Fantasy Library, Ch 96-100: The Infinite Dragon God

Chapter 96: An Unrivaled Existence

After confirming Kaiser’s addition to the Hero Faction, while they welcomed him, it was clear that they weren’t fully accepting him from the bottom of their hearts.

Apart from the Church members who showed him kindness, most of the Hero Faction members maintained an attitude of cautious observation.

Cao Cao, however, seemed to have completely set aside his doubts once he acknowledged Kaiser’s entry, nonchalantly introducing him to the others in the faction.

Some of these individuals were figures Kaiser recognized from the original story, while others were complete nobodies to him.

Yet, they all shared several common traits: they were all human, many had inherited the blood of historical legends, and nearly all of them were wielders of Sacred Gears.

“Humans are weak. No matter how much we train, we can never surpass those naturally superior supernatural beings in terms of raw power or physical prowess. That’s why we must rely on Sacred Gears to fight.”

That was how Cao Cao put it.

However, from Kaiser’s observations, many in the Hero Faction had abilities beyond just Sacred Gears.

For instance, Georg was not only the wielder of the Longinus Dimension Lost but was also a skilled magician, proficient in various magical systems including Norse magic, devil magic, fallen angel magic, black magic, holy magic, and even spirit magic. Even without his Longinus, he was still a formidable combatant.

Siegfried, as one of the Church’s top warriors, had unparalleled swordsmanship. Combined with his demonic swords, he could hold his own against high-class Devils even without a Sacred Gear.

Other members of the Hero Faction were similar—some excelled in magic, others mastered powerful combat techniques. Though their physical strength and innate abilities couldn’t compare to Devils, Angels, or Fallen Angels, in battle, they were far from ordinary.

Cao Cao, in particular, stood out. Though he had not introduced himself in detail, Kaiser, being familiar with the original story, knew that this man was a master of technique. His spear skills and combat strategy were so refined that he could contend with Satan-class beings, capable of exploiting weaknesses and delivering decisive blows.

Even though his physical capabilities were weaker compared to other supernatural beings, Cao Cao more than made up for it with his exceptional skill, perception, and tactical acumen. He was the undisputed strongest within the Hero Faction.

In the original story, he was the wielder of True Longinus, the strongest Longinus, feared by all major factions.

Originally, Kaiser had assumed that, since he had obtained True Longinus himself, Cao Cao would be significantly weakened, perhaps even disappearing from relevance.

Yet to his surprise, not only had Cao Cao still joined the Khaos Brigade, but he had also successfully established the Hero Faction, becoming its strongest member and de facto leader.

And in his hands was another spear—without a doubt, another Sacred Gear of divine nature.

Moreover, it was an exceptionally powerful one.

But what exactly was it? Kaiser had no idea.

Longinus-class spears were rare. Among the thirteen Longinus, only one was a spear—the True Longinus.

Ordinary Sacred Gears included several spear-type weapons, but those imbued with holy properties were extremely rare.

That alone wouldn’t have been so perplexing.

The problem was that, from Kaiser’s perception, the holy energy radiating from the spear in Cao Cao’s hand, while not quite on par with True Longinus, was certainly not far behind.

Which meant… this weapon was also possibly a Longinus.

But that was impossible.

As previously mentioned, there was only one spear among the thirteen Longinus—the True Longinus.

So how could there now be another holy spear-class Longinus?

Kaiser had many questions, but he kept them to himself.

Even if he asked, he doubted he would get any answers.

Though Cao Cao acted as if he fully accepted him, Kaiser didn’t believe for a second that the man truly trusted him. He was likely still observing him, trying to determine whether Kaiser was genuinely joining the Khaos Brigade or if he had ulterior motives.

Under these circumstances, directly inquiring would be futile.

So, Kaiser simply pushed those thoughts aside and ignored them, instead asking Cao Cao about their next course of action.

Cao Cao answered straightforwardly.

“For now, the Khaos Brigade remains in a dormant state. The Hero Faction is similarly biding its time, quietly growing stronger, with no large-scale operations currently in motion.”

“If there’s one thing we should be focused on, it’s getting stronger—strong enough that, when the Khaos Brigade finally emerges, the Hero Faction can stand toe-to-toe with the mythological factions.”

The Hero Faction existed to prove the power of humanity.

This faction was destined to stand against the supernatural forces of the world—Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, and the myriad factions of mythology.

“Our ultimate goal is to slay the gods.”

Cao Cao said this while looking directly at Kaiser, his eyes burning with ambition.

If mere humans could accomplish the feat of slaying gods, it would prove that the beings long seen as weak and insignificant—the humans—were actually the strongest entities in the world.

Cao Cao’s obsession with this goal ran deep, to the point that many members of the Hero Faction had been influenced by him.

Some were even outright brainwashed, fanatically devoted to this purpose.

Kaiser, however, remained indifferent.

Could humans truly slay gods?

In this world, perhaps not. But in other worlds, such feats had been accomplished before.

So Kaiser wasn’t particularly interested in this pursuit.

…No, to be precise, he was somewhat interested in fighting gods.

He simply didn’t feel the need to blindly pursue that goal.

Perhaps noticing this, Cao Cao gave Kaiser a meaningful look.

“You possess the weapon theoretically most capable of slaying gods, yet you have no enthusiasm for it at all.”

Cao Cao spoke in a tone laden with implications, but before Kaiser could respond, he changed the subject.

“As for the Hero Faction, we have several ongoing projects, but most of them are research-based.”

