Because Sai Akuto's "Genesis Burst" was a rule-type skill rather than a destructive one, even though the Church's warriors were clearly engulfed by it, they didn't suffer any damage at all. A dozen seconds later, after the three of them roughly confirmed the situation, they rushed out of the cathedral at once.
…
High above, Sai Akuto slowly descended, surrounded by a host of angels.
When they saw the angels' faces clearly, the Church warriors were shocked to discover that these angels were people they knew!
"Sister Milana?! She actually became a twelve-winged angel? How is that possible? It's one thing to be reincarnated as an angel, but [why is even Holy Son-sama a twelve-winged angel?] Even some shattered, who-knows-what kind of 'unit' can be promoted to twelve-winged angels now?"
"Hm? That is… Holy Sword-user Xenovia and Holy Sword-user Irina? Weren't they sent out on a mission?"
"Wait, and that witch Asia? Wasn't she branded a witch and exiled? Even an exiled witch can be reincarnated as an angel?!"
Faced with such an unbelievable sight, the already-confused hearts of many Church warriors only grew more lost.
All this time, the Church had been drilling into them: "Devils are evil," "Fallen Angels are evil," "Those who are exiled are evil," "We fight for God-sama and for the people"…
But now, after they had successively experienced things like "the blasphemous devil Sai Akuto becoming the Holy Son" and "witch Asia becoming an angel," even their [unquestioning faith] was beginning to show signs of collapse.
Fortunately, the Church warriors still had at least one belief to cling to: "We hunt evil for God-sama and for humanity." With that one conviction propping them up, they had not yet lost their faith to the point of lashing out blindly.
In the original storyline, it was precisely because Heaven reconciled with the races once labeled as evil, and the Church's warriors could no longer find enemies to fight, that even their last bit of conviction was stripped away. In their confusion and anger, they ultimately launched an armed coup.
…
Although they were confused and unable to accept it, with the facts laid out before them, the warriors of the Church could only try to talk themselves through it.
Standing behind Akuto, Griselda, who always served quietly at his side, took the initiative to step forward and began [methodically] introducing the Church's angel-human corps.
"Holy Son-sama, this is Vasco Strada-dono, the previous wielder of Durandal and a priest of the Church," Griselda introduced.
Out of respect for Vasco, Griselda placed him at the very front.
…
Vasco Strada was the one Sai Akuto cared about most among those present.
At eighty-seven years of age, he could already be called an old grandpa… and yet his body still looked incredibly youthful, with a sturdy, muscular build paired with an elderly, deeply wrinkled face—a textbook example of a powerful male physique.
For Xenovia, Irina, Yumi, Rinto and all the other warriors who had come from the Church, Vasco was like a guide standing in front of them.
As a chief priest and secretary of the Church, he had always advocated the importance of warrior-training institutions, and was an important figure in this Church where warriors took the lead.
Besides that, he was also the original wielder of the Holy Sword Durandal now held by Xenovia, and at present was regarded as the strongest among so-called pure-blood humans—a legendary warrior.
Even now, Vasco Strada was already called a legendary warrior; in the future, he would go on to become a candidate for the title of Strongest Human.
Unlike the other candidates for the Strongest Human, Vasco was not any kind of reincarnator, [nor had he obtained the bloodline or power of any other race].
That fact alone was enough to show how powerful he truly was.
…
The instant Akuto's eyes fell upon Vasco, he felt his "Savior's Holy Sword" seem to produce a faint ripple.
Akuto understood: Savior's Holy Sword had taken a liking to the Durandal II in Vasco's hand.
And it wasn't just toward Vasco. Akuto's Savior's Holy Sword also produced [a slight ripple] in response to Ewald standing off to the side.
Clearly, Est wasn't only interested in Vasco's Durandal II, but was also rather taken with the King's Sword II in Ewald's possession.
…
"Greetings, Holy Son-sama. I am Vasco. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that, under your hand, the Church and Heaven will walk toward a more prosperous future."
At these words from Vasco, Daidolo and Ewald, who stood nearby, both had a visible change in expression.
Because Vasco's words were, [without a doubt, an acknowledgment of Sai Akuto's status]!
Griselda noticed their reactions, but her expression stayed calm as she smoothly moved on with the introductions:
"This is Teodoro Legrenzi-dono, a Privy Cardinal of the Church. If His Holiness the Pope steps down, there is a high chance that he will become the next Pope in the future."
"Oh? Is that so? The future Pope, huh~"
Akuto glanced over Teodoro. Perhaps because his reaction earlier had been a little too obvious, Teodoro now shifted his gaze away somewhat guiltily.
"I would not dare presume so, Holy Son-sama. I'm merely doing my utmost to carry out the duties of my office. As for who becomes Pope, [that of course is for Holy Son-sama and Heaven to decide together]."
Having had the wind taken out of his sails ever since Vasco spoke, Teodoro's words were very restrained.
Even though he hadn't acknowledged Sai Akuto's identity from the very beginning, he at least addressed him properly as "Holy Son-sama."
Once Akuto had confirmed Teodoro's attitude, Griselda turned to the last person—Ewald.
