Chapter 113: Scorpio Rising: The World's End
"You don't need to worry about that. You should worry about yourself." Ren sneered, "I won't kill you for now. I will control you, control you to help the Seitenshi organize the new world after the incident, to promote the good of Cursed Children, and then let Tendou Kisara kill you."
"How do you like that way of dying?"
"What?" Tendo Kikunojo's eyes trembled. Make him promote the good of Cursed Children? This is impossible! Unfortunately, he had no say in the matter. A starlight flashed in Ren's eyes. Tendo Kikunojo regained his composure.
Ren chuckled and asked, "What do you think of Cursed Children?"
Tendo Kikunojo's eyes were filled with fanaticism. "Cursed Children? They are children of angels! They are children of angels!" This fervent voice, a sudden reversal to two extremes, made even Senju Kayo shiver.
The Seitenshi seemed to still be in the corridor of her shattered worldview, unable to extricate herself. Seeing this, Ren had no choice but to use physical stimulation. He moved his hand, aimed at a soft part, and squeezed hard.
"Ah!" Her sensitive area attacked, the Seitenshi immediately sprang up. She covered the area behind her with both hands, looking at Ren with shame and indignation.
After savoring the feel for a moment, Ren casually said, "Don't space out. It's time to care about serious matters, my Seitenshi."
"Check the messages." Ren was naturally referring to the Doomsday Chat Group messages, because Exusiai and the others in the group were talking about a very serious matter.
*****
Exusiai: "Ren, wow, we saw a super huge monster crawling out of the sea!"
Shinobu Kocho: "Picture, this is the monster."
Tendou Kisara: "That's a Zodiac Gastrea, Scorpio!"
Aqua: "It looks really disgusting. I want to purify it."
March-chan: "This monster is really ugly, is it strong?"
Ren: "Simply put, it's one of the strongest Gastrea in this world, but to me, it's far inferior to even a Doomsday Beast."
March-chan: "Oh oh, so it's very weak then."
Saeko Busujima: "However, its appearance makes me a bit uncomfortable."
Exusiai: "Sigh, I don't know why, but I always feel this monster is angry and wailing."
Reinhardt: "I feel that way too."
Ren: "Perhaps it is a tragedy created by humans themselves."
Ren: "The Gastrea virus is a product of human experimentation."
The Shichisei's Legacy was a child's bicycle, yet it was the medium for summoning Scorpio. The connection between the two only made Ren think that Scorpio was once a child. It was sad to say. The Gastrea virus was created by humans, Gastrea were born from humans, yet humans blamed everything on Cursed Children. This world really would be better off reshuffled.
Momonga: "Sigh... humans always create things that destroy themselves." His world was like that. No blue sky and white clouds. No sunshine and trees. Only endless haze and poisonous gas.
Reinhardt: "Do you need me to defeat it?"
Ren: "No, perhaps I have a better plan to change this world."
Ren looked at the Seitenshi, who was already flustered. "Could I ask you to help me arrange a worldwide live broadcast?"
"Eh!"
*****
URGENT NOTICE! ZODIAC GASTREA, SCORPIO, HAS APPEARED OUTSIDE THE TOKYO AREA MONOLITH!
Due to this message, everyone in the Tokyo Area fell into fear and panic.
"We're going to die! We're going to die! Tokyo Area is going to be destroyed!"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Haven't you seen the Monolith is still perfectly fine?"
"Can the Monolith block Scorpio?"
"Quickly send the Cursed Children to kill Scorpio!"
...Such despair, chaos, and venting behavior filled every corner of the Tokyo Area.
The harm brought by Scorpio was not just itself; there were also countless Gastrea.
In places where no one could see, on top of the monolith, several figures gathered. Ren and others, as well as Cai, Hong, Aihara Enju, and Senju Kayo, all stood there. And a few people holding cameras, trembling. They were afraid of Ren, a man who could even command the Seitenshi, because they had witnessed Ren's methods. An invisible force had lifted them to the top of the monolith. What frightened them even more was this: Dozens of kilometers directly above them was the gradually approaching giant monster, Scorpio, and countless Gastrea! Oh my God! Were they going to face these monsters?
"Brother Ren, do you need my help?" Aihara Enju's gaze was serious; although she knew how terrifying the Zodiac Gastrea were, she still wanted to help.
Ren smiled and said, "Enju, I appreciate your kindness. Now, watch me."
"I'll leave those girls to you all to take care of."
Exusiai: "Don't worry, my guns are fully deployed!" After Exusiai finished speaking, hundreds of guns encircled the few people, forming a rotating ring. Exusiai called it... "Gun Territory!"
"..." This exaggerated and abstract scene made Tendou Kisara and the others' eyelids twitch.
Ren, however, wasn't worried at all; at least he himself was still there. He flew into the air.
"!!! Gulp! No way? Are we going too?" The photographers were dumbfounded; why were they flying up with him? Seeing that they were approaching Scorpio, they all turned back and looked at the Seitenshi with pleading eyes. Seitenshi! Save us! Unfortunately, the Seitenshi couldn't do anything. She was praying for Ren to defeat Scorpio.
