"Watch your words."
Sensing that gaze—indifferent, yet seemingly encompassing all things, much like 'God'—Michael's heart couldn't help but tighten.
He hoped this new god wouldn't mind Gabriel's unintentional words.
Michael prayed silently.
"He is not truly dead."
Looking at Gabriel, whose face was pale and whose mind was so shaken that her wings were faintly turning black, Rias spoke up.
Although high-ranking Seraphim can freely control whether they fall, when their inner turmoil reaches a point beyond their own control, it naturally becomes difficult to manage their state.
Whether because of Gabriel's status or her reputation as the 'Number One Beauty of Heaven,' Rias couldn't bear to let Gabriel fall.
"Really?!"
Hearing this, Gabriel's spirit jolted, and she looked at Rias with hopeful eyes.
"Really."
Rias responded.
"That's wonderful."
Gabriel said, sounding as if she had let out a sigh of relief.
What met her was Rias's lecherous gaze.
Of course, with the holy light as a cover, what others felt was still a benevolence as vast as the starry sky.
"Gabriel!"
Michael was nervous to death but didn't dare speak out, only able to inwardly curse Gabriel's unreliability.
She didn't even know the new god's personality yet, and here she was spacing out again.
Fortunately, this new god was as merciful as the previous one and could tolerate Gabriel's airheadedness.
He just didn't know if the new god would influence the current situation.
Though he didn't want war, he had to prepare for the worst.
With the new god's power, it was hard to imagine they would lose.
Thinking of this, Michael suppressed all his worries and complex emotions, leaving only the purest faith.
"Lord, we welcome Your return."
Michael knelt before Rias, being the first to acknowledge the new god's return.
"My Lord, we welcome Your return."
After Michael stated his position, the Four Great Angels knelt on the ground in unison, offering prayers to the Lord just as they did in ancient times.
Following that, the entire Heaven and even the Living World began to pray.
Countless lights spread as the prayer songs of approximately 2 billion believers echoed in Rias's ears.
Endless light poured into Rias's heart, forming a massive diagram like a spider's web.
The worldview of a Pantheon—according to the terminology of Hakoniwa, isn't that just an Another Cosmology?
Rias gained a sudden realization and then returned a blessing to the believers.
This time, it was no longer maintained by the system; Rias actively responded, making the entire world seem to be in prayer.
It's a bit... exaggerated.
Like a carnival, it took a full day for the revelry to finally end.
"I will maintain Heaven. Michael, you go and take charge of the surface."
Rias spoke.
"Forgive my impertinence, Lord, but by what philosophy shall we act from now on?"
Michael voiced his question.
This was to determine the future policy.
Whether it would be development or a war of destruction.
"The Three-Way Meeting. Peace."
Rias said, "Before His return, I want to end the Struggle for Divine Hegemony on Earth."
Michael thought for a moment and seemed to breathe a faint sigh of relief.
However, a chill soon surged in Michael's heart.
End the Struggle for Divine Hegemony before His return?
How would it end?
Peace? How could peace end the Struggle for Divine Hegemony?
Michael couldn't help but feel puzzled.
He was no longer the thoughtless, simple killing machine of an angel he once was.
Over the long years, he had already come to understand part of the Lord's thoughts.
Just like the First Generation Lucifer and the many angels who fell, it wasn't that they had the strength to cross the Gates of Heaven guarded by the Lord.
Rather, the Lord had intentionally let them leave in order to develop and expand the worldview of the Biblical Pantheon.
Thus, the tripartite division of Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils was inevitable.
If there was no war, how could the Struggle for Divine Hegemony be ended?
And even more startling was His return.
"He" clearly referred to their Father God.
However, now that the new god had inherited the throne, would she really be willing to resurrect the Father God?
Michael was confused but also felt a sense of ease.
Whether it was their Father God or this new god, both were equally merciful and great.
Even Michael could not see through Rias's objectives.
Therefore, he only needed to accept orders as he did in ancient times.
"I understand."
Michael accepted the command and bowed his head.
"Gabriel, stay. The rest of you may leave."
Rias said.
"By your command."
The three angels left the Seventh Heaven, leaving only a somewhat confused Gabriel.
Despite her confusion, Gabriel also had many things she wanted to ask the new god.
Once the other Seraphim had left, Rias finally stretched.
Being a god isn't easy either~
If it were a natural-born deity, it would be fine if they could endure the loneliness.
On the throne, Rias felt it was quite novel at first, but once the novelty wore off, it became boring.
"Rise, Gabriel."
Rias spoke softly, and Gabriel raised her head.
On the throne of the Seventh Heaven, what appeared was no longer the form of holy light, but a red-haired little girl.
It could be said to be completely different from the holiness of Heaven; as a color, it was far too intense.
"Red..."
Gabriel stared blankly at Rias, looking quite dumbfounded.
Even the airheaded Gabriel couldn't help but be surprised by the new god's youth.
"As expected, this reaction."
Rias smiled. "It seems even an airhead can show an expression different from usual."
"I... am not an airhead."
Gabriel retorted and then fell silent.
"Come here."
Rias didn't mind and instead beckoned with her index finger.
Like calling over her own little kitten, her face was full of playfulness.
"Mmm..."
She seemed to sense this as well.
After a slight hesitation, she still couldn't defy the Lord's command.
Stepping forward slowly, Gabriel then bent down at Rias's gesture.
Large, soft, and white~
Rias got her hands on her~
"Nn..."
A faint moan sounded, and a blush couldn't help but surface on Gabriel's face.
"As expected of the Number One Beauty of Heaven, it's wonderful~"
Rias sighed with admiration.
She had a seductive figure, yet her face was incomparably pure.
It was as if her whole body radiated holy light; with the halo atop her head, it made it hard for anyone to even think of profaning her.
With a lily tucked behind her ear, her sacred beauty was simply the symbol of the words pure and beautiful.
"Lord?"
Gabriel tilted her head in confusion.
"His origin still exists; I am certain I can resurrect Him."
Rias whispered.
At the mention of the God of the Bible, Gabriel couldn't help but show a look of joy.
"However, I have no reason to resurrect Him."
Rias added.
Hearing this, Gabriel's expression froze.
She looked at her with pleading eyes, like a pitiful little kitten.
Gabriel was an airhead, and her heart was the purest.
Because of this, Gabriel was the angel who missed the God of the Bible the most.
Rias had seen this earlier, so by using His resurrection as a bargaining chip, Gabriel would always show a satisfying expression~
Rias smiled, then gently stroked her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Whether He can be resurrected, and when He can be resurrected, all depends on your performance~"
The soft words made Gabriel's heart yearn deeply, but she didn't know what she should do.
"What... should I do?"
Gabriel asked in a daze.
Licking her lips, Rias nibbled on her ear and whispered something softly into Gabriel's ear.
Until Gabriel's fair skin turned crimson, and nearly fainting, she finally made up her mind and slowly took off her clothes~
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