Chapter 156

Ch.156 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Kiee… kieeee…

The giant spider writhed in agony. Each life it lost left a metallic, bloody taste in Sion’s mouth.

An Evil God, taking mortal form and dying—it tasted like swallowing rotten blood.

‘This feels strange.’

Too disturbing to witness sober. Sion frowned.

“Guh… guuh…”

The spider’s carapace melted into sludge. Between oozing gaps, Chaos’s nude form appeared.

Sion took a deep breath and approached.

Chambang… chambang…

Walking through blood puddles made her clearer—the very girl who once tore bread apart with childlike delight.

“D-don’t come closer!”

Regaining awareness, Chaos crawled away, tears welling in her eyes.

Sion trudged forward, following the now utterly frail Chaos. Each step felt like iron shackles clamped to his ankles.

“P-please… spare me… I’ll never again—”

Thup.

A foot touched Chaos’s back.

Arwen’s.

Tears dripped from Chaos’s cheeks.

“Huh… ah…?”

“There’s… nowhere left to run. Goddess… of Chaos.”

Arwen’s voice trembled with sorrow. Even as an Evil God, she was still a Goddess—

noble, beautiful, of exalted status. Arwen ached at her fallen form.

“W-wahh…”

Chaos began sobbing like a child, begging a mere human for her life. She must be the most confused of all.

Chak.

Sion raised the Fallen Blade. It hummed with strange vibrations—almost like Tartania’s mocking laughter.

“Evil God of Chaos. Your sins are far too grave.”

“Please spare me! I’ll kneel before Lady Achille and surrender!”

Chaos wept like a terrified mouse—her voice horrifying.

‘Don’t waver.’

Sion lifted the Fallen Blade.

Wooong.

It lowered, as if eager to taste the blood of its old comrade. Perhaps Tartania’s laughter—or likely so. Certain, Sion thrust.

Pook.

Blood flowed softly from the wound.

Sion’s lips twitched with bated breath.

“Even an Evil God’s blood is red.”

“Guh… gurk…”

Chaos clutched Sion’s forearm, raking it with her nails. Blood trickled—but not as much as from a true Goddess.

Sion’s eyes twitched. He drove the Fallen Blade deeper and twisted once.

If he was taking her life, there was no reason to prolong it.

“I’ll minimize your pain.”

The greatest kindness Sion could offer. Chaos merely reddened her eyes, whimpering like a mute child.

“Grrruugh—”

Chaos’s swirling eyes never left Sion. Fear struck him—was he being cursed?

Wooong!

Magoth instantly dispersed. Familiar sanctity wrapped around Sion.

[Sion. Are you alright?]

‘Lady! Are you unharmed?’

Achille smiled, her face smeared with soot.

[Agnia escaped, unfortunately. She fled the moment she saw you subdue Chaos.]

‘At least she was driven off.’

[She only pretended to fight—then vanished quickly.]

Achille’s expression soured.

Perhaps this wasn’t meant to be a real battle.

‘Come to think of it… we were the ones who invaded. They might not have been fully prepared.’

[That could be.]

‘Does the Goddess of Fire hold a shard?’

Achille gave a slight nod.

[Highly likely—considering she avoided facing me directly.]

‘Then I must end this before she fully secures the power.’

[Starting a Holy Grail War now… how absurd.]

Achille sighed, then knelt before the Evil God of Chaos, gently brushing her hair.

“A… Achille… sister.”

Tears on Chaos’s cheeks mingled with blood from her lips. Achille gazed steadily before speaking.

[Kaia. It didn’t have to end like this.]

“I couldn’t help it… it had to be this way.”

A gurgling sound bubbled in her throat. Sion quietly withdrew the Fallen Blade.

Thup.

But Achille grabbed Sion’s wrist. Though physically intangible, Sion halted.

Sensing her intent, he waited.

[Kaia. Choose.]

“Ch-choose… what?”

[You may live—if you swear loyalty to me. I’ll use the Fallen Blade to cast you into corruption.]

“Then… what becomes of me?”

[You’ll retain your divine form but serve me in the mortal realm—forever atoning as a benevolent Goddess.]

Kaia’s swirling eyes trembled violently. Watching them felt like his skull was shaking.

Her influence remained immense—even in death.

“Truly… the worst.”

Achille spoke coldly.

[Will you die?]

Her blunt tone carried unexpected warmth—she’d known Kaia since before humans knew how to write.

That ancient affection seeped into her offer.

“Can… I be forgiven?”

[No. So I will make you suffer eternally.]

Kaia’s eyes dimmed—her life nearly gone.

“Did Tartania… end up like this too?”

[Yes.]

“Then… can you give all my sisters a chance?”

Achille shook her head—her resolve sharp as a blade.

[Mago, I cannot. At least, not her.]

“…I see.”

[Choose.]

“I will. For Mago—the most pitiful one. I’ll bear her sins in her stead.”

Achille released Sion’s wrist. Sion quietly pulled out the blade.

[Tartania.]

Achille murmured the name of the goddess who governed corruption.

[Purify her.]

Now not as Corruption—but as Purification.

The power of a benevolent goddess reclaiming her essence descended upon the land.

KWAANG!

A bolt of lightning struck from the heavens.

Purifying energy pierced the Evil God of Chaos.

