Local Netizen Elf’s Life In Another World
Case 356: The guardian deity’s battle.

''Sister... do you really think there's a meaning in fighting so desperately, knowing you won't win?''

Eve's hair flutters amidst the chaotic wind, her shadow marred in the essence of chaos. For a moment, the glitter in her eyes gleams so brilliantly that one might mistake it for stars.

''Humans eventually die. Planets, too, will meet their end at some point.'' She sighs. ''This realm... is an unfortunate one, catching a fallen star of this caliber. But the people on it are lucky—because they have you. Without you, sister, this place would have been a wasted land a long time ago.''

''...''

''In that regard, perhaps everyone owes you a thank you. But sister... isn't it time to give up?''

Eva cannot detect the exact emotions in Eve's smile. Somewhere close to melancholy, somewhere close to sorrow, but tinted with a hint of regret.

''You've worked so hard for thousands of years, sister. Isn't it time to stop fighting and rest? No one can resist the star's absolute power. Doing so is like going against the universe itself. Come with me, submit to its rule—by then, even if we lose ourselves, even if we become something unsightly... we can live.''

For a brief moment, Eve's words sound somewhat reasonable. Yet... they solidify a conclusion in Eva's mind so clearly.

''It seems I have lost you completely.''

''Huh?''

Eva raises her arm to the side, materializing her sword into reality. A slender, pure white longsword with crimson streaks running along the blade's spine—her primary weapon.

As the Goddess of War, no enemy of hers has seen this sword and survived.

It is simply a declaration of war.

''The sister I know and love is dead.'' Eva solemnly says. ''The sister I know... is someone who never abandons hope—someone who loves life than anyone else. You are but the corruption's demon—a sad excuse for a living being.''

''You... you can't say that, sister.'' Eve's voice trembles as the streaks of corruption grow on her skin. 

''You are not my sister.''

Bringing the will and karma she has endured for thousands of years, Eva slashes reality open, painting the space with the color of her divinity. The blade travels through time and space, connecting itself with the figure of Eve.

''With my sword, I shall cut through heaven and earth.''

Breaking out of the chaos realm, Eva finds herself staring at a ghastly sky. 

Judging from the level of contamination, this place should be somewhere close to the demon territories. As the guardian deity, she is also familiar with the time flow of this planet.

'The raid must have already started.'

The goddess naturally wants to come back and aid her companions. Alas... it seems she has to get through the enemy in front of her first.

''S-Sister...!''

Clutching her bloodied stomach, Eve shouts, her eyes hazy with the goddess's majestic figure.

''How... how could you do this to me?!''

''Look at your pathetic self and say that again.''

''You... you...''

Eva's brows narrow as she points her sword at Eve. The surging divinity in her shiver in rage, repulsed by the contamination leaking from that woman's body.

In the eerie silence, Eve begins to sob.

Clear, woeful tears roll down her cheeks, yet eventually turn into drops of hideous, purple-ish stain. The goddess's blood boils at that sight.

''...You give me no choice,'' Eve mutters, seemingly in pain. ''I... even if by force, I'll have to take you with me.''

''...''

''Please go easy on me, sister.''

Still with her stomach cut open, still with 'blood' oozing, spattering onto the ground, Eve manifests her corruption. Traces of a mage brewing, dozens of sharpened malice manifest in the air.

And in a split second, two worlds—two forces of the natural universe clash.

Eva wields a divinity of mass destruction and absolute firepower, capable of slicing terrains into an utter mess, but Eve's corruption is just as potent. Centuries of exposure to the star's deepest core have left her body closer to 'death' than most. Now, she is the very avatar of chaos.

The battle of the two sisters leaves the scene disturbed—no, 'destroyed' might be a better word.

Eva's blade brings forth true devastation. Each strike, even if the force behind it is light, violently erupts her desire for annihilation, resulting in vast lengths of rubble and debris. Pillars of light pierce the sky, and the earth quakes incessantly, brimming with the goddess's scalding divinity. 

Eve's rays of corruption seem almost formless as they wiggle between those land-leveling attacks. In their wake, only the lifeless, utterly 'dead' remains. 

Either one of them is dead-set on eviscerating their opponent, even if neither of them truly harbors the will to kill yet. After all, in a battle of gods, mere bodies can fully regenerate in seconds, so long as the deity's divinity still persists. This level of devastation is but an opening waltz for those who have ascended the mortal realm.

Yet, here at the place of contamination, it feeds on such a battle. Throbbing in excitement, it absorbs the last of the emotions exchanged between the two, their will, their energy, even the remains of their power embedded in each piece of rubble.

And as the environment becomes increasingly volatile, so does the confrontation. 

Even at the god level, there exists something close to a matchup advantage. Fundamentally, it all boils down to 'energy.' A god only perishes when their divinity perishes, so to kill a god efficiently, it is necessary to devour and destroy as much of their divinity as possible.

Thus, corrosive-type attacks similar to Eve's are extremely effective.

''Tch!''

Soon enough, despite her initial entrance, Eva has to take a defensive stance. Frankly, it is a horrible matchup for her. Not only is Eve elusive, but she also deals significantly more damage upon collision than her. And... defensive plays definitely aren't Eva's forte.

''What's wrong, sister?! Where did your vigor earlier go?!''

Like a tide of ravenous beasts washing shore, Eve's corruption almost drowns out Eva's figure. Barriers are wildly inefficient, as just a simple contact with that tide is enough to crumble them. Moreover, Eve herself feeds on the growing contamination to repeatedly replenish her strength, so a head-on confrontation with her only pulls Eva closer to defeat.

So, the only remaining solution is clear—change the battlefield.

But where to?

Ever since the star's descent, most of the unoccupied land has been infected. The only 'safe' battlefield now is near the population. At least... on land.

''Hah... fine. I will play with you for a while.''

Eva's divinity swells as she cuts through the sea of corruption. Reaching forward with indomitable will, she phases through space and time, reaching Eve's figure.

''Ah?''

Catching the woman by her neck, Eva lightly tosses her into the swirling gate she has just created. Not long after, she also enters it.

And where they are headed... is atop the infinitely vast blue ocean.