Death... and me

Near the border of the Swamp, the Elder Devils easily noticed that Rui was still waiting for them there. "Rui, you didn't get inside. Why is that?"

Rui shrugged his shoulder. "I'm the one responsible for the Underworld Relic during the next thousand years, am I not? What if the Swamp's ability suddenly reappeared? I wanted to stay out so that I could use the Relic to rescue you all."

Frulos Trus, the Elder Devil who had been lost in the Swamp for a long time, was also in the middle. "Since you can use the Underworld Relic to bring the other Elder Devil out of the Swamp, why no one tried to bring me out? I've been locked inside that shit for countless years." He obviously wasn't very happy to hear that.

However, Rui had never seen this Elder Devil. However, Rui had heard about him as it was he who warned the twins about this Elder Devil. "Are you perhaps Frulos? The Elder Devil who got lost all those years ago?"

Before Frulos could answer, Mephisto, who knew Frulos from the past, intervened. "He is. Anyway, Frulos, the reason we never used the Underworld Relic to get you out was simply that you decided to enter that place on your own. Don't think I forgot what you said. You made it very clear that you didn't want anyone's help even though we warned you about the risks of entering the Swamp."

"Hmph!" Frulos could only do that as he had no answer. He knew Mephisto was right.

"Let's not waste more time here," Mephisto returned to the main topic. "Rui, we found nothing in the Swamp. However, there are traces that a Fragment was inside before, but it has already been taken away. We believe it was Sesame, a Divinity Realm Demon Beast that lived there before the Fragment arrived in the Underworld. We also believe Belial knows something about it, so we need to find him. Have you seen Belial? He left the Swamp even before we could break into the Swamp's core area."

Rui nodded. "Yes, I felt the Spatial Oscillations of an Elder Devil a few hours ago leaving the area. Since you are all here, that one should be Belial. I couldn't tell which direction he went, though. Anyway, since you are all safe, I will not meddle in this matter anymore. As the Relic holder, I will just focus on it for now. I guess you won't mind it, will you?"

"Not at all," everyone nodded. The least amount of Elder Devils going after the Universe Foundation Fragment, the better. Especially since Rui had the Underworld Relic, which made him the strongest Elder Devil during the next thousand years.

"Well then, I'm off." Since he had no more uses in this place, Rui took his subordinates and left the area through his own Spatial Gate.

The others also looked at each other but didn't say anything. They just left as they intended to investigate Belial and Sesame on their own first.

Rui didn't take long to return to his Light Devil Clan. For the advantage in cultivation to be active, the Relic had to stay in the Light Devil Clan's territory, after all. However, as soon as he arrived, he narrowed his eyes. He looked at his subordinates behind him before giving an order. "I'm going back to my room. Do not bother me unless it's extremely necessary."

"Yes, Ancestor!" No one complained and immediately left the area.

Rui also moved away, teleporting straight into his cultivation room. Following that, he activated all the concealing formations around, making it impossible for anyone to see what was happening inside.

Finally, he looked at a corner of the room before speaking with a calm voice. "You can come out already."

Light Element gathered there before it began to take a human-shaped form. It's just that this figure also had six wings on his back, which was a mark that only Archangels carried. Yes, he was someone at the same level as Rui or Sesame. "Sorry that it took so long, Rui. Your Light Devil Clan won't need to wait any longer."

"A-A-Azrael!" Rui finally saw who it was, and shock appeared on his face. "I can't believe the heavens would send one of the twelve Archangels. You are one of the pillars of the Angel Realm. You shouldn't have taken such a risk!"

Azrael sighed in response. "Sigh... You are wrong, Rui. Compared to the risks your Light Devil Clan has been in all these years, this little bit of danger simply isn't worth mentioning. That little guy with rich Angel Bloodline, Fagund, right? He did a great job in reaching us in the Heavens. He met with Liran, so I know a little about it."

Rui nodded. "That's why I sent him there. I trusted he would find a way without alerting the Devils." Rui couldn't help but ask what he wanted most. "Then... is it starting now?"

Azrael confirmed with a nod. "It is. The Realm of Gods' Powers are about to start a full-scale attack against the Devils' Territory in the Realm of Gods. Surprisingly, they convinced that thing to stop its energy release for a year, and it is about to get busy."

"What?!" Rui knew about the creature that lived under the Realm of Gods. The same creature that was responsible for the Continental Barriers' Energy. The Continental Barrier wouldn't exist without that being. "Just how much of a price did they pay to convince it? I'm already surprised it didn't kill everyone who was sent there to talk to it. Whether it is Archangels, Elder Devils, or Divinity Realm beings, they are nothing but ants in front of it."

"That's not our problem," Azrael answered. "All you need to know is that the moment the Devils split their forces to defend their territory in the Realm of Gods, it is the moment we attack as well. The Reincarnation Path, such a sacred element of our Universe, can't stay in the hands of the Devils anymore. It's time to take it under our protection."