Chapter 217 – The Zeroth Form

Libra said that Greed was a bad weapon.
Nevertheless, the black spear that he imitated with his black cube was the new form I inherited from my father――the sixth rank.

[What you said…might be true. But even with such a bad weapon, with the souls that gather here… I can turn people’s feelings into power. Through my gluttony skill!]

It’s the first time. The Gluttony skill that had been tormenting me so much…actually reversed. It’s leading me in a better direction.

From the time of my birth, it’s been with me, bringing various misfortunes and causing people to despise me. But now, I can actually proudly say that it was a good skill.

Gluttony skill was very important here.

[Fei…there is a drop of tears on your cheek.]

I didn’t notice it myself. A single tear was running down my cheek. But, it’s not due to sadness.
The various emotions and memories of the souls I took in flowed into my mind. I’m sure it’s because of that.

It’s giving me the drive I need.

I called upon the name of the 6th form once more so that it reaches Greed.

[Revolt Brionac!]

As if responding to me, Greed pushed aside the number of black spears and showed himself. That alone surpassed Libra’s power of annihilation.

We pushed forward while erasing the fakes one after another. Libra furrowed his brow and turned a black cube into the black shield to hinder Greed’s progress.

While destroying all of them, he single-mindedly went straight towards Libra. To the extent that it seemed impossible to stop the progress.
It was as if the souls in this place had stopped the flow and were watching over it.

[Impossible…something like this…]

The “Revolt Brionac” that I launched pierced through Libra’s chest, leaving a large, gaping hole. But even with the power of annihilation, it wasn’t enough to erase his existence completely.

Libra could still move even after taking damage that would be fatal to a normal human. And the sacred stigmata engraved on his face was shining even redder. He still had the will to follow the revelation and fight.

Most of the black cubes had been totaled. The few that were left still mostly intact seemed to be malfunctioning, making crackling noises while flying around in erratic orbits.

[Fei, you did it.]

[No. it seems like it has only just begun.]

I shook my head at Roxy who was leaning towards me. Four large souls flew from the direction we came from.

The four newly arriving souls floated around the wounded Libra. From what I could sense, those souls belonged to the sacred beasts that stood guard in front of the Door to His Land.

It appears to me that Myne and Eris both won their battle against the sacred beasts. Eris…she’s finally able to surpass her trauma. It relieved me and I’m happy for her.

But at the same time, it created an opportunity for Libra to gain new powers. I wonder if he left them outside as insurance for this kind of time.

[Hahahahahaha.]

He laughed heartily. Maybe it was because of the impression I received from his gaping chest… but it was as if Libra was laughing at his own terribly empty self.

[Come. Behold…my ugly form.]

Libra’s face rotted away, turning distorted. The pure white clothes discolored and crumbled, and rotting body fluids flowed out from the cracks.

If that was how he appears as a sacred beast…then just Libra himself said, it’s ugly.

If my father was the black angel who governed over death, Libra was a foreign object that spreads death. An existence that has been forcibly formed from packing together all the ugliness in this world.
I felt like I understood why he was fascinated by Roxy’s Valkyrie appearance.

[Together we are five sacred beasts. The time is running out.]

The flow of returning souls that had been revived was slowing down. Libra probably wanted to say that once this is over, it will begin harvesting souls from the living.

There is no time for hesitation. I turned my attention to a sphere that shines like the sun. Alright, it’s okay. It’s not too late yet.

[Roxy, this is the end.]

[Yes.]

[Greed, too.]

『You…don’t tell me』

Even though Roxy didn’t notice… Greed figured it out. As expected of my partner.

Even so, he didn’t say anything more. It’s too late, right… Greed. We both knew it.

[I will hold Libra down. Fei will do the decisive blow.]

[Please do]

Libra waved his hand and tried to splash his bodily fluids on us. Both of us managed to dodge it.

[This is…..]

[What in the world…]

I got chills down my spine when I saw what happened to some souls that had been bathed in Libra’s bodily fluids.

They turned purple and rotted away. His attacks corrupted anything. The corrosion magic I possessed was child’s play in comparison. It might be enough to corrode even the weapons we had.

『After absorbing the four sacred beasts, his power has increased significantly from before. It’s as you expected. Even I can’t say I’ll go out unscathed if I get hit by that.』

[…..Greed.]

『Don’t worry. I always say it. I am a weapon. Did you forget, Fate?』

[Even so, for me, you are…]

『I’m sure you’ll tell me something that makes me happy. But hey, Fate. …..I know.』

[….yeah.]

