The command center, located in the First Heaven.
All of us, the members of [DxD], along with the [Angel Brave Saint] members who were on standby in the First Heaven, had gathered there.
A three-dimensional projection was displayed on a table in the center of the room, allowing us to see the conditions of each heavenly layer.
Evil Dragons were running rampant on every layer. Fierce battles were unfolding on the Second, Third, and Fourth Heavens, with legions of angels desperately fighting back.
"The enemy appears to have infiltrated from the Third Heaven—from 'Paradise,' the destination of believers' souls!" one of the [Angels] reported.
A colossal floating island appeared in the projection. The sight of it rendered everyone present speechless.
"Seriously... did they just bring Agreas with them?"
The aerial city of Agreas, stolen from the Underworld. Did they really invade with the entire island in tow?!
And what's more, hordes of Evil Dragons were swarming out of Agreas.
Furthermore—
"It looks like Ladon, the Crimson Flame Valburga, and Crom Cruach are there too."
Ladon and Valburga were cutting down angels left and right! Those guys were rampaging as they pleased! I wish we'd burned them to cinders with Grendel back then!
...Only Crom Cruach was merely deflecting the angels' attacks, not initiating any offensive himself. He seemed to be fighting only those who came at him.
Alice frowned as she watched the projection. "So the Evil Dragons really did launch an attack. But where did they infiltrate from? Heaven isn't a place that can be easily entered, is it? The security seems quite strict."
She had a point. When we entered Heaven, there were several procedures, and we wouldn't have been allowed in without a special angel's halo. Heaven's security was that tight. I'd also heard there weren't as many infiltration routes as in the Underworld.
Someone was there to answer her question. A new holographic image appeared in a corner of the table.
[They probably came in from the Underworld.]
It was Azazel-sensei, calling from the surface.
Rias asked, "Azazel, how are things on your end?"
[No good. The gates to Heaven are closed from this side too. We can't send reinforcements. ...Tch, this is a pain. If the gates can't be opened from either Heaven or the surface... Is the cause unknown?]
Griselda-san nodded at Sensei's question. "Yes. The Seraphs are currently investigating the cause, but they are also focused on containing the impact on the Seventh Heaven... If there's a problem with the 'System,' it could affect everything. Right now, not only the gates but all elevators in Heaven are also non-operational."
In response to this crisis, Michael-san and the other Heavenly superiors were reinforcing the protective barrier around the Seventh Heaven, where the 'System' resided.
If that upper layer were to be breached, it would truly be the end. Not only Sacred Gears, but the very foundations of Heaven and religion could collapse. We wanted to stop this before it came to that, but...
Sensei continued, [The means to enter Heaven are limited. You either pass through the gates legitimately, like you all did, or you're welcomed as an apostle of the Church after death. Or you ascend from elsewhere... from Purgatory and Limbo. They must have infiltrated from there.]
"Purgatory and Limbo?"
[Those are places believers arrive at after death, distinct from both Heaven and Hell. They're prepared for those who died under special circumstances. After purifying themselves there, they are invited to Paradise. Yes, both have doors that lead into Heaven.]
—!
So, the Qliphoth guys infiltrated Heaven from either Purgatory or Limbo!
[In the Church, Purgatory and Limbo are also referred to as "Hades." It's believed that the God of the Bible defined them by referencing the Underworld. ...It's just a conjecture, but it's possible the Underworld God, Hades, knew of a way, or even created a way, to infiltrate Purgatory or Limbo.]
At that moment, an angel appeared with a report.
"Report! The gate leading from Purgatory to the Third Heaven has been destroyed!"
Sensei's prediction had been accurate!
...I see. So, that old skeleton god cooperated with the Qliphoth.
That god despised devils and fallen angels. He even cooperated with Shalba, who caused the Beast of the Underworld incident. Even if the core of Qliphoth was the former Lucifer's son, it's plausible he'd lend his power just to spite us.
Griselda-san said, "We did receive a report that one of the legendary Evil Dragons revived by the Holy Grail—Apophis—descended into the Underworld."
"According to legend, Apophis is one of the dragons with strong ties to the Underworld. It wouldn't be surprising for it to descend there..." Rias added, looking at me.
Sensei and the other members also turned their gazes to me.
I sighed. "That skeleton god ignored my... and Sirzechs-san's warnings. Sensei, I'm going to cause a little ruckus in the Underworld. I'll lightly blast them with Longinus Smasher."
"Fufufu... Naughty gods need a good spanking." Ignis snuggled up to me, a fearless smile on her face.
Sensei quickly interjected, [Wait, wait, wait! I understand how you feel, but calm down, you two!]
"No waiting! Interrupting my boob-squeezing time is a crime worthy of a thousand deaths!"
[Is that it?! I don't understand that feeling! And what were you doing in Heaven?! Did you grope the angels' chests?!]
"I just corrupted one earlier♪"
[Oiiiii! Someone! Someone stop that useless goddess! Stop her before Michael starts complaining! She's more dangerous than Qliphoth or Hades!]
Sensei's shouts echoed through the projection.
Griselda-san also looked incredibly troubled. "...May we refuse her entry to Heaven from now on? Angels are difficult to increase in number compared to other races... At this rate, the survival of our species seems to be at risk..."
