A little earlier in time.
This was when the past generations of the Red Dragon Emperor and White Dragon Emperor were covering the retreat for their successors, Issei Hyoudou and Vali, while Great Red, Ophis, Lilith, and Tiamat arrived.
"Roar—!!"
Issei Hyoudou and Vali, who were running, heard several terrifying dragon roars from a distance. The last roar was the loudest; when it bellowed, all of Elysium shook along with it.
Furthermore, a massive golden figure and a dragon tail seemed to blot out the sun. Even from where Issei Hyoudou and Vali were, they could see its silhouette, showing just how enormous that dragon was.
But immediately, that massive figure vanished from the spot.
"Vali, did you see that? That massive figure and the dragon roar just now?" Issei Hyoudou said to Vali beside him as he ran.
"Don't talk, just keep moving forward. We're almost at Hades' location." Vali didn't pay much attention to the commotion just now, nor did he want to waste words with Issei Hyoudou, as he sprinted at full speed toward the temple where Hades was.
Hades Temple
Hades wore his underworld armor draped with a red cape. Holding the sword of hades in his right hand and the helmet of his underworld armor in his left, he stood beneath a pillar topped with a statue of Hades—winged and holding a sword—closing his eyes as he felt the breeze.
Then, the wind direction suddenly changed. Hades opened his eyes, looked ahead, and said, "Have you finally arrived? I have waited a long time."
As his voice fell, Issei Hyoudou and Vali had already reached the Hades Temple. Their eyes were bloodshot, and they looked at Hades with intense fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld, an Ice Age-like blizzard had begun to blow, and everyone huddled in their homes, not daring to go out.
At Falbion's estate, Falbion and everyone from the Gremory family were wearing thick cotton coats; even magic was no match for this disastrous blizzard.
"Achoo~~!! They've finally reached Hades. Issei Hyoudou, Vali Lucifer, I'm counting on you. Hurry up and deal with Hades," Falbion said, sneezing first and then trembling all over.
"What—!! You're saying this cold, super handsome guy is Hades!!" After hearing Falbion's words, the members of the Gremory family, who were unaware of the situation, cried out in surprise.
They hadn't expected Hades' true form to be such a handsome man; it was a massive contrast to the walking skeleton they had seen before.
"So... so handsome..." The women present were instantly captivated by Hades's eyes, which were as deep as the bottom of a lake, making them feel an instinctive urge to adore him.
"..." Seeing the state of the women present, Falbion was somewhat speechless. What time did they think it was? How did they still have the heart to admire a handsome guy?
Underworld, Hades Temple
"Specters, Guardian Dragons (Beasts), Twin Gods... after passing so many obstacles and having so many companions cover your retreat—even the two great Dragon Gods came here to cover for you."
"In the end, as expected, it is you who have arrived here, Vali Lucifer and Issei Hyoudou."
The helmet in Hades's hand vanished, and he spoke with a hint of disappointment in his tone.
Then, Hades slowly walked down the steps. Every footstep carried a terrifying Cosmos and divine pressure. Its dreadfulness made the legs of Issei Hyoudou, Vali, and Falbion's group watching from the Underworld tremble uncontrollably, and even their knees began to bend gradually.
"Is this all the ability you have?" Finally, Hades finished the steps and stood before Issei Hyoudou and Vali. His Cosmos of darkness and Death shot straight into the sky.
Thud! Thud!
Feeling that terrifying Cosmos, Vali and Issei Hyoudou's knees buckled uncontrollably, and they knelt before Hades.
Hades's Cosmos actually traveled through spatial rifts to the Underworld and Heaven, manifesting as phantoms of Grim Reapers holding scythes to attack. Fortunately, the Reapers were just phantoms, only serving to intimidate and suppress the soul, but it was still terrifying.
Slash—!!!
The sword of hades in Hades's hand was unsheathed, its blade emitting a red blood-light as it slashed toward Vali.
The kneeling Vali struggled to look up. Seeing the sword of hades slashing toward him, he used all his strength to abruptly raise his arm and block the sword. A crack was slashed into the armor on Vali's arm, and black cursed energy seeped from it.
Hades looked at Vali, smiled, and said, "My sword of hades carries a very powerful curse. Even for beings whose souls are eternal and indestructible, being pierced by the sword of hades will result in being banished to a void world outside of reincarnation, with no possibility of escape."
Hearing Hades's words, Vali widened his eyes and looked at his arm guard. The place slashed by the sword of hades could no longer be restored, and there truly was a very strong curse on it.
Seeing this, Vali immediately retreated several steps.
"Ha—!!" Issei Hyoudou changed into his 'Welsh Sonic Boost Knight' form. The thrusters on his back ignited, and he quickly charged toward Hades.
Eye Gaze Attack—!!!
Hades turned his head to look at Issei Hyoudou. His pupils, deep like a lake bottom, constricted, releasing a shockwave like divine punishment from his gaze, sending Issei flying back.
It was estimated that it would take him some time to fly back.
"Hades!! Give my sister back!!" Ignoring the curse on his arm, Vali rushed toward Hades once again.
"Hmph~~!!" Hades let out a smiling hum and pressed his hand downward.
Heavy Pressure—!!
Boom—!! Rumble—!!
An invisible pressure weighed down on Vali, pinning him directly to the ground. It was as if the weight of the entire mortal world was pressing on him, making his face turn bright red, accompanied by a sound like thunder.
"Ha... des..." Lying on the ground, Vali still refused to give in, reaching out toward Hades with all his strength.
Super Heavy Pressure—!!!
Hades clenched his hand, and an even stronger pressure weighed on Vali, causing him to bleed from his facial orifices.
"Longinus Smasher!!"
Seeing Vali's current state, the returning Issei Hyoudou changed into his 'Juggernaut Drive' form. Concentrating an immense amount of power into the gem on his chest, he launched a heavy energy cannon blast toward Hades.
Reflect—!!
Noticing the movement behind him, Hades extended one hand toward Issei Hyoudou, releasing an airflow-like protective shield that blocked the 'Longinus Smasher' and reflected it back at Issei Hyoudou.
Bang—!!
A small explosion occurred on Issei Hyoudou after he was hit. His armor began to fall off piece by piece, and he himself fell from the sky.
"Boring. Is this all the Child of Destiny of this world is capable of?" Hades closed his eyes and lowered his head, speaking with slight disappointment, then tapped Vali's helmet with his sword of hades.
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