I wondered why.
How could it be possible?
I thought Human God was always on our side until that very moment.
Or should I say even then.
"Human God-sama... Why?"
I quietly muttered.
My mind in turmoil, a whirlwind of emotions.
Maybe because Dragon God-sama was about to invade the Human World?
So Human God-sama saw him an enemy?
That said, even if.
He had always been our ally.
He advised and helped us.
He even assisted us to avenge Lunaria-sama’s death.
Human God always busied himself for the sake of the worlds.
Human God turned to me then.
Wearing a nasty, hateful grin.
“Ah, yes… Haha, this… hehe.”
I believed that Human God was going to make up something plausible, initially.
Something appropriate for his station and won’t break character.
But he couldn’t resist the laughter.
He took too much pleasure from the situation.
His whole plot went so well that he couldn’t help but ridicule us.
"Hahaha ... Fufufu..."
A disgusting laughter.
It sticks to your ear and never fades.
“No… everyone did a great job. Thanks to you guys, I was able to fulfill my goal…”
To us who were still stunned, Human God said.
The one and only time I heard the truth from him…
After that, I met others deceived by him and subsequently led to their ruins.
Apparently he took great joy in sharing the plot in such situations.
Telling you “well done”, patting you on the shoulder.
"Thank you"
"What are you talking about ..?"
I asked, like an idiot.
If I just thought about it a little, I would have realized the truth in Dragon God-sama’s words.
“What else? The war between gods and destruction of the worlds.”
Yes, he was the mastermind.
Everything was his work.
The breakdown of relationships, the murder of Lunaria-sama and other dignitaries of the worlds.
Perhaps even the teleportation and magic beast incidents.
No, those were probably incidental.
But he surely took advantage of them too.
“Indeed, I merely planted the seeds bit-by-bit, because Dragon God was naturally prudent. I never expected it to work this well!”
“...”
“Especially Szilard. You sure did work hard! You never doubted a word I said, just as I expected!"
Szilard’s eyes widened, his body trembling.
“Without your efforts, Dragon World would never have destroyed the other worlds.
I just need to say three magic words, “for Dragon God”, and you conveniently believed my every word.
To think you loyal dogs would go this far to help me strip Dragon God of his fangs…”
“Preposterous! you said… that you wanted to help stop Dragon God-sama... “
“Hah, hahahaha!”
Human God laughed.
“Indeed, wasn’t my act splendid? The best I could hope for was for Dragon God to invade Human World by his lonesome, but fufu, fufufu, hahahahah!”
He laughed even joyously, amused by Szilard in his state.
“Thanks to your effort, Dragon God showed a critical flaw! I was able to kill that most troublesome Dragon God, completely unscathed!
Preparing such a large scale assault on your own master? How moronic!
What were you guys thinking? I merely fanned the flame a little, and you went this far?
You’re killing me with laughter with your so-called loyalty!
Oh Dragon God, I pity you for having such loyal vassals!”
"Ahh ... ha... haa..."
Now that he mentioned it, Szilard’s behavior had been strange.
It was a little unnatural for Szilard to be the first to advocate for war.
It was also Szilard who first suggested to stop Dragon God-sama.
A long time ago, it was also Szilard who killed the Demon King without a direct command from Dragon God-sama.
Szilard, the most resolute of the Five Dragon Generals.
He was deceived.
Dancing to Human God’s tunes, he instigated the war between the worlds and drove Dragon God-sama to death’s door.
Szilard screamed by this realization.
“Dragon God-sama…!”
With his remaining arm, he cut off both of his legs.
Plucked out what remained of his fangs and gorged out his eyes.
And finally, thrust a fist into his chest and pulled out his heart.
“Forgive me!”
Then he held it up and squeezed.
With a pop, his heart burst… and Szilard’s arm fell limply onto the ground.
Szilard followed Crystal.
The Second Dragon General to die.
The dragon general with green-silver scales and ephemeral eyes
Who won fame fighting against the demon race and christened the Holy Dragon Emperor.
To atone for his sins, He ended his life with his own hands.
As his last act of loyalty.
Having been deceived by the enemy and driven Dragon God-sama to his death.
He had no other way to atone.
“Oh, how miserable and stupid to choose suicide because you’ve been fooled… Fufu, fufufu, Hahahhaha!”
Yet Human God mocked that loyalty.
Just remembering it makes me seeth.
Oh, how he laughed.
At the loyalty of Szilard to Dragon God-sama, the pride of the Five Dragon Generals.
But we couldn't say anything.
Certainly we were stupid, miserable fools.
