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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and other products set in the same universe are all owned by Rifujin na Magonote, Shirotaka, Shosetsuka ni Naro, Media Factory, and Studio Bind.

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Chapter 29: Flawed Finale

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War is ugly.

There is nothing that anyone can say to make it anything else than that. The destruction, the death, the unpleasant feeling that things can go very wrong very fast if leaders make mistakes- if you are the leader and do make mistakes and... I would say what happened against Hitogami was pretty much that.

The Fang had one last huge mission, a relatively important one as it was a matter of either making it or dying with the hope of containing the threat that was the fake Human God. Orsted had rallied his own troops, and some soldiers of the Asura and Shiron Kingdoms had joined the naval invasion of Hitogami's 'First Temple'.

Everything was set to be a brutal assault, but no one had prepared the attackers in the eventuality of a mutual massacre. Hitogami wasn't planning to go down. His servants were weak, but the demons that had joined his call made up for a formidable defensive force to squash at the expense of various lives.

War is hell. But I wasn't alone- not when this invasion was being planned, not when I was making the trip through the sea, not when I stepped onto the rosy beach as the sizzling of magic spells and explosive charms mixed with swords clashing and arrows zeroing to targets rendered the noises all around so disturbingly confusing.

No hesitation on our faces, the Party rushed through the many defenses put up by the worshipers. The monsters did put a bit of a difficult ordeal, but most of the worst was taken by Orsted. No doubt, no distrust, only one goal in mind as all troops moved into what was clearly a righteous cause: cease the mad plotting of a fake deity.

The Temple itself was massive both within and outside, full of 'life' as followers of Hitogami had turned it in a fortress. More demons, more monsters and magic users that tried their best to kept us from reaching their master, but none was good enough to accomplish that task. Then again, the best they got was weaken us a bit but... 'Longinus' was still safely contained and away from our enemies' reach.

The ruthless assault ultimately found a pause when we reached the core of the temple.

A large ritual room with an array of seals in there. Zenith and Roxy gave it a look, but it was Elinalise that recognized it.

"A Portal to the Void World. That's how Hitogami could pass through at times," The Elf remarked in surprise. "It's where we will find him. This is it."

Everyone nodded while Zenith looked nervous. "I don't think we can use it. It's too-"

"Limited. It could drain our magic."

There was a bit of tension but... we were too deep in this. Backing away was not an option and hesitation would just favor Hitogami in the long run as more allies of him would come to his aid.

"Do it."

Despite some brief reluctance, both girls did as told and the array was activated. What no one in the group had expected was for the array to just carry a single individual through since the Void World was restrained to everyone... but me. The large Void World greeted me, the whiteness within the nothingness stunning me for a moment, but I didn't let it trick me in lowering my guard as I felt him there.

He was Here, Hitogami was Here.

I swiftly shifted my swords for the broken lance, holding it tightly by its handle as I saw something rapidly move left and right before ultimately stop above the ground and in front of me- but as he stopped, I felt pain erupt all over my body. Gashes erupted with blood as the unseen assault managed to breach through my defense without me noticing. I tensed up, but my stance didn't falter for just a moment as I knew if that happened, it would have been the death of me.

"I am surprised," Hitogami hummed, this time ditching the 'pure white' figure form and appearing in a full-dark horned entity with pure violet eyes. "You could have just played a longer game, but you are so interested in finding an early grave for yourself."

"I am here to end this," I rebuked flatly. "And you are afraid of that."

"...Am I? Do you really think I am afraid of a John Bukharin that has not been given the chance to peak?" The Devil hummed in return, appearing calm but... tense. "Oh, John, you are not aware of anything that is really going to happen now. There is more than just this world at stake and... If I have to be honest. I am glad that it is you that I am fighting- any other Bukharin and things would have been quite dreadful."

"...What are you talking about?"

"You are a safe bet. That's why God chose you. A good-hearted guy, a mortal that has the means to slowly advance into something of a God-Slayer with enough time and effort- there are many examples I saw through what glimpse of numerous realities and opportunities, but... yours was an odd one. Many would have their futures bound to this world, bu you, an anomaly, offered a chance to see... more. And the more I saw, the more horrified I was of what you could have been. Your potential is jarring, your determination even worse."

