Ch 203: I’ll Cross Time And Space, Giving My All To Reach Your Side

After sending Bal away, Merry rallied and continued her assault on the Mad God. After overcoming countless difficulties, she finally defeated the Mad God.

“Little girl, you are truly amazing.”

Faced with the Mad God’s praise, Merry did not feel happy.

“Is that all your last words?”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA, my plan has already been realized. Even if you kill me now, you cannot change it.”

“What did you say?”

Merry tensed up. She held her magic staff to the Mad God’s head.

“What is your plan?”

“Of course, it’s to take revenge on the gods and destroy humanity.”

“But you have already failed.”

“That’s not necessarily true. I never said I had to take revenge myself.”

Hearing the Mad God say this, Merry remained puzzled.

“Since I’ve been defeated by you, I’ll give you a hint, little girl.”

“What hint?”

“Ares.”

“What? What does Ares have to do with this?”

“He is the cursed child of destruction.”

Hearing the Mad God’s explanation, Merry sensed something was amiss. She used all her magic to banish the Mad God. The Mad God did not surrender; he struggled, but was hit by Merry’s Floating Magic Cannon. The Mad God’s blood splattered onto Merry’s face. After successfully banishing the Mad God, Merry collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

“Bal… he’s in danger!”

Merry tried to use her staff to support herself and stand up, but she was extremely exhausted from using up all her magic and couldn’t stand. She lay on the floor of the Mad God’s palace, gasping for breath, until human reinforcements arrived and found Merry, allowing her to leave.

After resting at the human Main Camp, Merry left without saying goodbye and returned home.

“Box, box!”

Merry called out to the magic box Bal had brought back. Since Bal returned to the future, the magic box he brought had gradually lost its vitality.

“What is it, my Master?”

Hearing that the box could still speak, Merry was relieved.

“Do you remember what era Bal lived in?”

“Sorry, I can’t remember.”

“I see. It’s alright, get some rest.”

“Master…”

“What is it?”

“I might need to sleep for a while. I hope you can take care of yourself.”

Hearing the box’s words, Merry panicked. This was the last one in her home that could chat with her. She picked up the box and placed it on the stand in the workshop, hoping to use her magic to prolong its life. However, the magic box’s structure was too complex, and even she couldn’t analyze it in a short time. She could only hear the box slowly comforting her.

“It’s alright, my Master. I’m just tired and want to sleep. I’ve lived for too long, but I still have a final mission.”

“What mission?”

“Let me rest. Your final mission for me in the future is this.”

“…May you rest in peace.”

“Thank you.”

After watching the box deactivate, Merry sobbed, clutching her head.

“…I… I can’t do anything…”

This was the saddest she had cried since Bal rejected her.

After crying, Merry gently stroked the magic box. She opened the lid, and a note fluttered out from the interlayer of the lid. Merry picked up the note and began to read.

————

When you see this note, it means the box has completed its final mission. Don’t be sad, don’t be upset, it was destined to pass away. Next, I will teach you how to make a magic box.

Before that, please listen to my story from the future.

After banishing the Mad God, the Goddess Sphia found me. She told me that there was still hope for salvation in the future, that it was me, and also you. You might ask, how can I, with only a few decades of life left, interfere with the future? Don’t worry, your and Bal’s bond that transcends spacetime will allow you to meet him again. That’s right, Philia is your reincarnation in the future. Goddess Sphia will prepare the reincarnation ceremony for you. In each cycle, I will leave a note here. I hope you will be the last reincarnation.

Please remake the magic box. It is the key to changing everything. Goddess Sphia will tell you where to throw the box. She will also tell you the location of the Babel Tower. At that time, please build a wooden house at the foot of the Babel Tower.

May this reincarnation end the destruction of the world.

From your future self, Merry Melvelte.

————

After reading the message from her future self, Merry recalled everything she had experienced with Bal, and her heart warmed.

“So, I was jealous of my future self. I wasn’t heartbroken after all.”

In the following days, Merry prepared accordingly, following the instructions left by her future self. Finally, she placed a new note into the box’s interlayer. After throwing the box into the sea, Merry waited for Sphia in the wooden house at the foot of the Babel Tower.

“You’ve come, Goddess Sphia.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Celestial light flashed, and Merry disappeared into the wooden house.

——————

In Philia’s memory space.

“I am Merry.”

Philia had already seen all the memories related to Merry.

