Epilogue (Part 2) ─ To be or not to be a Sword God?

After that day, five years passed. I still remember it as if it were yesterday.

Mary told everything to her mother, who began to cry and apologize, but she reassured her by saying it was okay. I swore to Shannon and Mary that I would make them happy, just like everyone else.

I have lived through many events up to this day.

"Do you really think you can defeat me? Me! Your creator!"

"I'll do it even if I have to die!"

I was fighting in the sea of stars, what a certain goddess called space.

Around me, there was darkness illuminated by bright points far away. After defeating the emperor of the magical empire and reaching level 100 to become a Sword God, I didn't realize that this was actually the worst decision I made.

He descended from the sky, my creator Zelzeus, who thanked me for everything I had done and then proceeded to stab me and destroy almost the entire empire.

He told me I was just a created tool, an extension of his body; therefore, by eliminating me, the experience I gained would be his.

Mary and the others cried for me. But it was then that, upon dying, I finally met her, the Supreme Goddess of Creation, Elria, a woman with blue hair and eyes, identical to Shannon.

Apparently, she created Shannon so that Mary could be born; not just her, five other girls were born from women identical to Shannon, but they all died.

Mary and the other girls are reincarnations of the goddesses who died fighting against the God King, a perverse being who created worlds and destroyed them for fun.

Elria contacted me because the God King of this world was one of Zelzeus's targets. She took the role of God to protect this world, being just a mere archangel. The swords of light she used were actually the last will of the six sisters who died protecting Elria.

And since I was a creation of Zelzeus, she used me to create a countermeasure against him; I didn't find out about this until it was too late.

The world began to be destroyed by Zelzeus little by little. He started looking for Elria, who wasn't in her astral plane, but living in the planet's core. Many enemy countries that I couldn't face were destroyed by him.

Before dying, I met the owner of this body, the man once called Luke Zora Bartford. Luke approached me and did two things. The first was to have stolen his body, causing his family and fiancée to be sad. The second thing he said to me was,

"To survive, we need to become one. You and I will no longer be two souls living in the same body; we will become one."

My memories as Regulus and Luke's memories will be one. There was no time to consult with anyone or even ask if it was okay.

Elria told me this was the only option. I met Emma at the academy; she told me I was Luke, and I rejected her and belittled her until the end. But that was because I denied the truth I was hiding.

I unintentionally hurt the people important to me because the emperor was just like me. He was a being created by Zelzeus but to bring chaos in his name.

He even revealed that I was the criminal who destroyed the Holy Kingdom of Soule. All my bonds were broken, and I couldn't explain anything to them.

That's why I accepted the union Luke spoke of: two souls would become one. At the same time, Elria would give me all her power to stop him. For that reason, a new being was born, taking the memories of two different entities and the powers of the last goddess of the universe. I was born, Regulus-Zelzeus, the Supreme Sword God.

Immediately after being born, I found out that Zelzeus went to kill the goddesses, and his first target was Mary. She was defended by none other than Russell, who gave his life to protect her. After arriving, I watched as his body was erased by the ash sword he used. I grabbed him and threw him into the sky.

Right now, while I was fighting the man who was supposed to be my creator, I was horrified to see the decaying state of the planet. I asked him his motives while our swords clashed in this vast, cold place.

"Why do you want to destroy everything?"

"If you wish to be the supreme god, wouldn't it be better to have planets to rule over? Why do you want to destroy everything so much?"

I asked while dodging the sharp star attacks he launched. In the distance, I saw a small planet get hit by one of those attacks and disappear.

That wasn't the only attack he made. More and more strikes were hitting small planets or asteroids nearby. For that reason, I decided to end this quickly; the planet where Mary and the others live is being destroyed because Zelzeus uses its energy as power.

"Wait, Regulus."

Elria's voice stopped me.

"What should I wait for?"

"I have to use all my power to kill him, or else..."

"Is that why?"

She stopped talking, as did Zelzeus's attacks.

"You can't defeat Zelzeus for a simple reason."

He, from a distance, told me his reason.

"It's because he is immortal."

"I hate gods. They hurt me so much, not once, but many times. The first time I died, they resurrected me. Then they forced me to fight to the death to save the world, which ended up being destroyed again and again. A god named Zeus was in charge of my universe. When I died for the millionth time, I met him; he told me everything I'm telling you now, then tried to kill me for good with this very sword I have in my hand. Since he was a lazy bum, he threw the sword away, and I quickly picked it up to kill him. I succeeded, and then, due to the rage I felt, I devoured him, and that's how I, Zel, became Zelzeus. By killing the other gods, I devour them and thus gain more strength; in the end, I ended up becoming immortal."

