Tatsuma turned his head to look at Aya. "You can catch up with Natsuki-chan here today. Talk for a while and then go home later. I'm leaving first."
Aya was stunned. "You're letting me go back alone?"
Tatsuma nodded. "You're such a big person, you wouldn't get lost, would you?"
Aya asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll take the opportunity to escape?"
Tatsuma tilted his head. "Aren't you afraid I'll catch you back and start the third stage of training?"
Aya: "..."
"I believe you are a smart person."
Tatsuma patted Aya's shoulder and turned to leave the teachers' office.
"You two catch up. I'm leaving first."
Watching Tatsuma disappear, Aya was silent for a moment before looking at Natsuki beside her. "How did you two meet?"
"It was an accident, I guess."
Years passed, youth scattered, and a scene she thought would never appear again reappeared before her. Looking at her friend who seemed to have returned to her former self, Natsuki chuckled lightly and sat down on the sofa.
"You sit too. Let's talk slowly."
On the other side, after leaving the teachers' office, Tatsuma met up with Rias and the others and leisurely returned home.
After chatting for a while, Rias and the others returned to their respective rooms to pack their luggage and prepare to go to the Underworld.
As for Tatsuma, he went all the way to the material room on the fourth basement floor, pushed the door open, and walked in.
Inside the material room, Grayfia was talking with Yahweh. On the table next to them was the head of a pink-haired man, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Tatsuma, you're back."
Grayfia took the item from Yahweh's hand, thanked her, and then looked at Tatsuma, who had just walked in.
"When are you and Rias and the others planning to leave for the Underworld?"
"Tomorrow morning."
Tatsuma looked at the head on the table.
With his knowledge, it wasn't difficult to recognize that the other party was Szayelaporro, who had contributed a red trait to him not long ago.
He asked, "What's the situation here?"
"It seems the commotion I've been causing in the Forest of Menos lately was too big and attracted the attention of Hueco Mundo."
Grayfia wasn't too clear about the specific situation either.
Just like the past few days, she had gone to the Forest of Menos with Restia after breakfast today.
However, less than ten minutes after she started grinding monsters, Szayelaporro appeared in front of her. While saying things like 'I didn't expect it to be a Devil', and 'Looks like a good experimental subject', he launched an attack on her.
Could Grayfia tolerate this grievance?
With a swift slash, she severely injured Szayelaporro, leaving him with only a sliver of health.
Seeing this, Grayfia was even more surprised.
There was actually a Hollow that could withstand one of her slashes?
After capturing Szayelaporro and interrogating him, she found that she couldn't find out anything, so she simply brought him back and handed him over to Yahweh for processing.
"Brought him back alive?"
Tatsuma was stunned for a moment and looked at Yahweh beside him who was calmly eating a popsicle.
"Did you dissect him?"
"Yeah, it's useless to keep it."
Yahweh tapped the button on the table beside her, summoning a large amount of data onto the projection screen.
"This guy is quite special. Looking at his memories, he was previously a Vasto Lorde-class Hollow, truly top-grade material."
"Once I spend a few days thoroughly researching it, the Hollow race will hold no secrets from me in the future."
"Put the research on the Hollow aside for now."
Seeing Yahweh prepare to continue working, Tatsuma reached out and tapped her head to remind her.
"Don't forget, there are still things we need to do today."
...
Inside an alternate dimension.
Huge machines were scattered throughout the base, and large numbers of mass-produced Evil Dragons patrolled the base.
In the deepest part of the base, Rizevim stood before a Magic circle, continuously injecting demonic power into it. Under the effect of the Magic circle, the demonic power was converted into life force and injected into the machine, and a chilling aura quietly revived.
Time flowed by, this aura continuously expanded, and finally, a blinding light erupted from the Magic circle.
"It's finally over."
Rizevim stopped his actions, a pleased smile appearing on his face as the corners of his lips turned up.
"How does it feel, you two, to regain your physical bodies?"
"Not bad."
"Hmm? Crom is here too?"
The light dissipated, and a three-headed black dragon and a long, slender serpent-like dragon appeared within the Magic circle.
Carefully sensing the power within their bodies, Apophis and Aži Dahāka ignored Rizevim and instead looked towards the man in the black coat in the corner.
"It's been a while, Crom."
