Chapter 296
"... That woman, is she actually connected to the Himalayas...?"
Jalandhara looked surprised. When he was alive, the Himalayas Mountains were just a mountain, without any gods, yet he felt a strange fondness for it.
"I remember this guy only appears in the Himalayas Mountains once every few thousand years...?"
Andhaka was also somewhat puzzled.
"Who knows? Perhaps a god sought her help."
Vritra paused, "I don't want to fight her, which of you two will go?"
I'm not going.
"I didn't want to either..."
The three Asura rarely shared the same idea.
"Tsk."
Vritra clicked his tongue softly, his eyes fixed on the coalition of gods before him.
Then a strange phenomenon was observed. On the bodies of the gods, and even on the Three Aspects, something was condensing into the air. The Authority of the gods, or perhaps their very being, gradually merged into a strange, multicolored point of light, which was transmitted to Durga.
In an instant, the almost endless Holy Land extended to every part of the Underworld Realm. Vritra by reflex, and the stars of the Universe fell straight down, as if leading to eternal Hell. This made her shiver. The blood-red sky was dyed a pure white Divinity color, as if radiance was silently pouring down from the sky.
"I am Kali."
"I will do it."
The goddess transforms from Durga into Kali, yet Goddess does not exhibit the madness one would expect. Perhaps the madness stemming from the Authority over all of India is suppressed within her, or perhaps there are other reasons. In any case, the Goddess appearing as Kali is not insane.
"I will kill all enemies—"
"Oh dear, do you need my help? It seems like you don't."
Just as the Universe -shaking footsteps approached the Asuras King Coalition under Bhandasura, a voice suddenly rang out.
For Kali at this moment, even without turning around, she knew who the voice belonged to—it was Kama, who had been burned to death by Shiva countless ages ago... But at the same time, it was strange. Why would Kama, the Love God, appear? Because her Authority was already within her own body; in other words, she shouldn't be appearing...
So Kali, still confused, turned around, and when she saw Kama's appearance before her, she suddenly frowned.
"... Demon King."
Indeed, Kama is now Mara, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. Just like Bhandasura, who appeared unexpectedly in the final era, Mara's appearance is also unexpected, because according to the many previous cycles of reincarnation, her fate was to be burned to death by Shiva.
However--
"Wow, unexpected? Actually, I'm quite surprised too. It suddenly turned out like this, but anyway, it's good that I'm alive~"
Kama, or perhaps Mara, smiled slightly, "Seeing the Authority I hold within you fills me with a strange unease, an urge to disembowel you and reclaim what belongs to me."
Are you an enemy?
"That's superficial, at least not now."
Indeed, as Kama had said, Kali sensed his demonic nature but not his hostility, so she nodded. But suddenly, Kali stared at something on Mara's waist, as if she were drawn to it and couldn't look away.
"Hmm? You're quite interested in this thing? I specifically went to the Human Realm to see what those foolish people were doing and when they discovered it. This clay sculpture seems to be a non-existent god. Well, anyway, a group of people really like it..."
While explaining and keeping an eye on Kali, Kama suddenly felt a little annoyed. Although she didn't know why Kali was interested in this dirty thing and was showing a childlike blank expression, she smiled at Kali again.
He took out the clay Divine Image he had obtained from the mortal world and made, then put on an indifferent expression...
Although I'm a little reluctant to part with her, I'd be quite pleased to see someone of Kali's stature show a look of disappointment.
With this thought in mind, Kama threw the Divine Image from his hands to the ground:
"Throw it away~"
However, the Divine Image, which should have been separated like glass ornaments, did not appear as Kama had imagined.
The reason for this is simple: Kali rushed over and caught her, and at the same time, a tear appeared in the corner of her eye.
"Ha?"
Kama was speechless; she didn't know why the other person was doing this.
Even the Asuras King's allied forces burst into laughter upon seeing Kali had previously been so aggressive, in this state. The only ones who remained silent were the three commanders: Jalandhara, Andhaka, Vritra. The three of them even entertained the idea that Kali, a Kama, should be put to death.
As for Kali, Divine Image was lying on the ground embracing the clay statue with all ten of her hands, she felt as if she had seen and heard something, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.
That seems to be the memory of a distant, ancient beginning, the very origin of this world, and the very beginning of countless cycles of reincarnation.
The silver-haired girl opened her eyes, and the first thing that entered those divine eyes was a space completely dyed white, with no up or down, no left or right, just an endless expanse of white.
