The negotiations, in truth, did not concern only Heaven and the Underworld. They involved all three biblical factions: angels, fallen angels, and devils.
Although the fallen angels had not participated in the previous war in the Underworld, that did not mean they could remain uninvolved.
After all, Azazel had obtained a considerable amount of intelligence from the devil nobles and passed it on to Heaven.
Although he had already surrendered to Heaven, he was still the leader of a major faction. It would seem inappropriate for him not to attend this negotiation conference.
Therefore, Elise still sent Azazel a notice in the name of the God of the Bible.
"It has only been a few hours!"
The fallen angels soon received accurate intelligence regarding the war in the Underworld. Azazel stared at the report with his eyes wide open.
Although he had already overestimated the God of the Bible's strength as much as possible, he now realized that he had still underestimated her.
According to the spies who had observed the war in the Underworld, the God of the Bible had not acted at all. Merely dispatching a single scribe had been enough to display overwhelming power capable of crushing the Underworld!
And that was not all. Heaven had also accomplished many unbelievable things.
For example, it had killed a large number of Underworld nobles within an extremely brief period, as well as slain a Super Devil...
Yes, news of Rizevim's death had also reached Azazel.
Although Rizevim was not particularly powerful, very few people knew his true level of strength.
Despite being called the "disgrace of the Super Devils," he was still, at least outwardly, a Super Devil on the same level as Sirzechs. No matter how weak he was, there was a limit to how weak he could possibly be.
Therefore, Azazel could not help thinking...
Since Heaven could eliminate one Super Devil so easily, eliminating a second or third would not be particularly difficult.
Seen from that perspective, Sirzechs and the others were truly in danger!
"Fortunately, I knew when to yield and surrendered before anyone else. Otherwise, this show of force would have been directed at us fallen angels..."
Heaven's assault on the Underworld was not merely intended to subjugate the fallen angels and devils. It had another purpose as well: displaying its power to the other factions throughout the world.
After the God of the Bible's resurrection, Azazel knew that many factions had been secretly observing the situation.
The newer factions had never witnessed the God of the Bible's power and could not accurately judge her strength. Meanwhile, the ancient factions that knew of the God of the Bible were even less willing to stick their necks out. Therefore, they had all remained at a distance and watched without directly coming into conflict with Heaven.
This assault on the Underworld had given those factions the perfect opportunity to witness just how formidable Heaven's current military strength truly was!
In doing so, Heaven could also intimidate those hiding in the shadows...
"But that probably isn't all, is it?"
Azazel recalled the question the God of the Bible had asked him during their first meeting...
'Do you think I can rule the world?'
Her ambitions were probably far from simple!
"If God truly intends to rule the world, she will take action immediately after this conference concludes..."
Azazel sighed. He had previously wanted to observe the situation for a while longer, just like the other factions.
Unfortunately, he was himself the leader of one of the Three Factions of the Bible. There was no way he could escape involvement.
"But now that matters have reached this point, we fallen angels don't seem to have any choice other than submitting to the God of the Bible, do we?"
Azazel did not particularly enjoy holding the position of Governor-General of the fallen angels. However, if he did not occupy that position, the fallen angel race would probably be exterminated very quickly. After all, his subordinates were quite the collection of talented individuals...
"I'll have to discipline those people beneath me more strictly from now on..."
The mere thought of that troublemaking group of subordinates made Azazel's head ache. If those people caused some kind of disaster, would God hold him responsible?
Still, submission came with certain benefits. Azazel would no longer need to make any major decisions on behalf of the entire fallen angel race.
Although the fallen angels would be subordinate to Heaven and governed by it, they would also receive Heaven's protection. They would no longer need to worry about being attacked by the forces of another pantheon without warning.
"So we lose some things while gaining others?"
"I wonder whether this is good or bad..."
Regardless, the fallen angels no longer had any other choice.
All Azazel could do was ensure the survival of the fallen angels as best he could.
