Becoming the Strongest Through (Draconic) Racism - Chapter 7 (Patreon)

Story telling time was put on pause after that revelation.

And because rightly we all needed a minute to digust everything we just learned. Well, Satanael and I did. Walburga just seemed amused by the whole thing. Thankfully she kept any comment to herself for now as she watched us.

Satanael sitting at his desk, elbows on it, hands clamped together and resting his forehead against his hands. He was covering his face, while being in deep thought.

As for me, I opened a window and stood by it, leaning on the window stool, arms cross. If I lean with my hands, I would likely break the window and the wall.

I stared out into the fields, greenery, and distant mountains of... fuck it. Whatever place this headquarters is in.

"Where are we? Like the general location of this place?" I asked, because that curiosity was nagging at me.

"Oh? You're asking quite the big question, Cally. This is a top super secret operation. I can't just reveal it to any outsider—"

"Europe. Germany." Satanael stated, likely just wanting to end the argument immediately and return to some silence to brood in peace.

"That's mean, Actually Satan." Walburga pouted.

We all ignored her, and with no one engaging silence returned.

My thoughts returned to Ophis' words.

I was wrong in my assumptions, but my instincts were in the right direction. It turns out I wasn't just insane for nothing. That my insane deductions somehow were based in facts.

I felt repulsed. I felt imaginary bile in my mouth at the information that Ophis gave us because...

I am vindicated. My hatred was vindicated.

And I felt disgusted at myself for it.

I felt shame and sheer loathing at myself for the part of me that was joyous that my anger was right and valid. That my wrath was justified.

From the moment Satanael asked me what will I do then—No, even before that. From the moment I woke up, a thought came to be in the back of my head.

Now that the danger was gone and the ones who made me suffer were gone, even in a metaphorical sense in Satanael's case... maybe I can stop.

A thought I buried so deep I didn't make it conscious.

Because if it's true then what did I suffer for?

But realistically, I know my whole theory on Great Red is bogus. So that means I'm angry at nothing and only needed the anger to survive. Now I survived, I shouldn't need the anger anymore. I can somehow find a way to return to normal life and finally live my life Awake.

Thoughts I didn't want to form because... Let's be completely honest. Let's just admit it.

My anger felt good.

It made me feel good. It made me feel justified. It made me feel powerful. I survived because of my anger.

Am I suppose to give up what made me strong now, and become weak again? That's madness. That's not fair!

Those were the thoughts behind why I didn't seek to think logically about all this.

Those were the reasons I gave myself.

But slowly, eventually, inevitably as I go on this insane journey to grew stronger to slay Great Red, I'd have had to confront this shadow of mine. This shadow holding the truth.

I would probably have wanted to delay it.

Maybe eventually it would be a shounen moment where I fight Great Red as a rival.

N̷O̴T̶ ̷A̷N̶Y̸M̸O̸R̴E̸!̸

Jubilation. Vindication. Glee filled my Soul because I WAS RIGHT—

I gritted my teeth as I slammed down on the thought. Loathing aimed at myself for having these thoughts. For being happy about them.

You're happy that Evil exists you sick sunnva bitch! I shouted at myself.

Ophis could be lying. That's a possibility.

Except Ophis doesn't lie. Wouldn't lie. She's too strong to have ever considered the possibility of needing deception.

If she wanted me hating Great Red, she already had that, she didn't need to erase my hatred then remake it. She could have done nothing, said nothing.

Instead she told me the truth and it was worse than I imagined.

Because in a sense, Great Red might as well have been the Serpent in the Garden. Great Red might as well be the Apple itself, because his actions caused Sin to exist.

Damned humanity, damned us all and damned the world for his fucking C̷U̸R̵I̸O̷S̷I̸T̵Y̷!̸

"Say, where did all the gods come from?" Walburga spoke up.

And of course, the Purple Flame Witch couldn't stay quiet for long. I let out a long sigh in frustration.

