The hero who had defeated two Zodiacs and cleared away the shadow of the apocalypse was ultimately used as a test subject by the restored human leadership.
He lost control, became the final piece of the Zodiac puzzle, and the ultimate cause of the world's destruction.
Only now did Hiruko Kagekane understand the true, far-reaching control the Five Wings Association had over the world. Not just the Osaka Area, but the leaders of several other areas and a dozen other high-ranking officials were involved.
Even he, a terrorist who reveled in chaos, had never imagined that true evil could be so brazen, so righteously indignant.
Who the savior was depended not on who actually saved the world, but on who the public believed had saved it. And when it came to journalism and communication, that was the leadership's specialty.
Of course, even the higher-ups of the Five Wings probably never imagined that Rentarō's body had been pushed so far past its limits.
So much so that before any formal experiments could begin, a mere preliminary examination caused an irreversible loss of control.
What they couldn't have imagined even more was that Rentarō, being male, theoretically shouldn't have possessed the qualities of a Cursed Child.
Even if he lost control and became a Gastrea, he shouldn't have had the potential to become a Stage V Zodiac.
Only Muroto Sumire, who had been deliberately kept away, and Rentarō's "soul friend" Hiruko Kagekane understood why.
It was because of the blessing from the god that Rentarō, with an aptitude rivaling that of the Cursed Children, had been able to perform such feats and achieve what he did.
Who would have thought that this very aptitude would be exploited by the human leadership, leading to such a tragedy?
On the first day of the birth of Cancer, Rentarō Satomi, the Sendai Area was destroyed.
On the third day, the Osaka Area was destroyed.
Having once been implanted with the anti-Varanium gene, the out-of-control Rentarō retained it.
Thus, Varanium, a weakness that was somewhat effective against other Zodiacs, was no better than ordinary ammunition against Cancer.
This was a Zodiac with no weaknesses.
It had even integrated Rentarō's mechanized body, able to devour super-Varanium and other metal weapons, incorporating them into its own being.
The fruits of the Cursed Children Project and the Mechanized Soldier Project were fully manifested in it.
The highest crystallization of human wisdom had become the noose with which humanity had hung itself.
"Why did it turn out like this?"
In the ruins of the Osaka Area, watching the receding figure of Cancer, the scarred and emaciated Hiruko Kagekane muttered to himself, a deep, unanswerable question in his mind.
The power of Cancer was incomparable to the other Zodiacs.
Possessing a flawless Gastrea gene and the instinct to manipulate human weaponry, it was an invincible enemy to a human race that couldn't even defeat a single ordinary Zodiac.
It had no weaknesses, no mercy, and no companions.
This last point was unique among all the Zodiacs.
The previous eleven had always moved in legions. A single Stage V Gastrea would be surrounded by a massive, orderly army of Stage IVs, IIIs, and IIs, like a marching ant colony.
But Cancer was different.
From its birth, it was alone, with no companions and needing none. As it moved, it destroyed not only human areas but also Gastrea habitats.
Like an eraser or a garbage disposal, everything in its path was consumed and absorbed, becoming part of it.
Where it passed, all life was purified, leaving only a clean, barren earth.
"Even as a monster, you haven't forgotten your duty to clean up the Gastrea, have you?" Kagekane had once remarked on its behavior, as if trying to convince himself that Rentarō's will still existed within it.
But he knew it was just wishful thinking. With Rentarō's personality, he probably wouldn't have sought revenge on humanity even if he had known his fate.
The fact that Cancer was destroying humanity meant Rentarō's will was long gone. The monster was merely acting on simple reflexes, just as the other Zodiacs still cared about human legacies—a lingering spiritual impulse, not a soul.
The same words were used by the Five Wings' leadership to try and recruit Kagekane.
Realizing that Cancer was out of control and that humanity couldn't deal with such a monster, especially after witnessing the destruction of Sendai and Osaka, they extended an olive branch, hoping he would help them defeat it.
After all, besides the now-monstrous Rentarō, Kagekane was the only one who had participated in two Zodiac battles and successfully defeated a Stage V Gastrea. They had prepared a script in case he refused.
"If Mr. Rentarō were still alive, he would surely want you to do this!" It was an emotional appeal.
Kagekane could understand their panic. After all, their self-proclaimed glory was meaningless in the face of a world-ending monster. If there were no more crises, the public might forget about Rentarō.
But with the appearance of Cancer and the destruction of Sendai, people were starting to wake up.
"Weren't you the ones who claimed to be the saviors? Now that a world-ending crisis is here, why don't you step up?"
The subsequent fall of Osaka shattered their carefully crafted lies.
People finally realized that these politicians were unreliable and naturally recalled the former savior.
At first, they questioned why, with such a huge mess, the hero Rentarō hadn't intervened. Was he just watching?
It was only when he never appeared that they began to fear.
Some started investigating his movements, trying to find out what had happened to him. Others began to repent, remembering that they had collectively stripped him of his authority.
In a sense, his act of killing the previous Zodiac had been an illegal prison break.
As the truth gradually came to light, accompanied by the public's growing remorse, people finally realized that they had lost their only savior.
Some refused to believe it, repenting endlessly, thinking it would make Rentarō reappear.
Some started cursing him, cursing this vengeful ghost, believing that if he hadn't held a grudge, Cancer would never have been born.
Some cried out for another hero to save them from their predicament.
As for the wave of anger against the Five Wings Association, it was twisted from the very beginning.
A living leader was more important than a dead hero because they still held the hope of victory. With this utilitarian mindset, human civilization began to call for a new savior.
And Hiruko Kagekane was their chosen one. In terms of strength and experience, there was no one in the world who surpassed him. If he agreed, he could be the next savior.
