You're Thinking Too Small

What is this?

Katerea looked somewhat bewildered.

Although Ren had erased those names, he felt a sudden chill when he recalled the three Mechanical Evil God.

"Power Ranking of the High School DxD World"

"What... High School DxD?"

"Oh, I named it myself, don't worry about it."

Ren blurted out the original name without thinking, but fortunately, Katerea seemed a bit dim-witted and easy to fool.

Moreover, most people would pay more attention to the term "combat power ranking" these days.

"I won't waste any more time on pleasantries. This is my ranking, arranged from highest to lowest strength."

"Oh? Like a world's top ten ranking?"

Katerea understood.

This world actually has a ranking of combat power.

However, this only includes data on the top ten in the world.

Everyone who makes it onto this list is extremely powerful.

However, many people do not agree with this ranking.

Take Katerea herself, for example.

She didn't think she was weaker than Odin, Zeus, Hades, and Sirzechs on the list.

Having obtained the power of the Infinite Dragon God, she is at least in the top three, if not number one.

"Pretty much, but that was an unofficial ranking, mine is more legitimate."

Ren said without changing his expression.

"So where am I?"

Katerea scanned the blackboard and found that even among the Demon King-level combat power classifications, her name was not listed.

"I didn't write anything for you because you were too weak."

Ren then categorized the rankings up to the Demon King level, and there was no need to rank anything below that.

"You?!"

Upon hearing this, Katerea's expression turned angry.

Before she could react, accompanied by an electronic "Clock Up" sound, the man who had been standing next to the blackboard suddenly appeared behind her.

Ren' other hand was gently placed on her neck, and the touch from his fingertips sent a thin layer of goosebumps up Katerea's skin.

That guy!

When exactly did they arrive?!

Katerea stared incredulously at the man so close to her, her eyes wide with disbelief.

What just happened?

Why didn't I realize it?

"Basic procedure, sit down."

Ren pressed Katerea, who couldn't help but want to stand up, back down.

Due to the angle and distance, Ren only saw a blur of brown in front of him.

Of course, due to the difference between men and women, Ren didn't observe carefully, but he felt that Katerea's deep V seemed to be 30 millimeters lower than before.

Then he walked back to the blackboard.

At this moment, when Katerea looked at Ren again, her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions.

"If you're so strong, why did you accept my recruitment when you were in the Khaos Brigade?"

This was the first time Katerea had faced an opponent other than Shalba and Creuserey.

The three of them usually compared themselves to each other, and since they were the strongest in the entire Old Maou Faction, they naturally believed that they were Demon King level.

"Because of love..."

"?!"

"Sorry, I sang it unconsciously."

"..."

If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't beat Ren, Katerea would have wanted to beat up the man in front of her!

"It's all about interest."

Ren shrugged.

He then formally explained the strength represented by the leaders of the three forces, clearly stating that even if Katerea consumed the snake, she would only have just reached the Demon Lord level, while Serafall, whom Katerea cared about most, was at the pinnacle of the Demon Lord level.

As for Sirzechs, his strength is two levels higher than theirs.

Chapter 104 A Small Scope

Chapter 104

It took Ren about five minutes to give Katerea a clear understanding of her own combat strength and the level of the entire world.

If anyone else had dared to say that to her, Katerea would have accused them of spreading rumors and sowing discord.

However, after personally experiencing Ren's abilities, she had no choice but to believe what the man said.

But after hearing it, she completely broke down.

I thought I was a Demon King, but it turns out I'm just a top-tier demon.

He thought that after using the power of the Infinite Dragon God, he would be able to surpass the Demon King level, but he never expected that he would only just reach the Demon King level.

Both Serafall and Asmodeus, the current leaders of the Demon King's government, are top-tier powerhouses in the Demon King realm.

In Ren' words, that's peak Demon King-level combat power.

Even after receiving the buff, she only reached the early stage of Demon Lord level, no... Quasi-Demon Lord level. After all, apart from her magic power reaching Demon Lord level, her skills and endurance are all inferior to those of a normal Demon Lord.

Sirzechs and Ajuka are two levels above them.

This is like a mid-level demon challenging your current self.

How is this any different from a moth drawn to a flame?!

"Then what was the point of me enduring hardship and humiliation for so many years?"

Katerea sat slumped in her chair, her former sharpness and arrogance gone.