Long time no see.
A sound rang out.
The silver-haired Goddess blinked her three eyes, and despite looking around, she couldn't see the source of the voice.
"Even if you search, you won't find me. Because I'm no longer here. This is a voice created beforehand to convey something important to you who were able to come here."
"... Who are you..."
After the Goddess finished asking, her gentle voice immediately replied:
Who I am is not important; what matters is that I have been witnessing your progress.
Kali looked behind her, and although she gently stretched out her hand behind her back, there was only emptiness there. Perhaps she felt that someone was there, but that was just her imagination. There was still nothing behind her. Nevertheless, she still made the gesture, as if she were holding someone's outstretched hand.
"The remaining voice is insufficient to convey everything to you who have arrived here, but I still hope that you can destroy the Dharma and bring an end to Lila."
This sentence contains immense Sorrow and a glimmer of hope.
"No, the Dharma is Perfection; we must implement the Dharma and obey Lila."
"Brahman was wrong. At the beginning, when the world was created, he made a mistake. Therefore, a world with such Dharma is not actually Perfection. The Evil left at the time of creation have eventually expanded, making everything seem irreversible."
"... What are the errors in the Dharma...?"
Kali countered with a question. Although as Goddess who enforced the Dharma, she would have been mercilessly killed if someone had asked her such a question, she was quite willing to hear this somewhat familiar voice at this moment.
"Tracing the origins is far too complicated, but all I can say is that, after millions of years, on this earth where a sorrowful fate continues, I hope this 'inevitability' will finally come to an end."
The voice that had made up its mind covered Kali.
"Whether it's someone other than you, someone other than him, or even further back in time, countless people have continuously passed this world down. I want to see more smiles from the people living in this world."
Kali thought for a few seconds and then looked up.
What is your name?
She asked this question again:
What is your name?
After a brief silence, a warm voice rang out.
"... Go ask Himalayas, it knows."
After uttering those final words, the voice disappeared.
And the world before Kali returned to the battlefield of the Underworld Realm. As if to gently envelop those words, Kali clasped her ten hands tightly to her chest, letting the clay sculpted into her Divine Image cling to her body. With longing and memories of that voice, the Goddess, whose essence was the India World itself, softly spoke:
"Himalayas, please tell me."
A crisp sound rang out, Himalayas Mountains, glistening in the sunlight, heralded the arrival of dawn.
Just like the azure sky, it is a white that will never fade.
Sudden--
Within Kali's heart, the sound of the Himalayas resounded—the voices of countless people, from the past, present, and even the Future.
"The Lord of the Hidden Sacred Mountain is the Three Aspects Equilibrium; the Supreme Brahman Seeker Lord of the Great Holy Mountain; the Universe, Moon, Time, and Wind, Cosmos and Sun Adorn the Body; the Heavenly Stars Answer the Heart, Azure Sea, Vast and Clear."
"He travels throughout the universe, appearing everywhere; guiding all beings, providing them with refuge. Heavens gods and spirits surround him, devoutly worshipping before his chariot, listening to his divine commands, and obeying them as prescribed. May all other enemies be annihilated. He is like the ocean, mysterious and vast; like the rising sun, freely ascending into the sky; all beings gaze upon him, bowing and praising him."
"Praise be to the Lord, the Primordial, the Lord of the Holy Mountain, the Lord of the Lord of the Four Seasons, the Teacher of the Six Schools, the Papiyas of the Heaven of Freely Enjoying Others' Emanations, Mara, you are the embodiment of All Things of the World, all beings are reflections of you, the True-Self Aspect, the Self Aspect, the Non-Self Aspect, the Heavenly Demon Aspect, do you not know that all images are not images, only the Perfected One."
There are even unusual voices, originating from Source of India.
"Coming from the Future, manifesting in the past; you are the past, and also the Future. In the past, Dipankara, illuminating the light of Heavens, saying that all forms are not forms, all are the Tathagata; in the Future Maitreya, ferrying All Things of the World, saying that all sentient beings are me, and the Dharma is already clear."
Various sounds echoed throughout the Underworld Realm battlefield, causing Kali's entire body to tremble violently.
Because she remembered a name, until the very end, because she had witnessed it all, even though she left behind complaints to vent her anger, he chose not to complain... but to look forward.
"... ah..."
If this were in the Himalayas Mountains, Kali would surely be weeping bitterly.
