Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 29

Chapter 29:

The End is Nigh

BLACK LIGHTNING STREAKED across the sky as the black spear sped toward the Door to Distant Lands. With this much power and speed behind it, the spear would run straight through the Door.

“Finish it!” I shouted.

The Door had only just been opened. I knew there was still time. A strange energy emanated from the wound in the sky. Whatever was going to happen hadn’t started yet. I could end things here and now with the black spear and the power I’d inherited from my father.

Except, the black cubes suddenly formed a defensive shield, protecting the Door. The spear collided with the black cubes. It was the meeting of an indestructible spear and an unbreakable wall.

“What?!” I shouted. “How?! Why?!”

This was not supposed to happen. I was sure the cubes had been put to rest. I searched for the person controlling them. Then, I found him. He looked perfectly calm and totally at ease, white hair fluttering in the wind. His pristine white robes were completely out of place among the wasteland around him, and even without wings, he floated in the air.

“Libra!” I shouted.

This couldn’t possibly be what he wanted. So why is he blocking my way?! 

I wasn’t about to give up just yet, so I called the spear back and pressed an attack. Take my stats. Take whatever you need.

“Greed! Run him through!” I spat.

The black spear grew bigger, sharper, and longer. As it did so, it began to crackle with reddish-black arcs of lightning. Even the black cubes would crumble to dust at its touch. That was what I intended. I’d turn them all to dust. Indestructibility meant nothing in the face of the Sixth Level secret technique—Revolt Brionac.

The spear now had the power to erase existence itself and the ability to pierce any shield. It had formed from my desire to see the Door to Distant Lands eradicated, and even Libra could not stop it. I launched it from my grip.

Even though the black cubes and the wall they formed were on the verge of being completely annihilated, Libra’s calm expression never faltered. He didn’t even flinch. Keep grinning. You’re going to meet your end, along with all of this. I poured energy into the spear. 

Libra clicked his fingers.

“Fate, stop!” cried Eris.

“What?!”

I changed the spear’s course just before it made contact, and it arced back to my hand.

“That dirty son of a… This is exactly what someone like him would do.”

A crucifix of light was now before us. An angel hung from it, her blonde hair fluttering in the wind.

“Roxy…”

I glared daggers at Libra, who didn’t care in the slightest. The black cubes settled into position behind him as he finally opened his mouth to speak.

“Amazing,” he remarked. “I didn’t expect that you’d to find a way to destroy these.”

“Libra!”

“As you can see,” said Libra, bowing in mock deference to Roxy, “this makes the most effective shield.”

“Where’s Myne?!”

Roxy and Myne had likely been attacked by Libra after their battle against the Zodiac Gemini. They’d been buying us time to get into Mercadia, so they had to have been exhausted. That was exactly the moment Libra had been waiting for. 

Was Roxy even safe? She did not look hurt as far as I could see. I was worried about Myne, though. She wouldn’t have stood by silently and let Roxy be kidnapped like that.

“How about you?” asked Libra, ignoring my question entirely. “How did it feel to devour your own father? Your own flesh and blood?”

I only growled in response.

“Was it a sentimental moment? Or was it savory?”

“Libra!!!”

“Oh? Did I hit a nerve?” Libra jeered. “I dare say I must have.”

I was enraged. I gripped the black spear so tightly that I felt as if I were about to crush it into dust.

“Calm yourself, Fate,” said Greed. “Letting him toy with your emotions only puts you at a disadvantage.”

“Greed…” I said.

Libra seemed to remember something and reached into his robes. “I brought you a present,” he said, dropping the object onto Eris’s back. “I do hope you like it.” 

“No,” I murmured. “It can’t be.”

I took the thing and examined it more closely. It was a black horn, one I had seen before. It belonged to Myne when she became a war demon.

“I apologize for not answering sooner. I assume this tells you everything you need to know.”

“What the hell did you do?”

“Easy now. You, too, Eris. I told you I hate it when you transform into that beast. You are so utterly useless.”

A slight shiver coursed through Eris’s giant body. I gave her a gentle pat to help calm her, never once taking my eyes off Libra.

“Compared to you, she is exquisite,” said Libra, pointing to Roxy. “She wasn’t created or farmed. She’s completely natural. I wonder if it’s the difference of choice? Free will? That’s what you think, isn’t it, Fate?”

“What are you even saying? What are you trying to do?”

“I’m sure you know the answer to that, given the circumstances we find ourselves in.” Libra grinned. “I’m going to the other side of the Door as Roxy’s escort.”

