Buzz, buzz, buzz—
For a brief moment, Germain could not tell if it was his hearing returning or a trick of his mind. Too many voices crowded in, overlapping, impossible to distinguish.
He could only catch fragments of words: "pillar of light," "miracle," "prayer," "money," "power," "women"…
Germain still retained a fraction of his ability to think.
He quickly realized that people were praying to the pillar of light rising from the lantern's teleportation point.
These were not just Nen users—they were the minority. Most were ordinary nearby living beings, so numerous they could hardly be counted.
The pillar of light had a profound effect on the surrounding beings, imbuing them with either holy virtue or cruel torment. Such phenomena could not go unnoticed by ordinary people.
They took it as some kind of miracle—
And in truth, it was a miracle.
So they began to pray, praying to receive everything they desired.
Ha—
If only making a wish to me could make it come true…
If only offering more, if only with a sincere heart, could make a wish come true…
If only any wish, no matter how impossible, could be granted…
How could such a thing exist?
Germain did not possess the perfect ability to fulfill everyone's wishes, different, conflicting, and even contradictory desires.
Some wished to destroy the world, or seize the settlements of others, or slaughter someone's family—could Germain fulfill those wishes too?
Just because the person was his most devoted follower?
How could such a thing happen?
Some hoped for world peace, for equality, for prosperity…
Dreams that had never been realized before—how could they suddenly be different here?
Yet, their prayers, like chains, reached out from the darkness.
They wrapped around Germain entirely, slowly pulling him back into reality.
They were granting him the power of a god, hoping that he would at least bring some change to this world.
——
"Darkness" was breathing heavily.
It had expended nearly all of its energy to trigger this "Silent Devouring," trapping Germain completely within a world of darkness.
There, Germain would drift ever deeper, and even "Darkness" did not know where he would end up.
Perhaps into the depths of the universe… perhaps even straight to the mouth of the Outer God…
If that happened, everything would end.
"Darkness" paused to catch its breath, then lifted its gaze to the night sky, where half of the "Blood Moon" already shone.
It could not help but smile.
After today, this world would enter hundreds of years under the "Blood Moon's Darkness."
All living beings would transform into forms better suited to this world…
And together, they would welcome the end of the world.
This was His mission. This was the end of His destiny.
He almost thought he had failed… but indeed, the fate given to Him by the "Blood Moon" was unchangeable. In the end, He had still won.
No matter how twisted the path, it was the end of destiny that truly mattered.
Suddenly, He shivered and turned His head in shock, looking into the distance.
No… impossible… this cannot be happening…
A pitch-black curtain unfolded, and from it, a figure emerged.
The "Darkness" was far too familiar—so familiar that He could hardly believe it.
He could not understand. Why had Germain, whom He had sent deep into the world of darkness, returned again?
And moreover, what was this form?!
What had he become?!
Floating above Germain's head was the thorned crown of darkness, yet it radiated a silver-white halo of light.
The dark crown and the silver-white halo had, in this moment, completely fused into one.
Stunned, "Darkness" immediately gathered the last of His remaining energy, ready to unleash it all at Germain.
He believed that destiny stood firmly on His side and had never changed!
But after a moment, He realized that His power did not respond as He had expected.
He froze in place, and an emotion long forgotten surged within Him.
Germain stepped forward, a new emblem appearing in his hand, engraved with a crown and scepter… the "Dark Badge."
"Darkness"'s pupils contracted. The figure that had been several meters away was now right before Him in an instant.
"You…"
He hadn't even had time to see Germain's initial move when the "Burial Blade" slashed from His left shoulder to His right waist, leaving a horrifying, gaping wound!
"Is…"
He barely managed to speak the second syllable before the "Burial Blade" struck again, cutting from His right shoulder to His left waist.
Two wounds now intersected sharply across His body.
"How…"
Everything had happened too fast. Only now did "Darkness" feel the pain, realizing what was happening to His own body.
Yet the hair-raising fear only intensified, for the "Burial Blade" now hung at His neck.
Germain stood calmly before Him, meeting His gaze, while He had no power to resist the man so close.
Whoosh——
The oldest demigod was struck down like a condemned criminal, his head severed by the executioner's massive scythe!
All of his power was rapidly slipping away!
"Did… you… really do it?"
The head of "Darkness" rolled to Germain's feet like that of Louis XVI, eyes wide open, all strength drained, beginning to dissolve into black specks.
Germain lowered his head, quietly watching as "Darkness" finally perished.
Only then did he lift his gaze to the "Blood Moon" hanging in the sky.
He recalled the words "Darkness" had spoken before:
"All bodies and souls born into this world cannot escape the shackles of dreams and the weaving of fate… You understand nothing."
"Still don't understand? Whether you come to me willingly, or I come to you, the end result is the same. Only the timing differs."
"You are merely one of the few who, by some cruel twist of fate, walked the path of the stars and arrived here. A pitiful soul burdened with a merciless destiny."
Is my fate truly in the hands of others, powerless to change?
Was killing "Darkness" simply the arrangement of fate?
Have I actually managed to alter destiny?
Then, whose hands hold the fates of others?
"One remains…"
There was little time to dwell on such thoughts.
Germain had to move quickly to the final battlefield.
*******
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