"Ryunosuke, my Master, you've left me behind. But fear not—I, Gilles de Rais, will honor our pact."
Tears glinted in Gilles' eyes as he clutched his Noble Phantasm, his voice both exultant and mournful, reverberating through layers of flesh with mana, shaking the air. He felt the contract sever, signaling the death of his friend Ryunosuke Uryuu. Genuine grief pierced his heart, briefly shattering the madness controlling him, though it ultimately reclaimed him.
"Ryunosuke, watch—this is the ultimate cool I dedicate to you!"
"Cool" was Ryunosuke's catchphrase, shouted in moments of fervor. Since summoning Gilles, he'd praised him with it daily, and over time, Gilles had embraced it, growing ever more cool.
"Aaaahhh!"
The indescribable shriek's mana wind somehow withstood Kingu's relentless barrage of Age of Babylon.
"Come! Devour my mana, erode my soul! I offer this body as a sacrifice for the grandest cool festival for my friend!"
Gilles' Prelati's Spellbook floated unaided, its pages flipping as crimson, corrupt fumes spilled forth.
The foul mana seeped into Gilles' body, rapidly dissolving it, his summoned soul serving as a catalyst.
Gilles saw it—an endless stream in a boundless deep sea, an ancient city... to its south, a chasm where It was imprisoned.
A massive cyclopean eye adorned its forehead, surrounded by writhing tentacles, its limbs webbed like a giant frog's.
Suddenly, It opened its eye, a gaze brimming with infinite corruption. Gilles' soul instantly twisted, becoming its kin.
The colossal demon's body healed at a staggering pace, undergoing a second transformation. Crimson fumes coursed through it, its form shrinking slightly but growing denser, shifting from an indescribable aberration to something resembling an amphibian frog.
"Hey, what's that? That's not the Sea Demon from before!"
Iskandar's face grew grim. Unlike before, he sensed an ominous, twisted power from the creature, eroding his spirit even as a Servant. Though slow—perhaps taking years—it was a shift from nothing to something.
"He chose this?"
Roman leaped from his bench, unable to stay seated. He hadn't expected Gilles to go so far—abandoning a hero's honor, his dignity, and offering himself as a sacrifice.
An ancient evil god peered from a dream realm of greater beings, rivaling the seventy-two Demon Gods Roman wielded as King Solomon.
If Roman were still Solomon, or could unleash his full power, this would be trivial.
But here, he was a mere conceptual incarnation, his strength a fraction of its peak, making this divine descent challenging.
Gilles' choice stemmed from Ryunosuke's death and the oppression by Servants—or, in his eyes, "God's lapdogs."
Ryunosuke was his most cherished person, surpassing even Jeanne in this moment.
They were true friends, "pilgrims" sharing passions and goals. Ryunosuke was the guide to Gilles' new "faith," much like Jeanne once was.
Twice... twice...
Jeanne was burned at the stake on baseless charges.
Ryunosuke was assassinated.
Oppressed by "God's lapdogs," this fallen hero fully surrendered to the devil.
"Ryunosuke! Isn't this cool?"
In his soul's final flicker, Gilles shouted to his departed friend, awaiting a response.
"Cool!!!"
Whether it was the evil god's whisper, a neural misfire, or truly Ryunosuke's reply, Gilles smiled.
"Gilles..."
Jeanne silently watched the transformed monstrosity. Evil, twisted whispers echoed in her ears—Gilles' cries, or perhaps the crowd's jeers before her execution.
She knew... Gilles had found "redemption."
But this "redemption" was far from conventional.
"That thing is no longer a mere kin of an evil god... Moments ago, Gilles offered himself to it. An evil god's will has descended—not its primary Water deity, but a subordinate one. We can defeat it... but we need time to strategize."
Roman's Wisdom of Solomon revealed the creature's nature and guided him on its destruction.
Killing the monster wouldn't solve the issue. As long as the evil god used the channel Gilles' sacrifice opened, the demon would reform endlessly.
Roman needed to seal that channel.
This required preparation!
ARRRRHHH!
The demon unleashed a deafening bellow, its soundwaves rippling the river, sending waves crashing ashore. A tangible sonic gale swept past Roman and the others.
It had sprouted four frog-like, webbed limbs, striding toward the shore.
A massive eye on its forehead opened, glaring at Roman and the others.
"I am Ythogtha the spawn of the Outer God, third child of the Great Old One Cthulhu. Mortals, turn to ash!"
The evil god's name was revealed. Ythogtha's crimson eye glowed with terrifying mana. Its gaze radiated corrupt bloodlight, unbearable to behold. Forcing eye contact hastened madness' erosion.
An unimaginable mana beam surged toward Roman and the others. Even Waver could sense its terror—a direct hit meant certain death. It was too sudden to react.
Assassin drew his greatsword, and Roman prepared a barrier.
But... someone seemed eager to act first.
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL