Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 474: Astarotte (5)

“Basiliora.”

[Tell me.]

“When I transform, take Penia and Evan and retreat with all your belongings.”

[Understood.]

Basiliora nodded firmly at Alon’s grave command.

“...Lord Alon, shouldn’t we flee together?”

“Right. To be honest, it's far too dangerous right now.”

Evan and Penia voiced their concerns then.

Yet, Alon shook his head.

“No, it’s alright.”

“Do you have a plan?”

Alon’s head moved at Penia’s question.

“...A plan.”

He uttered coldly, though no specific course of action had actually formed in his mind at this moment.

For starters, he hadn't even determined the opponent's exact capabilities, making it impossible to devise a strategy to defeat the Descended One.

Despite this awareness, the reason Alon hesitated to flee was the very situation unfolding.

“......”

Alon’s gaze fell upon the Descended One.

By resurrecting Red Conviction and Clumped Eye, beings it had previously slain, it had thrown the Divine blood into chaos and fear.

However, Alon perceived that this action somehow hinted at something else.

More precisely, he had identified a peculiar inconsistency.

An inconsistency that anyone contemplating the situation calmly might consider at least once.

‘If the Descended One genuinely held the position of the powerful, there would be no necessity for such actions.’

Alon continued to observe the Descended One.

Even now, it was still transforming the Divine blood it had killed into Astarotte, a Divine blood clad in black armor.

“......”

Alon's thoughts began to race.

The scant pieces of information he possessed about Astarotte, already limited, started to align.

And with them, his contemplation deepened.

According to reports gathered by the subjugation force's intelligence network, the Descended One could absorb fragments indefinitely, but this process required a considerable amount of time.

Yet, the Descended One was acting before them as if this intelligence was false.

It displayed overwhelming power and abilities, entirely contrary to the subjugation force's information, fully showcasing the might of Divine blood that had reached a higher stage.

Consequently, alongside abilities never mentioned in the intelligence reports, the Descended One appeared to have already absorbed a significant number of fragments, and moreover, had absorbed them completely.

Yes, on the surface.

“......”

Alon's eyes remained locked on the Descended One.

At this precise moment, the antagonist was undeniably positioned as the strong.

After all, it had effortlessly eliminated numerous Divine blood in an instant.

Therefore, if it were truly as powerful as it seemed, there would be no reason for it to engage in conversation with the Divine blood who had come to subjugate it.

Of course, if its objective was to spare the Divine blood and incorporate their strength into its own ranks, then Alon's reasoning would become irrelevant.

But the Descended One had made its intentions unequivocally clear.

Not that it would spare the Divine blood, but that it intended to annihilate them all.

With such a purpose, any necessity for dialogue from the Descended One's perspective would cease to exist.

No matter how much terror they felt now, not a single being among them desired death.

“......”

Alon's eyes narrowed.

Another contradiction had surfaced here.

‘...Is it perhaps lying?’

Alon began to suspect that the Descended One might be deception itself.

If it possessed the strength to vanquish everyone present, prolonging the exchange with words would be unnecessary.

However, the Descended One's pronouncements were peculiar.

What it uttered was not the kind of speech typically used to stall for time.

For words intended to delay, they contained exceedingly little 'hope'.

It was as if, conversely, they were meant to incite the Divine blood into a more desperate struggle.

[Annihilate it—!]

As these unsettling contradictions replayed in Alon’s mind, a grotesque roar from a Divine blood echoed.

The sound jolted Alon back to the present, and one of the Divine blood had already spoken.

[Most of the scoundrels from the four great factions are already gone anyway, and there are fragments here too, so are you truly going to let this chance slip away!?]

In response to these seemingly emboldening words, a fighting spirit reignited on the faces of the Divine blood, faces that had been filled with dread mere moments before.

[That bastard is alone anyway! And regardless of whether it's in its second stage, there's no way it can wield that kind of power so carelessly! There must be a drawback!]

The instant these words concluded, as if they had been awaiting this cue, countless Divine blood surged forward to attack.

And—

The battle commenced anew.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■-!!!

Accompanied by a chilling shriek, a barrage of attacks rained down upon the very spot where the Descended One stood—

Crush—!

And then, the Descended One materialized before the attacking Divine blood, shattering its skull without a moment's hesitation.

The same pattern repeated thereafter.

The Descended One casually evaded the onslaught of furiously charging attacks, dispatching the Divine blood one by one.

As if it were merely playing.

Sometimes swift,

and sometimes slow—

as though entrusting their hopes to the Divine blood.

At other moments, it was as if despair were being sown into them.

...In that manner, like a game, it systematically took down the Divine blood.

And then.

“Lord Alon! You must flee now! In this chaotic battle, we can make our escape!”

“I concur!”

Alon, who had been observing the confrontation between the Divine blood and the Descended One while taking in Evan and Penia's pleas—

“!”

experienced a sudden enlightenment.

A singular, indubitable realization dawned upon him.

The subsequent thoughts stemming from that comprehension—

“I’ve found it.”

provided Alon with the definitive answer.

####

The Divine blood began to fall.

Their bodies were rent asunder.

Their forms were impaled.

Heads exploded, and the Divine blood met their demise.

Fear then blossomed amidst the remaining Divine blood.

Yet, despite this terror, the Divine blood continued their assault on the Descended One.

This was because the Descended One, which had exhibited such overwhelming might at the outset of the conflict, was now, inexplicably, beginning to falter.