He turned to the side, scratching his chin. "I saw many chances. I saw an Orderly Protector, a Chaos Lord, I saw an Almighty Wizard that could have easily destroying me, I saw an Unwavering Shadow that saw back to me through one of his companions, and so much more," He turned to stare back at me. "But you... I had to work carefully. I couldn't intervene as much as I would have wanted to, but I managed to curb many chances of you finding a way to get too strong. Now? Now you are but a small hero with little to no chance to win."

"And yet you are hesitating."

A scoff emerged from Hitogami at this.

"Don't you see? You have just a weapon meant to kill me, but no physical quality that makes you stand close to beat a God like me. Especially here, in my Void World- where I was fully manifested!"

"You're no God!" I snapped angrily, his smile melting in a... furious scowl.

He moved again, but this time I was prepared as I saw him rush towards me and I moved to stab the lance on the ground. It wasn't meant to defend me in a physical way or produce a barrier but... a test. One that was successful as Hitogami paused in fright as the gesture and I... smiled at this.

He was trying to gain control of the situation, but the moment the holy lance had entered this equation his confidence had faltered- his Pride was contested by Fear.

"You- You think this will just win this for you? A Lance?!"

"Why are you afraid? I thought you said something about being a God but... Didn't God's son take this without a doubt, without losing his hope?"

"He is not relevant to this! He is a puppet, a test-dummy for that fool to see how pathetic his 'best creation' could have been."

"...Daddy issues?"

The unholy screech that preceded his renewed assault put a big smile on my face as I readied for the confrontation. Hitogami looked absolutely murderous, but he was no fighter after so many years had gone by without having to rely on physical means to defeat an issue.

I was able to see his attack and answer accordingly. I was a Defensive Fighter anyway, which made the situation easier on me as I managed to counter in a way that matched the teachings I learned through this years. It wasn't going to be a flashy fight, it wasn't going to end with a chance for his return. I had one goal in mind and I didn't intend to let go of that very sight through this whole battle.

Hitogami's wrath forced him to rush his right hand forward, turning into sharp glaws in an effort to stab me, but I telegraphed the rush and proceeded to shift on the opposite side and then sever the limb off his body in a single strike, the shock was immediate as I saw the anger turn in shock and then fear as more pain came for the fake God when he felt the lance firmly keeping him put as I stabbed it through his chest from behind.

"W-What? This- This is not what I have seen. This- Why? HOW?!"

"...Pride," I remarked quietly, making him turn to face me. "You were always the prideful one. You had a chance to be great, but you allowed your ego to fuck you up."

He didn't say a word, just trembling as he fell on his knees, slowly faltering as his form started to grow weaker and less pronounced within the world.

"I-It's not fair. I was one step ahead, one chance off from being what I was meant to be- God's successor."

"You were not," I muttered flatly. "You were... another creation, but never a replacement."

The lance slowly vanished in a golden glow, forming chains over the Devil's body.

"Heh... that's so stupid... isn't it, Sal? I will leave, but will this be the end of your troubles in this world?"

I was unable to muster a response before the chains burned Hitogami's frame and vanished his soul from sight... but I had something else to worry about when the Void World ejected me and brought me back to the temple. A temple which was starting to collapse on itself.

"John!" Zenith rushed quickly with the rest, healing up some of my wounds but looking depleted herself. "D-Did you-"

"Yes, he is beaten. We need to leave, now!"

There was no reply to that as the entire party rushed back out of the temple. Large pieces of the ceiling started to rain and create obstacles along the path, but we managed to blast our way back to the entrance and out of danger as the entire structure ultimately collapsed.

The battle was over and I felt relief in knowing that the worst was now over.

What was left for us to do now was to enjoy peace... for the time being. Hitogami's last words still leaving an open question to deal with through Elinalise's own knowledge on the topic.

Demon God Laplace's Resurrection, when will it happen and who will deal with it?

AN

Next time, Epilogue! And the next time again, new story!