Chapter 267 Beyond the Divine
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Beyond the petty disputes between the Three Factions, Sona Sitri gave me a far broader explanation of the world’s balance of power and the hierarchy that existed beyond the Demon King class.
The Three Realms were far larger than most people imagined. Although the world appeared to be a lone planet drifting through an endless cosmic void, Divine-level beings knew the truth: it was a vast macro-world stretching far beyond mortal understanding. That secret remained hidden from everyone below the Divine realm. Just as the Ten Core Gods occupied only one corner of Heaven, countless other mythological systems continued to thrive across the world’s immense expanse. The Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels were simply the dominant forces in this particular region.
”Not far from us are the Eastern pantheons,” Sona explained in her usual precise manner. “Closer to the world’s point of origin, you’ll find the Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies. They’re all ancient powers with deep foundations.”
Those factions had emerged from the remnants of primordial gods who had returned to the world’s core over countless ages. Like the Three Factions, they spent much of their history fighting among themselves. The East alone had endured the Three-Race War between Dragons, Phoenixes, and Qilin, followed by the War of Gods and Demons, the Investiture of the Gods, and the endless struggle between Buddhism and Taoism1. Each conflict had shaken entire regions of the world, making the struggles of our local Three Factions seem insignificant by comparison. If not for that constant cycle of internal warfare, the Eastern pantheon might have already dominated the entire globe.
As for Japanese mythology, its standing on the world stage was surprisingly low. Outsiders often mocked the so-called Eight Million Gods as little more than an army of expendable soldiers. While a handful of genuine powerhouses existed, the uncomfortable truth was that many of them were survivors and exiles from the great Eastern conflicts, figures who had retreated to a distant corner after losing their place elsewhere. That weakness was one of the reasons Japan had been so easily influenced by the Three Factions.
The Three Factions wanted peace because they could no longer afford endless war. Unlike the Eastern pantheon, they lacked a vast reserve of strength and manpower. If they continued weakening one another and another mythological power chose to invade, they would be erased from history. As the old saying went, things long divided would unite, while things long united would divide. Sooner or later, the larger mythologies would settle their internal conflicts, and when that happened, clashes between pantheons would become inevitable. Whether they were preparing for that future or simply trying to survive the present, the Three Factions could no longer afford to consume themselves.
I listened quietly before passing Sona a glass of water after her lengthy explanation. The ancient history was fascinating, but what interested me most was the true ceiling of power in this world.
”Sona, just how strong are those primordial gods?” I asked.
”It’s impossible to measure,” she replied after taking a sip. “But if their deaths hadn’t caused them to return to the world’s essence, the Three Realms would have been shattered by their battles long ago.”
After setting down the glass, she continued.
At the very top stood the primordial gods, beings often referred to as Evil Gods. Their numbers were few, and they were so difficult to kill that only other Evil Gods from beyond the outer void could truly threaten them. Because those entities constantly watched the Three Realms, the strongest protectors of this world were often grouped into the same category.
Below them came the current defenders of the realm. Beyond Dragon God level stood the strongest active guardians of the Three Realms, followed by Super Dragon Gods and then Dragon Gods themselves. Beneath them were the Sub-Dragon Gods, while the Main God level—also known as the Divine level—formed the standard benchmark for true gods. Every major faction possessed at least a few experts at that stage.
There were several paths to reaching the Divine realm, which was why different factions used different titles. Depending on the tradition, a Divine-level being might be called a Main God, a Heavenly Dragon, a Transcendent, or a High God.
Below the Divine level came the Super Devil class, ranked as EX+, followed by the Demon King class at EX rank. Under that stood the SSS rank, known among Devils as Special-class Devils and among Angels and Fallen Angels as Ten-Winged existences.
That was my current level.
Those who stood at the Demon King class, meanwhile, were considered Twelve-Winged beings. Michael and Azazel were prime examples.
I committed every rank to memory. Everything up to the Divine level was familiar territory, but the realms beyond it had been little more than vague rumors until now. Even the Two Heavenly Dragons had only recently crossed into the Divine realm. Several enormous gaps still separated them from the true peak.
”Those above the Divine level rarely appear within the Three Realms,” Sona concluded. “Their power is simply too destructive. The world can’t support them for long, and the Three Realms don’t provide what they need for further growth. As a result, Divine-level beings usually avoid interfering in worldly affairs. That’s why the Super Devil class remains the strongest force that is regularly active.”
