Chapter 711: [Aftermath]
The City of Gula, [The Voracious Pig] was destroyed.
Stone streets and spires disappeared without a trace as if everything until now was just an illusion.
However, the rivers of blood and mountains of corpses were screaming that the battle was real.
The battle continued for no longer than an hour.
When their last line of offense, the Cerberus has fallen, his heart pierced by the Longinus Replica, the Demon-Fallen Angel force considerably weakened and eventually been defeated—the demon enemies decided to escape and retreat.
Fighting further was not a wise decision since the Imperial Court couldn’t allocate another group of soldiers anyti sooner as they are already allocated for the war on the surface as well as protecting the Imperial City…!
Allen descended softly in the ground, just beside the giant body of the Cerberus, his expression appearing indifferent and callous. His body emitting smoke, not because of the flas but because of the wounds he had gotten from the battle, were now sizzling and closing up, recovering completely anew.
Allen walked towards the Cerberus, his expression gradually softened.
“You’re still alive aren’t you, Cerberus?”
With its heart pierced by the Longinus, even if it was a replica, was still spell an instant death—
But this was Cerberus, having the aspect of Immortality—
Even if its life exhausted, he would still be able to retain its energy at least for the ti being before its death.
“Gaha--?! Dante… you’ve done it now…”
The Cerberus three heads all coughed up blood as they glared to the tiny, lithe figure that was walking towards him.
“…even if you managed to retain your life…you are only… delaying the inevitable!”
“…but so what?”
Allen asked with a faint smile.
“I won’t think further in the future, just like I had been these past few days. I'll just let the breeze bring along worries and concerns that I might have. I had always been but what did it give all this ti? Only heartaches and needless anxiety.”
“…?!”
“What I realized upon living in this cursed long life, is that the future is always changing… unpredictable. Change is the only constant. If you think you’ve grasped the future, then you will be in for a an surprise, so why bother worrying about it, right Cerberus?”
“Never thought… you *cough…would beco ever so optimistic…”
The center head smirked in contempt.
“It seems like, pretending a human, for a long ti… gaha… had made you beco…an utter fool,”
Allen grinned.
“You might be right, Cerberus. But being a human is a lot of fun, you know…sotis, a man needs to be a fool, to walk and act without worrying about sothing in order to achieve sothing unachievable…after all. Just like what they say, only fools rush in where wise n never go, where angels fear to tread…and because of that, they managed to do sothing unimaginable…sothing out of a man’s league…”
“He he wise words for a fool…” Ceberus let out a daunting laugh, “But …Dante, you might struggle with all you had, in the end… all of it will beco aningless! What is inevitable will always co… that is more so, between you and … we would never be able to fight what lies ahead before us…”
Allen paused after hearing Cerberus words. Then, he smiled unant, “Indeed, you are right, Cerberus… and I believe in your words. In this world, probably, you are one that can completely understand ‘us’…”
He reached out his hand and stroke Cerberus fur.
“After all, you and ‘us’, we are both the sa, soone that only existed by chance…no, probably existing for so certain purposes.”
“Don’t tell … you-!!”
Cerberus five eyes widened in shock at Allen’s sudden words.
“I already know… I am not Solomon!”
“… …?!!”
Cerberus body stiffened and he almost forgot his pain from the shock.
But Allen was still unperturbed.
“No, that’s not right…I am Solomon, but at the sa ti not.”
Allen raised his head and look at the sky, his gaze soft and sowhat lancholy.
“…Solomon was a real mortal, son of David and Bathsheba… the King of Israel. However, he is not … pretty confusing, isn’t it?”
Allen shrugs his shoulders.
“As for , my true na was… Jedidiah—Beloved of the Lord. That is my true Identity!”
A reminiscent smile appeared on his face.
The mont his mories awakened, he had always believed that he was Solomon.
Or at least, his direct incarnation.
But he realized he was sowhat wrong.
“Solomon was a Mortal…he couldn’t house an immortal’s soul within him, no matter how much he was strengthened by God. I was doubtful about it when I realized what my soul was, my true core existence."