Right?! That's exactly it! If girls are corrupted, Heaven is in trouble, right?! No, seriously, I'm so sorry! My useless goddess is truly sorry!
...By the way, the angel girl Ignis had captured was rescued before she fell, so she didn't become a Fallen. It was a close call, though.
Sensei cleared his throat loudly. [It's almost certain Hades is involved given the situation. However, it's difficult to accuse him in the current circumstances.]
"Is that because there isn't enough evidence that Hades is involved?" I asked, and Sensei nodded.
[According to the latest information I got from Euclid, some of the revived Evil Dragons are starting to resist Rizevim's control. Those are the top three Evil Dragons: Crom Cruach, Azi Dahaka, and Apophis. Each one is a monster-class being. He said they... have started making deals with Rizevim.]
"Deals?"
[Yes. —"If you accept the conditions, I might release you." I couldn't find out the details, but it's probably something like "make a contract with a god-class being from any faction." I don't know about the other two, but Apophis reportedly made a contract with Hades. From there, Hades gained an infiltration route into Heaven via Apophis. That's my theory.]
"...So Qliphoth plans to make excuses, saying 'Apophis was released' or 'escaped' and made a contract with a god on its own accord... right?"
[And then Hades will likely claim he 'only contracted with an escaped Evil Dragon' and 'isn't cooperating with Qliphoth.' In other words, unless there's decisive evidence, we can't pursue Hades.]
Damn it...!
That Hades bastard is really going all out...!
He's supposedly one of the gods who supports the world, yet he's calmly cooperating with terrorists...! And he keeps making excuses, refusing to admit anything!
Someday, I'm going to punch my way into the Underworld!
[That's how it is. Regardless of Rizevim, Hades is a god necessary for the world. We can't just carelessly eliminate him. Besides, now isn't the time for such things. We'll try to open the gates of Heaven from this side. You all try to open them from your side as well.]
The [Angels] nodded at Sensei's words and left the room.
"What is their objective...?"
"The 'System,' perhaps?"
Xenovia and Asia voiced their questions.
[Even they can only reach a limited number of layers. ...The Third Heaven, or the Fourth Heaven, or even the Second Heaven where the Babel Tower personnel are imprisoned, is a possibility... Griselda, how are the Tree of Life in the Third Heaven and the Tree of Knowledge in the Fourth Heaven, which is the Garden of Eden?]
"Both trees themselves are intact, but they haven't borne fruit for a long time. The growth of the fruit has been halted ever since the Lord passed away."
Sensei pondered Griselda-san's report.
"...Sensei?" I asked, puzzled, but Sensei muttered to himself.
[They call themselves "Qliphoth," the inverse of the Tree of Life. It wouldn't be strange for them to target it. If they had those fruits, the unsealing of Trihexa would also be hastened...]
As we tried to figure out the enemy's objective, a certain scene appeared on the holographic projection.
—The man with the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds had stepped into the vicinity of the research facility in the Fifth Heaven!
Seeing this, Griselda-san's eyes narrowed sharply.
"This is bad. Currently, Director Shidou has ascended to the Fifth Heaven for the final stage of detoxification!"
[—!?]
This is bad! The enemy is targeting Touji-san!
At this rate, he's definitely—
"Issei! Look!" Alice pointed to a certain image.
There was—
"Asem...!"
Asem and his servant, Raziel, were in the Fourth Heaven, the Garden of Eden! They had already infiltrated Heaven!
Miharu said, "Let's go, Onii-chan. We're the only ones who can stop them. And we have to save Irina-san's father too!"
"Yeah, I know! Let's go, everyone! We're the anti-terrorist team [DxD]! We know what we have to do!"
Rias continued, "Exactly! Irina, you go to the Fifth Heaven! We'll clear the way for you!"
Irina nodded firmly at her reassuring words. "Yes! I am Michael-sama's A-Ace! I'll defeat the Evil Dragons and save Papa!"
[I'll send reinforcements as soon as the gates of Heaven open! You all do your best!]
[Understood!]
Everyone responded to Sensei's voice!
Our job is to protect this Heaven and rescue Touji-san! That's all there is to it!
Just as everyone was about to head into battle, that's when it happened.
[Gyafun!]
Sensei, who was in the projection, was suddenly sent flying by something from the side.
The one who appeared in his place was—
[Master, are you alright?]
A woman with distinct purple hair—it was Diarmuid! She was wearing a Santa hat and munching on something!
Miharu answered hesitantly, "Uh, um, I'm fine for now... Dil-san, what are you eating?"
[It's a banana.]
"Huh?"
[It's a banana.]
She showed us a half-eaten, peeled banana!
What is this person doing?! This is a huge emergency right now, do you understand that?!
Diarmuid swallowed the banana in her mouth and nodded once. [I will also be heading your way, so I'll see you later.]
"Eh...? How are you planning to get here...?"
[Until then.]
"Eh?! Dil-san?!"
She cut the communication!
Eh... wait, how does she plan to get here?!
Amidst our confusion at Diarmuid's words...
"That figure at fifteen... sniffle" Alice-san shed tears beside me, and Asia and Koneko-chan both touched their chests and sighed deeply.
I gently stroked the heads of the three of them.
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