Chapter 98 – Old Maou Faction: Katerea!
"Stronger than the Two Heavenly Dragons… Wait, don't tell me—"
"The Infinite Dragon God. Ophis," Azazel said quietly. "A being that even the gods of old feared. From the moment this world was born, she stood alone at the peak… the ultimate existence."
Ophis.
The name itself carried a weight that bent the rules of reality. She wasn't just strong—she was strength incarnate. A god among gods. A force of nature.
And now… she was the supposed leader of a terrorist group?
Unbelievable. No matter what organization it was, if Ophis was involved, that group would automatically be elevated to a threat above all others. Even the God of the Bible had never dared to provoke her recklessly.
"What's wrong? Scared?" Katerea's voice rang with twisted delight as she watched Sirzechs's serious expression. "Now that you know who leads us, you finally realize how small you really are, don't you?"
She laughed—sharp, mocking, and self-satisfied.
"So the war between the Old and New Devil Factions is about to start again," Azazel said flatly, one brow raised. "Figures. The Devils can't go a single generation without some kind of civil war."
Sirzechs didn't respond to the jab.
Not because he disagreed, but because he was too busy staring at Katerea—his fury rising beneath the surface.
He had spent decades striving for peace—between Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels. And they were so close. The summit was nearly complete. The Great War had taken too many lives already. Even though the war was long over, the scars it left had never truly healed.
Peace meant a future. It meant hope.
But now… here she was.
Ruining everything.
"Katerea," Sirzechs said coldly. "Is this your declaration of war?"
"Exactly, Sirzechs. With the old gods and the original Four Maou gone, now is the time to reshape the world. The time for change is now!"
"You do realize what you're saying, don't you?"
"This world doesn't need peace. It needs chaos. In chaos, the glory of the Old Maou shall be reborn! A new era for Devils will rise!"
Her eyes gleamed with manic light. Her voice trembled with conviction—no, obsession.
She was long past the point of reason. A fanatic chasing a long-dead dream.
Sirzechs's crimson eyes sharpened, bloodlust subtly leaking into the air.
He could no longer view her as one of their own.
Not when she was trying to drag the entire race of Devils back into the abyss.
And then—someone interrupted.
"Well, that's a lot of talk from someone who's just bitter about not being chosen as a Maou."
The voice was casual. Almost bored.
Katerea's head snapped toward the source of the voice, her face contorting with rage.
And there he stood—Shin Akira.
Calm, unfazed, and slightly smirking.
Katerea's eyes narrowed. Of course she recognized him.
The talk of the Underworld. Rias Gremory's fiancé. The Red Dragon Emperor—the wielder of [Boosted Gear], one of the Thirteen Longinus Sacred Gears.
The same boy who had crushed Riser Phenex in a Rating Game and thrown the political order into chaos.
"The Gremory princess's fiancé… Red Dragon Emperor, huh."
"Aw, you know me? I'm flattered," Akira replied, flashing a lopsided grin.
"You've got potential. Why don't you join us?" Katerea offered suddenly, her tone sultry and inviting. "Once Khaos Brigade takes control of the Underworld, not just Rias—you could have any woman you desire. All of them."
A silence fell.
And all eyes turned to Akira.
They weren't sure what he'd say. After all, if Ophis was truly behind this, Khaos Brigade was practically invincible. Aligning with them wouldn't just guarantee survival—it could mean unrivaled power.
Even Rias stared at him, tense, her fingers clenched slightly. Their engagement was political, nothing more... but even so, she couldn't help the knot forming in her chest.
"Hm… yeah, no thanks," Akira said with a shrug.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he replied, his gaze flat. "Don't waste my time with empty promises. If you're really going to conquer the Underworld, do it first—then talk. I've already got the girl I want. Why would I follow someone on a suicide path?"
"…So you're rejecting my offer?"
"No, Katerea. You just don't have anything worth offering."
A quiet breath ran through the room.
Even the air felt lighter.
For the first time since the attack began, the tension broke.
And Rias—who had been watching him with bated breath—slowly exhaled, a warm glow settling in her chest.
Her opinion of him, once neutral and pragmatic, had shifted.
From that moment on, something began to change inside her.
"…Shame," Katerea hissed.
She raised her hand, and in her palm, an ominous symbol appeared.
A snake, coiled into the shape of ∞.
The mark of Ophis.
"The Snake of Infinity," Sirzechs muttered, his voice low.
Michael nodded beside him. "There's no doubt now. Ophis is involved."
Until now, there had been doubts. Ophis had always remained distant from worldly affairs—even during the Great War.
But that symbol was unmistakable.
It wasn't just decoration.
It was a blessing. A portion of Ophis's power, bestowed upon another.
As the symbol glowed, Katerea's aura erupted.
Her power skyrocketed—surging past the limits of a High-Class Devil and bursting into Maou-class.
An impossible jump, made real in seconds.
Just by bearing the Snake of Ophis.
The difference between a regular High-Class Devil and a Maou was like the gap between a pond and an ocean.
And now… she had crossed it effortlessly.
That was the might of the Infinite Dragon God.
"…Hey, future brother-in-law," Akira said casually. "This one's mine, yeah?"
Sirzechs didn't even blink.
"She's betrayed our kind. Disrupted our summit. Joined a terrorist group. There's nothing to discuss. Do what you want."
"Perfect."
Akira rolled his shoulders, his grin returning.
A new target.
Estimated value: +3%.
Ever since his sync rate had hit 80%, the only way to improve was by fighting powerful enemies—those at High-Class Devil level or beyond.
And now, he was staring down a full-on Maou-class opponent.
Talk about divine timing.
In the original timeline, Katerea was supposed to be defeated by Azazel—at the cost of his arm.
But not this time.
Akira would claim this victory for himself.
And in doing so, he'd prevent a tragedy… and push his own evolution forward.
Let the real battle begin.
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