★121
He didn't use a single overwhelming skill, magic, not even aura-coated strikes. Every person died by his fists alone.
No kicks or magic, just slow, deliberate punches, each hit designed to let the victims feel the pain before the end. With his speed reduced and reflexes sharpened to perfection, El Dorado fell over the span of two horrific hours.
Asteri had already set his sights on the Holy Kingdom of Reberium, and it met the same fate.
Word spread like wildfire. Two Demon Lord territories had fallen. People tried fleeing by sea. His clones reported massive evacuations.
He only smiled.
"Oh, I won't allow any escape. Time Barrier."
A dome of halted time sealed the entire continent. He swooped into Ingrassia next, then the Western States, erasing them block by block.
Armies charged. Knights, sorcerers, adventurers, anyone who could fight. But Asteri wasn't Asteri anymore. He was a rampaging monster in humanoid form.
He found thrill in killing, and the thrill grew into a craving.
Male, female, monster, demi-human, fuman, children, elders, the sick, the innocent, all didn't matter. He saw no distinction, thus, no hesitation.
To him, everyone was a villain, an obstacle standing in the way of his vision of peace.
By the time Reberium fell, his white clothes were drenched red, as if that had always been their true colour.
And if you're wondering why I didn't step in…
Well, this wasn't my timeline. This was Magos' little "lesson," not mine. I had no intention of interfering, just watching, popcorn in hand.
The Eastern Empire put up the best fight, Rudra and Velgrynd together pushed him harder than anyone. But all he did was raise his output to 80% and crush them with his bare fists.
It took a day for the strongest human nation to fall. A day… and then it was ash.
He carved his way across the world from south to north:
El Dorado→Reberium→Barren Lands→Ingrassia→Western States→Dwargon→Eastern Empire→Land of Puppets→Forgotten Dragon→Eurazania→Harpy Country→Sarrion Dynasty→and finally… the Jura Forest.
The Demon Lords rose to fight him. They fought well. But Asteri's power kept climbing, 20%… 40%… 60%… 85%…
And in the end, none of them could surpass the monster he had become. No life remained in the central continent. Only silence… and the echoes of a clone who had fallen too far.
"Now then..."
He closed his hand, then opened it. In an instant, everyone trapped inside the Time Barrier materialised before him, hundreds of thousands of frozen, terrified lives dropped at his feet.
"It was all for nought."
His grin stretched wide… then he began slaughtering them. Slowly and methodically, one by one. Until millions were reduced to nothing but a mountain of corpses beneath him.
When it was over, he stood atop the heap, staring at the sun as if admiring a painting painted in blood.
"Are you satisfied now?"
A familiar voice echoed.
"You've kept me waiting."
Asteri replied and blurred forward to meet them.
The only duo strong enough to force him to use his Arts.
Even then, the Evil Asteri crushed them, leaving their bodies broken as he launched toward the far north, the Frozen Continent where the last legion of Demons resides.
"It's almost over… Now for the last batch."
He smashed through the walls of his isolated castle, dark aura spilling like smoke.
"If any of you plan on betraying me…"
His voice sharpened, venomous.
"…know that it won't happen."
He didn't wait, he simply killed the same people he once saved, sheltered, and trusted.
Some were innocent, some weren't. Yet to him, it no longer mattered. There was no line between guilt and innocence only obstacles and corpses. He dived into the massacre with a singular, savage intent: KILLING.
Two Stars, both using the maximum output their vessels could handle, managed to corner him pushing him harder than anyone since the Demon Lords. For a moment, it almost felt like a real fight. Almost.
He emerged drenched in their blood, staggering but victorious.
"Marvellous…"
He exhaled.
"I almost died. But I can't afford to use my True Body. All these sacrifices… won't be in vain."
With a twisted calm, he looked down at the collapsing forms of Atlas and Elaine's vessels as he finished them.
He took a long, deep breath.
"Now, they'll have eternal peace."
"Asteri, what's wrong with you!?"
Someone screamed. He turned and there she was. It was Hinata.
