221.
Ren's face twisted painfully at those words. Those present who didn't understand the situation looked on with bewildered expressions, and Ophis merely looked up at Ren silently.
"That's the logic of a tyrant."
"They have responsibility too."
The responsibility to know.
The responsibility to prepare for the future.
The responsibility to fight.
"Countless lives will disappear, Ophis..."
"That too is karma they must endure."
Ophis continued.
"Can a world maintained by the sacrifice of a specific few be called right?"
"...."
"At least I don't think so."
This time, her gaze went to the leaders of the three factions.
"They have done nothing since they were born until now. It's not just devils, angels, and fallen angels. Youkai, vampires, werewolves, dragons, gods..., all races living in this world live only such foolish lives. Thinking this peace on thin ice will continue forever."
"....So?"
"I will reveal the truth. And those who, even knowing that truth, repeat the foolish mistakes are unnecessary in the world Red protected."
"Are you going to destroy this world?"
"I will not destroy the world Red protected. I will merely select."
"Select... No one has that right, Ophis."
"────Who other than us has that right?"
At those words, Ren opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it.
An impossibly arrogant statement.
But if one were to say who has that right, who other than them could be said to have it? No, no one.
Ophis spoke as if sad.
"Red is kind."
"Ophis..."
"But this world and its creatures are not kind enough to receive that."
"Is Chimera Mon... no, is Hexa of the same opinion?"
"Trihexa also doesn't view the world favorably. But he said he has no intention of moving as extremely as I do. Neutral."
"So you're aware it's extreme."
"Affirmation. But whenever the world transforms, only great upheavals occur. This time is merely the same."
Ophis reached out her hand to Ren.
"Let's return, Red. To our home."
"..."
"Trihexa will be happy too."
The small hand reaching out.
Originally, he should have grabbed it long ago.
But Ren couldn't bring himself to grab it.
".....If your goal is like that, I cannot go with you."
"Why?"
"Because that's not what I wanted."
"....As expected, Red is kind."
Ophis made an expression that seemed somewhat happy, yet simultaneously sad.
"But that's why I hate this world."
She muttered with faint but clear anger. The sight of this world and its creatures, unaware of his sacrifice, chattering away in ignorance thanks to his sacrifice, couldn't help but be displeasing.
If only they had been worth that much.
The sight of them squabbling among themselves is infuriating.
"Today... I shall return for now. But I will not give up."
Ophis looked at Ren and spoke with a slight smile.
"No matter what happens, the last ones remaining will be us three. I will return us to that time, Red."
222.
With those words, Ophis's First Apostle and the leaders of the three factions continued their fight.
"I saw an interesting spectacle."
And the Red Dragon Emperor vs. White Dragon Emperor battle also began. The White Dragon Emperor Vali, who had been listening to Ophis's conversation, turned his gaze to Issei.
"What do you mean."
"Who would have imagined that she, who was always so impassive, would show such emotion. ...Who could have even imagined that my rival's brother was that Great Red."
"Great Red?"
"What, you don't know? Well, you haven't been the Red Dragon Emperor for long..."
Great Red.
Like Ophis, known to have been born before this world was created, one of the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods. His power is equal to Ophis's, and it could be said all gods and Satans fear him.
"In the past, Ophis ended the Great War in a single day. Trihexa, known as the Beast of the Apocalypse, overturned the entire Olympus myth in a single day. Great Red, who is equal to them, must have similar power..."
"..."
"But uniquely, only Great Red's external activities ceased at some point, so it seems there are complicated circumstances. And that Great Red is claiming to be your brother, Hyodo Issei."
"I don't know about that. To me, he's just my brother."
"Simple."
"Why did you join such an organization?"
"Simple."
Vali said.
"I pursue battle. I can't feel its value in peace. But the Ouroboros Cult led by Ophis is openly declaring they'll bring battle to the world. Saying they'll distinguish jade from stone amidst chaos. I don't know what they're thinking, but since it aligns with my goal, we're merely cooperating."
"Dammit, what's so good about fighting."
Vali shrugged his shoulders.
"Why don't you say that to the three factions who started the Great War in the past first?"
"Ugh."
"Fighting, war isn't simple slaughter. It's a realistic problem mixed with hegemony and all sorts of issues. The world's history was established through fighting. Denying such fighting, war is hypocrisy." eEIzVnByMFQ5d2hqRmp3c1RxMnpjT05WdlJQcHJCQmZsN1B4Mk1MTVZ2UEkxelZhWEhkeHBGOGJRWS9sTEh6Tw
Always, at any time, the two words "fighting" and "war" have never disappeared.
In non-human history.
In human history.
In divine history.
"So, is that all your power amounts to, Hyodo Issei?"
"...."
"Even though you awakened recently, I had some expectations, but this falls below expectations. I observed a bit more after hearing the earlier conversation, but you're still ordinary. I'd be ashamed to call you my rival like this. There's not even value in using the White Dragon Emperor's power of Divide."
The White Dragon Emperor Vali.
His full name is Vali Lucifer.
A half-human, half-devil who possesses Lucifer's power as a devil and a God-Destroying Tool as a human - a being who could literally be called a miracle without being strange. The bug expected by the God of the Bible, could also be called an Irregular existence.
Azazel said Vali would become the strongest White Dragon Emperor across future and past, and proving that, he was gaining advantage over Issei who was using Boost, without even using Divide.
Considering the original fight between the Red Dragon Emperor and White Dragon Emperor, it was literally an overwhelming difference.
It was natural since he possessed power rivaling a high-class devil even without using his Sacred Gear.
"───Don't look down on me."
"Hmm?"
"Hey, Ddraig! Let's use that!"
"Don't be stingy! Can I just let this disrespect slide?! Show some guts, guts!"
"What are you trying to do?"
At that moment.
From Issei's jewel, a massive D voice began to be heard. A function not originally in the Boosted Gear began to manifest, and tremendous aura began to erupt from the Red Dragon Emperor's armor.
"What is this? The Red Dragon Emperor shouldn't have this ability."
"Possibility!"
Issei shouted.
"Mine and Ddraig's! The possibility of the path we will walk from now on!"
───During the fight with Kokabiel, when he couldn't do anything, he was frustrated. The fact that he could only watch, that he was only being protected, was unbearably frustrating. So he wanted to become stronger.
The Sacred Gear responded to Issei's wish and heart, combining with the inherent power and mixing into a new power.
"Welsh Sonic Boost Knight!!!"