Chapter 788

Kyubel spoke of bottomless despair. Precisely because of that, Ruto couldn't remain silent and just listen.

"If ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????you understand that much, then why? Even you can't stop the God of Destruction, can you? The awakened God of Destruction will wreak utter destruction and bring a world of despair. You and your little Demon King game will come to an end too."

What ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????did he intend to do by awakening the God of Destruction, whom even the gods couldn't stop?

"There's ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????a way to increase our chances of winning. This is it."

"Huh?"

"I've ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????been waiting for that opportunity. I've been waiting all this time. All alone......"

"...Go ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????on."

Ruto even felt a tinge of melancholy toward Kyubel, clad in his clownish outfit and wearing a mask.

'The collective intelligence unit is the 245th model. Director Shinorum is the 143rd, but he's exceptionally talented, unlike any before. The current Demon King is the 99th. I was prepared to wait for hundreds more researchers and Demon Kings, but a miracle happened. Finally, a Demon King has been born who possesses the "power" I sought. But, my, he's so full of himself it's a problem—naming himself Demon King and trying to start a world conquest. With the God of Destruction looming, there's a procedure to follow, you know.'

Kyubel's feelings, having lived through eons of time, overflowed from beneath his mask.

Shinorum had referred to the collective intelligence, Lukimone, as prototype unit #8, but Shinorum himself was merely one of over a hundred individuals Kyubel had approached and sought cooperation from.

"A procedure for conquering the world. Or perhaps a procedure for defeating the God of Destruction. Either way, a million years is an awfully long time to wait."

Ruto imagined the world as Kyubel saw it. How harsh must it have been to act alone for nearly a million years, deceiving the divine realm to fulfill the conditions he set for himself? She sensed the flow of time, vast and seemingly eternal.

"It means predicting the actions of the gods and surpassing the power of the God of Destruction requires perfect preparation. If we proceed step by step to fight the God of Destruction now, our chances are more than sufficient. Director Shinorum and Demon King Zeldias have worked excellently. Thanks to them, even though there were those like Oldo who just watched and didn't cooperate... Oh, but they were never my allies to begin with."

"I'm not sure I follow entirely, but it seems you're almost there. How exciting."

"Exciting, you say? What do you mean?"

Ruto's words snapped Kyubel out of his self-congratulatory陶醉 (tōsui - intoxication/rapture).

"I mean the moment your efforts come to nothing is almost here. When that time comes, will you take off your mask and show me your face?"

"As expected of a fellow First Angel. Your nasty personality is just like mine; I think we'd get along. So you never doubt Allen and the others' victory. Fine, you can be a spectator in my theater. Until the Demon King devours you, you can watch Allen and the others suffer in the theater I've prepared."

"Allen will win. So that future won't happen."

"Fufu, this was a good conversation. The theater is about to begin... The troupe members will soon arrive to sing and dance with the lyrics and choreography I conceived. Well then, I must perfect the preparations to receive them cordially."

"You're leaving already?"

"Ah, I have things I must do. It was a enjoyable conversation. Thank you."

Saying that, Kyubel stood up and left through the door without looking back at Ruto.As he returned down the corridor and stood before the gatekeepers, the massive door closed shut on its own.

*Thud*

"Lord Kyubel, is everything satisfactory?"

"Ah, Ruto-kun's actions were within my expectations... She got quite bold for someone who knows she can't win. What was that about 'wanting to see the moment I lose'... Hm?"

"That attitude of Ruto's when things go well will be quite a sight to see... Is something the matter?"

Just as the gatekeeper demon gods were praising a pleased Kyubel, he froze as if remembering something.

"That's strange. Huh? 'Want to see'—why was she so certain? Did I overlook something? It feels like an important phrase. For it to linger in my mind this much, does that mean there's something off? A missing piece?"

"Lord Kyubel?"

Though spoken to from the side, Kyubel didn't answer the gatekeepers, instead muttering to himself, desperately trying to fit together the jigsaw puzzle of unease in his mind.

"...But, from that feeling, it seemed Ruto-kun also had doubts about the God of Destruction's existence. So what did Ysray tell Rosen to make him cooperate with Allen and the others... Why is he so fixated on Allen in the first place?"

"Ysray has never seen the God of Destruction. But there is something in the Spirit Garden that can definitively declare the God of Destruction's revival... Ah!! There it is!!! The mirror! That's it! It's the reverse!! Rosen moved Ysray!! And then he sought cooperation from Ruto-kun, the First Angel!!"

The Great Spirit God Ysray, not an ancient god, unlike Kyubel, could assert he had never seen the God of Destruction. From here, his thoughts arrived at the reason for Rosen's obsession with Allen.

"Lord Kyubel!?"

"The Mirror of Foresight. What the Mirror of Foresight showed wasn't the past from over a million years ago, but the future? That means there's a reason for focusing on Allen? Not Hermios... I see!!"

He progressed his analysis of the parts from the conversation with Ruto that felt off. Beside the astonished gatekeepers, he held his hand to his mouth, ruminating on the words 'God of Destruction,' 'Allen,' 'Rosen,' and 'Mirror of Foresight' from the conversation, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together without contradiction.

"Rosen saw a future where the God of Destruction rampages through the three realms! That's why he clearly understands the threat of the God of Destruction. But then, what about Allen? I see, no, it's unbelievable but... Are you saying they were fighting!? Allen and the God of Destruction in the future!! That's why he's doing all these roundabout things to interfere with me!! And persuading Ruto-kun to cooperate to realize that future!!"

From the unease in his conversation with Ruto, Kyubel understood the principle behind the Spirit God Rosen's actions. It was connected to a future where his own actions came to naught.

"L-Lord Kyubel! What is the matter?"

Finally, Kyubel turned his gaze toward the gatekeepers.