"A savior?"
Hearing this, the smile on Kagekane's face became even more exaggerated than his mask. He hadn't heard such a hilarious joke in a long time.
"You mean, a savior who is misunderstood by the public, hated by officials, used as a test subject by the leadership, and finally sacrificed like a lamb?" After witnessing Rentarō's end, who would dare to take on such a title?
"To be a savior in this world is to have your body and soul devoured by you vermin. Sorry, but unlike Rentarō-kun, I don't have such a disgusting hobby!" Kagekane refused on the spot.
He wasn't absolutely against self-sacrifice; it sounded interesting, and cosplaying as a Buddha could be fun.
But feeding his own flesh to a pack of insatiable, ungrateful wolves? That was something he would politely decline. The thought alone was nauseating.
As expected, the Five Wings members were enraged by his refusal.
"Hiruko Kagekane, do you know what you're refusing? You're refusing a gift from the highest leaders of human society! Do you know the consequences? This is the last chance for salvation! If you continue to be disobedient, not only will you anger us, but you won't survive the apocalypse either!"
With Cancer's invincibility, if Kagekane didn't cooperate, he would surely be destroyed along with human civilization. This was the source of their confidence in inviting him.
They had investigated his background and knew he wanted to create a new world where only mechanized humans could survive.
If he didn't defeat Cancer first, there would be no new world for him to create.
It had to be said, the Five Wings had an uncanny grasp of all kinds of top-secret intelligence.
But people's thoughts can change!
"Ever since the god descended, I've been thinking about one thing," Kagekane said, suddenly bringing up a completely unrelated topic. "If there really is a god in this world, why did he allow the apocalypse to happen nine years ago?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm asking if you're willing to cooperate—" the high-ranking member of the Five Wings on the other end of the line said, ignoring his question.
Skilled politicians know not to be led by the nose during negotiations.
Coincidentally, Kagekane also ignored his interruption, continuing his monologue as if reciting a poem. "It was only today that I understood the reason."
"What do you mean?" the Five Wings member asked, frowning.
"Don't you think that in such a beautiful world, the existence of ugly vermin like you truly warrants a thorough cleansing by an apocalypse?" Kagekane said, looking up at the clean blue sky, his tone cheerful but his words extremely dangerous.
"What are you trying to say! Don't think—" The enraged voice from the intercom was cut off by a sudden gunshot.
"What I mean is! I think God was right. You truly deserve an apocalypse."
With an exaggerated smile, Kagekane aimed his repulsion device at the small negotiation squad before him. "Let's meet again in hell, gentlemen!"
The negotiations broke down, and the Five Wings' small unit was annihilated.
By refusing to become the savior, Hiruko Kagekane had naturally missed the chance to turn his weapon on Cancer. But he didn't care. It was just destruction.
For the leaders of the Five Wings, this outcome might keep them up at night, but for him, it was perfectly acceptable.
But...
Looking at the bodies strewn across the battlefield, at the back of Cancer as it left the ruins of Osaka...
"Why did it turn out like this?"
There was still one last question lingering in his mind, unresolved.
"What are you confused about? Are you regretting it? If so, we can still give you another chance!" Miraculously, the intercom had not been damaged in the fight. So, Kagekane could still hear the voice of the Five Wings' leadership.
The news of Osaka's destruction had probably spread throughout the world.
Even from thousands of kilometers away, Kagekane could hear the tremor behind the tough-sounding voice. But he had no interest in their fear.
Compared to such trivial matters, he was more concerned about the one thing he still couldn't understand.
"I'm curious, why are you all so bold?" Kagekane asked, genuinely puzzled. "I can understand all your twistedness and ugliness, but there's one thing I can't understand. Where does this arrogance come from?
"You know I'm the last and only option, yet you act so high and mighty, as if you're not worried at all that I'll refuse. You know there's a god in this world, so where do you get the nerve to lay a hand on the savior he personally appointed? Do you really think you can rival a god?"
As a devout Christian, he had always been puzzled by this when reading the Bible.
With the miracles the Son of God had shown, how could humans dare to kill him? It was only after witnessing it firsthand that he understood that humanity certainly did not lack the courage to be foolish.
But he still didn't get it. A god had personally come down and endorsed someone, so where did the Five Wings get the gall to defy his will?
He hadn't expected an answer. But after a long silence, a reply actually came from the other side.
"If God were truly omniscient and omnipotent, truly judged sin, then we would have had no way out nine years ago. And if God is not omniscient and omnipotent, if he has his own selfish desires, then who's to say that our plan to seek out a new humanity won't be recognized by him?" After a pause, the voice added, "If God truly favors the Cursed Children, then shouldn't we, who can mass-produce them, be even more deserving of his approval?"
They had long since passed the point of no return. They could only go all the way.
"...You mean, you're trying to bribe God, even make a deal with him?" Kagekane heard the subtext and shook his head speechlessly. "To be this arrogant, you're the real madmen, like a Jew try deceive their god!."
With that, he ignored their attempts to persuade him further and crushed the intercom under his foot.
Having understood their intentions, he knew that humanity's future was sealed. All he could do was quietly wait for the end. No further communication was necessary.
With this thought, he lay down on the ruins, closed his eyes, and felt the warm sunlight.
One year later, with the destruction of humanity's last gathering place, the Tokyo Area, the world officially entered its final chapter.
Looking across the entire planet, only Cancer remained. The blue planet was finally quiet.
One week later, a golden light covered the earth, and heaven descended, reflected in the sky.
The Christian cosmology of the Fallen and Original Sin unfolded.
This world had finally reached its grand finale.
The Last Judgment from Christian mythology was made manifest, officially descending upon the world!
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T/N: i really like the story like this than focus too much with MC.