Chapter 68: Hidden Stage – Throne of Sin: The Repentant Fallen Lamb, Azazel’s Fragment
The old man’s body burned to ashes as if its purpose had been fulfilled.
The end of the Archmage who sought eternal life was truly a pitiful demise.
《How could Azazel have been resurrected?》
Leaving behind the Fallen Angel, who was still struggling to process the situation, I assessed the unfolding chaos with a cold and logical approach.
First, I read through the system messages that had appeared, then reviewed the conditions for the Hidden Scenario displayed at the end.
〚Hidden Stage: Throne of Sin: The Repentant Fallen Lamb, Fragment of Azazel
Rank: Mythical
Grade: E+
Description: The Fallen Angel Azazel, who once met his end at the hands of another Throne, has torn through the body of his servant to resurrect himself. Though he is but a fragment and cannot fully wield his power, even this fragment alone can crush you like a worm. Defeat him.
Objective: Defeat the Throne of Sin: The Repentant Fallen Lamb, Azazel (0/1)
Restrictions: Defense is impossible. Limited to one attack per turn.
Success: ???
Failure: Annihilation〛
“Defeat a god?”
This was madness. Misfortune had crossed the line. That damn thing.
It handed me this challenge as though it expected me to overcome it. Honestly… doable, perhaps?
‘So, this is how it turns out.’
I let out a bitter laugh internally and closed the system messages.
Azazel, the Fallen Angel who had now fully manifested, also burst into a deranged laugh, relishing the freedom of his resurrection.
Nine pairs of black and white wings. A pair of horns spiraling above his head. A massive body, towering at least five meters tall.
His mere presence crushed me under an immense weight, but I did not collapse.
〚Authority: Golden Tower shields your mind from the overwhelming presence of that unimpressive yet terrifying being!〛
〚Authority: Heavenly Fortune grimaces and protects your mind from the repugnant aura!〛
〚Authority: Equivalent Exchange supports you against the crawling pest that dares threaten you!〛
〚Unique Ability: Ultimate Soul fortifies and hardens your mind!〛
Though Misfortune had withdrawn, the rest of my abilities stabilized my mind and prevented my body from crumbling under the oppressive force.
《Ghhh!》
I quickly summoned the struggling Fallen Angel into my Inventory, transporting them to my domain for safety, and prepared myself for what was to come.
【Hmm?】
It was then that Azazel turned his gaze toward me.
Even the mere act of looking at me intensified the pressure, as though a mountain was bearing down on me.
“Ghh…!”
I barely managed to endure.
Facing even a fragment of a god’s power, for a mere mortal to retain sanity, was nearly impossible.
Were it not for my Authorities and Ultimate Soul, it would’ve been unthinkable.
Amused by my struggle, Azazel approached, his interest piqued.
Step. Step. Step.
With each step he took, I felt closer to death.
When he finally loomed over me and looked down, I could no longer remain upright.
I fell to my knees, collapsing.
“Cough! Gah…”
And they expect me to defeat this? This trial was truly absurd.
【Insect. How are you still alive? What have you done?】
I couldn’t even speak. My mouth refused to move.
All I could do was spit blood and focus on not letting my head hit the ground.
The difference in existence.
The sheer disparity in presence assaulted not just my body but even my soul.
Thankfully, my abilities shielded my soul completely, but the lack of protection for my body allowed the oppressive force to wreak havoc on me.
【Interesting. You harbor three seeds within you? Could you be a fallen Throne, cast to the depths? No… No, your soul is far too small and insignificant for that.】
Azazel circled around me, inspecting me like a product up for sale.
【Still, this is remarkable. Even as a fragment, I am a shard of my true self. Yet you endure. Impressive.】
His tone carried genuine admiration, brimming with curiosity.
【Insect. Become my Avatar.】
And with that, he offered me a proposal: the role of an Avatar.
A Throne’s Avatar. It was an extraordinary position.
