Chapter 178: Revelations

A ripple on the vast sea would go unnoticed by most people, but it becomes a different thing for the people nearby.

"...Nobu."

It was the first time Melusine uttered Nobu's name without any form of title. Throughout this year and a half, their relationship improved, but she usually called him "partner".

Nevertheless, their 'true' relationship was something derived from the contract of a "Master" and a "Heroic Spirit". They have a connection solely exclusive to them.

No matter what happened, this connection persisted…

…until now.

Only a single moment had passed when Melusine was greatly disturbed by this sensation. Her chest tightened at the immediate thought of something happening to him.

"There's no doubt. It's the same."

A voice sounded in her mind.

"You shouldn't make the same mistake as I."

Upon leaving those words, the other Melusine left.

"A mistake… There is no way I will repeat it."

During their visit into the sixth singularity, Melusine was 'blessed' by the corpse of Albion. It had the same fate as all the other Albions did.

Due to its stubbornness, it didn't choose to go into the Reverse Side to reside, but rather stayed in the 'human world' to resist the turbulent waves of time. That was the time when Earth was damaged by the slaying of gods done by the White Titan.

In the end, Albion was not able to resist the decreasing mysteries and magical energy concentration of the world.

What Melusine inherited weren't only its strength, but also its regrets.

'To not repeat a mistake.'

It was ironic.

Aside from its first mistake of remaining on Earth, Albion (Melusine) made another mistake, one that she continued to regret up until now.

She wasn't able to remain fully calm, thus she wasn't even able to see the other Nobu's final moments.

Now, Melusine stood upon that mountain of regrets.

"He made a system… an association with all the stars of other worlds."

Since their connection was cut off, her first option was to track the 'countermeasures' left by him—his traces from another world.

"This barrier… If this exists…"

Currently, Melusine was standing on top of the Tokyo Tower. She was serving as the onlooker of the current fight below, which entailed the [Entropy] calamity. The [Seven Suns] calamity broke out in China while this black hole was left in Japan.

Suimei, the main player against [Entropy], entrusted Melusine the role of an overlooker. The moment an unpredictable thing occurs, she would be here to respond to it.

Though…

"You are looking for the stars."

A familiar voice came from behind. When Melusine turned around, she saw glittering starlight around the goddess.

Without the restrictions on her Arcanum, Artemis was able to fully utilize her strength. She could immediately travel throughout the entire world within a few seconds. It was similar to the principles of space magicka, but much more complex.

Thinking about Artemis' special relationship with Nobu, Melusine simply nodded.

"We have a way to reach him."

"We?"

Just as Melusine muttered, another goddess appeared beside her. Seeing her, Melusine felt surprised.

The goddess, Hephaestus, was completely different from her usual easy-going self. Sparks of crimson flame surrounded her body. It demonstrated a level of spirituality only found in conscious beings.

As the god of smithing, Hephaestus has a 'divine flame' accompanying her. It was just that it was greatly restricted when her Arcanum was sealed. It was only during their arrival on Earth did it become active once again.

"That promised date… I wouldn't let him get away without it."

Somehow, the two girls could feel a tinge of resentment from Hephaestus' voice. The latter crossed her arms as she closed her eyes.

Several moments later, she opened her eyes.

"Back then, Nobu and I forged a blade for his disciple. It was the special kind that grew with its user." Hephaestus explained before turning to Melusine. "Artemis and I could sense our connection with his constellation. We could sense that world's presence, but the rest lies on you."

Before Nobu's world experienced a calamity, he placed a [World Barrier] to prevent otherworlders from entering this world. It was the time it became isolated to prevent the Twilight Syndrome from extending into other worlds, just like what happened with the Black Dragon.

Although, Louise and Saito made a clear exception, mostly with the former's special physique and magic. They were able to enter [Earth] without disturbing the [World Barrier].

Coupled with Nobu's own experience of doing something similar to it, he created a way to potentially travel through worlds that don't accept outsiders—a way to bypass [World Barriers].

That method was exactly the technique Melusine needed to use.

"The [World Crossing] method is plausible, but you forgot one thing!"

Unexpectedly, another one arrived at their 'small gathering'. The three girls didn't need to see who it was as they already recognized her.

Who wasn't inconvenienced by the crazy and obsessed girl who stuck to Nobu since the time she arrived?

"If you already know the coordinates of that world, we could directly enter that world. There's no need to look for it aimlessly… and I know where that world is."

Manaka proudly crossed her arms under the eyes of the three girls.

"Mn… Weren't you assigned a role?"

"I didn't have to face the two calamities, unlike the unfortunate ones." Manaka replied flatly. "So, are we going to do it?"

A dragon, two goddesses, and one obsessive girl immediately set out onto a new world.

*****

Izumo.

A planet located amongst the vast universe. Nobody but a single soul knew that this world was graced by the presence of a traveler three hundred years ago.

Rumble-!

The world is heading towards destruction.

This was the current trend of their planet. After three hundred years, Izumo overcame one sovereign after another. It was a few moments ago did they eradicate the fourteenth and final sovereign—the Sovereign of the End.

However…

Nobody could have expected a black hole to appear in their skies. From that moment onwards, everything was pulled into its existence.

Nothing was an exception. Be they humans, remaining kamis, or inorganic matters, they were all pulled towards that black hole.

