Overgeared

Chapter 1884

“Thank you. I really thank you. Additionally, congratulations.”

Grid held Mercedes in his arms and whispered one line after another. His eyes were red. In fact, Grid had been plagued by great anxiety. The catalyst was Yeo Yulan, who explained to him that the reason why he couldn’t have another child was due to the providence of the world.

Grid, who hadn’t impregnated Irene again even as Lord became an adult, really thought there was something wrong with him. He wondered if the world was interfering with him as Yeo Yulan said. It might’ve been true, but now it was a lie.

The problems that had been wearing down at him disappeared due to raiding Baal and gaining the core of the beginning. Irene’s wish to give Lord a younger sibling was fulfilled. Mercedes, who was unfamiliar with natural emotions because she wasn’t loved by her parents, was able to learn the bond between parents and children. Basara’s anxiety as she secretly resented the uninterrupted pa.s.sing of the years would be relieved, and Marie Rose, who still considered the dark and lonely castle comfortable, would have a reason to adapt to society.

‘They will all be happier in the future.’

It was the moment when Grid, overcome with emotion, cautiously placed his hand on Mercedes’ belly...

“Grid. Hey.” Zeratul approached him. It felt like he was urging Grid about something.

Why did he want to interrupt this moment...?

Grid was disappointed by Zeratul’s inconsiderate behavior and turned his head toward Zeratul, only to stop. Zeratul’s gaze was directed toward the ceiling and he had a tense expression that didn’t suit him.

Following this gaze, Grid looked up and saw two red gems. It was a pair of eyes decorating the red sky. They belonged to Marie Rose.

“I conceived my dear husband’s child.”

The red eyes that met Grid were curved in a half moon shape. They rapidly got closer.

“I can’t explain this feeling. I am both happy and afraid.”

Marie Rose’s smile slowly cooled as she landed silently. Even so, her amazing beauty didn’t fade. Her cold eyes were fixed on Zeratul.

“On the one hand, it is unpleasant. That intervened before I realized the ident.i.ty of this strange sensation myself.”

That—it wasn’t a suitable way to call the Martial G.o.d. It felt like she was dealing with something trivial.

Zeratul’s face turned even redder. “You deserve to be criticized for making a mistake in denying my protection, but you aren’t showing the slightest courtesy at all.”

Marie Rose didn’t seem able to hear Zeratul’s voice. She caressed her belly and focused only on the ‘unfamiliar sensation.’ “It is disgusting when thinking about it again. I almost got dirt on it.”

Marie Rose removed her hand from her belly. The pleated dress stuck tightly to her smooth abdomen and gave it a strange feeling.

Grid pulled down her slightly curled up skirt and comforted her. “No. Think about it. Thanks to Zeratul, you found out about your pregnancy a few days sooner. This way, you can enjoy that joy quicker, right?”

“Are you happy?”

“Of course. You and I are having a child.”

“I am the same.”

Marie Rose’s eyes curved in a half moon shape again. The killing intent that was slowly imprisoning Zeratul disappeared like it was a lie.

It happened the moment when Zeratul got a bigger wound in his pride and showed fighting spirit...

“From now on, always see only good things. Listen to them and think positively. You have to think about the baby in your belly.”

“I guess my feelings are affecting my dear husband’s child.”

“Yes, it is called prenatal care.”

“Prenatal... don’t worry, I’ll do what my dear husband wants.”

[The child in Marie Rose’s womb feels her brilliance.]

[The child in the womb has unlocked the special ‘Composure’ stat.]

[All stats of the child in the womb have permanently increased by 10.]

Marie Rose broke the shackles that Beriache had placed on her and ate her in reverse. In other words, she had clearly been reborn as a high status Absolute. She was in a lofty position even among the Absolutes. It meant that controlling her emotions was as easy and natural for her as breathing.

‘Does an Absolute have an advantage in prenatal care?’

He had a really nice wife...

Braham read Grid’s mental world, who was pleased after realizing this, and clicked his tongue. Braham thought it was a bit off the mark. It was a level slightly outside the normal range. Even if he was blinded, this was being too blinded.

Zeratul read the strange undercurrents and also started to hesitate. He was unable to express any more hostility to Marie Rose and took a step back.

Grid and Marie Rose had bright smiles on their faces. The parents standing with their foreheads pressed together and concentrating on the child in their womb shone like stars in the sky. It wasn’t because of the divinity and blood that bloomed from them. It felt like a sparking aura that the eyes couldn’t discern was filling the surroundings.

