunted her. She materialized Kami and crossed the Outer Void again, just as she had when she left.
She emerged in a universe, in the domain of Existence. Her unhealthy aura, charged with contained rage, spread in a wave so powerful it made the foundations of the cosmos tremble. Erasa's energy flooded in all directions. Her gaze was dark and icy.
Erasa: "Let's go!!"
She created a clone of herself. While this double headed for Gilead's castle, the original went to her own universe.
Erasa's clone appeared in Gilead's throne room, where hundreds of gods were gathered in discussion. A meeting of the gods-the Omnigods 1-was in full swing around a large table.
But... is that Mü Thanatos?! cried a god, alarmed.
No, but... that appearance, it's obvious... Mü Thanatos, what are you doing here? another demanded.
Erasa slowly lowered her head. She drew Kami and declared in a calm but merciless voice:
Erasa: "Die... all of you, now!!"
The gods understood the message. They all rushed at her in a collective attack meant to annihilate her. Hundreds of deities charged Erasa, thinking to eliminate her in a single assault.
But Erasa needed only a single gesture. A simple movement of her blade Kami, and all the gods were reduced to heaps of flesh, bone, and blood. The carnage was absolute.
Rivers of blood flowed around Erasa, frozen, her gaze icy. She walked straight to the throne. Gilead's throne. She sat and contemplated the disaster. The Chaos Fiasco.
When the massacre ended, Gilead appeared without a word, materializing from nowhere. He stared at her.
Erasa met his gaze, cold and unyielding.
Gilead: "Mü Thanatos?? Have you become a demon?"
She did not answer. Her silence spoke volumes. Gilead looked over the bodies.
Gilead: "Blood? How can gods bleed? That's impossible!!"
Erasa slowly raised Kami, still covered in blood, and replied:
Erasa: "'Kami' expresses death and weakness through blood. It transcends the logic of divine invulnerability-the gods who feel neither pain, nor injury, nor bleeding."
Gilead nodded.
Gilead: "I see. Mü Thanatos, why act this way toward your own kind? We are all gods, after all!"
Erasa seemed to hesitate, confused.
Erasa: "Who is Mü Thanatos? I am Erasa Arlongue, the demon come to end your miserable existence... You fool. You should never have touched Boaz!!"
Gilead's gaze darkened.
Gilead: "Boaz? You're the demon come to avenge him? So you're just a double of Mü Thanatos? I see... You've come here to meet the same fate as him. You'll get what you want."
Seated on the throne, Erasa continued to stare at Gilead. Her gaze grew more terrifying, while Gilead's remained empty, emotionless.
The mortal duel was about to begin.
Gilead: "You will die, demon!!"
Erasa leaped up and charged straight at Gilead, fist forward. But at the moment of impact, her blow bounced off as if it had struck an invisible spring. She stepped back, stunned, not understanding what had just happened.
But... what was that? she exclaimed, incredulous.
Gilead suddenly grabbed her by the neck, his gaze full of calm contempt.
Strange... I have a feeling of déjà vu... ah, yes. It was with Boaz! he said mockingly.
Erasa violently broke free from Gilead's grip and unleashed a flurry of blows. But they all vanished into nothingness, as if swallowed by the air itself. No strike landed, no pressure had any effect. It was as if her attacks disappeared from reality.
This... can't be... she murmured, stunned.
Without warning, Gilead delivered a titanic punch to her face. Erasa was thrown to the ground so violently that the impact caused the entire castle to collapse. The ground split beneath her, gouged by a gigantic crater.
She staggered back a few steps, bloodied nose, panting, legs buckling.
Why... why can't my attacks reach him? she groaned.
Gilead instantly reappeared behind her, his tone icy.
"Divine Explosion."
A series of blows, each wreathed in blazing light, rained down on Erasa with unprecedented destructive power. The strikes made the entire realm tremble, as if each blow carried the weight of a celestial war.
Farewell... "Purificare Ascuțită!!" Gilead shouted.
Billions of golden stakes, charged with blazing divine energy, burst from the ground, impaling Erasa from all sides. She became a true sieve, her body riddled, bloodless.
The divine lances pierce the being and all that it governs, Gilead declared coldly. The damage is irreparable. You will never heal from these wounds: they will consume you, both physically and astrally. It's over. Now you understand, don't you? A demon is nothing compared to a god. I don't know what made you think you could stand up to me!
Erasa's body suddenly dissipated into an ethereal mist... then reappeared before Gilead.
You confront me with clones of yourself. I suspected as much... but it will get you nowhere, he said, annoyed.
And you... you're just a clone too, Erasa replied firmly. I'll force you to come in person. Whatever the cost. And that's where you'll die.
Gilead looked at her with pity mixed with condescension.
You don't grasp the logic of your own weakness? Your clones can't even last fifteen minutes against mine. What do you think you can do against my true body, infinitely more powerful? At this level, even your original form couldn't defeat a single one of my clones!
