Chapter 171: The Crisis of the Seven Shadows – A Gathering of Gods and Monsters
"Acting on your own again? So this is how you wash your hands of responsibility?"
Serafall scoffed as she narrowed her eyes at Azazel. She didn't believe him—not for a second.
"It's true! Am I really that untrustworthy?" Azazel retorted.
Her only answer was the synchronized nods of three others in the room. Azazel could only offer a wry chuckle.
"There's another reason I've been collecting sacred gears. It's preparation... just in case."
"In case of what?" asked Sirzechs, his gaze sharpening.
Artifacts like sacred gears had long been known to pose greater risks to devils than anyone else. Azazel's motives, therefore, naturally drew suspicion.
"Relax. They're not for use against you. I'm gathering them to prepare for a certain problematic group—the Chaos Brigade."
With that, Azazel unfolded the truth behind the organization.
"A collection of dangerous outcasts from major factions?"
"And some of them wield Longinus-class sacred gears."
The atmosphere in the chamber shifted as both Michael and Sirzechs grew solemn. Longinus artifacts were legendary, said to possess the power to slay even gods.
"Their goals are straightforward—destruction and chaos. They're terrorists, nothing more. But their leader... that's where the real threat lies."
Michael's expression turned grim. It was obvious—the artifacts weren't being gathered out of precaution alone. Azazel had someone in mind.
"To clarify... their leader isn't a person. He's a dragon. And not just any dragon—one of the most vicious beings that ever existed."
That declaration caused the chamber to tense. Michael and Sirzechs knew exactly which dragon he meant.
"The dimensional rift anomaly days ago... was that related to Ophis?"
"No idea," Azazel admitted. "But Michael—you received no intel from Great Red?"
"I waited all the way till the summit… it never came through."
"Is that so..." Azazel nodded, and the brief pause was swallowed by silence.
Then his demeanor changed—sharp, serious.
"Days ago, Great Red was attacked… by a god known as Melbazoa. Or rather, by one of his creations: the first member of the 'Seven Shadows of Rahu.'"
The room plunged into stunned silence. Rias and Sona exchanged disbelieving glances.
"The Seven Shadows of Rahu… that's not one entity," murmured Azazel, confused. "Isn't that just the name of the group?"
The implication landed heavily. The one who could match Great Red wasn't even the leader—but just the first among seven?
Which meant… all seven members could be monsters on the same tier?
Even if only the first rivaled Great Red, the others couldn't be far behind. Each one at least on par with a chief god.
And their master—the god Melbazoa—if he created such beings… could he be even more terrifying than Great Red?
Azazel turned toward Michael. "Who is this girl, exactly?"
"She's not a Vatican affiliate," Michael replied, eyes still fixed on the veiled figure. "Xenovia and Irina found her in a ruined dimensional plane. She claimed urgent business that threatened our world, so I allowed her entry."
"A visitor from another realm?" Serafall blinked. "Not from Earth… not from any known mythology? An alien god?"
Serafall strode toward the girl, curiosity dancing in her eyes.
"May I—"
"Serafall," warned Sirzechs. "Don't harass our guest."
Serafall halted reluctantly, her hand frozen mid-reach.
"Miss Shephara Seraselbess," Sirzechs said evenly. "Can you tell us more?"
The veiled girl nodded and gently inclined her head. "Of course, Sirzechs. Let me introduce myself properly. I am the priestess of the demon god Seraselbess, and I hail from the world known as Fadiel Fertor."
Everyone blinked in surprise.
Not from the future, as some had suspected—but from another dimension altogether.
"A demon god?" murmured Rias.
And then came the next revelation:
"Seraselbess is the younger sister of the evil god Melbazoa."
Stunned silence washed over the room.
"And above them stands an elder brother," she continued, "the ghost god—Regalzeva."
A tremor ran through the chamber. If Melbazoa could produce an army to rival the gods of this world, what kind of horror was Regalzeva?
"And this ghost god Regalzeva has forged two familiars," she said gravely. "Both are said to rival the first of the Seven Shadows."
More gasps. The blood drained from several faces.
"And the demon god Seraselbess created five familiars," she added. "The first of those equals the same power tier."
The implication was clear—just the foot soldiers of these three god-siblings would require the full strength of this world united. Including Ophis. Including Great Red.
So what would happen if the gods themselves joined the fray?
"This is a crisis worse than the Three Faction War," Michael muttered. "Far worse."
Their eyes all turned to Shephara. Was Seraselbess sending her to help?
She shook her head.
"I've fled," she admitted softly. "I'm not from the demon god's realm—Evis Etourute—originally. My home was a different world… already half-conquered."
Gasps echoed.
She'd been chosen by Seraselbess as a priestess. Not willingly—but because servitude meant her people would survive.
Survive, perhaps… but only as puppets and weapons.
"Wait," said Azazel suddenly. "Did your arrival here expose us? Could it be that you led them here—unintentionally?"
The room fell still again.
"I was actually heading for another world entirely," she whispered.
"Another world?" Serafall scoffed. "To bring ruin there instead?"
"No. To warn them. That world has a chance to resist. It might even be able to save my own."
The council stirred. Another world capable of opposing the gods?
"What kind of place is this?" asked Sirzechs.
Shephara hesitated. Beneath her veil, her lips parted slowly.
"It's a world… you might find familiar. You could even call it… a parallel Earth."
Chapter 172: Echoes of Divinity – The Parallel World Awakens
A parallel world?
An Earth with similar history, a solar system akin to theirs?
Azazel raised a brow. "You mean… there's another me?"
"Possibly," Shephara replied. "Another Azazel, with the same role and title. But likely not the same experiences or personality."
"A whole pantheon like ours?" Serafall pressed. "Are their gods stronger than ours?"
"I… don't know," Shephara admitted, offering a wistful smile.
Sirzechs leaned forward. "You never answered. Why did Melbazoa's Seven Shadows come here?"
"I swear it wasn't me," she said. "The truth is… Evis Etourute had already set its sights on your world long before I stumbled here by accident."
Eyes narrowed in suspicion. The weight of destiny seemed to hang in the air.
Azazel exhaled. "I don't think she's lying."
Serafall arched a brow. "You believe her?"
The governor of the fallen angels met her gaze. "I've seen signs. I know enough to recognize a truth told in desperation."
And with those words, the fate of the world hung in the balance.