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Chapter 296 part 1

In a corner of the demon realm, far higher than the earthly world and sharing power with the celestial realm, there was a vast fortress on a sheer cliff. Here, pitch-black water constantly lapped against the shore.

From a distance, one could spot huge fins and silvery scales among the pitch-black swells. If fortunate or not, the faces of stunningly beautiful men and women could be glimpsed, their gazes irresistibly captivating.

In this dark sea, thousands of beautiful mermaids, both men and women, swam tirelessly. Their ultra-high-speed movements created deadly currents below the surface, inescapable for ordinary marine life.

The neighboring mermaids boasted not only immense sizes but also razor-sharp teeth and sickle-like water-fingered fingertips.

The sea was not the only place of abnormality. In the golden sea of clouds, a huge serpent with dark green scales weaved in and out, casting a majestic presence.

The rarely seen giant serpents had heads adorned with white masks, portraying male and female faces, and eyes of various colors, including yellow, red, and brown, glaring towards the ground.

Not just flying serpents, but also human-faced birds with beautiful male and female visages spread their vast wings. Countless numbers danced beneath the cloud sea, casting immense shadows below.

Both the heavens and the sea teemed with monstrous fusions of humans and other creatures, seemingly evolved more for killing than surviving.

On the reddish-brown earth, a single path, created by countless footsteps, was visible. A golden-haired warrior on a huge horse had galloped across it moments before.

Entering the territory of the war and struggle deities in the demon realm was a daredevil act even for evil gods, but this warrior was an exception.

The fortress walls towered so high that their tops were invisible from the mountain’s base, and countless spires reached skyward, visible only from a cloud sea or great distance.

The gates, adorned with carvings of massive warriors with spears and shields, stood unguarded. They welcomed the warrior in silence as he moved in and out on his horse.

The warrior, with a face full of awe and reverence, respected every entity in the fortress, from evil gods to demonic beasts, including the lower divinities. Upon finding his target in the throne room, he broke the silence with a booming voice.

「Interrupting you, Sacurabus! A descendant of yours has provoked conflict in Dran’s land! Dran forbids my intervention, so my earthly counterpart can’t engage, but I’ve come to confront you!」

The owner of the loud voice that could reach from one end of the battlefield to the other was none other than Aldeath, the supreme war god who was undoubtedly one of the strongest gods.

Holding his beloved spear in his hand, wore armor with a lion’s mane-like shoulder and was in his usual battle attire. Aldeath’s appearance caused the fortress’s wicked spirits to mistakenly fear an imminent attack.

Sacurabus, the citadel’s master, greeted his unexpected visitor with a hawkish smile. Seated on his throne, shaped like a jet-black falling sun, he responded.

「As impulsive as ever. You might have shortened some of my followers’ lifespans.」

Sacurabus, in his mid-forties, embodied dignity, dominance, and majesty. His black armor, adorned with shoulder pads resembling a fierce beast’s skull, dwarfed even the giant Aldeath. His straight, silver hair and golden eyes, neither fearful nor angry but filled with dismay, complimented his formidable presence. This was true even for the third eye between his eyebrows.

「I apologize for that. Perhaps I’ll send a bottle of sake as an apology later.」

「Decide after consulting your sister. You’re a celestial realm god, but I can’t have you standing. Come this way, Aldeath.」

「Thank you!」

Sacurabus, smiling at his friend and rival, led Aldeath to a guest room. The room, more stately than splendid, befit a War God’s fortress. Aldeath, seated deeply on a couch, savored the sunset-colored wine served to him.

Across from him, Sacurabus tasted a small glass of clear liquor, waiting for Aldeath to quench his thirst.

「Nuhahaha, delicious, delicious. The sake I drink at other places is exceptionally delicious!」

「You have no sense of shame.」

「I can act like this because I know that you are someone I don’t have to be considerate of, Sagrabas. Well, let’s get to the point. I’ve already said it, but I’ll say it again.

