"—That said, I know you lot won't back down with a simple 'yes, sir.' So, I'll give you some valuable information."
The brazen assassin declared restraining a god poised to attack as the Beast of Humanity defeated by this world's humans sneered.
"How to destroy Truth. Believe it or not, you filthy gods. But those who believe will have an edge in the ages to come."
The information was impossible to ignore. Yet, the gods questioned the Beast's palpable disdain.
"I hate you. I am the culmination of the stains you've spilled over time."
"This body is the embodiment of Truth and the shadow of the System."
The gods, stunned by the content, tilted their heads at the sudden mention of the System.
"First, Sacred Gears are God's creations. Their role is efficient energy collection. When a Sacred Gear user dies, the Gear is reclaimed by the System. But some, like the Two Heavenly Dragons, retain residual thoughts of past users. What happens to a Gear's influence when its user learns of God's absence?"
Merely approaching someone aware of God's absence affects the System. Naturally, it eliminates such impurities upon reclamation. The Two Heavenly Dragons' Gears are rare exceptions. Their draconic power invites tragedy.
"Get it? Hatred, grudges—most are stripped away, filtered, deleted, discarded. Sacred Gears convert emotions to energy, but some remnants persist. And Truth functions to reconcile discrepancies between human history and mythology. I've watched your self-proclaimed master-of-the-world antics. Humans aren't pure victims—mermaids and unicorns overhunted, dragons slain under the guise of pioneering, strong wolves exterminated for expansion. I've seen humans kill each other for trivialities enough to make me wish for death."
Individually, it's negligible. But with history's length and the abundance of Sacred Gears, it piles into a depicted hell.
An archer once called Trihexa "three thousand years of human and divine accumulation." Inaccurate. It's double that, composed solely of ugliness.
"The System and Truth share this function, and Solomon designed their waste to converge in one place. As a failsafe, should he fail to revive as a Beast of Humanity, he stored this 'mud.' A forgotten corner of the world, unnoticed by all, where waste is discarded and born. I grew feeding on that waste, surviving on impurities."
The first emotion I knew was that king's rage. Despite unleashing such fury, he died unaware of my birth.
For three thousand years after his death, I witnessed unbearable slaughter and intolerable noise. Destroying the world to avoid seeing and hearing it was only natural.
"You were two thousand years too late. The moment your savior failed to kill me, your lack of a future was nearly sealed. I wanted to destroy the world. I had to."
Perhaps "world destruction" was the King of Magecraft's unspoken truth, unknown even to himself.
"I waited in the world's corner, needing all that time, all those resources. Thanks to Assassin-dono and Caster-dono, the noise is gone."
Caster's curses and Solomon's magecraft clarified my vague reason, granting me Original Sin to know love. Assassin's swordsmanship severed me from Truth. Only then did the Apocalyptic Beast see the world's truth.
"I saw something beautiful. Truly beautiful."
I thought this star held nothing pleasant, nothing warm.
"There was something. Things of value. Lives ending in smiles, not tears. Bonds nurtured despite pain. That idiot king, claiming to love and believe in humanity, and that god—they understood nothing."
The Greek sun god asked, "That god?"
"The fool who joined Solomon's plan, sealed the Beast alone, was destroyed by Satans and Heavenly Dragons, and still awaits revival in the Holy Spear—the God of the Bible."
The Norse high god nodded in understanding.
"That god found me growing in the world's corner and sealed me. His death in the great war was partly due to the Two Heavenly Dragons' strength but also because sealing me was taxing. At that point, I was stronger than that fake Satan over there—naturally. But he sealed me not to stop Truth but to use it, ensuring I wouldn't die or complete in a way he didn't intend."
The Chinese wisdom god shuddered. "Killing you undoes Truth?"
"That's inconvenient for you, right? Only that destroyer god over there could resist. None of you could fight me fairly. But I've no interest in fighting you now—I'm severed from Truth."
"Then how do we destroy Truth?"
"The rings."
No need to specify which. The Beast spread its ten fingers, revealing no rings.
"That fool god used the idiot king's rings to seal me. This body is Truth's endpoint, a plug. The rings became the lid. During sealing, they merged with Truth. More than the pre-severed me, the rings are one with it. Destroy all ten, and Truth is undone. Your longed-for yesterday, where humans cling to gods, returns."
Killing a monster rivaling dragon gods or true dragons is far less feasible. But it's no sweet deal. The heir of a king who deceived all this star's gods and demons wouldn't offer such convenience.
"Congratulations, scum! Aside from my other half soon being embedded with the rings, it's your victory!"
Sirzechs Lucifer's peerage, excluding the fallen Knight Okita Souji and the King Sirzechs, numbers six. The Queen is Grayfia, the "Silver-Haired Annihilation Queen," among the strongest female Devils. The Bishop is MacGregor Mathers, a Golden Dawn founder. The Rooks are Surtr Second, a fire giant's copy, and Bahamut, a deep-sea light fish. The Pawns are Enku, a qilin, and Beowulf, a hero's descendant.
