"But it's funny enough to realize that it ended up changing nothing, really. Apparently, you'll lose even with all those retainers under your feather." Reiji added.
"What do you think you're saying, Reiji?" Marco replied casually, glaring at Reiji slightly.
"An army of the retainers holds the capability to overthrow the Absolute Spirit. Which means you can wipe out Lord Arfanez with the army. In fact, you'll definitely do it." Reiji said with a smile.
"However, the mortals belonging to the 6th and 5th layers have the power to create the chaos that will destroy Mister Raizel's hope of survival, and his very goal to keep the layers out of chaos and destruction. So tell me, which one is truly important for you guys?" He added.
"What are you even trying to say, Reiji?" Marco asked, a little confused.
"The answer is pretty simple to figure out. Check out the mortals of the 6th and 5th layer; they'll answer." Reiji replied immediately.
Following his sentence, I opened the spectator magic to observe the 6th and 5th layers and shared the screen with the others as well. It wasn't something any of us was expecting to witness. Apparently, every single being around the 6th and 5th layers was continuously killing each other without any sight of hesitation existing on their faces. In fact, surprisingly, even the ones getting killed weren't really sad, nor were they trying to survive. As if something completely changed their existential mindset, they're choosing death over anything.
What we witnessed was something that's meant to happen here in this land simply to keep those mortals alive and fine. But we lost the point of fighting here. It turned out to be a question for us, a question that needed to be answered. If the mortals hate themselves, if they want to die, then what are we going to do here? What are we left to do here?
However, we were never dumb enough to keep standing as a clueless statue. It was a matter of moments for us to figure out the reason behind that. Existentialism is the very religion of the mortals; they do everything just to survive and keep their loved ones alive. So the very influence that can truly change their mind was none other than the belief belonging to Arfanez, The Absolute Spirit. We realized it was him who influenced them to such a belief. His extremely charming words casually changed their idea of life and their mindset itself.
So simply, they began to believe in chaotic redemption now. I couldn't keep witnessing what was going on all over every possible 6th layer and the 5th layer we're in. It's just chaos, it's just destruction and the game of murder and death. But it was as strange as it had to be; those eyes of the mortals didn't seem to be sad; they're happy and bright. As it was obvious for them to be, under their newfound belief.
After witnessing those scenes for a while, I canceled the spectator screen.
Both Arfanez and Reiji stepped forward with their faces smiling at us with a bit of satisfaction lurking around.
"Do you have the answer yet? I would love to know." Reiji said with a smile.
I smiled fearlessly as I stepped forward to Reiji. I got my eyes close to Reiji's and said with a smile, "The answer is obviously simple. We'll do both: stopping them and destroying you guys."
Reiji lifted his hand upward to my hairline and moved the forelock hair a bit to the left side and spoke, keeping his smile intact, "That's some interesting confidence. Beauty with confidence is something I love the most."
While he was touching my forelocks, a lightning spark appeared from there and forced Reiji to step back. While he jumped back a bit, his expression was totally unchanging.
"Some trace of a powerful spirit, with confidence and unbelievable beauty in your smile." Reiji spoke once again, his voice sounding a little poetic.
"I would love to think about that. But for that, you have to survive this, against me and everyone from this side." I replied with a smile. My facial expression completely changed at that moment as it changed to nice and smiling from the sadistic and tensioned expression. As if some sudden intrusive thoughts changed the situation itself for me.
I looked behind toward the rest and spoke, "It seems like I have to take a little pause here from my battle. It's no longer a battle about your victory over them, but a battle to chase me back from them."
I took a casual breath and smiled once again to raise my voice, "And of course, my strength is simply superior to any of you. And thus, it has to be the reason why you have to keep me with you guys."
"Do you have any idea about what you're saying, Maria? Are you mad?" Elesia shouted.
"What you are doing is totally wrong; just stop it." She added, her voice appearing extremely desperate and frustrated.
"Don't speak, Elesia; you're nobody to order me around. Such a pathetic excuse such as yourself shouldn't be anyone to teach me the difference between the right and wrong choice." I replied roughly.
Elesia calmed herself down after listening to my sentences. Her spirit to stop me fell under my offensive use of words.
Marco, who was floating above our sight, slowly set his foot on the ground and glared at me with a little intent lurking around his eyes. Without saying anything, he shifted his gaze and began to step forward to the others.
"That's an interesting choice you've decided to go for." Aizis suddenly said a little loudly as he revealed a little bit of a smile on his lips. His sudden voice shocked me a bit, having me shift my attention toward him.
"Perhaps it's a part of your plan, like Marco's?" Aizis added.
"Plan, you say? I'm not smart enough to go after such a thing as this. I'm a simple person, trying to have everything simple for me." I replied casually, changing my rough expression from earlier.
Aizis nodded without saying a word.
As for Raizel, he was totally silent the whole time. He changed himself to the way he was at the beginning of our journey, when he was nothing but a warrior whose existential purpose is nothing but battle and destruction. And here, he's only waiting for the very battle waiting for him ahead, waiting for him to engage in a deadly battle between the supreme beings.
Reiji's compliments weren't necessarily compliments; they were indirect messages of a proposal. Simply put, he fell in love with me. Which is why I decided to keep myself in a gamble between the winners and the losers. If you win the clash, then you'll have me; if you lose, then you'll lose me as well.
However, the question is, what could be the very reason behind this decision of mine? Is it because I've also fallen in love with Reiji, or something else?
Both sides silently accepted my terms. They were totally aware of the very situation. Having no other alternative to choose, they decided to begin the battle.
Marco's purpose for manipulating the retainers wasn't about using them in the battle, but to prevent them from interfering in the battle. What he believed was that they aren't the sinners here; they're merely the victims of the game. So for him, it's not a righteous thing to use them in the battle.
Following his order, the retainers left the land to set their foot away in a different realm.
As for the rest of us, we kept ourselves here in this land for the battle. I wasn't a warrior there, but the one to wait for the outcome and the destiny to be chosen.