Mission:056 Great Love

Mission:05-6 Great Love

The slash that warped space likewise slammed into the protective barrier. Nero could feel the transparent turtle shell growing softer and softer, the force of its rebound weaker and weaker. As long as she kept up the momentum and gave the Pope no time to breathe, she would soon be able to shatter it.

The Pope clearly knew that as well. He gathered the magic of Sparda's Blade, pointing the tip at Nero. A torrent of crimson-black magic turned into a Light Cannon and blasted downward.

"Shut up..."

As if Nero's Singing Voice had pierced the shame buried in his heart, he gritted his teeth and released that dead, dark current.

This was probably the last time he, as Pope, would hear this Anthem. In Sanctus's original vision, during this year's Festival of the Blade, he would listen to this Anthem one final time as a human, as the Pope, and then he would transform into a god. From then on, this Anthem could be sung only for him.

"With our Mortal Eyes, we once could not glimpse even one of Your Myriad Sparks!"

Nero swung her blade forward, and the Blade Marks lingering in the air were like trailing fireflies. But immediately after, she swiftly swung a second time, then a third. Specks of firefly light wove together before her into a bright curtain of light, colliding with the pitch-black stream of magic.

The Blade Marks kept shattering under the scouring torrent, but Nero continued to swing. The barrage striking the blade curtain was sliced by countless slashes into fine streams, one after another, spilling outward in all directions, invading the interwoven Flesh and Blood underfoot and turning into streaks of black scorch marks.

Nero kept singing at the top of her lungs: "May Your Divine Grace keep me from turning my eyes away, until my sight reaches its utmost limit!"

Sanctus angrily controlled the demonic sword in his hand. Why? Clearly, he alone in the Order possessed such grand ambition. Clearly, this world was so filthy and unbearable. Clearly, he, who had been granted a lofty mission by Heaven, should now be standing at the summit of the Savior, looked up to by tens of thousands.

Where exactly had it gone wrong?

Seeing that Nero could not attend to his side, Agnus quietly moved behind her, then opened fire again and released two Flame Heads.

Nero did not even look at him. She merely called Gilgamesh out from within her body, making it change form. While still wrapping only her fists and feet, it turned into close-fitting silver armor as well, covering her chest and abdomen.

Flowing living metal surged out from her chest and wrapped over the red dress, making Nero's figure seem even more slender. Two Flame Missiles struck Nero's slender back. They failed to pierce the armor, but they blew Nero into a stagger, interrupting the motion of her blade.

The Demonic Cannon instantly tore through the blade curtain and rushed straight for Nero's face. Nero did not waver. She spun, swung Yamato, and charged forward. The blade light tore open a rift in the Pillar of Light like a whirlwind, letting Nero break free and sprint to directly beneath the Pope before leaping up once more.

"Let my spirit be severed from all Evil Qualities, and be devoted solely to this Light of Utmost Goodness!"

The Pope could no longer endure it. This Anthem praising a god fell upon his ears now like biting mockery. "Shut your mouth!"

No one in this world was more suited than him to receive this song's praise, not even Sparda! A mere demon relying on the power of a demonic sword to run rampant—what right did he have to be mentioned in the same breath as him, as the great Sanctus, as the supreme god who was about to use power that surpassed all else to sweep away all filth and sin from the world?!

Just because he had defeated the Demon Emperor? A mere demon—he, Sanctus, could do it better, more perfectly. He could even take the Demon Emperor's throne into his own hands! He could complete the great undertaking that even Sparda had failed to touch!

So—

"A traitor who draws a blade against the true god dares sing my hymn of praise?!"

He turned the direction in which the demonic sword pointed, clinging tightly behind Nero and leaving behind a black line that reeked of char.

"My" hymn of praise? Truly unrepentant to the very end—this thought surfaced in Nero's heart, turning into a fleeting sneer at the corner of her lips.

He talked about an "Ideal World," about "the world sinking into filth," but in truth, the only thing truly sunk in filth was his own heart.

Looking at the world with a heart veiled by filth, how could he ever see true kindness and virtue?

The Light Cannon was about to lock on again, but Nero, already in midair, stepped on the air and changed direction, appearing behind the Pope. She reached out and hurled a greatsword formed from magic.

"And so I knew that all the Myriad Good Knowledges in this universe were woven by Your love into one volume!"

The spinning greatsword finally shattered the Pope's protective barrier, interrupting his attack and sending him falling toward the ground. Nero did not pursue. She merely landed naturally, spread her arms, and closed her eyes.

This was the end.

"And so I knew that in this universe, there is only one truth.

"Only love can kindle the sun and move the Stars."

Within this Demonic Realm formed from demonic Flesh and Blood, illusory shadows rose like Stars. They turned into unreal curtains of light, partitioning the world layer upon layer, nine in total.

The Nine Heavens Wall locked the disqualified Pope firmly in the very core of this Small World.

The magic brimming within Nero's body rapidly drained away, but she still stood where she was without moving at all. Only the two demons sealed inside the Celestial Sphere were still continuously trying to struggle.

Do you understand now, former Your Majesty the Pope? Nero smiled, silently asking.

Sparda was not unable to rule the world. He simply did not wish to. Because he loved the world, and he loved humanity.

That was why he was called a god, and you were not. That was why this Anthem sang of him, not you.

A moment later, a pure-white Pillar of Light pierced through this filthy space, pierced through layer after layer of Celestial Curtains, and fell upon the Pope.

Pressed to the ground by the curtain of light, still gripping Sparda's Blade tightly in his hand, the Pope had no time even to scream before he vanished soundlessly just like that.

A moment later, the Pillar of Light disappeared. Faintly red sunlight spilled through the hole pierced open by the Pillar of Light, shining upon the Flesh and Blood that was gradually turning into gray-white stone.

The Savior stopped moving.

With the magic inside her body completely emptied, Nero opened her eyes and felt as if her body had become nothing more than an Empty Shell.

But her soul had never felt so full.

She swept her gaze around and found "that guy" in a corner of the gradually petrifying room. Then she drew Echidna and slowly walked that way.

Nero walked very slowly, her steps heavy, her figure swaying slightly. Wrapped in a dress that did not fit her, she looked small and pitiful, so frail that a breeze might knock her down.

But the person leaning in the corner showed a frightened expression. He pushed against the ground with his hands, his two half-missing legs kicking again and again as he struggled desperately to get away.

That was Agnus. Since he had not been the main target of the Pillar of Light, he had barely managed to keep his life, but he had still lost his lower legs. Most of his strength was gone as well, leaving him unable to transform into a demon again.