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"And that’s where I ca from…"
"And just like you Cerberus, there was no true Solomon existing… the Solomon in the myths. I, Jedidiah, Wise King Solomon, was only born through myths and legends created on my na. I’m not certain yet, but I might be a God from sowhere, at least…my base soul is. There are these foggy mories that keep coming up to , as if calling onto myself… but, that is only the foundation.”
Allen let out a peal of self-mocking laughter as he continued; “The True Solomon, , was a creation out of chance. The Solomon that has special powers, the Wise King who had imprisoned the 72 Pillars of Hell, all of it was like any other demon and spirits, a collective of myths…a manifestation of a legend!”
“… I am not a mortal… and not the mortal Solomon.”
Allen smiled bitterly, “Being a Demon is out of possibilities. Solomon beca the Demon Prince, because of successive coincidences—being the Master of Demons and Spirits, Solomon’s soul has a large affinity to demonic powers. And I beca a true Demon when I fell here in Hell, corrupted by the Original Sin, splitting into two people. Both turning into Demons, possessing the title of the Demon Prince."
"Of course, not a God either…unlike most Gods of the Celestial Realm, they have their own roots, their own beginnings. They have parental Gods, the Primordial Gods, the first-ever Gods. And by spreading their myths to the Thousand Worlds, they are able to retain their divinities and beco true Gods.”
“But , although I was probably similar to them, as I was originally a God, however, that God had already disappeared, leaving a new existence…and that is , no ‘us’ Jedidiah of the Myth!”
"... ..."
“Right now, we are the sa, Cerberus… we are just creations out of nothing… you and I are pretty similar…”
Allen stopped just before the dying Cerberus, stroking the three-headed dog’s fur. He then cast a sorrowful smile.
“As Solomon as the base of my existence, Jedidiah was born in another world, as soone who possesses miraculous powers with the history and origin of the true mortal Solomon, and his legend started. Then, you Cerberus…”
“… …”
“…Just like , there’s no such thing as Cerberus in the first place.”
Allen smiled gently.
“…as early as the Horic poems, there is a creature simply as "the dog," Cerberus never existed. When Hesiod appeared, he was the one who gave you na and origin—the fifty headed son of Typhon and Echidna. But before that, you are just a simple dog—after all, every door in the world needed a guard."
"... ..."
"And in the ancient tis, many people associated dogs as a guardian of doors, ‘the dog’ guardian of Hell ca to be. This theory was then greatly boosted by the fact that dog such as jackals was often seen in ceteries in ancient tis. Thus the ancients believed that dogs watched over the dead.”
“As for you having three heads. Perhaps, because, you are associated with the life of Mortals since you are the worshipped guardian of Hell… the Past, the Present, and the Future, of all those who passed through the doors of Hell, you signify their lives…the judgnt of their being depending on how they live their lives.”
“That’s why you beca the Three-Headed Dog, Guardian of Hell.”
“We are alike, both created from legends basing on a person, or a creature. But with no true origins…”
The Three-headed dog who was keeping his silence just now, then muttered, “So what…? What does it prove by you telling all this?”
Allen shook his head.
“No, nothing…but… are you just going to be like that, Cerberus? Following the rules and laws that you are supposed to obey? Why haven’t you seek true freedom, away from the course that was set for you by soone else? We might be soone borne from soone’s will, but it doesn’t an we should obey and suffer… why?"
"Why can’t you break through your own chains?”
“…say not, Dante… I am Cerberus…and Cerberus shall be, even in death!”
The Center head of the three-headed dog muttered with firm determination.
“… …”
A teardrop at the corner of Allen’s eyes.
“Was it worth it?”
“…Dante, there are things in this world that are inevitable.”
The right head spoke.
“There are rules that we must follow… a purpose we must achieve.” the left continued, and then the center, “I did not care who holds the World of Demons, as I, only existed to protect it. Even if it is in the hands of a Villain, I must uphold my purpose…”
“That is my… reason for existence!”
"... ..."
"And it would never change! I won't betray my reason for living! For existing!"
The three heads of the Guardian of Hell said at the sa ti.
“… …”
Allen closed his eyes and then sighs in sorrow.