Deceived by Human God’s lies and Szilard’s words, we drove Dragon God-sama to his death.
The reality was too stark.
Too heavy to bear.
I was filled with frustration, yet unable to refute anything.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Hmm?”
It wasn’t a Dragon General that stopped Human God’s laughter.
"Szilard was a loyal vassal. Do not laugh at him."
“Oh, you’re still alive? Lizards sure are tough, huh?”
It was Dragon God-sama.
Even with the divine jewel scooped from his body, he somehow clinged on.
“How exactly do you plan to order me around in this situation?”
“Szilard’s judgment was correct, and I would have done the same in his situation. Everything was my fault. Don’t laugh at Szilard, laugh at me.”
“What are you talking about? I've been laughing at you the whole time ..."
Dragon God swelled with murderous intent.
Even near death, Dragon God-sama still had an overwhelmingly intimidating presence.
His anger had peaked.
In response, a cold sweat dropped from Human God’s forehead.
"Human god. No, the thing in the shape of Human God, answer this."
“Y-you are in no-no position to ask me questions…”
"Who are you? Why did you want war? Why did you want to kill the gods… and why did you kill Lunaria?”
Those weren’t mere questions.
Those were demands.
The Five Dragon Generals would have immediately stood straight and vomited out everything we knew. Those were orders.
"...!"
But Human God did not answer.
No intent to obey.
Instead, he squeezed Dragon God-sama’s divine jewel, tightly.
And with a loud snap, the jewel shattered.
“Ugh!”
The next moment, Dragon God-sama spit a large amount of blood from his mouth.
Every time he defeated a god, he also took out their divine jewel.
It had the power to cross between worlds, but also the source of a god’s divine power.
“Still acting so high and mighty! What a joke! You lost! You lost to me!”
Human God shouted and tramped on Dragon God-sama on the ground.
Over and over again.
“Why kill Lunaria? Why the war?
You, it was to kill you!
More powerful than anyone yet wary of war!
So cautious and without flaws!
Haa! You’re in this state now all because of me!”
There was no power left in Dragon God-sama’s body.
But his breath had yet to fade.
Rather, that feeling of intimation only increased.
"Uh...! What the hell are you! Damn it!"
Even Human God felt intimated.
The collapsed, dying Dragon God-sama still intimidated Human God.
Feeling the brunt of anger and murderous intent.
Losing his most beloved, tricked into fighting other gods, even having his own vassals turned against him.
All of Dragon God’s wrath now focused on him.
“Haa! It’s useless to glare. You’re already dead! I’m the one and only god!”
With that said, Human God stepped away and floated into the sky.
With an arm raised, palm pointing facing up.
A force converged in that palm, forming a tremendous ball of light.
“Destruction, Dragon World.”
There was no time to stop him.
No, even if there was, it couldn’t be stopped.
The ball of light fired off from Human God’s hand.
It flew high above, as if to absorb all of Dragon World…
Explosions, lights, and shockwaves blasted the land.
By the time the light subsided, the world had begun to collapse.
The earth began to crack and darkness creeped into the sky.
It was a little different from previous ones, but still a scene I had witnessed many times.
A scene of a world’s end.
“Haha, good bye, Dragon God. May you perish here.”
Human God slowly flew away, mockingly.
I could just watch.
If I had another chance, I would have attacked.
I couldn’t forgive the violence of tramping on Dragon God-sama.
I couldn’t forgive the insolence of insulting the Five Dragon Generals.
But I was too shocked to do anything.
Me, Chaos, Maxwell.
What did we do?
What just happened?
Of the Five Dragon Generals, only the recently deceased Szilard fully grasped the situation.
Only that something terrible and irreconcilable had happened.
We knew.
"Laplace."
Dragon God-sama’s voice brought me back to reality.
“Dragon God-sama… I’m here.”
I staggered my trembling body to Dragon God-sama’s side.
Dragon God-sama was still alive.
His divine jewel crushed, covered in scars and wounds from other gods, but yet he still clinged on.
“Chaos, Maxwell.”
“Dragon God-sama… We’re…”
“It’s fine.”
“We failed to obey Dragon God-sama’s order… Please forgive us, no, it’s unforgivable. Only death could atone for our sins, please order it.”
“I forgive you. Everything happened because I did not explain the situation to you.”
Dragon God-sama forgave Chaos and Maxwell.
So easily.
Even though we betrayed him.
“But I have one last mission for you.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“The end of Dragon World approaches, and we’re out of time… I need time to devise a plan to kill Human God. Earn that time for me with your lives.”
Make some time, I didn’t know exactly what that entails.
