Rizevim’s demeanor had completely transformed. Gone was the lunatic clown; he now exuded an aura of chilling power and authority. At this moment, he truly seemed like the son of a Demon King.
However—
“Rizevim, you and your powers won’t intimidate us even if you try to act serious now,” Tenraku said with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. “So, are you really ready for an all-out war?”
Rizevim shook his head and spoke with a faint smile on his face. “No, I’m planning to retreat this time. My objective is already accomplished.”
From his robes, Rizevim pulled out two shriveled fruits. Upon seeing them, Michael, Gabriel, and the other Archangels were visibly shocked.
“The Fruit of Life and the Fruit of Wisdom!”
“Rizevim, how do you have those? The Tree of Life and the Tree of Wisdom stopped bearing fruit ages ago!” Michael demanded.
“Indeed, they stopped producing fruit after that God fellow died. However, these fruits were preserved a very long time ago,” Rizevim replied with a smug smile.
“You see, my mother is the Lilith mentioned in the Holy Bible. When she was still human, she lived in the Garden of Eden as Adam’s first wife,” He continued. “She used to tell me how she secretly hid the Fruit of Life and the Fruit of Wisdom while God wasn’t paying attention, she always boasted about it so I decided to check if her story was true, and it turns out my dear Okaa-Sama wasn’t lying about this bit.”
“Where exactly did Lilith hide the fruits? If they were in Heaven, we would have sensed them,” Michael asked, his expression darkening.
“It’s no longer a secret so I guess there isn’t a problem in telling you. They were hidden deep in Purgatory, in a passage leading to the Underworld,” Rizevim revealed.
“In Purgatory!” The Archangels were stunned. That explained why they couldn’t detect them.
“But if the fruits were hidden in a passage to the Grecian Underworld, you could’ve retrieved them from there without us noticing. Why attack Heaven?” Gabriel asked, her voice laced with anger.
“Oh, that? It was just on a whim,” Rizevim said nonchalantly. “Since I was here, I thought I might as well cause some chaos in Heaven.”
His casual response enraged Michael, Gabriel, and the other Angels. This fiend had turned Heaven upside down on a mere whim!
“Rizevim, what’s your purpose for seeking the Fruit of Life and the Fruit of Wisdom? Moreover, those fruits are withered and should be powerless by now,” Tenraku asked, narrowing his eyes.
“As expected of you, Red Dragon Emperor. Yes, these fruits have lost their power, but they can be revived using the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is a Sacred Gear that defies logic. You, who also possess the Holy Grail, should know its capabilities,” Rizevim explained. “I plan to use these fruits to revive the Sovereign Beast 666 – Trihexa.”
“Trihexa was sealed at the end of the Tree of Life’s path by that God. When we found it, it was nothing but a dry husk, its life force barely existent. Even the Holy Grail’s power struggles to revive such a being, but combined with these fruits, it should be possible.”
“You understand now, don’t you?” Rizevim’s smug smile returned as he revealed his plans.
Tenraku and the others were shocked. Rizevim intended to use the fruits to resurrect Trihexa! This was something they could not allow.
“We can’t let you succeed!” Michael declared.
But Rizevim seemed prepared for this reaction. “You won’t be able to stop me.”
“Come forth, Lilith,” Rizevim called out, and a small figure appeared beside him.
It was Lilith.
“Red Dragon Emperor and his Peerage already know her, but for Heaven’s sake, let me introduce her again,” Rizevim said. “This girl was created using the power we stole from Ophis. I named her Lilith after my mother. Despite her size, she possesses half of Ophis’s power. If she wished, she could annihilate all of you with ease.”
Michael and the other Angels turned to Tenraku, seeking confirmation.
“He’s right. Lilith is like a clone of Ophis. As long as she’s here, we can’t stop Rizevim,” Tenraku confirmed with a grim expression on his face.
“How could this be…” Gabriel muttered, as their spirits were dampened by the revelation. Even with just half of Ophis’s power, Lilith was an insurmountable foe.
At that moment, Lilith appeared in front of Tenraku, surprising everyone. Tenraku signaled for them to remain calm.
“Inside you, another me,” Lilith said, her large eyes filled with curiosity.
Tenraku understood she was referring to Ophis, who currently resided within his Sacred Gear. He could even sense a ripple of emotion from Ophis.
Now was not the time for them to meet. Tenraku gently patted Lilith’s head. “Lilith, remember our agreement? If you ever want to leave Rizevim, you’re always welcome with us.”
“Remember,” Lilith replied. Tenraku smiled and handed her an oversized lollipop.
Lilith accepted it without hesitation, giving it a little lick.
“Lilith, come back. We’re retreating,” Rizevim called, worried that Tenraku might sway her.
“I’m leaving,” Lilith said to Tenraku before vanishing back to Rizevim’s side.
To be continued…
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