“It seems you remember everything.”

Sphia quietly appeared behind Philia.

“But what does this have to do with saving Bal and the world?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“This is the furthest I’ve ever gone. It’s up to you now, Philia.”

“…I understand. It’s up to me now, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I have a question.”

“Ask away.”

“Bal is Ares, isn’t he?”

“…It seems you’ve already guessed. Yes, Bal is Ares.”

“Good. The rest will be easy.”

Philia was full of confidence. She finally knew where the sense of incongruity she had felt since she was a child came from.

——————

Philia was born into the Cat Demon Tribe in the Demon King’s Territory. Her arrival filled the home with hope. Her childhood life wasn’t exactly perfect, but it was relatively warm, except for one thing: she didn’t like other demons.

After being exiled, Philia followed her parents to Guangyue Town. She studied magic under Zelter and learned many kinds of Ancient Magic based on her own feelings. During a trip to practice magic, her parents were attacked and killed by monsters. She was heartbroken and came to hate the world.

During a monster extermination expedition, Philia came across some ruins. There, she discovered a set of pitch-black armor. Wearing the armor, Philia felt an unprecedented increase in her magic power. Philia, already powerful in magic, became the strongest magician in the world. At this time, she remembered the Demon King who had persecuted her, and she decided to take revenge.

After killing the Demon King, Philia became the new Demon King. Her experiences in Guangyue Town and her innate affinity for humans from her childhood led her to change the old Demon King’s policies. She was determined to create an era where humans and demons could live together.

She failed. Betrayal from the Senate and her own immaturity led to a human hero attacking the Demon King’s Castle. But when she first saw Bal, her soul wavered. She felt that this person was very familiar, but she couldn’t remember how. After battling Bal, she chose to destroy the Demon King’s Castle and the Senate.

On the way back to the Royal Capital with Bal, the things Bal said felt very familiar, and she could keep up with his jokes. Her intimacy with Bal gradually turned into love.

——————

In the Time-Space Corridor, being sent back to the original timeline by Merry’s Space-Time Magic.

“Philia, hold on to me.”

“Philia, hold tight!”

Bal held Philia as they traversed the spacetime turbulence. He used a shield generated by his magic to withstand the turbulence. Finally, after grabbing a ray of light, he returned to his own time.

“Um, where is this…?”

Bal sat up, holding Philia and looking around. It was pitch black. After illuminating the surroundings with Illumination Magic, Bal finally saw his surroundings clearly.

“This is… an Underground Palace?”

Bal stood up and walked around the walls. The cracks on the walls suggested that it was very old. After walking around, Bal carried Philia to a stone coffin.

“Such a familiar stone coffin.”

Bal put Philia down and told her to stay away.

“Alright, Ares, let me see your true face.”

Just as Bal was about to open the coffin lid, a white light flashed, and Phia, Nia, and Grey appeared beside Bal.

“Bal, don’t open it!”

Phia reached out to stop him, but it was too late. Bal had already opened the coffin.

“Empty… ugh!”

After seeing the inside of the coffin, Bal’s head began to ache, and countless memories that didn’t belong to him flooded his brain.

“Bal!”

Phia looked at Bal worriedly. As she was about to go to his side, Bal stopped her.

“Don’t come near me!”

Bal clutched his head and struggled. After a while, a set of pitch-black armor appeared on his body, and the visor covering his eyes emitted a dangerous red light.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA, Merry, sealing me was your biggest mistake!”

Phia looked at the laughing Bal before her. She knew that Ares had been resurrected.

“Bal, stop joking!”

Nia shouted at Ares, but Ares waved his hand, and Nia was sent flying against the wall by an invisible shockwave. Philia immediately ran to Nia’s side to heal her, and Grey took out his bow and aimed at Bal.

“Who are you?”

“I am Ares!”

A ball of dark mist appeared in Ares’ hand, and then a black longsword appeared in his hand.

“You foolish humans, you dare not run when you see me?”

“Father, wake up! Philia doesn’t like this Father!”

Philia shouted at Ares from behind Grey. Ares’ body clearly shook, then he straightened up, pointing his sword at Philia.

“I am not your father.”

“How…?”

Hearing Ares’ words, Philia’s tears fell. After Phia healed Nia, the two came to Grey’s side.

“Bal, wake up!”

“It’s no use, he can’t hear us anymore.”