Erasa clenched her teeth, boiling with rage.
Shut up! And come fight, instead of talking about a future that will never happen!
Very well, Gilead replied simply.
He immediately launched into a series of attacks wreathed in divine flames. Erasa managed to block several, but didn't see the brutal kick that struck her head. She staggered, disoriented, allowing Gilead to unleash a hundred strange attacks, chained together with inhuman fluidity.
Another kick sent her flying through the air. She spun several times, out of control. Gilead grabbed her by the legs and slammed her violently against the ground, left, then right, several times in a devastating sequence.
Erasa finally managed to break free and leapt away, speeding off at lightning speed.
Running won't help you!! roared Gilead.
Gilead appeared behind Erasa and summoned shadow chains that pierced and then completely enveloped her.
He manipulated these chains with precision, making them snake around her to catch her off guard. Instantly, they began to drain the very essence of her being-this essence escaped her body like a light, almost unreal smoke.
Gilead:
"It's over. You will never break free from these chains. They obey only my will. Unless I command them to release you, they never will."
Instead of panicking, Erasa smiled at Gilead... then her body exploded into several pieces.
Gilead's eyes widened in surprise. A little farther away, Erasa reappeared, regenerating. She staggered, coughing.
Erasa:
"Koff... koff... I have to find a way to crush his defense... but how? ... I know!!"
She jumped up and summoned Kami.
Gilead watched her with a disdainful sneer.
Gilead:
"You think your sword will change anything? My attacks strike directly at your being, which isn't the case for you. Too bad for you!!"
The being-superior to the body, mind, soul, and even the narrative-when directly struck, can no longer regenerate. Everything beneath it collapses in turn, irreversibly, for the being governs all that follows.
To completely destroy an individual's being is to erase them from all existence, with no hope of return.
Erasa said nothing. She simply raised her weapon with difficulty, then slashed the air in front of her... and as if by magic, a cut appeared on Gilead's shoulder, slicing him cleanly despite the distance.
Gilead stepped back, stunned, eyes wide.
Gilead:
"No way... how is this possible? There's at least a hundred meters between us... And my multidimensional protection? Could this girl really strike my being?"
Erasa burst out laughing.
Erasa:
"So? What's wrong? You look scared, my lord! Hahaha!!"
Gilead's face hardened. Fear quickly gave way to black anger. He rushed at Erasa with unprecedented violence.
By reflex, Erasa tried again to slash the void. But Gilead caught her in time and began to pummel her with furious rage. He summoned a giant golden centipede, bristling with hooks and fangs, which lunged at Erasa. It seized her, bit her, and immobilized her completely.
Gilead:
"The venom of this creature dissolves and poisons its target's magic. But that's not all. It also liquefies vital essence, turns it into nectar, and drinks it... like a cheap beverage. You're going to die, filthy demon."
Paralyzed by the bite, Erasa was unable to move. Her powers refused to respond, powerless against this nightmarish beast. Her mind grew foggy.
Erasa:
"What's happening to me? I feel... numb!!"
Her entire being was being sucked out by the monster.
Gilead simply watched, impassive, as Erasa lost all trace of life.
Then, suddenly, she stopped moving. The centipede had absorbed everything: flesh, bone, organs, mind, soul, story... and being.
Only an empty shell remained, which the beast released, limp, like a worn-out rag doll.
Gilead sighed. The centipede vanished.
Gilead:
"That wasn't a difficult fight."
A black hole formed behind Gilead. He turned immediately, discovering the swirling void.
Gilead narrowed his eyes.
Galaad: "What is that?"
A figure emerged from the distortion. It was Erasa.
Erasa: "I hope you didn't miss me too much?!"
Galaad: "Impossible! The centipede never releases its victim until it has completely drained them. You can't come back without your being... Unless you're another Erasa!"
Erasa smiled and materialized Kami.
Erasa: "And yet, I'm the same one, the very one your creature devoured a few minutes ago!"
Gilead felt a surge of anxiety.
(This is terrifying... This girl adapts at an incredible speed. Just minutes ago, she couldn't even reach my being, then there was that sword... and now, she's back, even though her being was completely destroyed. She's resilient. Could she be one of those who have transcended the state of vital being?)
[Those who have transcended their vital being reach the state of existence of the gods, those who surpass even the condition of their being. From then on, they exist according to a factor called {source}, a new, indestructible state, immersed in the Chōshinkū, becoming the Chōshinkū itself.]
Galaad: "No matter, in the end!!!"
He stretched out his arms. A multitude of magic circles burst into the air, unleashing countless golden centipedes.
Erasa frowned, then unfurled two large demon wings from her back.
The centipedes rushed at her. Erasa shot upward, flapped her wings, and produced a violent mass of compressed air. Several creatures were instantly disintegrated.