Not merely an ordinary follower or even a devoted apostle who served gods closely, but an existence that shared in the god’s very essence.
No one from Earth had ever occupied such a position.
Neither in the present nor in the future I had experienced.
I had only seen it once—a future invader of Earth, who was an Avatar of a minor god.
The day that Avatar appeared, Earth lost half of its SS-rank hunters, and two SSS-rank hunters died.
Their existence was essentially a cheat.
And the only way to acquire such absurd power was to become the Avatar of a Throne.
And now, Azazel had offered me that very position.
【Do you seek revenge? Do you wish to hold accountable those who betrayed and murdered your parents? To punish those who insulted and defiled their memory? Become my Avatar. I shall grant you the power and Authority to achieve all that you desire!】
To say I wasn’t tempted would be a lie.
He truly lived up to the title of Fallen Angel—his offer carried the allure of a devil’s temptation.
“G-get… lost. That… I’ll achieve… with my own power.”
Hearing my response, Azazel sneered and stepped back. At the same time, the oppressive presence targeting me lessened.
“Cough! Cough! Damn it… I’m seriously going to die here.”
I caught my breath and forced my trembling body to calm down. That creature cannot attack me. At least, not yet.
It must be due to the system’s restrictions.
The system clearly stated that this would be a battle where each party takes turns attacking, without the option to defend.
Under normal circumstances, I would have cursed this absurd arrangement.
However, from the system’s perspective, this restriction was probably seen as a mercy, giving me a chance to resist rather than dying outright without a fight.
Even Azazel, my opponent, would likely accept such a condition without complaint.
After all, if his resurrection had proceeded without the system’s intervention, his rank would have far exceeded the boundaries of Stage 0, warranting immediate expulsion.
But he didn’t want to be expelled.
Being expelled would send him directly to the realm of the gods.
Even though an immense amount of time had passed, there were still many who harbored grudges against him.
As a mere fragment, Azazel had no means to survive against them.
That’s why he willingly accepted the system’s restrictions.
After all, it wasn’t as if he would ever die to a mere worm like me.
No, if anything, possessing this insignificant creature that carried three immense seeds would allow him to go beyond merely becoming whole again.
It could lead him to something even greater.
【I suppose I should show you what becomes of a feeble, insignificant worm with strong will. Go ahead, put all your resolve into it and try whatever you can. I won’t even move from this spot. If you can so much as scratch me, I’ll let you live.】
Azazel declared this with overwhelming arrogance and dignity.
And that was precisely the opportunity I had been waiting for.
〚Throne of Sin: The Repentant Fallen Lamb, Azazel has issued a declaration!〛
〚The system has converted Azazel’s declaration into a restriction!〛
The dark aura shielding Azazel disappeared, and his body froze, as if inviting me to attack.
From his expression, it was clear that he regarded me with nothing but derision, as though he already knew how this would end.
Watching his smug grin, I couldn’t help but laugh softly. How foolish, to remain so arrogant without realizing what was about to happen.
“Go ahead, laugh all you want.”
It would be your last.
I straightened my body and fixed my gaze on Azazel. Then, I opened my Inventory.
What I pulled out was the weapon I had purchased just yesterday for a staggering 10,001 black coins from Goldring.
The most powerful weapon, one that bordered on the limits of Mythical rank.
“Let’s see how far your resolve will take you.”
As the mythical-grade item materialized in my hand, Azazel’s expression hardened in an instant.
He looked back and forth between me and the spear, his face growing pale as he shouted urgently.
【W-wait!!】
“It’s too late. Let’s see how strong your will really is.”
The spear settled into my grip, and I assumed a throwing stance.
〚Divine Artifact: The Holy Spear of Godslaying, Longinus [Mythical-EX+] has begun activation!〛
〚0%… 0.0001%… 0.007%… 0.009%〛
The Holy Spear, Longinus. A weapon with the legend of slaying a god—a true Godslayer.