I thought about it often, but I never figured out exactly how one can delay the end of a world…
But they accepted their final order without hesitation.
“Yes..!”
Chaos and Maxwell took off flying, circling above Dragon God-sama.
“Dora, where’s Dora?”
Dragon God-sama called out to Dora-sama.
But Dora-sama… was in bad shape.
She could no longer move on her own.
“Laplace.”
“Yes.”
Without further instructions.
I went besides Dora-sama to witness her final moments.
“Dora-sama.”
"Ha... haa... that voice... Laplace... What happened? I can't see anything anymore."
Dora-sama was dying.
Probably in her last moments of consciousness.
But she still struggled to understand.
She probably realized something terrible had happened.
Fading, but she desperately wanted to know.
“Human God…”
I explained everything that I saw.
That it was all Human God’s plot.
How he instigated the war, how Szilard took responsibility and committed suicide to atone.
That Dragon God-sama was near death at the hand of Human God.
That the Dragon World was collapsing.
Everything.
“Well… Then I can only make up for it with my life… but I’m already near death.”
Dora-sama said to me, her hollowed eyes looking upwards.
“Laplace… I have a request.”
“Please ask anything.”
“It’s not an order… it’s a request… It’s unavoidable I’ll be judged as a rebel, but my son… Perugius… please help him escape.. I beg you!”
“Escape? Where to?”
“To the future… the method in the teleport research lab… Please, Dragon God-sama…”
I didn't understand the meaning of Dora-sama's words.
But I do understand what she means.
To leave her be.
“In the end, Dragon God-sama’s words were true, and we were wrong… that’s… great. Betraying Dragon God-sama was a mistake… that’s… wonderful.”
Those were Dora-sama’s final words.
She was always doubtful.
To stop Dragon God-sama by force.
She always had her reservations about that.
That’s why she was relieved in the end, knowing that Dragon God-sama was right.
Then she died.
The third to die after Szilard.
Even more important than her own son, her final thought was loyalty to Dragon God-sama.
She was loyal to Dragon God-sama to the last.
"..."
After bearing witness to Dora-sama, I returned to Dragon God-sama.
And conveyed her final words to him.
After pondering for a bit, Dragon God-sama said.
“Laplace, carry me to the teleportation laboratory.”
“Yes.”
I carried Dragon God-sama with one hand and flew.
Of course, I carried his son with my other hand.
■
A few minutes of flight while avoiding falling debris.
We arrived.
The secret location Dora-sama brought me to once.
The Teleportation Research Laboratory.
“Dragon God-sama!”
“Those terrible wounds…”
The elderly researchers had remained.
Already near death and already made their peace, they’re unperturbed by the world collapsing about them.
Seeing the gravely injured Dragon God-sama concerned them more.
Dragon God-sama did not answer, but simply said, “the time has come.”
Casting their worried expressions aside, they immediately led us to the laboratory’s innermost chamber.
At the terminus was an altar and a monument.
The boundary of the world.
An altar that functions as a gate to another world.
The stone monument was engraved with sophisticated magic circles.
Three divine jewels were placed before the altar.
"Laplace, place my son here."
Following his instructions, I placed Dragon God-sama’s son on the altar.
After I distanced myself from the altar, Dragon God-sama stood before it.
While I wondered about what’s going to happen, Dragon God-sama began to draw magic circles onto the child.
Far too sophisticated for me, but I understood that it was a technique written on the stone monument.
Dragon God-sama seemed to understand it just by glancing at it for a few seconds.
"The collapse of the dragon world cannot be stopped, I will die. We have lost."
Dragon God-sama said it plainly, as if merely confirming the facts.
“Even so, he must be killed.”
Human God killed Lunaria-sama.
He made us dance in the palm of his hands to destroy the other worlds.
Even caused the Five Dragon Generals and Dragon God-sama to battle amongst ourselves until our own mutual destruction.
Unforgivable.
“That was not Human God. Human God wasn’t such a man… Hitogami, let’s call him that. I do not know why Hitogami pretended to be Human God, or where Human God had gone, but I’m certain of his machinations to destroy us, that he indeed has divine power.”
"..."
"To defeat him, you will also need god’s power.”
Dragon God-sama stared intently at me.
“After this, I’ll go to Human World and challenge him to one last battle.”
“Not at your current state!”
“I know. My death is unavoidable. I have no chance of winning, but I must have my vengeance.”
As Dragon God-sama finished, he picked up one of the divine jewels and pushed it into his chest.
Blood streamed, but Dragon God-sama’s body began to shine.
