234.
-Puhahahahaha!
-Such a dream-filled young girl!
-I guess the Sitri household's next head is still young too!
The upper-class devils laughed at the dream of creating a school for lower-class devils.
Serzechs could see anew from that sight just how hopeless it was. Of course, Sona's dream itself might not fit the current Underworld's situation, and to put it harshly, it might be nothing but fanciful words full of dreams.
But even so, openly mocking like that in such a place is something that originally shouldn't happen. The fact it was occurring allowed him to reconfirm how the current Underworld was operating.
'....You fools of devils. It's you who aren't seeing reality.'
Was Sona's dream not seeing reality?
Before discussing that, it's the devils themselves who aren't seeing reality. Bringing in reincarnated devils for the race's preservation, with nearly half of the 72 households severed due to the Great War. Even the Old Satan Faction is causing civil war without knowing the Underworld's situation.
For better or worse, pure-blooded devils will have to rely on reincarnated devils from now on, but he could see anew from the current spectacle that they were completely, utterly unable to see that future. In the past, he might have felt complicated but nothing more.
But now was different.
'Ajuka is right. ...There's no answer but tyrannical rule of killing them all.'
The sight of them still steeped in arrogance and unable to see the devil race itself gave him a headache. Ophis was eagerly looking for opportunities to eliminate those who only bring chaos to the world, and another world was targeting this world itself.
Seeing the devils' behavior anew in such a situation was enough to draw a bitter laugh.
Though heartbreaking, he could only admit it.
That most of his devil brethren were foolish and stupid.
How much blood would flow in the coming transformation?
And how many more households would be severed?
Just thinking about that made Serzechs's mouth taste unbearably bitter.
235.
The Rating Game of Rias vs. Sona.
Starting from that day, each devil began their training.
"What is this huge golem?!"
"Hmm, it's been a while since I've seen this."
A golem revealing itself before them with a thud. Tannin, who had arrived earlier nearby, muttered.
"The golem called Great Red's servant, is it."
"Brother's golem?!"
"Both the Two Heavenly Dragon Gods and the Apocalyptic Beast have their respective golems. Don't look down on it because it's a golem. Forget Satans, even mediocre gods are no match for it."
As if ignoring Tannin's words, the golem briefly glanced at Issei. But it showed no particular reaction and soon slowly turned its gaze to its master.
"Long time no see. Perfect timing. Help with Issei's special training too."
"Brother?!"
"From my experience watching so far, Issei is someone who gets stronger when pushed."
"You want me to face a monster-like dragon and a golem comparable to a monster?! Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Don't worry, you won't die. ....Probably?"
"Hey!?"
Whoosh.
As if not planning to listen to the answer, the golem captured Issei. He struggled, but for the current Issei to resist a machine god who surpassed even gods and Satans was nonsense from the start. Seeing Issei captured like that, Tannin also spread his enormous wings.
"Well, for that reason, I'll borrow that mountain over there, Princess Rias."
Issei soon getting kidnapped (?) by the dragon king and machine god.
He shouted from the air with a voice full of lament.
"I'll curse you, brother?!"
"Sure. Come back alive."
236.
-Waaaaaaaaah! Help!
A voice full of cries echoing from the mountain.
Enormous shockwaves were echoing there, showing just how terrifying the fight was. Watching from afar, Azazel shook his head with some sympathy. With just Tannin alone it was hopeless, let alone with the machine god joining in.
"Even so, isn't that too much?"
"No matter how excessive, training is fine. Moreover, thinking of prime Ddraig, that level is actually just right. Besides, even though he's only running away, the fact he's fleeing like that is impressive in itself."
"That's true."
Normally, escape would be impossible.
Even though the dragon king and machine god were going easy, that alone made him top-class.
"And personally, I have expectations for Issei too."
"Triaina, was it?"
Ren nodded.
"A form of changing the Balance Breaker by adjusting with Evil Pieces. An evolution of Sacred Gear that's never existed before."
A new possibility and power that bloomed when Issei fought against Vali.
Triaina.
Matching the abilities of Issei's Pawn Evil Pieces, he gained the ability to promote into Rook, Knight, Bishop, and Queen forms.
"But isn't that just a simple sub-species Balance Breaker? It seems difficult to see as a new possibility."
Of course, Azazel judged Triaina wasn't a bad power. But just as its advantages were outstanding, its disadvantages were clear too. In Rook's case, power and defense were great but speed died; Knight was fast but defense was weak. Bishop had tremendous firepower but charging time and mobility suffered. UXBSc1U1NHhkSXU5WE9mbklwYzBhcERVcDArNnVqbXF5NGpIRHJBT3oveWcwUkFTV0p3UjFHVTAvbkZWSGVhdg
Azazel evaluated it as closer to a sub-species that specialized in one part while in an overall balanced state.
"There's still one more, isn't there."
"Queen, huh. Hmm, certainly thinking that in chess the Queen has advantages of all pieces, perhaps the other forms might be auxiliary. Though promotion to Queen is still impossible, if that becomes possible, it could be called a new possibility."
"It's the result of my power, Sacred Gear, and Issei's heart mixed together. As family, as a brother, I'm very happy."
"....A kind of singularity, then."
Azazel, who had been watching toward the mountain with one eye closed, spoke.
"Why the God of the Bible scattered Sacred Gears to humans was my biggest question. Frankly speaking, from an efficiency standpoint, it was trash. Giving even low-class divine tools to low-class fallen angels would be much more efficient. Giving god-slaying tools to archangels goes without saying."
There are many strong Sacred Gear users.
But there are also many who aren't.
To put it extremely, strong Sacred Gear users would be strong even without Sacred Gears.
"Did the God of the Bible give Sacred Gears to humans to prepare for the otherworldly invasion?"
"I don't know that either. But he told me he was preparing for something in some way, and looking now, you're probably right."
"The ultimate weapon that evolves according to the owner's heart and emotions... Certainly, then giving them to humans would be right. Giving them to non-humans or angels would just make them powerful mythic weapons. Or perhaps aiming for new possibilities like Vali...."
If the information about the otherworld Ren mentioned was true, unless there were at least transcendent-class beings existing by the truckload, those below wouldn't be helpful. That's why Sacred Gears were given to humans for new possibilities, singularities.
Humans generally have many aspects inferior to non-humans, but Azazel acknowledged they show possibilities unseen by non-humans, like exceptional humans such as previous Durandal users.
"A new era, huh."
Azazel, who had been looking at the distant sky for a moment, looked at Ren.
"There's something I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"I won't ask you to save me. But I want you to take responsibility for those who have families."
Ren looked at Azazel indifferently.
"Have you resolved to die?"
"With the situation like this, I have no intention of protecting my own neck. As Grigori's governor general, the karma I've sown—at the very least, I should prevent harm from reaching other fools."
"You should know better than anyone that it's not such a simple matter, Azazel."
"I know."
Azazel smiled bitterly.
"But still, wouldn't the neck of a fallen angel governor general recorded in scripture be worth something?"