Chapter 252: We have a throne to conquer. (1/2)

”…Why did you do that?” Sebas broke the silence as he chose to turn back into an old butler.

The three other Divine Beasts also transformed. Jorga shrunk his body to a very small size for the first time after he became Jormungand. Apana also became small and went to rest on Layla's shoulder. Aergia was the last one. She seemed to be exhausted after returning to her human form.

Arima turned toward the old butler who asked the question. Sebas was currently staring at Arima with a dark expression. ”You're Sebasfiel Mendes,” Arima said and put his glasses on. Everyone's eyes twitched but they didn't make any remark. ”Karaskan's and Baphomet's father, right?”

”I am, indeed,” Sebas nodded. ”I wanted to ask you why you let that Téras go. I can see that you can kill him easily. Maybe with just a thought at this point. I also know about the grudge between my family and you. I thought you would do everything to stop them.”

Everyone gathered around and listened quietly. Some of them were aware of what happened to Arima in the past while he was still a normal human. Layla was one of them as she closed her eyes and waited.

”You know,” Arima's voice was still calm and cold. ”Your family is quite something. I happened to confront both of your sons. Baphomet was a powerful Evil God, but at the same time, I quite liked him. I might resurrect him later. Although his body has been destroyed, I retrieved his soul.”

Sebas' eyes shook and his entire body trembled. What kind of father wouldn't want his son to be saved?

”Also, Sebasfiel, you're a prick.”

”…huh?”

”Your son's message to you,” Arima said and Sebas' expression twitched.

”As for Karaskan…” Arima's attitude was slightly perturbed but, in the end, he just sighed and shrugged. ”He's quite a fascinating and spiteful existence. He wanted to become Evil. He created the Seeds of Chaos to twist Fate and force someone like me to rise and come to him.”

”And with that, he was able to open Pandora which he had prepared beforehand. In conclusion, he died, and the Téra were born. But, the big 'but' in this story, is that Karaskan wasn't trying to end the world, he was trying to make it stronger.”

Sebas was shocked and he wasn't the only one. Arima's companions, the rest of the Guardians and Pillars, and even Ahura. Only Layla stayed impassive.

”The Téra are bloodthirsty monsters. But, at the same time, they don't attack people with low strength, but people that match their own. That guy just wanted to create a sense of urgency in all of those lazy and stupid species and make them fight to mature. Many would die, but in one sense, many others would get saved and grow stronger,” Arima snorted and waved his hand.

”Anyway, you don't really need to know why I let that Téras go. I just revised their fundamental code a little bit and made them more useful for me,” he declared and walked toward Layla. When he was in front of her, he sighed and showed a rare, warm smile. ”Why did you use it in the end?”

Layla smiled coolly in return. The ones who had fought with her shuddered, it wasn't for long but they had gotten used to her cold expression while they were fighting along with her.

”I was kinda forced,” she shrugged and smugly looked at Arima from the corner of her eyes. ”You were the one who didn't come in time. If I had not acted, we would have suffered some big causalities, and your sister would have used her trump card to kill the Téras before dying.”

Arima scowled and shook his head. Ahura's pupils widened and when he faced her, she looked away with a cough.

”In any case,” Arima snapped his fingers and everyone felt something strange happening around them. ”It's quite annoying to be in outer space all the time.”

When they heard that line from Arima, they were all already on the meadow of a certain planet.

”Wait…this is?!” Gilgamesh exclaimed. He was the one who stayed the most time in this place when the four gates had been opened and everyone had left. After his realization, the others followed and dropped their jaw.

”Holy… did you just rebuild an entire planet with a snap?!” Raylein shouted but Arima ignored him and sat down.

”Sit,” he beckoned Layla to do the same. She complied with unwilling eyes. She sat down in front of him.

”Do you really need to do this? I can take it.”

”No, you can't,” Arima retorted indifferently and Layla clicked her tongue.

”I don't want you to do it.”

”I have more than enough means to resist it.”

”You say that, but you're going to take it without doing anything. Don't mess with me,” Layla snorted and Arima blankly stared at her.

”You changed of personality again. How many is it this time? The fourth? The fifth time?” Layla blushed and closed her mouth because it was completely true. ”Anyhow, just chant along. It will be easier for me,” Arima said and Layla sighed.

”…What are they doing?” Shakti asked whilst watching them.

”They're talking about the toll of Layla's magic,” Malum crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. ”The technique she used is called 'Eius Vestigia'. In other words, 'The Martyr's Footsteps'. A certain magic Arima made for her exclusively. Because that's something only she can use.”