Chapter 75: Filler again? Transition?

(I never explicitly stated about Ray having multiple personalities due to his heavy reliance on Self-hypnosis in the early days. The Inner Demon was actually All the World's Evil corrupting and fused with his persona he would put on in battle when he was still a Flight Mage. Will become relevant because Alma chosen the third method which similar to first, reconcilate with his Inner Demon, it wasn't remove but become a symbiosis like Ichigo and Zangetsu. The Inner Demon is his more dominant, brutal, merciless and sociopathic, his Yin side. Which is abnormal because the Dominant usually is the Yang side. The reconcilation mean the Alter Ray will for now accept Ray but if he is dissatisfied by him, he will burst out again. For example if he shows weaknesses, being below Alter Ray expectation because Alter Ray didn't want to follow a weak and incompetent leader as he himself embodied that trait.)

(Long ass talk but I need to put it here because I didn't have a place to put this explanation in the actual chapter.)

(Anyway, here is the chapter.)

"Threat removed but not eliminated." Ritsuka confirmed with the HQ after seeing everything return to calm and the battle ended with the Legion of Undying and Demon Gods stopping the battle.

Zelretch already left earlier because there are things he needs to resolve after the damages Ray had done.

The giant tree finally withered and a blushed and disheveled Alma appeared from the withering tree with Ray on her arms as she returned to the marble throne.

Ritsuka and the three worried servants follow behind him.

Kama repeatedly advises Ritsuka to eliminate Ray because she can feel it as the effect of her authorities, Alter Ray isn't fully subdued and could re-emerge again and cause a similar disaster. But, Ritsuka being Ritsuka, used his Talk no Jutsu to convince Kama it's alright.

The fact why everyone present on the side that opposed Alter Ray previously except Alma, Ritsuka and Mashu are adamant on killing Alter Ray is because he is a bug. Perhaps haxx is more appropriate because if he didn't try to ascend to take up Ahriman position as Evil God, they wouldn't be able to temporarily subdue Alter Ray and seal away his power at all.

Everyone still nervously waits, to verify the threat is subdued yet or not.

At least the expanding ring of light band had been halted by Zelretch's effort.

A while later, the demonic appearance along with malevolent miasma receded and everyone sighed in relief as they cheered.

Ray slowly cracks open his eyes and sluggishly brings his still recovering vision to look around. The memories that took place after he was plunged into the depth of his consciousness started to flow into his head and reacted by holding his head.

"I did all that didn't I?" With a shaky voice as he is still in the process of regaining the missing memories. He guiltily looked at Alma and then everyone.

"Shh. It's alright. What's done is done. Facing tribulations is a common thing for every cultivator as that is what will temper us and reach greater heights in life." Alma brings Ray closer and hugs his head with a tinge of blush still present on her face as memories of the deed she did surfaced when looking at his face.

However, not everyone seems to agree with a good happy ending as Goddess Rhongomyniad lifts her sacred lance with the intention of total elimination of threat to humanity.

Ritsuka used Talk no Jutsu but failed to convince her that Ray can atone for his mistake. Not that she didn't believe it. But the severity of the risk if another disaster happened again outweighs the benefit of doubt. It's more logical to destroy the threat that can become the antithesis of Ahura Mazda, Ahriman. Which can and will nuke the entire verse into oblivion due to it having access to two Magics.

'Are you going to let that insect talk down on you like this?' Ray heard a voice similar to him but contained pride and viciousness unfamiliar to himself.

'Don't forget our deal. I only obey a competent leader, not a spineless coward that's too afraid to even defend his own pride.' The voice added.

'Who are y-' Ray stopped mid speech and the final bit of memory entered his mind. The thing he did with Alma and the condition for his alter ego's obedience.

In his foremind, he can see Alma is defending Ray by trying to talk with Goddess Rhongomyniad who basically wouldn't accept any opinion and will see her action through.

'Tsk, you are too slow. Watch and learn, idiot. How useless are you that you can only hide behind your woman's skirt every time.'

Ray wanted to refute by saying it didn't happen every time but stopped because it was a trap to make him admit he did and a show of his weaknesses.

His alter ego seized control of the body again and entered the foremind.

———

Everyone become tensed and instantly lock on to Ray who suddenly returned to his previous state and malevolent miasma reappeared and did his transformation into his demonic appearance.

Alma looked back in shock and anger but Alter Ray was faster to clarify.

"Don't worry, I adhere to the pact we made. It's just that incompetent idiot is just too stupid and keeps hiding behind you that I have to show him some rope." Alter Ray sat aloof on the throne befitting a king and snapped his finger to retract Ars Nova which made him absorb all the energy he gathered and store them in the artifact, Solomon's Rings.

Alma was perplexed but seeing that there isn't any sign of possession, means this takeover was consented by Ray.

"Heed my order. Aren't you going to defend her Master?" Alter Ray spoked but to no one.

Second later, His right arm, up to the shoulder was equipped with dark indigo plate armor and the darker Rhongomyniad appeared in his hand, much to everyone's surprise. But Ray was moved at all, emotionally as he flatly looked at the sacred lance opposite to Goddess Rhongomyniad in appearance.

"Don't worry. I have his permission. Now, just focus and serve as my weapon to rip apart my foe."

The fangs on Rhongomyniad glowed and the sheath turned glowing red in contrast to Goddess Rhongomyniad which was glowing with sacred golden light.

"Shatter by my strength, thirteen restraints. Rip and tear. Rend and devour the flesh of my foe, Fangs of the Red Dragon."