A little power seemed to have returned to that dying body.
“Yet my revenge probably would end in failure, that’s why--”
Dragon God-sama picked up one of the divine jewels and placed it on the chest of the child… it fell within.
“My child will reincarnate.”
The blood of Dragon God-sama and Human God flow through his child.
A demigod with great potential.
The power of gods.
“I shall grant to my child my every technique, and to him the ability to remain concealed until he could defeat Hitogami… but that will not be enough. He must find out what happened to Human God, and how Hitogami obtained divine power in the first place. Until then, defeat is inevitable.”
Dragon God-sama looked toward me, picked up the final divine jewel, and offered it to me.
“I give you a mission.”
“Yes!”
I received it and offered the utmost salute.
It was for Dragon God-sama that I learned the utmost salute.
It was my final salute to Dragon God-sama.
“I’ll send my child ten-thousand years into the future. In the meantime, I want you to find Hitogami’s true identity, his whereabouts, his weaknesses.. Find a way to defeat him and convey that to my child!”
“Yes!”
After Dragon God-sama granted me my final mission, he applied various techniques to the child.
Complex techniques.
I still don’t understand what was applied
Just that they’re abilities for countering “Human God”.
At the minimum, Hitogami was similar to Human God’s.
I waited for Dragon God-sama to finish, as the world collapsed outside.
He continuously embedded magic circles about the child without pause.
Dragon God-sama probably foreseen this ending.
That it would end like this.
He probably realized what’s happening when the Dragon Generals broke away.
If you think about it, Dragon God-sama could have just headed to Human World and ignored us.
However, Dragon God-sama probably realized he couldn’t win, even if he did.
Hitogami probably already had traps set for him if he left on his own.
That’s why he looked for another way.
As Dragon Generals made our preparations, he probably was thinking of a way the whole time.
“Finally, do you have any last questions?”
Dragon God-sama asked as he finished embedding the last magic circles.
Slowly, I shook my head, but suddenly I thought of something.
A question I had to ask.
“A name.”
“Name?”
“The name of your child.”
This was the end.
There won’t be another chance.
This wasn’t something for me to decide.
It was Lunaria-sama’s wish for Dragon God-sama to grant this child a name.
“...”
Dragon God-sama paused briefly.
However, it must have already been decided.
"Orsted."
Without any hesitation.
"This child's name is Orsted."
Dragon God-sama pronounced.
■
Just like that, Dragon God-sama’s child...
Orsted, was sent to the future.
Dragon God-sama and I flew out of the collapsing laboratory and headed to the Human World.
Dragon God-sama went ahead, leaving me behind.
Our final words exchanged were “May the fortunes of war be with you” and “everything shall be left to fate.”
That was the last I saw of Dragon God-sama.
I jumped onto Saleyakt, dodging the falling rocky masses, and flew to the altar.
While I flew, I sensed a great presence disappearing behind me.
Two.
It was Chaos and Maxwell.
Those two, who literally put their lives on the line to resist the collapse, had passed.
The fourth Dragon, Chaos.
The last Dragon, Maxwell.
Maybe the order was inverted, but that’s how I memorialized them.
Thanks to their efforts, I managed to escape from the collapsing Dragon World.
By the time I arrived at Human World, the battle had already begun.
Due to the battle between gods, the human world was beset by natural disasters.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, thunder and lightning.
Fear and loathing swirled around the world …
Intimidated by the divine, all living things of this world came to innately fear the Dragon Race.
But more than that, I was shocked.
Because Human World has transformed.
So much so that I no longer recognize it from when I was last here…
The Human World of old was an endless grassland and streams.
But now there are rivers, mountains, oceans, wilderness, and deserts.
As if the Six Worlds has all condensed into one.
Perhaps the collapse of each world had caused their magical energy to disperse into the Human World.
Maybe this unbalanced world from my view is what’s objectively balanced.
I landed on one of the mountains, straddling Saleyakt.
The highest peak in the world.
As I bear witness to the end of the battle.
I didn’t know where exactly Dragon God-sama and Hitogami were fighting.
I could only pray for Dragon God-sama’s victory.
It might be a remote possibility, but I hope my wish could be answered.
Eventually, the battle was over.
The thunder and tornado subsided, the roaring sound faded.
Only the rain continued to fall quietly.
For seven days and seven nights.
On the eighth day, the sky was blue and clear.
There was no wind, the sea was calm.
There was no longer the presence of any god.
Neither Dragon God-sama nor Hitogami.
However, I knew.
Dragon God-sama was no longer there.
Thus, Dragon World was destroyed.
