Trascendence of Aeons II

"It was a 'he' his name was Regalzeva. Several universes crumbled in the process. It was a difficult fight" Jie Yuan stated unconcerned. It was all thanks to the Primordial Seal of Life and Death that no marks remained. Even in her sword form, during the fight against Regalzeva's antimatter swords, she and Ni Jie had cracked several times. It was only this connection to Richter that assured their survival. Although she hated to admit it; Li Suo's addition to the 'team' was the perfect card they needed.

She and Ni Jie were offensive; Richter was the defence and had the physical strength necessary to wield the two of them while Li Suo was perfect support; capable of healing them and keeping them alive; giving all the energy necessary with the Eternal Heaven Pearl.

Jie Yuan couldn't conceive an opponent the four of them together would be unable to defeat. If anything, Regalzeva was not defeated in a battle of strength, instead, it was a battle of attrition... he didn't have a treasure capable of preserving his life as the Primordial Seal of Life and Death did... hence, his defeat.

A hidden glint of darkness was released from Grayfia which Jie Yuan was too much into her own thoughts to notice.

'So they erased Regalzeva... interesting~'

**

**

"In any case... with this space at your disposal, you should be able to become stronger way quicker, if you ever want to come out-" Li Suo was going to suggest something that needed no suggestion and Sona was particularly quicker to settle this fact.

"I don't intend to leave this space until the last second!" She yelled, stating her position ahead of the other heirs who were thinking the same. Saji and Tsubaki followed, willing to do whatever their king ordered.

"Neither do I" Seekvaira took a step forward as well.

"Hoh? Do you know what that means?" Li Suo inquired with an interested glint.

"I understand perfectly, Lady Li. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... if a second in this world could be a thousand years outside. That means a second that I spent outside is a thousand years of progress that I lost! I'm unwilling!".

"Interesting, Sona... in that case, the same for me!" Zephyrdor who had been silent so far growled like a maniac.

"Riser will also stay for as long as necessary. What about you Rias? going to chicken out?~" The Phoenix and his sister made their decision.

"Hmph! Shut up... I'm not leaving this place until I'm at least strong enough to erase you!" Rias was now more motivated than ever. She finally saw light at the end of the tunnel.

"Sona-tan... guys" Seeing this level of compromise from the youngsters, Ajuka, Serafall and Venelana felt relieved. If anything, they wanted to remain in this world as well for as long as necessary.

"I don't want to waste a single second... if I have to stay here and train until my bones shatter, in order to sustain the livelihood of all devils, I will do it!" Sairaorg growled, with his complete peerage screaming "HO!".

"Richter-sama... even though this task was commended to us... we never held the slightest hope that we could succeed and become strong enough within a mere year to stop the catastrophe that befalls our race" Sona took the initiative once more to do something no one had done so far.

"..." Richter heard whatever she had to say.

"Thank you... so much" She knelt down as low as she could with her forehead touching the ground, "You transformed this war into a rating game that we could win, and now you give us the tool to become strong within our own means just in time. Words can't convey the gratitude that I feel. If we get out of this alive... there is no figure of a God that we can see aside from you!"

"Thank you!"

All heirs knelt down, expressing the same gratitude. The despair had suddenly been turned into hope.

"No need to thank me. Show your gratitude to them instead. Despite what you devils made them go through they're still merciful enough to keep you around" Richter dismissed them and pointed fingers towards the Nephilim, Grayfia and Layla, his mates... together with Fia, they were the reason why he was even willing to help.

Morrighan, Albedo, Benneth and Annette looked at him before eventually sighing, 'Master can be quite stubborn sometimes'.

"We know that not all devils are evil. That is all. It doesn't matter who wins or loses a war. There is always looming hatred. Lady Calliope did good for the devils, she wished for the peace of the races, but in the end, it was devil hatred which continued this cycle. Now, the Fallen God Faction has exterminated that seed of hatred but they wish to become the hatred themselves... only by defeating them in this war without bloodshed can we restore peace" Morrighan turned towards Richter and knelt down, just like the rest of the devils.

"It doesn't matter how much you believe you don't have your hands on this, master... because you're so powerful that you might as well be omnipotent in our eyes, you don't wish to meddle yet your kindness touches us even now. I worship Primordial Gold not because of its value or power. But because it is YOU that represents it".

!!!

With words like those even Richter couldn't help but be moved, his gaze softened while regarding the four Nephilim... Layla and then Grayfia who didn't kneel but instead, bowed.

The latter smiled warmly like the first time he saw her in Goldstein "It is you that I love, Richter-sama, not gold... never forget that".

"Never forget" The Nephilim Repeated.

"Hail the Golden Dragon of Helius!" Ajuka yelled.

"Hail the Golden Dragon!"

"Hail Primordial Gold!"

...

Seeing their clamour, Richter felt something he had never felt before... it was as if the solitude was vanishing. For the first time, he was being worshipped... as Richter.

He clenched his hands, it was difficult to believe, 'After everything I've been through, Monique... how can I trust-'

"Don't confuse bootlicking with gratitude, Richter... we are bound to be attached to those that do good for us and shine light out to our despair. When we're in our darkest moments when we don't know what to do. Someone comes and shows us a path forward, as easy as waving his hand, showcasing overwhelming strength... solving our problems as if they were his own, with means of his own. You are that for them... and for me... a saviour. When you found me in the Z-AXIS and with a wave of your hand showed me a path back home when I felt abandoned... when you helped me find my daughter whom I had so much missed. This is how I felt... this is why I came with you. This is why I allowed you to wield me, something that not even my husband did. Never forget that" Jie Yuan's lips ran amock, but she refused to look at him and allow him to see her current expression, she wasn't ready.

The Devil Emperor disappeared in a dark haze after having blown Richter's mind.

"That's how I feel as well, master~ when my consciousness was nothing but a small speck of dust within the Primordial Seal, I felt your aura washing me off like a cascade of dew. Waking me up from endless slumber... after billions of years I thought all hope was lost and then you came... please don't underestimate what you inadvertently do for all of us. With a single word, you're able to save civilisations... that is also one of your powers".

*Cough!*

Richter turned around, unwilling to show his face.

"Then I accept your gratitude. Let's go Li Suo. You all passed my test. I will be expecting big things from you. I'm using my energy to keep this space. So, attain strength and show me the end of your resolve".

"Yes, Richter-sama!"