Epic Of Caterpillar

”Does it? I merely consumed and took everything from here. I am an opportunistic man at heart! I devoured dozens of powerful sun gods in this world, including Ra and Apollo, and many more delectable beings. Then I consumed Genesis Sun and the Amaterasu living there. Afterward, I ate every star I could. My body, my power, my radiance, and the range of my abilities continued growing—limitless, endlessly! THIS! IS! MY! TRUE! POWER!”

The Sun Godʼs laughter echoed, imitated by everyone now worshiping him eternally: Archdemons, Space Humans, Gods, Vampires, Spirits, Undead—everything.

All had become one with him.

”BOW BEFORE ME, MORTALS! BOW BEFORE YOUR KING! YOUR FATHER! YOUR EMPEROR! YOUR GOD! BOW BEFORE ME, THE SUN HIMSELF!!!”

As he laughed, the sunʼs radiance flared brighter than ever. It began destroying the planetʼs atmosphere. The burning light scorched the entire city of Tokyo.

His followers were immune to the sunlight—worshiping it, feeding on it, becoming more monstrous and warped.

Kireina stood speechless.

She had truly overlooked him—always underestimating him to the very end.

The one she thought she could ignore had become her worst nightmare.

But.

Was that all there was to it?

”I see. So thatʼs it, huh?”

Before the eternal burning radiance, Kireina furrowed her brows and began to grow larger and larger.

Against this unending sunlight, her abyssal void and chaotic darkness spread like a canopy, shielding everyone.

”Then I shall become the darkness that will eclipse your radiance, Sun!”

The Sun God laughed wildly. Kireina noticed dozens, hundreds, then thousands of stars laughing with him.

Just how many stars had he refined? How much had he consumed?

It was utterly absurd. He had pushed his power to its absolute limit—but it was also thanks to a certain someone.

”Kireina! That bastard got the First Esper! That little girl helped him expand his powers everywhere and use her psychic abilities to do this!” Redgaria reached her, taking shelter in the darkness she summoned.

”I see. I assumed as much,” Kireina nodded, shaking her head. ”Then—”

”Nee-sama!!!”

Their conversation broke off as Tsukuyomiʼs horrified scream rang out. Everyone turned. Amaterasu writhed in agony, her form warping and twisting.

”Aaaaaaaggh!”

White feathered wings burst from her back, piercing Kireinaʼs darkness and soaring higher into the sky.

”Noooo!”

Tsukuyomi chased after her, only for Beowulf to seize him and pull him back.

”Let me go! Nee-sama! My nee-sama needs us!”

”Donʼt you realize why sheʼs running away?! Sheʼs being controlled! Didnʼt you hear?! That thing has authority over all things that are the sun itself!”

”…?!”

Tsukuyomi watched Amaterasu ascend higher and higher.

Kireina immediately gave chase. The brightness burned her, but the Sea of Emptiness shielded her.

”Amaterasu, give me your hand!”

Kireina cut through the light, but the radiance was endless, undying, fueled by everything it had consumed.

”A-Ahh… the light… the… light…”

Amaterasu wept as she gazed upon the Sun Godʼs brilliance, drawn to become one with him.

Then she looked back at Kireina for one fleeting second.

”Please… protect… my… family…”

”AMATERASU!!!”

Kireina screamed as she reached for her.

But she was one second too late.

The Sun Godʼs power consumed Amaterasu entirely. She ceased to exist.

And became one with him.

Or did she?

”NNNGGHHH?!”

The instant he devoured her, something sharp pierced the core of his existence.

Amid the blazing skies, Amaterasuʼs faint figure emerged.

”People of Japan…! Donʼt give up…! No, people of the world…! THIS MONSTER…! AND ALL ILL FATES…! CAN BE BEATEN! IF YOU BELIEVE… IN YOUR HEARTS! AND… WORK TOGETHER!”

As she screamed her final words to the world, Tsukuyomi shed tears of sorrow. Susanoo suddenly plummeted from the sky, gasping after battling countless mind-controlled foes.

”N-Nee-sama?!”

”G-GET OUT…! GET OUT, YOU MAGGOT!”

The Sun God tried to erase her influence. Amaterasuʼs silhouette began to fade.

Yet her hand still clutched his heart—until a small crack appeared.

”Susanoo…! Tsukuyomi…! Izanami-sama… Please…! Save… Japan…! Kireina…! Save the world…! This is my final… order…! Donʼt you dare…! Go against it!”

”E-ENOUGH!!!”

The Sun God, composure shattered, regained control—though a sharp pain lingered in his Origin Core.

Devouring the most stubborn and prideful goddess of Japan had been a grave mistake.

Though he felt even stronger… was it truly worth it?

”D-Damn it! This sharp pain…! Uuggh…!”