I wondered why.
How could it be possible?
I thought Human God was always on our side until that very moment.
Or should I say even then.
"Human God-sama... Why?"
I quietly muttered.
My mind in turmoil, a whirlwind of emotions.
Maybe because Dragon God-sama was about to invade the Human World?
So Human God-sama saw him an enemy?
That said, even if.
He had always been our ally.
He advised and helped us.
He even assisted us to avenge Lunaria-sama’s death.
Human God always busied himself for the sake of the worlds.
Human God turned to me then.
Wearing a nasty, hateful grin.
“Ah, yes… Haha, this… hehe.”
I believed that Human God was going to make up something plausible, initially.
Something appropriate for his station and won’t break character.
But he couldn’t resist the laughter.
He took too much pleasure from the situation.
His whole plot went so well that he couldn’t help but ridicule us.
"Hahaha ... Fufufu..."
A disgusting laughter.
It sticks to your ear and never fades.
“No… everyone did a great job. Thanks to you guys, I was able to fulfill my goal…”
To us who were still stunned, Human God said.
The one and only time I heard the truth from him…
After that, I met others deceived by him and subsequently led to their ruins.
Apparently he took great joy in sharing the plot in such situations.
Telling you “well done”, patting you on the shoulder.
"Thank you"
"What are you talking about ..?"
I asked, like an idiot.
If I just thought about it a little, I would have realized the truth in Dragon God-sama’s words.
“What else? The war between gods and destruction of the worlds.”
Yes, he was the mastermind.
Everything was his work.
The breakdown of relationships, the murder of Lunaria-sama and other dignitaries of the worlds.
Perhaps even the teleportation and magic beast incidents.
No, those were probably incidental.
But he surely took advantage of them too.
“Indeed, I merely planted the seeds bit-by-bit, because Dragon God was naturally prudent. I never expected it to work this well!”
“...”
“Especially Szilard. You sure did work hard! You never doubted a word I said, just as I expected!"
Szilard’s eyes widened, his body trembling.
“Without your efforts, Dragon World would never have destroyed the other worlds.
I just need to say three magic words, “for Dragon God”, and you conveniently believed my every word.
To think you loyal dogs would go this far to help me strip Dragon God of his fangs…”
“Preposterous! you said… that you wanted to help stop Dragon God-sama... “
“Hah, hahahaha!”
Human God laughed.
“Indeed, wasn’t my act splendid? The best I could hope for was for Dragon God to invade Human World by his lonesome, but fufu, fufufu, hahahahah!”
He laughed even joyously, amused by Szilard in his state.
“Thanks to your effort, Dragon God showed a critical flaw! I was able to kill that most troublesome Dragon God, completely unscathed!
Preparing such a large scale assault on your own master? How moronic!
What were you guys thinking? I merely fanned the flame a little, and you went this far?
You’re killing me with laughter with your so-called loyalty!
Oh Dragon God, I pity you for having such loyal vassals!”
"Ahh ... ha... haa..."
Now that he mentioned it, Szilard’s behavior had been strange.
It was a little unnatural for Szilard to be the first to advocate for war.
It was also Szilard who first suggested to stop Dragon God-sama.
A long time ago, it was also Szilard who killed the Demon King without a direct command from Dragon God-sama.
Szilard, the most resolute of the Five Dragon Generals.
He was deceived.
Dancing to Human God’s tunes, he instigated the war between the worlds and drove Dragon God-sama to death’s door.
Szilard screamed by this realization.
“Dragon God-sama…!”
With his remaining arm, he cut off both of his legs.
Plucked out what remained of his fangs and gorged out his eyes.
And finally, thrust a fist into his chest and pulled out his heart.
“Forgive me!”
Then he held it up and squeezed.
With a pop, his heart burst… and Szilard’s arm fell limply onto the ground.
Szilard followed Crystal.
The Second Dragon General to die.
The dragon general with green-silver scales and ephemeral eyes
Who won fame fighting against the demon race and christened the Holy Dragon Emperor.
To atone for his sins, He ended his life with his own hands.
As his last act of loyalty.
Having been deceived by the enemy and driven Dragon God-sama to his death.
He had no other way to atone.
“Oh, how miserable and stupid to choose suicide because you’ve been fooled… Fufu, fufufu, Hahahhaha!”
Yet Human God mocked that loyalty.
Just remembering it makes me seeth.
Oh, how he laughed.
At the loyalty of Szilard to Dragon God-sama, the pride of the Five Dragon Generals.
But we couldn't say anything.
Certainly we were stupid, miserable fools.