“Researching more powerful combat weapons, studying whether the Balance Breaker phenomenon in Sacred Gears can be universally applied, developing techniques to enhance human strength…”

“But all of that is the work of researchers. For those of us on the front lines, our only concerns are training ourselves, recruiting more talent, and assisting these projects however we can.”

Hearing this, Kaiser stopped walking.

“So, I’m free to act on my own now? To do as I please?”

Cao Cao also came to a halt.

“Oh? Do you have something important to take care of?” he asked, smiling.

“Not really.” Kaiser maintained an indifferent expression. “I just don’t see the need to follow you around like a lost puppy.”

“You don’t want to train with us?” Cao Cao hoisted his spear onto his shoulder, speaking boldly. “I was hoping to see what the strongest Longinus is truly capable of.”

"We'll have our chances"

Kaiser locked eyes with Cao Cao, a smirk forming on his lips. "I’m just as curious about that spear of yours," he said, his gaze deep and probing.

Their stares clashed, silent sparks igniting between them.

At that moment—

"Cao Cao."

Georg approached, his palm hovering above a small magic circle, its intricate runes glowing faintly.

"What is it?"

Cao Cao instantly reined in his surging battle intent, showing not the slightest irritation at being interrupted. His expression was calm as he inquired.

"It's a communication from headquarters," Georg said in a low voice.

Cao Cao's brows lifted in mild surprise. "Headquarters? Don’t tell me—"

Seeing Cao Cao’s reaction, Georg nodded gravely.

"The arrival of the wielder of True Longinus has caused quite a stir over there," Georg stated, his voice steady. "Our leader… it seems that she has heard about this and has taken a bit of interest."

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire area fell into a hushed silence.

"The leader?"

Kaiser was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped what Georg meant.

"…Well, this is surprising." Cao Cao muttered to himself, seemingly caught off guard. "That person usually only has an interest in things beyond the dimensional gap. Why would she suddenly take notice of our Sacred Gear wielder?"

"Even if it’s the strongest Longinus, to her, it’s nothing more than a plaything—not even worthy of being called a toy."

"Is this just a whim? Or…"

Cao Cao’s mind was visibly racing, his expression reflecting deep contemplation.

"You want to go?"

Georg interrupted Cao Cao’s thoughts with a straightforward question.

Rather than answering immediately, Cao Cao turned to Kaiser.

"Our leader wishes to meet you," he said. "Are you interested?"

Kaiser’s heartbeat quickened for a fraction of a second.

He knew exactly who Cao Cao was referring to.

He also knew that this so-called "leader" was no ordinary figure—no, this was a being far beyond comprehension.

In this world, in a sense, she was truly invincible.

Gods? Satans? To her, they were no more than insignificant ants—less than even children in her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Kaiser exhaled slowly.

"Of course," he replied, his voice calm and unwavering. "An opportunity like this doesn’t come often."

Cao Cao studied him for a moment before turning back to Georg.

"Prepare the teleportation," he instructed.

"We’re sending our wielder of True Longinus to meet our leader."

Georg nodded without hesitation and immediately went to make the necessary preparations.

The others exchanged glances, each reading the unease or intrigue in the other’s eyes.

Then, as if drawn by a magnetic force, they all turned to Kaiser.

Yet Kaiser paid them no mind.

He only stared at the True Longinus in his hands, his thoughts swirling in endless directions…

Chapter 97: "Infinite Dragon God"

"Zheng!"

A hazy radiance illuminated the desolate land, as a magic formation spun and expanded in the air.

Kaiser’s figure emerged from the formation, stepping into this barren, lifeless terrain.

"This place is...?"

He opened his eyes and took in the vast emptiness surrounding him, murmuring to himself.

"This is another Dimensional Space, just like where we were before," Cao Cao’s voice came from beside him as he began to explain.

A Dimensional Space—a realm existing outside normal reality, an artificially created zone.

Just like the temporary base where the Hero Faction had gathered earlier, this was another one of such spaces.

The technology to create artificial spaces within separate dimensions was not uncommon among major factions. In fact, it was frequently utilized.

Devils, in particular, relied heavily on such spaces for their Rating Games, illustrating just how prevalent their use was.

Since these spaces existed independently from the real world and were not bound by its laws, actions taken within them left no impact on the real world. This made Dimensional Spaces invaluable to the Khaos Brigade, allowing its factions to operate without being discovered by the major powers.

The place Kaiser had arrived at was one such space—just far more desolate than usual.

"Our leader is the only one who resides here. Normally, even Khaos Brigade members don’t set foot in this place," Cao Cao said, raising his spear and pointing forward. "She's just up ahead. Go on."

His tone made it clear—he had no intention of accompanying Kaiser.

It wasn’t out of fear or because he lacked permission. Rather, it seemed he simply didn’t want to have too much contact with that person.

His attitude was... strange, to say the least. It was hard to believe he was speaking about the leader of his own organization.

Yet Cao Cao made no effort to hide his disinterest, remaining motionless, watching as Kaiser made his way forward.

Kaiser cast him a glance but didn’t comment. Instead, he silently stepped forward.

"One more thing," Cao Cao suddenly spoke up just as Kaiser was about to leave.

"The members of the Hero Faction—none of us have accepted the "Snake's Gift". You’d best not swallow it either."

At these words, Kaiser’s footsteps faltered for just a brief moment.

Then, as if he hadn’t heard anything at all, he resumed walking, leaving Cao Cao behind.

