Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 683: One (3)

While looking out over the city of Dungeon from atop the city walls, Nebera, the Apostle of Magic, felt an odd sense of stillness filling the city.

The Dungeon city was always a bustling place.

Adventurers hoping to strike it rich, merchants trying to squeeze money from them, pretenders who came following rumors, mages looking for research materials, and countless others—this place was the noisiest city in the Mage Empire.

But today was different. With the news of the resurrection of the Evil God of Fire, everyone had fled, leaving only those who were determined to face the coming disaster.

“We’ve received a report from the Empire’s Knights! There are heretics outside the city who worship the Evil God of Fire! They are about to enter battle!”

“It seems the time has come.”

The Apostle of the Lord had sent word that the appearance of heretics worshiping the Evil God was a sign of the god’s resurrection.

They mentioned a specific time—an hour after the heretics were spotted.

“Elyon. Can you track the time for us?”

“I’ve told you before, space-type mages aren’t clocks.”

“I’m just curious if what the Lord’s Apostle said was true.”

“What did he say?”

“That the Evil God would be resurrected an hour after the heretics were discovered.”

“That’s interesting. Alright. Should I start now?”

“Yeah.”

Elyon, the Apostle chosen by the God of Magic, immediately drew a magic circle in the air as soon as he heard about Lucy.

“This sounds like it’ll be an interesting story. Might even get some focus.”

“Soon enough, we’ll be fighting for our lives, and you’re thinking about that?”

“Since I don’t know if I’ll live or die, I want to make sure everything counts. That way, my name and the name of the god I serve will last longer.”

Upon hearing Elyon’s words, other apostles, as if realizing something, rushed toward Nebera, requesting tasks for themselves.

They, too, wanted a role in this exciting story.

Nebera tightened her brow, preparing to get angry at their desperate, unnecessary enthusiasm.

“Everyone. Don’t worry, I’m recording everything. Please step back and rest easy.”

But before Nebera could get angry, Frete stepped forward with a smile and stopped them.

Trusting Frete’s words, the apostles returned to their respective positions.

“Thank you, Frete.”

“No need. This is my role. To do my best to achieve the harmony that Lady Alrn spoke of.”

“Harmony, huh.”

Nebera, recalling the recent meeting, let out a bitter smile.

At that meeting, Lucy had suggested to the assembled apostles that they could coexist.

To sum it up in one word: harmony.

The age of myths had ended, and now, to survive, they must unite once more.

The path that seemed to offer loss for all was the only way forward.

Of course, Lucy Alrn’s actual words weren’t as neat as that, but the message was the same.

Naturally, the apostles had resisted Lucy’s suggestion.

They had spent too many years in conflict.

There was too much resentment built up between them.

Even in that meeting, many had to suppress their hatred for one another. How could they possibly unite?

‘Why are these good-for-nothing idiots making such a fuss? If their pride matters so much, then they can just disappear with the gods they serve. What does it matter? They’re nothing but useless scraps anyway.’

What tore apart the apostles' resistance was Lucy’s straightforwardness.

At that meeting, most of the apostles had been struggling with their religions.

A lack of money, dwindling followers, erosion by dominant religions, and countless other problems had been weighing them down.

In this situation, the major religions, including the Lord’s Church, declared they would make concessions, so the apostles had no choice but to listen.

Naturally, some of the apostles were skeptical and asked, "What’s the point of this?"

No matter how harsh the reality, they couldn’t abandon their pride.

But even they changed their stance after hearing the next part of Lucy’s words.

They learned that their followers could die.

If the destruction of their religion meant their own disappearance, the apostles would have chosen their pride.

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But the Apostle of the Lord said otherwise.

He explained that for the gods, being forgotten was as close to death as possible.

No matter how vile their personalities, they were chosen by the gods.

They had devoted their lives to their gods.

There was no one who could turn away from the death of a god.

“At that time, the Lord’s Apostle’s warning seemed like the best course of action, but now that I look at it, I think it might have been a bit much. Everyone’s on edge now.”

Although all the apostles had promised to cooperate, there were clear side effects.

The apostles who had heard Lucy’s warning were now filled with fear.

As a result, they did everything they could to make themselves and their gods known.

