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Last Embryo Volume 7 Chapter 7 Part 2

「Jin, we’ve got trouble!」

「What kind of trouble, exactly?!」

「The kind where the entire continent is starting to sink! Nevermind us and the other Players, but both Homura, those natives who fight and the other natives who are still taking refuge underground are in danger!」

Jin, Uesugi and Parashurama all looked at each other at the same time and clicked their tongues after hearing You’s report.

「What the hell is going on in there?! Does that mean that the others have failed to subjugate the Demon Lord?!」

「Unfortunately, we don’t have time to go and check on their situation! I’ll get in touch with Homura and inform him about everything, so make sure that you buy me a little more time, okay?!」

Uesugi took out her phone and contacted Homura.

「… In order to ensure that all the natives will be able to escape properly, they’re definitely going to need Queen Halloween’s help. Homura, I’m sorry to be asking this of you, but we’re going to need you to use 『Guest Master Authority』.」

At the same time, Jin send Pest to scout the area ahead of them and inform Asuka and the others about the situation. When she relayed the news, Heracles and Vidar, who were fighting with each other non-stop until now finally stopped moving and glared at each other.

「Well, it looks like we won’t be able to continue our fight much longer. Or maybe you’re going to tell me that this was all a part of your plan as well?」

「Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Either way, I am under no obligation to be telling you anything about that.」

Vidar pretended to be calm in front of Heracles, but in truth, inside he was not calm at all. Looks like some of the people working on the Players side had access to some pretty good information, but even so, right now his biggest priority should be the confirmation of Typhon’s safety.

「I am afraid that our battle needs to be postponed indeed, Heracles. But we shall definitely finish it another time, on another, more favorable occasion.」

「A most wise decision indeed. See you soon then, the strongest of the Nordic warriors.」
「The two of them ran in the opposite directions and soon disappeared from one another’s sight.」

Right now, what Heracles needed to do first and foremost was to aid in the evacuation of the natives. It was exactly for that very reason that he has been entrusted with the Star Ship, since it was an ideal measure for dealing with that kind of emergency situation.

(That being said, the damage that Argo sustained from its previous battle is still not completely healed. It would be ideal if it had enough energy to let all of the Players escape as well…)

But in order for that to happen, the full cooperation of all the Players would be required.

After he rejoined the subjugation of the Giants, Heracles communicated the current situation to all the Communities that were currently available.

Back in the fortress’s throne room, Izayoi and the others faced off against Demon Lord Typhon, currently still being dazzled by the intense aurora emitted by their enemy.

「… Ugh, you bastard, what do you even mean?! Wasn’t a full resurrection your goal all along?!」

「Of course, you are completely right about that. That is still my goal, and what is currently happening is not a part of my will at all. It’s just that the entire continent of Atlantis was floating right above an ocean trench, supported by a tree that grew to an enormous size.」

When Typhon pointed that out, Izayoi gritted his teeth as if he only now realized something.

Since the Lost Continent of Atlantis was something that was summoned to Little Garden from the Outer World, then it made perfect sense that it was not actually connected to its land in any way. However, could the great Star Tree that was responsible for stealing Typhon’s power form him a tree that could really grow to such an exponential size?

「As long as the body of my Avatar was safe, I could have taken off into the sky along with the rest of the continent like I did before. But because of that little girl, I’m afraid it might no longer be possible. Kukuku, looks like eve I have unsurpassable limits.」

Typhon stood up from the throne and wiped the blood from his mouth. But despite his condition, his eyes were now shining with joy, and his fighting spirit was rapidly increasing.

「Now is the time to make your decision, young king of the continent of Atlantis! Even if you manage to defeat me, your country is still going to be destined to disappear into the depths of the ocean! On the other hand, if you don’t destroy my heart, you’re going to be responsible for unleashing a mindless monster onto Little Garden!

「…..!」
Izayoi moved and stopped Typhon, who suddenly rushed forward. However, since the power of Typhon and his physical abilities have been raised to the limit thanks to his B.D.A, then Izayoi, who was not able to withstand Heracles’s power with his own B.D.A active so easily, had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure the pain of his cracking bones and ribs as he grabbed Typhon and jumped out of the way together with him.

「You! Are you the kid who cancelled my 『Another Cosmology』last time?!」

「Glad to see that you actually remembered me, Demon Lord! I am sorry for this, but you’re going to have to hang out with me for a bit!」

Someone needs to buy Asterios as much time as possible so that he could make the final decision. He has to arrive at the conclusion by himself, not influenced by anyone else.

However, even though the battle axe in Asterios’ hands was ready to use at any moment, Asterios himself was at a complete loss as to what he should do.

He knows that the correct choice here is to destroy Demon Lord Typhon’s heart… but if he does that, then any chance for Atlantis not to sink are going to be completely and utterly crushed.

But is defeating him worth the price of destroying his homeland again after it was already destroyed once, but this time along with the friends and subjects who have waited for him to come back to them even after crossing the boundaries of time and space?

(Something… there has to be something that can be done… there’s no way that…!)

Time was of the essence here. If the seal placed on Typhon gets completely broken, it will no longer be possible for the Players to face him and defeat him. Bit if the Players and the natives are to evacuate to safety in time, it is necessary to destroy his heart so that the Giants and the dragon heads would no longer pose a threat to them.

He knows all of that, but even if he does, there is just no way that he can pull the trigger of his homeland’s collapse so easily!

In the midst of his confusion, the words that his father spoke to him once suddenly flashed through Asterios’s mind.

「Whenever our country is in trouble, we have to stand together with our subjects as one.」

「……..」

Asterios turned around and looked at the Head Priestess and the Assistant Priestess behind him. The two of them said that even if someone like him is going to be the king, they’re going to place their trust in him without question.

Sensing their silent trust in him, Asterios finally understood what it was exactly that his father has done wrong.

His father definitely loved his people…

… but he couldn’t bring himself to believe in them.

He knew that he should do that, but he couldn’t.

That sin of his gave birth to evil that has only grown with time, now being capable of threatening the entire world.

Making a decision that the previous king has failed to make…. It was an ordeal that took far, far too long to overcome.

「… Lalah. Akasha.」

「Yes, our king?」

「You said that you will accept me as your king, so will you believe in me and come with me now?」

「Of course.」

Both of them gave that answer immediately and without hesitation. It was as if they were waiting for him to ask them that question for a long time now.

Asterios opened his eyes widely, raised his battle axe up high and asked them again.

「Even… Even if my path were to lead me across the ocean?」

The lightning of destruction dwells in his battle axe.