"Hahahahahaha!!"
In this moment, facing the utterly terrifying scene before him, Roy's expression remained unchanged, his heart eerily calm.
The instant their roles reversed, the once-invincible Outer Gods ceased to be insurmountable horrors or endless calamities.
Yet, even so, the concepts and powers they embodied transcended mere terror or awe.
At the edge of the small artificial lake within the Wandering Sea's mountains, a dense crowd of Outer Gods now stood.
This time, they refrained from unleashing cataclysmic displays to announce their presence or intimidate Roy with direct attacks. Instead, mindful of their stances and chosen factions, they split into two groups, positioning themselves on opposing sides.
No anomalies erupted; it was merely a matter of numbers increasing. But the atmosphere had subtly shifted, a change palpable to anyone attuned… a sensation as if something was on the verge of shattering.
Though still within the Wandering Sea, this world was no longer tethered to reality, transformed into something akin to a separate dimension.
The common sense of the world was utterly upended.
This region, this small world, was now wholly governed by alien laws.
Like a fish yanked from water and flung onto land, an overwhelming sense of disorientation, oppression, and suffocation assailed Roy. Indescribable pain coursed from his fingertips to his heart, spreading to engulf his mind.
Despite his unchanged expression and defiant demeanor before the Outer Gods, his body betrayed him, moving involuntarily…
This wasn't cowardice or mental fear but an instinctual response, a biological drive to survive.
That instinct screamed: Don't be reckless, don't push it… never make enemies of these beings.
Never oppose the dozens of entities, each capable of annihilating the world, whose gazes bore down from all directions.
For a normal human, a beast's stare alone could induce suffocating dread. Encircled by the gazes of beings of this magnitude, the pressure Roy endured was beyond words.
Nothing happened, nothing appeared. The Outer Gods merely watched in silence, yearning for him, making no overt moves. Yet their gazes alone tore at his body and spirit, as if he were on the brink of being rent apart.
He knew they couldn't, or wouldn't dare, act against him, but even so,
His body still recoiled in fear, driven by survival instinct? How pathetic.
"Utterly boring."
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he forcibly rallied his spirit.
"Piling on external pressure to break me mentally? Heh… clever plan, but don't underestimate me, gods."
As the focal point of their gazes, he was far from the ease his facade suggested, yet he maintained his initial composure, his calm. By removing himself from the game board, he stood opposed to all Outer Gods.
As long as he held an irreplaceable, decisive trump card, nothing else mattered. He retained absolute control, and that was enough!
"Roy…"
Arcueid gazed worriedly at the figure bearing the brunt of it all, yearning to rush forward and help. Roy merely glanced back, offering a serene smile.
"It's fine. This'll be over soon. Once I'm done, I'll keep my promise and take you shopping."
"So… stay there, trust me, okay? I won't do anything foolish."
Her myriad concerns condensed into a simple nod.
The other Outer Gods said nothing, merely observing in silence.
Turning his gaze, the gentleness on his face vanished, replaced by cold indifference and audacity. He faced the Outer Gods, raising a hand to recall his invisible sword.
This blade, embodying his status and essence, was the key the Outer Gods coveted.
He raised it high, aiming at them all. In that instant, every being's eyes widened, the atmosphere freezing exponentially. The mere act of summoning the sword was, to them, a signal, a momentous one.
A signal that the final moment had arrived.
They couldn't remain calm, their excitement barely contained. The sudden shift in mood altered the world's airflow and weather, countless gazes locked on Roy and his blade, brimming with desire and ambition. All onlookers were poised to act. Were it not for fear of Roy doing something irreversible, they'd have moved immediately.
The concentrated aura and leaking momentum alone could shatter the fragile planet.
Yet the Outer Gods held back.
"Heh… don't get so worked up. I get it, after eons of confinement, seeing a glimmer of hope sparks uncontrollable desire. But the closer the final moment, the more you need to stay composed. You can never predict the next twist, not even Yog-Sothoth or Daoloth can fathom true change… which is exactly what my choice will be."
Bearing immense pressure, Roy raised his sword, a smile spreading across his face.
"As long as I refuse, this sword is useless to you even if you take it. Its status is mine, and mine alone. The systems and rules it holds, controlling and containing all, are inseparable from me. That's absolute, which is why you fear me, covet me, yet dare not act rashly."
"In other words, if I don't cooperate, or cooperate half-heartedly, where you'll end up, whether you'll reach the new world, is unknown. That… is my greatest leverage right now. Am I wrong, gods?"