The barren wasteland stretched endlessly in all directions, and Kaiser walked through it alone—like an exile, forsaken and insignificant.

Yet his expression remained unchanged. He kept walking, his stride steady and unwavering, as though he had no intention of ever stopping.

At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.

In truth, he had only been walking for about ten minutes when he came to a stop.

A small hill appeared ahead.

Atop it, a girl sat at the edge, her legs dangling over the side as she gazed into the sky.

She looked like a doll—exquisitely crafted, delicate.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded down to her waist, and her petite frame was clad in a black dress, leaving her slender limbs exposed to the air. Her fair skin stood in stark contrast to the bleak environment.

Her features were well-defined, though tinged with a hint of childishness. Compared to Kirin Toudou or Koneko Toujou, she appeared even younger—like a lost child.

And yet...

There was an indescribable presence about her.

A void-like aura.

A silence beyond comprehension.

She felt like the universe itself—an infinite abyss, unreachable, an eternal darkness, an eternal void, an eternal stillness.

The moment Kaiser laid eyes on her, his heart trembled involuntarily.

By all appearances, she was just a child, smaller and more delicate than himself.

Yet he was the one who felt insignificant in her presence.

She seemed fragile, like someone who could be easily overpowered.

And yet, he was the one who felt vulnerable.

She was just a girl.

And yet, staring at her felt like gazing into an endless sky.

She emitted no oppressive aura, no sense of overwhelming power. In fact, her very existence was faint.

And yet—Kaiser found himself unable to even entertain the thought of opposing her.

It was as if she wasn’t human.

Not even a living being.

What stood before him was something beyond comprehension.

Something unknowable.

That was—

"The Infinite Dragon God, Ophis."

——The Infinite Dragon God.

One of only two Dragon Gods in existence.

A being that was both dragon and god.

A being that embodied the very concept of infinity.

Born from nothingness, bestowed with the names Chaos, Infinity, Void—a serpent symbolizing eternal recurrence, possessing limitless power.

Among all mythological pantheons, she stood at the highest level, a force that even Gods and Satans feared.

Ophis.

That was her name.

The leader of the Khaos Brigade.

A being who had gathered her followers from the most dangerous figures across multiple mythologies—terrorists, outcasts, problem children.

In some ways, she was truly invincible.

Not just in strength, but in existence itself.

Even if one searched the entire world, they would not find a single being capable of matching her in battle.

And now, this incomprehensible existence—one whom even Gods and Demon Kings feared—sat quietly before Kaiser.

"…True Longinus wielder?"

From atop the hill, the girl finally turned her head toward him.

Her voice was soft, clear.

But devoid of any emotion.

Her gaze was the same—devoid of ripples, a void of absolute emptiness.

It was terrifying.

"…That’s me," Kaiser responded, suppressing the unease in his heart, keeping his composure as best as he could.

Honestly speaking, such a casual response could be considered disrespectful, given who she was.

But Kaiser knew—she didn’t care about such things.

And sure enough—

"Where’s your spear?"

Ophis was entirely indifferent to his attitude, simply asking her question in a calm, unembellished tone.

Kaiser remained silent, then wordlessly summoned True Longinus into his hand.

"Whoosh—"

A sudden gust of wind blew past.

And in the very next instant—

Ophis was standing directly in front of him.

Kaiser’s pupils contracted violently.

He hadn’t seen her move at all.

If Ophis had decided to attack just now, he wouldn’t have even had time to react—he would have been dead before he knew it.

But Ophis paid no mind to his reaction.

She simply gazed at the True Longinus in his hand.

Moments passed before she finally spoke again.

"…It’s different."

Her words were abrupt, catching Kaiser slightly off guard.

"This spear," she continued, her tone unchanged, "is not the same as before."

"It's a little different."

Only then Kaiser understood what Ophis meant. He didn’t deny it—he simply nodded in acknowledgment.

After undergoing the bonding ritual, True Longinus had become more than just a weapon. It had fused with him, becoming his exclusive weapon, growing alongside him, strengthening as he did. Naturally, it was no longer the same as before.

And this… seemed to be what had piqued Ophis’s interest.

"I heard it can kill gods."

Ophis reached out and placed her hand on Kaiser’s spear, her fingers brushing against its sacred radiance as if it were nothing more than an illusion.

"Can it kill a Dragon God?"

Her voice, her expression—unchanging.

No emotions.

A hollow, lifeless void.

Yet…

For just a fleeting moment, Kaiser thought he sensed something.

A sliver—so faint it was nearly imperceptible.

A trace of anticipation.

It was so subtle that anyone else would have missed it entirely.

But Kaiser, who had been focusing all his attention on this girl, caught it.

He also understood why she asked this question.

Because slaying a Dragon God—

That was the very reason she had created the Khaos Brigade.

Or rather, it was the reason she became its leader.

To be precise, she didn’t seek to kill herself.

She wanted to kill the other Dragon God.

The one that no longer resided in this world, the one that drifted endlessly within the dimensional gap, rarely ever appearing in reality.

The being known as—

The True Red Dragon God Emperor.

Its name was—

Great Red.

The only entity that surpassed the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis.

The one who drove Ophis from her home, who expelled her from the void in which she was born, and claimed her domain as its own.

For a being as invincible as Ophis, nothing in this world could interest her.

Except for defeating Great Red.

That was why she asked this question.

That was why she wanted to meet Kaiser.

Kaiser was well aware of this.

So he didn’t hesitate.

He didn’t hide anything.

And he answered truthfully.

"Right now? No."

His words were clear.

