The Weight of Words

"Hyahyahyahya! To think it would actually be found, 666! The Beast of Revelation!"

In a corner of the world, a silver-haired devil let out an unpleasant laugh.

The devil's name was Rizevim Livan Lucifer. He was the true son of Lucifer, recorded in the Bible as "Lilin." He was supposed to inherit the Morning Star. Born with the ability called "Sacred Gear Nullification," which nullifies the effects of all sacred gears, he was counted among the Transcendents.

Originally, he was a lethargic devil. He lost his father in a great war, had his seat stolen in a civil war, and he wasn't truly deserving of the name "Lucifer." He was nothing more than the "son of Lucifer." That's precisely why he came up with an idea.

To become the one and only Satan.

When he heard the story of the Demon Pillars deceiving the names of the Seventy-Two Pillars, he arrived at that ideology. They were treated as fakes in society. But if they were to be the ones left standing, they would become the true Seventy-Two Pillars. It's not about the righteous ones becoming the winners, but rather the winners becoming the righteous ones. The victors would have the right to etch their names in the history of the present and future.

"Yes, Lord Rizevim. With this, we've taken one step closer to achieving our goal."

By Rizevim's side was another significant devil.

Euclid Lucifuge, the last survivor of the Lucifuge clan, which had served Lucifer for generations. He was the brother of Grayfia, the wife of the current Lucifer, Sirzechs. Ironically, the man who had acted alongside the son of the first Lucifer was now the stepbrother of the current Lucifer.

Both of them were considered missing by the world, and their revelation that they were still alive caused a commotion in the Underworld. Undoubtedly, the political world would be in turmoil. Their positions were indeed quite unique.

Before them stood a gigantic "Beast" sealed with a prohibition of taboo-level.

Its name was the "Imperial Beast of Revelation," 666. It was a beast described in the Book of Revelation, along with the swarms of locusts and the Four Horsemen. It was a catastrophic existence solely existing to destroy everything in the world. In some texts, it was equated with Satan and the True Dragon. In the world, its existence was considered uncertain. It was an exception within exceptions, existing on the same level as Infinity and Dream.

But it existed here. Unbeknownst to other gods, silently sealed in a remote corner of the world by the god mentioned in the Bible.

In the past, there was a great war involving the three major powers. The war was almost forcibly ended due to the intervention of the Two Heavenly Dragons and the decline of each power. One of the reasons for its conclusion was undoubtedly the death of the god and satan mentioned in the Bible. However, the god in the Bible was not in perfect condition during the war. That's why he exerted all his power to seal this beast. Even if he was considered the one and only God with the most faith in the world, sealing the Beast of Revelation, which exists on the same level as Infinity and Illusions, was a life-or-death situation.

Naturally, it was sealed at the risk of the god in the Bible. Unless it was a Holy Relic, it should have been sealed to the point where one couldn't even touch it. That was the presumption of the situation—an extremely serious situation where the cause was unknown.

"But... what does this mean, Euclid?"

For Rizevim, who hadn't secured any Holy Relics, it was a convenient situation, but it was also a troublesome one. Precisely, the fact that the cause was unknown was a highly problematic situation.

"Why is the seal of 666 almost completely undone?"

***

Can you hear me, Hyoudou Issei?

Good. By incorporating the Demon Pillar into the Sacred Gear, you have connected with the Goetia. Through you, my words will also reach them.

You have ceased to exist as a human. You have reached the limits of human potential, unable to be called a devil or a dragon anymore. Even if you remove the pieces, you will still remain a devil.

To be frank, you are being used for "his" plan. You... or more precisely, someone who possesses the Holy Grail Abolisher in this era, becoming that was part of "his" plan.

Everything began when "he" discovered our world. And "he" only shared the information about the world "he" had learned with "him." "He" came up with the idea of using us for "his" own purposes.

I was summoned with knowledge about the plan for the role given to me. Just like how a Servant summoned from the Holy Grail has knowledge about the modern world and the Holy Grail War. This consciousness that should have been extinguished was reconstructed in this world, along with the characteristic of "becoming stronger than the opponent."

The Beast of Disaster, Khaos Brigade's successor, Kingu, and the executor of the Human Order Incineration, Goetia.

We are beasts. Beasts promised to be defeated by humanity as the embodiment of human evil due to our love for humanity. Kingu is strictly speaking their child, but it seems he was more convenient for "him" than her. We were summoned to defeat the beasts described in the Book of Revelation and for "him" to revive.

However, the mastermind who summoned us is a terrible person. We are all "vanished existences." I still have my physical body, but only my consciousness was vanished. Anyway, they attempted to reuse us. "He" heard about us from "him" who was trying to observe other worlds.

Do you know about the "System"? If you do, you must know that it's malfunctioning after "his" death. However, it's not solely because of "his" death. Our summoning was timed. After "his" death, once enough energy had accumulated, it would automatically activate. By constructing a ritual to summon beings like us from different worlds, other functions would become dull. The cause of the malfunction was a measure for this time.

And that summoning ritual was connected to the sealing ritual of the Beast of Revelation. As we were summoned, the seal of 666 gradually started to unravel... I had no choice but to prepare to defeat 666.

Goetia deliberately incorporated malfunctions into the Demon Pillars he built. It was intended to unconsciously assist "his" plan. It seems like he's raising heroes, but it's also part of the plan. Although he cannot be completely separated from "him."

