--
'So many things happened during my seclusion.' The Demon God mused inwardly.
He ignored the trembling ministers and aides kneeling in front of his throne. He knew that his silence seemed like he's thinking of a way to punish them dearly for their mistakes, but that's hardly correct.
While it's true that he's disappointed at them, he's one to blame as well. After all, he didn't leave them any clear instructions before he sealed himself. He also couldn't blame his son for this since he knew that child already did his best.
More importantly, the Demon God himself never expected to encounter such a progressive race. The fact that humanity was able to go from pushovers to rivals in under a hundred years was mind-blowing for anybody who learned it.
"I see that none of the Seven Deadly Sins were retrieved. Was it because of carelessness on your part or because of humanity's decisiveness?" The Demon God looked at his son and asked.
"It's the latter, Your Majesty." The Demon Prince replied with a professional tone.
Out of everybody in this meeting hall, he might be the only one who didn't feel nervous or threatened by his father's tone and expression.
"A shame then," the Demon God muttered softly.
Losing the Seven Deadly Sins (the insignia, not their bearers) was a huge loss to them. The Insignia of Sin was one of his very few masterpieces, rivaling the Soul Network and Flesh Incubator themselves.
The Insignia of Sins contained fragments of his power and soul. Aside from being used as a huge power boost and near-limitless energy source for their bearers, the insignia also has a hidden function.
This hidden function activates when the Demon God himself faces a grave threat to his life. One must know that even though he's the creator of the Soul Network and the Flesh Incubator, he couldn't use them for himself.
He's way too powerful for these tools. The Soul Network will implode at the mere presence of his soul, and there's no way the Flesh Incubator could replicate the quality of his flesh even if there were appropriate materials for it.
This is where the Insignia of Sins comes into play. In the event that the Demon God faced a dangerous threat to his life. He could blow himself up to take down his enemies with him. Then, his consciousness will awaken within one of the fragments sealed in the insignia. Upon collecting all the insignia, he could mend his soul again and use the current bearers of the sin to forge a new body for him.
Simply put, the Insignia of Sins were tools for his rebirth. Thus, it was a damn shame to lose them. Especially to natives that they used to look down on.
'Oh, well. It is what it is then.'
"Humans have grown strong enough to rival us. Leaving them alone is no longer an option since they already proved how much progress they could make once they're given time."
"Their hatred of us is something that not even I could deny. The situation has already evolved to the point where only one side will be permitted to exist. I have no doubt that even if we fled to the opposite side of the cosmos, they will eventually find a way to track us down and hunt us for sport just like what we did to them."
"This has already turned into a vendetta. One that we absolutely can't escape from."
There's a pregnant pause after the Demon God stated these facts.
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"What I don't understand is your inaction up until now." The Demon God glared at his subjects. "Was it really that difficult for any of you to realize the same conclusions that I had just now? Hm? Was it your false immortality that caused your brains to rot this much that you can't even think this far?"
Everybody could feel their God's rising anger. This sensation isn't just limited to this hall but to the entire fleet. Everyone who possesses the DNA and genes of demons could feel the trepidation brought by the mounting anger of this godlike figure of theirs.
"Hmph!"
A snort filled with unmistakable authority and absolute power exploded from the Demon God, forcing the kneeling ministers and aides to prostrate to the ground. None, however, dared to let out any voice of discontent or pain.
"You all have grown too arrogant and conceited since the last time I was here," the Demon God continued. "I raised you all better than this. I expected better things from all of you, not this."
The Demon God stood up from his throne, and his towering figure and presence pressed down on all of them.
"Go and make yourselves busy. I shall give you three years to shed those arrogances of yours. When that time comes, I will lead you all to descend on that small world."
"I will tolerate no more excuses anymore. When I summoned all of you again, I want to see the faces of my fearsome and tireless soldiers, not some pampered nobles with delusions of granduer."
"If some of you couldn't even do such a simple thing as that, you might as well return your bodies to the Flesh Incubator to make yourselves useful at the very least."
Concluding his words here, the Demon God walked out of the meeting room with his footsteps thundering on the hearts of his ministers. As he passed by his son, he tapped his shoulder and said,
"Get up and follow me. We have a lot to talk about."
The cold and crass voice of his father adressing him shook the Demon Prince's heart, yet he didn't dare to show any displeasure or fear. Instead, he bravely stood up, albeit unstable, and followed him to wherever he decided to go.