Arguably the Underworld's most famous peerage, their prowess is undeniable, embodying the Evil Pieces' elite concept. Without Knight or King, their prestige remains. Entrusted with the battlefield by their King and fueled by their Knight's death, their fighting spirit burned at its peak.
Thus, they alone tackled a point with ten Demon God Pillars' signals, intending to swiftly eliminate them and aid other battlefields.
"Know my wrath!"
"You'll know Souji's regret!"
"Sever!"
Surtr Second's fiery fist slammed into Amon's colossal form, but Amon countered fiercely. Outside the Temple of Time, with only ten Pillars' power, Amon couldn't overwhelm the strongest Rook. But Surtr Second faced the same issue—his attacks barely dented Amon. Both lacked a decisive blow. However, Surtr's poor energy efficiency tipped the scales. Even outside the Temple, Amon's ten-Pillar mana ensured he wouldn't lose to fuel issues.
"Weapons are mere prelude."
Another figure prevented Lucifer's peerage from aiding Surtr Second—not with healing or stalling, but with explosive firepower and supreme skill. A white-haired man in golden armor, wielding a massive spear.
"A true hero kills with his eyes! Brahma, cover the earth—Brahmastra!"
His strength defied reason. Firing eye beams sounded absurd, but their power was no joke.
Grayfia and the others kept their distance, observing. They were mentally exhausted, yet the man remained unfazed, facing the Underworld's mightiest peerage with ease. Likely the Hero Faction's strongest.
To buy time, Grayfia spoke. "I am Sirzechs Lucifer's Queen, Grayfia. You are?"
"My name is Karna. Class: Lan… Lancer. Currently, I'm playing Parashurama for the Demon God Pillars."
Karna, the tragic hero of the Mahabharata. Born to the sun god Surya but abandoned by his mother, raised by a charioteer, his fate was sealed. He served a doomed tyrant, was denied training due to his status, and had his invincible armor tricked away by a war god. Cursed by gods and priests, he couldn't wield his full strength against his rival Arjuna, leading to his defeat.
But this couldn't be him. An unmatched hero wouldn't be a mere descendant. Likely a reincarnate. The term "Class" was unclear, perhaps referring to his spear mastery.
"Why? You don't seem brainwashed. Why lend your power to Solomon, a calamity even for humans?"
"They needed me."
"My current Master seeks humanity's salvation from the Biblical factions, knowing it's meddlesome. I wield this spear for that wish—it's my reward."
His divine eyes shone with noble loyalty. The hero of giving, who defied his mother's pleas, fought his half-brothers, and remained loyal to his lord and friend until the end.
"I have no reason not to aid them now. I'm fortunate—trusted with such mana. Perhaps I'm the luckiest Heroic Spirit."
"Foolish. Solomon will betray you and the Hero Faction. That's who he is."
MacGregor interjected having edited and translated The Key of Solomon uncovering Solomon's nature and Truth turning his admiration to disgust.
"Even if you and your comrades trust him, he'll discard you. Choose your lord wisely, lest you tarnish the hero of giving's name."
"Insult me as you wish, but I won't overlook slights against my Master or the Hero Faction. You're the fools, drowning in empty prosperity in your petty sandbox, betraying all for your own happiness. You have no right to scorn those who've found something unbetrayable."
As Grayfia shuddered under his divine gaze, Amon and Surtr Second's battle shifted. Surtr's firepower waned—he was nearly out of gas. Amon seized the moment.
"Ten Demon Gods, open your eyes!"
Crimson eyes on Amon's form glowed, locking onto Surtr Second. Karna hurled his flame-wreathed spear. Grayfia and MacGregor tried to interfere and defend, but they were too slow, too fragile.
"I catch every afterimage, every trace. Incineration Formula Amon!"
"Brahma, curse me—Brahmastra Kundala! Watch your head, no hard feelings."
Surtr Second's giant form shattered under Amon's frontal incineration and Karna's overhead blazing spear.
"Sorry, boss… big sis…"
The strongest Rook fell. The clone of the apocalyptic giant ended its volatile life without seeing the world's end.
"…Right. A past lord said I lack a word or two."
"My current lord, and the man commanding the Demon God Pillars, isn't the Solomon you know—not the king who loved humanity but never forgave a single human."
In another battlefield, ten Demon God Pillars raged, unmerged, each manifesting individually.
"Delicious!"
"I love tasty things, but this is too much!"
"Be not afflicted!"
"Enough! We Grigori are immortal!"
Even Dulio Gesualdo, the strongest exorcist wielding the Longinus Zenith Tempest, alongside Fallen Angel leaders Armaros and Tamiel, couldn't match the Pillars' numbers and quality.
With the strongest forces focused on the Pillars, they couldn't handle the evil dragons or Annihilation Maker's monsters.