Deceived by Human God’s lies and Szilard’s words, we drove Dragon God-sama to his death.
The reality was too stark.
Too heavy to bear.
I was filled with frustration, yet unable to refute anything.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Hmm?”
It wasn’t a Dragon General that stopped Human God’s laughter.
"Szilard was a loyal vassal. Do not laugh at him."
“Oh, you’re still alive? Lizards sure are tough, huh?”
It was Dragon God-sama.
Even with the divine jewel scooped from his body, he somehow clinged on.
“How exactly do you plan to order me around in this situation?”
“Szilard’s judgment was correct, and I would have done the same in his situation. Everything was my fault. Don’t laugh at Szilard, laugh at me.”
“What are you talking about? I've been laughing at you the whole time ..."
Dragon God swelled with murderous intent.
Even near death, Dragon God-sama still had an overwhelmingly intimidating presence.
His anger had peaked.
In response, a cold sweat dropped from Human God’s forehead.
"Human god. No, the thing in the shape of Human God, answer this."
“Y-you are in no-no position to ask me questions…”
"Who are you? Why did you want war? Why did you want to kill the gods… and why did you kill Lunaria?”
Those weren’t mere questions.
Those were demands.
The Five Dragon Generals would have immediately stood straight and vomited out everything we knew. Those were orders.
"...!"
But Human God did not answer.
No intent to obey.
Instead, he squeezed Dragon God-sama’s divine jewel, tightly.
And with a loud snap, the jewel shattered.
“Ugh!”
The next moment, Dragon God-sama spit a large amount of blood from his mouth.
Every time he defeated a god, he also took out their divine jewel.
It had the power to cross between worlds, but also the source of a god’s divine power.
“Still acting so high and mighty! What a joke! You lost! You lost to me!”
Human God shouted and tramped on Dragon God-sama on the ground.
Over and over again.
“Why kill Lunaria? Why the war?
You, it was to kill you!
More powerful than anyone yet wary of war!
So cautious and without flaws!
Haa! You’re in this state now all because of me!”
There was no power left in Dragon God-sama’s body.
But his breath had yet to fade.
Rather, that feeling of intimation only increased.
"Uh...! What the hell are you! Damn it!"
Even Human God felt intimated.
The collapsed, dying Dragon God-sama still intimidated Human God.
Feeling the brunt of anger and murderous intent.
Losing his most beloved, tricked into fighting other gods, even having his own vassals turned against him.
All of Dragon God’s wrath now focused on him.
“Haa! It’s useless to glare. You’re already dead! I’m the one and only god!”
With that said, Human God stepped away and floated into the sky.
With an arm raised, palm pointing facing up.
A force converged in that palm, forming a tremendous ball of light.
“Destruction, Dragon World.”
There was no time to stop him.
No, even if there was, it couldn’t be stopped.
The ball of light fired off from Human God’s hand.
It flew high above, as if to absorb all of Dragon World…
Explosions, lights, and shockwaves blasted the land.
By the time the light subsided, the world had begun to collapse.
The earth began to crack and darkness creeped into the sky.
It was a little different from previous ones, but still a scene I had witnessed many times.
A scene of a world’s end.
“Haha, good bye, Dragon God. May you perish here.”
Human God slowly flew away, mockingly.
I could just watch.
If I had another chance, I would have attacked.
I couldn’t forgive the violence of tramping on Dragon God-sama.
I couldn’t forgive the insolence of insulting the Five Dragon Generals.
But I was too shocked to do anything.
Me, Chaos, Maxwell.
What did we do?
What just happened?
Of the Five Dragon Generals, only the recently deceased Szilard fully grasped the situation.
Only that something terrible and irreconcilable had happened.
We knew.
"Laplace."
Dragon God-sama’s voice brought me back to reality.
“Dragon God-sama… I’m here.”
I staggered my trembling body to Dragon God-sama’s side.
Dragon God-sama was still alive.
His divine jewel crushed, covered in scars and wounds from other gods, but yet he still clinged on.
“Chaos, Maxwell.”
“Dragon God-sama… We’re…”
“It’s fine.”
“We failed to obey Dragon God-sama’s order… Please forgive us, no, it’s unforgivable. Only death could atone for our sins, please order it.”
“I forgive you. Everything happened because I did not explain the situation to you.”
Dragon God-sama forgave Chaos and Maxwell.
So easily.
Even though we betrayed him.
“But I have one last mission for you.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“The end of Dragon World approaches, and we’re out of time… I need time to devise a plan to kill Human God. Earn that time for me with your lives.”
Make some time, I didn’t know exactly what that entails.