Apophis switched forms, transforming from the long, slender serpent-like dragon into a young man wearing a set of black priestly robes.
"Compared to the past, you've become stronger."
Crom said, "I am different from you, I was not defeated."
"So that's how it is. You haven't slacked off these past years and have been training."
Crom replied in a calm tone, "Something like that."
Apophis and Aži Dahāka, both ancient Evil Dragons, reviving didn't concern him too much.
These two dragons were very strong. In the past, he might have been unable to resist challenging them to a great battle. But now, he had a more important target.
Moving his gaze from Apophis, Crom looked at Rizevim, whose expression was somewhat unpleasant after being ignored.
"Rizevim, it's time for you to fulfill your promise."
"I know, you're in a hurry."
Rizevim took a deep breath to calm his emotions.
A month ago, he lost his physical body during the vampire incident and had no choice but to seek Crom to cooperate.
Crom helped him go to the bottom level of Hell to regain his physical body and revive the Evil Dragons. In exchange, he had to create an opportunity for Crom to fight the Red Dragon Emperor.
However, this matter still required some preparation.
Recalling the power Tatsuma displayed in battle a month ago, a trace of fear flashed in Rizevim's eyes.
That guy was a monster. To be safe, he had to pull in a few more allies and prepare a retreat route in advance.
But just then, a special energy fluctuation rose from around the base.
"Hmm?"
A look of confusion flashed in Rizevim's eyes.
But before he could investigate what was happening, this energy began to expand.
Buzz... Buzz...
In just a few seconds, over a dozen sturdy barriers enveloped the base.
After that, a loud boom sounded.
A massive pillar of light rose from the ground in the central area of the base.
"This is... How is this possible?!"
Rizevim's eyes widened abruptly, and an expression of disbelief and shock appeared on his face.
He recognized this pillar of light.
A month ago, Tatsuma summoned this pillar of light, creating a battlefield that trapped him and the others.
But the problem was, this was his base.
Looking at the barrier that appeared in an instant, covering the base, and the three figures appearing within the pillar of light, Rizevim unconsciously took two steps back.
"Tsk, what a waste."
"Garbage!"
"Stay hiding behind, coward!"
Aži Dahāka glanced at him, all three heads simultaneously showing expressions of disdain.
"Seeing as you revived us, we'll help you out this once. We'll be even after this battle."
Apophis was also somewhat disappointed with Rizevim's performance. After stating his attitude, he looked forward.
"Who are you?"
"Red Dragon Emperor Tatsuma."
Before Tatsuma could reply, Crom's voice sounded first.
He voluntarily took a step forward, looking with fervent eyes at the figure in the very front.
"Leave him to me. You two don't try to steal him from me."
"Oh? So he's this generation's Red Dragon Emperor?" Apophis was a little surprised.
When he hadn't fully revived yet, he had some exchanges with Rizevim. Because of this, he had some understanding of Tatsuma's deeds.
However, since Crom had already chosen his target first, it would be a bit inappropriate for him to snatch the opponent.
Glancing around, he looked at the blonde girl on the left.
"This one looks good, leave her to me."
Yahweh tilted her head. "You want to fight me? Tatsuma, what do you say?"
"As long as you can subdue him, it's fine."
Tatsuma shared Origin Fruit with Yahweh.
For him, the battle wasn't very important. As long as he could gain traits and achieve his goal, everything else was fine.
"Then let's get moving after a long time."
Yahweh gained the boost from Origin Fruit, and the aura on her body expanded further.
Under everyone's gaze, her two small hands clapped together in front of her with a 'pa' sound. In the next instant, a dazzling radiance bloomed.
Divine Art: Dimensional Severance!
Divine Art: Space Fusion!
Crack! Crack...
The holy radiance turned into blades, instantly shredding all the surrounding space.
After that, the remaining holy light, like an adhesive, connected the pieces of space that had been cut into fragments.
When everything returned to calm again, the vast base had been cut into three independent areas.
Tatsuma and the others were sent to other spaces, the only ones still standing in place were Yahweh and Apophis.
"Alright, this way no one will disturb us."
Yahweh reached her hand into the space beside her, fumbled around, and pulled out a two-meter-tall... Gatling gun.
"It's a rare opportunity, why don't you help me test the new tool I've just finished researching?"
Apophis: "..."
It seems I've picked an incredible opponent.