It's not a complete annihilation. Rather, it's a simplified, makeshift annihilation, perhaps?
Thus, once, twice. Three times in a row—
Bang! Bang! Rumble, Boom!
The makeshift annihilation slammed into the ground, and the earth screamed as it crumbled.
The cave where Destrue lay dormant collapsed, and Aster's figure fell into the cave along with the collapsing pile of rocks.
A voice was heard right then.
<What a fierce guest indeed.>
Sssssss—!
"Ahh, damn it!"
Suddenly, a voice that seemed to tear his eardrums! With a ringing in his ears that felt like his skull was splitting, Aster spat out a curse.
Is it because the pitch is so high? No, no.
It's just that the voice is so unclean.
'What, this...?'
Aster lifted his head to look at the source but gently closed his eyes.
He felt it instinctively. If he looked now... his eyes would surely be damaged.
But, that was only for a moment.
"Hmm."
Aster found his calm with his breath.
Pure magic has many uses. No matter how mysterious and unclean the energy, he could withstand it a little.
Is that all?
Zzzz—
The strange energy spreading from the Fire Seal. As it began to spread internally—
It felt much more comfortable.
The energy of the Fire Seal had granted him immunity to Destrue's uncleanliness.
Aster lifted his head, completely at ease.
"What, were you awake?"
<Hmm, the blessing of the Heaven-Defier? No, it's more like your own strength.>
"I only answer questions, damn it. But, are you Destrue?"
It was a fact he could have known without asking.
But, the reason for the question was not without purpose.
The malevolent object, Destrue.
Compared to its notorious reputation, the being before him was a strikingly handsome man.
Only his body, composed of black and white, indicated that he was not human.
"Tszz. You're at it again."
Aster glared at the silent Destrue.
But, despite his seemingly casual attitude, his inner thoughts were quite complex.
Normally, he should have punched the face at this point...
Why can't he do it?
'...This guy is too strong.'
An overwhelming presence that makes him feel his eyes might be gouged out just by looking.
He doesn't dare.
It's like facing a mountain with no visible end.
Did Destrue sense Aster's inner turmoil?
<Let me make you an offer.>
Destrue spoke with a faint smile on his lips.
His graceful fingers gently extended, pointing to Aster's left chest.
<Defy Heaven.>
It was a voice that couldn't be refused.
It's as if all the sweetest voices in the world were refined into one, so captivating.
Of course, to Aster, who had blocked the uncleanliness, it sounded that way, but to others, it would have been a mind-shattering noise.
Anyway.
"Defy Heaven? Are you talking about the Grimoire?"
<Grimoire... Yes, it took that form. Give it to me.>
"Hmm..."
Aster crossed his arms and looked at Destrue askew.
"If I give it to you?"
Destrue's smile deepened slightly.
<After I rule the world, the most fertile land and the highest throne. And the sharpest sword and the wisest staff will be in your hands.>
I don't understand what he means.
I get the land and the throne, but what's the sharpest sword and the wisest staff...?
Meanwhile.
Whiiiiii—
The Fire Seal shook violently.
It seemed to say:
— Don't be fooled.
...that's what it said.
'Shit, just hold on a bit, okay?'
Destrue.
He calls himself 'I' and spouts incomprehensible nonsense.
If it were anyone else, one might seriously suspect if he had a flower in his head, but to dismiss him as just a madman...
'He's too strong. Phew, that's a bit...'
In Aster's mind, the strongest is Farren.
A wizard whose title as the strongest in history is not an exaggeration. Despite his unlucky face and beastly inner self, his magic was nothing short of divine.
Then, let's think.
How does Destrue compare to Farren?
The answer is...
'I don't know, damn it.'
It feels like they're on different scales.
Can you compare 100kg to 100m? Weight and length. They're different units.
<Hmm, you're taking a long time to decide. Is my offer not to your liking? I can easily give you everything.>
This was true.
Destrue.
His identity in life was the first emperor in human history.
A ruler who had the entire world at his feet.
There was no land in the world that was not his, and even the fruits on nameless hills were all his.
He had never told a lie.
Lies... ultimately, are tools used by the weak, the regretful, or the insufficient to achieve their desires or to hide themselves.
Destrue was the unmatched greatest wizard even before he became emperor. He had no reason to lie.
If he gives, he gives.
Whatever it may be.
<Master of the Heaven-Defier. My patience is deep, but not infinite.>
In other words, he wanted an answer quickly.
With that urging, Aster sighed deeply.
"Alright, fine."
<Oh, have you made a decision?>
Aster nodded.
"To be honest, I needed a bit of mental preparation."
<I understand. The Heaven-Defier is a worthy object. However, at this moment, your judgment in discarding greed and accepting reality shines the brightest.>
"Is that so?"
Aster chuckled.
"Then, shall I show you something even more impressive?"
<...?>
"Watch this."
With his palm extended forward, as Destrue's gaze focused, a crackle of light burst out.
Rumble...!
With a rumbling sound like thunder, a burst of light erupted from his palm!
<...!>
"Ah, this is called annihilation."