As for me, I was manipulated and had no way out due to Goetia. I tried to escape from "his" plan, but everyone around me was filled with resentment. Asia herself was fine, but her patients were not. Ddraig has a pure personality, but due to unnecessary disturbances, he started to harbor dark emotions.

As for Kingu, it's simpler. When the seal of 666 is undone, he is programmed to be teleported near it. It was designed so that what is precious to him would be trampled first... It's excessively cruel.

When we were summoned to this world, I, Kingu, and Goetia were already doomed.

However, there are three things that deviated from "his" expectations.

One is that Goetia killed the original Seventy-Two Pillars of this world. That wasn't part of "his" thinking. They undoubtedly acted of their own will. At the core of it all is the existence of those two. The impulse of "not wanting them to see those guys" led to unplanned actions. Ironically, this made it easier for the demons to move. Depending on their actions, there might be a possibility... Also, it served as proof that the Demon Pillars can act based on their own will.

The second thing is you, Hyoudou Issei. Originally, you were supposed to incorporate the Demon Pillar a little later. Even if you didn't do it at this timing, someone else would have. Azazel probably conducted it as one of his experiments. Even if Azazel didn't do it, some fallen angel would have tried. Even if the fallen angels didn't, someone from another faction would have experimented. But for it to happen in this manner, and especially for you to connect with the Demon Pillar, it was beyond unexpected.

The last thing is Artoria becoming the Lion King. Her arrival was completely unexpected for "him." Well, it was unexpected for me too. The reason why the goddess Rhongomyniad was summoned is unknown. Did it happen with Bedivere? By summoning us, "vanished existences," it created a foundation that made it easier for similar beings to be summoned. Even so, it's still impossible without being a Grand Caster... Ah, I understand. Yeah.

I hope you don't mind delivering this to Goetia. If it's Mash, she revived by transferring my destiny!

I'm alive! And I apologize, but I don't want to congratulate you, Hyoudou Issei.

You have been chosen as the hero sacrifice to save the world.

Oh, and could you also inform Goetia? Mash revived by transferring my destiny!

***

"Confirmed by Goetia. Are all the emotions harbored in our hearts the result of a typographical error by a misguided god?"

"Answer from Baal. -- Absolutely not. Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not! I deny such a notion! I reject such a development! The hatred burning in my heart! The humiliation, the insult, and the rage! All the emotions directed towards that Fujimaru Ritsuka! They originated from within me! They are by no means derived from an unrelated god...!"

"Agreement from Crocell. The disgust in my heart, smoldering like flames, towards the Heroic Spirits, originates from that battle. The anger towards the Heroic Spirits who don't understand reason still burns within me. We know nothing about divine conspiracies. We should discard divine intentions. It's too late for his interference!"

"Support from Hagenti. This terror cannot be understood by gods. Something that gods cannot comprehend cannot be fabricated by gods."

"Proposal from Andras. I don't want to die. This emotion is a natural order for living beings, for beings with hearts. Doesn't the impulse to resist death serve as proof of 'our own hearts'?"

"Follow-up from Gaap. Our 'individuality' sprouted from the Time Temple of the past. It was born from the final magic of the man who was once a king. Therefore, this anger towards the gods is also a continuation of that time. It is by no means something implanted!"

"Assertion from Flauros. I have made up my mind. I have made a decision. I will return to that world. I will surely return, defying the intentions of the gods. There are words I must convey."

"Opinion from Glasya-Labolas. I had already decided to return. There are unfinished matters. Can a misguided god who made a wrong definition permit such emotions?"

"From Zepar--"

"Silence, Zepar!"

"Who allowed you to speak!"

"Even accounting for malfunctions, your failure is impossible!"

"Being a Demon Pillar!"

"You, focus on communicating with Hyoudou Issei!"

"The same goes for you, Phenex!"

"Why are you speaking as if it's someone else's problem!"

"What are you planning to do by negotiating with that one-eyed war god!"

"What do you think our plan is!?"

"I only created insurance in case the Command Center fails!"

"Even so, understand your position!"

"Announcement from Goetia to all Demon Pillars. Postponing the conclusion with the Lion King and the incineration of Hell and Heaven. We skipped it after hearing about their deaths, but originally, it was supposed to be done first. It's just a matter of timing. Now, let's annihilate the gods."

***

After that great war, my soul resided within the 'spear.'

From within the 'spear,' I witnessed everything in the world. I saw everything about humans.

Those who kill their own children. Those who are killed by their own children. Those who know not of love. Those who forsake love. Those who lament betrayal. Those who live through betrayal. Those who know not of family. Those who abandon their families. Those who lose wealth. Those who are killed by wealth. Those who know not of love. Those who mock love. Those who seek success. Those who despise success. Those who uphold faith. Those who detest faith.

Loving their kin, despising strangers, pursuing wisdom, spreading ignorance, nurturing grudges, dancing with misunderstandings, preferring discrimination, reveling in persecution, and pitying those who pity.

The emotions I held as I witnessed such things beside humans were anger. It could only be anger.

Why. Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why!

Why do they, while living in my world--

--look so repulsive!

To harbor such repulsive emotions! Why do they believe in gods other than me? Why do they not worship me? Why do they not offer prayers to me? Why do they curse me? Why do they not die for me? Why do they not come into existence in the form I have ordained?

Why does such foolishness occur in the perfect world I have created? Why does such filth exist in the beautiful world I have brought forth?

Even though they exist in my world. Even though I have brought them into existence. They cannot live in a way that befits the recompense. They do not even try to seek retribution.

This life is not worthy of living in my world.

--I have made a mistake in creating life.