“Prenatal... in order to have the proper prenatal care, you must be an Absolute...” Mercedes had been rejoicing as if she was about to ascend to heaven. Then her att.i.tude changed after hearing these words. She looked very nervous as she bit her nails and repeated the same words.

Someone hugged her from behind. It was someone smaller than her.

“It isn’t the mother’s rank that matters for prenatal care.” It was Irene. She had also run to the scene after realizing that she was pregnant thanks to Zeratul’s blessing. “First of all, trust and cherish yourself. That way, the baby in the womb will learn how to trust, rely on, and love themselves. That is the beginning of prenatal care.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“Stay still.” Irene felt sorry as she hugged Mercedes even harder and comforted her. “You are a beautiful, competent, and lovely woman. You are His Majesty’s chosen one. You shouldn’t think of yourself as shabby. Unless you are going to make me, who respects you, look shabby as well.”

“......”

People’s attention focused on Irene and Mercedes before they knew it. Many people had great respect for Irene. It was the same for Marie Rose.

“This is the true nature of my dear husband’s wife.”

“Yes, she is my first love.” Grid laughed with a proud expression. The name Ahyoung, which had faded some time ago, had completely disappeared from his mind. “Additionally, you are all my last loves.”

Irene, Mercedes, Marie Rose, and Yura and Jishuka—Grid slowly met their gaze before eventually s.h.i.+fting his gaze toward the east. It was the direction of t.i.tan. He had a heart as wide as the Pacific Ocean when it came to love. Even Basara, who wasn’t present, was included in his heart.

“Isn’t it too much to call it his last love?”

On the other hand, Vantner laughed from the absurdity.

Lord’s eyes were s.h.i.+ning as he looked at his father’s back. It was an att.i.tude of learning everything from him. Thanks to this, his girlfriends also looked happy.

***

‘It is like a recreation of Nevada.’

It was more than 100 years ago. Humanity was still ignorant and carried out all types of nuclear experiments. One of the famous areas in connection with it was the Nevada nuclear test site in the United States. It was the site where nuclear weapons were detonated around 1,000 times from 1951 to 1992. In particular, the numerous underground nuclear tests resulted in many craters like the surface of the moon. It was one of the most terrible places that humanity had ever created.

This place was even worse. The devastation created by the fighting between the G.o.ds, which were difficult for humanity to touch, was everywhere on the land.

“It is up to here.”

Kraugel’s mind returned after hearing Biban’s voice and he stopped flying.

Biban and Hayate, who claimed to be Bunhelier’s watchers, set out to contain the battle between Chiyou and Dominion. Kraugel flew after them in the form of a lightning bolt and his legs gradually regained their original form. They were signs that the skill attached to the Blue Dragon Boots, gifted to him by Grid, had stopped working. It was the latest Blue Dragon Boots made by smelting the awakened Blue Dragon’s Breath to the limit.

This was how Kraugel narrowly followed the group. Of course, it wasn’t possible just through items. It was possible due to the consideration of Biban and Hayate, as well as Kraugel’s individual ability considered to be the highest among transcendents.

“It seems dangerous to approach any further.” This was Biban’s opinion and Kraugel agreed. He activated Barbatos’s Vision and looked in the direction where Bunhelier had disappeared.

Chiyou was seen surrounded by the heavily armored Valkyrie army. The alt.i.tude was high. It was hard to believe that the aftermath of the battle all the way up there had devastated the ground.

“......!”

Suddenly, Kraugel became surprised. The same was true of Biban and Hayate. A Valkyrie armed with a s.h.i.+eld was in the lead. They imagined that she would be slashed along with her s.h.i.+eld when she rushed at Chiyou, but surprisingly, Chiyou’s sword couldn’t cut her. It was blocked by a s.h.i.+eld.

“Is it the work of G.o.d Hexetia?”

“I don’t know where it came from, but... it is clear that there is a strong sense of protection.”

The equipment of the Valkyrie army was nothing more than a decoration It was just that the armor, s.h.i.+elds, and weapons were imbued with a mighty protection that withstood the swordsmans.h.i.+p of the Martial G.o.d several times.

Hayate made a guess. “I think it is the G.o.ddess’ protection.”

The evidence was sufficient. Dominion was Rebecca’s child. The Valkyrie army, along with Dominion leading them, most likely existed from an era close to the beginning. It wasn’t strange that they had been blessed while serving the G.o.ddess in close proximity.

Dominion was even the G.o.d of War. He had the power to strengthen his army in all ways.

