The Nether was just within range.

With him and his host, already trapped within the range of the blast, I planned on completely destroying both of them.

'I'll eliminate the threat once and for all.'

The thought of Karlia flashed through my mind, causing me to hesitate a little. However, I highly doubted this wicked being would be honest with me about her location.

Also, to what end? Why would he even choose to tell me anything?

In the end, it was more detrimental to keep him alive.

'I'm supposed to send him to his dimension, but' With two versions of the Arcanas present, I didn't simply want the misty Nether to return home unharmed.

I wanted it gone for good.

'I know this is only a portion of it, but if I extinguish him completely, then'

And it worked!

>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

The explosion was very compactas I tried to ensure that it stayed within a particular range, but at the same time, destroyed my target.

In his misty state, the Nether didn't stand a chance at all.

It consumed him, the Cult Leader, and anything within a few kilometres of the center. Of course, I ensured to keep my distance so that I could watch the magnificent eruption of multicoloured light.

It was beautiful.

"It's over I win" I muttered, feeling exhaustion course through me.

My glowing white form dissipated, and I could feel my consciousness slowly drifting. Before I completely fell into an unconscious state, I considered it best to return to my homeworld.

I wouldn't be able to survive here for even a second longer if I became weakened to the point of passing out.

~Lewis I warned you~

Upon hearing Aether's dreadful tone, I paused. Her voice sounded very low, and considering how worn out my body was, it was probably my waning connection with her that was to be blamed.

~... You should have gone with the original plan.~

I realized that. However, by destroying every portion of the Nether that managed to leak through, the results were the same. When weighing the two options, I found it unjust that the Nether wouldn't suffer for its acts.

Besides, the plan worked. I ensured I calculated everything, and there was no way the Nether could survive such a powerful explosion.

"Huu"

My body froze the moment I heard a rough, distorted tone coming from the center of the explosion.

"... I have to thank Ciel for this one."

My eyes bulged, and my tired body shook a little. I was confused, but the creeping fear began to make me terrified.

Out of the dispersing aftereffects of the explosion, emerged the Nether, in a completely new form.

He had a ragged statelike the form of a wild monster. His shabby black hair floated above him, and more purple aura coursed through him.

To be honest, this seemed like a major downgrade, compared to his previous forms, but he still appeared as menacing as ever. In fact, one could say he looked the most monstrous in this new state.

"H-how?"

'Why isn't he dead? What's with that new form? He shouldn't have that! No way!'

As the Nether cackled, triumphantly emerging from what would have been his end, he didn't pay mind to me, but his current body.

"This is a far more inferior vessel. It's weaker than the last, and it's unstable with no Arcanas. I can only use it as a temporary measure, and I'll have to manage my power so this form doesn't get destroyed" He muttered.

His tone cracked and warbled, like a broken source of ominous aura. The Nether he emitted was far less than his previous body, but it was still considerably massive.

At the very least, it could still kill me, and everyone else on Earth.

~You were warned, Lewis. You shouldn't have been careless.~ Aether hounded me with the truth of my carelessness, causing my heart to tighten in guilt.

And then fear.

'I messed up.' My eyes bulged.

"Jared Leonard you almost got me." The Nether finally looked at me, his eyes fiery purple and black.

I shivered at his gaze.

"What will you do now? Not only have you lost the means to stop me, but you're pitifully weak, right now." He cackled in arrogance.

Unfortunately, he was right.

I already destroyed the Arcanas by resonating them with each other and offsetting the balance to create an effective dissonancecausing enough of an explosion to swallow him in it.

Thanks to the absence of the other Arcanas, I couldn't utilize [The World], and I also couldn't recreate all the other Arcanas since I was already so spent. Plus, it did take some time to make everything.

But, I had already calculated all these aftereffects before, and I'd been fine with everything because of my confidence in the Nether's destruction. It had been my sure bet, and I'd thought that I would definitely win.

So, what happened?

'He mentioned thanking Ciel. Did she do something? Damnit!'

Ciel had been planning this for so long. Perhaps she'd had yet another body for the Nether in case of emergencies.

If that was the case, then I was totally screwed.

'What should I do?' Panic spread through my body as the Nether drew closer to me, having a terrifying presence that brought me closer to passing out.

My body could barely move, but I was too frightened to go back to my world and sentence everyone there to death.

"You fool. You messed with me. Now, I'm going to kill you and everyone you love." He moved even closer, excitement all over his twisted face.

This was bad. Even though everyone relied on me I had still managed to screw things up at the very end.

*

*

*

[A/N]

Character arts and illustrations (including the Nether's forms, Aether, and other characters) are in the Discord Server. The link will be placed below.

Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

It's yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

Cheers!