218.
At those words, the leaders of the three factions stiffened their expressions.
"Is that true, Azazel?"
"Ah, it's true."
"Why would the very being who ended the Great War suddenly...?"
"That's precisely the problem."
Azazel spoke as if it were dubious.
"Let's go back to the most fundamental question. Why did Ophis get involved in the Great War?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said, Michael. Why did Ophis get involved in the Great War and massacre all the devils, angels, and fallen angels?"
"...."
At those words, everyone fell silent for a different reason.
Of course they would.
The strongest being who, without any warning or reason, got involved in the Great War and ended everything. Though hundreds of years had passed, no one knew why Ophis did such a thing.
"Regarding this point, no answer has emerged, so everyone remained silent. No one could know what got into the Ouroboros Dragon, who had been quiet until then, to massacre all three factions, and there was no one bold enough to ask the person herself. So we kept it hushed up since then, but now they've started moving in earnest."
"If that's true, it's a serious matter."
"Who would disagree? Ophis alone massacred the three factions, and under her command are the Ouroboros Cult, who received Ophis's snakes and grew stronger over thousands of years, and other criminals drawn by Ophis's power..."
It's not that there haven't been terrorist organizations until now.
But the Chaos Brigade has literally become the strongest, worst terrorist group in history. At Azazel's words, everyone swallowed hard.
"And they've infiltrated this summit?"
"Can't you tell by looking?"
Azazel let out a sigh.
"The Ouroboros Cult serving Ophis has moved openly. Those fanatics who would never move unless it was related to Ophis."
"...."
"If we're not careful, it'll be a repeat of the past."
Azazel's gaze turned outward.
There, followers of the Ouroboros Cult were appearing.
"...Humans who have eaten Ophis's snakes. Each one is at least at the level of a high-class devil. Well, if that were all, it wouldn't be a big problem."
"If the Ouroboros Cult has moved directly, then the Apostles must have moved too."
"That's the problem."
The leaders of the three factions grimaced.
The Apostles of the Ouroboros Cult.
They were talents carefully selected by Ophis, beyond merely receiving snakes, and their power could be said to exceed that of a Satan.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear."
219.
The leaders of the three factions slowly came out. They thought the other side might attack first, but unexpectedly, they didn't launch a preemptive strike and seemed to wait patiently for them to emerge. And among the numerous members, someone slowly revealed herself.
At her appearance, the leaders of the three factions grimaced, and seeing their expressions, she smiled elegantly and spoke.
"It's been a long time, Serzechs, Azazel, Michael."
"Well, this is serious. I never thought the heavy-bottomed First Apostle would move personally. What's your scheme, Aurelius?"
Aurelius Chrono Orb.
Ophis's First Apostle.
She could be called the eldest in the Ouroboros Cult and is effectively the one who leads the cult.
"Scheme? What a strange thing to say. We are merely servants following our master's command."
"Ophis's command, you mean."
"That's right. She judged that you all are unnecessary for the world to come, and sent us."
"Unnecessary for the world to come... Is Ophis looking at such a distant future? That doesn't seem likely."
"───Shut up."
They flinched.
A sudden surge of killing intent. That immense killing intent could hardly be called human, and Azazel grimaced as if the casual remark was deeply offensive.
"How dare you fools discuss the world? Do you think you have the right to discuss the future? Don't you fools, who don't even understand how this world is maintained or how it remains intact, dare to discuss the world. You have no such right... You do not exist. You're merely scoundrels busy polluting the world with the greed before your eyes."
"That's too harsh. So you're saying Ophis has that right? No matter what, that's arrogance."
"Hu, huhu, arrogance. To think it's arrogance..."
Aurelius sneered as if truly amazed.
"Nothing is as pitiful as ignorant nonsense. The remarks of fools who don't even know by whose grace they walk this land unscathed, who don't even know they're alive, are truly laughable."
Azazel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Because you're so pitiful, ridiculous, and utterly foolish, you started something like the Great War, and even after such a long time has passed, you're busy regressing rather than developing. Our poor master, our pitiful allies, the foolish God of the Bible who trusted such fools..."
Groooowl.
Immense power erupted from her. That power clearly surpassed that of a Satan, and the leaders of the three factions grimaced.
"This matter is our master's command. ...But I am also grateful. The beginning of our cult may have been nothing more than our master's casual pastime, but for those who gathered there, it wasn't. The ill fate between you and me has already lasted thousands of years, Azazel."
"..."
"I shed tears of joy when our master intervened in the Great War and massacred the fallen angels. Sacred Gear hunting... Every time you fallen angels still do that, I want to tear you apart. But I am one who has dedicated everything to our master. I must not wield this power for my own selfish desires, nor ruin the greater cause. That's why I was so overjoyed when our master herself said she would dispose of you. Ah, our master has judged that the likes of you are meaningless for the world to come!!!"
Evil creatures appeared behind Aurelius's back.
Seeing that spectacle, Michael muttered.
"Evil Creature Creation..."
"My Sacred Gear is Annihilation Maker... An upper-tier Longinus created by the God of the Bible... Because I possessed this Sacred Gear, I nearly died several times at the hands of fallen angels thousands of years ago, and in the end, I could only survive by being embraced in our master's arms. And thanks to our master, I was able to cultivate this much power."
She grinned.
"The greater cause of a race, the greater cause of those in power, the greater cause is wonderful, isn't it? Then I too shall speak with an absolute greater cause."
Die for the greater cause (the world), you worms.