(Image: Xenovia & Irina)
By now, Akuto's true-body strength had risen to Maou-class; when he invoked the Tyrant Dragon, he could hold Super Devil-class power for extended periods.
With his powerful undying nature and the unobstructed Avatar of God: Vāmana, so long as he wasn't facing Ophis or Great Red—existences beyond Main God-class—Akuto was confident he could retreat intact.
What's more, Heaven no longer possessed Main God-class combat power at all.
Ordinarily, a Twelve-Winged Seraph topped out around Super Devil-class. Even if four Seraphs attacked together, Akuto was confident he could fight one versus four.
At that level, Heaven simply couldn't protect the Bible God's legacy by force.
The only reason the Bible God's faith still held any territory was because the Four Great Seraphs adopted an extremely conservative posture.
First, they sealed the news of the Bible God's death so other pantheons would assume He still lived.
Second, they stopped all active expansion, pulled back their presence, and had high-ranking angels avoid going abroad—staying inside the safety of Heaven.
Third, they expelled anyone who could sway faith—like Asia. Since she could heal devils, the Church stripped her of Sainthood and drove her out.
In short, every effort Heaven made now was only to keep the system the Bible God created alive—nothing more.
Just survival was already costing Heaven everything it had.
Faced with a Heaven that could only defend and never attack, Akuto allowed himself to be a little bolder.
Even if the Bible God had left some "final card," it would likely be a measure usable only when Heaven was about to fall—nothing he needed to worry about now.
Perhaps because Akuto's craving and candor were so blunt, Griselda took a while to recover.
Griselda: "Apologies, Lord Leviathan—that's beyond my authority. Please hold. I'll open a priority line and connect you with someone who can decide matters of this magnitude."
Even for Griselda, this was a moment to become a switchboard, fetching someone who could actually handle it.
Soon, a faint reply came through the holy cross.
Michael: "Greetings, Lord Akuto. I am Michael, currently presiding over Heaven. It's an honor to speak with you."
"In truth, the moment you demonstrated immunity to holy swords, Heaven intended to make contact."
Akuto: "Oh? Then why has Heaven taken no concrete action until now?"
He wasn't surprised they'd want contact—he was a rare entity unaffected by holy force. What puzzled him was Michael's over-cautious tone.
Michael: "To avoid misidentification. If Heaven initiates contact the instant an individual appears who's immune to holy power, it risks burdening both sides. You'd be seen as disloyal to devils, and we as compromising with a blasphemer."
"But now that you've shown the power to reincarnate angels, it's another matter."
"Lord Akuto, would you have time to visit Heaven soon? There's something important that only your presence can resolve."
Akuto: "Me? Go to Heaven? You must be joking."
He truly hadn't expected an invitation.
Michael: "I'm not joking. If this were merely information to convey, I wouldn't ask you to come in person."
"As things stand, there are matters that can only be confirmed if you're in Heaven."
Akuto: "Confirmed?"
What exactly does Michael want to confirm about me?
The next second, a system chime rang in Akuto's mind.
Ding!
Congratulations! Stage Quest Triggered — "Trial of the Bible God."
Quest Tier: Gold → Rainbow.
Quest Description:
Before His death, the Bible God made every effort to plan His aftermath.
Most crucially, He arranged for this world to select its next "Child of the World."
To resist powerful invaders, the DxD world must give birth to a Child of the World—
not an ordinary one, but one with the power to be "unbound by the world."
To that end, the Bible God amended the world's rules before dying and even set up a recognition system in Heaven, so that once a suitable Child of the World appeared, Heaven could identify them in time.
Quest Requirement:
Pass the Bible God's trials. The trials proceed in stages.
Each time you complete a combat-related trial, you earn one draw.
"The Bible God's Trial, huh?"
Now Akuto understood Michael's extraordinary courtesy.
"But can I really pass it? I don't think I'm the DxD world's Child of the World. At most I'm that for Apocalypse and Akame ga Kill…"
Those two titles he'd earned by "collecting all heroines," which hardly made him DxD's Child of the World.
Ding!
Any quest posted to Host is within Host's realm of possibility.
Host is not DxD's Child of the World, but Host still qualifies to undergo the Trial.
"I see."
"In that case—Heaven, here I come."
Having grasped why Michael insisted on his personal visit, Akuto didn't hesitate and agreed at once.
Michael: "You accept? Thank you for your understanding and trust."
"Whatever the outcome, you will be Heaven's friend forever!"
Akuto: "A 'friend forever,' is it? Is giving your friends the title 'blasphemer' standard Heaven etiquette?"
Michael: "Forgive me, Lord Akuto. You understand—as custodian of the faith system the Lord left behind, I must do so." Michael offered a bitter smile.
Akuto: "I do. That's why I'm willing to make the trip, isn't it?"
"So that's the situation."
"Asia, and Olivia—while I'm in Heaven, I'm entrusting these two to you. You're all from the Church; get along."
After a quick handoff, Akuto stepped forward and left the house.
Back inside, Xenovia and Irina lay on the sofa, minds utterly blank.
They couldn't help it—the information load today had been overwhelming.
Weird phenomena surrounding the "blasphemous devil" Akuto? Fine—that rumor already circulated in the Church, and they'd steeled themselves for it.
But… God is dead? And why could Asia reincarnate as an angel?
Did the Church's upper echelon already know God was dead? And on top of that, did they deliberately dispatch the girls on a mission with a high fatality rate?
Stacking one unbearable truth atop another, the two devout girls' faith simply collapsed.
Asia and Olivia shared a look and saw the same helplessness in each other's eyes.
Entrusted to them? What could they do?
The aftermath of a faith shattered by the knowledge of God's death was too severe.
"Wait—Lady Olivia, I think I have a way!"
As if remembering something, Asia leaned to her ear and whispered.
"Oh—ohhh… I see. Yes, that could work!"
Before Xenovia and Irina, Asia and Olivia brought their hands together in prayer and began to softly recite Scripture with eyes closed.
"The Lord said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
"The Lord created mankind in His own image—male and female He created them. He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; the man became a living being, Adam."
"A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
"Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness."
"…"
"The Lord said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM… Say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.'"
"…"
"You shall have no other gods before Me… You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His name in vain."
The ethereal, sacred cadence of Scripture spread through the room.
As the familiar words washed over them, Xenovia and Irina's unfocused gazes gradually cleared.
It wasn't that they were suddenly moved and returned to faith.
Rather… it was that Asia was the one reciting them.
Even now—this former Saint named Asia still held faith in her heart?
"Asia-san, by reciting scripture… what are you trying to tell us?" Xenovia asked, mustering her strength.
"Mm. Perhaps that I sympathize with you."
Asia's smile was the picture of gentleness and embrace.
"Deceived by devils, expelled by the Church, even targeted by Fallen Angels—those were my trials not long ago."
"Yet after all of that, I still believe."
"So what if God is dead? The Church and values He left are undoubtedly right."
"As believers, it's on us to carry that will forward."
The two fell silent for a long while. At last, a sigh escaped them both.
"I never thought Saint Asia would be this open-hearted… this strong."
"To know God is gone and still rekindle faith… I couldn't do it."
Moved by Asia's spirit, Xenovia instinctively reverted to calling her "Saint Asia."
Asia shook her head gently.
"Something so difficult—I couldn't do it alone."
"The one who helped me find it again was Akuto-kun."
"It was Akuto-kun who filled the emptiness of my body and heart, letting me find direction once more."
"Uh…"
Xenovia frowned.
…She heard what now?
Akuto filled the emptiness of her heart—fine. But filled the emptiness of her body… how exactly?
(End of Chapter)
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