Tale of Discovery

Chapter 114: Infinite ; (Spoiler title at the end.)

That name I know of it.

Most likely from the Knowledge of the Tales that I had found in Kyoto.

{Analysis: Chance of survival - 33%}

Yeah, thank you for that AI. Now, I'm much more motivated to fight her.

Speaking of survivability, how do you analyze it?

{The effectivity of the opponent's attack on Father is the core factor.}

I see. So, all I need to do is dodge her attacks.

"Ophis," I say while peering into her eyes, "Do you wish to fight me?"

She doesn't respond for a few seconds and just stares back at me. It's starting to make me feel uncomfortable.

"I don't know," she finally responds.

"Then, why are you here?"

My words seem to bring some life to her as she replies,

"Bring down Genesis."

This again

"Who or what is Genesis?" I directly ask her.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she's willing to talk to me anymore as she begins to high-density energy into her hands.

As I'm about to prepare for whatever she might do, I sense some presences approaching me.

Checking them out, I find out that they're ordinary Devils.

I want to wipe them out all in one go, but before I can do so, Azazel suddenly appears with twelve wings emerging from his back.

Summoning dozens of light-spears, he takes down a few enemies using unusual equipment before raining the light-spears down on the rest.

That's good. I can now fight with Ophis without worrying about being attacked from behind.

Let's do this

{WARNING: General enemy parameters - Infinite.}

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

---3rd POV---

"It broke," mutters Gula expressionlessly while looking at the crack on the barrier in front of her.

The crack is just wide enough for her to pass through, which she does.

A few seconds later, the crack begins to 'heal'.

Looking into the distance, she takes in a deep breath before seemingly vanishing.

---1st POV---

{It is suggested that Father fight with it in Berserk state.}

Berserk? I'm aware of how it increases my parameters and will for battle, but how is that going to help against an enemy with damned infinity as their parameters?!

{Father has yet to achieve a higher state of Berserk.}

I'm guessing that increases my powers even more. However, something like that surely won't lack a side effect of sorts.

{Affirmative. The higher the state of Berserk, the more effective it will be. To make up for it, the Essence takes over the mind, making it difficult for Father to keep the clarity of mind.}

So, what you're saying is that if I were to achieve a higher state of Berserk, I will have a high chance of killing off everyone close-by, be it foes or allies.

{Affirmative.}

Will I ever be able to maintain my clarity while still being able to make use of its effects?

{That's indeed possible.}

Leaving that aside, how do I achieve the second state at the moment?

{Father needs to maintain Berserk for a certain time or Father could make use of emotions.}

Emotions, huh?

Very well, then. I will kill her.

[Boost!]

{Berserk: God's Wrath First State utilized.}

Feeling the energy welling up within me, I channel a high amount of Destruction into my arms before dashing at Ophis.

I directly throw a punch at her, to which she punches back.

As our fists connect, a jolt of pain passes through half of my body as a shock wave is released that erases everything it touches.

Fortunately, those on my side seem to have expected something like this as they all immediately move away and set a barrier up for those that aren't able to do so for themselves and themselves.

I check my arm out and see that my bones are completely exposed to air.

This is weird. If Ophis's parameters are truly infinite, her punch should deal much more damage than this.

{Analysis: The opponent can't make use of their full potential due to mental state limitations.}

{Update: Chance of survivability has increased to 76%.}

Alright, I got this!

Circulating my Holy Essence, I activate Godspeed and Holy Slash before dashing at her once again.

Her speed and strength seem to have increased as she moves just as fast as me and punching the air in front of her.

The next moment, a loud sound resounds within my ears as an overwhelming force approaches with immense speed.

As soon as it's near me, I make use of Vector Manipulation to eliminate the vectors, however, my ability seems to have a limit of sorts as I am unable to cancel parts of it out.

This, in turn, results in a blade of unknown energy to horizontally cut half of my body off.

I feel no pain, whatsoever, as thin energy lines extend from my body and link with the part that was cut off.

In a few seconds, I'm back to normal with the only thing that has changed is the density of the power within me - It has increased.

Suddenly, the world seems to lose almost all colors as I feel my chest burning.

{Berserk: God's Wrath Second State achieved.}

---3rd POV---

An immense shock wave is suddenly released like none other before. The shock wave directly smashes all barriers and deals a high amount of damage to anything within its vicinity.

This also includes all of Victor's allies.