"Come on~! You can't tell me you aren't curious? I mean, if that first perfect timeline had only the God of the Bible and humans then where did all the Gods come from in this world?" She continued with her childish insistence, but part of me didn't want to shut her down, so I said nothing, and just looked at Ophis.

"As humans were exiled from Eden to the Earth, Baka Red took the Dreams of the humans from the future, the ones were the forgot their origins, or disbelieved them without proof, and looked toward nature for explanations, for causes, for reasons. An answer to the ultimate question of 'Why?'.

"Why does the sun exist? Why is there day and night? Why are their stars in the night sky? Why is there earthquake, tsunamis, thunderstorms, blizzards, disasters? Why? Why? Why? Why?

"And Baka Red granted them that answer."

I found myself, and Satanael too, pulled out of our individual brooding to listen to more of this historical myth that was fact, that would ultimately enflame my anger higher.

"Great Red could no longer make Dreams to Have Always Been Real, like Samael, as Yahweh ripped that ability out of him in their First Clash. This ability was then made into the Artifact that you've come to know as the Ark of the Covenant." Ophis said, dropping another truth bomb on poor Satanael's head, if that whine was any indication.

"Thus instead, Baka Red made Dreams that Created Things that are Real.

"He took Pieces of the Dimensional Gap, to Forge the Prime Origin of different Pantheons. Khaos for those would later would be known as the Greeks. Ginnungagap for those who later would be knowns as the Norse. Nu for those would later would be known as the Egyptians. Hundun those would later would be known as the Chinese.

"And so on and so on and so on. Those Prime Origins birthed the First Generation of Gods, who made the Second, then the Third, and the Prime Origins dissolved back into the Dimensional Gap once their task was done. Thus the reason why different Pantheons call my home with different names, even if they don't know it. And all those gods, those Pantheons as they made their own humans, made Yahweh's humans think they have always existed with mental manipulation. A collaborated effort, an illusion so world encompassing, that it made the World believe it to be Real. That there have always been other gods and other Pantheons, thus the Present of that Time was Rewritten.

"For this transgression in making beings with Divinity, a mirror, a mocking imitation to Yahweh, no longer making Him the only god, God had his Second Clash with Baka Red. A clash so much more fierce, God ripped out the ability to make Independent Dreams from Baka Red and made Annihilation Maker from it." Ophis said.

"Wait, what?" I couldn't help but ask.

Walburga started laughing out loud.

"Yes, God also ripped out the Baka Red's ability to Impose Dreams that Become Real onto the World, in layman's term Control Fate/Probability."

"You know what 'layman's term' is" I couldn't help but mutter.

"And created Telos Karma. Then he ripped out the ability to Intertwine Dreams with the Real, I.E. Control Phenomena in the Real World, and made Zenith Tempest."

"Now she's using 'I.E.' in her speech? Who's this sassy modern woman?" I whispered.

"God made sure that Baka Red knew if a Third Clash happen it would be the final time. Thus Baka Red could no longer make permanent creations onto the world. But Baka Red didn't care. He didn't view those Clashes as losses since he got what he wanted. Watching an Interesting World." Ophis paused for a moment. "Sometimes Baka Red gets invested in watching a particular location or person, invested in their Story, and if the Plot of that place or person turns too boring, he introduce Conflict."

I had to physically hold back my killing intent, reminded myself to stay in control through breathing.

"So what? Are you saying every war, every disaster, ever tragedy that ever happen was his doing?" I seethed.

"No. Getting too involved would have drawn God's attention on Baka Red. And being too 'heavy handed' would ruin the Story. Rather, Baka Red would nudge probability so that the Chance of Conflict would happen. He can never do anything past that, nor did he need to. Humans can be stupidly noisy sometimes, and don't need anything beyond the barest excuse to act. The World gave him endless Stories, so he was content to watch that. He also was Noisy and kicked me out of my home, forcing me away from my Silence into this World. This caused God and I to clash at times, which made it so God can't focus on Baka Red."

"Why did you clash?" I couldn't help but ask. "It doesn't make sense when you both should have understood each other."

