251 Time
Rias eyes dimmed lightly and the color of struggle, appeared on her beautiful eyes.
Since her youth, she always admired her elder brother greatly. Sirzechs Lucifer. He is probably the greatest and most powerful devil to be born.
But this feat…The Empress was speaking of, is simply a fairytale. No it's simply an absurdity.
Rias clenched her fists:
"Even if it is for a better Underworld….is it really okay to use such methods?"
"Is it okay to risk war and bloodshed like the Holy War, Millenia's Prior?"
As she spoke this sentence, Roygun frowned slightly but was surprised by the intervention of an elegant voice:
"You seem quite opinionated, little child."
The voice resonated. And it was as if the whole Garden suddenly chilled. Rias felt her heart turn cold, and it was as if her whole body was warped in deep unknown darkness.
She looked up, and saw the woman draped in a dark and blue caftan. Her beauty could be said to trample any other woman she has ever seen! Only Empress Roygun was comparable.
But what made her tremble was her opened ever so slightly, abyss eyes.
"Since, this old lady likes your boldness. I will teach you a thing or two."
As the woman spoke, a powerful magnetism…grew in the room. Her dark abyss eyes seemed to hardly move.
Yet each move, as if it was a stroke in a canvas, seemed to convey a meaning.
Poise, Grace and Elegance.
This is was the epitome of what a powerful noble woman would look like.
Rias took a deep look at her. She already understood, 'this woman's' identity wasn't easy. She immediately chose to respectfully lend an ear.
As she looked at the thoughtful Rias, at the satisfied Mother Empress….A glint of appreciation appeared on Roygun's eyes:
'She knows when it is right to replicate, and when it is wrong to.'
'She is able to shoulder pain, and is capable of looking at things from a humble perspective.'
'This…'
'More importantly, although she is a good leader, she is cool headed enough to accept the leadership of others when necessary.'
'This is a good seed for the New Underworld.'
"Do you know how the Vega Dynasty war casualties were counted since Primordial Times?"
Rias's voice inquired:
"How?"
Devran smiled mildly:
"By Time."
Rias eyes showed confusion.
"By the time, it would take to bring all the soldiers back to life."
"Will it take a pico second, a second, a minute, an hour, maybe months or a year?"
"A Zero casualties war, in the understanding of the Vega Dynasty."
"Is a war that needs virtually no time for us to recover from."
Issei eyes opened up in fright:
"Impossible…"
"….How could this be possible?"
Rias felt her heart turn cold as she tried to process the information:
"Do you mean, that the resurrection we just saw…"
The Mother Empress, looked at her amused:
"The Empire doesn't count it's war causalities with lives but with time."
"In other worlds…"
"Any being living in the Empire is virtually immortal since the beginning of existence."
"Death doesn't exist, and never will."
"No matter what happened, be it Multiversal threats, or Omniverse Gods, the Beyonders or even our Eternal Enemies, the Titanus."
"No one has ever has taken a life from the Empire."
"Only Time."
The trio's eyes widened in horror. Rias stuttered… When she took matters into her own hands.
She was prepared to face coercion, even was prepared to be threatened.
But she never expected…. There were things much more absurd that were waiting for her, to explore.
Time….An Empire whose soldiers are unafraid of death. A Multiversal level Devil Society.
These two seemed to be speaking absurdities one after the other.
"Why…?"
"Why, would such a force care about the devils and the Underworld?"
She had tears overflowing in her tears.
At this time, she knew….it.
The Devils, the Maous, this World was already doomed.
Any resistance is futile. Rias continued, not caring about restrain at all!! Anyway, it is over!!
"Do you really need to be so harsh on Lucifer-sama, and the other Maous?"
"They may not have your majesty's insight or your grand ambitions…."
"But I know they did their best for this Underworld!!"
Devran shut her eyes once again, an amused smile on her gorgeous face.
Roygun titled her head:
"You don't understand."
"Why do you think that I can guarantee such absurd things?"
"Why is it that the devil's destiny has changed from primitive civilization, to a Multiversal one?"
"Why do you think that, I, Roygun Vega…even can rebuild the destiny of devil's race?"
"And why do you think that, until this day….Lucifer, Belzebub, the Khaos Brigade, and the rest of this whole planet, are still in existence?"
Her voice was getting more somber, her tone became extremely solemn.
Devran smiled ever so slightly, as she sipped her tea.
Roygun eyes opened widely, her demeanor became stern:
"There is only one reason!!!"
"It's his Majesty's Will!!"
"His Majesty finds value in the existence of the Devils!"
"So the Devils shall prosper!!"
"Shall become a part of his Glorious Imperial Road and Embark on a journey, to thread path of the Multiverse and even beyond!!"
"His Majesty's chose to pardon the sins of Lucifer and Beelzebub, so they shall be resurrected!"
"His Majesty loves me. So I shall be the Empress of the Myriads of Worlds!! Looking Down on existence!!"
Her brows wrinkled:
"You don't understand…"
"Yours and the Maous visions are too narrow…"
"His Majesty's blesses this tiny world, from a Million and a Billion of Other worlds!!"
"And the only thing he demands!!"
"The only requirement!!!"
She stood up!!
And marched up closer to the trio, Imperial Coercion blooming on in her body!!
"Is Absolute obedience !!!!"
She looked deeply at Rias:
"I know you've been through a lot of pain."
"So did your faction."
"But this only because of your own stubbornness."
"The Empire guarantees immortality, prosperity and power!!"
"The future of the devils…The prosperity of the Underworld!!"
"All of that is within reach!!!"
"The only thing he demands is absolute allegiance!!!"
Under the coercion of the Empress, Rias felt her chest tighten.
"Absolute obedience."
"Only Imperial Power is allowed to roam the devil's race!!"
Roygun looked deeply into Rias' eyes:
"Sirzechs and Ajuka think that you two are the future of the Underworld."
She narrowed her eyes:
"And I think it is the case."
The coercion on her disappeared, her eyes soften a bit:
"Not only you, Sona Sitri, Latia Beelzebub, Seekveira Agares, Sairaorg Bael…"
"You all have the potential to lead the devils to a new Era."
"Your elders are stubborn and are too scarred by the old wars to seize the opportunities in front of them."
"I hope you make better choices, Rias Gremory."
Looking at the tangled Rias, Roygun expression eased before she sat back.
She smiled:
"Do not worry…We will not ask of you to betray your relatives."
Rias eyes seemed to brighten. Roygun continued:
"The Empire is extremely strict on values like filial piety and allegiance to one's own clan and family."
"This why…"
She had a bitter smile on her face:
"The Empire dislikes devils like Grayfia Lucifuge."
Roygun actually didn't have much distaste for Grayfia…But…The Imperial Family is different…
Because of the 'Curse' of the Vega Dynasty, they are much more intransigent with this kind of people.
Even when the Emperor once was sacrificed by his own father….yet he still didn't harbor any resentment for his family…Even The Mother Empress who resented her husband…never betrayed him in truest sense.
Simply playing power games behind the curtains.
This is the Edict of the Empire.
For them, for one to betray his faction is still acceptable, but for own to betray the grace of birth and the grace of nurturing, is an extremely big taboo.
Even if one betrays the Empire under the circumstances of filial piety they would be treated differently, only the parents and the Elders would be severely punished.
"But that doesn't mean that…You have to agree on everything, right?"
She squinted her eyes:
"You are still allowed to make your own choices, aren't you?"
"Rias Gremory."
The Crimson haired princess was silent for a while, before nodding:
"I still have my own freedom, indeed."
