DxD: The Dragon Oppai {Chapter 193: Spawn of an Evil God! ] (Patreon)

Thor sighed, admitting, "Yeah, but I stayed back to ensure that Amaterasu and Artemis didn't intervene."

Amaterasu, usually serene, wore an expression of anger. She glared at Susanoo in disbelief. "I can't believe you blew our cover, Susanoo! You're fortunate that Athena-dono was here to salvage your mistake!"

Verethragna bowed his head in shame. "It was my fault, Amaterasu... I sensed Azi Dahaka, and I assumed that all the dragons had returned."

"We had no idea you gods were monitoring them. Verethragna sensed Azi Dahaka, and we rushed in to confront him," Susanoo defended himself.

Athena tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at them. "So you didn't overhear their conversation?"

"No, we did not," Verethragna firmly replied.

Susanoo interjected, his voice filled with frustration, "Did you seriously make an alliance with that dragon?! How can we trust him? He just threatened to kill us!"

Athena let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, growing tired of Susanoo's skepticism. "He threatened to kill us if we betrayed him, not without reason."

Artemis, trying to ease the tension, spoke up, "At least we can be certain that he's not our enemy."

The gods mulled over the words of Azi Dahaka and the implications they carried. Rossweisse broke the silence, seeking their opinions. "What do you all make of Azi Dahaka's claims? They were certainly peculiar."

Thor shook his head, offering his perspective, "While it's hard to say for certain, there might be some truth to what he said. Consider the fact that the Norse Gods originated from Ymir, a primordial being. It's not entirely far-fetched to entertain the idea of an original god from which all gods, dragons, and giants descended."

Susanoo, visibly alarmed, vehemently dismissed the notion, "That's nonsense! Azi Dahaka is the son of Angra Mainyu, a notorious deceiver. We cannot trust his words."

Thor shrugged, recognizing the potential validity amidst the deception, "I'm not suggesting that we accept everything he said blindly. Ahriman, Azi Dahaka's father, is known for twisting narratives and half-truths. But the notion that Ahriman might be after the power of creation does resonate with me. It's possible he's manipulating the truth to suit his own agenda."

Artemis chimed in, focusing on the information about Ophis, "Regardless of Azi Dahaka's credibility, we can't ignore the fact that Ophis has a specific interest in the Dimensional Gap. There might be something she fears or desires within it."

Susanoo growled in frustration, "You can't trust the words of serpents! Verethragna is right—Azi Dahaka is a spawn of an evil god, delusional and twisted. It's all just a justification for his wickedness."

Athena countered, her tone firm, "You weren't present during their conversation, so your dismissal lacks credibility."

Amaterasu, showing gratitude towards Athena, respectfully acknowledged her role, "Athena, we owe you a debt of gratitude. Without your intervention, this situation could have spiraled out of control. Issei Hyoudou, despite his rough exterior, has shown no harm to our people here and has resisted following Ophis. His assistance might be valuable."

Artemis supported Amaterasu's sentiment, "Indeed, Issei Hyoudou has demonstrated his power and willingness to oppose the evil dragons. Given his capabilities, I am open to accepting his help."

Susanoo, still skeptical, crossed his arms and retorted, "I can't believe you all are embracing this idea of befriending dragons. It goes against everything we stand for."

Thor defended his stance, "Times change, Susanoo. We must adapt and consider all possibilities. Let's see how serious Issei Hyoudou is about helping us when Ophis returns. Until then, I won't fully trust him."

Rossweisse turned to Athena, seeking her wisdom, "Lady Athena, what are your thoughts on Azi Dahaka's theory? Do you have any insights to share?"

Athena surveyed the gathering of gods and Rossweisse before responding, "As I mentioned earlier, I find it difficult to form a definitive opinion. Azi Dahaka's story contains elements that could be plausible, but it also carries the markings of a convoluted conspiracy. I align with Thor's perspective—the truth might lie in a blend of fact and fiction. We are fortunate that Issei Hyoudou does not believe these claims."

Verethragna, unable to let the matter rest, interjected once more, "If we even entertain Azi Dahaka's lies, it implies doubting the integrity of Ahura Mazda, our benevolent lord. He is not a liar."

"We never implied he wasn't a benevolent god, Verethragna. It could be possible that Ahura Mazda imprisoned his brother for a selfless reason and for Angra Mainyu and Azi Dahaka to be somewhat honest about this. Perhaps Angra Mainyu sought to reclaim lost pieces of the original God and take the mantle of ultimate power from every other god, dragon, or giant. Ahura Mazda could have kept it a secret to prevent more wars. Also if we consider the various origins of our pantheons and realms, they can all be simultaneously true and fit this narrative. Brahma, Ahura Mazda, Yahweh, and other gods could have been creators of the world all simultaneously from the flesh of this original God. It would also make sense for some of the older beings such as ancient giants or evil gods to have originally warred with our ancestors because they sought to reclaim the mantle of true divinity. Thor's own account about the ancient giants warring with the gods fits this narrative quite well." Athena responded logically.

"So you're saying that Angra Mainyu could possibly have been trying to usurp the divinity of all other beings and remake the universe in his image then?" Verethragna asked. He seemed more receptive to Athena's logic now.

Verethragna nodded, now more open to considering Athena's logic. He had become receptive to the idea that Angra Mainyu might have sought to seize the divinity of all beings and reshape the universe according to his own desires.

Susanoo grumbled in disbelief, "This is absurd! I can't believe any of you are actually entertaining this notion."