— — — — — —
Why would Ophis attack them?
Why would she obey that man's command?
What exactly was going on here?
"Done?" Ryo asked, glancing at Ophis.
Of course, he knew full well that this alone wouldn't make the two descendants of the old Satans submit. He asked on purpose, trying to nudge Ophis into thinking for herself.
She was absurdly powerful, standing at the very top of this world from the beginning, but far too simple-minded. If he didn't help her grow a little, Ryo was worried she'd end up getting taken advantage of.
Not that she'd "run away," exactly. It was more that someone might trick her.
After all, a pure-blood Dragon God who would accept a Little Garden spirit rank… Every strand of her hair was priceless.
Even with a contract in place, that wouldn't stop certain shady people from trying to scam her.
So yes, Ryo wanted her to grow.
Unfortunately…
"Mm. Done," Ophis replied, nodding, completely ignoring the humiliated expressions of Katerea and Creuserey, who were still struggling under the pressure.
'…She didn't get it at all.'
Ryo suddenly felt like he was raising a kid.
"Alright. Then let them go and ask if they're willing to surrender."
"Oh!" Ophis answered obediently.
The crushing pressure pinning Katerea and Creuserey vanished at once, whipping up a gust of wind.
"You bastard!"
The moment she could move again, Katerea roared and lunged at Ryo.
Boom!
She had barely taken a step before she was slammed straight back into the concrete.
"Not surrendering?" Ophis tilted her head, confused.
She genuinely didn't understand Katerea's actions.
That feeling of being one step away from success, only to have everything collapse in an instant… Ophis had never experienced anything like it.
In her logic, the weak obey the strong. It was only natural.
Just like she couldn't defeat Ryo and had to follow his orders.
Just like Great Red had claimed her home and wouldn't let her return.
So Katerea's reaction intrigued her.
"You won't surrender?" Ophis crouched down, looking at the woman embedded in the concrete.
"…You…" Katerea clenched her teeth.
Ophis raised a finger and pointed at her left arm.
BOOM!
It exploded.
White bone and red flesh splattered across the ground.
"Still not surrendering?" Ophis asked, puzzled.
After all, when Ryo had blown off her arm earlier, she had surrendered not long after.
Right now, she was simply copying what he had done to her.
"You monster!" Fear flickered in Katerea's eyes.
BOOM!
Her left leg burst like an overinflated balloon.
"No surrender?"
Ophis asked again.
"If you don't surrender, I'll destroy your home next."
Katerea still refused.
Another BOOM.
Off to the side, Ryo's expression grew a little strange.
Why does this feel so familiar?
It didn't take long before all four of Katerea's limbs were gone, leaving only her torso and head.
"…There's nothing left," Ophis muttered, frowning at the limbless figure.
"Alright, that's enou—" Ryo started to say.
Before he could finish, Ophis waved her hand.
Katerea's limbs regenerated instantly.
For a brief moment, Ryo felt something strange, like her arms existed in a loop, constantly flickering between destruction and restoration.
So this is Ophis's Infinity…?
This was already bordering on omnipotence. He couldn't help but be impressed.
Then—
BOOM!
"Still not surrendering?"
The same question echoed again.
This time, no matter how innocent her voice sounded, it carried an overwhelming sense of terror.
Ryo didn't interfere.
Even if it felt like he might be leading this Dragon God down a questionable path, the truth was that Katerea had shown Ophis something new… something beyond the simple hierarchy of predator and prey.
He couldn't predict how something as complex as the human heart would shape her.
But once it had started, there was no point in stopping halfway.
Instead, Ryo walked over to Creuserey and crouched down beside him.
"So? What about you? Surrender, or end up like her?"
Creuserey looked up, giving a bitter smile. "Can I at least know who you are?"
"Ryo Yagami."
The answer was calm and straightforward.
At first, the name didn't register. Then realization hit.
"…The new Governor-General of the Fallen Angels? And the leader of Kyoto's yokai?" he asked uncertainly.
"That's me."
Creuserey froze for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.
"And why would Ophis listen to you?"
"She can't beat me."
Ryo's tone remained completely flat.
"Can't beat you…" Creuserey repeated under his breath, turning the words over in his mind.
Slowly, he lowered his head.
Ryo sensed his aura fading and frowned.
"Poison? To keep information from leaking?"
He raised a hand, hesitated, then let it fall.
Whatever. No point saving him.
Katerea had already broken. With one traitor in hand, there was no need to waste effort healing the other.
Let him stay loyal to the end.
Ryo stood up and looked toward the sky.
At that moment, Michael and Azazel arrived, along with Ajuka.
Each of them carried a captive, joining Ryo where he stood.
It felt like things were finally wrapping up.
Then—
BOOM!
A completely different sound from Ophis's explosions echoed from above.
Ryo looked up.
The sky was cracking like shattered glass, spreading fractures in every direction.
At the center, a pitch-black hole opened.
From that bottomless darkness came a cold, mocking laugh.
"Peace talks between the three factions?"
"Ridiculous!"
"Three stray dogs thinking of forming an alliance. Did you even ask me, Hades?"
A skeletal figure clad in a luxurious purple cloak and crowned like a king stepped out of the void, looking down at them.
Silence followed for about five or six seconds.
Then Hades spoke again, his tone suddenly polite.
"…Sorry for the intrusion."
Then he turned to leave.
.
.
.