In the plan set by the Lord’s Apostle, they were desperate to raise their presence even just a little.

“It’s fortunate that the Lord’s Apostle has performed miracles to give the apostles faith. If his authority had been lacking, it would have been chaos.”

“Let’s think about it a bit differently. The Apostle believed that he could perform miracles, and that’s why he revealed the truth to the apostles.”

Nebera almost argued that they were overestimating things, but then she remembered the miracles Lucy had performed and shrugged her shoulders.

“That may be true.”

“Nebera! A new report! The Lord’s Apostle has completed the first dungeon’s conquest!”

“...Wait, what? Already?”

“Yes! After a short break, he’s planning to tackle the next dungeon immediately!”

“No, no. Hold on. He’s only been at it for less than an hour after entering the dungeon? How could a high-ranking follower seal a dungeon so quickly!?”

The apostle himself had said it would take at least half a day. What on earth had happened!?

“And also, there’s another message for you, Nebera!”

“What is it?”

“They said that since the first dungeon’s conquest has been completed, the resurrection of the Evil God of Fire will speed up! It’s been twenty minutes since the heretic appeared...”

“You should have started with that! You idiot!”

Fuming, Nebera turned to the apostles and, with a flare of magic, shouted, her neck veins bulging.

“Everyone!!! Form up!!! The Evil God of Fire is descending!!!”

The apostles, startled by her sudden shout, skillfully prepared for battle.

The Lord’s Apostle certainly had good vision.

When he said he would personally select who would fight, there had been doubts, but seeing the apostles now, Nebera felt he had made the right choice.

The people standing here were all chosen by the Lord.

At that moment, as Nebera checked the magic circle, the ground suddenly started shaking.

The tremors were so strong that even standing became difficult. Just as the Lord’s Apostle had said.

That meant, in no time, smoke would rise from the volcano, and ominous voices would be heard from within.

Finally! Finally, the day has come!

The voice, echoing from the far-off summit of the volcano, made Nebera let out a hollow laugh.

“Elion. How many minutes has it been?”

“Exactly twenty minutes.”

“You’re really spot on. What’s the harm in being a little off?”

From the edge of the volcano, lava began to pour down the slope.

Nebera, seeing the first eruption of the volcano, thought of a landslide as the lava flowed down.

The disaster, gaining mass and speed as it descended, was a red abyss that would swallow the land.

“Everyone!!! Ready?!”

“Yes!!!”

“Follow the plan! Activate the earth magic! Now!!!”

Under Nebera’s command, magic began to cover the land, one by one.

First came the earth magic.

With the powers of the apostle of earth and the support of several earth mages, a huge levee was created halfway up the mountain, slowing the speed of the lava.

Next came the wind magic.

A fierce wind, formed of magical energy, gathered the volcanic ash and sent it back into the volcano.

Third was the rain magic.

A torrential downpour fell, surrounding only the center of the volcano, gradually lowering the heat as it evaporated from the molten lava.

“By the power of Hibarka, the God of Ice, I declare to the earth. Remember the cold that filled the world. Recall the era when even the flicker of life was encased in ice. Freeze before the terror of that day!”

Finally, Nebera invoked one of her secret spells, rapidly lowering the temperature of the earth and solidifying the flow of lava.

Thus, the red predator, intent on swallowing the land, was subdued before it could even reach the foot of the mountain, just as the Lord’s Apostle had planned.

How dare you! How dare you! A mere human dares to defy fire again! Accept the fire! Burn to ash in the warmth! That is the true blessing!“Frete, I don’t quite remember. Is this kind of disgusting speech part of the predictions?”

“Surprisingly, yes. It seems the Evil God will descend from the top of the volcano now.”

As Nebera saw the cracks forming in the solidified lava, she forced a smile and gathered her magic.

“Let’s go. Just as the Lord’s Apostle planned, to achieve victory.”

“That’s a surprisingly fitting line for you, Nebera. I liked it.”

World! Welcome the fire!

The clouds parted, and the second sun appeared.

The Evil God of Fire had descended to the earth.

And countless apostles of the gods raised their weapons toward the Evil God.

Their orderly and synchronized actions were both many and one at the same time.