The implication was obvious.

Not now—but in the future? That’s a different story.

"As I am now, I don’t have nearly enough power to stand against the True Red Dragon God Emperor."

"And this spear—"

Kaiser raised True Longinus, his grip tightening.

"It can pierce through gods, yes. But if its target is the strongest of all Dragon Gods?"

He shook his head.

"It’s still too fragile. Right now, I doubt the tip of this spear could even scratch one of his scales."

"But…"

Kaiser’s eyes locked onto Ophis’s void-like gaze.

"Every time I grow stronger, so does this spear."

"Once my power is sufficient—this spear will pierce that dragon."

That was simply how it worked.

"Power."

Ophis did not ask for proof.

She did not question him.

She simply accepted his words as fact.

Then, she spoke.

"If you need power… I will give it to you."

As she said this, she lifted her hand.

In her palm, a terrifying energy began to condense.

It took form—

A black serpent coiled within her grasp.

Chapter 98: I will accept it

At that moment, the turbulent emotions Kaiser had managed to suppress surged back to the surface, uncontrollable.

Staring at the dark, serpent-like entity coiling within Ophis’ hand, his grip on the True Longinus instinctively tightened.

He could feel it—this entity contained an unfathomable power.

A power that far surpassed his current self, that eclipsed every existence he had encountered thus far.

Faced with such power, he felt a deep, visceral fear—and yet… an undeniable longing.

Yes, longing.

He desired this power.

“This is the Snake, isn’t it?” Kaiser’s voice came out hoarse.

The Snake was Ophis’ power.

As the Infinite Dragon God, a being renowned for possessing boundless strength, Ophis was not only a colossal entity in terms of scale and status but also wielded an inexhaustible, infinite force.

A force that could never be depleted.

Thus, Ophis had taken fragments of her power, fashioning them into Snakes, which she bestowed upon various members of the Khaos Brigade.

Simply consuming one of Ophis’ Snakes would be enough to elevate one’s strength by an entire tier.

An Ultimate-Class Devil who consumed it would ascend to Satan-Class.

A Satan-Class being who consumed it would step into the realm of demigods.

Many within the Khaos Brigade had partaken of this power, and in doing so, had achieved terrifying leaps in strength.

Now, Ophis was preparing to grant that same power to Kaiser.

“This is a Snake that is even closer to my essence,” Ophis stated.

“It holds approximately one-tenth of my full strength.”

Kaiser’s eyes widened in shock.

One-tenth of her power?

Had Ophis ever granted a Snake this potent before?

The Snakes she had previously bestowed upon the Khaos Brigade were nowhere near this level of strength.

“Swallow it,” Ophis continued, her voice calm and unyielding. “Become part of the infinite and the void. Stand alongside me in reclaiming the Silent World and vanquish the Great Red.”

She extended her hand, offering the Snake to Kaiser as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yet Kaiser’s heart was anything but calm.

Ophis was strong.

Unfathomably strong.

But to what extent?

To put it simply—

If every significant existence in this world were ranked in terms of power, then setting aside Great Red, who resided beyond this world, Ophis would undoubtedly claim the number one spot.

And the difference between her and the entity ranked second was an insurmountable chasm—an unbridgeable abyss.

Among dragons, aside from Ophis and Great Red, the strongest were the two Heavenly Dragons, whose power far exceeded that of the Dragon Kings.

Even the weakest of the Dragon Kings possessed strength comparable to a Satan-Class Devil, while the strongest among them could rival gods.

The Heavenly Dragons stood even higher, able to contend with the top ten existences in the world.

But Ophis?

Even in the latter parts of the original story, after suffering a devastating loss that stripped away more than three-quarters of her strength, she had still been leagues above the Heavenly Dragons.

At the time of her power’s theft, she had scattered the stolen fragments across different dimensions in the form of Snakes. And yet, after reclaiming those fragments, she remained two entire tiers above her former peak.

Two tiers.

To put that into perspective—

An Ultimate-Class Devil was two tiers above a Low-Class Devil, making the latter nothing more than an insect in comparison.

A Satan-Class entity was two tiers above an Ultimate-Class, rendering the gap between them similarly insurmountable.

The Heavenly Dragons, in turn, were two tiers above Satan-Class Devils.

A regular Satan-Class entity was little more than an ant in the face of a Heavenly Dragon.

And in the presence of Ophis—who surpassed her former self by yet another two tiers—the Heavenly Dragons might as well be infants.

And this was Ophis after losing a significant portion of her power.

Had she been at her peak, even if every single top-ten-ranked entity joined forces, they still wouldn’t stand a chance against her.

Even if all the major factions of the world combined their might and waged war against Ophis, she would likely still emerge victorious in a landslide.

So, was Ophis strong?

Unquestionably.

And now, at this moment, Ophis stood before Kaiser in her fully restored state—her prime.

If Kaiser were to absorb one-tenth of her power, then just how strong would he become?

Surely, he would reach the level of the world’s top ten.

Perhaps even among the highest of those ten.

And that was assuming a conservative estimate.

What if this fragment of Ophis’ power was even stronger than that?

Wouldn’t that mean he was about to ascend in one single step?

In the face of such a temptation, how could Kaiser possibly remain indifferent?

All he had to do was reach out his hand.

With just that one motion, he could seize this power.

He could instantly attain a strength that would allow him to rival, or even surpass, the gods themselves.

“……”

Kaiser closed his eyes.

“……You refuse?”

Watching him, Ophis tilted her head, her expression one of genuine confusion.