Phia took out her spear and said to Grey and Nia.

“Buy me some time. I’m going to awaken Bal’s consciousness. I can feel that Bal is still there.”

Grey and Nia nodded. Nia dashed forward, and the moment her greatsword collided with Ares’ black sword, a shockwave swept through the entire space.

“Bal, wake up! I’m Nia, your sister Nia!”

Nia had now entered a state of Divine Possession. Battle markings appeared on her face, her tail transformed into nine tails, and her fur turned an unprecedented white.

Ares did not respond. He continuously attacked Nia. Nia called out to Bal while counterattacking, and Grey interfered with Ares’ movements from behind.

However, Bal, who had awakened his Origin power, was now infinitely close to a god. After Ares’ memories awoke, Bal, who had become Ares, became even stronger. He quickly defeated Nia and Grey. Only Phia and Philia remained. Just as Ares was about to strike Phia with his sword, a golden light bloomed on Ares’ face.

“Bal, wake up.”

Phia said gently to Ares. Ares’ body stiffened, and the black sword in his hand dissipated into dark mist. Then he began to retreat, and soon fell to the ground. Phia and Philia also fell to the ground.

————

Bal’s spirit world.

Bal saw that everything around him was pitch black. He struggled to get up, but he couldn’t move.

“Where is this?”

Suddenly, a person wearing pitch-black armor appeared beside Bal.

“Ares! What did you do to me?”

“HAHAHAHAHA, I didn’t do anything to you, because I am you, and you are me.”

“I am… you? What are you joking about!”

“Why would I joke with you?”

Ares snapped his fingers, and his helmet dissipated into mist, revealing a face exactly the same as Bal’s.

“Why can you awaken your Origin power? Why do you possess extraordinary fighting strength? Why is your identity a mystery? Because you are me, Ares!”

Bal lowered his head and recalled everything about himself.

“I am… Ares?”

“Yes, you are me. Come, accept me.”

Ares tempted Bal. Suddenly, two voices echoed in Bal’s spirit world.

“Don’t answer him! Bal!”

“Don’t abandon Philia, Father!”

As the voices sounded, Phia and Philia came to Bal’s side. Bal looked at the two people he loved most. He summoned his courage, and his Beloved Swords, Crescent Moon, appeared in his hand.

“Humph, you should have died in the past, Ares.”

“…You… you’re ruining my plans!”

Ares lunged at Phia and Philia, claws outstretched. Bal struck with his sword, severing Ares, but Ares reformed.

“It’s no use, you can’t kill me.”

“How will we know unless we try?”

Bal whistled, and Phia and Philia stood behind him.

“Ultimate Technique: Weapon River Galaxy!”

“Ultimate Technique: Weapon River Galaxy!”

Bal and Ares simultaneously used their Ultimate Technique. The projected weapons clashed violently, causing a huge boom throughout the spirit world. Phia and Philia supported Bal, continuously launching magic attacks at Ares. However, Ares was like a splitting slime; even if he was shattered, he could regenerate and revive.

“I told you, it’s no use, unless you’re willing to be consumed by me.”

Ares smirked, allowing the three to attack him. At this moment, Bal stopped his attack.

“Oh? So, I can consume you too?”

“What are you going to do?”

Ares watched Bal put down Crescent Moon and walk towards him. He instinctively felt danger and began to retreat.

“What am I going to do? Of course, I’m going to consume you and become myself. Aren’t you doing the same thing? Come, let’s have a competition, let’s see whose will is stronger.”

Ares tried to retreat, but he couldn’t move. He looked at Phia, who was using magic to restrain him.

“Father, add oil!”

Hearing Philia’s encouragement, Bal became more confident. He grabbed Ares, and the two people with identical faces embraced.

“It’s time to wake up, Ares. You’ve already failed.”

“Let go of me! No! You can’t! You mustn’t!”

Ares was held by Bal, roaring angrily. Gradually, the blackness representing Ares disappeared from the spirit world.

“Welcome back, Bal.”

“Welcome back, Father.”

Bal picked up Philia and kissed her, then hugged Phia.

“I’m back.”

——————

In the real world.

Bal woke up. The black armor on his body had disappeared. Phia and Philia also woke up.

“Um… good morning?”

Phia hugged Bal, then stood up and began to heal Nia and Grey.

When Nia and Grey woke up, everyone was back in their home in Guangyue Town.