“Grrk! Urk!”

Kaia convulsed in pain—

—but not the pain of dying.

It was the process of stripping away horrific Magoth, rebirthing bone, cells, and veins anew.

The transformation lasted long.

Only after enough time passed for the great marshland fire to fully extinguish did Kaia awaken anew.

“Eh?”

Reborn, Kaia was now a little girl.

‘About Kaili’s age when we first met?’

Sion found Kaia adorable—if not for those swirling pupils, she’d look like an ordinary girl.

Though the power hidden within her was chilling.

[How do you feel, Kaia?]

The girl, Kaia, stroked her soft chin.

“Uuuh… the worst.”

[Good.]

Feeling ‘the worst’ about being good meant she’d truly been reborn as a benevolent goddess. Achille, Sion, and Arwen smiled in relief.

[Kaia. Do you recall your true essence?]

All Evil Gods once governed a primal concept before their fall.

Just as Corruption was truly Purification, Chaos had an original name.

Only Eru or herself remembered that true name. Kaia, now kind-hearted again, gave a small laugh and spoke.

“Order. It’s Order. How boring.”

“Hee! You’re so lovely! Lady Goddess of Order!”

“What?”

Arwen’s goofy grin startled Kaia, who tensed defensively.

“L-lady Goddess?”

“Y-yes! Sorry… did I surprise you by suddenly—?”

Arwen’s teary eyes made Kaia reluctantly shake her head.

“J-just felt awkward…”

Kaia fidgeted her fingers.

Once a name of terror—now a tiny girl.

Even if her power remained strong, she couldn’t help but feel hollow and diminished.

“This body… totally won’t listen to me.”

[You tried to attack Arwen? Pointless—you’ve already sworn to serve me.]

“Yeah… tch.”

Unaware of Achille’s words, Arwen beamed at Kaia—delighted despite nearly being killed moments ago.

[Touch my Apostle again, and you’ll truly be annihilated. Remember that.]

“Menesia… you two troublesome goddesses really teamed up, huh.”

Kaia grumbled like a teenager—everything displeasing her.

But she couldn’t refuse.

If it meant surviving this hellish world alongside her sisters, she’d accept anything.

“Ugh… this just got so annoying.”

Kaia’s complaints were futile. Now, both Chaos and Corruption were reborn as vassals of War.

The Goddess of War had gained Purification and Order.

[Now speak. What were you scheming here? Why did Agnia lend you power?]

Achille’s glare was sharp—ready to kill at the slightest deceit.

Kaia stretched her legs childishly and slumped to the floor, utterly exhausted.

Yet her mind—once always chaotic and dizzy—now felt calm. Perhaps becoming the Goddess of Order helped.

“Just as Agnia explained. Neither Mago’s faction nor the other divided goddesses alone can defeat you, Achille.”

[Your reasoning is incomplete. If that’s the case, why not attack together immediately—before fully consolidating their forces?]

Kaia glared at Menesia, who objected. Her pout made her look exactly like a brat.

“You’re dumb, Menesia?”

[What? What did you say?]

“Dumb.”

[I govern Wisdom! Dumb? I’m not dumb!]

Menesia shrieked—truly heated.

Kaia grinned, delighted she’d scored a hit—laughing like a mischievous child.

‘These are… goddesses?’

Sion and Arwen exchanged glances, stifling laughter. Even if the goddesses felt like neighborhood kids, laughing here would be disastrous.

Kaia turned serious.

“Attacking now is gambling. We lack confidence in subduing you immediately—and even less in the other goddesses cooperating properly.”

Achille crossed her arms and nodded.

[Wise.]

“Besides, even if we beat you—there’s still a problem.”

[What problem?]

“Eru’s prophecy remains. Sion—that human—is the obstacle.”

[Then just kill him?]

“You know we can’t. We don’t know what Eru saw in him. Killing him might unleash consequences we can’t imagine—some unknown power may awaken.”

They firmly believed Eru had reason to choose an ordinary human.

Specifically naming the Apostle of War—not the Goddess of War—was the greatest hurdle for Achille’s enemies.

With all eyes on Sion, Kaia fixed him with a stare.

“That’s why everyone’s rushing to complete the Grail—to gain the Sovereign’s power.”

[Hm.]

“To safely resolve the issue only after becoming the Sovereign and precisely understanding what Eru foresaw.”

[Remarkably cautious—for them.]

“We’ve always been cautious. You’re just too strong to need caution, Achille.”

Achille looked pleased—even though she was effectively Kaia’s master.

[Only the weak waste time with schemes.]

Menesia beside her erupted again.

[I’m not weak!]

[Why are you angry, Menesia?]

Achille asked genuinely. Menesia sputtered, then pounded her chest.

Sion, who’d been silently listening, finally spoke.

“Then… does the Goddess of Fire currently hold the shard?”

Short. Crisp.

In the single moment Arwen froze Chaos for just one second—one single second—Sion’s blade split Chaos’s flame.

No flashy technique. No overwhelming power.

Just a restrained, clean motion—like a dancer’s sword art.

Sssak.

The sword’s cry was as quiet as a raindrop falling into a lake.

Kwoong.

Chaos’s body collapsed.

Whoosh!

Sion flicked the flame off the Fallen Blade.

He had slain an Evil God.

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