Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Did Dagon really experience this when the Age of Gods still existed? Perhaps he did, perhaps he didn't, but at this moment, he did it involuntarily, for no reason other than pure instinct.

It was out of the instinct of both the primordial god Dagon and the outer god Dagon that Dagon saw, in the distant universe, around the throne, invisible dancers dancing to the sound of flutes. The dancers seemed to be dancing to the sound of the flutes, but they also had their own rhythms.

Because the most crucial melody stopped, the creature that had seemed to be sleeping on the throne suddenly let out a terrifying wail.

That is completely disconnected from numerous planets and countless universes, an overwhelmingly terrifying mystery, which is one of the ultimate aspects of this alien pantheon.

Dagon couldn't understand the meaning of the wailing for a moment, but his body and mind reacted instinctively, and he spontaneously chose death.

At the same time, in the deepest chaos beyond the universe, at the boundless center, a tall, humanoid figure, whose appearance was completely obscured, was carefully putting the blindfold back on the creature above the throne, allowing it to barely enter hibernation again. Then, the figure glanced at the 'door' not far away, or perhaps at the being behind the 'door'.

Then, after sensing the lingering 'aura' within the lock, the tall humanoid looked back at the throne, which ruled over all infinite time and space beyond the universe. Its body was composed of all the bright stars in the visible universe, but its appearance was hidden in darkness.

She understood that if she said it now, before she could even fight the person on the other side, the one in front of her who 'didn't think, did, or consider anything' would wipe them all out first.

After all, the only 'relative' is missing. In order to find him, this irrational god who is outside the universe will go to search for him after he wakes up, and then bring chaos and disorder to the universe he is going to. It is only natural that this action and purpose will conflict with that of the other side... It's a pity that he was not brought back before.

Ugh……

After letting out a sigh, the tall, brown-haired humanoid pushed open the 'door' and gazed at the moon not far from the planet Ocean, pondering a solution.

But after thinking about it for a long time, she finally made a rather subtle discovery:

Now that it's over, there's clearly nothing I can do. I can only choose to rely on or merge with a vessel, or give power to the vessel, just like the 'door'.

Chapter 419 I can teach you, Ritsuka.

For Fujimaru Ritsuka, or rather for everyone present, this was a long-awaited reunion.

After all, in terms of the passage of time, Novia, who departed from the Fourth Singularity, had spent two thousand years about Kama and six thousand years about another world, totaling nearly eight thousand years.

As Dagon's body instinctively chose death, silence filled the prison tower. Ritsuka hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, lingering for a long time. Just as she took a breath and was about to come up to say hello, Novia nodded to her and then walked towards Dagon's body.

Immediately afterwards, the black smoke that had previously bound them enveloped Dagon, and his severed head and hands returned to their original positions, allowing Dagon to remain in a prone position.

"After all, even gods sometimes need to have self-awareness. At the very least, losing oneself is something that gods should be ashamed of."

Novia shook her head, seemingly helpless, and slightly raised her hand to touch Dagon's head before speaking.

“But I know, Dagon, that you are the ancient god of grain, that you truly existed, that you were worshipped not as a foreign god, but as a true god who brought a bountiful harvest, for what I have codified is a new covenant, not the old one.”

As a Philippian deity, Dagon is only mentioned in the Old Testament. The New Testament, compiled by Novia, does not mention him. Moreover, the core of the New Testament is not the conflict between pagan deities in the Old Testament, but rather the life, teachings, establishment of the early church, and teachings on the lives of believers of Jesus Christ.

Well, this isn't the first time Novia has encountered an example of a stigmatized 'god'. Previously, in the FSF Holy Grail War, he directly chose to destroy Beelzebub, the demon king. But Dagon, not only has he been stigmatized, but his divine nature has also been distorted by human faith. More importantly, since Dagon chose to become an 'outsider god', the object of his chanting in the prison tower has always been Novia, who resides in the 'Above of Pride'.

This made Novia feel a little uneasy. Although this guy chose to be twisted, he turned to genuinely believe in her. Wasn't that a bit inappropriate?

At that moment, because the melody surrounding him resembled Buddhist chants, Novia pondered for a long time. It wasn't until she saw Dagon use the power he had gained through prayer to defeat Edmund, who was supposed to defeat Dagon, that she stepped forward. At that moment, the melody spontaneously stopped.

Dagon, after only glancing at him, instinctively chose to commit suicide.

But Novia also understood that Dagon's condition was entirely due to the foreign god. As for which one it was, he wasn't quite sure yet, but it was unlikely to be the 'Gate', since Abby possessed the power of the 'Gate', so it could be one of the other two pillars.

As for the ultimate one, Novia hadn't thought about it, because he remembered that this 'blind and foolish god', who had neither intelligence nor thought, wouldn't care about any external actions, even though he had to listen to music to sleep all the time.