I thought about it often, but I never figured out exactly how one can delay the end of a world…
But they accepted their final order without hesitation.
“Yes..!”
Chaos and Maxwell took off flying, circling above Dragon God-sama.
“Dora, where’s Dora?”
Dragon God-sama called out to Dora-sama.
But Dora-sama… was in bad shape.
She could no longer move on her own.
“Laplace.”
“Yes.”
Without further instructions.
I went besides Dora-sama to witness her final moments.
“Dora-sama.”
"Ha... haa... that voice... Laplace... What happened? I can't see anything anymore."
Dora-sama was dying.
Probably in her last moments of consciousness.
But she still struggled to understand.
She probably realized something terrible had happened.
Fading, but she desperately wanted to know.
“Human God…”
I explained everything that I saw.
That it was all Human God’s plot.
How he instigated the war, how Szilard took responsibility and committed suicide to atone.
That Dragon God-sama was near death at the hand of Human God.
That the Dragon World was collapsing.
Everything.
“Well… Then I can only make up for it with my life… but I’m already near death.”
Dora-sama said to me, her hollowed eyes looking upwards.
“Laplace… I have a request.”
“Please ask anything.”
“It’s not an order… it’s a request… It’s unavoidable I’ll be judged as a rebel, but my son… Perugius… please help him escape.. I beg you!”
“Escape? Where to?”
“To the future… the method in the teleport research lab… Please, Dragon God-sama…”
I didn't understand the meaning of Dora-sama's words.
But I do understand what she means.
To leave her be.
“In the end, Dragon God-sama’s words were true, and we were wrong… that’s… great. Betraying Dragon God-sama was a mistake… that’s… wonderful.”
Those were Dora-sama’s final words.
She was always doubtful.
To stop Dragon God-sama by force.
She always had her reservations about that.
That’s why she was relieved in the end, knowing that Dragon God-sama was right.
Then she died.
The third to die after Szilard.
Even more important than her own son, her final thought was loyalty to Dragon God-sama.
She was loyal to Dragon God-sama to the last.
"..."
After bearing witness to Dora-sama, I returned to Dragon God-sama.
And conveyed her final words to him.
After pondering for a bit, Dragon God-sama said.
“Laplace, carry me to the teleportation laboratory.”
“Yes.”
I carried Dragon God-sama with one hand and flew.
Of course, I carried his son with my other hand.
■
A few minutes of flight while avoiding falling debris.
We arrived.
The secret location Dora-sama brought me to once.
The Teleportation Research Laboratory.
“Dragon God-sama!”
“Those terrible wounds…”
The elderly researchers had remained.
Already near death and already made their peace, they’re unperturbed by the world collapsing about them.
Seeing the gravely injured Dragon God-sama concerned them more.
Dragon God-sama did not answer, but simply said, “the time has come.”
Casting their worried expressions aside, they immediately led us to the laboratory’s innermost chamber.
At the terminus was an altar and a monument.
The boundary of the world.
An altar that functions as a gate to another world.
The stone monument was engraved with sophisticated magic circles.
Three divine jewels were placed before the altar.
"Laplace, place my son here."
Following his instructions, I placed Dragon God-sama’s son on the altar.
After I distanced myself from the altar, Dragon God-sama stood before it.
While I wondered about what’s going to happen, Dragon God-sama began to draw magic circles onto the child.
Far too sophisticated for me, but I understood that it was a technique written on the stone monument.
Dragon God-sama seemed to understand it just by glancing at it for a few seconds.
"The collapse of the dragon world cannot be stopped, I will die. We have lost."
Dragon God-sama said it plainly, as if merely confirming the facts.
“Even so, he must be killed.”
Human God killed Lunaria-sama.
He made us dance in the palm of his hands to destroy the other worlds.
Even caused the Five Dragon Generals and Dragon God-sama to battle amongst ourselves until our own mutual destruction.
Unforgivable.
“That was not Human God. Human God wasn’t such a man… Hitogami, let’s call him that. I do not know why Hitogami pretended to be Human God, or where Human God had gone, but I’m certain of his machinations to destroy us, that he indeed has divine power.”
"..."
"To defeat him, you will also need god’s power.”
Dragon God-sama stared intently at me.
“After this, I’ll go to Human World and challenge him to one last battle.”
“Not at your current state!”
“I know. My death is unavoidable. I have no chance of winning, but I must have my vengeance.”
As Dragon God-sama finished, he picked up one of the divine jewels and pushed it into his chest.
Blood streamed, but Dragon God-sama’s body began to shine.