"Guhahahaha! No princess or head nurse today! Freedom! Freedom's grand! Dragons gotta be like this!"
"And so many enemies! We can kill 'em all!"
"How much stress were you under?"
Three evil dragons, absent from the Agreas heist, rampaged against angels, Fallen Angels, and exorcists. Unsupervised today, they reveled in unrestrained carnage.
"Impossible… Grendel, Nidhogg, Apophis? Those evil dragons were extinct!"
"They're right here! We have to hold out until reinforcements!"
It wasn't just high-quality evil dragons. Leonardo, a Hero Faction youth, unleashed an army of monsters via his Longinus Annihilation Maker.
Previously honed for anti-monster tactics, learning of the Second Beast from Goetia shifted his approach. Annihilation Maker mirrors an earth goddess's authority. Creation begins with imitation, driven by imagination. The Pillars' otherworldly existence fueled Leonardo's growth, bringing him close to Balance Breaker.
The Pillars and Longinus were anticipated, but evil dragons were not. Dragon-slaying preparations would've been made if known, but too late now.
The Pillars, dragons, and monsters overwhelmed the battlefield's forces, forcing a delay until Satans, their peerages, or summit guards arrived.
Amid the chaos, two women faced off: a girl with green-streaked hair wielding a holy sword and a blue-eyed, Nordic-featured beauty. The girl trembled in fear; the woman scowled in anger.
"…Why are you there, Xenovia?"
"G-Griselda-nee."
"I was worried when you were excommunicated as a heretic. But to join terrorists… Come back. I'll beg Michael-sama for mercy."
"No, I refuse."
"What?"
"I won't return. My life was for God, to reach His side. But I was wrong. My place is here, where I've found something I truly want to protect!"
"That's right. Let her go."
A black-haired youth in a Chinese robe over a uniform stepped forward tapping a simple spear on his shoulder shielding Xenovia.
"My comrade doesn't deserve your slander as an enemy. The Church branded her a heretic and cast her out; we welcomed her. That's all. Stop acting like her family."
Prove it in battle, he implied, aiming his spear at Griselda.
"Who are you?"
"I lead the Hero Faction, a descendant of the Three Kingdoms' hero Cao Cao—call me Cao Cao. Leader's just a title now."
"So, the Khaos Brigade was taken over by Solomon."
"Half right."
"What's the other half?"
A child-sized old monkey appeared, golden-furred, speaking human words, wearing cybernetic sunglasses—no ordinary ape. The Journey to the West's Great Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong.
"Ooh♪ It's Wulong, the Jade Dragon! Let's fight like old times!"
"What?! Why are Grendel and Apophis here? You're supposed to be extinct! Old man, help—"
"Don't hog them, Grendel!"
As dragon kings and evil dragons clashed, the hero's descendant and legendary monkey faced off.
"Great Victorious Fighting Buddha-dono, I didn't expect you. I thought non-Three Factions would wait for our annihilation."
"Just keeping up appearances."
Sun Wukong puffing purple smoke from his pipe, exuding an unassailable presence.
"That's a peculiar demon spear. Fine taste, but where's the god-slaying Holy Spear?"
"I discarded it."
That he'd abandoned the True Longinus, survived its removal, and spoke without regret or sentiment shocked everyone. The mightiest Longinus, a supreme holy relic—discarded.
But the legendary monkey grinned, delighted. "So, you've truly become yourself."
"Yes, Great Victorious Fighting Buddha-dono. I am me. A spear is just a spear. Without the Holy Spear, I can go anywhere under these azure heavens."
"Quite enlightened. Met a good mentor?"
Cao Cao shrugged, his face betraying the answer.
"By the way, know anything about our Bikou? Heard he's with the Khaos Brigade, but their internal situation's unclear."
"No idea. I'm not dodging—Vali's team's whereabouts are mostly unknown."
"Got it. Enough chatter. That bald war god's pride doesn't matter, but I'm here as a soldier."
Once a Satan, called a divine monkey or astral spirit, Sun Wukong's radiance was Cao Cao's aspiration. Yet now, he challenged the legend.
"Yes. I'll prove my—our—worth with the Dawn Demon Spear."
Damn Demon Gods, futile struggles. Fallen King of Knights, meddlesome nuisance. All for naught. All meaningless. It's almost time. Soon, the final piece for my revival will align.
Hurry, my loyal angel.
Hurry, hurry, hurry! Why do you think I used Truth to turn you into a Devil, swapping the useless Seraphim's memories? I won't let you forget your mission over diluted blood.
Wait, Solomon.
Soon, upon revival, I'll destroy the failed humanity you meant to deify, using a beast befitting their ugliness.
Then, I'll create a humanity worthy of your guidance, using Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash Kyrielight—whom traitor Azazel will summon—as materials, the ones you praised so highly!
So, return to me!
***
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