She knew that this human was a member of the Hero Faction.

There was a strong possibility that he would reject her Snake.

Most members of the Hero Faction had done so.

To mitigate that risk, Ophis had intentionally condensed this Snake with far more power than usual.

It was both a greater temptation and an effort to ensure that this human would grow strong enough.

Strong enough to help her defeat Great Red.

Strong enough to return her to the void.

But now, judging by his reaction, he still seemed hesitant.

Why?

Does he think it’s not enough?

Should I offer him more?

Ophis seriously contemplated this.

Just as she was about to act, Kaiser opened his eyes.

“No,” he said. “I’ll take it.”

Kaiser responded with an eerily calm demeanor.

"I appreciate the gesture. I'll accept it."

He extended his hand, taking the Snake that Ophis had condensed in her palm.

However, instead of consuming it, he carefully stowed it away.

"…You're not going to use it?"

Seeing this, Ophis’ expression became even more perplexed.

"That's right." Kaiser nodded, speaking with blunt honesty. "I don’t intend to consume your Snake just yet."

Due to her infinite power, Ophis had always been an exceedingly generous presence within the Khaos Brigade. Anyone who wished to obtain her Snakes had never been refused.

As a result, in the original timeline, countless members of the Khaos Brigade had utilized Ophis’ Snakes.

Apart from a few factions—such as the Hero Faction, who had deliberately rejected them—the majority of Khaos Brigade members had consumed these Snakes to greatly enhance their strength. Moreover, there seemed to be no apparent side effects.

However, at the end of the day, the Snake was Ophis’ power—not the user’s own.

In the original story, one of the four Maou, the current Lucifer, had once purged an opponent’s body of Ophis’ Snake using his own demonic energy, instantly reducing them back to their original state.

This proved one crucial fact: Ophis’ Snake did not truly integrate with its user. It functioned more like an external amplifier—an augmentation of power that could still be forcibly stripped away by others.

Moreover, when Ophis lost a significant portion of her power, she had dispersed fragments of it into different dimensions in the form of Snakes. Later, she effortlessly reclaimed them.

This demonstrated that Ophis held complete dominion over the Snakes—she could reclaim them at will.

And there was another unknown factor—whether those who consumed the Snake could be influenced or controlled by its original owner.

With so many potential risks, it was no surprise that certain members of the Khaos Brigade had chosen to reject the Snakes.

Given all this, Kaiser naturally had no intention of consuming Ophis’ Snake either.

Had it been an ordinary Snake, he would have outright refused it.

But this one was different.

Ophis had given him a Snake of unprecedented quality—one infused with a staggering amount of her power.

This was a rarity, something that even Ophis might never offer again.

Thus, after weighing his options, Kaiser made his decision.

He would accept it.

Because as long as he possessed it, whether or not he used it was entirely his choice.

For now, with all these uncertainties in mind, he wouldn’t use it—but that didn’t mean he would simply let such a valuable asset slip away.

Instead, he planned to find an alternative means to harness its power, ensuring he could reap its benefits without suffering any negative consequences.

And if no such method existed in this world, then he would seek answers in other realms of fantasy.

After all, if there truly was a way to absorb and integrate this power, much like he had done with Manadyte and Urm-Manadyte, he would undoubtedly take it.

If he could achieve that, he wouldn’t just grow stronger—he would ascend to a realm beyond the gods.

Of course, Ophis had no way of knowing Kaiser’s thoughts.

"Humans… such incomprehensible creatures."

She watched him for a moment before shaking her head, her tone carrying a sense of detached curiosity.

"It’s not that we’re incomprehensible," Kaiser replied evenly. "Humans simply think in more complex ways than other beings."

Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Also, I’m not just a human. My name is Kaiser."

"Kaiser…"

Ophis lifted her gaze, her void-like eyes locking onto his.

For a long moment, she stared at him in silence.

Then, she spoke.

"I’ll remember that."

With those words, she turned away.

Like a shadow dissolving into thin air, she vanished—melding seamlessly into the atmosphere.

Kaiser remained still, watching the space where she had disappeared.

For a long, long time, he stood in silence.

Then, his gaze slowly shifted downward—to the True Longinus gripped tightly in his hands.

Thinking of Ophis’ overwhelming power—thinking of how powerless he had felt in front of her—his grip tightened.

"I need to accelerate the pace…"

A burning desire flared within him.

He needed to get stronger.

And he couldn't wait any longer.

Chapter 99: A man full of secrets

In the dimensional space—the Hero Faction's temporary stronghold.

A dense mist swirled, shrouding the entire base, obscuring the distant scenery.

Standing at the very center of this mist, Kaiser held the True Longinus in his hand, eyes half-closed, as though resting, yet at the same time, sensing something unseen.

Suddenly—

A sharp whistle tore through the mist as a blade shot forth like a bullet.

With a crisp clang, Kaiser casually flicked his True Longinus, deflecting the incoming weapon without moving an inch. He didn’t even open his eyes.

But just as he parried the attack, a figure burst through the mist, lunging at him with astonishing speed.

A soft, melodious laugh accompanied the movement as the attacker—a golden-haired woman—gracefully dashed forward, wielding a rapier.

Her speed was faster than the very blade she had just fired.

With a swift flurry of strikes, her rapier became a blur, slicing through the air in a storm of afterimages as they all converged on Kaiser.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kaiser still kept his eyes closed, his entire body exuding a calm and silent Touki as his True Longinus danced effortlessly in his grasp. Like a conductor’s baton, it moved with precision, deflecting every incoming strike with ease.