“…you too, Dante…”
The Cerberus suddenly muttered, all five eyes looking at Allen.
“…you cannot change Fate, no one can. *cough *cough, you can see the future and tried to prevent it but it will still co… this world will be your enemy if you do so...your nature, you cannot change it. You have a purpose, and you will walk through that path, no matter how much you struggle… *cough *cough, against it. It’s no use… fighting it…”
“…that’s why we are different Cerberus, even with the sa origin…”
Allen smiled wryly.
“I’m not fighting alone… there are hands pushing from the back… people that I cannot disappoint. And so, even if what you said is true, I will still struggle to fight it…even if I had to crawl with all my limbs broken, my heart crushed, and my throat slit.”
“That’s a burden…”
Cerberus scowled.
“And its burden I’m willing to bear…”
Allen’s smile turned gentle.
“…that’s why, I cannot stop Cerberus. I’m not just fighting for myself… but for the people behind . If I don’t keep walking forward, those who were following would stop as well, and would never be able to advance anymore…”
“…then, be on, Dante… but prepare yourself. The end you wanted would never be able to co true—at least, the world is against you here. And a sole man can never contend against the world…”
The Cerberus made a sigh.
“So be it… I’m prepared no matter what the outco will be. All I need to do is stop worrying about the conclusion of this voyage and continued walking, struggling… at least, in that way, I would be able to die in content…didn’t I say a while ago, dying is the day worth living for… and I will make sure of that.”
Allen flashed a warm smile at the Cerberus whose eyes are starting to close.
“…anyway, if you have ti to waste, why not try being a human for once than stay in this gloomy place… sotis it’s a good thing for a change of mood. Besides, the human world is quite interesting…”
Allen let out a cheerful laugh.
"You'll surely like it. There's this potato fries, coke float, hamburger...oh yeah, also they sell hot dogs,"
His laughter echoing in this terrifying battlefield full of flesh and blood scattering in the ground.
“I’ll pass…on that…”
The center head replied with amusent dying his voice.
"I'm not fond of cannibalism,"
"Just because it was called a Hot dog, it doesn't an it's made from dog at, stupid."
Allen and Cerberus laughed heartily.
It's as if their deathmatch just a while ago was an illusion, they appeared like close friends.
“…Well, I’ve grown used to this raunchy sll of the underworld, so I'll stick to it even in my next life…”
“You’re no fun…”
Allen smiled wryly.
“… …”
The Cerberus paused for a while, its eyelids trembling as if he was fighting the urge to sleep.
Then, suddenly sothing ca out from the large gaping hole on its chest.
It was a shining emblem-like an Ancient Greek coin with an image of a long snake with countless heads engraved on it.
It was the symbol similar to that of Echidna, the Mother of all monsters.
Or probably it was based on her symbol.
“…I’ll give this as a gift, a parting gift, Dante… though I don’t wish nor hope for your victory as I know it’s already useless,. But struggle hard… just like you wanted,” the shining palm-sized symbol slowly floated over Allen, stopping just inches away from him.
Allen reached out his hand, not caring whether this was a trap or not, as he believes Cerberus wouldn’t do anything in the very last minute.
The mont Allen touched the symbol, it glowed brightly and then it slowly entered Allen’s body.
At the sa ti, the voice of Uriel rang out from within his mind;
[…discovering external power, encrypting… Monster Mother Ability discovered; [Monster Creator] has been received! Will Host want to integrate it the [Creation System]?]
“…integrate it…”
Allen smiled faintly as he responds. Then, his attention turned back towards the Cerberus to give his thanks but sadly, the Cerberus had already closed its eyes, taking its last breath.
Allen could only sigh, “Thanks Cerberus…”
He thought for a while, then, his hands started emitting golden light.
The golden light spread out, enveloping the entire body of the giant three-headed dog, causing it to glow in blinding gold like the light of the sun.
“[Demon Smithing]…”
Allen muttered as the Cerberus body which was enveloped by the golden light slowly reduced in size as if being compressed.
“…you will be walking with for a while, old friend… I don’t want to leave you here, rotting. Treat this as my gratitude for letting leave that one ti…”
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