Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 36

Chapter 36:

The Final Judgment

ENDLESS ATTACKS RAINED DOWN around me as my consciousness returned to my body. Libra fired Bloody Ptarmigans like a cruel, callous child playing with its toys. Fortunately, Greed had kept me safe while I was away, narrowly avoiding the onslaught.

“About time, partner,” he said.

“Sorry.”

“I assume things went well.”

“Yep.”

Roxy’s mind had returned, but a price had been paid. Snow would not come back. However, she had made herself a part of Roxy’s heart so as to lend us her strength.

Roxy’s eyes fluttered open.

“Roxy!” I said.

“Fay…”

The moment I saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, I knew that she understood what had happened. Unfortunately, there was no time to mourn. And to make matters worse, I needed Roxy’s immediate support.

“Can you fight?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. She spoke in a clear voice filled with the strength of her heart, a power that had saved me so many times before.

Roxy took a few steps from me and flapped her white wings. She had six of them now—two more than before—and her holy sword glowed with a new light. The blade was even more divine than before. According to Greed, it was no longer just an artificial holy sword, but something close to the genuine article. The sheer power that emanated from her person sent a shiver down my spine.

Roxy turned and smiled at me, now in her truest Valkyrie form. “All of this is a present from Snow. She will always be a part of me,” she said. “Now, let’s go, Fate!”

I felt as if not just Roxy but her halo, too, had spoken.

“Great. That means you, too, Greed.”

“I got this.”

I flew with everything I had and headed straight for Libra, who stood in front of the glowing sphere at the heart of this world. But even though I had brought Roxy back from her comatose state, Libra was still the very picture of calm. It was as if he were devoid of emotion. Was this because of the predestination Micuria had told me about?

“I won’t let that stop me…” I muttered.

Not after I’ve come so far. 

I refused to stand down. Both my body and mind were resolved to finish this. Here, now, in this place, I no longer fought alone. Roxy and Greed fought by my side. Myne and Eris, too, were locked in a heated battle with the holy beasts in our home world. Aaron and Eris’s white knights were no different. They too fought to protect the kingdom. This was not my battle alone. My allies and I, we were all connected, and all of us shared the same desire to get through this. We would fight to the bitter end.

Libra raised his hand, looking as cool and calm as always.

“He’s got something up his sleeve,” said Greed.

The black cubes around him changed form, transforming into black spears. There were more than I could count, and every single one of them was ready to skewer us. 

Libra dropped his hand. The spears sped toward us.

“I’ll handle this!” shouted Roxy.

She flew in front of me before I even had a chance to call for her and cast a protective barrier. It was like the one she’d used to defend us from the fire of the Zodiac Aquarius, except this new barrier was on a whole other level. Surrounded in the warmth of Roxy’s shield, my confidence grew. I was completely unafraid of the countless spears approaching us.

But it wasn’t just the barrier. Roxy had always protected me, from the kingdom all the way to Galia. And now here, too. 

I believed in her.

“Thank you, Roxy,” I said.

“Fay?”

“For being by my side. Thank you.”

The spears were repelled, useless against Roxy’s barrier.

“But of course,” she said. 

The strength in her voice surprised me, but the joy I felt made me even more powerful. At this rate, we would make it to Libra in mere moments. 

He narrowed his eyes, then let out an exaggerated sigh. “So, you have the power to deflect my spears… I must admit, I never imagined that Snow herself—the aegis of God—would betray me. To think that the only loyal servant of the almighty left is me.”

“Libra!” I shouted.

Libra dropped his face into his hands, but I saw a crooked grin from between his fingers. “You’ll get nowhere by merely defending yourselves,” he said. “Resistance is futile. You will not reach me.”

You know how this ends, he seemed to say. And I knew why. If I launched a full-power Revolt Brionac, it would be blocked. All I had was Greed, while Libra had a veritable army of black spears at his disposal.

“If you won’t come any closer, then I’ll finish things from here,” said Libra. “We have offerings in abundance. Can your power of extinction stave this off?”

“You wouldn’t…”

“A final attack, one of such magnitude that a mere Weapon of Mortal Sin cannot hope to recover.”

