Holy shit.

I knew that this was going to happen eventually. I mean, this was my goal ever since I arrived despite all the sidetracking that occurred. But really... Was I ready?

Hell no.

Even so, I couldn’t exactly take a step backward now that we’d gotten this far. The sacrifices that were made just so we could make it all the way here had been too much for that.

“So this is why Cyrus came back in a huff...” Princess Sella said after I exchanged greetings with her and Radeca.

I shrugged. I wouldn’t say that the princess was entirely wrong, but that wasn’t the whole reason. Basically, I was just getting tired of running around and doing shit for other people instead of pursuing the goal that I’d resolved myself to.

Though, I doubt that was in good taste to say right now after Sella had supposedly been instrumental in Radeca’s ability to return here by our side.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Princess Sella nodded and smiled in response. “Of course. If your true desire was to unify the entirety of the continent under a single banner, then there would be no need for the agreement that you made.”

I had no idea whether or not she was trying to take a jab at me for pretty much running off on the deal, so I just nodded. If I actually managed to survive this whole ordeal, then I wouldn’t want to deal with any political bullshit as a result of my own actions.

She clasped her hands together and her smile shone rays of light upon me in a stark contrast to the starless void of the night sky.

For a moment, an incredible sense of peace settled over me and my body was blanketed with overflowing warmth. This was no magical effect. It was simply the extent of the princess’ feelings.

So this is the charisma that only a princess possesses, huh? Pretty dangerous.

“Then I am glad. All I’ve wished for was peace. A world where we would no longer need to fight, nor would we need to send our armies to the Fissure. Of course, there is no way that we can completely snuff out the darkness that lies within this world, but... Even so, if this world can become just a little brighter, I shall be content.”

“Speaking of peace, I can’t imagine it went all that smoothly,” I said, turning to Radeca. “I saw soldiers from the Alliance on the battlefield.”

Radeca nodded in affirmation. “You are right, Ryuuko. Although I have become the commander of the Alliance’s forces, I am still a long way from gaining any actual authority. If it were not for Sella standing by my side, I doubt I would have been able to convince even half of the Alliance.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line. I wasn’t sure whether or not we’d really need everyone’s faith in us, but if we were missing half of an entire country, that would be a problem. 

King Alexei had already taken care of the Dwarves’ support before we set out, but I’d hedged my bets entirely on Radeca when it came to the Alliance.

“So what happened with the other half? Are they indifferent or...?” My voice trailed off, afraid to voice my thoughts. If we were still fighting amongst ourselves, then it would be impossible to win even though we were so close.

This was a “God” that fed off of conflict and negative emotions after all.

“Well... They have decided to wait and see the proof for themselves.”

I nodded. That was fair. If someone came up to me and told me that the world was about to be destroyed by some omega deity unless I followed them into battle, I’d be skeptical too, even if it was coming from my country’s royalty.

“Then I guess we’ll just have to give ‘em something to see, huh?”

Radeca gave me a small smile. “Yeah, I guess so.”

The two of us made small talk for a while as everyone else prepared for the inevitable bout against “God.”

Princess Sella had reconvened with her father and the two of them were currently managing the affairs of the military force that had marched with us from the Ardene Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia, Priya, and Antenora were busying themselves with the eastern tribes’ forces. I’d offered to do it myself, but they thought it was a good idea for me to catch up with Radeca.

Seeing as Liandra and Valencia were off briefing their mages for the upcoming ritual, Radeca and I were left alone just as my friends had wished.

Honestly, it was slightly awkward now that we’d exhausted the main topic of conversation and all that was left was the tension in the air and the nervousness that stemmed from our uncertain future.

As Radeca and I sat in a comfortable silence, I thought about how exactly we’d even ended up like this. I rescued her from an attempt on her life and helped her escape from the assassins who continued to pursue her, but that was about it.

What she’d done for me was far more than simply repaying me for saving her life, and I really didn’t recall doing anything that would inspire such loyalty, especially from an Elven princess no less.

Regardless, I was thankful that she stuck by my side. Only...

“...Hey, Radeca.”

“Hm?”

“Where is the Alliance’s army anyway? I thought they’d be marching with you and Sella.”

Radeca shook her head. “I might be in command, but that is really more of a formality. Currently, the army is marching with one of the generals. They should arrive by daybreak.”

That was good enough for me. Alesia had mentioned that the ritual would take at least a couple hours, so the less time the armies needed to wait, the better it’d be.

Radeca and I spent a few more minutes catching up before Alesia approached us with Antenora in tow. Judging from their expressions, they were just as nervous as I was.

“We’re ready,” Alesia said.

I nodded in response.

“The first time we tried this, we called ‘God’ to our world. This time, we’re opening a gate to theirs,” Alesia explained.

In essence, opening a gate to “God’s” world and summoning “God” to this world were two completely different things. Whereas the latter only required a small expenditure of mana from Alesia and Antenora, the former was an act that broke the natural laws of this world.

That is to say, doing so was already an affront to the laws written in the [Rulebook]. In essence, it was an act that defied the very limits of this statistic-based world. Even so, the fact that it was possible filled me with hope.

However, there was one last catch which cast an uneasy shadow of doubt over my heart.

Because of the vast amounts of energy expended from opening the gate and allowing a creature to pass through, Alesia and Antenora could only manage to transport one person.

In the end, I already knew I’d have to face “God” alone. But jeez, I sure didn’t get much time to prepare for that, huh?

“Are you ready, Ryuuko?”

“No. Not at all. First of all, I don’t get why we needed all these people if this was the case.”

“Because ‘God’ feeds off of conflict. The more unity in the world, the greater our strength and the less he obtains from this world. All those who are gathered here and will gather here shall become your strength, Ryuuko. When our hearts beat as one and our desires synchronize, that is when we are strongest.”

I sighed. I always knew it would come to this. But even so, I didn’t expect that the thought would fill me with such dread.

Whatever. We’ll worry about that shit tomorrow.

That was what I thought after bidding Alesia farewell, but tomorrow came much quicker than I expected. As promised, Radeca’s general showed up with the Alliance’s army, but only half. The rest of them were still unconvinced or unsure.

Even as the Sun rose, a light that was even more blinding burst forth from the shrine that stood before us. Hand in hand, Alesia and Antenora turned to me as the ritual was finally complete.

Like a pale tower slashing an infinite white line through the sky, a void of white cut across the space before the shrine, reaching up and up to the point where even my keen eyes lost sight of its edge.

There, that thin white line slowly widened as if space itself were nothing more than massive doors forged to protect the secrets of the truth that laid behind this world.

“Ryuuko!” Lucrezia’s voice rang out.

I turned.

“We’ll be waiting for you to come back!”

Everyone’s voices resounded loudly as they shouted their farewells, the volume of their harmonizing farewell finally calming the violent thump of my heart.

Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll definitely come back.

I flashed them my biggest grin and turned away quickly. If I looked back any longer, I feared that I would never be able to step into that white nothingness.

“Kick their ass, will you?” Alesia said as I stepped past her and toward the unfathomable gate.

I smirked. “Hell yeah I will.”

And with that, I allowed myself to be swallowed up by that terrifyingly white void.