When she went out that morning, her head was so full of thoughts about distracting herself with something else that she instinctively went looking for pests to kill.
After cutting down just two, however, Zeroy realized something.
Instead of wandering around hunting pests, she had something else to do today.
Her mission still wasn't finished, and she had finally matched into a high-intensity world. She had to seize this chance to grow stronger.
The experience and insights she had gained from her fight with the White Dragon Emperor were more or less fully digested by now.
It was time to seek out a new powerhouse.
And that powerhouse—would be you, Azazel!
However, Azazel was the Governor of the Fallen Angels. Challenging someone that strong, who also held high office and wielded major influence, without calling on Patchouli, her comrade and dearest friend, was impossible.
Not to mention, it would be odd. When it came to serious matters like this, she knew better than to let pride or fussiness get in the way.
So Zeroy reached out to Patchouli.
...
The two of them arrived before a single-person apartment and knocked on one of the doors.
Though Patchouli didn't know Azazel, the Governor of the Fallen Angels, was inside, she wasn't surprised by the situation.
It was perfectly normal for big names to live in inconspicuous places.
"Oh... hello, young ladies. Did you get the wrong person? Or do you need something from an old man like me?"
The middle-aged man who answered the door looked a bit surprised.
"Hello."
Zeroy first gave a polite nod, then stated her purpose directly.
"We're here to fight you, Mr. Azazel."
"Uh... we don't have any conflict, do we? Or are you my enemies?"
"Not really enemies. I just want to fight you. If possible, I'd also like to try burning you with Hellfire."
Zeroy kept her polite smile as she spoke words that would give Kuroka psychological scars.
"Another battle maniac like Vali, huh... the current generation of Heavenly Dragons... sigh."
Azazel let out a helpless sigh.
Clearly, he already knew who Zeroy was. Living in seclusion didn't mean being cut off from the world.
Especially since Zeroy had already made a huge scene in Kuoh Town and then given his foster son, Vali, a thrashing.
"Since you're not enemies, come inside first."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Once inside, Azazel took unopened bottles of oolong tea from the fridge, poured for both Zeroy and Patchouli, and asked:
"So, tell me specifically why you want to fight me. As the one involved, I think I have the right to know."
"Challenging strong opponents helps me grow stronger. Not just myself—it helps me synchronize with the Red Dragon Emperor's power faster."
"So this generation's Heavenly Dragons are both battle maniacs... that's trouble..."
Azazel rubbed at his brow in frustration.
Throughout history, the hosts of the Two Heavenly Dragons had always caused a stir, becoming central figures of their era.
Their personalities and actions inevitably shook their times.
Now, with both current hosts being battle maniacs—and both the strongest in history—they risked recreating the days when the Two Heavenly Dragons themselves still fought.
Back then, the two dragons brawled constantly, heedless of everyone else, giving the world endless headaches.
A single casual strike from them, on the level of Transcendents and Chief Gods, could wipe out a modern metropolis.
Such clashes inevitably caused collateral damage.
With two record-breaking hosts, their future potential might even surpass the original dragons.
In other words, the world now faced the threat of two hyper-powerful problem children.
"Forget it. I'm just a Fallen Angel; it's not my place to worry about everything. I'll accept your challenge. If you'll let me study the Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet, I might even help you synchronize with it faster. Still, I want you to show restraint when the inevitable clash with Vali comes."
"You mean not to kill him? Don't worry. As long as he doesn't turn into a pest, I won't kill him."
"A pest?"
"..."
Zeroy kept her polite smile, offering no answer.
She wasn't some naïve fool. Of course, she couldn't tell Azazel the truth now.
By her standards, Fallen Angels would be lucky if even half of them survived. Obviously, Azazel would never agree to that.
She'd wait until she had absolute power before speaking such things.
"Forget it. My request does mean that, but it also means: don't cause too much damage to the world."
"No problem. If possible, I'd prefer my fights not involve any innocents at all."
"Alright, then let's change locations."
...
"Change locations" meant the Underworld.
The Underworld was vast, larger than the entire Earth combined.
Within it were countless unclaimed, ownerless territories.
Perfect places for battle.
Suddenly, then, as soon as the fight began, Azazel's face nearly turned green.
He realized Zeroy, even without using the Red Dragon Emperor's power, was already at Demon Lord level. And he himself was only Demon Lord level.
Once she activated the Red Dragon Emperor's gauntlet, she became Super Demon Lord level, just one step short of Transcendent.
And this wasn't even a one-on-one fight—Patchouli had joined in too. With two Longinuses at her disposal, she was indisputably Super Demon Lord level as well.
Both of them immediately unleashed their Longinuses without hesitation.
'What? The challenger turned out to be me?!'
Azazel had no choice but to bring out his own Longinus.
—[Light Spear of the Fallen Dragon].
Azazel had fallen for lust in his youth, although that was long behind him. Now his hobbies were researching and collecting Sacred Gears, and he had even created many artificial ones.
The [Light Spear of the Fallen Dragon] was one such, born from his research into the White Dragon and other dragon-type Sacred Gears, into which he sealed the Golden Dragon King Fafnir.
Its rank and power rivaled a Longinus—slightly weaker in raw might, yet its traits were no less.
It had the simulated Balance Breaker [Armor of the Fallen Dragon], manifesting as golden armor over his whole body.
Azazel activated his Balance Breaker without hesitation. Zeroy did the same.
Patchouli, meanwhile, wielded the [Azure Box of Revolution] and the [Ultimate Karmic Wheel], activating Balance Breaker and merging the two Sacred Gears as one.
...
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