It was well-known in both celestial and demon realms that the Ancient-Celestial Dragon, reborn as a human named Dran, was at the heart of the issue.

And of all people, your descendants started a fight with Dran. So, what do you think? Are you going to intervene or not? Huh?」

The demon realm gods, aware of the Ancient-Celestial Dragon’s deeds, were alarmed.

「The Ancient-Celestial Dragon is acting as a human. He is somewhat reckless, but he has not used his power as an ancient dragon in any battle other than to protect those he has taken into his fold.

As long as it is within the scope of the battle between my descendant Yaheim and his men, he will not appear on Earth. That is if I don’t intervene unnecessarily.」

「Haha, Dran is a stubborn fellow. But he has a strange softness in him that you can’t quite put your finger on, so you never know when he’ll be offended. But he has always hated it when the weak, who have no power to fight, are bullied by the strong for no reason.

But that’s always the case on the battlefield. In the world where Dran and your descendants live, there is still a lot of looting, rape, and massacre. If your descendants do that within Dran’s reach or earshot, he will break the shackles of self-control and go on a rampage.」

「If he buys the dragon’s wrath and is destroyed, then it is only his own responsibility for his own actions. What difference does it make, whether it is my descendant or my own child?」

「Well, if you claim to be a king, then surely you must bear the responsibility for the deeds of your subjects. But tell me, what would you do if you, the progenitor of the terrestrial Demon Lords, were to face the wrathful fangs of responsibility? Dran, the dragon, is known for his quick temper, rivaling even the first and second of the primordial seven dragons.」

「If that were to happen, as one who bears the title of God of War, I would confront it with all my spirit. If I were to perish in that battle, then so be it. It would simply mean that my strength was insufficient.」

「What a noble sentiment! That’s exactly what you and I would do.」

「Even if all the gods join forces, they will not be able to defeat the heart of the dragon ancestor. If I can fight and die, that is all I can ask for. I am worried about whether my men will be affected or not.」

For the first time since their conversation began, a hint of worry crossed Sacurabus’ face. It seemed he did not harbor the same concerns for his earthly descendants, considering they would face the consequences of their actions.

「If you confront Dran head-on, it might appease his anger and grant you a reprieve.

The thought of battling an ancient, enraged celestial dragon excites me, but to you, Mundus Carnus seems more like a distant believer than a descendant. To accompany them to their demise, that’s quite the dedication.」

Aldeath laughed, saying that he had never gone that far himself. If he heard a voice asking for help, he would ignore it if it was not worth answering, and he would try to lead his believers to solve the problem with their own strength and courage.

In addition, he would sometimes invite those who were interested to leave their afterlife to his own territory in the heavens. Aldes and Sagrabas had something in common in that they did not want to get involved with active believers.

「I’ve already told my kin, who were the ancestors of those, what to tell them when they left this land for the earth. They left my hands, but their descendants have kept the words I told them well. Is it so strange that I want to reward them for that?」

「Fufu, I want to say that you are too sweet for a war god, but since you respond to the requests of the descendants of your kin who were disgusted with the battle in the demon realm and fled to the earth, you have been a sweet guy since long ago.

Even when you let them escape to the earth, you could have just kicked them out with nothing but the clothes on their backs, but you gave them as much equipment and a castle as you could, even though it was to the standards of the earth!」

It seemed Aldeath and Sagravers had a long-standing friendship, evident from their knowledge of each other’s past. Sacurabas appeared undisturbed by Aldeath’s frank words, his face reflecting a faint sense of solitude as he reminisced about the past.

「That’s a tale from long ago. Yes, from the old days.」

「What do you mean, long ago? There aren’t many gods who would go so far as to accompany someone who is so thin as a kin to their death. If your descendants behave themselves, Doran will not go on a rampage as an ancient dragon, but if something happens, I will build you a tomb!」

「There’s no need for such concern. I desire no tomb, nor do I wish to leave any trace of my existence after my demise.」

「You truly are a man of integrity!」

Aldeath laughed, his voice filled with great pleasure.

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