'Of course, the makeshift kind.'
The annihilation Aster unleashed revealed its ferocious fangs right in front of Destrue, the emperor.
Dying in battle and suicide are different.
And for Aster, a battle with the emperor was akin to suicide.
That's what mental preparation meant.
Crack!
Aster quickly leaped backward. Meanwhile, a question flashed through his mind.
'Damn it... how long can he hold on?'
3 seconds? 4 seconds? Well, at least 10 seconds, right?
But, it seems not everyone is destined to die.
— [Devour it.]
A distant voice echoed in his ear. Familiar yet strange, strange yet familiar.
The Fire Seal, the Grimoire!
But, to devour?
Haaaaa—!
Aster broke out in a cold sweat from the overwhelming killing intent emitted by the emperor.
'Who's about to be devoured... damn it!'
It's just killing intent, yet how vicious it is.
The killing intent itself feels like it's choking him. Sharp enough to rival any keen sword!
But, that was only for a moment.
— [I'll return it.]
'What?'
There was no response.
'This damn thing...'
Aster, who had been waiting for a response, spat... but not really. It would end up spitting on his own face.
Anyway, crack, crack. To buy time, he leaped to the top of the cave...
Thud!
The moment Aster stepped onto the ground, a change began.
Zzzzzz...
"..."
An unknown afterimage overlapped on his body.
A form materialized on Aster's body as if projecting a hologram.
At first, it flickered and disappeared like a malfunctioning projector, but gradually the form became clearer.
As if overlaying a new document on a written page.
Aster gasped after the change was complete.
"Huh, what is this?"
His eye level had changed.
Not just that.
Crack.
An unconscious clenched fist. Where did such strength come from? An uncontrollable power burst from his muscle fibers.
What about his core?
Rumble...!
Rough magic filled his heart. A sea of boiling lava spread in his core.
But, not everything had improved.
The magic limbs. They had advanced several levels, but... how to put it...
'Crude.'
That's not all?
The magic in his core was abundant and boiling, but its purity had dropped several times.
The circuits also felt murky with impurities.
It's like... yes.
'Previous life...'
Exactly the same state as before he died.
Snap!
Flicking his finger, a transparent barrier of magic appeared before his eyes. It was so clear that his face was visible through it...
"Ha!"
Seeing his reflection, Aster couldn't help but laugh in amazement.
"This is... me?"
Exactly, his previous self.
The final battle with the Deculan family. The outfit he wore just before that.
Everything was the same, as if he had brought his prime state back.
At that moment.
<Heaven-Defier... you're playing an interesting trick.>
Destrue, who had risen from the cave, sounded quite agitated, seemingly seized by considerable anger.
"What, you're a bit late... and why are you like that?"
Aster tilted his head at Destrue's appearance as he ascended to the top of the cave.
That's because.
Zzzzzz... z.
A body composed of only light and dark. Something was writhing on it.
Upon closer inspection, it was...
Strange symbols.
They were the same as the ones engraved on his own chest.
However, their effect seemed to be less beneficial to the subject than his own.
Destrue, breathing heavily.
"Hmm, hmm..."
Aster inwardly asked, seeing him like a captured wild beast.
'You?'
Of course, there was no response.
Or, should this be considered a response?
— [Suppress it.]
A voice that sounded like an explanation.
Aster smiled.
"Damn, I thought you were leading me to my doom. You do have a conscience."
He almost felt disappointed.
Anyway, Destrue, breathing heavily due to the Fire Seal's trick.
<Heaven-Defier. You... you can't do this to me.>
What efforts he had made to perfect himself.
After placing the entire world at his feet, he sacrificed countless subjects.
He sacrificed the sharpest sword, the most excellent knights.
He used the wisest staff, the most profound wizards, as nourishment.
<But...>
His voice seethed.
At that moment, a fierce aura burst from Destrue's surroundings.
<Leaving me... for just a measly guy!>
Bang—!
At the same time, the strange symbols shattered in all directions.
He couldn't shake off all the strange symbols, but compared to before, a significant amount of the bindings had been removed.
Aster, watching this, shook his head in disbelief.
"What a stubborn guy."
<Can't you shut your mouth!>
"Whoa..."
Was it because he had shaken off the bindings? Indeed, he was fierce.
'Tsk, try a bit harder. Lazy brat.'
While he had praised the Fire Seal earlier, now he scolded it. The sudden change in stance was natural for Aster.
"Still strong..."
He had become stronger, and Destrue had become weaker. The gap had narrowed significantly, but Destrue was still above him.
He could clearly feel it.
"Well, what... I have to do this."
This was no longer a clear suicide. It had become a battle, at least.
Of course, he was still incredibly strong...
'Let's see.'
When did he ever have a chance of winning? Compared to before, this was a blessing.
<You will be torn to shreds.>
"Go ahead."
<Then, the Heaven-Defier will realize the error of his judgment.>
"Ah, your obsession is the error."
<...>
"..."
Under Destrue's fierce glare, Aster slowly raised his arm and flicked his finger.