Kuwang Town — Inside Kuoh Academy.
As the crimson brilliance filled the entire sky and shook the very world, a barrier once again rose to contain the explosion inside the academy grounds.
But this time, it wasn't enough.
The waves of power seeped out from within, spilling past the edges of the barrier.
And outside the barrier, the world trembled.
Ordinary people saw it as a dazzling phenomenon — a mysterious red glow that rippled across the heavens like a flowing aurora.
They stared up, stunned, murmuring in awe and confusion, wondering what this glorious light could possibly mean.
But to those of the supernatural world, it meant something far more terrifying.
They felt it.
The divine-slaying energy.
The kind that could erase gods.
Those who had seen Kaiser's [True Longinus] in action instantly recognized its resonance — though this time, the power was multiplied many times over.
Those who hadn't seen it before were left in open fear, panic rippling through the underworlds and heavens alike.
Emergency meetings were called. Entire factions began preparing for war. Ancient beings who had slumbered for centuries stirred awake.
The world had noticed.
And within Kuoh Academy, that very power was still blooming — the divine-slaying light spreading in absolute silence.
Not a single blade of grass was disturbed. Not a single stone was upturned.
No thunder. No screams. Just that eerie, apocalyptic silence.
Eventually, the crimson light began to fade.
Those who had shielded their eyes slowly lowered their arms, hearts pounding.
Their gazes were drawn instinctively to the source.
And there they saw—
"Clang!"
With a sharp, crystalline shatter, the jet-black armor of the Red Dragon Emperor broke apart into fading motes of light, revealing Kaiser beneath.
"Huff… huff…"
He remained frozen in a forward-thrusting stance, his arm extended, shoulders heaving as he gasped for breath.
The Divine Gear was silent. The aura of power gone. Not even residual flame flickered around him.
He looked… exhausted.
The [True Longinus] in his hand no longer shone. The spearhead — once glowing like a miniature sun — had dimmed completely.
The Balance Breaker faded as well, leaving only the normal form of the spear, dull and heavy in his grip.
And then—
The tip of the spear turned red.
Not with divine energy.
But with blood.
"Drip… drip…"
Ophis had stepped forward. At some point, she had extended her pale hand — and caught the thrust.
Blood dripped from her palm in silence.
The spear had pierced cleanly through her hand, brushed past her forearm, and embedded itself in her shoulder.
Without question — she had been grievously wounded.
"Ophis… was injured…"
The crowd stared in disbelief.
The Infinite Dragon God — injured.
That name had long stood as a synonym for "invincible." She was the strongest being in the world.
Her power was limitless. Her existence — unshakable.
No matter how powerful the gods of various pantheons might be, none could match Ophis. Not even close.
It was said that if Ophis desired it, she could wipe out any god, demon, or celestial being as easily as snuffing out a candle flame.
And now — she bled.
In front of their eyes.
At the hands of a human.
The battlefield stood in stunned, gaping silence.
Except for Ophis herself.
On her young face — that blank, emotionless mask — a smile bloomed.
Yes.
Ophis smiled.
"You didn't lie," she said softly, voice full of rare warmth.
"If you had enough power… you truly could kill a Dragon God."
That single sentence sent fresh waves of shock across the crowd.
If word of this spread… the world would tremble anew.
Because this was a declaration from Ophis herself — a divine recognition:
Kaiser's spear could slay even a Dragon God.
Kaiser didn't respond.
Still panting, he dismissed the [True Longinus], letting the spear vanish into light.
"Hum…"
Ophis' wound began to pulse with inky blackness — her own power trying to restore the damage.
But it was useless.
The wounds left by the True Longinus, especially in its Banished Gear form, could not be healed by conventional means — even by her.
She attempted for a while.
Then stopped.
"I can see it," she said, her black eyes fixed solely on him. "You can become stronger."
"I'll wait for you."
That was all.
Satisfied, she turned and began to leave.
"Wait!"
Azazel finally recovered from his stupor and stepped forward.
"Are you really going to go back to the Dimensional Gap? Are you still planning to defeat Great Red?"
Those words jolted the crowd.
The Dimensional Gap.
It was the space between worlds — the seam that divided the realms of gods and mortals.
It was there that Ophis had been born. And there that Great Red, the True Red Dragon God Emperor, now resided.
Ophis was "Infinity born from nothing."Great Red was "Fantasy born from dream."
They had both come from the Dimensional Gap — but Great Red had taken it for himself, forcing Ophis out.
Now, Ophis longed to return home.
And to do that… she had to defeat Great Red.
That, above all else, was her reason for existing.
The reason she led the Khaos Brigade was simple:
She had been promised help in defeating Great Red.
And the Brigade wanted her power.
The Three Factions had long since learned this truth, thanks to Kaiser's intelligence.
And now, the leader of the Khaos Brigade — the one whose power had sparked endless conflict — stood here in the open.
Azazel couldn't let her go so easily.
But—
"Want to stop me?" Ophis asked.
Not even looking at him.
"You can't. Not with your strength."
A simple truth.
Even with the combined might of the world's pantheons — none could match her.
Azazel bit his tongue. He wanted to shout:"We have the True Longinus! We have the only weapon that can hurt you!"
But he knew.
Kaiser wasn't theirs.
And he was exhausted.
Even now, he stood only because two girls supported him.
They couldn't win.
"I seek only silence," Ophis murmured.
"A world without noise. A place where I belong."
And with those words, she vanished.
Just like that.
"...She left?"
The silence remained.
Eyes turned to one another, looking for confirmation — for comfort.
"…Hah…"
Kaiser staggered.
His legs nearly buckled.
"Kaiser-san!"
"Careful!"
Asia and Kuroka caught him just in time, holding him upright.
The others rushed in.
"You alright?" Michael asked gently. "Do you need healing?"
"No… no need," Kaiser shook his head weakly. "Just… out of stamina. I'll be fine after some rest."
Sirzechs studied him and nodded.
"You've earned it. To wound Ophis… that's a deed that will go down in history."
"First time I've ever seen her injured…" Azazel added, still amazed.
"But thankfully, it's over now."
"With this… nothing can stop our peace talks anymore."
And just then—
A quiet voice echoed in Kaiser's mind.
[You have reached a pivotal node in this fantasy world.]
[Life experience complete. You may now return to the Library and begin final evaluation.]
Kaiser exhaled.
"Yes… it's finally over."
The truce of the Three Factions—The rise and fall of the Old Satan Faction—His duel with Vali—And his confrontation with Ophis.
All of it—his half-year journey—had come to its close.
Now he could return.
Now he could rest.
But not before one last thought crossed his mind, as he looked to the sky.
"I wonder what kind of reward this story will bring me this time…"
Once he saw Asia and Kuroka safely settled—
It would be time to return to the Library.
(End of Chapter)