223.
Aurelius clashed with the leaders of the three factions including Serzechs and stepped back.
Even if she possesses an upper-tier God-Destroying Tool, perhaps in a one-on-one fight it would be different.
But fighting multiple leaders is no easy task. If her intention was to end things here, the result might have been different, but at least in such a place, there was no need to go that far.
"I shall retreat for now. This place was merely a minimal declaration of war anyway..."
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Purification."
She said.
"Everyone in this world lives peacefully. They join forces to confront a common enemy. Such a dream-like thing is impossible. That's why our master decided to act with just us. And I suppose she intends to reveal the truth to the world and create unseen sprouts. Outstanding strong individuals are always born in troubled times."
"You're going to start a war in the world? That's insane!"
"That's laughable. Is that something the very parties who started the Great War to seize hegemony in the past should say? Even now, more than half of the devils probably can't grasp the situation."
At those words, Serzechs frowned.
As if a sore spot had been hit.
As if the term 'original sin of the past' wasn't meaningless, those related to the three factions couldn't say anything on that point.
"The God and Satans who were the starting point of the war.... I don't know about the Satans, but the God ended up pitiful. Who would have thought the angels would fall this far. Or perhaps in some sense, the fall of a group that lost its head looks like that."
"What do you mean?"
"You are not qualified to know."
In response to Michael's question, Aurelius spoke coldly and turned her gaze to Ren, bowing her head.
"I apologize for failing to recognize your esteemed presence earlier."
"...."
"Great one. It is an honor to meet you again, even in this form. And the door to where we and our allies reside is always open. If you change your mind, please visit us soon."
With those words, she disappeared from the spot.
Checking the side, Vali, who had been fighting Issei, expressed admiration for Issei's new power and said he'd settle the score next time before retreating.
And the fight between Katerea and Serafall ended in Serafall's victory.
A situation coming to a temporary close.
"....Just what is your true identity, Hyodo Ren?"
At Azazel's words, Ren looked up at the sky.
It seemed a very long, lengthy explanation would be necessary.
224.
The leaders of the three factions couldn't help but be astonished by Ren's explanation. That Hyodo Ren was Great Red was already shocking enough...
"Even when the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods and the Beast of the Apocalypse rushed together, they were defeated?"
"Insane."
They couldn't hide their shock at the existence of the otherworldly death god that defeated even the combined forces of the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods and Trihexa. The three beings called the strongest in this world rushed one person together, yet not only couldn't win, they couldn't even achieve parity.
Something literally unimaginable had occurred in reality.
"B-but you ultimately defeated him, didn't you?"
"...That was a kind of miracle. With my power alone, with just our power, it was impossible. If asked to do it again, frankly, I couldn't."
And.
"To my knowledge, there are two more death gods with power equal to Melbazoa."
The otherworldly death gods are not just one. I know for certain they had siblings, and their power is never inferior even compared to Melbazoa. And their personalities and tendencies aren't greatly different.
Meaning, it might not be long before they invade this world again.
At that shocking fact, the faces of the three faction leaders remained grim.
"...This isn't the time for peace treaties or such talk. This is truly a matter of the world's fate, damn it."
Azazel spat out a curse.
"Though extreme, I can understand Ophis's actions. We can't guarantee we'll get through next time like this one... And if enemies equal to or stronger than Melbazoa appear, with my current power it's hopeless. Unless it's someone like Ophis or Trihexa, they probably couldn't even be opposed."
"...."
"From Ophis's perspective, lives that are intoxicated by this false peace and just squabbling might not seem worth protecting..."
"But Ophis's actions will kill countless lives."
Ren smiled bitterly.
"Can you guarantee you won't regret thinking 'I should have done that after everything is ruined...'?"
"...."
"Seeing such words still come out, it seems there's no awareness. To put it bluntly, wouldn't it be unsurprising if the world ended tomorrow? Literally, the current peace is no different from a fiction."
They fell silent.
Their perspectives were too different, their thoughts couldn't keep up. Even being just a Satan means one could destroy a small country in minutes, and being at the level of gods or high-ranking dragons means possessing power to wreck the world. But because of the balance between factions and their living grounds, they don't do such things.
But now Ren's words are literally discussing the true world.
Not their petty survival competitions or such problems.
"Th-then you should have said so from the very beginning! Why so late...!"
At Michael's words, Ren let out a sigh.
"What would have changed if I had said so?"
"Huh?"
"Even now, various myth factions are fighting and squabbling among themselves, there are plenty with different thoughts, and crucially, it was an opponent that wouldn't even get scratched unless it was someone like me, Ophis, or Trihexa. What would have changed if other myth factions got involved?"
"Uh..."
At that devastatingly poor assessment, Michael couldn't continue speaking.
Setting aside what other myth factions think, he had outright declared that they wouldn't be helpful. What made them more speechless was that it wasn't exactly a wrong statement.
The Archangel, the current leader of Heaven.
Even someone like Michael had significant problems trying to participate in a battle at the level of the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods.
".....I see, I couldn't understand why the God of the Bible created Sacred Gears and gave them to humans, but if that's the reason..."
And Azazel, who seemed to have caught on to something from Ren's words.
Looking at the three factions like that, Ren spoke as if lamenting.
"I don't have my former power now. That means I can't stop Ophis."
"...."
"For better or worse, now that you know this truth, you must seriously discuss the world."
Otherwise.
"You'll be destroyed by the otherworldly invasion, or destroyed by Ophis. Either way, you'll be destroyed."
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