The golden-haired woman remained undeterred, her rapier continuously weaving through the air, launching an endless barrage of attacks.

The clash of steel rang out ceaselessly, sparks erupting from every impact, briefly illuminating the mist that was disturbed by the fierce exchange.

At that very moment—

A thunderous roar split the air as a massive figure charged in from the side, joining the fray.

A hulking man lunged at Kaiser’s back, raising a colossal fist before slamming it down with terrifying force.

It was only then that Kaiser finally opened his eyes.

With a single precise thrust, he sent the golden-haired woman—Jeanne—flying backward, before lightly tapping the ground and swiftly evading the incoming strike.

BOOM!

The massive figure’s punch obliterated the ground where Kaiser had stood, creating a deafening explosion.

The sheer impact didn’t just shatter the ground—it triggered a violent blast wave, scattering rubble and debris in all directions.

"Damn it! Still couldn’t hit him?!"

The giant, Heracles, let out a frustrated growl before charging toward Kaiser once more.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

With each punch, the ground trembled, and explosions erupted wherever his fists landed.

That was the ability of his Sacred Gear—Variant Detonation. Every attack not only carried immense force but also triggered an explosive impact, dealing additional devastation to its target.

"Come forth, Holy Swords!"

From the side, Jeanne called out.

Immediately, swords erupted from the ground beneath Kaiser’s feet, shooting toward him.

Upon closer inspection, these weapons varied in shape and size—some radiated flames, others exuded icy mist, some crackled with electricity, and others swirled with fierce winds.

Yet, despite their differences, they all shared one thing in common—they emanated a holy aura similar to that of Kaiser’s True Longinus.

There was no doubt—these were Holy Swords.

Kaiser wielded the True Longinus, while Jeanne wielded Holy Swords. Though inferior in purity and quality to the True Longinus, their holy power was still lethal to Devils. Any demonic creature struck by these swords would find their flesh scorched or outright erased.

Generally speaking, Holy Swords were extremely selective when it came to their wielders. Finding one who could properly use a single Holy Sword was a rarity, and the famed Excaliburs of legend required immense compatibility to wield.

However, Jeanne’s Sacred Gear was not a single Holy Sword—it was the Holy Sword Creation ability, capable of creating Holy Swords of various attributes.

While these conjured swords were inferior in quality to true Holy Swords, and their fragile nature made them easily breakable, the advantage lay in their versatility and quantity.

Jeanne could adapt her swords to the battlefield, countering opponents with tailored creations.

Right now, she was flooding Kaiser with a storm of Holy Swords, hoping to overwhelm him with sheer numbers and density of attacks.

However, this was nothing more than a futile effort.

A soft hum resonated as Kaiser calmly raised his True Longinus, its tip unfolding.

Radiant light rapidly gathered at the spearhead, compressing into a concentrated wave of pure, holy energy.

BOOM!

The divine wave erupted like a luminous explosion, obliterating every Holy Sword in its path.

Even the swords that had not been directly hit by the blast shattered under its pressure.

"You’ve got to be kidding me…"

Jeanne’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Heracles—perhaps believing in the sheer power of brute force—threw himself directly into the divine wave, throwing a punch as he crashed into the attack.

BOOM!

The collision between his explosive strike and the True Longinus’ holy wave held for a moment—before the balance shattered.

The detonation from Variant Detonation was completely overpowered. The Holy Wave engulfed the explosion and continued forward, striking Heracles head-on.

With a final, thunderous impact, the giant was sent flying.

Just like that, Kaiser effortlessly suppressed both Jeanne and Heracles. Even as they fought together, he remained completely composed—untouched.

The Hero Faction members watching from the sidelines burst into murmurs of astonishment.

"He held off both of them so easily?"

"‘Held off’?! He’s completely dominating them!"

"So this is the strength of the wielder of the strongest Longinus?"

"No wonder Siegfried lost…"

As discussions flared among the spectators, a single figure stood at a higher vantage point, observing the battle with a contemplative expression.

It was Cao Cao.

"What do you think?"

Beside him, Siegfried asked, noticing his leader’s thoughtful demeanor.

"Hmm… he's strong," Cao Cao admitted without hesitation. "Far beyond my initial expectations—both in terms of his base abilities and his mastery over the True Longinus. It's fortunate that Heracles and Jeanne attacked him together, or else… currently, I might be the only one in our faction capable of keeping up with him in a one-on-one fight."

With that simple statement, Cao Cao elevated Kaiser’s standing to second strongest in the Hero Faction—perhaps even a rival for the top position.

"Wasn't his Sacred Gear only recently awakened? And didn’t he lose control of it once?" Georg—who stood nearby—muttered in disbelief. "Nothing about him feels like someone new to wielding a Sacred Gear. If someone told me he’s been training with the True Longinus since birth, I’d believe them."

That was the prevailing sentiment among everyone present.

By all accounts, Kaiser’s True Longinus was supposed to have awakened only recently. It had even gone berserk once.

And yet, his spear techniques—his absolute mastery over the weapon—made that claim seem absurd.

Just as Georg said, it felt as though Kaiser had been training with it since childhood, honing it for years.

"A man full of secrets, huh?" Cao Cao mused, staring at Kaiser with a knowing smirk. "Interesting."

"Let's hope it stays just interesting," Siegfried warned, his brow furrowing. "There are too many contradictions in his background. Can we really trust him in our ranks?"