Michael, Azazel, Odin, and Sirzechs take a decent amount of damage which can be seen from their bodies.

Odin has taken the least amount of damage, while Sirzechs has taken the most.

As for Rias and her peerage, they're all currently regenerating any limbs they've lost using the immortality granted to them by Victor.

The one that has it the worst is Rossweisse who has taken no damage at all. However, she has fainted mid-battle and is completely vulnerable to the Devils near her who have survived the shock wave.

Noticing this, those who have remained immediately make use of this opportunity to attack her.

Suddenly, all the Devils stop in their tracks before withering into particles.

Amidst this, a golden-haired young girl appears while scowling as she looks in the direction Victor is at.

His overall appearance has completely changed.

Body-wise, he seems to be much more buff and tall compared to before.

The previously sandy hair is now completely black as his eyes seem to be releasing a deathly aura.

Shortly, Victor moves his right arm, which seems to form several cracks in the air.

"Sad" the golden-haired girl, Gula, mutters before raising her arm as white energy encompasses it.

"Bad," she says before the energy around her arm is released into the air and begins to form a barrier around everyone present - including Victor and Ophis.

"Absorb," she mutters before closing her open palm.

Immediately, screams of agony follow as Rias and her peerage fall to the ground with thin lines extending from their bodies to the newly-formed barrier.

Odin, who seems to be resisting a great amount of pain makes his way over and urgently throws them all into one location before plunging his spear into the ground.

This results in a barrier that 's giving off a Holy aura to cover him along with Rias and her peerage.

Sirzechs, Azazel, and Michael all seem to have lost their energy for flight as they all land on the ground, with Sirzechs getting down on his knees and hands.

From the looks of it, Rossweisse who is the closest one to Gula isn't affected at all.

Speaking of individuals who seem to be unaffected, both Victor and Ophis have turned their heads to face Gula.

Ophis is as expressionless as ever, while Victor gives off a cold feeling of non-existence.

As if resolving herself, Gula channels energy into her right arm before disappearing from where she was.

The next moment, she reappears at the top of the barrier and punches it.

This results in a wave of energy to spread around the barrier as the density of the energy being absorbed from those inside of it increases several folds.

---1st POV---

Where am I?

I'm fighting Who? Why?

I don't know. It's not clear.

It feels weird. Where is this place?

Looking around me, I see nothing other than pure darkness.

That doesn't last long as objects begin to materialize - coffins.

The coffins are all different, both in shape and color, with the only similarity being them all having open lids.

Suddenly, something appears in one of them.

As I can do nothing else, I check it out, only to be stunned by the sight of an unconscious body.

Krul's body.

It doesn't long before all the coffins have a body inside them.

Sora, Yuno, Siesta, and one other that I don't recognize.

She has golden-hair and seems to be about 14 years old. On her body is a black leather outfit.

Suddenly words begin to appear out of thin air and float above the coffins.

I'm unable to read the one above Sora's as it looks like it's written in symbols that I've never seen before.

As for the others, they're the names of the Codes.

The most intriguing one being the one on top of the golden-haired girl: Eve.

Huh?

White cracks are beginning to form all over the dark space around me. The coffins have all disappeared, as my body begins to feel like it's melting.

---

My eyes they're closed.

Opening them, I find myself lying on the ground while staring into the unusual space.

I forcefully lift my body off the ground despite having almost no energy left which results in a great amount of pain.

Still, gritting my teeth, I get on my feet and examine my surroundings.

A few meters away from me, Ophis is lying unconsciously on the ground, while a certain someone is standing beside her body.

Gula, huh? She's reappeared

What for, and why is she standing beside Ophis?

It doesn't seem like Gula wants to kill her, as she is just staring at her unconscious body.

Leaving them aside, I check out the state of the others, only to be shocked by the sight of a weakened Odin on the ground beside Rias and her peerage who are heavily panting.

As for Sirzechs, Michael, and Azazel, they aren't doing much better: Sirzechs is unconscious, while Azazel and Michael are both using an artifact to transfer energy to themselves.

I move my sight back to Gula who's also looking at me.

Thinking of this logically, I either took Ophis down while not being aware of it, and she appeared at the end, or Gula did it.

It's most likely the latter, as I can sense unique energy all over the place that's similar to the energy currently being emitted by Gula.

Screw it, I better approach her and show her no enmity.

I'm too weakened to fight any further...

~~~~~

Complete title: Infnite ; Gula to the rescue!