Greyashe Chapter 263 is entitled 'Faker II.'

Previous chapter 262: Faker.

Next chapter 264: Our reason.

Summaries page.

-Short summary.-

The 'prototype' of the goddess killer invades the land of the deities in hopes of finding an answer to who she's supposed to be after Lupine lets a little secret slip. She finds that she's hopelessly outmatched by the angels, and the envoy forsakes all to learn more from Deus about angels and their pasts.

-Long summary.-

After Butcher and Baker forced magic to undergo a metamorphosis, anything that has a high level of agape, or uses spells that depend on it received a spike in power along with becoming completely subservient to the sentient 2. Some however, managed to keep their sense of self despite this transformation. Besides the Kaiser mage's select team, one other had gained the power boost without the debilitating side effect.

The goddess killer 'prototype' stands over a defeated Lupine, gleefully taking revenge for all of her mistreatment. Lupine very close to death's door utters that he should have learned his lesson when he had given the flame to Claire who had then escaped. The prototype stops her revenge trip long enough to question the mad scientist, and he reveals how he and Den had first experimented on Claire, and after the success on her then developed the 'prototype'. She really is a prototype that they created, unlike Claire who they found and adapted. This is no solace to the girl in front of him who had believed that she came before Claire.  Now with the goddesses out of the picture, and the world possibly at an end, she has no purpose, or future.

After finishing up with Lupine, the prototype now wants her own identity, and decides that a good beginning would be to follow Claire and learn what makes her so unique. It was then that she found out Claire is actually an angel, and could travel to the land of the deities. The prototype surmises that if she truly does take after Claire then the same thing should be possible for her, and much to her chagrin it is. If anything however, the angels and deities should know what her future should hold, so she goes up and attacks any angels that get in her way.

The choir if anything is no more than merely amused at her arrival. The poor thing is no more than a shadow of one of their own. If anything, they should put her out her misery. The prototype admonishes them, and points to the angels fallen in her wake as proof of her power. At least, they were fallen. The angels begin to stand one at a time, and much to her horror have little or no injuries from her attacks. The choir condescendingly mocks the prototype asking what a mere shadow expects to do in a hallway of light? The angels and choir start to reach for the prototype, but then suddenly a voice rings out ordering them to stop.  This voice is none other than Deus, and he commands that every angel stand back.

Choir members ask for Deus's forgiveness, all while questioning his decision. Deus picks up on their in credulousness and explains his reasoning. If they are to fight for or against the ones who live in the world below, they will need to understand the way they think. Deities like them who don't have to fear death or loneliness and don't understand comradere or even love would stand no chance in a war against beings like magic and humanity that thrive on such things. The prototype would be their gateway to understanding, and for that she would need to remain alive. The choir begrudgingly respects Deus's decision, but before they are dismissed he does add that her body is unnecessary and decrees the 'faker' should be stripped down to a consciousness without a body. The choir is more than happy to follow these orders and before the faker can protest, a million angelic hands hold her down and pierce into her body. As her body fades, she laments being freed from one pair of shackles to be captured by another.

In his chambers, Deus turns to the envoy who has been waiting patiently. He wears a veil over his face and a wrap under that so his face can't be seen. The envoy recalls that no one has ever seen the true face of this 'Deus', adding to his reputation as a fearsome but fair ruler. He asks the envoy if he is truly sure about wanting to know the 'truth' of angels and humanity. Answering his questions could possibly make it impossible for him to remain among the other deities and angels and live happily. The envoy is taken aback by Deus's words, but then remembers his brief conversation with Claire. Her face and the faint remnance of Akariel within her both had the same 'quiet dignity' that had frustrated and intrigued him. They seemed almost...happy?

He confirms with Deus that he needs to know their connection with humans, and the deity is impressed with his dedication to the truth. He then surprises the envoy by removing the veil and wrap, claiming that it is important for him to explain without holding anything back. The envoy is shocked to see Deus, the elder deity, the current leader of the angels....has no head.