Epona

He continued in his crackling voice.

"Grant me the opportunity Epona."

"..."

The golden eyes of the goddess wavered.

"Are you not aware? A second chance... is something humans cannot endure."

As she said.

Until that day, there had not been a single human who had survived after attempting to reach god rank in strength for the entire history of the continent.

Since that power was simply too overwhelming, no one was able to endure so much pain.

Even the Flower family's First Duke, until the end, had not been able to release his blood locks.

"Even if you are the Semi-God who killed the Beast God."

"You have to remember that he was not in good condition after being sealed for so long by the former Duke of your family."

****

During the Beast God's rampage, the Flower family did not have a high status in the Empire that was destroyed during that chaos.

Accompanied by his best friends who later became his knights he sealed the Beast God with the help of the head of the Imperial family at the time.

At the end of the battle and when it was decided to establish a new Empire, the Flower family had been badly wounded and lost the opportunity to be a candidate for the throne.

Relying only on the personal strength of the Duke's son, who was badly wounded, they managed to retain the power of a Duke.

****

"The chances of a second chance to be a God and survive are one in a thousand? no, it's not even one in ten thousand."

"If I can't be that 'one', then there would be no reason for me to live, you said so yourself."

"Chaos is coming, without being able to protect yourself I don't know what will happen."

Balar replied in his determined voice.

"..."

Epona closed her eyes thoughtfully again and slowly approached him.

"Very well, warrior Balar, a descendant of the ancient God of War, this Goddess will grant you the opportunity."

She placed her hands on Balar's shoulder.

"According to the oath, the second chance will settle the moment you attempt to enter the state of enlightenment. Besides... this Goddess will come to fetch you personally."

"Come to fetch me?"

By what methods?

Did that mean that his second attempt would have her help?

"That's right."

She, in other words, would help them endure the pain by increasing the odds that he would pass the test.

"If you're able to endure, your family might have it a little easier against all the ancient beasts that are awakening."

"That's... a bit reassuring."

Balar's stiff face began to relax.

He phrased it as a bit reassuring, but his heart was pounding as if it would explode.

Since Epona was one of the 'Oldest Goddesses', her word carried weight.

"Then, I will begin the fulfillment of the promise at once."

"Wait."

With Epona behind him, Balar turned his body.

He looked toward the spot where the Beast God had collapsed.

"Ha..."

He grabbed the mask covering the Beast God's face with his trembling hands.

And then...

He took off the mask.

"...Ah."

In the absence of the mask, the face of an old man with slightly droopy eyes was revealed.

"This is... the face of the Beast God."

For someone who had made the entire world tremble in fear, he had the appearance of someone very gentle and gentle.

"... Mmm?"

Balar's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked at the face of the dead Beast God.

"Have I seen it before?"

He searched diligently through his confused memories, but nothing came to mind.

What was important was the fact that he had confirmed the face of the 'Beast God'.

"Abandinus wasn't that strong when he first appeared."

He had to investigate his origin to prevent any descendants in the current era from having a way to use his power.

He had only begun to grow stronger at an alarming rate by using the power of his bloodline to devour the power of the others; when he first showed himself to the world, he was nothing more than a common warrior.

If only I could kill him before he became the monster under the instigation of the sealed Gods.

"I can save them, or at least hold out until Raimon awakens to his full potential."

"The only one in the family and the Empire who knows about how Belenus chose him is me."

"He has to grow up for sure so the family doesn't fall.

The things he stands to lose and could not protect.

The countless amount of regrets he had with the former Duchess who had disappeared because of his carelessness would not be repeated.

"This time."

"There is not much time left, Semi-God Balar.

The hurried voice of the Goddess Epona.

Lifting his body, Balar nodded his head.

"I don't have any information besides her face, but I do seem to have seen any descendants."

It didn't matter.

He knew the location where the exit was he gathered up the memories of his knights and departed back to the Duchy.

"Good. Return me to Castle Cailleach."

Balar stood up and began to approach Epona.

A huge array of lights began to wrap around Balar's body.

"The Beasts and those guys."

To him.

The bastards who took everything.

"I'll kill you."

And with that...

An ancient castle the size of a world wonder in Raimon's ancient world appeared in Balar's sight.

****

'Ah...'

The headache sensation woke Raimon from his dream.

The sky in the Castle of Blood is too dark.

Looking up at the sky with a pale face was thunder and a gloomy atmosphere.

The black sky that day was blindingly bright with thunder; the light shone without a single sign of clouds.

Isn't it so?

This day unbeknownst to ordinary people many powerful people on the continent could not sleep because of the news they received.

Demonic sects and evil cults that enshrined bloody gods raised a carnival.

"Reineza, can you get me some water?"

Heading to his desk amidst the darkness Raimon sat down and began to try to write down the words he had heard in that dream.

It is a habit Raimon has developed over the years since he learned the common language of this world.