Yet even so, Azazel still felt that it would be exceedingly difficult...
"No matter what, I need to warn those people beneath me. If any of them dare offend the God of the Bible..."
A sharp gleam flashed through Azazel's eyes, making him seem entirely different from the easygoing middle-aged man he had appeared to be before.
Although Azazel had not fought in a very long time, and although he was not as powerful as Super Devils like Sirzechs, he was still the Governor-General of the fallen angels.
Anyone who dared underestimate him because of that would suffer a terrible loss!
The scene returned to Heaven.
"Although we achieved a complete victory over the devils in our assault on the Underworld, we still suffered casualties."
"Michael, report the relevant information."
"Yes!"
After hearing Elise's command, Michael immediately responded. He had already compiled the relevant figures in advance.
"Because the principal targets of this assault on the Underworld were Sirzechs and the other three Satans, every angel deployed was an elite possessing at least six wings."
"Although we made extensive preparations for this battle, a number of angels still fell due to unexpected circumstances and can no longer remain at our Lord's side..."
"Twelve six-winged angels and seven eight-winged angels. A total of nineteen angels lost their lives in this war."
As Michael spoke, his expression grew considerably more downcast. Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel beside him looked much the same.
Although they knew that the angel population could continue to increase now that their Lord had returned...
The angels who had died were still companions who had lived alongside them for many years. Losing so many at once naturally caused them pain.
However, every sacrifice made for their Lord's purpose possessed value! To the angels, this was also a form of glory!
"Nineteen..."
Elise pondered for a moment before deciding that she should take Michael and the others to see it.
"Although it isn't completely finished, most of it has already been successfully completed. Since there are only nineteen angels, there shouldn't be any complications..."
After saying this, Elise rose from her throne and casually traced several lines through the air.
A portal appeared out of thin air, and Elise beckoned to Michael and the others.
"All of you, follow me. I have something very interesting prepared to show you!"
The sudden change of subject left Michael somewhat bewildered. Nevertheless, since it was their Lord's command, they naturally followed her to take a look.
After stepping through the portal, the scenery around them changed completely. The aurora-like colors vanished, replaced by pure white.
The Four Great Seraphs might never have seen such a sight before, but Metatron had already witnessed it several times.
There shouldn't be any problems, right?
Seeing Gabriel and the others exchange worried looks, Metatron immediately moved to her side.
"Nothing will happen. What our Lord is taking us to see is something truly extraordinary!"
"I'm certain all of you will be astonished once you see it!"
When facing Gabriel and the others, who were angels like herself, Metatron felt an extraordinary sense of kinship.
Although her senses told her that Gabriel and the others were weaker than she was, they were all creations of their Lord. It was only natural for them to look after one another, wasn't it?
Moreover, Gabriel had genuinely helped Metatron a great deal while she was studying.
"Thank you, Metatron."
Gabriel gently placed a hand over Metatron's and gazed at her with a warm expression.
Gabriel held special feelings toward this new companion created after God's return. It was almost as though she were raising a child...
Although this child was stronger than her and possessed a more powerful body, she was still young!
Gabriel had not cared for a child in a very long time. Looking after Metatron like this was a first for her, and the relationship between the two angels was gradually growing closer.
Therefore, the moment Gabriel revealed a worried expression, Metatron immediately came over to comfort her.
Soon, a glimmer of light appeared at the end of the passage. It seemed they were about to reach the place their Lord had mentioned.
What kind of scenery awaits us there?
At that moment, every angel's curiosity was aroused. Their Lord's creations were miraculous wherever they appeared, just like Sacred Gears, and could remain in the world for all eternity!
Since this was something intended for Seraphs such as themselves, it could not possibly be ordinary!
However...
When the scene finally appeared before them, they found it difficult to believe their eyes.
It was not because the sight was too extraordinary. On the contrary, it was far too ordinary!
No matter how they looked at it, it was nothing more than an ordinary hot spring...
