Chapter 54 - Coercion

"I want you, Ren Mortel, to slay all the gods--and all their subordinates--in this world for me."

She spoke to me as if I'm just a small bug that is about to be crushed by her. Her eyes, faintly show her curdling hatred from within...

...Just like Aoi.

"You already promised yourself that in order to protect that silly 'sister' of yours, you're prepared to kill anyone who dares to hurt her--even if that person is a god. With that said, I'm just reiterating what the echoes inside your mind are saying to you, Ren Mortel."

"How did you know about that?" I asked.

"You said it in your diary."

"Diary?" I raised my eyebrows at her. "What are you saying? I don't have one."

When I said that she let out a short chuckle, then took a booklet from between her abundant peaks again. Jesus, just how many things are in there?

"Oh-ho, you have one. You may be not aware of it but at this moment, you're writing another entry for your diary."

Myriel then opened the booklet and have me read what's inside it.

{Day XX. When I woke up, I saw a little girl straddling on my body. She called me 'big brother', but how in the world is that possible?!}

"W-What...what the hell is this?"

{Day XX. Today was a very rough day. Aoi kept on using her powers to torture, I mean, teach me how to control her [Death] Arcana, and I already lost count on how many times I almost died. Is she really planning to kill me?}

{Day XX. Today we encountered a plant monster at the forest and Aoi got impaled on a broken tree branch. Although in the end she seem to be fine, seeing her in such a sorry state at that time really made my heart crumble and break. I have to be stronger from now on for it to not happen again.}

{Day XX. I can't say that my resolve to kill other people, much more a god, is true, but my little sister has decided that I would kill for her. }

Everything that is written here...are so creepily accurate just like it came directly straight from my mind.

Then, one of the pages started to glow, and symbols instantly appeared on the paper.

{Day XX. Right now I'm being dominated by this big-b.r.e.a.s.ted woman who apparently is a god too just like Aoi. Although I ended up in this situation, I still get to know her color for today...}

"Hey, I don't know anything about that last entry!!!" I yelled at her.

"Fufu, but it wasn't me who wrote that," she chuckled. "It was you."

Returning the booklet to her special compartment, she said: "As you can see everything that you do, say, or think, gets written in your [Diary]. Using it I could peer into your thoughts, and even unravel your deepest secrets."

Putting her face closer to me she then whispered, 'I know you're not from this world."

"Y...Y-You--"

"That said, I'm not interested with your past. What matters more is the present, for it will mold the future. Anything that could happen at this point, could affect not only you, but also your dear little sister and everyone else."

She then stood up, and returned to her seat to drink, "Are you curious as to why I asked you to kill other gods even though I'm also one of them?"

I only looked down at the ground silently.

"Very well. Perhaps you heard it before from the Death Goddess herself, about the war between the gods? It's a tale that is already forgotten just like the old gods themselves."

She said, ever since the old gods were overthrown, the ones who replaced them had started using every resource they could find from each of their newly-acquired territories to sustain their lavish desires and to increase their power. As they become more powerful, so are their greed. It's a continuous cycle, until everyone reached a standstill.

"With territories overlapping where sources of divine power are found, the once so-called allies are now vying for each other's territories, in hopes to obtain the entire world and even the God Realm. It might sound like I'm bragging, but I got the qualification to have this world as my own."

Hearing her words, I gritted my teeth in anger.

"And in order for you to do that, you want me to cooperate with you. Is that right?"

"Yes. With your powers, it would be easier for me to achieve my plans. Maybe I could use the Death Goddess too, but I'm sure that brat won't agree."

You--!!!

Braakkkk!!! The restriction placed on me got ripped apart and got burned with a black flame, rendering me able to move again.

"Oh my, I never expected that my seal would be broken by you," she said with a slight shock showing on her face.

"Hah, hah...I won't...let you do things as you like..." I replied, panting as I used the [Death] Arcana to free myself from the binding.

Returning to her composed state, she said, "Just as what the [Diary] stated, your body has already changed to the point that simple seals would have their effects reduced on you."

I don't know if that [Diary] you have is really mine but yeah, that may be right.

That seal earlier was painful at first, but I noticed that its effect slowly diminish over time. If all she has are those things, definitely even I can match with her.

"That's regrettable. I thought that I could play with you a little longer, but it seems like I underestimated you. Pardon me for that."

Her lips then formed a warped smile and said, "Looks like I have to really set my eyes on the Death Goddess instead."

"Don't you dare!!!"

As I was about to launch a kick at her face, the masked bartender appeared suddenly between us and blocked my attack.

"Ah, how did you--"

Bang! With a slight sway of his hand, I instantly got blown away with such force that the wall I crashed into got destroyed easily.

Myriel gasped, "Oh my, looks like the wall has to be replaced. Again."

Getting up from the pile of rubble I stood in front of them, dumbfounded. "What the hell is with that man..."