The black spears surrounding Libra transformed as they absorbed nearby souls. They grew into sharper, more aggressive, and more ominous weapons. Each one had the power to destroy anything and everything. And every single one of them had transformed into the Sixth Level secret technique, Revolt Brionac.

“Surely the answer is clear,” said Libra. “Your weapon is vastly outnumbered. How about surrendering? Choose that path, and I will let the girl go.”

I turned to Roxy.

“Fay!” she said, her mind made up.

“Roxy!” I replied, as we shared a resolute nod.

Our promise was rock-solid. We would not be swayed. It didn’t matter if Libra claimed that fighting back was pointless. We would decide what was impossible, not him.

Libra saw our expressions and shook his head, exasperated. “Such a pity. To think you would throw away such a generous offer.”

Countless Revolt Brionacs flew toward us at once. They were repelled by Roxy’s barrier, but we could hear it fracture with each impact. Roxy poured more power into maintaining our defenses, but the spears were starting to overwhelm her.

I won’t let it end like this.

I transformed the black sword into the black spear, but…

“I’m fine, Fay,” Roxy said.

I knew she was simply putting up a strong front. That was why I had left on my journey to protect her in the first place. We had been through so much together, and it had brought us to this moment. The realization hit me that everything, all of it, had started from a place of reckless abandon. Why was I even hesitating?

“Greed, are you ready?”

“I was born ready. No imitation will ever stand up to the real deal. Give me everything you’ve got!”

“Do it, partner.”

I didn’t bother to think about the repercussions. Instead, I poured everything I had into Greed and our own Revolt Brionac. I aimed the spear at Libra, then launched it at him at full strength.

“Fay!” Roxy shouted.

Her voice grounded me as Greed collided with Libra’s black spears. However, my Revolt Brionac was quickly swallowed in the hail of Libra’s own. He chuckled, smirking. His face said it all: I told you so. 

“You just can’t help yourself,” he said. “You’re so incredibly wasteful.”

But I could still feel Greed, even when he was out of my reach. Our secret technique wasn’t over yet. And if Greed hadn’t given up, then neither would I.

I had almost nothing left, but I couldn’t bear to let Greed down. I didn’t want to. Roxy could barely act as she focused on blocking Libra’s black spears, each one probing for an opening. Libra had a major advantage over us and was pushing back.

“You’ve still got some energy left, don’t you, Greed?” I said. “You won’t lose to those imitations. You can’t.”

“I feel you, Fate. Lend me your strength.”

Greed’s voice reached me as if he were right next to me. This was the first time we’d been able to connect over such a distance, but it felt no different from the Crossing. What blocked our path was something we could overcome, something we could defeat. I just needed more power.

Fate…

I heard a voice, calling me from within. A voice I never thought I’d hear again. It was my father. His voice was calm and gentle, and for a moment, I almost forgot that I was locked in a fierce battle.

You are not alone. I am with you. And not just me. Take a look around.

Countless drifting souls filled my vision.

The Skills of Mortal Sin defy the laws of God. They are taboo. Because of that, you can answer the prayers of those seeking salvation from those very laws.

Souls broke away from the flow into the giant sphere and changed course, now coming right into me.

The Gluttony Skill was born in the image of God itself. It was meant to be a place of peace, where souls do not end up as offerings to the sphere before you.

“Dad!”

You have faced your own Gluttony, and it has brought you to this place. You are Fate. You can accept these souls. And should he wish it, your other half can too… I did a terrible thing to my own son. I didn’t believe in him. It was an awful thing to do.

Power swelled within me as my father’s words faded away. 

Dad… You’re giving me your power. Again… Thank you. I will send it to Greed.

But my father’s power alone was not enough. We could resist the countless spears that Libra had unleashed but not overcome them.

“Hngh,” I grunted.

“Fay!”

At this rate, Libra was going to overpower us.

The next thing I knew, more and more power rose within me. It was not my father. So who was it? Unknown feelings and memories flowed into me, feeding my strength. They didn’t stop. It was as if a countless number of people were holding me up and supporting me.

I thought of what my father had said and looked at the souls around us. Then, I stepped out of Roxy’s barrier, allowing them to join me. I offered them a chance to unite. They were all such tiny, fleeting essences, but they surged in number, empowering me.