"Everything he says is true."

When Zelzeus finished speaking, Elria backed up what he said.

"But there is a chance to defeat him."

"What is it?"

She told me the only chance to kill Zelzeus.

"You must die along with him."

"...!"

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

I was speechless; Zelzeus attacked again.

"I already told you my reasons. No matter how much you cry, it's over for you and them, Regulus."

I dodged his attacks, but some of them hit me occasionally. My lack of attention was simple.

"Is there no other way?"

"Zelzeus never thought the day would come when a part of him would merge with one of the gods he hates so much. You must get close and let his sword pierce you, and then you do the same. With that, he will receive the same damage you give him. If he eliminates you now, nothing will happen to him, as he could discard a large part of his power to survive."

"But that means I'll die too."

"Not just that..."

"I know."

I replied bitterly.

"I won't be able to return home."

After taking another hit, I saw the planet was almost destroyed.

I don't know if they are still alive, but Elria explained to me,

"When Zelzeus dies, all the stolen energy will be returned. However, there is a possibility of a reset, and no one will remember you."

"I see."

I made a firm decision.

"I guess this is the punishment for becoming a Sword God."

"It's the gods' punishment for being ambitious and the humans' punishment for wanting to be like the gods. In the end, gods are nothing but a burden to everyone."

I laughed a little and agreed with what she said.

"That's truly funny."

"It was a pleasure following you from the beginning, Regulus."

"Likewise, Elria."

"Luke, if you can hear me, I hope you can be reborn and make Emma happy. And, if possible, that Mary and Russell be happy even without me."

It reminded me a bit of my final battle against Nero, who told me, "The end is not the closure to life that everyone believes; it is the beginning that happens when all the pain disappears."

Now I understood his words. Surely, Nero was someone who lived through hell and wanted to live. But he couldn't and opted for the wrong path thanks to Hades. If everything resets, I hope you too can find happiness.

I could no longer see darkness; everything was erased: the galaxies, the stars, the planet where Mary and the others were, even the sun was erased. There was nothing left, only Zelzeus and me in this white space we called the universe.

"Zelzeus!"

I screamed with all my might as I was being torn apart and regenerated by my power. Zelzeus drew his sword, and when I got close, I stabbed myself with it. Then he stabbed me. As he did so, a strange warm light came out of my body and struck the entire universe.

As the light expanded, I was able to see Zelzeus's memories. I understand him better now. The hatred, sadness, happiness, and bitterness he felt were genuine. He did not lie at any moment; he was truly filled with hatred. I asked him:

"Didn't you try to find a different way to live?"

"I didn't. There was no reason, no purpose other than that. To destroy everything."

"I see."

Our feet turned to ashes, and gradually we would become dust. With our end, everything would return to normal.

"Why didn't you try to achieve a false happiness, if possible?"

"I didn't want to. Hatred consumed me from within, I hated so much."

"I hated people so much; they were happy. If they died, they could reincarnate, but I had none of that."

"My life was a twisted game that served as a spectacle for bastards who enjoyed others' pain."

"I understand what you're saying."

Our legs disappeared, and now our torsos. The end had arrived, but I didn't want it to end this way. I extended my hand, which had not yet begun to deteriorate, and touched Zelzeus's shoulder.

"Are you afraid?"

"No. Nothing matters to me anymore; I feel nothing."

"I suppose this is what they call a bitter end."

"I don't think so."

"Why? We're both dead and will turn to ash."

Zelzeus, unlike me, was turning to ash faster. Before he disappeared completely, I said my last words:

"Because I am with you. Despite everything you did, I am your son, and you are my father."

"I will be with my father in death since he gave me life. At least we will be together, wherever we go, right?"

Before his head disappeared, I saw a small tear accompanied by the following words:

"Don't be foolish. I won't go to the place you're going."

After laughing, he disappeared completely. My vision was darkening. The end finally came.

All I could do was think about those who lived with me, and all I could do was pray that they would return and live a full and happy life without me. That's all I… ask…

Goodbye… Zelzeus…

Goodbye… everyone…

Goodbye… and I love you… Mary…

◇◇◇

Just as the goddess Elria said, once Regulus and Zelzeus died, the universe rewound as if nothing had happened. But there was something they did not know.

The events that transpired were witnessed by the souls of everyone in the world. Their battle ensured that as the world was reset, it did not lose its memories.