"I, didn't know how to live in this World were Time now Existed." Ophis said with a sad note, making me blink in confusion. "I, didn't know how to live with Finite Beings."

"What do you mean, Lady Ophis?" Satanael asked, engaging in this talk for the first time in a while.

"Also wouldn't time have existed in the old timeline?" Walburga added.

Ophis shook her head.

"No. Time is strictly the concept of how far away something or someone is from their Starting, and how close they are to their Ending. Time didn't exist before, for everyone was Immortal. Everything was everlasting, for Decay and Ruin never came to be. When Sin came to be, so did Time. For Humans now had a Beginning and an End." She said with finality.

Ophis seemed to be done and she didn't have anything more to add.

And...

Yeah, Great Red needs to die. I can work out my mental fuck-ups later on, but right now that fucker needs to die for everything that came before.

Whether ExE is his fault like I think or something wholly unrelated to him, we'll see after I kill him. If ExE exists after I kill him, I'll take his place and defend this world. At the very least I won't be a jobber that gets off-screened like him. If not, then no harm done, since that would mean ExE doesn't exist without Great Red being around, so all's well that ends well.

"Great Red needs to die." I said with new resolve.

"Good, my Baka Slayer." Ophis came to my side, hugging me, I let her, ignoring it for the more important subject.

"You sound like you have some kind of plan." Satanael observed.

Honestly I don't, I'm just going at this by ear.

"First, let's get this out of the way. Plan A." I turned to Ophis. "I don't suppose I can spar with you until I'm at your level, can I?"

Ophis shook her head.

"You are too weak right now. I never had to... play at that level. I would squish you." She said sincerely.

I nodded. Yeah, as expected Plan A got shut down.

Obvious Plan B then.

"Alright, Plan B. I need to fight Dragons, also I need to find the holders of the other Holy Relics, I think it might grant me some extra power. At least that's a theory I want to test out."

"I... know of where you can find Dragons to accelerate your growth, but they're too high leveled for you at the moment. You need something to push you into the Dragon King Class, before you can fight something on the Heavenly Dragon Class."

"I know some place where I can find some. The question is, what information do you have on the Holy Relics." I asked.

"The Holy Shroud is well known. It's the Sacred Gear, Illumination Veil, held by Pope Nicholas." Satanael said.

"Isn't the Pope, Pope Benedict?" I asked in confusion. Did I get even that wrong, or is this anime world too different in the mundane stuff too, from my old one?"

"That's the PR one. The real Pope would be too busy leading the Church's operations like the Exorcists and the like to keep making public appearances, where he could have a chance to be assassinated."

"Would normal firearms work on someone from the supernatural side?"

"No, but you can only use the excuse of 'the Pope was miraculously saved by God's intervention' so many times before it becomes suspicious."

"Ah, makes sense." I nodded. "So how many Holy Relics are there?" I asked just to make sure.

"The Holy Shroud, the Holy Cross," he gestured to Walburga, who grinned. "The Holy Grail, the Holy Nail and the Holy Spear."

"Right. So five. I got the blessing of the Holy Cross, and we know where the Holy Shroud is." I counted. Walburga giggled for some reason.

"We also know were the Holy Spear is." Satanael said but I shook my head.

"I... call it a hunch but, I don't think we need the Holy Spear's blessing. We can circle around to it in the end if need be, but let's ignore it for now."

"So that leaves the Holy Grail and the Holy Nail to find." Satanael nodded. "It should take me some time to find the Holy Nail, but as for the Holy Grail..."

Whatever Satanael was going to say was cut off by Walburga's slow laughter that kept rising higher and higher.

"Something you'd like to share, Walburga?" Satanael asked patiently as he was used to dealing with her.

"Oh, hahaha, oh Actually Satan, you really should have paid attention to the news." Walburga covered her mouth.

"Nothing happened in the past three days." Satanael said slowly. "But I'm sure you can enlighten us to any significant changes."

