The room was heavy with grief. Silence suffocated the air as Rangaisha's weak breathing filled the space. The once lively and energetic daughter of Benimaru was now lying pale and motionless on the bed. Her mother, Albis, was clutching her daughter's hand, tears streaming down her face, while Benimaru clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Even Rimuru, the being revered as the strongest God of the Cardinal World, stood there in frustration and helplessness.
Astraeus, standing at the entrance, felt a sharp pain in his chest. He wasn't sure what this feeling was. Anger? Despair? Powerlessness? He had lived through 7531 years of hell in Purgatory, had survived against its cruelest monsters and demons, and had overcome everything in his path. Yet, here he was, standing before something he couldn't fight.
His body trembled as he spoke to Raphael in his mind.
"Is there any way… any way at all that I can save her?"
Raphael's voice echoed calmly in his mind.
"Answer: No known abilities in your current state can cure the Purgatory-born Soul Devouring Disease. However…"
Astraeus held his breath.
"Your sealed Ultimate Skill—Niratis, The All-Encompassing Divinity—holds the power to erase this disease."
His heart pounded in his chest. He had known about his sealed skill but had never been able to access it.
"Then how do I unlock it?" Astraeus asked desperately.
"Currently, your Unique Skill Aethernil is still incomplete. Unlocking Niratis is impossible. However, there is a way."
Astraeus clenched his fists.
"Tell me."
"By using Gluttony to split Aethernil into two separate Ultimate Skills—Nihility, Lord of Destruction, and Infinity, Lord of Creation—you will regain their divine forms."
His eyes widened.
"Then, by merging Infinity with Raphael, you will create the Ultimate Skill—Inimrias, the Goddess of Creation. With it, you will be able to rewrite reality itself… and cure Lady Rangaisha."
Astraeus's mind raced.
This wasn't just about evolution anymore. This was about saving her life.
He stepped forward, looking at everyone in the room.
"…I can save her."
The moment he spoke those words, every single person turned to him, eyes wide with shock and hope.
Benimaru, still filled with sorrow, snapped his head up. "What did you say?"
Rimuru narrowed his eyes. "Astraeus… what do you mean?"
Astraeus exhaled sharply, looking at Rangaisha's motionless body.
"I have an ability… but it's currently sealed. However, I've found a way to unlock it. If I do this, I can cure her."
Albis, with tear-streaked eyes, rushed up to him, grabbing his hands. "You can…? You can save my daughter?"
Astraeus nodded firmly. "Yes. But I need to do something drastic. It might take a moment."
Diablo smirked from the corner, his crimson eyes gleaming. "Interesting… You never fail to surprise me, Astraeus."
Rimuru crossed his arms, his voice firm. "Do what you need to do. If you can really save her… then do it."
Astraeus closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Raphael. Begin the process."
"Acknowledged. Activating Skill Split—Gluttony: Extracting Core Aethernil."
Suddenly, a powerful aura exploded around him. The entire room shook as an intense force swirled around Astraeus' body. A deep black energy formed in his right hand—Nihility, Lord of Destruction—and in his left, a brilliant golden light—Infinity, Lord of Creation.
Everyone stepped back, watching in awe.
Then, with one final command—
"Merge Infinity with Raphael!"
"Executing…"
The golden light merged with Astraeus's very soul.
His body glowed as divine runes and intricate patterns etched themselves into his existence. His aura exploded outward, shaking the very fabric of space-time itself.
For a brief moment, everyone saw it—a divine entity standing behind Astraeus, a goddess with infinite light radiating from her form.
"Ultimate Skill Evolution Complete—Inimrias, the Goddess of Creation has been born."
Astraeus opened his eyes, now glowing with a divine golden hue. His very presence radiated infinite power.
With his new abilities fully awakened, he stepped forward, placing his hand over Rangaisha's heart.
"Inimrias… rewrite reality."
A golden light poured into her body, erasing the Purgatory-born disease completely.
Her body, once pale and weak, glowed with life once again.
Then—
She gasped, her eyes flying open.
A deep silence filled the room.
Then, in the next second—
"Rangaisha!" Albis screamed, falling to her knees, clutching her daughter. Tears poured down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.
Benimaru, for the first time in centuries, let out a shaky breath of relief, his hands trembling as he placed them on his daughter's shoulders.
Momoji, Tiara, and Belion all rushed forward, crying in happiness as they surrounded their sister.
Rangaisha, confused, looked around the room. "W-what happened…?"
She turned her head and saw Astraeus, his breathing heavy, sweat dripping down his face. He looked at her with relief in his eyes.
"You're… safe now," he said softly.
The weight of his words hit everyone in the room.
For the first time in thousands of years, Rimuru felt powerless,but no more.
Diablo grinned, his respect for Astraeus reaching new heights.
And as for Astraeus himself…
He had finally done something truly meaningful in this world.