『Yes… that’s fine. That’s why you’re my partner. We both know it』

I knew that it’ll eventually come to this. Whether we cry or laugh, it’d be our last.
We’re running out of time. We couldn’t afford a prolonged battle.

Roxy deployed a protective barrier with the power of refusal. But against a power that rotted everything, it wore away at an astonishing speed.

It’s even more obvious the closer we are to Libra. Not just bodily fluids, even the air surrounding him was polluted to the point it turned into a corrosive stench.

[I will purify the odor.]

Roxy prepares her holy sword and activates an art. I thought it was the Grand Cross, which is the special technique of the holy sword mastery skill.

The scale of the sparkle emitted by the holy sword was inconsistent. The technique that was unleashed was not a cross of light, but an asterisk-shaped blade of light.

Perhaps this one should be called Sacred Cross, as the technique surpassed any other that the holy sword mastery skill could perform.

The amazing purification was effective against Libra. Libra’s rotting body blazes with holy light. It’s an ironic story that even though it’s called a sacred beast, it’s weak to holy power.

[Fei, now!]

[Yeah, thanks for the assist.]

I thanked Roxy for helping me get rid of the stench Libra emitted. I flapped my black wings and flew to Libra’s bosom. Black gauntlets and black bows, which are long-range attacks, would probably have their firepower reduced due to the odor that remains on the surface. Besides, there is not enough time for small attacks.

As expected here…there’s nothing but the black sword that I’m most familiar with.

I swung as hard as I could, my sword a flash that cut down the enemy.

There was a response…but Libra didn’t even move. Is it not working? It’s the same as when I used Revolt Brionac.
An attack of this magnitude doesn’t make sense to him.

[Greed!]

『No worries』

The jet-black blade, which had never been damaged before, was sizzling as it slowly corroded. As expected.

『Don’t stop』

Roxy’s Sacred Cross was released once more to remove the corroding stench. I took a distance quickly, dodging so as not to get caught in it.

Libra couldn’t help but find Roxy’s restraint a hindrance. Without pretending to care about my attack, he started moving towards Roxy.

But she wasn’t going to stand still. Making full use of her six wings, she launched techniques in succession while evading. On the other hand, I was lacking firepower.
Even the 6th form’s secret technique Revolt Brionac, empowered by the souls, didn’t manage to kill Libra. Not to mention that he has now assumed his sacred beast form.

But amidst all that, I felt like I had grasped something.

A little more, just a little more. When I received the assistants of the souls, I was in a strange state as if Greed, who had left my hand to execute Revolt Brionac, was immediately by my side. It was a sense of unity that transcended even the Crossing.

At that moment, I am Greed, and Greed is me.

The souls of this world were still helping me. While repeatedly assimilating with me, they continued to give me strength through the Gluttony skill. I feel it getting closer and closer. Greed and I still had a long way to go.

Surpassing the sixth form that I inherited from my father. There should be a new form that is only meant for the two of us.

Nothing. We have our own strength here.

The souls began to assimilate not only on me, but also on the Black Sword Greed. Responding to our hearts

『This is… Fate, do you feel it? 』

[Yeah, I feel it all the time]

That sphere that shines like the sun――that thing called God. The Gluttony skill was born from the desire of people seeking salvation from the absolute law of God. Our vision must be the same.

But I can’t reach it with this black sword alone. Now is the time to transform into what we need.

Libra, who had turned into a holy beast, was trying to corner Roxy. But there was not a single cloud of fear on her face.

[Roxy!]

[Fei!]

I tightened my grip on the black sword Greed.

[Connecting my gluttony and your greed. Can we do it?]

『Just as I want it』

Skills fusion. Bringing together mortal sin skills that would otherwise never mix together. A mortal sin skill born in search of salvation. So what will happen if we combine the two unorthodox skills? Thus I poured the power of gluttony into the mortal sin weapon that governs greed.

Only we can…sublimate it into a new mortal sin weapon.

It’s not a matter of whether we can do it or not. Without these two powers, nothing else was possible.
The black sword shone brightly. I flapped my black wings with all my might and headed towards Libra.
The light grew stronger and enveloped me. Furthermore, the light was so bright that even Roxy, who was far away, could see it.

Libra let out an anguished voice. It seems that the light was irresistible for someone who didn’t care at all until a while ago.
I cut off Libra’s left arm before positioning myself in front of Roxy.

[Behind me.]

[Fei… What is that sword?]

The true form of the Black Sword. It was a black twin sword of the Zeroth form.