For the Seraphim,
today marked the anniversary of the day, centuries ago, that had filled them with despair.
For on that day their God had left this world forever.
At first even Michael had nearly fallen; yet, as God's first Familia, Michael held fast to his heart and, with the other Seraphim, created the illusion that God still existed, using the legacy the God of the Bible had left behind to keep the "System" running.
But without its master the System malfunctioned constantly, and they could only maintain it at the bare minimum.
Among the three great factions, Heaven—once the undisputed leader—was now the most precarious.
Without God, the number of angels could no longer be replenished.
Fallen Angels could reproduce naturally with humans or wait for angels to fall, while the Netherworld had the far more efficient method of converting humans into devils.
Heaven, however, had nothing.
Now an extraordinary fluctuation had come from the Seventh Heaven where the System resided.
If even the System failed, Heaven's collapse would be only a matter of time.
Sensing this, Michael and several other Seraphim flew toward the Seventh Heaven at top speed.
Normally they would never intrude into the Seventh Heaven.
Remnants of the God of the Bible's presence still lingered; apart from maintaining the System, they would never set foot there.
But today was an exception.
The distance between the Sixth and Seventh Heavens was not great.
After stepping through the teleportation array, Michael's group appeared at the entrance of the Seventh Heaven and Advanced toward the System's location.
Yet before that they sensed several other auras.
"This scent… devils?!"
Michael's expression turned to shock.
The Seventh Heaven, home of God and the System, held no living creatures—let alone devils.
Even a Devil King as mighty as Sergeks would be overwhelmingly suppressed by the Holy Light here.
Any high-class devil below that level would be vaporized the instant they arrived.
Yet the three devilish auras were undeniably present.
Not only had they not been erased by Holy Light, they were even moving about.
With that thought Michael shot forward.
Then several girls came into the Seraphim's view.
Because Michael and the others had not concealed their auras, Rias's group sensed the angels the moment they entered the Seventh Heaven.
But there was nowhere to hide.
The gap in power was vast; before they could react, four Seraphim had landed less than ten meters away.
"They really are devils? Michael, what is going on?"
Gabriel beside him could hardly believe it.
Yet no one could answer her.
At the same time they realized that not only devils but also the Church's Sacred Gear Users were present.
Gabriel had long recognized Xenovia and Irina Fujiwara.
Xenovia was the pupil of her subordinate Griselda; though they had never met face to face, she had often heard Griselda speak of her apprentice.
"S-six golden wings—so this is a Seraph?! Amazing, simply amazing!"
"Incredible! I'm actually seeing a real Seraph! Am I dreaming?!"
Xenovia and Irina Fujiwara were pinching each other's cheeks—a sight so comical it looked straight out of a gag reel.
Seeing their antics, Michael and the other Seraphim grew even more bewildered.
So what on earth is going on?
Besides the devils, why are even the Church's Sacred Gear Users here?
Don't tell us they chased these devils all the way here.
The Seventh Heaven isn't a public toilet you can waltz in and out of whenever you please!
Right at that moment—
Gabriel stepped forward and asked, "You're Xenovia and Irina Fujiwara, the Church's Sacred Gear Users?"
"Yes, sir!"
Startled that a Seraph had addressed them, the two snapped to ramrod attention.
"I recall you were investigating the stolen Excaliburs. Why are you here?!"
"W-we..."
The question left them both tongue-tied.
Ever since they'd picked up Kokabiel's trail, events had spiraled far beyond anything they could have imagined.
They were still in a daze.
Yet judging by the Seraphim's faces, they seemed just as lost.
Could it be that even these Seraphim knew nothing about their Lord's affairs?
Both Xenovia and Irina Fujiwara were devout believers and dared not speak rashly about Rosen.
527—However, Rias on the other side had no such scruples.
Though this was the largest assembly of Seraphim she had ever seen, the thought of Rosen's current identity kept her calmer than usual.
"Archangel Gabriel, Archangel Michael, and all of you esteemed Seraphim—you may be lost right now, and that's understandable. I'm about to deliver some news; please try not to overreact when you hear it."
"I swear on the name of House Gremory that every word I'm about to speak is the truth."
Having made her vow, Rias continued.
"The God of the Bible has returned. He is repairing the System as we speak; you can see Him there."
The instant the words left her mouth—
the four Seraphim wore the perfect "old man on subway staring at phone" expression.
They knew better than anyone that the God of the Bible had vanished.
Yet now a devil was lecturing them: their God was back?
Impossible!
If resurrection were that simple, the Lord would have appeared ages ago—why wait until now, dragging along these unrelated people?
However—
after a few seconds of silence Michael jerked his head up, disbelief written across his face.