This was my strongest trump card. It was the ace I had prepared for just such a scenario.
“To think I’d end up using it after only a day.”
The problem was the spear’s activation conditions were rather stringent. To slay an actual god, the spear had to reach at least 80% activation.
But with my current rank and abilities, raising the activation rate by even 0.1% per second was an arduous task.
Worse yet, as the activation rate increased, the rate of progress would slow exponentially.
Still, even at low activation rates, the spear was far more powerful than any weapon I possessed.
The real challenge was finding the time to activate it fully during a battle with a strong opponent. But now, the stage had been set.
Though I doubted the system had anticipated this when imposing its restrictions, one thing was certain: this single attack would decide the fight.
The activation rate climbed steadily. Past 1%, then 3%, and 5%.
【Impossible! How can a mere worm like you possess such a great relic? And that spear—it was banished outside the Abyss after slaying the great Lord of the Skies! How could you, a creature incapable of breaking even the seals placed on it by the Archangels, wield it?!】
“Oh? So this is its sealed state?”
Good information. It seems even Fallen Angels retain some knowledge.
‘No wonder Goldring complained about how thorough I was, calling me ruthless for taking everything.’
I grinned openly—a clear expression of mockery. As the activation rate surpassed 5%, the rate of progress slowed drastically.
It felt as though I had reached the upper limits of my rank, but it didn’t matter.
Even if it took months, the spear would eventually fully activate, and Azazel would die.
Ignoring Azazel’s panicked shouts, I poured everything into activating the spear.
【H-ha! I get it! This is all just an illusion! I haven’t actually been resurrected! Of course! Damn system, you think showing me such an illusion will make me give up on resurrection? Never!】
As the activation rate passed 20% after half a day, Azazel began denying the situation, laughing madly and declaring that he would break free of this so-called illusion.
When it surpassed 40% after more time had passed:
【Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!! Why are you doing this to me?! What did I ever do wrong?! I’m a god! A great god! You think a pathetic worm like you can kill me?! Ha! Just because you’re holding a relic, you dare to challenge me, you insect!】
He resorted to insults, raising his aura as he screamed at me.
And when days turned into weeks and the activation rate finally surpassed 60%:
【Stop! Stop, fine! I was wrong, okay? I’ll do whatever you want! Just get rid of that cursed spear! Whatever you desire, I’ll grant it! Anything, just please don’t kill me. I’m not like those other demons or devils! Please trust me!】
“Trust you? Don’t make me laugh. Even if I succeeded in attacking you, you wouldn’t have let me go.”
【W-what are you talking about?! Of course, I would have let you go!】
“Yeah, let me go—after forcing me into servitude, threatening me with death.”
I had experienced the injustices of forced contracts before.
Such transparent tricks wouldn’t work on me.
Even if I managed to land a successful hit, Azazel would have tried to coerce me into submission under the guise of sparing my life.
【Haha… what nonsense. You’re wrong! Even if that were true, don’t you want revenge? Absorb just one of my fragments, and I’ll grant you anything you wish! The Earth? It’s just a planet full of worms, isn’t it?】
Azazel continued negotiating, but I ignored him and focused on activating the spear.
When the activation rate finally surpassed 80%:
【…What a cursed world. What was I even born for? I’m not some trash bin for your sins… What’s the point of all this?】
Perhaps he had reached enlightenment? Not that it mattered to me.
After two weeks, Longinus reached 100% activation.
“Hm. So, this is what happens at full activation…”
The overwhelming presence radiating from the spear made me swallow nervously.
In truth, I could have killed Azazel with just 60% activation, as he was merely a fragment.
But I had decided to test the spear’s full potential. The result:
【Damn it. Just kill me already. But know this—I’ll come back through another fragment, and I’ll find you. I’ll tear you apart.】
“Sure. See you then.”
The Holy Spear, Longinus, left my hand.
And everything before me disappeared from existence.
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