The spring might have covered a rather large area, but a hot spring was still a hot spring!
Even if it had been created by their Lord, the most Michael could imagine was that it possessed restorative and healing properties.
"This is the place."
Elise stopped in front of the hot spring and turned to look at Michael and the other angels behind her.
"This will become a special location connected to the Sixth Heaven. I will leave the subsequent arrangements to all of you!"
"Yes, but..."
Michael and the others understood their Lord's meaning. Heaven would simply be gaining another place of healing.
They only needed to make the appropriate arrangements. However, there was one thing they could not understand.
Why did this hot spring need to be placed in the Sixth Heaven?
If it were merely an ordinary healing spring, it should have been located in the Fifth Heaven or even lower. What reason did their Lord have for placing it here?
While the angels were still confused, Metatron suddenly raised a hand and pointed into the distance, toward the opposite side of the hot spring.
"Good grief. Have none of you noticed yet?"
Her sudden words immediately drew the attention of the four Seraphs. They followed the direction of Metatron's finger and saw several strange objects floating in the distant waters of the hot spring...
No, those were not ordinary floating objects!
The instant they saw those figures, every angel widened their eyes and stared in disbelief.
Nineteen figures!
Michael still remembered the number of angelic casualties he had just reported to their Lord...
Exactly nineteen. Not one more, not one less!
"Could it be...?!"
Gabriel covered her mouth. Although she did not finish speaking, everyone understood what she meant.
Resurrection!
The instant that thought appeared in their minds, they immediately rejected it.
Although resurrection lay within their Lord's authority, she had never once used it in the past. Otherwise, the number of angels could not possibly have become so small...
Yet now, as they stared at the nineteen familiar figures within the hot spring, they had no choice but to acknowledge it, no matter how unbelievable it seemed...
Their Lord had truly accomplished it!
This spring was the culmination of the God of the Bible's power!
As long as the spring remained in Heaven, not a single angel would ever lose their life!
"No wonder it must be placed in the Sixth Heaven."
God's residence was situated in the Seventh Heaven. The closer something was to the Seventh Heaven, the more thoroughly its safety could be guaranteed.
However, they obviously could not place such a spring inside their Lord's home. Therefore, it could only be located in the Sixth Heaven, the closest level to her residence.
"This hot spring possesses the power of resurrection! Any angel who dies, no matter where they perish, will eventually return here and be revived!"
Elise's voice came from the side, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"However, this resurrection does not come without a cost."
Elise lowered her head, seemingly gazing at the nineteen figures within the spring...
"After being revived, they will enter a period of weakness. If they die on a battlefield during wartime and are subsequently resurrected, they certainly will not be able to return to the fighting."
"Furthermore, the spring's resurrection power requires my energy. Only while I continue to exist in this world will the spring never run dry."
"Conversely, if I am no longer here, the spring will lose its resurrection abilities because it will no longer receive an energy supply."
After hearing Elise's explanation, Michael understood her meaning.
The spring's power originated from God. As long as Elise remained here, no angel would ever truly die!
However... the angels might resort to self-destructive attacks. Elise did not want such a thing to happen, which was why she had explained these limitations.
Should God perish once again as she had in the past, Heaven would undoubtedly suffer an unimaginable blow.
"I understand, my Lord. I will ensure that every subsequent matter is properly arranged!"
"Then I'll leave it to you!"
Seeing Michael's solemn expression, Elise responded with a smile.
However... was that truly the whole story?
Of course not!
Elise had previously said that this hot spring had not yet been fully completed!
Even in its incomplete state, it already possessed such formidable abilities. Once it was perfected, those side effects would likely disappear entirely!
At that time, Heaven would possess an army of angels that could never be permanently killed!
However, Elise had no intention of telling Michael about this.
Even if they could be resurrected, Elise still hoped they would cherish their lives!
She alone was more than enough as someone who did not value her own life.
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