"Film it well. Don't worry, these Gastrea can't harm you." Ren waved his hand. The four photographers were positioned at four different angles, under his control. Below them were the Gastrea. In front of them was Scorpio's massive body, four or five hundred feet tall. Just one look made their souls leap and their hearts tremble. Its dark brown, cracked muscles were scarred like they had smallpox, with protrusions growing on the scars. Eight barbed, scythe-shaped anomalies pierced through its skin from its neck, head, right eye, and other places. Its head was abnormally large, with a bird-beak-shaped curved object unnaturally extending from the corner of its mouth, and its remaining left eye was tragically small.
"So scary! Mom! I want to go home!" One photographer burst into tears. This attracted the attention of the Gastrea. A giant flying Gastrea charged towards him.
"No!" He screamed in terror, and the others trembled. What happened next stunned them on the spot. The Gastrea, upon approaching him, suddenly stopped its movement.
"Roar?!!!" Then, amidst painful screams, it was torn into pieces by the invisible air, unable to even regenerate!
"I told you, with me here, you are safe. Hurry up and film!" Ren's voice was like a calming pill. They finally understood what Ren meant; it turned out they really did have protection. They exchanged glances, swallowed, and one by one, with trembling hands, they turned on their cameras.
*****
"What's going on? Why did the emergency news turn into a live broadcast?" Everyone who had hidden saw the news on TV turn into a live broadcast. At first, they were confused, but they were instantly captivated by the live footage.
Tens of thousands of Gastrea!
The incredibly huge and terrifying Scorpio!
And the golden man in mid-air!
What was this? Someone covered in golden light was flying in the sky? Right in front of Scorpio? How was this possible? Some even began to suspect it was edited.
"To all people of the world, listen." At the same time, a voice echoed in everyone's minds worldwide. Some suspected they had misheard and asked those around them; they had heard it too. Just as everyone was puzzled, the voice continued to sound.
"I will eliminate the Gastrea, eradicate the Gastrea virus, and bring peace to the world."
"The human world will also usher in a new reshuffle."
"Cleansing the world of its distortions and darkness."
"Establishing new rules to screen new humans."
"Those who hate the Cursed Children."
"Those who humiliate the Cursed Children."
"Those who abuse the Cursed Children."
"All shall face judgment!"
"!!!" Humans all over the world listened to the words in their minds. Some were terrified: "Is it the judgment of the Divine One?" Some were disdainful: "Hmph, a charlatan." Some were angry: "Who are you? By what right do you judge?" Some were malicious: "The Cursed Children deserve to die!" All sorts of voices filled the entire world.
The Cursed Children, however, widened their eyes in shock. Was this voice speaking up for them? Was he going to be an enemy of the whole world for them? Some Cursed Children heard these words. They only felt tenderness fill their hearts and shed tears of emotion. Some Cursed Children, however, were annoyed. Is this guy an idiot? With a voice heard by the whole world, he'll be killed, right!
"If you cannot believe, then witness it with your own eyes."
"I am before your eyes, witness my power."
Upon hearing this, many people looked at the live broadcast screen in front of them.
"It's that person!!!" A dazed Satomi Rentaro looked at the man on the screen, his eyes wide open. It was the man he had met that day!
In the footage, Ren, in his golden Imperial Armor, slowly raised his hand. They saw what appeared to be a strong wind raging on the screen. Countless greenish-blue ribbons gathered into his hand from all directions. In the blink of an eye, a bright, blue-white orb formed. The surrounding air seemed to be distorting. Then, Ren swung his hand down. The blue-white orb dropped. It directly slammed onto Scorpio's body. Afterward, white light expanded, and an earth-shattering explosion roared. Everything in the camera's view was engulfed by white light and roaring.
At the same time, everyone in the Tokyo Area felt the ground tremble. The roaring sound of the explosion was outside the monolith! When the white light dissipated, human voices appeared in the camera.
"Gulp!" The sound of frantic swallowing. "He's a god! He's a god!" The camera was shaking. The sounds were made by the photographers.
The shaky camera refocused on the ground. The image that reappeared, stable once more, made their scalps tingle! A chill ran up their spines! A giant sinkhole was left on the ground! A sinkhole wider than a lake. A massive sinkhole extending for tens of kilometers. It was created by the recent explosion. No life existed within it. All Gastrea had disappeared! The Zodiac Scorpio had also vanished!
Ren-kun casually withdrew his hand. He looked at the camera. His golden Star Eyes seemed to radiate a majestic heavenly power. Everyone felt as if they were being intensely stared at by a Heavenly Emperor. His lips parted slightly. Indifferent and emotionless words simultaneously appeared in the live broadcast and in the minds of people worldwide.
"The world only has four days."
"Four days from now is the time to judge evil."
Snap! The live broadcast was cut. The image vanished. The sound ceased.