“I understand that in the case of being ‘forced to be twisted,’ most people would choose to struggle to the death. After all, your divinity has already been twisted to the limit, and it is not a choice that can be changed by willpower alone. So even so, you can rest in peace.”

As Novia finished speaking, the black smoke that had been swirling around Dagon's body emitted a white light, and Dagon then returned to his divine form, becoming the demon Dagon described in Paradise Lost as having the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish.

At that moment, the despair on Dagon's face vanished, replaced by a peaceful smile as if he were entering a dream.

Then, the blue particles dissipated.

"So you had already arrived here."

Amakusa, who was located there, smiled at Novia, then looked at the silent Edmund, "You who call yourself the Christ of Vengeance, have you not also been constantly praying for yourself and for others? Perhaps you didn't save everything because of the Lord's teachings, perhaps it was just something you did on the way of revenge? However—"

"Shut up."

This time, Amakusa did not stop in the face of Edmund's rebuttal, but continued firmly.

Even so, you have indeed saved some people.

After saying this to Edmund, Amakusa bowed to Novia again:

"Please forgive me for taking my leave now, for in the face of your glory, there is no need for us to do anything more for you."

"that……"

Unlike Amakusa, who could speak openly with Novia, Jeanne d'Arc, unable to forget her actions in the Fa Holy Grail War and the behavior of the French Singularity, seemed somewhat conflicted. In the end, before leaving with Amakusa, she shouted with all her might.

"The Dragon Witch, although she has now been recognized by the throne, there are still two... Anyway, if you have the chance, would you like to come and see her?"

The Servants located on the Throne of Heroes can communicate with each other. Jeanne Alter, who has obtained the 'throne' qualification, lives very close to Jeanne d'Arc. Therefore, Jeanne d'Arc enjoys being the older sister during this time. Of course, this only applies to Jeanne Alter; Jeanne Alter, on the other hand, is quite disdainful of it.

The reason for saying this was that Joan of Arc would occasionally mutter things like, "When will Dragonfather take me away?" which led her to subconsciously say this to Novia.

To this, Novia nodded and replied:

"Let's talk about it when we have time."

After the three blue particles dissipated, Ritsuka approached Novia and asked curiously.

"Advisor, have you resolved the matter concerning Kama during this time?"

"That's for sure. In fact, I also saved the world by creating a new primate."

Because Novia's tone was so serious, Ritsuka almost actually realized that it was true, but then quickly realized that Novia was probably joking.

After all, saving the world is a long story, and there are still three singularities, and... what are new primates? A new type of monkey? Does the Atlas Institute, where the advisor works, still research this kind of subject?

"That's enough small talk."

In an instant, the prison tower seemed to return to deathly silence, except for Edmund speaking with a loud laugh.

"Hahahaha, this tower is an evil existence, and Fujimaru Ritsuka, you are too. You really shouldn't exist in this world."

"What's the meaning……"

Hearing Edmund's cold words, Ritsuka couldn't understand why he had changed so much all of a sudden, and could only subconsciously look at Novia.

Novia, of course, understood why Edmund had said those words; it was because of 'Faria the Priest,' which was him.

If the final "Between Pride" had not been Faria, Edmund would likely have killed anyone, even his former love, Mercedes, to rescue Ritsuka from the prison tower, even at the cost of his own life.

Edmund, who had experienced such a fate, did not want to see anyone else suffer the same end as him, so he preferred to become 'Fary Faria, who would sacrifice himself to get Edmund out of prison'.

Edmund, who was redeemed by Faria and thus left the Château d'If, was inspired by Faria's teachings, who was both his teacher and father, to save others as the priest who had saved him. But what if there were an opportunity for the real Faria to leave the Château d'If?

Edmund always felt that the one who should have left the Château d'If was a priest, and indeed, should have been a priest.

That's probably why he said that to Ritsuka, which was unusual for him, after meeting Novia.

It seems he has already made up his mind that he must get the priest out of the 'Château d'If, where only one person can leave', no matter what. Perhaps Edmund will even replace Novia's identity in the 'Between of Pride'.

As expected, after laughing, Edmund looked calmly at Novia and Ritsuka.

"To end one's life as a guide to hope, in the face of despair and defeat, is perhaps a meaningful thing. Let me tell you, Fujimaru Ritsuka, the person beside you is not the true judge, but the undisputed innocent, the one for whom even the Lord must cry out in sorrow!"

The true vengeance belonging to the realm of the gods, the true manifestation of pride, the true ruler of the seventh 'Court of Judgment,' is none other than myself, who has always been helping you—”

A flame of fantasy flickered in Edmund's hands, the secret treasure of Monte Cristo.

"Indeed, Avenger!"

Silence remained.

Edmund should have attacked first, dealt with Ritsuka in front of Novia, and then dealt with himself, so that the priest could leave.