"I cannot allow my envisioned future to be interfered with. ...Could you call the Warden for me? There's a Sealed Chamber I wish opened. He should be in the Demon King's quarters now, preparing to become the Demon God King."

"T-the Sealed Chamber that only the Warden can open, you mean... A-are you sure?"

"Mhmm. Quickly now. If what Rosen saw is true, then Ysray will surely start moving for this battle too. Garm as well. He will undoubtedly guide even the gods to cooperate with Allen."

"Then, swiftly!!""B-but the door!?"

*Clunk*

Just as the gatekeepers were about to move, a door over ten meters tall suddenly appeared in the corridor.Its sudden appearance blocked their path, and amidst their surprise, the door opened, and something enormous emerged from within.

"You called for me, I presume. Lord Kyubel, I, Bremen, have hastened to your side promptly. Thank you for recommending me to become the Demon God King!"

His timely appearance saved the gatekeeper demon gods the trouble.

*Jangle jangle*

As if having just powered up, a single Demon God King, brimming with magical energy all over his body, appeared.

Over ten meters tall, with two horns exceeding one meter on his head, a face resembling kabuki Kumadori makeup, and an oddly polite tone, he placed one hand on his chest, bowed at the waist, and addressed Kyubel.Multiple huge keys linked into rings hung at his waist; he must have pressed one of them against empty space to make the door appear.

"Mhmm, your hearing is as sharp as ever. Did you come all this way just for me? Warden Bremen."

"Of course. Although I haven't heard the details, you require me, you said?"

"I want to release the God of Death. I thought I'd have him join the fight as well. It seems we lack the luxury to keep hidden trump cards hidden anymore."

"Are you certain? I hear he was captured as he was necessary for negotiations with the Dark God Amante-sama."

He voiced his objection while still bowing in a prostrate attitude.

"I can't afford to worry about that now. If we lose like this, we won't be able to use any last resorts or secret plans. The divine realm will bring more power than they did after the First Angel was kidnapped. Allen-kun's growth rate is an unknown variable too, so being thorough is important, right?"

"Understood. Then the Sealed Chamber is this way."

He inserted one of the keys hanging at his waist into the air.Perhaps due to his massive frame, his arm reached behind Kyubel, where a new gigantic door materialized.

Kyubel and Warden Bremen passed through the door and moved to another location.Transported by the Warden's power, they arrived at a corner of the prison where a very old door, as if it had stood for hundreds of thousands of years, stood before them.

"Now then, Lord Kyubel, please place your hand on the jewel on the left door."

"Like this?"

"Simultaneously. Here we go. 3, 2, 1..."

The Warden placed his palm on the jewel on the right door of the double door, and Kyubel placed his on the jewel on the left door.

*Whirr**Gogogogo*

The jewels reacted to the magical energy of the two Demon God Kings, glowing, and the door slowly opened.Beyond the unsealed door was a large hall, and in its center, something like a ragged dust cloth was curled up on the floor.

"Is that it? It seems quite decayed..."

As the Warden slowly stepped into the Sealed Chamber, footprints appeared in the dust, as if no one had set foot there for a very long time.

"It's fine. He won't die from something like this. No, death is his specialty, you might say. Hey, God of Death Creeper. It's time for work."

*Snap*

What seemed like a ragged dust cloth was the God of Death's cloak.The figure raised itself from the dust-covered rag, its true form unseen within the gaps of the cloak.Two red, glowing eyeballs fixed on Kyubel from within the head of the intangible body.

"...Work? That voice... Kyubel? What a ridiculous getup you have... But I have no intention of conversing with the likes of you. How dare you imprison me! Die!!"

*Zap*

"Impossible! The sealing chains have no effect!? So easily!?"

As the God of Death, who lacked a lower body, moved, countless chains hidden in the dust on the stone floor, similar to Ruto's, became visible.

As the God of Death lunged toward Kyubel, his body, which had been bound by countless chains to the floor stones, easily tore the sealing chains apart and charged straight forward.While moving, he conjured a massive漆黑 (shikkoku - jet-black) scythe infused with divine power in both hands.Gripping it firmly, he swung it down with all his might toward Kyubel.

"Lord Kyubel!? Infinite Barrier!!"

"Hmph, a barrier of this level!!"

Just before it struck Kyubel, the Warden, empowered as a Demon God King, intercepted it with a坚固 (kengo - sturdy) barrier infused with vast magical energy, blocking the scythe's blade.

*Creek crack**Snap crackle*

"Im-Impossible! My barrier, strengthened by the Demon King-sama!? Lord Kyubel, please flee!! At this rate...! I cannot hold it!!"

As if confident in his barrier-making ability, he was aghast at how the God of Death's blade easily caused spider-web cracks to form and spread through the "Infinite Barrier" without even using a skill, and urged Kyubel to retreat.

But Kyubel stood perfectly still, calmly watching the God of Death destroy the barrier from behind his mask.

*Smash*

Finally, the jet-black blade of the God of Death, having completely shattered the barrier, bore down toward the clown-faced mask covering Kyubel's face.

"Magnificent power. The blade of the Dark God-sama is still potent, I see. Don't you want to see the Dark God-sama?"

"With Amante-sama, you say!!"

The blade stopped just before cleaving his face.

"That's right. We attacked the divine realm and stole the Spacetime Management System from the Spacetime God. We'll soon be connected to the Dark World as well."

"...Continue."

"Good. I'm glad you're willing to listen. I'll guide you to the Dark God-sama's side, but I have a small request first. It's not exactly clearing the path, but there's someone I'd like you to swing that scythe for..."

The conversation between Kyubel and the God of Death Creeper continued within the long-sealed chamber.Within the Demon King's castle, Kyubel steadily progressed his preparations for the battle against Allen and the others.

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