As soon as that statement rang out everything went silent.
Those gods who were preparing to chastise found themselves with no words.
The Infinite Mother's most loyal (those who were essentially her left & right hands) found themselves unable to formulate anything to say.
On top of that they didn't even so much as glance at each other as they all knew they had no right to speak up about something like this. Since that bastard was a being far out of their scope. Only one person in their entire pantheon was able to actually fight a fully grown Heavenly Demon and that was Mother.
Yet despite the work she had put in finally capturing him, a dream she had held for longer than the existence of many of the realms they ruled over, he had managed to escape. As such they cannot be blamed for focusing on their leader. The entirety of Endless Knot paid attention to her reaction to what may have been the worst information she has received since she became the Nameless True God.
Everyone expected to see her finally break out into pure rage yet they couldn't exactly blame her if she indeed did. Their respect - however - was enhanced when they saw her calmly stroking her chin. So they waited until she finally managed to put her thoughts together; no doubt creating a plan worthy of her position as the supreme ruler over all mortal realms.
Soon her lips parted as she leaned forward on her throne.
"Well this is unfortunate."
"""..."""
Nobody knew quite how to react to her nonchalant reaction - they expected a lot of things from her and usually she didn't fail their expectations… But this time no one knew how to react. The only one who seemed unbothered by her reaction was the archangel who returned to their human form.
A gigantic pillar of light erupted beside the throne, garnering a very brief glance from the Primordial Titan of the Infinite, leading to everyone else being forced to cover their eyes. An ancient song rang out as their figure was soon reconstructed. Looking quite different from the being of shards & golden blood.
All this heralding the arrival of a heavenly beauty.
Their eyes still glowed faintly like gold while their skin was smoother than any jade beauties and most certainly was white as milk. There were not even any visible veins (despite how pale they were) making them seem more like a doll. One dressed in the garb of a miko which was quite fitting for an angel.
That same angel grumbled while combing their fingers through the shoulder length straight black hair of their humanoid form.
"This means the plan worked doesn't it?"
"Afraid so but not surprising considering what you told me about him."
Lifting her shoulders in a shrug.
"Now we'll know where his little hidey hole is as well as what exactly he is planning."
"Still would have been better if he didn't manage to break out… *sigh* If only I could purge that jackasses stupid ass free will; see this is why free will is the greatest plague th-"
And so that insane angel began that all the gods had long grown used to ignoring.
Strangely a smirk reminiscent of a certain cat appeared on the goddess' face as she hummed in amusement that everything was coming together. Though it was their conversation that caused everyone to be shocked enough to miss that smile. Afterall it held one very important clue.
"Mother… Did you… You planned for him to escape?"
Nobody was quite sure who asked the question which meant that the loyal paladin/adopted daughter had no idea where to point her glare. Still it was true that everyone held the exact same question. This of course included the very same daughter who was passing her glare across the crowd.
"Hmm… It was just way too convenient that I managed to catch him on the very same day I managed to kill that pesky cat who I owed too much to. Of course it would have been more convenient if he didn't have a plan to break out. But I am certainly not going to take advantage of such an event."
The angel nodded while everyone else looked up to her (both literally and in a sense of deep awe) as they understood that they had underestimated her cunning.
"Truly only you are worthy!"
"As expected of the Infinite Mother."
"One does not earn the title of True God while being nameless without unmatched talent!"
Offering them all a patient and warm smile as she turned her head as if she was looking over them all despite her eyelids being firmly sealed shut. It would be a shame to crush them all into mush. Not even her cute little adopted daughter would be able to avoid such a fate if she truly unleashed her power.
Only her ever loyal Archangel was someone she could understand and the only one in her employ who would not be crushed instantly by her power. Partly because their own empathy was… Unique. The angel having some rather interesting opinions that they had already (and proudly) proclaimed in the meeting.
Silently mulling over the idea as her min- servants continued to spout various platitudes about how caring and just she was.
Though even she had limits.
Simply raising her hand was enough to cause the people within the room to go eerily quiet - this was not like the prior discussion where their voices had weight. Now she has to flex her overwhelming authority due to another Archon powerhouse being involved. As such her authority was completely unquestionable.
She still gave them a moment before she started to speak in her usual calm manner; offering nothing but kindness & warmth like always.