It was such an irony that the one to end them wasn't the disaster they feared, but an unexpected thing… or rather, a portion of a god.

"Cough… That's a god."

The familiar voice who guided Mei through countless tribulations became present once again.

"Kami?" 

"No, it's not the kami. In this world, these are the renowned Aeons… or the gods presiding over a certain authority."

Gods.

It wasn't an unfamiliar term to Mei. She heard Galahad mention it countless times. In fact, her current strength itself is on-par to one. She had long reached the highest level of what a [Swordsman] could reach. 

As for becoming a [World], that was a different matter altogether. It is a chasm that truly separates the transcendent from anyone else.

"It's not just a god. You could feel it."

"That power… Have you seen it for yourself?" Mei asked.

"...I did."

The difference between a [Magister] and a [World] was too vast. Even if someone is extremely talented and could go through the [Magister] level within a few years, that would be their limit.

Lord Nettesheim alone took one thousand years at that level, yet he was not able to reach what Suimei did within several years.

It is the biggest chasm of 'life'. It wasn't an exaggeration when the [World Magister] Nobu could kill his [Magister] self with nothing but a look.

Now, the black hole demonstrated a level of power similar to that.

"...Was everything for naught?" She could not help but mutter.

The battle between them and the fourteenth sovereign happened not long ago. Everyone remained either exhausted or injured. As such, no one from her entire team was able to resist the suction force of the black hole.

Only Mei was able to resist it due to the sheer difference of strength between her and the others from her world.

"I have to apologize, Mei."

"Galahad?"

"I am partly responsible for this."

At this moment, Mei noticed his voice becoming weaker.

"Something unexpected happened. I will not be able to accompany you any longer."

"Galahad..?"

The white-haired man manifested into this world for the second time. He was wearing the same knight outfit as he did before. The feeling of holiness spread throughout their surroundings.

"This disaster… It should've lasted for three more days before reaching the conclusion, unlike now. That would be the time for you to head towards your final battle."

Galahad, no, Nobu narrated her 'original fate'.

Three days later, she would fight it out with Hakuhatsu Ki, the wielder of the "End". They would engage in a battle to find meaning for their actions during several hundred years. 

It was basically a battle between two broken people whose world was ended by an ironic intervention of an indomitable god, rendering all of their efforts completely useless.

"You will gain the blade with both the 'Origin' and the 'End', thus forging 'Naught'. Though, that isn't the case now."

Mei held the blade on her hands more tightly. Before she fought against her first 'Sovereign', Nobu granted her this blade. It was forged by him and Hephaestus, serving as a growth-type item that could accompany someone until the end of the [Magister] path.

As for its name…

"Tsukahasu." (Departure).

She muttered its name unknowingly. Ever since she saw literally everyone within Izumo get sucked by the black hole within thirty seconds, she lost her focus now and then. She could have 'saved' some people within her reach, yet nothing came out of her mind when she saw the full-blown appearance of IX.

That momentary daze was enough for her to wake up in a world where everyone was gone.

"Listen closely."

Nobu's voice woke her up from her stupor.

"That thing is a god's phantom… a result of interference in nature. It froze time and recorded the Aeon itself. You may call it their shadow."

All worlds have classifications. That goes the same with Aeons. There are normal Aeons, but there are existences that go beyond the majority. They could either have an 'aspect' of a [World] or have already become a [World] itself.

IX is at the level of a [World], but due to several circumstances, they became their present self. They are, in a sense, an abnormal [World] akin to a [God King] whose personality got damaged by their ascension.

Their [Ego] was broken, making them far different from their usual self. In the worst case, they completely lose their sense of [Self] and become a machination of that [concept].

That was something Nobu had been avoiding since day one. It is for such a reason that when he saw IX, he already decided to lend them a hand.

Later on, he found out that more Aeons were 'damaged' in some way, thus making this world 'unique' in his eyes.

"What should I do..?"

Mei already knew that her trusted mentor had a way out from the moment he began speaking.

"You must first complete your blade."

Upon hearing that, she silently took hold of the twelve blades on the ground. Each one of them has a different charm. Some of them demonstrated 'wind', while the others 'fire', 'earth', and so on.

Currently, Mei is wearing a white and red hakama. Her white hair fluttered along the wind. Her current state was the result of her [Infinite Conversion] state.

The image of a lonely girl being surrounded by twelve swords pierced on the ground created a unique moment.

Consequently, Mei took out a glowing black and red orb out of nowhere. It was the 'body' of the fourteenth sovereign, the Sovereign of the End.

All of a sudden, the katana on her hand glowed a dazzling white light. The same went for the fourteen 'bodies' of the sovereigns.

In the midst of this, Nobu's voice reached her ears once again.

"Tsukahasu. To depart from all suffering." He said. "But, it isn't enough to depart."

The character etched onto the blade's center, 'Departure', started changing.

"I will give you the strength to fight against all suffering."

Hum-!

Nobu's existence within this world was shielded by IX. Coupled with his choice to hide, his presence wasn't seen by this world.

Now, he took the initiative to reveal his true self.

"This is your final trial, Mei." The voice began to weaken. "You can call my name for strength."

"Galahad."

"Akasaka Nobu."

The characters on her blade began solidifying. From Tsukahasu (Departure), it soon became…

"Hatsugen." (Revelations.)