Galaad swallowed hard.
The other centipedes swooped down on her. Erasa dodged them skillfully. Suddenly, she paused mid-flight, struck her sword with her hand, producing a shrill sound.
This sound disrupted the centipedes' concentration. It immobilized them, confused them, making them unable to move properly.
Taking advantage of the opening, Erasa brought her sword down on one of them: it was pulverized instantly. But strangely... Galaad was also violently wounded, without understanding why.
Gilead: "How?!!"
Erasa looked at him, smiling.
Galaad, vexed, then amplified the power of his centipedes, making them immune to the disturbing sound.
They attacked again, relentless.
At the same time, Gilead took the opportunity to attack as well.
Galaad: "You truly are vile, demon. You're the worst species the Father God ever created! Daughter of the fallen beings, before me, you will perish, here and now, once and for all!!"
He gathered a mass of energy around himself, enveloping his entire body, then separated from it, still wounded by Erasa's sword.
Gilead then charged up a torrential force that made him tremble. He launched the assault, supported by his centipedes.
Meanwhile, the real Erasa watched the battle from her castle, with Jérôme and Nehemi, still crushed by Boaz's death.
Jérôme:
This god is spectacular! Your clone will never defeat him!
Erasa:
Yes, but at least I've thrown him off a bit, which is already something. Time is running out. I have to finish this myself. My clones are much weaker than me: at this rate, they won't last much longer.
Worried, Jérôme exclaimed:
Jérôme:
But if you die, Erasa, what will we do? We've already lost Boaz, that's already too much...
Erasa tried to reassure him.
Erasa:
If I do nothing, believe me, it's not just me who will die. We'll all perish, because Gilead will also eliminate Nehemi and everyone linked to him by mercy...
Jérôme:
Hmm... you're right.
Erasa then approached Nehemi and spoke in a softer voice.
Erasa:
Nehemi, I promise you: Gilead's death will be an offering for Boaz... The gods I've already killed aren't enough. I swear to you: after this fight, you'll never lack compassion again.
Nehemi wiped away his tears, then replied with new determination:
Nehemi:
Understood, Lord Erasa.
Erasa then called Zémira:
Erasa:
Hey, Zémira! It's time to make your power shine, are you ready?
Zémira wrapped her arms around Erasa's neck and replied enthusiastically:
Zémira:
Whenever you want!
Erasa then made her claws appear and slashed at space-time around her, opening a rift to move more quickly toward Gilead.
Meanwhile, Gilead, aided by his centipedes, had put Erasa's clone in a catastrophic state. He was preparing to absorb it to prevent it from regenerating or counterattacking.
Gilead:
Erasa, this is the end for you.
The clone, paralyzed by its wounds, could neither flee nor defend itself. It remained motionless, like an electric pole, as Gilead projected a mass of aura to engulf it. Erasa's clones closed their eyes, resigned to their fate.
But at that moment, the real Erasa appeared before her double, dispersing Gilead's attack with a simple wave of her hand.
The energy dissipated into the void, lost with no target. Erasa then spoke gently to her clone.
Erasa:
It's okay. You can rest now. I'll finish this fight.
The clone smiled before disintegrating into ashes, carried away by the wind.
Gilead, surprised by this intervention, stepped back slightly and growled:
Gilead:
You came before I could eliminate your clone... Yet, the original also suffers the damage inflicted on her clones, right? How did you know?
Erasa:
Hmm... I didn't, actually! It was just luck. But that's not so bad: I'm learning things.
At that moment, Zémira spoke telepathically, using the spiritual channel Erasa had opened upon arriving.
Zémira (telepathically):
Erasa, be careful. Gilead is much more powerful than you think.
Erasa gave a crooked smile and replied mentally:
Erasa:
Gilead is strong, it's true... But my mother is even stronger. She could wipe him out with a snap of her fingers. Even GAaron could beat him effortlessly. So with the powers she awakened in you, I know I can match him... maybe even defeat him, thanks to you!
Zémira thought for a moment, then asked:
Zémira:
But if they're so powerful... why didn't they kill Gilead for you?
Erasa:
Because in Hell, a fight belongs to the one who started it. Others have no right to intervene.
Satisfied with the answer, Zémira nodded:
Zémira:
Ah, okay... I understand. Well, now that he can't see me and I'm safe in this spiritual space, I'll focus.
She placed her hands in front of her, anointed them with energy, then closed her eyes. A green aura emanated from her body, enveloping Erasa as well in its glow.
Faced with this, Gilead frowned.
Gilead:
Are you in such a hurry to die? Activating your aura so quickly won't save you.
But Erasa noticed that Gilead could not perceive Zémira. The spiritual space she had created was designed to be totally imperceptible. That's where the power of the Four-Leaf Clover was to come into play, in a place perfectly out of sight...