The invisible sword tilted slightly. Roy nonchalantly planted it in the ground, spreading his hands in a dismissive gesture, his tone laced with mocking provocation.
"…"
His words silenced the Outer Gods, quelling the volatile atmosphere that seemed ready to ignite with a single spark.
Facing a multitude, enough to terrify every planet and lifeform in the universe, gathered here, the situation dwarfed the calamity of stars aligning, infinitely more horrifying. Any fragile being stumbling into this would be driven mad by the oppressive aura and lingering resentment.
All Outer Gods remained silent, but their quiet wasn't true stillness. The shifting airflow and emerging anomalies betrayed the turmoil within them.
Roy's raised sword wasn't merely to taunt or flaunt power but a bargaining chip, a critical tool for mutual restraint.
Some Outer Gods glanced at Arcueid, pondering if seizing her could force Roy's compliance.
But they quickly dismissed the foolish notion. After observing him so long, they knew Roy well enough to write a book.
From the start, Roy's concern wasn't his own plight or risks but those he called friends or lovers. These human connections gave the Outer Gods a chance for negotiation and balance, preventing an immediate, explosive confrontation.
Roy could overlook his own manipulated fate or risks, suppressing rage to spar with them.
But if an Outer God crossed that line…
The outcome would be non-negotiable, a catastrophic end for all.
Thus, Arcueid was untouchable. Likewise, Daoloth, to prevent Nug and Yeb from escalating, had moved Ryougi Shiki to safety, not as leverage but to avert an irreparable spiral.
Initially unaware of his value, Roy feared their might or threats against his cherished ones.
Now, understanding his weight and decisive power, he played his hand openly, dropping the act.
Brandishing his hammer, he smashed the Outer Gods' gambling table to pieces, seizing them by the throat and unleashing his tirade.
This audacious, blasphemous, yet unassailable act birthed the current fiasco.
A mere pawn, a predetermined tool, Roy had leapt onto the table, leaving them helpless.
Perhaps… this was his true nature and state.
From the beginning, despite having his status sealed, treasures stolen, and being cast into this alien world, he never yielded. He may have coasted at times, but he always strove to do his best.
Even thrown into the Holy Grail War, he didn't abandon hope or use Command Spells to escape. He groped for solutions, undeterred by dozens of deaths and reshapings.
This revealed his hidden essence to the Outer Gods: pride, madness, contradiction, and above all… emptiness. Perhaps he never felt he belonged to this world or saw himself as part of it.
Only at the final moment did he reconcile with this world, finding a home.
But if someone now declared it all false, that he'd never belong, and tried to strip his sense of belonging…
The answer was clear. He'd act recklessly, seizing absolute control by his own means, no longer dictated by them.
He'd write the story's end himself.
"Heh… see that, you useless lot? The tides have turned. Lil bro's in complete control now~"
Ignoring Nyarlathotep, who clung to his neck with a grin rivaling Kaz's, Roy faced the Outer Gods and asked, "Now, since everyone's here, let's get to business."
Like a star on the grandest stage, with the Outer Gods' shifting gazes as spotlights, he stood center stage, commanding their full attention.
He was the undeniable protagonist, a superstar impossible to ignore.
No Outer God dared slight him.
"Speak. What are your terms? What will it take for you to aid us? No more games, kid, I admit, you've won."
"As the victor's reward, name any condition. You've earned it."
From its lofty perch, Ghroth spoke with grudging anger, its form ablaze, gazing down at Roy, awaiting his demands.
With roles reversed, there was nothing left to say.
This kid wasn't stupid; he wouldn't give them a chance to turn the tables. Power was useless now. They had to swallow their pride and accept defeat.
Roy, while unforgiving of those who toyed with, threatened, and manipulated his fate, had no intention of stringing them along indefinitely.
This situation was the optimal window. He held the conversation's reins firmly, and that was enough. Even doing nothing would drive the passive Outer Gods to madness.
"Smart. I like straightforward talks."
"Indeed, dragging this out or scheming here would be dull… I prefer resolving issues directly."
Surveying the "audience" around his stage, Roy turned to face the Outer Gods. His reckless grin faded, replaced by icy calm.
"Outer Gods, let's move to the next phase. I can generously overlook your past recklessness and wrongs against me. But… rather than your fascinating inner turmoil, I suggest you hear my terms before deciding. We've reached the finale."
"…"
Silence persisted; no Outer God spoke.
He continued, "Let's wrap up this mess here and now. I don't have time for your childish games."
"And you damned things, we still have scores to settle!!"
___
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