Everyone present shared in Kali's joy and sorrow.
In fact, it wasn't just Kali; even the Authority over all of India that she had gathered at this moment was radiating a brilliance that surpassed anything before. The three Aspected God also remembered the reasons for so many anomalies in the cycle of reincarnation and understood completely.
The three strongest Asura in the Asuras King Coalition — Jalandhara, Vritra, Andhaka— exchanged glances and made up their minds to launch the battle they were supposed to fight against the so-called King of Dharma, which was to say, to rebel.
"Kavia..."
The Goddess's voice had transcended joy and was close to a cry, as if she were releasing all the emotions that had been accumulating for so long.
Then, in the hands of the Goddess who held all the Authority of India, the budding of terrifying power first engulfed herself!
Beneath the dazzling, terrifying radiance, the destructive light descended inch by inch toward Bhandasura's location. Then, as if time were reversed, it contracted and rushed toward this King of Dharma!
Amidst the earth-shattering Deafening Crash, the world itself trembled violently, and horribly mangled cracks reappeared from within, like Porcelain on the verge of collapse. Facing the attack of the Asuras King Coalition he had summoned, and a strike comparable to the strongest blow from his own Goddess, the King of Dharma Bhandasura convulsed violently, vomiting burning blood. He didn't even have time to tend to his body; his dark eyes widened, staring intently at the Universe above.
That path, traversing countless Universe, burned out a dazzling trail that even the Supreme Brahman within the 'room' could perceive.
It was a strike with absolutely no reservations.
Immediately afterwards, Bhandasura's voice could no longer be uttered, as it was completely shattered, reduced to ashes, leaving not a trace of ash or residue. His soul was destroyed along with it, and in the deathly silence of the world, only the distant rumble of thunder and the desolate sound of the wind echoed.
"Did I just do something bad...?"
Kama, recalling the memories together, lowered his head and murmured.
Kali merely glared at her without saying a word, then turned her gaze to the group of people in the human realm who were beginning their battle against the Brahmin and Kshatriya.
In the direction of her gaze, there were countless tiny statues of gods. In a daze, she seemed to hear the name of her lover. It was her lover who shaped her personality and adorned the beginning of 'India'.
"So, how long do we have to wait? The Age of Gods is almost over."
Kama suddenly asked.
Kali turned her head and answered decisively.
"I will wait until my husband returns."
"How could this be...?"
Inside the 'room', the Supreme Brahman, who was completely unable to comprehend the destruction of Bhandasura, the representative of his absolute Dharma, uttered such a voice for the first time, because the Myriad Universes within the 'room' were no longer under his control, but instead transformed into flames, beginning their rebellion.
But then, as if to deny what he had seen, the Supreme Brahman made the Myriad Universes sing his praises.
It should have been something the Universe would have done without His intervention, yet at this moment the chanting was the same as the one that had appeared on the Underworld Realm battlefield earlier: the Future Buddha, the past Dipankara, the Fourth-Aspected God, and even the true chanting of the progenitor of India Ancestor of Humanity.
The target is undoubtedly Kavia.
Everything I created should obey me; that's impossible, absolutely impossible.
What exactly happened?
"What exactly are you?"
He questioned the visitor, and then, with a start, realized—
Kavia, who was chanted by the Buddha's voice and by all the chanting within the 'room', came to the presence of the Supreme Brahman.
"You said that Lila is needed for the continuation of the world, but I don't think so. The world doesn't need that kind of thing, because there are so many strong people in the world. Rather than expecting Issei continuation, or relying on the goodwill of those in high positions, I would rather believe in humanity itself, believe in those who are working hard in the present. Even if humanity will continue to make mistakes in the future, it will never give up and will continue to move forward to find Answer in the light."
Kavia said this, closing in on the Supreme Brahman while preparing for his final attack.
They were prepared to completely deny the will of the Supreme Brahman.
However--
"No, you're wrong. I understand now. The Lila you were born with by chance is meant to replace me. Whether you have the will or not, when you defeat me, the world itself will continue in the direction you expect. If this is the true 'Dharma,' then in a very broad field, it may not be. At that time, will you be able to accept it?"
The Supreme Brahman responded so calmly.
"Therefore, I will open this door and let everything inside the 'room' go into the real Universe, no longer confined to a small room. If in the Future they can reach places I cannot reach, reach starlight I cannot reach, I will be very happy."
"How foolish."