The crucified Roxy moved directly in front of the gaping red Door.

“Roxy!” I shouted.

“Usually, only souls are allowed past this point,” explained Libra. “However, exceptions are given to souls that have united with a holy beastfolk.”

Roxy let out an ear-piercing scream, and I nearly launched the spear right then and there.

“It’s okay,” said Eris, stopping me. “Libra needs Roxy. You’ll have your chance. Don’t do anything rash just yet.”

“But, I have to.”

“Fate, Eris is right.”

So all I can do is watch and wait?

The red world of the Door began to change. A golden color, the shade of Roxy’s own hair mixed with its usual red.

“Only the chosen can proceed past this point,” said Libra. “Only they can receive everything.”

The sacred mark upon Libra’s face glowed red. Was this his Divine Revelation at work? It was unclear, but it seemed like his destiny lay beyond the door, a destiny he couldn’t deny.

“The girl will lead the way. And because I’m accompanying her, I, too, will be allowed entry. What about you, I wonder?” asked Libra, a daring glint in his eye as he stared down at me.

The black cubes formed a circle. Were they going to summon something? The answer came immediately. Four gigantic creatures appeared from the empty space. I knew what they were from their sheer intensity and presence alone.

“I’m not going to hold back after coming this far,” said Libra. “Now you get to face off against all the holy beasts at my command.”

“Libra…”

“You have a decision to make, Fate. As half-holy beastfolk, you can pass through the Door. Do so, however, and Eris will die. You can destroy the Door with your spear once I have passed through, but then Roxy will never return. Make your choice, Fate.”

“Damn you…”

I raised my spear at Libra, but Roxy once again floated in front of him like a shield.

“Look at you, staring up at me. This is the way things are meant to be,” said Libra.

With a wave of his hand, the four holy beasts began to move.

“Fate,” said Eris. “I can handle this.”

“No, you can’t.”

Libra had traumatized Eris. Even now, she still hadn’t overcome her fear, and I knew her trauma went as far as other holy beastfolk and other holy beasts. The monsters spread out, surrounding us. Each one overflowed with tremendous power. I instinctively knew Eris would not be okay on her own.

“So, you’re staying then?” asked Libra. “Very well. Wait here until it’s all over.”

An explosive impact echoed just as Libra and Roxy were about to pass through the Door, and one of the holy beasts tilted violently. Libra looked over at it with a pained expression.

“Persistent, aren’t you?” he said. “I can’t believe you’re still alive after such a perfect surprise attack. I suppose I should have expected as much from a war demon.”

She was missing a horn but was still as strong as ever. Her white hair made her stand out against the deep black of the collapsed imperial buildings. And with her axe at the ready, she was a terrifying sight to behold.

“Myne!” I shouted.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” she replied.

She was in her war demon form but hadn’t lost her senses. Confronting her past had strengthened her.

“Eris and I will handle things here,” she continued. “You have to go, Fate.” 

And with that, Myne slammed the holy beast before her with yet another attack. Libra didn’t look pleased. He heaved a great sigh before silently stepping through the Door with Roxy and his black cubes.

“Eris, I’m going after them,” I said.

“I knew you would. I’ll get you up there. Myne, we’ll need your support.”

“On it.”

Myne leaped into the air and landed on Eris’s head. She readied her black axe as she stared up at the Door to Distant Lands.

“Sit back and conserve your energy, Fate,” she said.

“What she said,” added Eris.

“We will get you to the Door.”

“I’m counting on you guys,” I said.

Holy beasts blocked our path. One was still trying to catch up, though, having just been smashed by Myne. If we could make it past these three, we could make it to the door. Eris flapped her eight wings, and we sped through the air. She let out a roar and sunk her fangs into one of the holy beasts as it tried to get away, flying all the while.

“The rest are yours, Myne,” she said.

The struggling holy beast cut off one of Eris’s wings, and she collided into the second one with a huge thud.

“Go, Fate!” cried Eris as she plummeted, carrying the two holy beasts with her.

We were so close to the Door. Myne leaped toward it, with me close behind. The last holy beast blocked our path. Myne had known this would happen, though, and her black axe was already transforming in her hands. A black light poured from it as it filled with power. It looked incredibly heavy as she swung it upward and brought it down on the beast—Noir Destruction.

“Now!” she shouted.

“Thanks!”

“Save the gratitude for when you come back.”

“Until then.”

The holy beast plummeted to the ground, Myne atop it. We exchanged a high five as she flew down and I flew up, using the holy beast as a springboard to leap straight through the Door.

The sounds of battle slowly faded below me.