Ivar's eyes widened when he heard those words. Just a few moments ago, the woman was bluffing about her and the Gods Path of Power's indestructibility, and yet now she was willing to lower herself and give up all the Gods other than Tyr and Satan just for Zatiel.
The Flawless turned and glanced at Zatiel, and he could not help but feel a sense of awe assault his heart.
During their previous conversation, hidden from everybody's sight, the Neo-Demon revealed to Ivar that he knew the true purpose of Gods' Tomb, something the Magi divulged to no one else but Issac. And if that was not enough, Zatiel also promised Ivar that as long as he brought nine refined Rank 8 True Selves, he would allow him a clear shot.
Of course, Ivar wanted to know more since once he triggered the final part of his plan, there would be no way to take it back. Unfortunately, Zatiel did not elaborate and made it clear that it was up to the Magus to accept or not. However, the Neo-Demon also said that there would be no need for reward or anything like that.
A Rank 6 life form promising that he could hinder the Gods, including the Overgod, would sound like a bad joke, but if Ivar learned anything from his previous interactions with Zatiel, it would be to expect a miracle.
During their first encounter, the Neo-Demon gave him a fantastic amount of knowledge that helped him tremendously. Zatiel briefed him on Divinity World's Principal Laws and Crystal Wall's weak points. And if that was not enough, the Neo-Demon also detailed the Overgod, Tyr, and Satan's battle style, Omega Laws, and spells.
It would be a lie to say that Ivar did not doubt the Neo-Demon, as the three Rank 9 Gods had hardly fought in the past one hundred million years. Still, when he battled them, everything proved to be authentic.
Despite all that, if everything went according to his plan, Ivar would have possibly rejected the Neo-Demon's offer. They had a good relationship, but it was far from friendship and very far from trusting their life to the other, precisely what Zatiel was asking.
The Flawless initially planned for this war to carry on for at least ten thousand years. Waiting that long would not be a problem since the final battle against the Eldritch Universe would not start before that, but everything changed with the arrival of the Alpha Universe and Flame Imperator.
He needed to end this and advance to the next level, so he could be by Issac's side when the moment of truth came. Just as Issac saw him as a son, he saw the old man as a father. He would never forgive himself if he allowed another person he loved to die due to his weakness.
In the end, the Flawless decided to bet on the Neo-Demon and did as he said. He went to the Prima-Eldritch Universe Final Battlefield, captured nine Rank 8 True Selves, and handed them over. Zatiel made it clear that the moment the spell was ready, he would break the cocoon, and that is why he triggered his evolution into Rank 9 at that moment.
He had been tense all this time, wondering whether he made the right choice or not, and by the reaction of the Overgod, he did. A wide smile appeared on Ivar's face as he stared at the woman. As for the offer, he did not consider it for a second.
How could the Overgod not realize Ivar's answer after seeing that smile full of disdain and mockery? She knew that her words would give away the importance of Zatiel, but with every second that passed, things became more and more dangerous.
She was a Primarch, and her cultivation allowed her instincts to be highly accurate, to the point of faintly perceiving the future, even when it involved other Primarchs. Right now, they were telling her that if she did not handle that threat that was Zatiel, everything that she worked for her entire life would end.
Killing intent emerged from the Overgod as she made her energy explode. The next instant, both Santan and Tyr appeared by her side and did the same. They were ready to fight with everything they had.
As for the Rank 8 Gods, the Overgod did not even bother to consider them. Issac could end all with a single spell, and the chances they could cross the portal that led toward the Magi World's half of the Transitional Plane were little.
Issac and Ivar did not dare to lower their guard as they focused on Rank 9 Gods. The Flawless even made its two puppets enter overdrive, enhancing their powers.
"Flawless, that man is using the powers of the Eldritch Universe, our irreconcilable enemies. You are becoming a great sinner against our Prima Universe by siding with him. You can not let rage blind you to the greater good."
The Overgod's words only made Ivar and Issac feel a sense of utter disgust toward her. The Magi wondered how someone could be so shameless.
A God, someone that followed a copy of the True Self Path of Power, branding another as a sinner corrupted by the Eldritch Universe's powers was laughable. Still, to a God, hypocrisy is their second nature.
However, the duo was confused by her actions. There was no way Ivar and Issac would attack Zatiel and help her just because she said a few words. They understood her true goal when they heard the next part of her speech.
"Killing that man would transform you into a great hero of our Prima Universe. For a person like that, I would be willing to do everything in my power to help them evolve past Rank 8. That is something I swear with the Universe Will as my witness."
The moment the Overgod spoke that last part, everybody felt an immense pressure manifest itself before vanishing as fast as it came.
Ivar and Issac looked at each other, and they could see the grave expression in the other. The Flawless was already in his process of evolution into Rank 9, so it was evident that he was not the target of the Overgod's words.
Their eyes did not leave the Overgod, Tyr, and Satan, but they could feel the greed rising in the hearts of the Rank 8 Magi in the void.
Unfortunately, before any of them could even take a step in that direction or launch a spell, the three Rank 9 Gods focused on their energies and were ready to blast with all their power.
All those Rank 8 Magi knew that attacking Zatiel would be the same as betraying the Magi World and that Ivar and Issac would hunt them down forever. Still, how enticing it was the idea of becoming an Eternal Detachment existence. Was not that the dream of all Rank 8 life forms?
Unlike the Divinity World, where all life forms obeyed the Overgod, and the Primarch's words were absolute law, the Magi World was vastly different.
For one, unlike Gods, they were not bound to a single location and could travel to any other world if they chose to. In the vast universe, how hard would it be to find someone set on hiding?
And maybe even most important, Magi's culture focused on the self. It was all about you growing stronger and not depending on others. That made them great warriors and strategists, but it also made their bonds to their world and people very feeble.
Against an enemy like the Eldritch Race that only sought the devour every one of them, they have no other path but to gather together under one banner. But now, they were not fighting that type of enemy.
The Rank 8 Magi did not doubt that the Overgod would keep her word, as an oath in the presence of the Universe Will was not something one could just break without severe repercussions.
Seeing how the Overgod, Tyr, and Satan pinned Issac, Ivar, and the puppets, some Magi felt courage rising and turning toward Zatiel.
However, a bad omen assaulted their hearts as they saw the way Hades looked at them as if they were monkeys. Before any of them could decipher what was happening, Zatiel opened his eyes.
"How predictable."