A little power seemed to have returned to that dying body.
“Yet my revenge probably would end in failure, that’s why--”
Dragon God-sama picked up one of the divine jewels and placed it on the chest of the child… it fell within.
“My child will reincarnate.”
The blood of Dragon God-sama and Human God flow through his child.
A demigod with great potential.
The power of gods.
“I shall grant to my child my every technique, and to him the ability to remain concealed until he could defeat Hitogami… but that will not be enough. He must find out what happened to Human God, and how Hitogami obtained divine power in the first place. Until then, defeat is inevitable.”
Dragon God-sama looked toward me, picked up the final divine jewel, and offered it to me.
“I give you a mission.”
“Yes!”
I received it and offered the utmost salute.
It was for Dragon God-sama that I learned the utmost salute.
It was my final salute to Dragon God-sama.
“I’ll send my child ten-thousand years into the future. In the meantime, I want you to find Hitogami’s true identity, his whereabouts, his weaknesses.. Find a way to defeat him and convey that to my child!”
“Yes!”
After Dragon God-sama granted me my final mission, he applied various techniques to the child.
Complex techniques.
I still don’t understand what was applied
Just that they’re abilities for countering “Human God”.
At the minimum, Hitogami was similar to Human God’s.
I waited for Dragon God-sama to finish, as the world collapsed outside.
He continuously embedded magic circles about the child without pause.
Dragon God-sama probably foreseen this ending.
That it would end like this.
He probably realized what’s happening when the Dragon Generals broke away.
If you think about it, Dragon God-sama could have just headed to Human World and ignored us.
However, Dragon God-sama probably realized he couldn’t win, even if he did.
Hitogami probably already had traps set for him if he left on his own.
That’s why he looked for another way.
As Dragon Generals made our preparations, he probably was thinking of a way the whole time.
“Finally, do you have any last questions?”
Dragon God-sama asked as he finished embedding the last magic circles.
Slowly, I shook my head, but suddenly I thought of something.
A question I had to ask.
“A name.”
“Name?”
“The name of your child.”
This was the end.
There won’t be another chance.
This wasn’t something for me to decide.
It was Lunaria-sama’s wish for Dragon God-sama to grant this child a name.
“...”
Dragon God-sama paused briefly.
However, it must have already been decided.
"Orsted."
Without any hesitation.
"This child's name is Orsted."
Dragon God-sama pronounced.
■
Just like that, Dragon God-sama’s child...
Orsted, was sent to the future.
Dragon God-sama and I flew out of the collapsing laboratory and headed to the Human World.
Dragon God-sama went ahead, leaving me behind.
Our final words exchanged were “May the fortunes of war be with you” and “everything shall be left to fate.”
That was the last I saw of Dragon God-sama.
I jumped onto Saleyakt, dodging the falling rocky masses, and flew to the altar.
While I flew, I sensed a great presence disappearing behind me.
Two.
It was Chaos and Maxwell.
Those two, who literally put their lives on the line to resist the collapse, had passed.
The fourth Dragon, Chaos.
The last Dragon, Maxwell.
Maybe the order was inverted, but that’s how I memorialized them.
Thanks to their efforts, I managed to escape from the collapsing Dragon World.
By the time I arrived at Human World, the battle had already begun.
Due to the battle between gods, the human world was beset by natural disasters.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, thunder and lightning.
Fear and loathing swirled around the world …
Intimidated by the divine, all living things of this world came to innately fear the Dragon Race.
But more than that, I was shocked.
Because Human World has transformed.
So much so that I no longer recognize it from when I was last here…
The Human World of old was an endless grassland and streams.
But now there are rivers, mountains, oceans, wilderness, and deserts.
As if the Six Worlds has all condensed into one.
Perhaps the collapse of each world had caused their magical energy to disperse into the Human World.
Maybe this unbalanced world from my view is what’s objectively balanced.
I landed on one of the mountains, straddling Saleyakt.
The highest peak in the world.
As I bear witness to the end of the battle.
I didn’t know where exactly Dragon God-sama and Hitogami were fighting.
I could only pray for Dragon God-sama’s victory.
It might be a remote possibility, but I hope my wish could be answered.
Eventually, the battle was over.
The thunder and tornado subsided, the roaring sound faded.
Only the rain continued to fall quietly.
For seven days and seven nights.
On the eighth day, the sky was blue and clear.
There was no wind, the sea was calm.
There was no longer the presence of any god.
Neither Dragon God-sama nor Hitogami.
However, I knew.
Dragon God-sama was no longer there.
Thus, Dragon World was destroyed.