It's unbelievable that a slight touch would generate enough power to launch a person several meters away.

"Hm? Are you surprised? This man here has the blessing of the gods, just like you."

The masked man then closed his distance with me before I could even react, and landed a sharp uppercut straight into my chin.

"K-Kuhh--"

Flying straight up and shooting out of the ceiling, I saw him as he was suddenly above me. Instinctively I crossed my arms to block his attack but his fists still penetrated, and applied so much force to push me downwards.

BLAAAGGGG!!!

His push was enough to create a crater around me when I crashed down the ground. Blood spewed out of my mouth instantly after impact.

"The Seventh Arcana [Chariot], and the Eighth Arcana [Strength]. What you just witnessed are the powers the gods have bestowed upon man, and that's just a negligible fraction of their full potential. Even with your [Death] Arcana you won't stand a chance against this man," she spoke as she looked down menacingly on me.

[Chariot] and [Strength]. Although I know already that there are other Arcanas existing in this world aside from the ones I have, it's my first time seeing them with my own eyes.

As I thought these powers are really scary.

I stood up and spoke. "Heh...so you're planning on gathering people who have such powers, and use them to your advantage? Now I see..."

"That's right," she immediately replied. "With the Arcanas being remnants of the old gods themselves, all the new gods have strived to obtain at least one of them. However, the Arcanas aren't compatible with our bodies, so I had to find a way in order for me to use it."

It took her almost 500 years for her to get a hold of the two Arcanas and another hundred just to find a person who is compatible with both of them. With me already having an Arcana, she won't have to wait that long for me to become compatible.

"Compared to this man, I could see a very bright future for you Ren Mortel. You will live a wonderful life and achieve all your ambitions, but only if you let me use your powers. Now, cooperate with me, or die at my hand?"

My veins are already about to pop from her words. "You said this was a business proposal, but I haven't heard anything about my benefits from you should I accept."

"I told it you already--you accept, you and your sister will live. You refuse, you will die. What will you choose then?"

She smiled at me in a very despicable manner. If this is her way of showing how generous she is, I can't imagine her being otherwise.

"If I'm left with no choice but to accept, I might as well make another option and that is to refuse!"

Using the [Death] Arcana I created a column of black flames from under their feet. Myriel easily dodged, but the masked man was a beat too slow. He burned for a moment, but the flames didn't leave any substantial damage.

"Hm? You're really adamant into not joining our forces, Ren."

"I don't wish on getting involved with your dastardly plans, that's why."

Myriel laughed. "However, too bad--you're already involved for a long time already!"

Fwip! She threw sheets of paper at me and at the same time, the masked man charged forward. Knowing that those sheets contained seals, I weaved my way trying not to get any part of my body into contact with any of them.

"Ah, I can't move my left arm!"

Unfortunately one of the sheets touched my arm and locked of into place, just in time when the masked man was about to strike.

'Even if I block his attack I would still get knocked back...'

[Chariot] and [Strength]. Speed and strength. With the help of Myriel over the years I'm sure that this man has enough potential to be used as a fighting machine against the gods.

However--

"Come to think of it, you're only charging forward!"

I noticed it after I created that black pillar. He didn't even show any sign of retreating, as he relied on his Arcanas to resist the damage he's taking.

A juggernaut, if I were to describe him.

If I continue to attack here with the usual method, I won't really stand a chance against him just as what Myriel told me. That's why...

"Black flames aren't the only things the [Death] Arcana is good at!"

I backflipped just in time before his attack landed, leaving a crater where I stood just a while ago. Separating myself at least five meters away from him, I immediately prepared myself for his next attack.

"Careful, Ren Mortel," Myriel spoke. "He doesn't speak, but if you keep on dodging you might not know it until he finally snaps."

I replied, "Then I would like to see him snap."

Using my free hand I taunted him into attacking me once more. The masked man let out a short grunt, then used his inhuman speed to close his distance up to about a meter away from me. His fists are glowing into a heated red, as killing intent slowly start to build up from him.

My bones would be shattered instantly if I don't do anything!

Readying myself for the worst case scenario, I cleared all doubts in my mind and muttered:

"[Break]."

Brakkkk--!!! The masked man let out a sharp groan as he placed his hand on his right chest. With three of his ribs suddenly got broken, I used the opportunity to keep distance from him again.

Myriel raised her eyebrows while watching us from the side. "Boy, you managed to land a hit on him. Impressive."

"Land a hit? But I didn't used my hands to attack him."

"Hm?"

The masked man, shocked that he took quite some damage from me, became enraged and charged again forward. Clasping his hands together he tried to hammer me down with great force, but...

Crack! Crack! Crack!!!

He's fast, but the rate at which his ribs kept on breaking is faster.

[Sacred Curses]. Just by thinking of it, I could damage any part of his body, without even needing the use of hands or feet.

"My turn!"