The atmosphere rapidly became heavier. Kraugel felt a crus.h.i.+ng sensation all over his body. It was a pressure caused by the wavelength generated by the Valkyrie’s spear brus.h.i.+ng against Chiyou.

After dodging, Chiyou grabbed the face of the helmeted Valkyrie with his hand. Then he threw her back. It was as if it was easier to get rid of them rather than fight them one by one.

“...I can’t believe it.” Biban clicked his tongue. It was because the Valkyrie that Chiyou threw quickly became a dot and disappeared in an instant. Could it be that the number of Valkyries, which had been in the thousands in Reinhardt, was less than 1,000 because he repeated this action...?

It happened as Biban and Kraugel became serious...

The Valkyries dispersed in an instant. They burst forward in all directions as if predicting some calamity, collapsing their formation. It was too late. Something flew in at a tremendous speed and collided with the Valkyries who hadn’t escaped yet. It wasn’t appropriate to compare them to pins knocked down after being hit by a bowling ball. It was because they shattered. The armors, s.h.i.+elds, spears, swords, and bodies of the Valkyries were smashed into pieces and poured down like rain.

“......”

Hayate, Biban, and Kraugel were all silent. It was because the cause of the devastation had been identified. The Valkyrie, thrown by Chiyou a moment ago, collided with her teammates when she returned to the battlefield after ‘circling the world.’ The armor and s.h.i.+eld with overlapping blessings combined with the terrible acceleration to turn into a cannonball that shattered her companions...

“Squeak.” In a world covered with pouring flesh and blood, a black mouse flew in and sat on Hayate’s shoulder. “They fight while taking good care of the surroundings. There is no need for me to step out. I had better watch from here as well. Squeak.”

The ident.i.ty of the mouse was the polymorphed Bunhelier.

Hayate nodded. “You thought well. It will be settled soon anyway.”

Hayate’s gaze lingered on Dominion. His momentum was soaring despite weakening in real time every time a Valkyrie died. In terms of momentum alone, he overwhelmed Chiyou.

The G.o.d who represented Asgard—if he had cooperated with Chiyou, they could’ve discussed who was the strongest side by side. Now four of him were standing there while shedding tears of blood. He simultaneously threw four spears at the Valkyries who had their backs to him.

An unchallenged power—the four giant spears collided with the Valkyrie. Every time it pierced them, a series of thunderbolt-like spears fell from the sky. The Valkyrie were destroyed without leaving even their bodies behind. The one located at the end of the four spears was Chiyou.

He raised a sword that looked like an iron club and staggered as he handled three spears. In doing so, a fleeting gap occurred. He was unable to block the remaining one spear and allowed it to hit him. His heart was pierced. It was a deadly wound.

The bells rang out loudly. This didn’t mean it was the end. Before he knew it, he twisted the sword in reverse and twisted the blade, returning the three spears in the same direction they came from.

There were three flashes of light. The Valkyries fortunate enough to survive were swept away by the flash and destroyed. Two of the four Dominions in the distance disappeared. The other two Dominions survived but half their bodies were blown away or their arms were lost. They failed to proliferate any longer. It was because a severed body part was needed to proliferate.

Dominion pulled out a dagger and tried to cut off his finger, but he was stopped by Chiyou, who had come closer to him before he knew it. He grabbed Dominion’s wrist and twisted it while his colorless divinity exploded. Finally, it was over.

Dominion turned to ash and followed his subordinates to Asgard.

“Can you kill me now?”

Chiyou was well over several kilometers away. However, Chiyou’s blood-stained eyes were seen so clearly it was as if he was right in front of the group’s noses. Even his voice seemed to whisper beside them.

Hayate shook his head as he watched Chiyou forcibly block the regeneration of his wounds. “It is impossible.”

“...I guessed so.” Chiyou nodded gently and disappeared from the scene. It was a distinctly different att.i.tude from when he was obsessed with Grid. Only the lonely sound of bells remained, causing the group to have many thoughts.

Bunhelier naturally regained the appearance of an Old Dragon and murmured, “I think I’m going to meet Trauka.”

“Do you want to get yourself killed?”

“Biban... You seem to have forgotten but I am also a dragon. I am qualified enough to ask Trauka why he is sitting on the sidelines.”

“I’m glad. I was also curious about that. So why don’t we go see him while you are already out?”

“I haven’t been able to sleep well lately. I have to rest first.”

Biban frowned.

An Old Dragon’s sleep time was usually on a decades-long basis.