The light radiated out from the main seat of the hall, where Su Mo was, and fell upon Saigou Homura, causing his shadow on the wall behind him to coalesce into the form of a ferocious and majestic dragon-serpent.
Saigou Homura raised his head, his expression hidden in the pitch-black shadows. Only a pair of ruby-red eyes, which had changed color at some unknown point, glinted with an ominous light from within the darkness.
Judging solely by his current posture and the kingly aura he radiated, it was hard to believe he was just a child a little over ten years old, and not a true king.
In fact, his teacher, Canary, knew this herself.
The one currently in control of her student's body was not entirely her student's consciousness. Instead, like the avatar of Typhon, it bore the will of a certain evil god, a Demon Lord.
Azi Dahaka, the Demon Lord of Absolute Evil, the Final Trial of Humanity who had once single-handedly defeated the Million-God Pantheon.
Canary had personally witnessed the birth of this terrifying Demon Lord. She had seen him nearly shatter the entire Little Garden, his might so overwhelming that all the pantheons of the Little Garden had to consider fleeing.
She had also witnessed this Demon Lord's downfall.
And now, this king, whose presence was unparalleled even in his avatar form, was kneeling on one knee, respectfully expressing his submission and reverence to the being before him.
The reason was simple.
The Su Mo before him was the very powerhouse who had once defeated Azi Dahaka and successfully subjugated the Final Trial of Humanity known as the Demon Lord of Absolute Evil.
Before the victor, the vanquished naturally had to know their place.
Facing Azi Dahaka's question, Su Mo slightly raised his eyes and glanced toward the side hall.
"Is there even a need to ask? You should know Saigou Homura's thoughts better than anyone, shouldn't you?" he retorted.
Hearing this, the Demon Lord of Absolute Evil nodded calmly.
"To punish evil with absolute evil, to become the pinnacle of evil itself, and thus embody the universal truth of chastising vice and promoting virtue... This boy does indeed meet the conditions to bear my fate."
At this point, he looked up at Su Mo, his tone changing.
"However, if that were all, it would hardly warrant your personal intervention... After all, the fate I bear, the trial I represent—haven't you already overcome it long ago?"
In the side hall, Izayoi, who had overheard this conversation, widened his eyes.
What? His little brother was now bearing the fate of a Demon Lord, just like the avatar of Typhon... and had even gone a step further to become the avatar of a Final Trial of Humanity?
Didn't that mean he possessed the traits of both the Dystopian Demon Lord and the avatar of Typhon?
And, from what this Demon Lord was saying, the Final Trial of Humanity that his true form symbolized had already been overcome by Lord Su Mo?
The sheer volume of explosive information made Izayoi hold his breath, eager to hear more.
Back in the main hall, Su Mo nodded slightly at Azi Dahaka's question.
"A keen observation. You are indeed not the focus this time. However, your participation is required for now. There's no special mission; you just need to carry out your original purpose."
As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Canary, who looked a little embarrassed.
"This adjustment is merely to correct a small mistake from the past."
"A mistake?"
Azi Dahaka looked at Canary in confusion, not understanding what Su Mo meant.
"The mistake you're referring to is—"
Hearing this, Izayoi perked up his ears, focusing with all his might, wanting to learn the deeper details.
However, from that sentence onward, all sound from within the hall was suddenly cut off. The window in front of him suddenly closed on its own, completely cutting off any possibility of Izayoi prying further.
Izayoi froze for a moment, subconsciously wanting to pry the window open again.
But as he reached out, he suddenly recalled Su Mo's earlier glance in his direction and realized that Su Mo was forbidding him from listening any further.
Izayoi could only withdraw his hand resentfully and sit back down, waiting anxiously for Saigou Homura's audience to end.
Saigou Homura's—or rather, the Demon Lord of Absolute Evil's—audience took about five or six minutes.
But to Izayoi, it felt like half a day had passed.
When the main hall's doors finally opened and he saw his little brother's figure, Izayoi immediately went to meet him.
As he left the hall, Saigou Homura's eyes were still crimson, and his entire being exuded an imposing majesty that could not be taken lightly. It wasn't until he saw Izayoi that he paused, his eyes switching from crimson to azure, and his aura finally returned to that of the real Saigou Homura.
"Brother Izayoi, what are you doing here!" Saigou Homura said, a little flustered.
"If I hadn't come, how would I have known about your situation!"
Hearing Saigou Homura's tone and confirming that it was his own brother in control, Izayoi breathed a sigh of relief before chiding him.