"Why not?" Cao Cao shrugged nonchalantly. "We need strong individuals. He came to us willingly, and we don’t have the luxury of turning away talent."

"Besides—keeping him close allows me to observe him even further."

"If he really has something to hide…"

Cao Cao’s eyes gleamed.

"I'll see through it."

Siegfried’s tension visibly eased.

He trusted Cao Cao’s abilities.

There weren’t many in this world who could deceive the Hero Faction’s leader—an heir to one of history’s most cunning and brilliant strategists.

That left only one final question.

"Now that you’ve seen him in action, what’s your verdict?" Siegfried asked, curiosity in his tone. "With your Sacred Gear, do you think you can defeat him?"

Georg perked up at this, eager for the answer.

"Hmm…" Cao Cao tapped his chin in thought.

"Judging by what we’ve seen so far, one thing is clear—his physical strength surpasses mine."

"He’s trained his body to the limits, something I can never hope to match."

"Even you, with your multiple amplification abilities, and Heracles, with his demigod bloodline, might struggle to match his sheer physical prowess."

"In that regard, he’s undoubtedly the strongest among us."

Cao Cao’s confidence lay in skill.

His mastery over combat and tactics was his greatest weapon.

"With that in mind, I’d say… we’re about even. Neither of us would be able to take down the other easily."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes.

"That is… unless he's still holding back."

Chapter 100: The Hero Faction’s Mission

Cao Cao’s understanding of Kaiser’s strength was limited to what he had seen firsthand.

Thus, his assessment of their relative power was based only on what he currently knew.

If Kaiser had hidden abilities, then Cao Cao’s evaluation would be flawed.

Given this, his assessment focused solely on their normal combat strength, without factoring in Balance Breaker.

"Do you think he has reached Balance Breaker?"

Cao Cao asked his two companions while observing the battle.

Siegfried and Georg exchanged glances.

"He should have, right?"

"Yeah, I think so too."

Their responses were surprisingly in sync.

Logically speaking, considering how recently Kaiser had awakened his Sacred Gear, he shouldn’t have reached Balance Breaker yet.

Balance Breaker was a state of transcendence—an extreme enhancement of a Sacred Gear beyond its normal limitations. Although every Sacred Gear had this potential form, achieving it required an intense shift in the wielder’s mindset, to the extent of defying the very flow of the world.

Only those who had mastered their Sacred Gear completely could reach this level when undergoing a significant transformation in their spirit. Such a requirement was not something that could be fulfilled easily.

In fact, even among the Khaos Brigade’s Hero Faction, which dared to challenge the major mythological factions, those who had attained Balance Breaker were few and far between. Even on a global scale, they were extremely rare.

Under these circumstances, it was almost inconceivable that Kaiser, who had only recently awakened his Sacred Gear, could have mastered it so completely, let alone reached the Balance Breaker state.

However, anyone observing Kaiser’s control over True Longinus could recognize one undeniable truth.

His mastery of the True Longinus had already reached the pinnacle of perfection.

This was far beyond mere proficiency—it was absolute mastery, a level where there was no room for further improvement.

For someone like him, claiming that he had not yet reached Balance Breaker would be difficult for anyone to believe.

"As I expected."

Cao Cao agreed with Siegfried and Georg’s conclusion, chuckling. "But then, what exactly is his Balance Breaker?"

"Will it be the standard form of True Longinus? Or will it be an Sub-Species like mine?"

"If it’s an Sub-Species, what kind of abilities will it manifest when fully unleashed?"

"Haha, this is getting exciting."

Hearing Cao Cao’s laughter, Siegfried and Georg immediately knew that his fighting spirit had already surged to an uncontrollable level.

Only his close allies knew that Cao Cao had always been searching for the wielder of the True Longinus. He had long wanted to cross swords with the one wielding the so-called strongest Longinus.

He wanted to prove that his spear was no weaker than the legendary one. He wanted to know whether his spear could, like the True Longinus, pierce through even the gods.

And now, the wielder of the True Longinus was standing right before him. If not for Kaiser’s affiliation with the Hero Faction, he would have already challenged him to a duel.

Now that he saw Kaiser demonstrating power equal to or even capable of threatening him, Cao Cao felt exhilarated rather than fearful.

After all, if the True Longinus was powerful but its wielder was weak, then defeating him wouldn’t prove anything.

Only when the wielder was strong—just as strong, or even stronger than himself—would defeating them prove that his spear was not inferior to the legendary weapon.

Kaiser had not disappointed him. He had displayed a level of power worthy of being his opponent.

Since that was the case, how could he possibly hold himself back any longer?

Of course, the combatants in the arena were even more eager than Cao Cao.

Especially Heracles.

Seeing that he had been unable to defeat Kaiser for so long, Heracles let out an enraged roar.

"Balance Breaker!"

With Heracles' bellow, his massive body began to glow.

Light gathered around his hands, feet, and back, forming protrusions.

These protrusions spread across his entire body, transforming him into a humanoid artillery battery.

Numerous cannon muzzles emerged from Heracles' body, their shapes resembling missiles.

"Detonation - Mighty Comet"

Heracles roared the name of his Balance Breaker, prompting gasps from the audience.

"He activated it!"

"It's Balance Breaker!"

"Heracles has entered Balance Breaker mode!"

As the crowd erupted in excitement, a soft chuckle rang out near Kaiser.

"Then I suppose I’ll start too?"

With a bright, almost playful smile, Jeanne parted her lips.

"Balance Breaker!"

The moment her words fell, countless Holy Swords emerged around her feet.