I nodded thoughtfully.
In this world, personal strength was not determined by race. At the deepest level, every living being shared the same origin. There was little reason for those standing at the summit to descend and involve themselves in the lives of ordinary people.
The next three days passed quickly. Between preparing for the summit and dealing with various distractions, I had no opportunity to continue strengthening Rias’s group. My treatment sessions with the schoolgirls were also forced onto the back burner, much to my disappointment. Even so, I spent most of those days surrounded by an impressive number of heroines, and I could not honestly say I disliked the arrangement.
June 20th. Sunday. Nine in the morning.
Together with the members of the Occult Research Club, I stepped onto the transfer circle. A familiar sensation of spatial displacement washed over us, and moments later we arrived inside the living room of a villa built in the style of an ancient European castle.
A quick glance around the room revealed several familiar faces.
Seated at a round table of black marble was Sirzechs, the Crimson Demon King. Beside him sat a petite black-haired girl with twin tails. She could only be Sona’s older sister, Serafall Leviathan, one of the current Four Great Satans. While I recognized her immediately, my attention soon shifted to the two figures standing quietly behind her.
”Sona. Tsubaki. Good morning.”
The two girls responded with small nods.
A heavy silence hung over the room. With two Great Demon Kings present and a summit of this scale about to begin, even the normally composed girls appeared tense. What surprised me more was the sight of Sirzechs and Serafall themselves. Their usual ease was nowhere to be found, replaced by unusually serious expressions that made it clear just how important this meeting was.
Not long afterward, two waves of spatial distortion rippled through the air.
The final representatives had arrived.
A golden-haired man wearing radiant armor stepped forward with a gentle smile beneath the halo floating above his head. He was Michael, one of the Four Great Seraphs and the representative of the Angels. Beside him stood a white-haired man wearing glasses and scholarly robes. Following close behind was a silver-gray-haired youth whose sharp gaze and rebellious demeanor immediately stood out.
When his eyes met mine, I caught a trace of hostility.
I looked back without much interest.
Vali Lucifer.
The heir of the White Dragon Emperor.
That made the scholarly-looking man Shemhaza, Azazel’s successor.
Once everyone had taken their places, Vali and I moved to opposite sides of the room alongside our respective groups.
”Allow me to introduce everyone,” Sirzechs said, his voice calm yet authoritative. “This is my sister and her peerage…”
The introductions were brief. The four Demon King-class leaders exchanged formal greetings before moving directly to the matter at hand. Every faction still had its own hardliners, but the fact that all of them had gathered here showed that those internal problems were under control. Thanks to my interference, the meeting was proceeding far more smoothly than it had in the original timeline. The Fallen Angels did not even raise the issue of Azazel’s death. It was obvious that every side felt the pressure closing in around them and desperately wanted a ceasefire.
Once a preliminary agreement had been reached, the representatives turned their attention toward Vali and me.
The current Red Dragon Emperor and White Dragon Emperor.
”Now then,” Shemhaza said, adjusting his glasses as his sharp gaze moved between us. “As the Red Dragon Emperor and the White Dragon Emperor, you possess enough influence to affect the balance of the world despite standing outside our traditional factions. We’d like to hear your opinions.”
Vali remained leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
”I don’t care, man. As long as I get to fight strong opponents, it makes no difference to me.”
”Hmm. Even without a war, there are plenty of strong fighters out there.”
Vali glanced at me before a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
”Fair point.”
”Then…” Shemhaza said as his attention shifted fully toward me. “Red Dragon Emperor, what about you?”
—
Summary:
Aki gathers intelligence on the world’s complex mythological power hierarchy and power levels from Sona Sitri. The narrative shifts to a tense peace summit held at a European-style villa between the Three Factions and independent powerful entities. Aki and Vali Lucifer, representing the rival Dragon Emperors, are now faced with the political pressure to define their stance on the potential war.
—
Trivia:
The Three Realms are described as a flat-earth macro-world rather than a standard planet.
Japanese mythology is considered inferior and weak by the dominant Three Factions because it is composed of “losers” from Eastern myth.
Primordial gods (Evil Gods) dissolve into world essence upon death, preventing total world destruction.
Vali Lucifer currently harbors visible hostility toward Aki.
Shemhaza has replaced Azazel as the representative for the Fallen Angels.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Sitri – The prestigious devil hierarchy family name carried by Sona, representing her noble lineage and identity.