"I can't believe you became the avatar of a Demon Lord. Why didn't you tell me something so important beforehand? I know it's more effective to tell Lord Su Mo, but do you not even see me as your older brother anymore?!"
"I..."
Saigou Homura didn't know how to explain.
"No need to explain. I'm not blaming you. I thought something was strange before, but if you're bearing the fate of a Demon Lord, then it makes sense."
Izayoi shook his head and said in the tone of an older brother.
"I don't know what mission Lord Su Mo has given you, but I'm sure it won't harm you. So don't go to extremes, and don't think about doing something stupid like sacrificing yourself. After you complete Lord Su Mo's mission, we'll find a way to overcome the trial head-on together."
Izayoi had great faith in Su Mo and Canary. He believed that no matter the mission, they wouldn't let Saigou Homura truly become a sacrifice, so his mood lightened.
If Saigou Homura's previous misguided thoughts were caused by his status as a Demon Lord's avatar, then wouldn't he return to his original state once he completed the avatar's mission?
Izayoi's thoughts were overly simplistic and he didn't hide them, so Saigou Homura immediately understood what his brother was thinking.
"Lord Su Mo's mission, the Demon Lord's purpose... Brother Izayoi, do you think I came to see Lord Su Mo because of things like that?" Saigou Homura said, his tone tinged with disappointment.
"You didn't?"
Izayoi was slightly taken aback.
From the earlier conversation, he had assumed Su Mo had summoned Saigou Homura. He hadn't expected his little brother to have requested the audience himself.
"Of course not."
Saigou Homura shook his head, all traces of his earlier flustered panic now gone.
"I had the idea first, which is why I was able to bear the fate of Absolute Evil..."
He paused here, looking steadily at Izayoi.
"Brother Izayoi, actually, I came today to say goodbye... Since you're here, you can help me pass on the message. Tell the others that I have my own path to walk, so I'll be taking my leave for now."
At these words, Izayoi visibly froze.
"Homura, you said... goodbye? You're planning to leave?"
"If I'm to judge all with absolute evil, I naturally can't stay with the saviors' group," Saigou Homura nodded.
"After accepting the fate of Absolute Evil, I don't think I'll have the chance to be a savior again. I'm sorry, everyone, but I'll have to leave this mission to you."
Every word Saigou Homura spoke was a bombshell to Izayoi.
His little brother wasn't just leaving; he was also giving up his right to be a savior.
Such a declaration meant he wasn't just leaving temporarily, but parting ways with everyone for good.
"Are you kidding me?! Where are you going at a time like this?"
Izayoi couldn't accept this decision and glared at his brother.
"To the place where the sins of this world are deepest, of course."
Saigou Homura looked toward the Pacific Ocean.
"To dare commit such atrocities without my permission... it's time they paid the price for their sins."
Clearly, he intended to do as he had said before: in the name of Absolute Evil, he would suppress the highest authorities and monopolize all sin.
This also meant that he himself would become a villain who had to be defeated.
"Don't be ridiculous! I won't allow it!" Izayoi roared.
No decent older brother would let his younger brother walk such a path, one destined for ruin.
Absolute Evil? Isn't that just a villain despised by all?!
Izayoi grabbed Saigou Homura's shoulders firmly, intending to use force to stop him from leaving.
Although they were both Third Stellar Particle Codex Holders, as the older brother and the physical-type, his physical abilities were twice that of Saigou Homura's. If he used his strength, Saigou Homura would have absolutely no way to break free.
At least, that was the difference in their strength two days ago.
But now...
"It's just an imitation of Typhon's constitution, but it should be enough."
Saigou Homura muttered, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and broke free from Izayoi's grip with startling ease.
Izayoi felt as if he had been trying to restrain a savage dragon, only to be thrown off with irresistible force.
Then, under Izayoi's disbelieving gaze, Saigou Homura raised his arm and clenched his right hand into a fist.
"Sorry, Brother Izayoi! This is the first time, and the last!"
In the instant before his mind went blank, Izayoi heard the apologetic tone in his brother's voice.
Caught completely off guard, he tried to reach out, but against a power as overwhelming and irresistible as Typhon's, Izayoi couldn't withstand it and collapsed on the spot.
In the final second before his consciousness faded, he saw Saigou Homura unfurl the phantom afterimage of a dragon from his back.
With wings made of black shadow-blades, he flew straight into the sky, merging completely with the night.