Witnessing the Descended One's gradual deceleration, as if its strength were ebbing away, the Divine blood chose to press their attack, aiming to finish it off rather than retreat.

And as the situation reached that critical juncture—

[This is… madness……. ]

Amidst the multitude of Divine blood, the Descended One still clung to life.

However, its physical condition was dire.

Was this the cumulative effect of the numerous Divine blood's attacks?

Its gaunt, emaciated frame bore wounds that appeared grotesque even at a casual glance, and its right arm hung limply, threatening to detach at any moment.

[Do not falter! Just a little more and we can vanquish it—!]

Heeding the shout from one of their own, the Divine blood raised their weapons, their faces betraying their ingrained fear.

And just as the Divine blood were preparing to charge the Descended One once more—

Crush—!

Suddenly, the skull of a Divine blood, who had been bolstering the morale of the others, violently exploded.

This occurred even before it could reach the Descended One.

This clearly indicated an external attack from an unforeseen assailant.

With expressions of shock, the Divine blood turned their gazes towards the source of the loud, gruesome thud.

And then, they perceived it.

Crackle—! Crackle-crackle—!

Appearing before the Divine blood whose head had met a sudden, explosive end—

Seollang.

For a fleeting instant, the Divine blood appeared bewildered, struggling to comprehend the unfolding events.

“Everyone, halt your advance.”

Presently, their attention was drawn by a voice, amplified by magic, causing them to turn in unison.

And there, they beheld a figure—

no,

[...Star Eater?]

the Star Eater.

[Hah— Thank you, brother— for granting me the precious time to recover.]

In response to Alon’s declaration, the Descended One opened its mouth, an expression of gratitude apparent.

Alon’s words sent a ripple of unease through the Divine blood, who were still struggling to grasp the true nature of the situation.

But—

“Everyone, direct your attention over there.”

Following Alon’s subtle gesture with his chin, the Divine blood shifted their gaze back to the corpse dispatched by Seollang.

The cadaver with the ruptured head.

And subsequently.

[...Huh?]

Not long after, the Divine blood began to perceive the anomaly concerning the corpse whose head Seollang had obliterated.

Indeed, they were compelled to acknowledge it.

[There is no blood?]

For despite its head having clearly burst open, an event that should have resulted in a splatter of blood akin to the other fallen Divine blood, there was no outward sign of bleeding.

The very instant the Divine blood sensed that something was amiss—

“I had found it peculiar.”

“I thought it was strange.”

Alon commenced speaking.

His gaze shifted towards the Descended One.

The Descended One, too, regarded Alon, its severely battered form still present.

“You possessed considerable strength. Judging by the might you displayed, you were certainly capable of annihilating the entire subjugation force in a single, decisive blow.”

[.......]

“Yet, you refrained from doing so. As if merely showcasing your own prowess, you eliminated only a portion of the Divine blood.”

Alon briefly diverted his gaze, glancing towards Basiliora, now a distant speck, with Evan and Penia securely on its back.

“Initially, I presumed you were merely stalling for time due to external constraints.”

“However, that was not the case. Your declarations were not the words of someone seeking to delay; they served only to incite the Divine blood.”

[.......]

“It was as though you intended to compel the subjugation force to commit their utmost effort.”

Alon, adding that such an action had been entirely unnecessary, continued his explanation.

“It was at that moment I grasped a crucial truth. More accurately, I deduced that you were selectively eliminating only those Divine blood who had ‘activated their abilities.’”

[......!]

Alon’s revelation prompted an instantaneous murmur among the Divine blood.

And shortly thereafter, they came to the stark realization that Alon’s assertion was undeniably accurate.

Every Divine blood member still standing had, for various reasons, yet to deploy their unique powers.

“After much consideration, I questioned why, despite possessing such immense power, you targeted only Divine blood who had utilized their abilities. Rather than confronting us directly from the outset, why did you deploy the devoured remnants of Astarotte? This led me to a conclusion.”

The Divine blood exchanged glances.

The gaze of the Descended One shifted to Alon.

“...The collected fragments are merely bait.”

Alon revealed the truth he had uncovered.

[What is the meaning of that—?]

[The fragments are bait?]

Amidst the deepening confusion of the Divine blood, Alon continued.

“Precisely as stated. The assertion that the Descended One absorbs fragments is, ultimately, a carefully crafted lure, deliberately accumulating these fragments without restraint. Its true objective was this very subjugation force.”

[The subjugation force—?]

“Indeed, for the law it wields is not ‘fragment absorption,’ but ‘Divine blood absorption.’ Furthermore—”

He disclosed the hidden mechanism employed by the Descended One—

“It cannot activate its law without first ‘knowing’ the opponent’s ability.”

—the ultimate revelation.

At that precise moment, as the attention of all the Divine blood redirected towards the Descended One—

[...Ha.]

A faint, hollow chuckle escaped the old man’s lips.

It sounded utterly depleted.

Conversely, it also held a tone of astonishment.

And in that instant—

Thud— thududududuk—!!

The Descended One’s form, which moments before had appeared grotesquely mangled, began to mend as if by a miracle.

Its previously detached right arm reattached itself, returning to its original position.

The entrails that had spilled out so hideously retracted, as though time itself had reversed.

The crimson blood staining its body vanished as if it had never been present.

Then.

[...I never anticipated being discovered so swiftly.]

That voice, dripping with cynicism,

[You are indeed formidable, Star Eater.]

reached Alon’s ears.