• Sona – A young woman with long black hair and glasses, she is the Student Council President and future head of the prestigious Sitri clan. Highly intelligent, composed, and analytically minded, she possesses deep knowledge of the world’s power structures. She manages her council relationships with structured leadership and acts as a strategic support for her allies, upholding her noble identity.
• Phoenix – The Phenex noble clan, from which Riser and Ravel originate, is known for their unique bloodline abilities and the healing properties of their tears.
• Michael – A gentle, handsome Archangel with a radiant aura, halo, and golden armor, he leads the four Seraphs who survived the Three-Race War. As Heaven’s representative, he is a calm, pragmatic, and polite leader whose strength exceeds a Super-Devil. Following God’s disappearance, he serves as the central figure of the System, prioritizing its stability and negotiations above individual lives.
• Azazel – A decadent, arrogant fallen angel and former Governor General, this middle-aged man in a neon hot-spring yukata pairs a rogue personality with immense, Demon King-class power. Defeated by and confirmed weaker in combat than Aki via Balance Breaker, he still acts as a formidable antagonist who researches Sacred Gears, provides the Occult Research Club with data, and shapes their view of Aki.
• Rias – Rias Gremory, an elegant SS+ rank devil heiress and Kuoh Academy’s authoritative president, is a stunning woman with crimson hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin. As head of the Gremory household, she leads her peerage with empathetic, decisive leadership. Sister to Sirzechs and friend to Sona, she navigates complex duties, including her mentorship of Aki and managing her own powerful destruction mana.
• Leviathan – A title of the Four Great Satans held by Serafall, a Demon King scheduled to attend the summit. She carried this title after ascending to leadership, maintaining crucial diplomatic ties with other factions.
• Serafall – Sona Sitri’s sister Serafall is a buxom, long-black-haired schoolgirl in twintails, a Super-Devil, and one of the Four Great Satans (Leviathan). A peer to Sirzechs and combatant of the new era, she possesses immense power but is reluctant to engage in conflict. Known for her extreme sister-complex, she often maintains a bubbly, energetic facade despite being a high-ranking Devil leader.
• Sirzechs – Sirzechs Gremory is a powerful, red-haired Demon King holding the title of Lucifer. As Rias’s brother and a high-ranking Devil leader with a powerful lineage, he commands a regal presence and immense magical capacity, actively restraining his strength to prevent destruction. A skilled political navigator focused on his family’s interests, he serves as a pivotal figure in peace negotiations.
• Tsubaki – Shinra Tsubaki, Sona Sitri’s stoic, glasses-wearing Queen and Student Council VP, is a black-winged beauty attending the summit. As Sousuke’s loyal wife and Sakura’s mother, she balances maternal devotion with a playful, jealous side. A key link between the council and Aki, she monitors Rating Games and shares a dual cultivation history with him, masking vulnerability behind fierce loyalty.
• Lucifer – A house name associated with the White Dragon Emperor’s lineage. An original Demon King whose lineage is inherited by Vali.
• Vali – The White Dragon Emperor, Albion’s wielder, is a stoic yet arrogant half-demon youth of Ancient Devil blood. Donning resplendent white armor with light wings that absorb and negate power on contact, he can trigger Balance Breaker mode at will. Taken in by Azazel, this cynical, battle-junkie Khaos Brigade member is obsessed with strength, locked in a fated rivalry, and seeks an evenly matched opponent.
• Shemhaza – A veteran Fallen Angel leader and Governor-General, this scholarly yet pragmatic powerhouse succeeded Azazel to manage high-stakes diplomacy and asset preservation. He commands subordinates like Kokabiel, masks his true intent with calm analysis during peace summits, and is currently locked in a high-stakes duel against a demon king-class opponent, balancing strategic retreats with raw combat power.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy strategist and devil-lineage cultivator with a sturdy physique, he acts as a dominant mentor and healer within the Occult Research Club. His unique power influences Evil Pieces, while his pragmatic, predatory approach to intimacy restores others’ potential. He navigates complex soul contracts and deep relationships with Marion, the Naruse sisters, and Mio with calculated rhythm.
• Asia – A gentle, blonde first-year nun reincarnated as a kind-hearted Devil and Gremory peerage Bishop in the Occult Research Room. This diligent, clear-headed newcomer serves as a crucial supportive healer for conflict survivors. Possessing a compassionate heart, she deeply cares for others, anticipates her growth, and holds a naive affection for Aki, whom she once invited to lunch.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply