Volume 3 Chapter 32-2 Deus Ex Machina' VS 'God of Provisions
Arzent muttered to himself.
In response, Horace...
"Cut the comedy routine."
"Huh?"
"You, that's right. After you fall, you're gonna possess my body and take over, aren't you?"
"!"
"You decide how the 'food' behaves. If you use your power, the 'food' won't stay food. It might even 'rebel'."
"..."
"A hundred years ago, you did this to Eudynes, didn't you? You might not realize it, but when I pierced you, I injected a special liquid."
"Special liquid?"
"That's right."
Horace nodded.
His expression was hidden... but he was probably giving a look of pity.
"An ultra-special liquid. The kind that 'heals you rapidly, then unleashes a fatal poison'."
Arzent looked down at his own body.
The body had no scars.
"And that poison, it's 'not considered my doing'."
"...Huh? Ah, um, oh, you mean you injected it?"
Arzent began to reject the 'understanding'.
"Yeah, I did. But... it's become something apart from my will. I made it that way."
There was no point in making Arzent understand.
From here on out, everything was just a game of cat and mouse for Horace.
Even so, that was fine.
"I'm using the power of Terra Disas. His power is so vast and uncontrollable that 'disasters can happen without my will, and people can die'. But an uncontrollable force shouldn't be able to 'take shape'."
Indeed, the idea of an uncontrollable magic taking 'shape' was theoretically impossible.
Because it was uncontrollable, disasters occurred.
Even if some theories were missing, it wasn't a phrase that could be dismissed outright.
But for someone like Horace, 'understanding magic' meant there should be no clear reason for such phenomena.
"Magic seeks stability. In this, there's no way to control it. Magic without any image──without form──could never take shape. But Terra Disas' power does just that. It solidifies into a disaster, causing destruction, sometimes leaving behind countless dead."
And being a disaster... that's just 'abnormal.' It has nothing to do with Terra Disas' will.
"The 'poison' I poured into your body── In short, from my point of view, it was just liquid. That's how it was designed."
"N-n-no way... is this..."
"That poison will end you. But... your death has nothing to do with my will. According to the rules you set, this isn't 'murder'."
Horace looked down on Arzent.
"I won't be your prey. You can't invade me or take anything from me."
"D-damn it! Ugh! Gah!"
Arzent spat out blood.
His body was already being rapidly consumed by the poison.
"This is impossible... I'm a god! I'm the most stable existence there is! A poison like this... my healing power should neutralize it! Why... Why can't I heal!?"
"It's true that your body is being ravaged... but your body doesn't recognize that poison as a threat."
"Impossible!"
"But your body──look, the wounds are healing, right? That's the intended effect. The human body is designed to accept healing agents. Sure, the side effects are a bit strong, though."
"Don't screw with me! I'm not going down this easily!"
"I knew you were seeking a 'stronger vessel' to control your power. Your form is almost identical to Eudynes because you stole his body after you defeated him."
Horace sighed.
"I don't have much time left here. You didn't want to see me retreat, to make sure I'd never come back. You wanted my body more than Eudynes'──because you thought mine was the better 'vessel.' But you definitely didn't want the story to end with me running away."
He continued, still looking down.
"Well, I knew that from the start. I figured it would end quickly... I've thought that all along."
"Impossible. N-no... I can't die like this. Damn it, I am a god! This is a joke... It can't end like this!"
Arzent shouted, blood spilling from his mouth, blood tears running down his cheeks.
The poison eating away at his body showed no signs of stopping.
"Just like you figured out, I'm the type who studies the enemy's moves, then comes up with a counter. You caught on quick... but if you stop fighting for too long, that kind of sharpness dulls fast. You got weak because you got lazy──that's all it is."
"Ha... haha... how foolish. But your own path won't be any easier, Horace! We 5 gods rebuilt this dungeon! Until you beat all 5 of us, you'll never reach 'the deepest chamber!'"
Something twisted lit up in Arzent's eyes──as pain twisted his face, a strange joy crept in, and he grinned.
"Fine, I'll admit it. Horace. You're strong──and clever. But the other gods... you won't get endings like this with them. This time, it is only the result of my speciality. Next, if you meet the other gods, you will understand. How much of the true 'power of God' is!"
Looking up to the sky.
Arzent is somewhere, with a satisfying look...
"Ha, ha...Horace, at the end, I'll give you a will from Eudynes to the one who defeated me as the Golem Master."
Arzent's eyes are blank.
Already, his body should be in tatters, vision fading.
Yet, he speaks.
"'Create something not of confidence, but of pride'... so they say. Cough."
The next moment, he spits up more blood than ever before.
Then, he collapses to the ground, his blood staining the carpet.
His divine body vanishes, leaving behind a single ingot and a vast pile of gold coins.
"...Something to be proud of. Hmm. Never really tried that."
With a snap of his fingers, the coins and ingot are swallowed by a vortex, disappearing into another dimension.
"...Eudynes. When I die, I'll boast endlessly, so be prepared."
With those words, Horace leaves the scene.
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