With my fist I strike through his remaining intact rib, and kicked him away from me. Blood dripped from behind his mask, indicating that the bone shards had pierced his internal organs.

It just shows that no matter how strong a person may be from the outside, it doesn't mean his organs would be also the same.

"This..."

Myriel felt a slight anxiety in her heart. She took out my [Diary] and looked at my past events, but her face warped when she haven't found anything in relation to the current situation.

"I don't know what did that bratty goddess had taught you, but I'm sure it's something that we could use to change this world to our preferences."

"Sorry, but this power is a family secret," I replied. "Aoi gave this power to me, and I will use it to protect her from the likes of you."

"Family secret, huh..." She showed a faint smile.

Meanwhile, the masked man straightened his stance as his whole body started to glow white. With all of his ribs broken he should not be able to move right now but with his Arcana he's pushing his own body to its limits.

"Looks like I have no choice but to do it."

Myriel flipped through one of the pages of my [Diary], and using a quill she took out from between her b.r.e.a.s.ts she started to write words while reading it out loud.

"[The masked man appeared all of a sudden behind Ren, and broke his back.]"

"Wha--"

When I looked behind the masked man was indeed there, and with his glowing fists he landed a powerful chop on my spine.

"GHHAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!"

"[Ren groaned in pain, but it was just the beginning of his suffering. While he's lying face down on the ground the masked man stomped his feet on his pelvis, breaking his thigh bones also in the process.]"

Brrraakkkkk!!! With my spine already broken I can't feel anything from my waist down anymore, but the sound of my bones breaking is still painful to the ears.

"[Ren spoke while still in pain, 'Even if you kill me I won't still join your side!']"

"Even if you kill me I won't still join your side--what?!"

This woman...the moment she starts writing something, the words she wrote would happen immediately. If she wrote something like telling me to die, then I would die that instant.

No good!

"I won't let you write things in my [Diary]!"

"[Look away.]"

Just as when I'm about to use my [Sacred Curses] on her, she have already wrote a set of words in the [Diary]. I tried looking back at her, but my neck became locked in place.

"I admit, I didn't expected that the Death Goddess has some sort of hidden power given to you. However, it still wasn't enough to stop me from achieving my plans."

She wrote another set of words, and the masked man instantly regenerated all of his injuries. The whole place then glowed bright with his immense aura surging out, making the temperature inside to become hotter and hotter to the point that my blood and sweat started to boil.

"Only the most fortunate people are the ones who have an opportunity like this to be approached by a god like me. However, you still chose to side with a wrong god."

Bang! A loud shockwave ravaged my ears, and I saw the masked man about to land a decisive strike to my head.

'Even with my Arcana, it still wasn't enough.'

"Cheers, Ren Mortel. It was unfortunate, but you won't be ae to get back to your world anymore."

Raising her glass, she spoke out again the words she had wrote on the [Diary].

"[As Ren gaze at this impending end, tears fell on his eyes and said--]"

"The end."

SPLATTER! The whole place became instantly covered in red. Bones, blood, and internal organs scattered everywhere, leaving off a foul stench. Myriel, who was celebrating instantly felt revolted when some blood got mixed in her drink.

"Good grief--I never expected it would end up this messy. Is that what that bratty goddess had taught you, boy?"

Before that masked man could kill me--I blew up his body first.

"No, compared to Aoi I prefer to do things as bloodless as possible. Just this time, I had to kill him that way."

If Aoi is here I'm sure she'll complain, saying it wasn't bloody enough.

A few moments later my lower body started repairing itself, enabling me to stand up and move again. I also ripped off the seal on my left arm, and threw it away.

"600 years of preparation, and your lackey got destroyed in an instant. Give it up already, Myriel."

"Ah, you think something like that would stop me? Seems like you're forgetting something. You see, I have all the time in the world."

The ground shook violently for a few seconds, then a large book appeared and floated behind her. Strange symbols glowing in a deep purple swirl around it, forming random combinations in the air.

"Now, boy. Witness how this elder sister make a dent in history--"

"...I won't let you to it!"

"What--?"

Boom! Black chains burst from the ground and latched around Myriel's body. A heavy, familiar aura soon swarmed around and...

"A-Aoi?!"

This girl...how did she get here?

"...You vile woman, how dare you approach my big brother?! I will kill you if you lay even just a finger on him!" She shouted as soon as she stopped right in front of me.

"Oh, it's been a while since we last met, Death Goddess--or should I say, Aoi? Even after thousands of years, you're still a noisy little brat as you were," Myriel retorted, as if pleased to see her again.

"...Same to you, Rewriter," Aoi gritted her teeth. "You're still the same s.l.u.tty, big-boobed woman as before."

Sparks began appearing between the two of them. Having these two goddesses meet each other, I don't know what should I do to deal with this situation.

"Seems like...this would end much worse than I expected," I muttered under my breath while watching the two staring daggers at each other.