"Rhongomyniad"

Thirteen magic circles appeared on Rhongomyniad and absorbed mana from Ray before it shoots a condensed red beam similar to Dragon Breaths at Goddess Rhongomyniad who eyes widened in surprise that Alter Ray possessed a Rhongomyniad and was able to wield it too!

Her Rhongomyniad spun open from the base like an umbrella and formed a shield.

If what Ray shot was just normal Rhongomyniad, the Goddess can still defend but this attack was imbued with Y Ddraig Goch's power and has an addition of firepower of the phantasmal creature. Her hastily created shield crack under the attack and she was pushed back, much to everyone's disbelief that a divine spirit was pushed back with an attack that was made casually. She eventually resisted the attack and fell to her knees with a battered appearance.

"Begone now, pests. Your task has already been completed and I forgo my wish to destroy this universe. Leave while I still have mercy and patience." Alter Ray declared with a tone and presence that deny any refusal.

Kama, along with a few scowls at his arrogant conduct to demand from them. Yet, the pacifist Ritsuka agreed and Talked no Jutsu his company after seeing Princess Arc, the Counter Force agent just agreed and left without any fuss.

Goddess Rhongomyniad was hesitant but also left soon after. However, not without a warning that she will return and kill Ray if he becomes a threat again and swore to hunt him down like Proto Arthur did to Beast 666 and his former Master.

After everyone left, Alter Ray dismissed the Demon Gods and his Legion. He returned the control of the body back to Ray. Then Ray released everyone and apologized several times until they had enough of it and told him to stop because they forgave him. But still, Ray felt guilty and made a self-exile in the Temple of Time, saying he needed time to sort his mind.

Initially, most rejected because they were afraid he would do something even reckless behavior without their supervision. But Alma told them to let him be and he needed time to fully reconcilate with his Inner Demon, to achieve a similar page view of both sides because her help is limited. It depends on himself to fully control his rebellious other side and come to an agreement.

Thus he spends his time inside the Temple of Time, trying to make use of its ability to leave the time axis and fix himself quickly before reuniting with everyone.

———

'Why I tolerate you, you ask?'

'Yes.' Ray knew his Alter is literally the better him. Confident to speak whatever he wanted, courage to attempt anything Ray would hesitate, fearless even against insurmountable odds even find it more exciting, merciless as he would slaughter worlds if it would bring slight progress to his ambition and many more.

Ray looks himself like a shadow of his Alter. The inferior one that had relied on his Alter on almost everything outside his comfort zone or translated to anytime he was in public up to the Teyvat world where he could show his real self without worry as his companions will support him regardless.

'You do know I am literally you and I can hear your mind. It disgusts me to know my supposed original were such a coward. Yet, I tolerate you because I am a Daemon. I was born from your deepest wish and it's the purpose of my to grant that wish. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and I tolerate you because we have a common enemy, Ray Elliot. That's all. Nothing more and nothing less.'

'So, you're going to kill me after we defeat him?'

Alter Ray looks at Ray like he is looking at a dumbass for asking such an obvious question.

'I suppose. If that isn't obvious enough, dumbass. What? You gonna kill me now? I bet you didn't even have the courage to do it because you think it's better if I fight in your stead when fighting Ray Elliot.' Alter Ray scowled with a pissed face because he can read that is exactly what Ray was thinking about. He wouldn't force himself because he knew Alter would do the job for him if he couldn't.

In Alter mind, he was saying. 'Screw it, I'm gonna straighten up this procrastinating piece of shit with my own hand.'

'Oi! Didn't we have a deal? Hey!' Ray panicked when Alter Ray suddenly created a sword in his hand and slash him.

'Deal? What deal?' Alter asked coldly.

Ray dropped to the ground and rolled when the sword stab down on where he was a moment ago.

'There's nothing you cannot do. It's just a matter of motivation. Something a nihilistic piece of shit didn't have. You didn't care as much about those you proclaimed to love. You didn't even care if you died because there isn't anything to tie you down except for your women.' Alter drag the sword along the ground toward Ray who previously rolled to the side. 'Those motivation is weak as shit! Is this the motivation a person is living to seek vengeance?! Even a peasant out there has more motivation and willpower than you, to feed his family! Yet you, it's pathetic to the level it's revolting to even watch!' Alter Ray created Homing Cluster Shot after Ray went out of his sword's range.

'Since death cannot deter you, then let me make it so you beg for it. Beg for the sweet sweet embrace of Death!'

Alter Ray didn't stop there as more magic circles appeared around him and fired a variety of magic projectiles at Ray, hunting him down like a dog.

'Yeah, so this will be a training arc for a while, author. Don't bother writing it all down and just do a time skip.' Alter Ray leisurely converse with the existence outside of reality while Ray finally gets the clue that Alter Ray isn't joking and puts up some resistance with Rho Aias to block the magic projectiles.

[How long should the timeskip be?]

'Dunno, you the author. Not me. Also, do time really relevant since we could spend an eternity here and not a second passed outside.'

[Yeah, you're right. Anyway, Just don't kill him for real. His consciousness needs to stay here as the time had yet to ripe.]

'That's the plan boss. Swift death is a blessing for this kind of bastard. He needs to be instilled with the value of living or he will never learn to appreciate it. Also, we need to revise the hiring contract. This job is obviously above what we agreed before.'

[No worries. I'll triple your pay if you can turn him into a competent MC.]

'Kay. Always pleasant to do business with generous patron.'

[You too, John Bloodborne.]

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