The happiness and sadness experienced remained in everyone's minds. Therefore, the entire world decided to put an end to the conflict that had been growing for years.

Each country decided to lay down their arms and extend their hands to end this cycle of hatred. No one wanted a new Zelzeus to be born. They needed to work together to prevent it.

In a garden of a small house in the countryside, a mother and her daughter approached an improvised grave to place a bouquet of flowers.

"Marie-chan, say hello to your daddy."

"Good morning, Daddy."

A grown-up Mary sat in the garden with her five-year-old daughter. She was identical to Mary, except for her blue eyes. They joined their hands to pray.

"Regulus, Luke, or whoever you are, you will always be my beloved Regulus."

"I come again, as I do every week, to thank you for what you did."

"As you can see, our daughter has grown a lot and now knows how to use the bathroom on her own, hehe."

Suddenly, tears streamed down from her cheeks to the ground.

"Not a single day goes by that I don't wish I could see you again. If there is a possibility to come back, please do."

"At least, I want you to meet our daughter."

"Alright, are you done?"

"Yes."

After wiping away her tears, Mary stood up and took her daughter's hand. From the garden, she saw her mother, her little son with Regulus, and Russell in a wheelchair waiting for them.

"We have to go to a concert of your mom's friend named Emma. Do you want to bring a toy?"

"… What's wrong?"

Mary asked Marie what had happened. She was waving at someone.

Marie pointed toward the improvised grave. There, she saw something that made time stand still for a brief moment.

She saw Regulus smiling and waving at them. Then, he disappeared with the wind.

Mary began to cry again and said her goodbyes.

"At least say hello, silly. Hehe."

After saying these words, she entered the house, unaware that she was being watched through a strange hole in the sky.

◇◇◇

"Uwaah! That was so emotional and sad."

"Uhhh. I wish I could have been there and witnessed it with my own eyes."

In a dark place with only a dim light, Zelzeus was present.

Or at least, that's what one would think; in reality, it was Regulus in his body.

After dying, Zelzeus appeared before him and handed over the power he had gathered.

"This is the only gift I give you aside from the life I gave you."

"I don't have a soul. When I die, I will neither go to heaven nor hell. I will simply be dust in the universe."

"You are different. You have people who care about you."

"You cannot return, as you are no longer human; if you step into that world, it will be destroyed by your presence."

"You will only be able to observe, as a mere examiner."

"But it is for that reason I give it to you. If you truly love that world, you must protect it from them."

Beside him was a beautiful woman with pale skin, white hair, and red eyes.

She had no name, and when she arrived in this space where Regulus was, she introduced herself as…

"Hello, my name is, shh. It's a secret."

"But I prefer to be called the Storyteller."

The Storyteller sat next to him to observe what he saw.

She was moved to tears and said:

"It's truly beautiful and sad at the same time."

"Be quiet."

"I can't believe all your effort was in vain."

"I told you to be quiet."

"Because in the end, I will make them my toys."

"Don't speak anymore!"

Regulus materialized the sword that could end all living beings and used it to cut the woman.

But she dodged it and seemed terrified.

"It really is the sword of creation and destruction. And you can wield it without losing your sanity."

"Amazing."

She applauded and informed him:

"I told Zelzeus-chan that one day someone would kill him; I didn't expect it to be you."

"But I don't care who it was. What matters is that now this universe is at my mercy to play with."

"If I don't hurry, those guys will come to play too."

"Who are they?"

Regulus asked, assuming a combat stance.

"Some friends called primordial gods. We feed on madness and despair."

"Do you think you can protect this universe on your own?"

The Storyteller's face began to distort, becoming a vortex of darkness from which tentacles emerged.

Regulus's sword gleamed as he smiled and said:

"Of course I can, because I…"

He lunged at her, cutting her in two.

"Because my ambition as the God of the Sword dictates, to protect Mary and the others for all eternity!"

"Whether it's you or anyone else! I will destroy them all!"

Mary and the others lived prosperous and happy lives, unaware that the entire universe was being protected by the Sword God.

The end.

_________________

Volume 3 completed.

Final Arc: The Road to becoming a Sword God, concluded.

________________

The fanservice will be the second part of the waifus in the novel along with the design of the goddess Elria and the final appearance of Regulus.

Mary

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/7896245

Shannon

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/4937366

Alice

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/5104837

Rose

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/7902747

Elria

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/4605175

Regulus-Zelzeus

https://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/7396506