"Oh nothing happened two and three days ago." Walburga grinned. "But if you hadn't been playing nurse all day yesterday and today, you'd know so many things happened in the past 24 hours." Walburga grinned seemed to even widened in its mad ecstasy. "Indra told his pet spear boy that 'The gathering of the Blessings of the Holy Relics will bring about the End of the World'. Illumination Veil got kidnapped by the Old Satan Faction.

"Alphecca Tyrant, the Holy Nail, is held by some English girl, that was taken in by the Norse Pantheon who allied with Heaven to protect and shelter her. As for the Holy Grail, well, we know where it is and who's guarding it." Walburga said like it's some secret and was expecting me to ask about it, which she likely would tell me for a favor.

But me?

Alright. I see the Plot you're concocting Great Red. And to that I say...

"Fuck it, we ball." I nodded, and Ophis copied me, although I don't think she knows what the phrase means. "Ophis, take me to Romania to the Vampire Faction. The Tepes one, they have the Holy Grail that the asshole leader, or his son, or I think the Antichrist's butler, should have added some hidden feature where all the Vampires can be turned to Evil Dragons, so those should be good training to reach Dragon King Class before we ambush Rizevim and his shitty group."

"...How do you know all this?" Satanael asked, dumbfounded, while Walburga just giggled again.

"Because I know all this."

"Perfectly logical." Ophis nodded.

"So I'll start with the Holy Grail. Then we get the Holy Shroud and finish things off by getting the Holy Nail." I laid out the plan. "And Satanael, I need you to get some people." I looked at Walburga then back to the Fallen Angel. "You specifically. This needs some bits of diplomacy."

"Aww, I'm hurt, Cally. Right here." She pointed to her heart. "I suppose I can go play with those Play Dress-Up Heroes, and be next to the Holy Shroud. Just come get me when you're ready." She smirked. "I wanna see the apocalypse you'll bring."

"Thanks for offering to help but... You do know I'm likely going to slay the Apocalypse, right?"

"Even more fun~!"

===x===

Ophis seemed to punch space with her stride as I suddenly found myself in a different place, while holding onto her.

A castle by the looks of it. I guess maybe we're in Romania?

I could see the undead beings that need life force in blood, or Elan Vital—the word for Life Force and Senjutsu both, but mainly used for the latter, as Satanael explained to me—to continue functioning on this physical plane.

Vampires. Yeah, we're in Romania.

Ophis walked and I followed.

She smashed open this large door to this lab filled with people, medical tubes with people—other vampires—in it.

In the center of the large lab, frozen wide-eyed, shock itched on their faces, were Marius Tepes and Euclid Lucifuge. The latter had a Grail Cup in his hands.

"You." Ophis pointed at Rizevim's butler. She let her aura out and announce her presence. Something I told her to do so people immediately know who she is, and to get things moving. "Activate all your hidden Evil Dragons. Or I, with punch you."

Under the threat of the Infinite Dragon God saying they'll punch them if they didn't comply, the panicked Euclid activated the grail in his hands, much to the horror and betrayal of Marius, but who cares about that dick.

Marius and all the vampires around and within the castle according to my senses burst out with energy that overwhelmed them, as their bodies transformed into Evil Dragons.

As the Tepes Castle shook, I grinned and unleashed my own elan, holding my hand to the side, summoning my Sacred Gear in the process.

It's name was something I internally thought on. I was going to go with 'Berserk Critical', but according to Satanael this is no longer a Twice Critical that mutated or evolved, but a wholly new Sacred Gear forged from my old one.

I had to used Senjutsu on the gear itself, to listen to the soul, or will of the Sacred Gear if it had one. It was good psychometry practice. My Sacred Gear didn't have a soul or will, but it kinda had a quasi-something like that.

Thus I named it the truest thing I could think of.

"Chaoskampf Ordained." In a burst of light, my red greatsword appeared in my hand. "Scarlet Blade that Slays the Dragon!"

I announced and with a step forward, the ground shattered as I exploded into motion.