"Holy Son-sama, this is Ewald Cristaldi-dono. He is the previous wielder of the King's Sword, and the Master of Warriors of the Church. He has trained a great many of the Church's warriors."
"I see. So you've taught that many warriors, [Ewald, you've worked hard]."
Akuto gave Ewald a gentle smile.
From beginning to end, Akuto had maintained that same gentle smile.
Yet from his body, they could feel an astonishing pressure.
His smile was not the smile of a "smiling tiger" who looked friendly on the surface while scheming in secret.
Akuto's smile was like that of an adult looking at children at play—gentle, [yet carrying an authority that allowed no doubt].
…
"Holy Son-sama praises me too highly. Training warriors for the Church is my duty."
Under Akuto's gaze, Ewald also expressed his respect.
He did harbor a trace of unwillingness in his heart. However, since both Teodoro and Vasco had already made their stances clear before him, Ewald could only go along.
Yes, he really was the Church's Master of Warriors—but Vasco was the Father of Warriors for the Church. Since Vasco had been the first to extend goodwill, [Ewald could only follow].
Seeing this, Vasco revealed a gratified smile.
No matter what, it was best if no conflict broke out.
By reincarnating so many people into angels, Sai Akuto had already proven both his identity and his strength.
If, even after learning that Sai Akuto could reincarnate people as angels, they still harbored any thought of disloyalty toward him, they would have broken away from the Church long before this day ever came.
…
However, even with the overall situation already settled, a different voice still emerged from within the Church.
A luxuriously dressed young man slowly stepped forward and, with a smile, extended his hand to Sai Akuto.
"Sai Akuto-dono, I wonder… would you be interested in having a duel with me?"
"Mm? And you are…?"
Akuto raised an eyebrow and looked at the young man who was reaching out to him.
"I am Dulio, the strongest exorcist of the Church," the young man replied softly.
Even though the words coming out of his mouth were a challenge, Dulio's tone and expression were both very gentle.
Clearly, he had no issue at all with Sai Akuto being the Holy Son.
But as the strongest exorcist of the Church, [at this very moment he had to stand out].
"Ah, Dulio, huh? So you're the wielder of 'Zenith Tempest'?"
Sai Akuto finally recalled the young man's identity.
Dulio—the wielder of the second-strongest Longinus, "Zenith Tempest."
He was Heaven's strongest trump card, the number one among the reincarnated angels, a candidate for Seraph, and also the captain of Team DxD.
Reincarnated devils used Western chess, from pawn to queen, as their pieces; [reincarnated angels used playing cards from A to K as their pieces].
But Dulio's rank after reincarnation was "Joker," belonging to no regular set as a member of a special unit.
Because whenever he personally took the field, he alone was a living "bomb"—the ultimate trump card!
…
In the original storyline, Dulio once joined "Devil King Lucifer" and "Kise Uryuu" in storming the Underworld itself, and together they threatened Hades, god of the Underworld.
After the Evil Dragon incident, [Dulio served as captain of the anti-evil unit, "Team DxD."]
His vice-captain was none other than the Sun Wukong famous in mythology. Not the "Monkey King" in Vali's team, but… the true, first-generation Sun Wukong!
The first-generation Sun Wukong was, without question, a god-class powerhouse—and one who stood at the pinnacle among god-class beings, regarded by many gods as having the power to contend with lower-tier Main Gods!
For Dulio to hold a position above even the first-generation Sun Wukong, despite being inferior in both age and standing—aside from the fact that Sun Wukong himself had no interest in being captain—was proof enough of just how strong Dulio was.
…
All in all, Dulio was a powerful fighter [who could calmly and methodically handle any situation he faced].
He was so strong that even Cao Cao, wielder of the "Holy Spear of Twilight," would lose when facing Dulio head-on.
After all, most of Cao Cao's combat strength lay in the Holy Spear itself; when up against an opponent like Dulio, who could casually throw out large-scale, forbidden-spell-level attacks with a wave of his hand, Cao Cao would be forced into an extremely passive position.
In short, Dulio represented the absolute top-tier combat strength of both Heaven and the Church.
The mere fact that he had stepped forward now was already highly significant.
…
Dulio did not step out now in order to show off his strength to the Holy Son.
Dulio stepped out—to fight one last battle on behalf of the warriors of the Church.
Though he might look frivolous on the surface, in truth he possessed an extremely broad and compassionate heart.
On one of his occasional returns to the Church, he discovered that because of Heaven's policy shifts, the hearts of those within the Church had grown disturbingly scattered.
At a time like this, [someone had to step up and bring those hearts together].
It required pressure from the outside by Sai Akuto, but it also required someone from within the Church to apply force from the inside.
And as "the strongest exorcist," he was the best person to rally the Church from within.
Exactly.
The reason Dulio stepped out was not to seek victory.
He stepped forward—so that he could lose to Sai Akuto's hand!
Because only that way could the pent-up resentment in the hearts of the other Church warriors be released. Only then could they truly let go, and walk toward the future.
(End of Chapter)
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