What actually broke her spirit wasn't the doomed battle plan, but the fact that after all these years of hard work, giving everything, and even borrowing the power of the Ophis, she, as a legitimate descendant of Leviathan, was ultimately inferior to someone with the pure blood of one of the original seventy-two pillars of nobility.

Royal blood is not as good as noble blood.

This is the one thing Katerea is least willing to admit, but it is the truth.

Seeing this, Ren felt that if Katerea continued like this, this woman might really be giving up on herself.

In that case, he wouldn't be able to complete his mission.

If it can't be accomplished, what was the point of all that effort I put into explaining the combat power rankings?

Thinking of this, Ren said seriously, "You don't need to be so pessimistic. Although your strength is not as good as Serafall and the others, your ability to govern a country is not as good as theirs either."

Hearing this, Katerea became even more defensive.

Although she was exiled, she learned through various channels that everything in the Underworld was thriving and far more prosperous than in the past.

The most painful thing about personal attacks is not the baseless insults from others, but that they are directed at the very things you did wrong.

Katerea was unwilling to accept defeat, feeling that she might not have done any worse than them.

But Ren delivered another devastating blow to her!

"You misspoke. What I meant was that since martial arts won't work, let's try something more intellectual."

"Wen?"

Katerea, or rather, most of the Old Maou Faction nowadays, are martial arts practitioners.

However, she also knew that coming to Wu now would definitely not work.

If a real fight breaks out, Sirzechs alone could wipe out their entire Old Maou Faction.

Ren said in a serious tone, "You can establish a country here, and still call yourself Leviathan. Then you can develop people's livelihoods using the usual methods of governing a country. In the end, you might even be able to establish diplomatic relations with the current Demon King's government as a queen."

"Isn't this exactly what you're thinking? As long as you establish a nation, you'll still be the Satan Leviathan."

"Establish a country here? But... I don't want to go to this barren place. I want to go back to Lilith's place. That city has always been the capital of the Underworld, and the Demon King has always lived there. What does this place matter?"

"It's too small; its scope is too narrow."

Ren spoke in a serious tone.

"W-what's wrong?"

Did she say something wrong?

But she wasn't wrong; Lilith is indeed the capital of the Underworld.

All the Demon Kings throughout history have been crowned kings in that city!

"You still claim to be the true Leviathan? A true demon king doesn't need any symbols to prove himself. Since you truly believe you are the rightful heir, then no matter where you are, your bloodline remains an undeniable fact!"

"Where you are doesn't matter; what matters is whether you believe yourself to be Leviathan."

"Of course I am!"

Katerea was struck by Ren's words.

What she cares about most is the name "Leviathan". If she were the Satan Leviathan of the Underworld, why would she want to attack the leaders of the three major powers?

"If that's the case, then that's fine."

Ren lowered his voice again and chuckled softly.

"Then why don't you try my method?"

"But is establishing a nation really feasible? The current Demon King government probably wouldn't agree."

"Why do you need them to agree? You're not splitting up the Underworld, you're just starting out from scratch. Anyway, you've already been exiled."

Ren shrugged.

"But if they really establish a country, will they send troops against us?"

"I asked Katerea."

"It's possible, but the probability is very low. Sirzechs won't agree to this proposal."

After thinking for a moment, Ren said.

Not all Four Great Satans of the Underworld are of one mind.

Of course, this only refers to their respective political stances; their private relationship is naturally good, but their political and diplomatic views differ.

Beelzebub, the demon king Ajuka, is quite rational; he is willing to sacrifice some things to achieve certain goals.

Sirzechs, on the other hand, would never approve a proposal if it required sacrificing something to get something done.

The reason why the Old Maou Faction was only exiled was because Sirzechs and Serafall took pity on them and did not intend to exterminate them.

Even when the Old Maou Faction attacked them in the original story, Sirzechs repeatedly tried to persuade them to abandon the attack so they could leave alive. Although he had no choice but to retaliate afterward, he never sent troops to wipe out the Old Maou Faction's stronghold.

From this perspective, Sirzechs's brother-in-law is truly kind.

If it were Ren, he probably would have personally wiped out the entire Old Maou Faction that very day.

Katerea fell into deep thought, considering the feasibility of Ren's nation-building plan.

"In the current Demon King government, apart from Sirzechs and Ajuka, Serafall has the lowest approval rating among the people. If you can achieve corresponding results after the establishment of the country, you might be able to take his place. After all, there are actually quite a few demons among the people who are biased towards your old Demon King. Anyway, your idea is to reclaim the position of Satan Leviathan, right?"

"... Yes."