*****

The moment I came into consciousness, Eva's presence was all over me again.

Receiving Luna's heartfelt blessing, her wish, and everybody's wishes... I was more fired up than ever.

So, I soared to the sky, clutching my chest.

''...''

Beyond this pendant, people were watching. Countless people, from all over the continent—they were passing their hopes to me. Those gave me the power to push forward relentlessly. Although my heart was racing, and my thoughts weren't at all organized, I knew I had something to accomplish.

I kept flying toward the sun, even though it had already left.

Because to me, Eva was my sun. She was someone who gave me this life, someone I was indebted to, and someone I had feelings for.

And eventually, I found her.

''Let's fight together!''

At this moment, looking into her trembling eyes, I feel my resolve hardening.

The air is dimly lit. Even the divinity burning along Eva's blade can't shine through the thick fog shrouding us. Yet, I bring along hope brighter than anything this continent has seen before.

I can do it.

''...Okay.''

And perhaps affected by that hope, Eva nods determinedly.

We both turn forward to face our opponent—Corrupt Goddess Eve, Eva's own sister. Her face is as cold as the ocean's depths, but the raging waves around us prove a contrasting turmoil.

This is the person who has tormented the planet for thousands of years.

Maybe she is the star's mere projection, an avatar at the end of the day, but that fact doesn't make her actions excusable. She is beyond saving at this moment.

Even now, seeing the swirling masses of the star's chaos around her, seeing them so familiarly spill out of her splintered skin, I can't help but shudder.

''Enough of this nonsense... if you truly are willing to oppose me to the end, then I will gladly reciprocate.''

A dense accumulation of power gathers in her hand as she aims at the sky. Centering on a whitish sphere, dark energy shoots violently as though an eruption. The subsequent rain carries that same hostility, forcing both of us to retreat.

''I will hold her off.'' Eva narrows her eyes. ''Can I trust you with the offense?''

''Leave it to me.''

Eva bravely charges at the furious Eve.

Through Hecate II's scope, I spot her sword paving a straight line toward the opponent, trailing a long, lingering golden light. My bullets also follow that path.

One after another, I cycle through dozens of armor-piercing rounds, punching repeatedly at Eve's defense. The ever-so-slight resistance each time I bolt, the brief muzzle flash, the powerful recoil, the shockwave... they all help me regain the sensations of the battle.

But of course, even with Eva's help, Eve's barrier, fueled by the star itself, feels almost indestructible. 

There's still a huge gap between a semi-goddess and a full-fledged one. The mass-produced bullets I have here, even with divinity infusions, have virtually no chance. I need something more powerful.

''Hoo...''

So, I decisively switch to high-performance rounds.

They are fewer in number, which is why I have been preserving them. But if not now, then when?

With that mindset, I carefully take aim again and pull the trigger right as the two of them create some distance.

''...?!''

Unlike the last time, the tip tears through the air with visibly more powerful visuals, almost like a flare. Sensing the incoming threat, Eve lightly kicks herself out of the bullet's line, wholly unaware of the control I have over it.

Detonation.

The explosion engulfs her slender figure for a few moments, as well as destabilizing this domain's structure.

''Eva!''

Seizing that chance, both Eva and I release our divinity, plunging the once dark world into a bright, mellow space. Right after, I once again spot Eve's wobbly figure floating in the air.

The blast has consumed large patches of her 'skin' and 'flesh,' leaving purplish 'blood' pouring out of those wounds. Nevertheless, frenzied as Eve recovers, just one look into her eyes is enough to tell what her intentions are.

I lower my gun, sensing the turmoil in the atmosphere.

Eve is trying to take back command of this domain. But instead of fighting that head-on, I teleport to Eva's side.

''Don't drag this out,'' I whisper. ''We're at a disadvantage here.''

Nodding slowly, the goddess replies, ''Sure.''

The star's power is practically infinite compared to us. Mere individuals can't be compared to a celestial body, after all. We need to find a way to get through Eve and deal with the star once and for all.

''I'm overclocking.''

Declaring so, I retreat the Hecate II into my space inventory. Taking a deep breath, I begin to swell the divinity, now prime and overflowing, inside me.

This form has been my strongest so far, with the performance guaranteed through countless battles both in the simulated world and the real world.

A certain sense of grasp, as if I alone am atop of everything. Perhaps my heightened senses are giving me that feeling. Golden sparks surround my body, whispering hunger.

''Let's rush her.'' 

''Mhm.''

Eva quickly nods at my words before shooting herself forward again.

While she seizes the initiative, I funnel my power to its maximum. At my command, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of bullets emerge in the air, searing into existence.

These are all special rounds that I made, infused with utmost divinity and pure destruction. Being thrice as large as a 20mm round, they don't fit any gun I have at the moment, so this is the only way to use them—detonate the shells manually.

I take aim at Eve, who's still furiously pouring her power.

Gleams of that chaotic light seep into our domain, and the calm waves once again begin to rage. Tearing through those waves, I fire the rounds rapidly.

Sounds similar to that of a cannon firing snap along my track, and divine-clad projectiles as large as a grenade are hurled toward Eve. 

''...?!''

Sensing the danger, the woman hastily kicks herself out of the firing line, swimming nimbly through an elaborate path, yet not without injuries. 

Me, being me, already added a detonation function in nearly all my ammunition. Eve certainly manages to not get a direct hit, but with the swirls of explosions shrouding the space around her, like firecrackers, it's inevitable that she is injured.

So long I can feel my divinity, I can turn them into real grenades that fly at a bullet's speed.

Expectedly, Eve starts to close the distance between us shortly after. She's aiming for me, eyes full of murderous intent.

Seeing her coming my way, I... stop firing.

As soon as the bombing stops, Eva skirts in from the side, taking on her sister directly. While they clash, I quickly rotate the rounds to armor piercing ones and enter precise aiming mode.

''Phew...''

I can't accidentally shoot my ally, can I?

Gathering everything that I have, pulling every pulse I have felt when triggering a round, I lock my target. Stopping my breathing, stopping the noises from coming into my head, I look ahead for an opportunity.

''...''

Patiently.

Patiently.

Now.

As soon as an opening is bare before my eyes, I pull the imaginary trigger. 

A round goes off right beside me, blasting toward Eve. It rips through the air with an unstoppable force, carrying immense kinetic energy, so immense that it explodes nearly half of that woman's torso upon hit.

''Ugh...!''

Seizing the chance, Eva's blade slides forward, ready to cut off Eve's neck, but...

''Enough...''

''...''

With bloodshot eyes, the corrupt one clutches Eva's sword, swelling a hateful resolve. At that moment, I instinctively realize that this might take longer than I expect.