"I think it is about time to follow the trail of crumbs that brute will have left behind."
Lowering her raised hand a little as she rose from her throne - letting her hand rest at about shoulder height with her index & middle fingers crossing. Pressing her thumb against the forefront finger before quickly unwinding them all. A sharp *click* wrang out throughout the hall.
Or at least what was once the hall. As, after she clicked, the world around them began to break apart like it was a window plane that had just cracked. Before any of them (even the Archangel who was inarguably the closest to her in power) found themselves unable to so much as react before their world changed.
Now they all found themselves in a familiar room; except there was a whole lot more blood and a lot less seals binding a certain bastard.
"Knowing he could and seeing it in person is completely different…"
"How has he managed to break out of Mother's infinite infused seals when nothing should be able to break through the infinite except, maybe, the flames of destruction possessed by Violet…"
The adopted daughter spoke up as she walked beside the archangel; the two of them quickly studied the area where there was no trace of the infinite. Well except for what was naturally spread in the air. Even then it was strangely sparse for an area in such close proximity to her dwelling.
That should have been… Impossible.
Afterall the infinite was a self replicating fundamental force of existence itself. It could change forms to just about anything, it was the foundation for existence's continued expansion, but there didn't seem to be any signs of that happening. Only the royal family of the oni (most likely that troublesome trio) should be able to actually "destroy" the infinite itself.
But all of them knew for a fact that two of the three triplets weren't a fan - him having literally stabbed the Divine Demon in the back. Violent had always treated him as an on sight target. Then there was the last who he had consumed with hellfire in the process of betraying Victory.
With the three of them united there should be no other oni's who'd be interested either.
Those oni being loyal and close knit despite.. Always fighting.
"That is indeed the question… There is no radiation so an oni couldn't have done this."
Her words sealed the deal for all of them.
This was something new.
Or… Perhaps something truly ancient.
"Then it seems that the bastard pretender is hiding even more; perhaps it could be that power that I told you about and you confirmed feeling?"
"While I can't sense if it has been used there is no reason to believe this doesn't confirm that he still possesses it after all this time. He and I have never gotten along so it is rather fitting, is it not? That he may possess the true antithesis?"
"J-Judgement?"
Mother simply chuckled at that question without confirming or denying it as she began to walk only for reality itself to shift. Folding over to accommodate her path that others quickly rushed to follow. Soon they found themselves in a rather unusual room.
What could only be called a bath filled with a thick golden fluid… Almost like the blood belonging to Mother's own bloodline.
"What is-"
"Oh dear… It seems like he was interested in this, after all."
"Mot-"
"Perhaps he is still after the perfect mortal vessel?"
"Hmm…"
Once more not speaking any more as she once again clicked her fingers as the world cracked and they arrived in front of some heavy metal doors. Scratches littered the surface of the doors. Signs that someone had attempted a break in recently only to give up.
"I-isn't this?"
One of the gods panickely exclaimed while looking at Mother whose brows twitched.
"Why yes, this is my dragon's hoard, Pacem the Infinite Library where I store all the growth that I have managed to collect. It would seem he attempted to enter without my permission. Quite the uncouth behaviour which I will need to-"
Turning away only to notice something on the wall through her slightly open eyes - that alone being enough to cause most around her to take a knee. Her endless power weighing down on them with just a slither of it being released. Some soon found themselves flat on the floor as only the Archangel stood completely unaffected.
On the wall was written "not even I would kill my own kids or defile my moms corpse miss ex-Alice" until she swiped her hand causing the space to crack and erase all evidence.
"Ara~ ara~."
"It would seem that I need to hurry into his little hole quickly."
She didn't answer until after she clicked her fingers to generate a fracture that instantly burst with demonic power.
"Just follow the trail and scout out the area; also avoid picking a fight with any demons you find as I would rather not break any contracts with Vivi. You likely won't be able to beat him by yourself and I am quite concerned with that power of his… Not that it could possibly harm me ohohoho~"
Closing her eyes which was the signal for all her glazers to quickly get to work as she calmly waved off her loyal little subject who didn't waste time in transforming back. Clearly combat ready. Fortunately nobody was dumb enough to follow as the fracture sealed behind the angel.
"Lets see what you have been hiding all this time~."