Even in the red-black, hellish zone, the Dragon Emperor was beautiful. His black hair swayed in the black smoke. The blood that stained both his hands and cheeks only gave the illusion of a work of art. His empty golden eyes were akin to twinkling stars.

Nevertheless, the corners of his eyes and the shadow looming under his feet were as dark as the abyss.

Chris quietly turned to the Dragon Emperor.

“—Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor, Hades Theos Rave. I am Chris Saber, the head of the Saber family.”

The Dragon Emperor was staring off into the distance, and it was unclear whether or not he was listening.

“We admit our defeat.”

“Brother Chris…”

When Rick was about to say something, Chris held up his hand to stop him.

“Is it possible to negotiate a ceasefire?”

There can be no ceasefire.

However, their eldest brother, who was bad at socializing and wasn’t the best at negotiation, was trying to extract information from the Dragon Emperor. All for a chance to make a comeback.

“Ushering in such an offensive, hasn’t this left your imperial capital empty? I don’t think such a situation can last long.”

While keeping his gaze fixed on the distance, the Dragon Emperor chuckled from the depth of his throat.

“There’s no one in the imperial capital anymore.”

His gestures and voice were so surreal, they were both beautiful and frightening.

Chris clenched his fist.

“—What are you trying to gain from this war? What is it that you want?”

“…What I want?”

Suddenly, the Dragon Emperor’s eyes shifted to focus.

Slowly, his gaze settled on Andy.

“The death of all you trash.”

A calm voice, akin to a god reading a verdict.

An eerie, icy smile tugged on the Dragon Emperor’s lips.

“How surprising. Is the Goddess still trying to fight? This isn’t a war, but a purge. I’ll rid the world of the Goddess and all of her descendants, restoring its beauty.”

“S-so, you’re using the Heavenly Sword as a broom? The Dragon God must be having a hard time.”

Rick replied sarcastically with a strained laugh.

It didn’t mean anything.

It was just a comment one would throw at their enemy on the battlefield.

However, God was fickle.

All traces of emotions vanished from the Dragon Emperor’s face—and in an instant, Rick’s right hand was blown away.

Andy looked up and saw Rick, who was still smiling. Silver lines ran across his face and body, as if it had been torn asunder.

Then, all of a sudden, like jumbled pieces of a puzzle, everything fell apart.

That was the end of his other half.

“Indeed. This is how you clean. Trash is easier to clean if you cut it up into small pieces.”

“…Ri—”

“—Go, Andy! Run and deliver the news!”

His eldest brother, being uncharacteristically loud, pushed him away. However, before Andy could turn around, his back was blown away by the pressure of tremendous magical power.

His eldest brother died—probably in the same manner as Rick.

Knowing the outcome, his eldest brother still made such a decision as the head of the Saber family.

Knowing that, Andy ran without looking back.

He was born into a family whose vocation was war. His family didn’t wish for any death to be celebrated, or any separation to be grieved, as they couldn’t prepare one for their enemies.

He gritted his teeth. It was forbidden to cry on the battlefield.

From that moment on, he was the head of the Saber family. Behind Andy, there were only women and children. He told his brother to evacuate them, but there was no time left.

If he didn’t survive there, Saber territory would collapse sooner or later, which would ultimately lead to the fall of Kratos.

Even if it was just a few minutes, or a few seconds…

If he couldn’t reverse time until before the world became Hell, then he could at least prolong it, no matter how little.

—That’s right, my sister, who is in capital, has to make it in time to fight this man.

Sister Jill once forced that man to turn back.

A miraculous retreat that happened only once.

His sister didn’t win, and the course of war remained the same.

But now that’s all I can hope for.

He thought so for some reason.

Hence why, he had to move forward, even if it was just one step—even if he was stabbed through the back.

“—You look exactly like the one from before. Were you twins?”

After skewering Andy to the ground, the Dragon Emperor grabbed his head and peered into his face.

The pain was gone.

His vision, which was dyed red, also became blurry.

“Do you regret it? How do you feel about dying despite still having unfinished business?”

When compared to everyone’s fear of being slaughtered by that man;

When compared to the despair of witnessing the God of Reason condoning genocide;

It didn’t matter.

To what extent can the love bestowed by the Goddess stand against the principles laid down by the Dragon God?

“…How, about… you? Are you, satisfied?”

As he answered with a question, the Dragon Emperor stared at him with interest. It reminded him of the expression a child would make upon disassembling insects.

He breathed in and exhaled the air he no longer needed.

All he could hope for was that his remaining breath would last until someone escaped.

“…Answer me. Are you satisfied, happy, or relieved? Answer me!”

He could hear the Dragon Emperor laugh. It was an innocent voice.

“It feels great.”

Then, the Heavenly Sword was pulled out of his body, and once again, it rained blood.

---

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***T/N: OMG they said the same line. DOES THAT MEAN THIS FATE HAS BEEN AVERTED?! I HOPE SO

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