As the raid proceeds, two elven girls find themselves at the end of the world.

''This way, right?''

''Mhm.''

Following the same path in their memories, Raeliana and Emilia quickly enter the druids' territory. Being elves, the locals immediately welcome them, but unlike last time, they can't afford to receive their hospitality.

Instead, their gazes fall onto a distant tower, one that soars amidst the colossal trees with a distinct black coating. 

''We'll check on that for a bit. Can you call someone with authority for me?''

After explaining their story to the guards, they don't wait but head toward the tower. Soon after, the informed village head, a mature lady, catches up to the two, panting.

''N-Nature has been acting strangely these past few days. Do you know anything about it...?''

Looking at the village head's anxious face, her trembling hands, Raeliana narrows her eyes. Thinking back, the people also seemed unsettled earlier. Several trees were without their fruits, withering...

In the end, she decides to handle it truthfully, ''...The guardian deity has disappeared. It's probably the other force that is wrecking everything up. Also why we're here—to fix it.''

''The guardian deity...! I-I understand. I'll grant you two access to the tower's area!''

''No need. We already have it.''

The AI-powered planetary management system is heavily guarded. Not only is the place it is located a semi-altered dimension, but the direct area around it only allows certain individuals to approach. The two elves, being its co-creators, naturally can enter directly without any problem. Perhaps the fact that they didn't participate in its installation confused the village head.

Soon, they arrive at the tower.

''Village head, make sure nobody comes here.''

''Alright!''

Passing through several semi-transparent layers of barriers, the surreal scenery reveals itself. The machine, almost as large as the surrounding trees, is a collage of components flickering with divine signals. Its underground section functions as a transmitter, extracting energy from deep within the planet to fuel the computing units above.

''...It's really unstable.''

Even at first glance, the radiating components, which are mounted high in the sky, are struggling to operate properly. Until now, Eva has been assisting with this process, so now that she is no longer here, the machine's shortcomings are becoming apparent. To combat the ever-increasing rate of contamination, the device needs to meet a certain threshold of repellent output, which is quite difficult to meet at the current level of engineering.

Fundamentally, it is a material limitation. 

The amount of rare earth and metals needed for such an expansion exceeds the extractable amount on [Aria]. With the present technology, at least.

''Phew...''

Now, Raeliana and Emilia have two options: either try to substitute Eva with themselves or fend off the contamination temporarily so that Eva can be rescued.

The former... even after so much time training, neither thinks they can effectively imitate Eva, a complete deity. So that leaves fighting... 

''But how do we do that...?''

Fight against contamination? How could they approach something so abstract?

But time is still pressing. If they don't do anything now, the essence of chaos will soon overflow and manifest into countless monsters. The continent will be ravaged.

...Monsters.

''...Raeliana.''

''I know.''

The two elves stare at one another, nodding silently.

In other words, if they can somehow 'extract' the contaminant, make it overflow at certain locations, and exterminate the products, the problem will be temporarily solved. All they need is to create perhaps a period of several days—a week at most—for Sylvia and the others to comfortably take down Eve.

By the time Eve is defeated, the contaminant's roots will also wither.

Such is the ideal scenario, and the two are willing to do just about anything for it.

The method for 'extraction' isn't exactly hard to uncover. What attracts those monsters the most is the planet's source of life, its veins—divinity. By utilizing the system's built-in control center, they can gather sufficient divinity to lure the enemies in.

Of course, it is a risky operation, but given the situation, it might as well be the only one.

''I'll do it.''

Seizing the initiative, Raeliana steps forward, touching the pulsing tower. As soon as her identity is confirmed, the ground quakes dimly, ready to execute the girl's commands.

''Phew...''

Controlling such a colossal amount of divinity requires an exceptional mind. Thankfully, Raeliana is no stranger to 'domination' and 'conquest.' Technically and honestly speaking, she handily 'controls' a powerful demi-goddess every day.

With such confidence, Raeliana yearns forward, letting her brain become one with the system. Slowly, she gathers the 'blood' from underground 'veins,' moving it along the tower's components and up to the sky.

The sheer amount of that swirling divinity, its unparalleled purity, makes even Raeliana want to drool.

Expectedly, just shortly after, she can feel intense malice gathering outside this forest. They are already gnawing at this dimension.

Provoking them at this important location is indeed a bold move, yet again, it might just be the only one.

''Get ready.'' 

Emilia approaches Raeliana from behind, putting her hand on the machine.

After all, this great AI-powered planetary system can also function as a stationary buff and recovery tower. As long as they don't go too far, there's no chance they can fall.

Once connected with the system, the two ready their weapons and, with vigor, immediately take off into the sky. At some point in the air, they break the druid forest's illusion.

Upon re-entering the real world and spotting the divinity sphere in the air, they quickly glance around for any anomaly.

''...!''

There, like a scene from an apocalyptic movie, several colossal abominations with elongated limbs and fierce patterns along their purple skin are roaring wildly.

Raeliana's scythe shines a soft green as she falls.

Wielding her enhanced divinity, she drags herself further downward with telekinesis, adding onto gravity. The long and curved blade brings all of that momentum and nails itself into a monster's head when Raeliana lands, releasing so much power that it blasts off the whole torso.

Attracted by this commotion, the other individuals begin to surround her while the flailing legs below rapidly regenerate. As long as the contaminant still has its roots, it is truly endless.

But that is also within expectations.

As the abominations throw themselves at Raeliana, she takes a deep breath, tightening her grip. Meanwhile, Emilia stays at a high altitude, her longsword glowing a majestic golden. Lightning coils in her eyes, and as soon as her divinity allows itself to roam, a large array of giant swords pierces the heavens and descends onto the mortal realm.

Three of them directly strike the monsters around Raeliana, incinerating them within moments.

At first, these monsters are no match for Raeliana and Emilia, who are not only powerful demi-goddesses but essentially the avatars of this world now. Nonetheless, sensing such a struggle, the level of containment fueling them rapidly increases, and they become tougher after each death.

The two elves had originally planned to quickly take care of this side and return to assist Sylvia, but... it doesn't seem so simple now.