225.
The leaders of the three factions had headaches from Ren's story.
A truth that rendered something like the Three Faction Summit, where devils, angels, and fallen angels held talks, trivial. How many would accept that the ground they stood on was essentially no different from a bubble?
But the leaders present here were those who recognized reality in some way. One who, even if it was a contradiction, tried to ensure the angels' survival after the God of the Bible died; one who denied bloodline theory and became a Satan; one who led the fight on equal footing with devils and angels from the most disadvantaged position.
A foolish person would dismiss Ren's words as nonsense, but the leaders of the three factions were not that stupid.
Everyone showed a perplexed, troubled expression.
"This gives me a headache."
Serzechs said that while holding his forehead. Literally, when a problem of a different, enormous scale drops like this, anyone would react similarly, and indeed Michael and Azazel were no different.
Azazel muttered as if lamenting.
"Discussing the world in the truest sense."
226.
"So you're saying my brother is that incredibly strong dragon, one of the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods?"
"Even if you say that, I don't really get it...."
"Gasp!"
The prime of the Two Heavenly Dragons was a time when they ran amok even as the three factions were fighting.
But Issei was shocked at the level of being able to play with those prime Two Heavenly Dragons like toys. His brother was that amazing?
But then he scratched his head.
"Even so, to me, he's just my brother."
"Ah, I don't know. To me, he's my brother. Whether he's an Apocalypse Dragon or the strongest dragon, nothing changes."
"Right."
At Issei's words, Ren approached and lightly tapped Issei's head.
"As you said, the current me is not the Apocalypse Dragon or Great Red. I'm just Hyodo Ren, the eldest son of the Hyodo family. Think of it that way."
"Brother."
"For me too, being called a Two Heavenly Dragon God or such is just uncomfortable for no reason."
"....What kind of relationship do you have with that girl Ophis?"
At that question, Ren made a slightly sad expression.
"We're like family. From the moment we were born, we only had each other. So I'm very sad she reached such a conclusion. My death must have greatly influenced her. If I hadn't died, she probably wouldn't have become like that. So I feel sorry too."
"She's brother's family.... Then she's our family too."
"Haha, I guess so?"
Ren chuckled and patted Issei's head again. eEIzVnByMFQ5d2hqRmp3c1RxMnpjTXdlajY0Z1Jhelc0M1Zsb0dXaGk3OFVxSXNUL1pCcWNxeGI5VGh0Sm5SMw
"Take good care of Ophis when you meet her next time, little brother. Even though she appears like that, she's actually quite lonely."
227.
The Ouroboros Cult returned to the Chaos Brigade with Ophis.
As Ophis slowly returned, she cast her gaze toward a certain being. There was a golem that reminded one of a steel fortress, and Ophis looked at it and spoke.
"Red has returned."
At those words, the golem said nothing special. But as if intending to return to where it belonged, it moved its massive frame, and Ophis, as if having expected that, slowly withdrew her gaze.
A certain cult member who watched the scene asked.
"Will you be alright?"
"Returning to where one belongs. That's actually necessary for the current Red."
"....You might end up fighting him."
Hesitation.
At those words, Ophis flinched briefly, but soon began moving normally again.
"We will fight. Because Red is kind. He will try to stop my actions."
"...."
"But it's also necessary. Even if it were the prime Red, we couldn't fight unless it were in the Dimensional Chasm. There's no need to mention the current weakened Red."
The Two Heavenly Dragon Gods and Trihexa cannot fight recklessly.
Overwhelming power to defeat the weak is one thing, but this planet is too small to fight equals or superiors. Even if they don't intend to directly destroy the planet, the aftermath alone would wreck it.
"Give us your command, O Lord."
"Aurelius, send divine-class magical beasts to all myth factions. If they cannot endure, it merely means they were only that much. If strength is lacking, supplement it with snakes."
"Yes!"
"If necessary, I will step forward and eliminate them."
Ophis's snakes.
An extraordinary item that increases power, created only by Ophis. Even an ordinary human who receives it can possess power rivaling a high-class devil, and a powerful being who consumes it can aim even higher.
And the Ouroboros Cult is a place overflowing with those who have steadily consumed Ophis's snakes and grown their power.
Though small in number, their quality easily surpasses that of mediocre myth factions.
"We will open a new era."
This is a new wind, a turning point.
Not the half-hearted fights until now, but literally a battle and war that will change the era.
"Foolish devils, humans claiming to be heroes, arrogant gods—I care not for any. Prove that you are beings necessary for this world. ────Show that you had worth for us to protect."
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