The Holy Swords continued to pour out, surging together with overwhelming momentum, gradually forming an enormous entity.

Before long, a colossal figure took shape behind Jeanne, spreading its wings, raising its long neck, and letting out a deafening roar that sent shockwaves through the air.

It was a dragon.

A massive dragon forged from countless Holy Swords.

"【Holy Dragon of Judgement】!"

As Jeanne activated her Balance Breaker, the entire arena fell silent.

"Has the climax arrived?"

Cao Cao rested his spear on his shoulder, his expression filled with excitement.

"Now, let’s see what happens next."

With that declaration—one only heard by Siegfried and Georg—the battlefield’s intensity reached its absolute peak as the clash of Balance Breakers unfolded.

"Take this!"

Heracles made the first move, raising his arms as every cannon on his body locked onto Kaiser. Without hesitation, he unleashed a storm of missiles.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

Countless missiles struck their target, triggering massive explosions that sent shockwaves roaring into the sky.

The sheer force of the blasts engulfed everything within several hundred meters, fire and smoke expanding violently.

However, the explosion never reached the ground.

Instead, it was intercepted mid-air.

"Boom!"

Standing at the center of the missile storm, Kaiser’s expression remained utterly unchanged. He simply raised the True Longinus, its spearhead gleaming as it unleashed an immense wave of divine energy, intercepting the incoming missiles and detonating them prematurely.

Then, without pause, Kaiser pointed the spear at Heracles.

In an instant, the True Longinus transformed into a blinding flash of light, extending at terrifying speed. It sliced through the flames and smoke, hurtling directly toward Heracles.

"Shk!"

Heracles raised both hands in front of him, attempting to block the piercing thrust of the True Longinus using the protrusions on his arms, which had transformed into missile launchers. However, the spear’s razor-sharp tip effortlessly pierced through his hands, puncturing those protrusions in an instant.

“Gaaahhh…!”

Heracles let out a roar of agony as he endured the excruciating pain.

“Boom!”

At that moment, the massive dragon forged from Jeanne’s Holy Swords had unknowingly positioned itself behind Kaiser. It lifted its colossal forelimb and slammed it downward, shattering the ground and sending shards of rock flying in all directions.

But Kaiser was already gone.

His entire body surged with Touki, and like a meteor, he streaked through the battlefield, charging directly toward Jeanne, who sat atop the dragon.

"Not that easy!"

Jeanne immediately conjured a massive number of Holy Swords, arranging them into a barrier before her.

In response, Kaiser simply raised the True Longinus once again, its spearhead splitting open as holy energy gathered at the tip.

A deep hum resonated through the air.

Sacred energy coalesced at the spearhead, forming a radiant Blade of Light several meters in size.

"Bang!"

Gripping the massive Blade of Light with both hands, Kaiser swung the spear horizontally with immense force. The Blade of Light expanded into a crescent-shaped slash, obliterating the Holy Sword barrier in the blink of an eye.

"Shk!"

Before Jeanne could react, the True Longinus extended at astonishing speed once more, its tip piercing straight through the hand that held her rapier.

"Ah…!"

Jeanne gasped in pain. Her grip on her rapier loosened, and the blade slipped from her grasp. Blood streamed from the hand that had been impaled by the True Longinus.

Mere seconds later, the dragon beneath Jeanne was shredded into countless fragments by Kaiser’s swift attacks, reduced to nothing more than a pile of broken Holy Swords.

The terrifying sharpness and precision of the True Longinus were on full display.

A slow, deliberate applause echoed across the battlefield, marking the official conclusion of the fight.

"Truly impressive. To think you defeated two Sub-Species Balance Breakers with just the normal form of the True Longinus. My, my, it really is the strongest Longinus."

Descending from above, Cao Cao made his way toward the center of the battlefield, Siegfried and Georg following closely behind, all while clapping in admiration.

"See? I told you that you weren’t a match for him," Siegfried remarked, stepping in front of Heracles. His grin mirrored the same taunting expression Heracles had once shown him.

"Damn it!"

Heracles, his arms still covered in fresh wounds, had already deactivated his Balance Breaker. His face was twisted in frustration.

"Even when we teamed up, we weren’t a match for him… That True Longinus really might have the power to slay gods," Jeanne mused, her gaze filled with awe and reverence as she looked at Kaiser.

"Hold on, I’ll heal you both," Georg said as he gathered them together and activated a Magic Circle to begin their recovery.

The rest of the Hero Faction members gradually gathered around, murmuring among themselves, their expressions carrying a mix of astonishment and admiration.

"And what’s next?"

Kaiser, still unfazed and composed, turned his gaze toward Cao Cao.

"Who am I fighting next?"

It was clear that he still had plenty of stamina left.

No, even if he were to fight several more rounds, it wouldn’t bother him.

The reason he was here, clashing with the Hero Faction, was because Cao Cao had gathered them for live combat training.

It had already been a week since his meeting with Ophis.

During that time, Kaiser had remained here, either engaging in battles against the Hero Faction members or training alone to refine his own Balance Breaker.

Thanks to this, his past week had been incredibly productive—fighting against powerful opponents daily, gaining countless insights.

Now, he was nearing the completion of his Balance Breaker.

With such progress, Kaiser was in a great mood, eager to continue his fights.

Unfortunately…

"That’s enough training for today."

Cao Cao unexpectedly put a stop to it.

"Instead, I have a mission I need you to undertake."

At those words, Kaiser raised an eyebrow.