But he couldn't do it; his movements kept stopping.

This is natural; when he was Faria, Novia told him this:

Because I am your teacher, I will stay by your side after I die, like a shadow.

Therefore, everyone in the world is an enemy, but I am also your teacher. I am by your side, fighting alongside you.

I will stay with you, never leaving your side. Even if one day you grow tired of me, please remember that I am your teacher.

Edmund, who knew the priest's character well, was fully aware that his actions completely violated the priest's teachings and his own conscience, yet even so, he still yearned for it immensely—

I can never tire of you, I can never forget you, Father. You were my teacher. You should have left the Château d'If. You should have lived. Really, you were the last person who should have died. You shouldn't have died like this...

"...Although I was planning to offer you some tobacco, Avenger, I can't do it right now, so let's talk about something to pass the time."

In this atmosphere where it felt like a battle was about to break out at any moment, Novia walked towards Edmund.

"What may seem like a boring past to me is hailed by the world as the best revenge story ever told. In my opinion, it was about an incredibly brilliant man, a man who knew nothing about the evil that filled the world, yet he was still incredibly brilliant and worthy of pride."

Upon hearing this, Edmund closed his eyes:

"In the end, he was just a stupid man."

Ignoring Edmund's words, Novia continued speaking quietly.

"Perhaps, but excellence and stupidity are not opposites. Sometimes, it is the so-called 'stupidity' that is more worthy of being remembered than 'excellence' in a broader sense."

Suppose there is a situation where you know that you are not an innocent, indifferent person, but the real convict. If you do this, you will lose the good reputation you have accumulated over the years, the wealth you have gained through a lifetime of hard work, and the incomparably glorious position of mayor.

Even so, after hesitating, he still went and exposed himself.

To many, this might seem foolish.

"...This person possesses unquestionable kindness and humanity, and is not foolish."

Edmund shook his head. "And that man spent fourteen years in hell, becoming an avenger, abandoning all the goodness that humanity possesses, and gaining demonic cunning and power. Father, you must not speak with demons."

Upon hearing this, Novia said thoughtfully:

"The demonic power... does it refer to the treasure located on Monte Cristo? If so, the one who tells the man where the treasure is is the real demon."

"Because..."

Edmund drew out a long syllable, then pressed his hat down to hide his face in the shadows and burst into laughter again.

"I used the body of a priest who was like my father to escape from hell at all costs! I am someone who fell into hell and survived by devouring hell! Hahahahahahaha!"

"...I think you must be getting tired of playing the villain for so long after I appeared, right?"

The Avenger, who was laughing loudly while holding his hat down, heard the words of the silver-haired man who was hugging him.

And with a gentle touch, the pain was put to an end.

"Didn't I tell you long ago? You must live on, let your life, stained with despair, burn brightly with the era of darkness blooming rampantly. You are already my proud student, not Avenger, but Edmond Dantès, sailor of Marseille, the Count of Monte Cristo!"

Those blue eyes, like the sea, gazed at him.

With an almost eternal smile, quietly appreciating his previous pretense, Edmund felt a pang of sadness.

"Thank you for helping Fran and Moriarty, and thank you for delivering the message for me. Speaking of which, did you deliver it for me, Edmund, more than a hundred years ago?"

“I will not break my promise to you, Father.”

"Yeah."

Novia nodded. "That's good. In that case, let's go out now."

"But……"

“I know what you’re thinking. No one can escape from Yves City. Except for one person, and the same goes for this place, which has been reconstructed by hundreds of millions of resentments. Only one person can escape, only one person can get out alive. Yes, that’s what everyone says, and that’s how it’s presented.”

After exchanging glances with Edmund, Novia looked at Ritsuka.

"This is a fact that belongs to the present world and the mysteries of the planet, but it does not belong to the facts of an alien god."

Edmond Dantès was the only one who walked out of the Château d'If alive, an indisputable fact based on the planet's memory. However, besides the sailors from Marseille, there was actually another person, Abigail, wasn't there? But even if we count them that way, there are only two, which is not enough to satisfy the three people at this moment, since Faria ultimately 'died'.

So, is using force to destroy the If Castle the only option? With Novia's power, that's certainly possible.

only.

Why did Favia, as Faria, instinctively suffer from 'epilepsy' as soon as she left the dungeon?

Actually, that was because there was only one him. After that, didn't Favia return to the era he once was and fight tirelessly with the Star Eater Ort for an unknown amount of time in the depths of a distant continent?

But the day the man finally defeated Ort was also the last day of his life.

It was on that day that Edmund was able to send the letter to the fairy who had been waiting for him for many years at a celebration in a distant land.

Therefore, only three people actually left the Château d'If.

One is modifying the past, one is moving towards the future, and the other is watching over the present and the direction of both sides.

“Father, what a… hopeful ending this is.”