First Outer World Story Series: The Black Mist that Devours - Chapter 153
Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter
(Kurokiri POV)
“So you have shown up.”
“I’m here.”
The God of Calamity was waiting for me in a circular arena whose floor and walls were fabricated from bizarre plants.
“Now, I have a question for you before we fight. That is your intention, too, isn’t it?”
“Well, yeah. Even though I’ve done a lot of research on you, and I’ve observed a lot of things in ‘The World on the Other Shore’ that you’ve created, there are still things that don’t add up.”
I entered the arena and faced the God of Calamity.
Of course, I would keep up my utmost defenses and perception sorcery without any slackening.
“If I recall correctly, the world prior to your intervention was a world of inertia, with no new technologies being created. But even so, the world would not be destroyed and would continue to exist. So, why did you refer to it as a dying world? And why would you think that the turmoil you’ve wreaked on the globe will save it?”
That was my recollection shortly before the present state of my existence began.
At the time, I didn’t think it was a mystery, and I didn’t question it for more than ten years after I was transformed into a Demon King.
Nonetheless, that story struck me as strange from my current viewpoint as a sorcerer. Even if the world was on its way to destruction, there might have been people who would have discovered sorceries someday, as I did, and there would have been the chance of an entirely new technology being invented.
And even if the world was actually heading on a road to its doom, it would probably be a story that would unfold over a period of a hundred years. Therefore, I felt that the initial story said by the God of Calamity was not right.
“Oh, you mean that story. Are you familiar with the story of a country that launched a nuclear weapon into the first barrier I set up?”
“I’ve heard of it. What about it?”
“That nuclear weapon would have been employed even if the barriers hadn’t been erected.”
“…!?”
The words of the God of Calamity were a jarring one.
If her words were to be believed, the world would undoubtedly come to an end there. A single use of a nuclear weapon will result in a single retaliation from the targeted country, which will lead to even more retaliation. That was the weapon known as a nuclear weapon.
“But… that alone wouldn’t mean the world would end…”
However, I didn’t believe that would be the end of the world. People were not that foolish.
“That’s right. If that were the only thing, the world would not end. However, with just one trigger, the entire planet will come crashing down in one single swoop at a rate that no human being can keep up with.”
“So that’s why Demon Kings came into existence.”
“To be more exact, the metamorphosis into a Demon King was essential in order to achieve the desired outcome of warping the world’s destiny. Well, either way, the world did not perish and we are here today, while my research has progressed.”
That made a certain amount of sense.
“So, then, my conversion to the Demon King was either a coincidence or my influence on the world was significant?”
“From your point of view, that may be so. But that doesn’t matter now. Am I right?”
“Yeah. It no longer matters.”
Without dropping my guard, I re-adjusted my posture, assumed a fighting stance, and posed the next question.
“So let me ask you this. Who are you a replica of?”
“!?”
That was what I had been wondering ever since entering “The World on the Other Shore”.
If I had to use one word to depict this “The World on the Other Shore” as far as I had seen it, I would call it “imitation”.
The imitation of the initial sacred beasts I saw. Imitations of supposedly extinct plants and animals. Imitations of fantastical landscapes that have been forgotten. A book imitating the life of a dead person.
There was no end to the list.
That was why I pondered on it. I wonder if an entity that created such a world was likewise a replica of another entity.
And the outcome of what I had heard was a slight but definite agitation. There was no mistaking it.
“I have no… obligation to answer you!”
The God of Calamity’s form faded from view as soon as she waved her arms, and dozens of divine beasts surrounded and assaulted me en masse.
But instead of intimidation, I sensed a strange presence from somewhere else.
So I aimed my sorcery at the strange presence that I can faintly feel and said, “Aren’t you taking me too lightly?”
To shatter the God of Calamity’s illusion, I fired a magical shot at a tree that was the source of the strange presence.
“Tch, I guess this is not enough to confuse you.”
The God of Calamity clicked her tongue while moving her arms and releasing dozens of wooden javelins.
I see, the earlier illusionary technique stopped me in my tracks and she struck with these wooden javelins. But if it was the God of Calamity…
I produced the same number of iron javelins to counteract the wooden javelins of the God of Calamity, and at the same time, I leaped back from the spot. From the area where I stood just now, a massive black pillar of fire erupted.
“‘Eye of Law Analysis,’ activated.”
Focusing my “Eye of Law Analysis” on the wooden javelins and the black pillar of fire, I analyzed it and immediately read the result.
The name of the wooden javelin was ?Youthful Viscum Album?. It was an imitation of the branch of the tree that killed the god who was supposed to be impenetrable to injury.
As for the black pillar of fire, the name was ?Heavenly Impulse Black God’s Fire Tower?. It was an imitation of the God’s flame that incinerated all who come into contact with it, engulfing them in flames.
Both of these techniques were virtually guaranteed to be deadly if it hit a target.
But in the end, they were both nothing but imitations.
“Where is your original? And what is your research? Now, spit it all out!”
“Shut up! You guinea pig!”
While preparing my next sorcery, I approached the God of Calamity and tried to get close to her.
Perhaps the God of Calamity didn’t like to engage in close combat since she desperately attempted to distance herself from me using skills I had never encountered before.
The fight was still raging.