Her eyes overflowing, not with fear… but with heartbreak.
"You killed everyone."
She choked out.
"Everyone… including Issei. My baby. The child you swore to protect."
Ever since the carnage began, no sound had reached my ears. But her voice did. Asteri froze.
His fingers trembled as he reached toward her, falling to his knees.
"No… no… I didn't do anything…"
For the first time, his mind flickered with confusion, fear, and a crack in the madness. What… had he done this past week?
"Look around you."
Dhe whispered, voice shaking.
"Look at your hands… bathed in innocent blood."
He looked down. Blood dripped from his palms.
His clothes were soaked, dried, fresh, layered in red upon red.
"It's wrong."
He said.
"No."
He forced a smile that didn't reach his trembling eyes.
"No, it's for peace. Everyone will be safe now. Finally safe."
Their eyes met.
He wanted, no....he needed her to understand.
"Safe?"
She breathed.
"You call this massacre peace? You killed everyone you loved. Everyone who stood beside you. Towa, Ramiris, Guy, Rimuru… the kids… and..."
As she blinked, the truth tore open.
He saw it, their final moments, each of them dying by his own hand, mercilessly cut down. Even I saw it.
"Why…?"
She whispered.
"It's for peace!"
He snapped.
"HmIt has always been for peace! Why can't you understand me? Why can't any of you appreciate the sacrifice, the love I've given!?"
Her tears finally fell.
"Why did you turn your back on us…?"
"Shut up."
His voice cracked into a roar as he closed the distance in a single step. His right hand slid through her chest clean, silent, merciless.
Hinata gasped once.
"And...me. "
She utters her last words as she falls dead in his arms.
Just then, the devil appeared again.
"Well done. This world has reached the true definition of peace. You're a Fallen God of Salvation. You don't belong here nor do you belong there...take my hand and join us"
"Join you? What will I get in return?"
He asked, still holding her warm corpse.
"More like, what do you want?"
"I'll become the True God of Salvation."
"You're the Third among none. With you by our side, not even the Creator will stand a chance. Join us. Let's save the World, Antares, the Third Twin Star. "
"I'm not done yet!"
I shouted not with anger, but with something deeper. All the aura and energy I had been holding back tore free at once.
Chaos erupted. A wave so absolute it erased everything in every direction. I couldn't sense the edges. I couldn't feel what survived. It was all gone, turned null. The 1% I'd been yearning for fractured, unable to hold together.
When the light finally receded.
I wasn't covered in blood anymore. There were no corpses, no Hinata dying in my hands. I was back in the real world, on the alter.
"I wonder which is the real one. Yours or Hinata's dream."
"I planted hers. Knowing which is which won't help you."
"So, what did you plan on doing after showing me the footage?"
"Now that I've shown you, I'll proceed with the next step."
He answered.
"What now, a footage of how I'll kick your ass?"
I replied but he ignored.
Magos raised his hand, and something glowing appeared. I lost myself immediately, not expecting him to be able to do such a feat.
"You can't do this."
"I can... now stay and watch behind the curtains."
An evil grin was plastered on his face, and I gradually lost consciousness yet again.
After a short time, I opened my eyes, and Magos was standing next to me.
"He's awake."
Again, my mouth moved uncontrollably.
"Don't worry, he can't force you out. Take your time."
Magos reassured me, but I wasn't the one talking.
"Are you coming?"
"You've done it more than once. You're about to do it again."
My body began to glow, reshaping itself as a new set of robes formed around me, deep black, lined with crimson, crowned by a mantle of white fur. A brutal contrast to the white and gold I once wore. I sat there for a moment, silent, letting the change settle in.
With a thought, I discarded the long hair that had clung to me through everything. It became short and cleaner, a shade darker than Antares's code. This was my signature, an oddity from the timeline.
My hand tightened around the armrest. Then I stood. One step, a breath and I vanished into the portal.
The world on the other side unfolded instantly, familiar skies, familiar air, and before me, an army of Demons assembled in formation. At their front, Majo stepped forward to receive me.
To be continued...